>>Nadia Combs: HI, I AM NADIA COMBS, CLEAR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS. THAT INCLUDE CHILDREN PRESCHOOL THROUGH ADULTS IN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: I AM HENRY "SHAKE" WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGENESS AMERICA AND WE ARE MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT NEARLY 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
>> OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME TO E-MAIL OR MEET WITH ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CABLE CHANNEL 32.
>> MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE.
>> WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE WILL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG.
>> OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES. TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FEATURE. [GAVEL SOUNDING]
>>Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF JULY 26, 2022 IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>>Nadia Combs: WE HAVE TWO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. 603, PURCHASE OF WATER FORD LEARNING SMART START SOFTWARE. AND 7:09, APPROVAL OF THE QUITCLAIM AT NORTH COL NGS STREET PLANT CITY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND IS SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH FIVE YESES AND ONE NO. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT EXCEPT FOR MEMBER VAUGHN WHO WILL BE HERE SHORTLY. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, JULY 12, 2022 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN. AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER WE ARE A NONIMPORTANT BOARD THAT BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN AND EMPOWERED TO SUCCEED. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF UP FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL LEAD US WITH THE BOARD GUIDELINES.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE REVIEW THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME REVIEW THE FORMAT. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS IN THE BOARD ROOM WILL LET MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. YOU CAN WATCH THE MEETING ON CLOSED CAPTIONING ON CABLE BROADCAST ON LIVE TV AND HERE ON VIDEO MONITORS. IT CAN BE REVIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. 5:01, PUBLIC HEARING ON MILLAGE AND REVISED POLICIES AND 6:00, EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOME COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. TO PROVIDE RESPONSE, WE WILL TOMORROW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP THE BOARD UP TO DATE ON THE RESPONSES. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. BUT IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, NOT TO PERSONALLY ADDRESS TO THE BOARD MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECT IT TO THE ISSUES. ANY ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT THE ORDERLY MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND PLEASE STATE CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAK WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND A YELLOW LIGHT WITH 30 SECONDS AND A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME TO INDICATE THAT YOUR TIME IS UP. THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE COME UP. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM TERESA POTTER, PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. OUR MEMBERSHIP VOTES ON OUR PROGRAM EACH YEAR AND THE FIRST STATEMENT UNDER OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM IS THAT OUR GROUP ADVOCATES FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN FLORIDA. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FLORIDA ARE MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE, HAVE VOTED TO SUPPORT FLORIDA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT TO MAKE ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR ALL CHILDREN THAT ARE UNIFORM, SUFFICIENT, SAFE, SECURE AND HIGH QUALITY. WE SUPPORT A FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR FLORIDA WITH HIGH STANDARDS WITH.STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THAT IS FINANCED ADEQUATELY BY THE STATE THROUGH AN EQUITABLE FUNDING FORMULA. WE ALL KNOW THAT $8,000 PER STUDENT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY FUND A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE PAID WHERE THEY DESERVE, LET ALONE THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES NEEDED BY MANY OF OUR CHILDREN. THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT PROVIDED ADEQUATE FUNDING. INSTEAD, THEY HAVE DECREASED THE MILLAGE FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FROM 5.3 IN 2010 TO 3.5 TODAY. THE TAMPA BAY TIMES EDITORIAL THAT RECOMMENDED A NO VOTE ON THE MILLAGE STATED THAT THE FUNDING IS NEEDED AND CAN WAIT FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THE LEAGUE STANDS BEHIND EVERY STUDENT AND EVERY TEACHER. THE TEACHER OF 2024 OR 2027 ISN'T MORE DESERVING THAN OUR TEACHERS TODAY. . THE STUDENTS WHO START SCHOOL IN THE FUTURE ARE NOT MORE DESERVING OF ARTS EDUCATION OR WELDING TRAINING THAN OUR STUDENTS TODAY. IT IS EASY TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS MILLAGE AND LOOK AWAY FROM THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION WITH SERVICES SUCH AS SPEECH THERAPY OR SMALLER CLASSES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN ORBED TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO BE ADEQUATELY FUNDED AND WE NEED TEACHERS, HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, WAITING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TEACHERS' SALARIES ENSURE MORE TEACHERS LEAVING THE PROFESSION AND NOT RETURNING. TIGHTENING OUR BELTS MORE WHEN THE FUNDING IS INSUFFICIENT HAS BEEN IMPACTING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS LONG ENOUGH. WE CAN NOT PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES IN EVERY ONE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY STARVING OUR SCHOOLS OF RESOURCES. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECOMMEND A YES VOTE FOR HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS ON AUGUST 23. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. PAULA CASTANYA. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY HARVARD, BROOKENS, RAND POLICY INSTITUTE, JUST TO NAME A FEW, EFFECTIVE TEACHERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SCHOOL-BASED DETERMINANT OF STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE. TO PROMOTE STUDENTS' SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, STUDENTS MUST RETAIN CREDENTIALED TEACHERS AND ENSURE THAT TEACHING REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS. SIMPLY PUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES NOT PROVIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE QUALITY TEACHERS. SINCE 2007, FLORIDA HAS DROPPED FROM 23rd IN PER PUPIL FUND TO 46 IN 15 SHORT YEARS. WE ARE 49th IN TEACHER PAY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BEARS AN EVEN MORE OF A BRUNT DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE SEVENTH LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY. I AM TELLING YOU NOTHING THAT YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW, BUT I AM PUTTING THIS ON PUBLIC RECORD FOR THOSE AT HOME. OVER 90% OF OUR DISTRICT BUDGET ALREADY GOES TOWARD PAYING SALARIES FOR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUR TEACHERS. NUMBER ONE, OFFER A TWO-STEP INCREASE TO TEACHERS. NUMBER TWO, PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND DO RESPECT FOR ADVANCED DEGREES AND LONGEVITY SO THEY STAY WITH OUR DISTRICT. NUMBER THREE, GIVE TEACHERS THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE, TO INCLUDE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT THROUGH THE STATE. THIS MILLAGE REFERENDUM, WITH AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WILL GET SOME OF THESE THINGS FOR OUR TEACHERS. THE MILLAGE WILL ONLY BE USED ON OPERATIONAL EXPENSES SUCH AS THE ARTS, MUSEUM, PE PROGRAMS AND SALARIES, AS COMPARED TO THE HALF-CENT PENNY REFERENDUM USED FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES. THOSE AT HOME WHO ARE LISTENING, THE HALF-CENT PENNY REFERENDUM HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MONITORED BY FORMER FLORIDA EDUCATION COMMISSIONER BETTY CASTOR AND SHERIFF CHRONISTER TO NAME PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE. EVERY PENNY IS ACCOUNTED FOR LIKE THE MILLAGE WON'T BE ACCOUNTED FOR. I AM ON NO PARTY AFFILIATE. I WILL PERSONALLY BE VOTING FOR THIS REFERENDUM. MY HUSBAND, AS A REPUBLICAN, WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS REFERENDUM. MANY PEOPLE IN THOSE PARTIES GO ALONG AND JOIN US. THIS VOTE IS JUST A SMALL, PERSONAL FINANCIAL IMPACT. AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF TAMPA BAY. LET'S NOT MAKE THIS ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES AND LET'S MAKE THIS ABOUT OUR KIDS. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI, I AM JESSICA. AND I AM A PARENT AND EDUCATION ADVOCATE. A WISE MAN ONCE SAID, DESTROYING ANY NATION DOESN'T REQUIRE THE USE OF BOMBS OR LOW-RANGE MISSILES. IT ALSO REQUIRES LOWERING THE QUALITIES OF EDUCATION. PATIENTS DIE AT THE HANDS OF THESE DOCTORS. HUMANITY DIES AT THE HANDS OF SUCH RELIGIOUS LEADERS. THE COLLAPSE OF EDUCATION IS THE COLLAPSE OF A NATION. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BRINK OF A PILE OF RUBBLE. YET WE NEED NOT ASK WHO CASTS THE FIRST STONE OR LIT THE FIRST MATCH. WE ALL NEED TO RISE TOGETHER AND LAY THE BRICKS ONCE AGAIN BY -- ONE BY ONE. EDUCATION IS FUNDING, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE CAN NOT SERVE EACH STUDENT AND TEACHER WITHOUT THE DOLLARS. WE ARE IN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THIS COUNTRY, YET OUR STATE CONTINUES TO STARVE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, REDUCING THE AMOUNT IT GIVES US PER STUDENT OVER TEAM. I FLORIDA IS RANKED 45th IN THE COUNTRY, AND 46th IS 46th OUT OF 67 COUNTIES OF FUNDING. OVER THIRD OF THE STATE HAS SOUGHT APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND IT IS TIME WE DO THE SAME AND NOW. WE CAN NOT CONTINUE TO HOPE THE WIN WINDS WILL CHANGE IN TALLAHASSEE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER YOU LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT -- NO OFFENSE -- OAR THIS BOARD. IT IS ABOUT WHAT DOING RIGHT WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS. LET THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DO THE JOB THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE LAST YEAR BY PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND WHERE IT IS ALLOCATED. LET THEM DO THE SAME FOR THIS REFERENDUM. THIS ISN'T FOR MY KIDS AND ANY INDIVIDUAL GROUP OF KIDS, IT IS TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE. IF WE ARE TEACHING OUR KIDS TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, WITH TIME WE MODEL THIS BEHAVIOR. DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE RUBBLE. SHOW THEM IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THEM BUT EVERYONE AS A WHOLE, AS A FAMILY, AS A VILLAGE. I AM PERSONALLY VOTING YES TO THIS MILLAGE REFERENDUM AND I HOPE YOU DO THE SAME. BUT NOT JUST FOR YOU, IT IS FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. LAST TIME I WAS HERE I SAID IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF SOMETHING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS SHOULD OCCUR HERE. AND IT REALLY WOULD BE. THERE WAS A BIG MOAN FROM THE AUDIENCE AS THOUGH I WAS ENDORSING THAT HAPPENING. I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF STUPIDITY IS THAT. I WASN'T ENDORSING THAT. BUT THEN THOSE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET UP HERE TO SAY WHY AREN'T YOU BUILDING HIGH PERFORMANCE SOLAR BUILDINGS. AND I JUST HEARD THAT THAT MONEY THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN SOMEHOW WISELY SPENT. WHAT A JOKE. LOOK AT THE HEADLINES. CO2 LEVEL HIGHEST IN HUMAN HISTORY. REPORT, SEA RISE IS CLEAR AND PRESENT RISK. STARK WARNINGS FOR THE WARMING PLANET. UN REPORTS SPELLS OUT DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO FIX CLIMATE, REPORT SAYS. CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN FOUR MILLION YEARS. AND HERE THIS BUILDING, A CHEM PLATE FOR BASICALLY HOW ALL BUILDINGS SHOULD LOOK. NOW NATURALLY, A SCHOOL BUILDING ISN'T GOING TO BE EXACTLY LIKE THIS, BUT THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE APPLIES. THE EAST-WEST ACCESS, THE PROPORTION. NO WINDOWS ON EAST OR WEST WA WALLS. THE BUILDING ALBIDO. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, DON'T YOU, SUPERINTENDENT? YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T GET IT RIGHT. YOU DON'T GET IT RIGHT. THE PLANET BURNS. AND, OF COURSE, WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT IS NOT GOING RI RIGHT. THIS IS A DOG GONE SHAME.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, I AM PAT HALL, AND I HAVE SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT MILLAGE. THE WORD "MILLAGE" HAS NOT BEEN WELL EXPLAINED TO THE VOTING PUBLIC AND PARENTS. SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING IT MILEAGE. PINELLAS HAS HAD THIS MILLAGE COMPONENT BENEFITING TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AND THEY HAVE EFFECTIVELY POACHED SOME OF OUR BEST LEADERS ACROSS THE BRIDGE. 22 COUNTIES ARE AHEAD OF HILLSBOROUGH IN VOTING FOR THIS EXTRA MONEY FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF. AND THE REASON WE NEED EXTRA MONEY IS OUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HAS SQUEEZED MONEY OUTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST 0 YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE LAST TEN -- LAST 20 YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE LAST 10 WITH VOUCHER FRAUD AND CHARTER SCHOOL FRAUD BY FOR-PROFIT MANAGED COMPANIES. THE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR AIDES HAD THEIR POCKETS STUFFED WITH MONEY FROM JOHN HAGE OF CHARTER SCHOOL USA AND FERNANDO ZULETA FROM ACADEMIA. ONLY HOMEOWNERS, NOT RENTERS AND APARTMENT DWELLERS WILL HELP WITH THE EXTRA DOLLARS AND ELECTIVES. IF YOU CARE OF SCHOOLS, DO NOT VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS AT ANY LEVEL THIS YEAR. FLORIDA IS AT THE BOTTOM OF EDUCATION SPENDING NATURALLY AND COMPARED WITH OTHER STATES, LARGE COMPANIES ARE SCARED AWAY BECAUSE FLORIDA SCHOOLS ARE SO BAD, THEY ARE TOLD. THE CUTS OF TEACHERS, ELECTIVES AND OTHERS LAST YEAR WAS PAINFUL AND ONCE TEACHERS LEAVE, THEY HAVE MANY OTHER OPTIONS AND WILL NOT RETURN. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS AWARE, WE HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE. THE ALL ONE RACE SCHOOLS HAVE PROLIFERATED WITH 12 ALL-BLACK CHARTER SCHOOLS AND A NUMBER OF ALL HISPANIC SCHOOLS AND MANY, MANY MORE VOUCHER SCHOOLS. THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN PARENTS' EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND CHILDREN'S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE VITAL IN HELPING CHILDREN FROM LESS AFFLUENT FAMILIES TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, ALISON FERNANDEZ. I DO WANT TO CORRECT ONE THING. IF YOU OWN PROPERTY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE REFERENDUM FOR THE A I TIGSIAL MILLAGE PASSES -- ADDITIONAL MILLAGE PASSES, EVERY HOMEOWNER AND PROPERTY OWNER WILL PAY THAT MILLAGE BUT IT WILL BE PASSED ALONG TO THE FORM OF RENT. TENANTS WILL PAY IT. THEY CURRENTLY PAY PROPERTY TAX BECAUSE THE PROPERTY OWNER PASSES IT ON TO THE REPRESENTER. THAT BEING SAID, MY CONCERNS ARE FINANCIAL AS WELL AS ACADEMIC. I GRADUATED FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. AND I WENT TO COLLEGE. I CAME OUT OF KING HIGH SCHOOL WITH 18 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT. MY CHILDREN WHO I WOULD THINK ARE A LITTLE BIT SMARTER THAN I AM, HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF MATH TESTING THAT I DID. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING CHANGED ALONG THE WAY. IF WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, WE ARE LOOKING AT AN AWFUL LOT OF STUDENTS TAKING REMEDIAL COURSES THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF COLLEGE EITHER BY ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR ATTENDING FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL AND TAKING REMEDIAL CLASSES AT THAT SCHOOL BEFORE THEY TAKE A COLLEGE-LEVEL CLASS. WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH INSTRUCTION THAT WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS? WHEN I ASK ABOUT DIFFERENTIATED PROGRAMS AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, I AM ALWAYS TOLD WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. I AM A FORMER AUDITOR. I TELL YOU HOW DO YOU KNOW I AM SPENDING THE MONEY CORRECTLY. I DON'T. IT IS NOT YOUR MONEY. IT IS OUR MONEY. WE ARE THE TAXPAYER AND YOU ARE THE CARETAKER AND WE ENTRUSTED THE MONEY TO YOU AND WE WILL TRUST YOU TO TRAIN OUR CHILDREN TO TEACH SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY WON'T LISTEN TO THEIR MOTHER AS WELL. BUT I HAVE TWO COLLEGE DEGREES AND PERFECTLY ADEQUATE TO TEACH MY CHILDREN, I JUST PREFER NOT TO. AND THEY AGREE WITH ME. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU ALL ARE ELECTED TO BE THE CARETAKER OF THIS BUDGET. TO BE THE SUPERVISOR OF THIS DISTRICT. YOU ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOU ARE NOT -- YOU ARE EMPLOYED IN THE SENSE THAT YOU MIGHT GET A CHECK, BUT YOU ARE NOT EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOU WORK DIRECTLY FOR THE TAXPAYER. I WOULD JUST LIKE A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY IN FINANCIAL RECORDS. I WILL BE TALKING OF THE MILLAGE LATER AT THAT HEARING, BUT THE CONCERN IS IF OUR BUDGET IS ALREADY 90% FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, SALARIES AND PAYROLL EXPENSE, OTHER COUNTIES -- THE OPTIMAL IS THE HIGH 70s TO LOW 80 EZ. IF WE ADD THIS MILLAGE AND PAY TEACHERS MORE WHICH I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING TEACHERS WHAT THEY ARE WORTH IN THE MARKET. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. BUT ALL WE DO THEN IS KEEPING OUR BUDGET FARTHER OUT OF WHACK.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JULIE GEPHARTS AND ISSUE AN IRONIC EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING FOR ADULTS IN THE ROOM. KIDS, IF YOU ARE IN HERE, PLEASE LEAVE. THIS BOOK IS CALLED "THE COURT OF MYSTIC FURY." WE HAVE OVER 500 BOOKS FROM THIS AUTHOR AND CAN I GET MY TIME BACK IF I PAUSE. STILL GOING.
>>Nadia Combs: WE WILL RESET THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES 45 SECONDS. YOU WILL JUST HAVE AN EXTRA 30 SECONDS. GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU. 32 COPIES INCLUDING THREE IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THIS BOOK AGAIN IS RATED A 4 OUT OF 5 ON BOOKLET.INFO. NOT THE WORSE. I WILL READ EXCERPTS FROM A FIVE-PAGE DESCRIPTION OF SEX. THIS REPRESENTS ONE OF THE FOUR TO FIVE EXTENSIVE SEX SCENES IN THIS 625-PAGE FANTASY BOOK. HITS THE SPOT OF DARK, LUSH SEXY FANTASY. SEXY AND DARING. IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR 12, 13-YEAR-OLDS MAYBE. SOUNDS GOOD FOR THEM. PAGE 21, COME HERE, HE GROWLED. I PUSHED BACK THE BLANKETS REVEALING MY ALREADY NAKED BODY. I MOANED AND TILTED MY HEAD. HIS TONGUE SWEPT MY MOUTH AGAIN IN TIME TO THE FINGER HE SLIPPED INSIDE OF ME. MY HIPS UNDULATED DEMANDING MORE CREATING THE FULLNESS OF HIM AND MY GROWL IN MY CHEST AS HE ADDED ANOTHER FINGER. HIS HEAD LOWER TO MY BREAST AND TOOK ONE PRESS OF HIS TOOTH AGAINST MY NIPPLE BEFORE I SETTLED MY KNEES AROUND HIM. THIS, I NEED THIS. HIS ARMS TREMBLING AS HE HELD HIMSELF. PLEASE, TAM LYNN, I BEG, I CRIED OUT AND HE BURIED HIMSELF IN ME WITH A MIGHTY STROKE. HE PULLED OUT A FEW INCHES, MUSCLES OF HIS BACK FLEXING AND SLAMMED INTO ME. AGAIN AND AGAIN. TWO MORE PAGES IN THIS SEX SCENE. AS I SAID SEVERAL MORE SEX SCENES IN THIS BOOK. 626 PAGES. ANY ADULT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL WERE TO GIVE ONE OF YOUR PORNOGRAPHIC LIBRARY BOOKS WILL BE ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING THE FLORIDA OBSCENITY STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS ANY ADULT FROM DISTRIBUTING ANY BOOK WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SEXUAL ENCITEMENT. END QUOTE. A FELONY. UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR HANDING YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS TO A STUDENT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL. FLORIDA OBJECT 16 TREE STATUTE. SADLY SOMEONE HAS MANAGED TO FIND A LOOPHOLE TO GIVE THE TINIEST WIGGLE ROOM TO SCHOOLS ONLY IF THE BOOK, QUOTES, AGAIN, THIS IS THE STATUTE, BY DESIGN SERVES AS A MAJOR TOOL OF INSISTING THE INSTRUCTION OF A SUBJECTS. IS THERE A MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS CALLED DARK LUSH SEXY FANTASY? DOES THIS BOOK SERVE AS A MAJOR TOOL FOR INSTRUCTION? I AM CALLING ON ANY LAWYERS LISTEN TO HELP ME OUT HERE. I APPEAL WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS TO DO SOMETHING. TAKE A STAND FOR YOUR STUDENTS. BE A HERO. WE WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE LEGALLY AND WITH A VOTE ON AUGUST 23. THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING AWAY UNTIL WE FIND A SOLUTION. WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND LAST NIGHT I PRESENTED YOUR LIBRARY BOOK PROBLEM TO 50 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CONCERNED RESIDENTS STUNNED AND APPALLED. WORD IS GETTING OUT AND MORE WANT TO SEE THE END OF A SEXUAL IDEALOGIES PUT IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. VOTE FORRENDON AND STACY HAHN. WE WILL MISS YOU MRS. SNIVELY, BUT KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT IN OTHER WAYS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE. RICK WARNER, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD'S FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM HAS CERTAINLY BEEN IN THE NEWS FREQUENTLY THE PAST FEW WEEKS. LOTS OF PROS AND CONS BEING DISCUSSED. ONE OF THE CONS MOST OFTEN POINTED OUT IS THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE THE SAME FINANCIAL PRESSURES. THE FACTS ARE THAT WHILE OTHER LARGE, GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE HILLSBOROUGH DO FACE THE SAME FINANCIAL PRESSURES, THEY ARE BETTER FUNDED TO DEAL WITH THEM. EACH OF THE OTHER OF FLORIDA'S OTHER FOUR LARGEST DISTRICTS HAS A PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM. THE ACCEPTED MEASURE OF ADEQUACY AND EQUITY OF FUNDING IS DOLLARS PER PUPIL. AND THE MOST RECENT 2020, 2021 NEA ANNUAL RANKING OF THE STATES, THE NATIONAL MEDIAN OF TOTAL PER PUPIL FUNDING, WHICH IS ALL SOURCES INCLUDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IS JUST A LITTLE OVER 15,000. FLORIDA IS AT 12,291. 45th IN THAT RANKING. HILLSBOROUGH IS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THAT AT 12,020 PER PUPIL. OUR CLOSEST PEERS, ORANGE COUNTY AT 14,2067. AND PALM BEACH AT 14,727. THEY PROVIDE COMPARISONS AS THEY ARE SIMILAR IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND GROWTH RATE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. HILLSBOROUGH'S TOTAL REVENUE IS CURRENTLY 2200 TO 2700 PER PUPIL ORANGE AND PALM BEACH. THE REASONS WHY ARE HUGE -- ARE A HUGE INEQUITY IN STATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING AND THE SALES AND PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUMS IN PLACE IN BOTH OF THOSE DISTRICTS. PASSING HILLSBOROUGH'S PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM WILL PROVIDE 14R6 MILLION OR $-- $146 MILLION OR $625 PER PUPIL. HOWEVER, THE GAP IN FUNDING WITH ORANGE AND PALM BEACH WILL PERSIST IN $1500 TODAY 2100 PER PUPIL, EVEN WITH A HILLSBOROUGH PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM. ADDRESSING THAT GAP WILL REQUIRE MORE FUNDING FROM THE STATE. IT IS ALSO CRUCIAL TO REMEMBER THAT HILLSBOROUGH'S SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER FUNDING HAS EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS, CONTRIBUTING TO DECLINING RESERVES AS THE DISTRICT SCRAMBLES TO FIND FUNDING NEEDED FOR ITS STUDENTS. AND CLOSING ALL THE FACTS AND OPINIONS ASIDE, THE REALITY OF THIS SITUATION IS THAT WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THE HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE COMPETITIVE SALARIES SUFFICIENT TO RETAIN EXPERIENCED TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, I AM ALYSSA HIMES FROM MOM WITH LIBERTY. I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LETTER FROM YOUR SPECIALIST. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE MEDIA ENTITLED -- WHICH WAS LEFT BLANK BY THEM AS A MEDIA SPECIALIST AS A CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL'S EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES COMMUNITY, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING CHALLENGE OF ANY MEDIA MATERIALS. WITHIN SEVEN WORK DAYS OF A COMPLETED REQUEST OF MATERIALS REQUEST FORM, THE COMMITTEE WILL CONVEY TO REVIEW THE CHALLENGED MATERIALS. THE COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF WHICH MEETS THE HCPS TO REACH A SCHOOL DECISION. A DECISION REPORT WILL BE PREACHED AND SENT TO YOU WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE COMMITTEE. WE DON'T HAVE A NAME OF WHO THE MEDIA SPECIALIST ARE AND COMMITTEE. ONE SCHOOL DIDN'T PUT A LETTERHEAD. JUST LEFT THE TEMPLATE. NONE COULD FILL OUT THE MEDIA RESOURCE AND TITLE. IF I READ IT CORRECTLY, THIS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF SCHOOL MEDIA SHOULD HAVE A RESPONSE BY JUNE 11, SEVEN DAY TO GATHER YOUR COMMITTEE AND SEVEN DAY TO RESPOND. NOTHING AT THIS POINT. FOLLOWED UP JULY 19, AS OF TODAY, DAY 82, NOTHING. YOU SIT UP THERE EACH AND EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING GOT OFF ON OUR PARENTS BEGGING AND PLEADING FOR YOU TO REMOVE THESE PORNOGRAPHIC. CELEBRATED YOUR SPECIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST AND FOLLOW YOUR PROCEDURES. WE DID THAT. WE DID OUR JOB. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO YOURS. YOU ARE MORE OFFENDED TO REMOVE HISTORIES AND MASCOTS FROM OUR SCHOOLS THAN PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN FROM BEING SEXUALIZED AND GROOMED AND IN RESPONSE TO A BOOK REVIEW. IT IS TIME TO BE HONEST WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD. YOU WANT THE PORNOGRAPHIC, CHILD GROOMING BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOLS. YOU MAY THINK WE CAN'T RESPOND TO DISMANTLE OUR TALKING POINTS GIVING TIMING TO DISCREDIT OUR MESSAGE. THE PEOPLE SEE IT. WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT MINDS OF CHILDREN. AND THAT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT PAGE IN PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN. SINCE I SEEM TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT, I WILL GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES SINCE NO ONE BOTHER TO GO THROUGH YOUR OWN POLICY AND PROCEDURES. THIS BOOK IS CALLED "TRIANGELS" SEXUAL GRATIFICATION OF PHYSICAL PAIN AND HUMILIATION ON ONE PERSON OR ANOTHER PERSON. SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT BETWEEN AN ADULT AND MINOR. I CLOSE MY EYES AS HE SLIPS TWO FINGERS INSIDE OF ME. BETTER GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR BEFORE I HAVE TO WHACK OFF TO HARD THAT I GET BLISTERS. THREE MOUTHS, UNCERTAIN WHICH TO BE KISSED. THREE TONGUES WITH A PLETHORA OF PLACE TO LICK AND SPACE TO EXPLORE. HE FINDS NOTHING BUT SKIN AND HOT WET PULSING. HIS FINGERS START THERE AND WORK THEIR WAY INSIDE. HIS BODY SCREAMS FOR ORGASM, BUT NOT LIKE THAT, F ME, I BEG.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [APPLAUSE] GOOD AFTERNOON. PLEASE BE CERTAIN THAT CHILDREN DO NOT HEAR WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE CHILDREN LEAVING THE ROOM OR IF CHILDREN ARE AT HOME WATCHING THE TELEVISION. I AM SARAH HILL SIMMONS. I AM A MOM, GRANDMA, A FORMER READING ARTS AND GRADUATE IN READING EDUCATION AND RUN AN EDUCATION NONPROFIT. MEDIA SPECIALISTS, READING TEACHERS AND ARE ALL TAUGHT IN THEIR UNIVERSITY CLASSES NOT TO SENSOR. I AM AWARE OF THIS. BUT -- NOT TO CENSOR, I AM AWARE OF THIS. THOSE WHO DO THE BEST JOBS WE CAN IN OUR CLASSROOMS, WE CENSOR BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND NO THE. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT MOST TEACHERS DO THAT, BUT I DO NOT KNOW BECAUSE AS TIME GOES ON WE ARE SEEING THAT NO LONG REMEMBER PUBLISHERS AND AUT AUTHORS CENSORING. THEY ARE SO INAPPROPRIATE AND TRASH. I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT WHEN I GREW UP AND WHEN I STARTED MOO I TEACHING CAREER. WE ARE CALLED UPON BECAUSE HONEST, DECENT PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT KIDS TO DO OUR O OWN CENSORING. I KNOW IF YOU ARE UP HERE YOU HAVE A HEART FOR KIDS OR YOU WOULDN'T BE SPENDING THIS MUCH TIME. IF YOU WERE IN THE AUDIENCE, OFF HEART FOR KIDS. WE HAVE TO BE GATEKEEPERS OF OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN'S MINDS AND HEARTS. AS DECENT HUMAN BEINGS WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKE THIS MATERIAL ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS. WE HAVE TO DO OUR JOB. I AM SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT -- I AM SURE YOU KNOW THIS BOOK, "13 REASONS WHY" BY JAY ARBOR. IT WAS A NETFLIX SERIES BOOK. THIS IS THE STORY OF A GIRL NAMED HANNA WHO WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE AND LEFT BEHIND 13 TAPES TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO HER FRIENDS, QUOTE, FRIENDS, TO LET THEM KNOW WHY THEY HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THIS HORRIBLE ACT OF HERS THAT WAS SO SAD. THEY ARE TOLD THAT THEIR -- THAT THEY ARE BLAMED FOR HER SUICIDE -- PARTIALLY BLAMED. THIS BOOK IS IN TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS. NOW REMEMBER, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS CAN BE TEN YEARS OLD AND 11 YEARS OLD. IT IS IN BUCHANAN, PIERS, PIZZO K-12 AND NINE HIGH SCHOOLS. READERS ARE INTRODUCED AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING AND THE WAY I WAS RAISED -- I DON'T LIKE KIDS NAME-CALLING AND SLEUTHS. FEELING EACH OTHER UP, HARD-ONES, MASTURBATION, NUDITY IN THE HOT TUB, ETC. THE MOST BANNED BOOKS IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS THAT 2017. WHY ARE WE HAVING -- WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS BOOK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOR HEAVENS SAKE? IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOME OF THESE LITTLE GIRLS AND BOY ARE STILL PLAYING WITH DOLLS. SIXTH GRADERS. I TAUGHT THEM RECENTLY. STEALS THEIR JOY. IT SCARES THEM. IT POISONS HEARTS AND MINDS. IT GLORIFIES SUICIDE. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A LOT FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS TO DIGEST. I FEEL VERY PASSIONATE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT MY KIDS, GRANDKIDS AND OTHER KIDS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, THANK YOU.
>> MY INFORMATION IS MUCH LESS TITILLATING. GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM LOUANN TOLBERT, A RETIRED EDUCATOR AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATE. BY NOW YOU HAVE HEARD PLENTY OF FACTS, FIGURES AND OPINIONS ON THE TAX REFERENDUM. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY. A FEW YEARS BEFORE I RETIRED, I WAS AT THE GYM AND DROPPED A 45-POUND WEIGHT ON MY TOE. I HELD BACK MY TEARS, RUSHED HOME, TOOK OFF MY SHOE HOPING NOT TO FIND BLOOD. LUCKILY NO BLOOD, BUT IT WAS BRUISING, THROBBING, NOT PRETTY AT ALL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PODIATRIST. HE HAD ME X-RAYED AND DETERMINED I HAD A SMALL FRACTURE IN THE TIP OF MY BIG TOE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I WEAR A BOOT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, THE BOOT IS A BLACK BULKY BRACE THAT STABILIZES YOUR FOOT -- OH, THERE IT IS. THERE IS THE BOOT. -- THAT STABILIZES -- IT STABILIZED MY FOOT AND IT VELCROS AROUND YOUR LEG. UNFORTUNATELY, MY LITTLE MISHAP WAS IN JUNE JUST AS MY HUSBAND AND I WERE PLANNING TO GO TO NEW ORLEANS FOR MY ANNIVERSARY. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO WAS TO WALK AROUND NEW ORLEANS IN A HOT, SWEATY BOOT. I ASKED THE DOCTOR, DO I REALLY HAVE TO WEAR THIS BOOT? WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL IT MAKE? HE EXPLAINED THAT WALKING WOULD BE PAINFUL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, AND IF MY TOE DIDN'T HEAL CORRECTLY, I COULD HAVE LONG-TERM NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. AFTER HEARING THAT, I WORE THE BOOT AND MY TOE HEALED NICELY. WHY ON EARTH ARE I AM TALKING ABOUT MY TOE? OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LIKE MY TOE. IT IS SUFFERING AND NEEDS HELP AND SUPPORT TO BE HEALTHY. THE MILLAGE IS THE BOOT WE NEED TO ADDRESS CURRENT, PAINFUL ISSUES. IF WE REFUSE TO PAY THIS TAX NOW, NEGATIVE, LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES ARE VERY LIKELY. SO WEAR THE DAMN BOOT, PEOPLE AND VOTE YES ON AUGUST 3.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR TODAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS SARAH WILLIAMS. I AM A PARENT OF TWO VERY SMALL CHILDREN AT TAMPA HEIGHTS. THEY ARE IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW. ONE IS A FIRST-GRADER GOING INTO SECOND. THE OTHER IS A THIRD-GRADER, BEGINNING THIRD GRADE. I JUST HAVE A STORY FOR YOU GUYS AND I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER OPTIONS AFTER I TELL THIS STORY. THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAD ISSUES BECAUSE IN SCHOOL, CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO READ "MYAN" AN ONLINE DATABASE OF THOUSANDS OF BOOKS. CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO READ. SET THEIR OWN PARAMETERS. THE PARAMETERS ARE SET BY GRADE. MY CHILD -- MY SON HAD ISSUES WAKING UP SCREAMING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, NIGHTMARES BECAUSE OF THE BOOKS HE WAS EXPOSED TO. APPARENTLY HE WAS ALLOWED TO READ SUPER SCARY BOOKS. PHONE LOCKED BUT SCARY GHOST STORY FROM ASIA AND ANOTHER ONE WAS JUST MYTHS AND LEDGE GENDS O DIFFERENT SCARY STORIES AND ANOTHER A CALL IT NAMED ANABELLE THAT THEY SAID IT WAS POSSESSED AND LEAVING SCRATCHES AND BLOOD WAS OOZING FROM HER. HE IS A SECONDS GRADER. I WORKED HARD TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN FROM THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND I TRUST THAT THEY WON'T BE EXPOSED TO THINGS THAT I PROTECT THEM SPECIFICALLY FROM. THEY WERE EXPOSED AND MY FAMILY SUFFERED FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. THE THING WITH MYAN, NO PARAMETERS FOR PARENTS TO SET WHAT THEIR CHILDREN IS ABLE TO READ AND SEE. I WROTE TO MYAN AND ASKED THE TEACHER TO SET A PARAMETER TO GUARD MY CHILDREN. AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM EITHER. SO I JUST ASK AS A SCHOOL BOARD IF YOU GUYS COULD PLEASE REVISE THIS, BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHER STUFF OUT THERE ON MYAN ON THERE. NOT JUST SCARY STUFF. DIFFERENT LEVELS, CHILDREN CAN HANDLE DIFFERENT THINGS BUT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY WHAT THEY ARE EXPOSED TO IN THE SCHOOL SETTING. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THAT. AND THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. REQUISITION OF SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS DAVIS OF THE 2022 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SCOTT BROOKS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND STAFF. I AM EXCITED THIS AFTERNOON TO BE ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND HAVE SOME OF OUR FOLKS JOIN US FOR AN AWARD THAT WE HAVE NOMINATED SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS FOR EARLIER THIS THE YEAR. AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE ARE HERE BECAUSE HE DID VERY WELL IN THAT COMPETITION. SO AT THIS TIME, I HAVE MISS CARR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION BETTER KNOWN AS FACTE IN OUR WORLD, AND SHE IS HERE AND HAS A FEW WORDS FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION. THEY DID HAVE THEIR BANQUET -- SORRY, THEIR CONFERENCE LAST WEEK. OBVIOUSLY VERY BUSY AND A LOT GOING ON. SHE WAS WILLING TO COME DOWN TO OUR MEETING TODAY. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY MADAM CHAIR AND HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN SUPPORTING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ALSO. BUT AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TO RECOGNIZE SUPERINTENDENTS WHO MADE SIGNIFICANT, POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE FIELD OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THEIR ACCOUNT AND FLORIDA. THE COMMITTEE LOOKED AT THE APPLICANTS AND THEY WERE -- THEIR MAIN ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN THIS APPLICATIONS WERE A RECORD OF INDUSTRY INCLUSION, INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITE COORDINATION AND SUPPORT, PROGRAM EXPANSION, AND STUDENT CONNECTIONS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS HAS ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED STAFF TO CONVERSE WITH YOUR INDUSTRY LEADER TO ENSURE THE TRAINING PROVIDED TO CTE STUDENTS ARE ALIGNED TO INDUSTRY NEEDS WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FLORIDA'S ECONOMY. UNDER HIS DIRECTION, ORIGINAL SUPERINTENDENTS WERE CHARGED WITH COORDINATING HELPS WITH CTE STAFF AT SCHOOL SITES TO ENSURE THAT CURRICULUM, RESOURCES, ARE ALIGNED WITH THE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION GOALS AT EACH SITE. HE HAS COMMITMENT TO SCHOOL-BASED INITIATIVES AND WORKFORCE IN YOUR DISTRICT. A FOUR-PHASED PROGRAM TO CONSTRUCT A ACADEMY, A MEDICAL MAGNET, MEDICAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND A HIGH SCHOOL FOCUSING ON TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, MR. DAVIS WAS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF TEN ORIGINAL HIGH SCHOOL INITIATIVE KNOWN AS FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU, I AM A PAST SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND A CAREER COUNSELOR. AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN WE GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY NEED A PATHWAY THAT IS DIRECTED FOR THEM IN COORDINATION WITH THE -- WITH THEIR WANTS, NEEDS AND THEIR PARENTS. THIS PROGRAM, THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY PROGRAM IDENTIFIES HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO NEED DIRECTION FOR THEIR POST SECONDARY PLANS. PROVIDE WITH TRAINING, GUIDANCE, JOB AND CAREER FAIR EXPERIENCE. HE HIT ALL FOUR OF THE POINTS THAT OUR AWARDS COMMITTEE WAS LOOKING FOR. AT THIS TIME SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD AND LET US PRESENT YOU WITH OUR AWARD FOR THIS YEAR. CHRIS STOOD IN WITH YOU AT THE CONFERENCE. HE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Addison Davis: THIS IS REALLY NICE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>>Addison Davis: THANK YOU, MA'AM, SO VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW IF I GET THREE MINUTES, CHAIR COMBS. [LAUGHTER] MISS CARR, THANK YOU FOR COMING. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WHAT A RECOGNITION. THIS RECOGNITION GOES BEYOND ME AS SUPERINTENDENT. YOU HAVE 67 -- 67 SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS THAT LEAD IN A WAY THAT CREATE THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS. WHAT OUR TEACHER DO EVERY DAY AND THIS BOARD WHO SUPPORTS ME TO ALLOW ME TO BE INNOVATIVE. EVERYTHING HERE TODAY THAT CREATES THE BEST EXPERIENCES. I ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S ENTIRE TEAM AND KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE INNOVATIVE AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND CONTINUE TO LEAD IN A WAY THAT CREATES THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU AND I AM PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AND TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM AND THIS BOARD AND THE TEAM WE HAVE TO CREATE THE BEST EXPERIENCES. SO THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Addison Davis: YOU WANT ME TO MOVE IT? I DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT. PUT SOME WATER IN IT.
>> A HUGE CUP.
>>Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATIONS, SUPERINTENDENT. I KNOW SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS WANTED TO COMMENT. MEMBER PEREZ.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT FIRST BECAUSE HE IS -- HE IS A GROUNDBREAKER WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING OUT OF THE BOX. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING, YOU KNOW, TO PRESENT THIS. YOU MENTION -- THAT YOU WERE A FORMER CAREER COUNSELOR. YOU KNOW, WHEN I WENT TO MR. DAVIS AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT CREATING A MEDICAL MAGNET, YOU KNOW, FOR MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, WE WENT AND LOOKED WITH BROOKS. WE WENT ACROSS AND CALLED AROUND. AND WE CREATED THE FIRST MENTAL HEALTH MEDICAL MAGNET PROGRAM IN THE NATION. SO HE IS AN OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKER. AS OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A WAITING LIST FOR THAT PROGRAM AND WE ALREADY GRADUATE D 50 STUDENTS ON TRACK FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD. SO YOU ARE AN OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKER WHEN IT COMES TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS ALONG WITH BROOKS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN HERE. SO THANK YOU AND VERY WELL DESERVED.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY?
>>
>>Lynn Gray: ABSOLUTELY WELL DESERVED. I HAVE TO SAY THE INNOVATION AND THE ECLECTIC VARIETY OF THESE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, YOU GROW, THEY RANGE FROM AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING TO, AS YOU SAY, MEMBER PEREZ, MEDICAL, ALL TYPES OF AVENUES. BUT IT REALLY MATCHES THE -- THE NEEDS, THE VARIETY, THE CURE OS TEASE OF OUR CHILDREN. -- CURIOSITIES OF OUR CHILDREN. THERE ARE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS THAT NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF YOUR RESPONSIVENESS TO REALLY DELVE INTO AREAS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE EVEN IMAGINED. AND AN EXAMPLE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE WELDING. ONE OF THE TOP CLASSES THAT IS ALWAYS SOLD OUT AT EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL. AND WE CAN GO ON AND ON. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR SUPERINTENDENT. IT IS SO IMPORTANT. AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN AND GIVING THEM THE HOPE AND THE AVENUES TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES. THANK YOU, MR. BROOKS, CHRIS JARGO. BOTH OF YOU HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUSLY MAGNIFICENT JOB. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS MR. SUPERINTENDENTS. IT HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE OVER MANY YEARS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH REGARD TO CTE. AM I RIGHT FLORIDA JARGO AND MR. BROOKS, YES. I REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY IN THE AUDITORIUM AT PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW WE STARTED WITH ABOUT MAYBE EIGHT OR TEN DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND HOW IT HAS GROWN AND CHANGED TO MEET THE NEEDS, NOT ONLY OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WELL. BECAUSE AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY, THAT IS WHAT IT IS REALLY ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND GIVING THEM A PATH, A CLEARER PATH OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE. WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING COMMUNITY FULL OF -- OF A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES AND MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES, WHICH IS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND SO IT IS A PERFECT MATCH TO HAVE OUR PROGRAMS MEET A SUPERINTENDENT WHO CAN REALLY EMBRACE THOSE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO VERY WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU FOR BEING INNOVATIVE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT. SO THAT MAYBE IT CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT NOT JUST IN OUR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP. WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH WITH THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMIES, THE EXPANSION OF CERTIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL CTE PROGRAMS. IT IS REALLY EXCITING. I WAS WITH A LARGE GROUP OF TEACHERS JUST THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS WAS A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. THE IMPORTANCE OF MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO GRADUATION ALIGNED WITH COLLEGE AND CAREERS. AND SO I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A REAL PASSION PROJECT OF YOURS, AND YOU MADE IT A PRIORITY, AND WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS IN THE GROWTH. AND WE HEAR FROM STUDENTS ALL THE TIME WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. AND WHEN WE CAN ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE CTE PROGRAMS FOR MANY OF THEM WHEN THEY WERE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A PURPOSE FOR SCHOOL HAVE FOUND THEIR PURPOSE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIND YOUR PURPOSE, IT FILLS YOU UP QUITE A BIT WITH A LOT OF MOTIVATION. SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT. AND WE HAVE SEEN OUR GRADUATION RATES INCREASE BECAUSE OF THIS WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. SO CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WILL BE REMISS IF I DON'T SPEAK ON THIS. BECAUSE I REALIZE SUPERINTENDENT YOUR JOB IS VERY HARD AND YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BECAUSE YOU TRULY ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ACADEMICS. WE TALK OF CTE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS. AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A HARD WORKER FROM DAY ONE. SOMETIMES YOU -- SOMETIMES YOU GO REALLY, REALLY FAST. IT IS HARD TO KEEP UP WITH YOU. BUT SUPERINTENDENT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND CHRIS AND BROOKS AND ALL, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GUYS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK HARD TOO. BUT AGAIN, SUPERINTENDENT, CONGRATULATIONS AND I KNOW YOU WILL GET MANY, MANY MORE SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT..THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I ALSO WANT TO SAY SAME THING. CONGRATULATIONS. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT ONLY 30% OF OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY COMPLETE COLLEGE, TO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THE FUTURE IS ABOUT CAREER AND TECHNICAL. JUST TODAY WE WERE SAYING THAT OFTEN KIDS WILL GRADUATE, KIND OF FLOUNDER FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW, WORK IN DIFFERENT JOBS, AND THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN THEIR MID-20s WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF SKILL. INTRODUCING THIS EARLIER TO OUR STUDENTS AND I SEE THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE HERE. I SEE CAREER RESOURCE IS HERE. I KNOW YVONNE FRY WITH THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. OUR APPRENTICE PROGRAM. WE ARE DOING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS KNOW WHEN THEY GRADUATES THAT WE ARE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT THE END BEING HIGH SCHOOL. WE ARE LOOKING AT STARTING AT THE VERY BEGINNING AT PRE-K AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A CAREER IN TECHNICAL PATH. I AM VERY EXCITED OF THE NEW PROGRAMS WE ARE BRINGING. EXCITED OF THE MARKETING AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING OVER AND OVER WHEN YOU ARE CALLING FOR SOMEONE TO FIX YOUR AIR OR YOU NEED YOUR CAR FIXED, THERE IS NOBODY THERE. TAKING SO LONG. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN KNOW THAT THERE IS A GREAT PATH AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GO TO THAT FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS. I LOOK FORWARD -- I KNOW THE BOARD IS VERY COMMITTED TO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. BROOKS, MR. JARGO AND OF COURSE MISS KIMBAYS WHICH WAS TO INSTRUMENTAL AND MADE AN IMPACT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS. SO THANK YOU. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I WILL NOW CALL SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. TWO APPOINTMENTS WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE FOR NEW LEADERSHIPS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL -- BLESS YOU. THE FIRST ONE WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE IS MRS. CAROL FERNANDEZ. SHE IS -- SHE STARTED TEACH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT THONOTOSASSA. SHE WAS AT FULSOM AND JENNINGS AND DISTRICT SPECIALIST AND RELATED TO RESOURCE TEACHERS. CURRENTLY THE AP AT SOUTH COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMY AND NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. MRS. FERNANDEZ, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND -- YOU HAVE TO WALK DOWN. MRS. FERNANDEZ, YOU GOT TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE. YOU GOT TO CREATE THIS WALK. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. AND WELCOME TO EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. . [APPLAUSE] ALSO WE HAVE A LEADER THAT START IN PRESCHOOL AS A PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND TRANSITIONED IN A PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR IN PENNSYLVANIA. THEN TRANSITIONED TO FLORIDA, I BELIEVE, IN 2010. AND BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SHE TAUGHT THIRD GRADE. SHE TAUGHT FIFTH GRADE. WAS A MATH COACH. FIVE YEARS WAS A MATH COACH, YOU KNOW, AT A DISTRICT SITE. AND ALSO WAS A DISTRICT MATH LEVEL COACH AS WELL. AND TRANSITIONED AS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8 SCHOOL. INCREASED 93 POINTS THIS YEAR. THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF TAMPA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MISS AMY MESLER. YOU GOT TO WALK DOWN. [ APPLAUSE ] CONGRATULATIONS! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. YOU GOT A BEAUTIFUL -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. RIGHT, SHAKE. AND CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS HERE TO HELP YOU AS WELL. SO MISS FERNANDEZ. WE ARE HERE. THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT KIDS AND WE LOOK TO BE PARTNERS IN THIS WORK. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
>>Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATION TO OUR NEW PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. I WILL PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO GIVE EVERYBODY TO EXIT THE BOARD ROOM IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO AT THIS MOMENT. PU
>>Nadia Combs: WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE FINANCE TEAM FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. MISS JOHN, I WILL AND THIS OVER TO YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, CHAIR, CABINET MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS. I AM GOING TO DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO WRAP UP THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS NOT -- WE HAVEN'T ENTIRELY CLOSED YET -- BEFORE WE GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>>Nadia Combs: MISS JOHN, ARE YOU WAITING FOR THE POWERPOINT? OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSING OUR FISCAL YEAR '21-'22, BALANCE IS 149.9. THAT IS AS OF JUNE 30, 2022. THAT IS OUR PRECLOSE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE. A ONE-TIME ADDITIONAL PAY THAT WE PAID OUT TO STAFF. AND THEN WE HAVE A SR 2 THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO MOVE, 10 10.8, ESSER II. SO THE ESSER 2, WE ARE NOT FINISHED MOVING PAYMENTS, WHAT MAKES UP THAT 10.8 MILLION IS COVID RESPONSE FUND, RECLASSIFICATION OF NURSES SALARY OF 6.3. LANGUAGE CONTRACTOR 2.1. AND WE STILL HAVE A SPENDING OF 3.5 MILLION TO MOVE THIS FISCAL YEAR. THAT GAVE US A GRAND TOTAL OF $10.8 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES BEING MOVED TO ESSER 2. ESSER 3, WE DID 56.8 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES TO MOVE. WE HAVE SPENDING $15.5 MILLION IN RECLASSIFICATIONS OF NURSES, COUNSELORS, PSYCHE, AND SOCIAL WORK. PEN ANDING ART MUSIC AND PE OF 27.9. IF WE DON'T GET THIS APPROVED BY THE STATE WE WILL HAVE THIS MONEY TO MOVE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING TRIM LAW. TRIM LAW WAS ENACTED IN 1980. IT IS REQUIRED IN FLORIDA STATUTE DISTRICT PROVIDE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES. REQUIRE LOCAL EFFORT OF DISCRETIONARY MILLAGE AND CAPITAL OUTLAY PART OF THE MILLAGE. PROCESS IS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE LEGISLATIVE FOR OUR AD VALOREM, PROPERTY TAXES FOR FLORIDA. THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM FOR INPUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE ON MILLAGE AND OUR PROPERTY ON OUR ANNUAL BUDGET THAT WE ARE PROPOSING BEFORE -- TO BE APPROVED. THIS IS THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, SO WE ARE NOT FISCALLY CLOSED YET. AND WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE HAVING FUNDS MOVED. SO THIS IS NOT OUR FINAL BUDGET, IT IS JUST TENTATIVE RIGHT NOW. SO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SET THE AMOUNT THAT THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MUST LEVY TO BE A PART IN THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE PROGRAM. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LEVY REQUIRED BY THE STATE. ALSO, WE ARE USING -- FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WE ARE USING SECOND CALCULATION FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DATED JULY 19, 2022. THIS IS JUST A TIMELINE OF THE CALENDAR FOR THE TRIM REPORT. ON JULY 12, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE TENTATIVE BUDGET. SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD IN A BOARD PACKET. JULY 19, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CERTIFIED THE EFFORT AND WE RECEIVED THAT. ON JULY 24, WE ADVERTISED OUR BUDGET AND THE MILLAGE RATE IN THE NEWSPAPER. TODAY JULY 26, WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:01. AND JULY 29, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FINAL HEARING SET AND FOR THE PROPERTY APPRAISER DEPARTMENT. SEPTEMBER 8, THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:01. SEPTEMBER 9, WE WILL ADOPT THE BUDGET AND SUBMIT IT TO THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. OUR PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR 2022-'23. STATE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT -- THE STATE SET THIS RATE. IT IS 3.3290. THIS DISCRETIONARY OPERATION IS 0.7480. SUPPLEMENTAL IS ZERO. GIVING US A SUBTOTAL 3.987. OUR DEBT SERVICE IS ZERO. DISCRETIONARY CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 1.5. AND OUR TOTAL MILLAGE LEVY IS 5.4870. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO READ, BUT THIS IS OUR BUDGET. OUR TENTATIVE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN POSTED IN NEWSPAPER. WE ARE SHOWING THAT WE ARE HAVING A BUDGET OVER 4.1 BILLION OVERALL. OUR GENERAL FUND IS ■AROUND -- TOTAL REVENUES 2.1 BILLION. AND SPECIAL REVENUES $130 MILLION. DEBT SERVICE OVER $207 MILLION. CAPITAL $811 MILLION. AND SERVICE IS $194 MILLION. SET TO APPROPRIATE ALL FUND $4.1 BILLION. IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE WILL HAVE BEGINNING, TENTATIVE FUND BALANCE OF $194.5 MILLION. BUT IN THIS BUDGET, AND IT IS GOING TO MOVE BECAUSE WE ARE STILL CLOSING OUT THE FISCAL YEAR AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. WE ARE PROPOSING 7 BE 3 MILLION AND OPERATION DEFICIT WITH THIS IF IT STAYS THE SAME. AND WE ARE PROPOSING ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $187.2. IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND WE WILL NOT REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE NUMBERS. SO THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS HOW OUR TAXES COMMUTED. WE START WITH THE ASSESSED VALUE, WHATEVER YOUR ASSESSED VALUE AT HOME. YOU COMMUTE THIS -- YOU CAN CONTEMPLATE HOW MUCH YOUR COSTS IS YOURSELF. WE TAKE OUT THE 25,000 FOR RUN ABOUT. A FLAT RATE OF 25,000. YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL WHICH WILL BE SHOWING ON THIS SLIDE 175,000 AND DIVIDE BY 1,000 AND 175. YOU MULTIPLY BY THE MILLAGE OF 5.48. THIS IS WHAT THE PROPERTY TAX REMITTED FOR SCHOOL FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR FOR A TAXPAYER WITH A PROPERTY VALUE OF $2960 FOR THE YEAR. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? SO THE AVERAGE FAMILY WILL PAY AROUND 960 IN PROPERTY TAXES ON HOME ASSESSED AROUND $200,000. THAT IS THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE OF $2.63 A DAY. TOWARD EDUCATION. NOW WE CAN ENTER INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE ADJOURN THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET. WE WILL CLOSE THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE MILLAGE RATES AND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL 2022-2023.
>> IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPTS THE TENTATIVE STATE REQUIRED LOCAL MILLAGE. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT DISCRETIONARY MILL RATE OF.7480, THE LOCAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RATE OF 1.50 AND DEBT SERVICE OF ZERO.
>> MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE FISCAL 2022-2023 TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AS PRESENTED. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CONCERNING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES OR ROLLED-BACK RATE? OKAY. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, ALISON FERNANDEZ. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY WORKSHOP OR INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THE CURRENT FUNDING WOULD BE TO THE STATE. I UNDERSTAND IT GOES THROUGH A COMPLICATED PROCESS BEFORE THEY COMPLICATE THE PER PUPIL FUND TO THE DISTRICT, BUT DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH INCREASE IN FUNDING WILL BE DEPOSITED WITH THE STATE AS PART OF THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES, INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE THAT'S WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THIS STATE IN GENERAL EVEN IF YOU KEEP YOUR MILLAGE RATE EXACTLY THE SAME, MORE MONEY WILL BE FLYING -- FLOWING INTO THE STATE TO BE CALCULATED AND GIVEN OUT TO THE DISTRICTS. AND I DON'T -- I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. SO I WANT TO ASK IF THAT INFORMATION CAN BE SHARED. I ALSO WANT TO ASK -- WE TALK A LOT ABOUT -- THAT THE STATE DOESN'T FUND OUR STUDENTS ADEQUATELY. OUR PER PUPIL FUNDING IS NOT ADEQUATE. I HAVE ASKED OFTEN FOR THIS DISTRICTS TO ACTUALLY BUILD WHAT THE TRUE COST OF EDUCATING A STUDENT IS. INSTEAD OF SAYING WE NEED MORE MONEY. WE NEED MORE MONEY. WE NEED MORE MONEY. BECAUSE IF YOU WERE SOMEONE LIKE ME, I REALLY DON'T TRUST THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT APPROPRIATELY. I WANT TO SEE LEGITIMATELY WHAT THE COST IS TO EDUCATE A STUDENT. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE. WE HAVE A BEHAVIOR PROGRAM THAT IS TO -- NOT A DISCIPLINE PROGRAM, BUT A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM THAT LAST YEAR WAS $45,000. AND THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR BUDGETED TO BE $7812,000. THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEARS $45,000. WHY $782,000 THIS YEAR. 90% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS STAFF. OTHER DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE 90% OF THEIR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS PAYROLL EXPENSE. SO THEY ARE MANAGING -- THEY ARE PAYING. THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. THAT TELLS ME THEY HAVE ALLOCATED THEIR FUNDS DIFFERENTLY AND THEY ARE PAYING THEIR PEOPLE ACCORDINGLY. MAYBE THEY HAVE LESS OVERHEAD OF STAFF. SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT I THINK NEED TO BE ANSWERED, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DISCUSSION AND A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE STATE CALCULATES SPENDING. HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING -- IS EXPECTED TO FLOW IN TO THE BASIC MODEL BEFORE IT GETS ALLOCATED PER PUPIL BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS. THE OTHER THING IS, I WOULD LIKE THIS DISTRICT TO BUILD A TRUE COST OF EDUCATE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SO WE HAVE ACTUAL FACTS TO STAND ON WHEN WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. WE ARE GETTING THE MILLAGE FIRST. REMEMBER HOW YOU TRIED TO DO YOUR HEARING WITH THE MILLAGE AND THE BUDGET TOGETHER. CONTRARY TO LAW. GOOD YOU DO IT RIGHT NOW. THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED TAX LEVY, $868 MILLION. GOING UP. YEAH. THAT'S GOOD. TALK ABOUT THE -- WHERE IT'S GOING COMING UP WITH THE BUDGET HERE.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> ROB CRIETES, CTA. WE HAVE SPEAKERS TALK OF BUILDING SMART SCHOOLS. WE ARE THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. WE CAN'T BUILD OUR HOUSES OF STRAW NEVER MIND BRICK. SMART SCHOOLS. WE CAN AGREE WE NEED THAT. WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT. WE HAVE SPEAKERS TALKING OF THE FREE MARKET SHOULD DETERMINE WHAT TEACHERS MAKE AND EDUCATORS MAKE. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF OPENINGS. GUESS WHAT, THE MARKET NEEDS TO DO BETTER. MILLAGE IS THE RATE -- THE MILLAGE RATE NEEDS TO BE INCREASE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET EMPLOYEES WORK WITH KIDS. WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR GRADES BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF THE TEACHERS. THOSE THAT ARE WORKING THERE. 90% OF OUR MONEY GOING TO TEACHER IS INCORRECT TO BEGIN WITH. BUT THIS IS A PERSON DRIVEN BUSINESS. WE ARE DEALING WITH KIDS. WE NEED MORE ADULTS IN THE BUILDING. WE NEED TO RAISE OUR SCHOOL GRADES. THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT IS TO ATTRACT THE BEST AND KEEP THEM HERE. THE MARKET IS FAILING US RIGHT NOW. MILLAGE IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS? OKAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. WE CAN OPEN UP -- NOBODY HAD ASKED. OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO BACK. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MISS JOHN, I HAVE GOTTEN A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AND I WANT TO ASK THESE PUBLICLY TO CLARIFY, THE REQUIRED MILLAGE IS THE AMOUNT WE CAN RECOUP TOWARD THE PROPERTY TAXES FOR REVENUES, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR AND WE HAD A VERY LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. SO RIGHT NOW IT IS BEING DECREASED, THAT IS CORRECT?
>> THE MILLAGE RATE IS BEING DECREASED, CORRECTS.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THAT MEANS WE WILL BE RECOUPING LESS REVENUE FOR HOME PROPERTY TAXES UNDER WHAT WE SHALL PASSING RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT TAX VALUES WENT UP. THE RATE IS DOWN. SO WE ARE DOING A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
>>Jessica Vaughn: SO THIS IS HOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW THE STATE HAS CAPPED THE PERCENTAGE. IF PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE TALK OF PROPERTY VALUES BEING CAPPED. PEOPLE SAY, WELL, PRICE VALUES ARE GOING UP. THE HOUSING MARKET IS HUGE. YOU WILL HAVE THE HUGE AMOUNT OF REVENUE COMING IN. WHEN WE TALK OF HOW THE STATE PASSED SOMETHING IN 2018, CAP THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX WE CAN TAKE NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTY BUT STATEWIDE. ALL OF THE COUNTIES CONTRIBUTES TO THIS. COUNTIES THAT HAVE HUGE PROPERTY VALUES AND WATERFRONT PROPERTIES ALL GO IN THE SAME BUCKET AND READJUST IT DOWN TO EVERYBODY EQUALLY BASED ON THAT PERCENTAGE, THAT'S CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: SO WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING LESS OF A PERCENT THIS YEAR THAN PREVIOUS?
>> WELL, WE GET MORE LOCAL, BUT THE STATE REDUCES OUR STATE PROPORTIONING BY THE AMOUNT. BUT GET INCREASE IN LOCAL.
>>Jessica Vaughn: HOW DO WE EXPECT THAT TO AFFECT OUR BUDGET OVERALL? THAT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
>> EVEN THOUGH THE RATE HAS GONE UP AND PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, THE STATE COLLECTS ALL THIS MONEY AND THEY DISTRIBUTE BASED ON WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE TO THE DISTRICT. IF THEY DO AN INCREASE IN OUR BASE, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID, WE GOT A 214 INCREASE IN OUR BASE RATE, THAT IS HOW WE GET ANY INCREASES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT OVERALL.
>>Jessica Vaughn: SO YOU EXPECT THIS TO HELP OUR BUDGET?
>> YES.
>>Jessica Vaughn: TO GIVE US AN INCREASE?
>> YES.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, CRYSTAL CLEAR, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOTAL MILLAGE RATE, WE ARE TALKING JUST COMPARE, SAY, 2010. AND IN YEAR 2010, WHAT WAS THE TOTAL MILLAGE. AND WHAT ARE WE ASKING FOR IN 2022?
>> WELL, THE MILLAGE RATE MAY HAVE BEEN HIGHER, BUT IT IS ABOUT HOW MUCH REVENUE THE STATE WANTS TO COLLECT ALL TOGETHER.
>>Lynn Gray: CORRECT.
>> THE TAXABLE VALUES GO UP, THEY USUALLY REDUCE THE RATE BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL GOING TO COLLECT MORE THAN IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE ROLLBACK NUMBERS BE LESS THAN THE ACTUAL LOCAL REVENUE, EQUIPMENT RATE. OUR ROLLBACK IS LESS. IF THEY WANTED TO COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE AS LAST YEAR, THEY WILL ROLL IT BACK TO TE -- WHICH IS OUR ROLLBACK RATE IS -- WHERE IS THAT? 5.0316.
>>Lynn Gray: OKAY. SO IN 2010 -- IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT?
>> LAST FISCAL YEAR. OUR ROLLBACK RATE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR A 5.0316. IF THEY WANTED TO COLLECTS THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE THEY DID LAST YEAR, THEY WILL USE THE ROLL BACK OF 5.0316. BUT CURRENTLY, OUR RATE IS NOT THAT AMOUNT. OUR TOTAL RATE IS -- 5.4870. SO THE STATE IS GOING TO BE COLLECTING MORE REVENUE TOTALLY FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
>>Lynn Gray: SO IF WE LOOK AT -- AND I AM GOING TO BE VERY PATIENT ON THIS. BUT IF WE LOOK AT 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. IF WE LOOK AT THAT VERSUS WHAT WE ARE ASKING, IS IT NOT TRUE THAT THE TOTAL MILLAGE RATE WAS HIGHER IN THE PAST. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO RESOUND. SO WHAT, IN FACT, WE ARE ASKING FOR IS NOT A REAL INCREASE IN MILLAGE. WE ARE ASKING FOR, PERHAPS WE CAN PUT IT VERY GENTLY, A CORRECTION, IF YOU WILL.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT WE DON'T -- THE STATE DOESN'T DO COLAS. WHAT YOU ARE SEEING OVER TIME, NO COLA INCREASE WAS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN PROPERTY TAX VALUES AT THAT TIME. AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T GET A COLLA INCREASE. THE RATE IS LOWER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.
>>Lynn Gray: SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, CAN YOU MAKE THE SENTENCE STRUCTURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT. COMPARABLY SPEAKING, TOTAL MILLAGE RATE IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS, HIGHER OR LOWER.
>>Addison Davis: IN PREVIOUS YEARS IT WAS HIGHER. YOU LOOK AT 2012, 2013, AROUND 5.6. AND AS WE CURRENTLY SITS IS 3.6. AND NOW DROP IT ONCE AGAIN. WITH AN INCREASED MILL IF APPROVED TO ALLOW US TO ADDRESS THE COMPENSATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND EXPANDS VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS AND AT THE SAME TOKEN WITH WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, WE WILL LESS THAN WE WERE TEN YEARS AGO. WE KNOW SOME BALANCING OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL DO, BUT WE DEFINITELY FROM -- IN LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL NUMBER, THAT NUMBER WILL BE LOWER THAN IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN.
>>Lynn Gray: IN A NUTSHELL, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A MILLAGE INCREASE. THE REALITY IS, WE ARE JUST REALLY NOT AHEAD OF THE GAME IN 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.
>>Addison Davis: ALL I WOULD SAY TO THE CHAIR, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE WHERE WE WERE IN 2012 AND 2013, 5.6. THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED CLOSE TODAY 1 BILLION. $975 MILLION WOULD HAVE COME TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER THAT PARTICULAR TIME ALLOWING US TO CREATE NEW COMPENSATION PACKAGES. ALLOWING US TO ADDRESS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS AND NOT WAITING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE INNOVATIVE AND LEAN ON STATES OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING AND ALLOW US TO ADDRESS AND EXPAND CTE AND PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AT A FASTER PLACE THAN WE ARE TODAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MISS JOHNSON, THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE MORE WE TALK ABOUT IT, THE MORE WE BECOME TRANSPARENT. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN BROUGHT TO THE BOARD TODAY OF UNDERSTANDING HOW IT WORKS. EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT BE ASKING THIS QUESTION IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IT IS SIMILAR -- SIMILARLY TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATION, I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND IT. SO I AM GOING TO ASK -- I AM GOING TO ASK IT IN ANOTHER WAY. SO -- BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WONDERING. WE TALKED OF THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES. AND, THEREFORE, THE INCREASE IN TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUE AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE REVENUE, TAX REVENUE FOR -- FOR THE SCHOOL -- FOR THE COUNTY. I WILL SAY FOR THE COUNTY. AND SO WILL WE REALIZE AN INCREASE IN LOCAL REVENUE DUE TO THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR BUDGET.
>> YES, WE WILL BE INCREASING LOCAL REVENUES. BUT WE ARE PART OF THE FAFEP WHICH IS THE STATE FUNDING FORMULA. AND WHEN WE RECEIVE THE REVENUE, EVEN THOUGH OUR LOCAL PORTION COMES FROM OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS, THE STATE REDUCES OUR STATE APPROPRIATION ACCORDINGLY TO ANY INCREASE. SO IF WE INCREASE $50 MILLION, THE STATE REDUCES OUR STATE APPROPRIATION PORTION BY $50 MILLION.
>>Melissa Snively: BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS PROBABLY A MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE PUBLIC ABOUT -- OR AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE AN INCREASE IN REVENUE SIMPLY BASED ON THE FACT THAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIF SIGNIFICANTLY. MY QUESTION ALSO IN ADDITION TO THAT IS WE STILL HAVE A FINANCIAL STRATEGY WITHOUT A MILLAGE INCREASE. DO YOU -- HAS ANYTHING CHANGED IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL RECOVERY STR STRATEGY? ARE WE ON TRACK? ARE WHERE WE PLAN TO BE IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS MILLAGE APPROVED BY THE CONSTITUENTS?
>> YES. WE DO -- WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE FINANCIAL STRATEGY THAT IS GOING TO ADDRESS OUR OPERATIONAL DEFICIT, BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR GIVING INCREASES OR ANYTHING -- ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS OR ANY OTHER THINGS THAN RUNNING THIS DISTRICTS AND BEING AT A OPERATIONAL DEFICIT AT THIS TIME.
>>Melissa Snively: ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANY FURTHER WORKSHOP OR -- WHERE WE CAN CONTINUALLY ASK QUESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS? BECAUSE HERE -- HERE IS ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I GET IS -- WELL, DOES THAT MEAN IF WE DON'T APPROVE THE MILLAGE, THAT MEANS ALL THE MUSIC PROGRAMS ENDS AND ALL OF THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS END? BUT THAT IS THE MISNOMER OUT THERE WHEN WE SAY WE CAN ONLY CONTINUE OUR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS WITH THIS MILLAGE. CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. EVERY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD RECEIVE OR STAFF RECEIVE, LET US KNOW AND WE WILL UPDATE OUR FAQs TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ADD THAT INTO THE LISTEN LEARN TOURS AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AS I GO OUT TO ENGAGE YOUR OUR COMMUNITIES. AS IT RELATES TO THE VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE PROGRAMS WILL GO AWAY. IT MEANS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GO IN PLACE. WHAT IT MEANS AND SPEAK POSITIVELY, IT ALLOWS US TO EXPAND THE INITIATIVES AND ALLOWS MORE THAN 15,000 YOUNGSTER TO HAVE EXPOSURE TO ART, MUSIC AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. WHEREAS RIGHT NOW IF YOU LOOK AT KINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ARE LED BY THE STANDS-ALONE SELF-CONTAINED TEACHER THAT IT HAS TO GO AND LEAD ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES. VERSUS US HAVING A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN THAT AREA THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT -- THE CREATIVITY AND THOSE PARTICULAR CONTENT AREAS AND PUSH IN TO COVER THOSE CLASSES DURING SPECIALS, IT ALLOWS THAT TEACHER, THAT STANDS-ALONE STATIONARY TEACHER TO BE ABLE -- SELF-CONTAINED SEARCHER TO HAVE A TRAINING PERIOD AND FROM TRUE PLCs.
>>Melissa Snively: I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE AND I THINK THE CLEARER WE CAN BE ABOUT THAT, THE BETTER FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. BECAUSE THERE IS THAT -- I THINK THERE IS SOME ASSUMPTION OUT THERE THAT WE WON'T HAVE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. THEY WILL ENDS IF WE DON'T PASS THIS MILLAGE.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: MR. PORTER.
>>Jim Porter: JUST BRIEFLY, I WANT THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO SET THE MILLAGE. QUESTIONS THAT BLEED OVER INTO THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM TO SET THE MILLAGE. FOR THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S HEARING YOU ARE TALKING OF ESTABLISHING THE MILLAGE SEPARATE OR APART WHETHER THE REFERENDUM PASSES OR NOT. THE TERM "MILLAGE" IS ON EVERYONE'S MINDS AND CONFUSION WHAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS ABOUT. NOT ABOUT THE PROPOSED REFERENCE RUM, IT IS ABOUT THE STATE REQUIREMENT OF SETTING THE MILLAGE. I THINK THE QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ASKING ARE SUPER IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL. I HEARD THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL CONFUSION ABOUT THAT. SO THIS IS JUST ABOUT SETTING THE MILLAGE TONIGHT, NOT ABOUT THE REFERENDUM.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE MOTION TO GO THROUGH ON THIS PROCESS. I WANTED TO REMINDS EVERYONE. BARRING ANY FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE VOTE PEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. -- WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A TENTATIVE OF $4,164,691,084.43.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MISS JOHNSON. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TENTATIVE BUDGET. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANYONE PRESENT WHO WANTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CONCERNING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET?
>> GOOD EVENING, ALISON FERNANDEZ. I AM GOING TO RESTATE SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE EXPRESSED TO THIS BOARD BEFORE. AND THAT IS, I REALIZE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF A SCHOOL YEAR, WE CHANGE THE BUDGET. WE AMEND THE BUDGET AS FUNDING CHANGES. EXPENSE CHANGES, ETC. THAT LEAVES US WITH A MOVING TARGET AND NOTHING TO REALLY COMPARE TO SAY THAT OUR EXPENDING -- OUR SPENDING IS WITHIN THE RANGES WE EXPECTED OR NOT WITHIN THE RANGES WE EXPECTED. AND I WILL POINT OUT THE BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM THAT IS I THINK BEFORE YOU TONIGHT THAT IS GOING FROM $45,000 A YEAR TODAY 782,000 A YEAR. YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT AS A -- AS A PUBLIC TAXPAYER, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW ARE SCHOOLS SPENDING WHAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO SPEND? ARE DISTRICT OFFICES SPENDING WHAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO SPEND? ARE THEY SPENDING WITHIN THE FUNDING THAT YOU HAVE? THE PUBLIC REALLY NEEDS TO HAVE A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHERE THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM. MAYBE YOU ARE ABLE TO AMEND THE BUDGET AND SPEND MONEY BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECEIVED A GRANT, BUT MAYBE THAT GRANT IS A ONE-TIME GRANT AND YOU ARE USING TO PAY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES THAT WILL THEN -- THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND A FUNDING SOURCE LATER. THESE ARE ALL BUDGET QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T THINK ARE ADEQUATELY ANSWERED IN THE COURSE OF YOUR PUBLIC REPORTS. AND I KNOW YOU ALL GET REPORTS. YOU MEET WITH THE CFO AND YOU GET MORE DETAILED REPORTS, BUT THOSE NEVER COME OUT TO THE PUBLIC. ALSO, I WANT TO SAY THAT YOUR STAFF -- YOUR ACCOUNTING OFFICE, YOUR CFO OFFICE IS EXTREMELY SMALL. RUNNING A $3.5 BILLION BUDGET ON A GOOD YEAR, AND MOST COMPANIES WITH THAT LEVEL OF FUNDING, EXPENDITURES AND SPEND THAT GOES THROUGH WOULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THAT OFFICE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU THE REPORTS AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. AND I KNOW WHEN PEOPLE LIKE TO CUT COSTS, THEY SAY WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THE BUDGET, THE FIRST PLACE THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO CUT IS THE ACCOUNTING OFFICE. I AM ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER AND CONSIDER ACTUALLY BEEFING UP THAT OFFICE SO WE CAN HAVE BETTER TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, ALL THAT HAPPENS IS YOU SET A BUDGET. AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YOU AMEND THAT BUDGET. AND THEN WE HAVE NOTHING TO COMPARE TO SAY THE SPEND IN THIS CATEGORY WAS ACCEPTABLE. THE SPENDING AT THIS SCHOOL WAS ACCEPTABLE OR WE NEED TO FUNDS CERTAIN PROGRAMS MORE OR WE CAN FUNDING IS LESS. THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING ALL OF YOU TO DO AND THAT IS A BROADER QUESTION THAN JUST THE BUDGET NUMBERS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. LOOK AT THESE FIGURES. THIS IS UNDER TOTAL REVENUE, TRANSFER AND BALANCE, CAPITAL PROJECTS. $811 MILLION. FOR THE BOARD, $2.5 MILLION. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, $32.5 MILLION. FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, $109 MILLION. FACILITIES ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION, $277 MILLION. CENTRAL SERVICES, $206 MILLION. OPERATIONAL PLAN, $142 MILLION. MAINTENANCE, $28 MILLION. DEBT SERVICE, $83 -- $84 MILLION. YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM IS HOW IS THAT MONEY SPENT. IS THAT GET THE CHILDREN TAUGHT? YEAH, YOU WANT -- YOU WANT TO RAISE MONEY. BUT HOW IS IT GOING TO BE SPENT? YOU KNOW, HERE IS THE HARD SELL. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VOTERS MUST DECIDE WHETHER RAISE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. THE IDIOT IN THE "ST. PETE TIMES" SAYS IT WAS LIKE RAIDING YOUR SAVINGS TO PAY YOUR MONTHLY LIGHT BILL. LIGHT BILL? WHAT ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE 1920s, BEFORE YOU HAD THE AC. WOW, YOU NKNOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO MUCH ADMINISTRATION HERE. TOO MUCH PAPER PUSHING. I MEAN, I TALK TO MY WIFE, THE FORMER TEACHER FOR 30 YEARS ABOUT THIS TOO MANY TIMES YOU KNOW, WHAT I DO HEAR, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAY, AN INCREASE. NO, IT'S AN INCREASE -- INCREASE BEGINS WITH THE VOWEL. YEAH, WE CAN TRUST WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS BEFORE I MOVE TO THE BOARD COMMENTS? YES, PLEASE. IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS IF YOU CAN PLEASE HEAD TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WALL, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JAY SOTO. I AM PRETTY MUCH CONCERNED FOR WHY IT IS ONLY ONE OF THESE MEETINGS INSTEAD OF DISTRIBUTING THIS AMONG THE DISTRICTS -- THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN T THE HILLSBOROUGH. SO MORE PEOPLE CAN ATTEND AND GET EDUCATED AND WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ALL THAT. SECOND OF ALL, HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH OF ALL THIS M MONIES ARE GOING TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL LEARNING OF THE KIDS. ARE THEY LEARNING REAL HISTORY? ARE THEY LEARNING MATH? PLEASE, THIS IS NOT A GAME. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS REBECCA BORE, AND I AM A TEACHER HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. STARTING MY SEVENTH YEAR, ACTUALLY. IN MY TIME IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I WATCHED AS MY DEPARTMENT UNITS HAVE BEEN CUT. I WATCHED PROGRAMS CUT. I HAVE WATCHED CO-WORKERS LEAVE FOR BETTER PAYING JOBS IN OTHER PROFESSIONS AND OTHER STATES. AND I AM WATCHING AS INFLATION RISES, AND I AM LOOKING AT MY GROCERY BILL AND WONDERING HOW I AM GOING TO PAY FOR DAY CARE FOR MY DAUGHTER COMING UP THIS YEAR. AND I AM LOOKING AT MY SALARY, AND ASKING, HOW DO I MAKE IT WORK. I LOVE MY JOB. I LOVE TEACHING. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS WHAT I AM CALLED TO DO. I AM CALLED TO BE A TEACHER, BUT I ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO PAY MY BILLS. I HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR MY DAUGHTER. I NEED MORE MONEY. WE NEED BETTER BENEFITS. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PUT MY DAUGHTER ON MY HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDED THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. INSTEAD WE HAD TO PUT HIM ON MY HUSBAND'S AND HE WORKS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS PARK RANGER. WHY CAN'T I AFFORD TO HAVE HER ON MY HEALTH INSURANCE? I THOUGHT THIS PROFESSION WAS ONE THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES. AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS? MR. KRIETE. OKAY. MEMBER VAUGHN?
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I AM TRYING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE PIECE OF THE -- OF THE WHOLE HEARING WE ARE WORKING ON. RIGHT NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS OF TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR BUDGET IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVING PIECES, I AM A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED. WE CAN NOT MAKE AMENDMENTS. THAT IS HOW EVERY BUDGET WORKS. MAKE TRADITIONAL BUDGET. THINGS CHANGE. WHAT THE STATE GIVES US. GRANTS COME AT DIFFERENT POINTS. I THINK WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE BUDGET OF THINGS TO COME. WE SPENT MANY TIMES TALKING MANY MINUTES WHETHER GRANTS ARE GOING TO FUND THINGS. MEMBER GRAY HAS TALKED ABOUT WHETHER THERE WILL BE SUSTAINABLE. EVERY TIME YOU GIVE US AN AMENDMENT, IT IS VERY CLEAR WHERE IT COMES FROM. HOW THAT READJUSTS THE BUDGET. WHERE IT GOES THROUGH. IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ASK FOR A RED BOOK AND REFERENCE THE RED BOOK. A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND VERY CONFUSING AND COMPLEX AND I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME FOLLOWING IT. TO INSINUATE THAT WE ARE NOT COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT IN THE BUDGET IS MISLEADING AND CONCERNING WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW TRYING TO BE CLEAR TO OUR COMMUNITY WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I HEARD ONE OF THE SPEAKERS MENTION AN ITEM THAT WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA TWICE TONIGHT. IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CATEGORY -- CATEGORICALS IN DIFFERENT BUDGETS. WHAT WE HAVE ISSUE ABOUT GETTING ENOUGH REVENUE IS OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET. A LOT OF THE ITEMS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE FUNDED BY INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS. THE ITEM TWO TIMES TONIGHT AND FUNDED UNDER THE IDEAS BUDGET THAT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUDGET THAT DOESN'T COME FROM OUR GENERAL FUND. DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT. I PULLED IT SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. WE ASK OF DIFFERENT THINGS DEPENDING ON WHAT PART OF THE BUDGET, CATEGORICAL OR NOT. WE ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT FUND IN GENERAL. I WANT TO PROVIDE CLARITY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED NOT A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY. I THINK IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED BUDGET TO UNDERSTAND AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT. TO INSINUATE IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT AND PEOPLE CAN PUBLIC RECORDS AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH AGENDA ITEM. EVERY AGENDA ITEM HAS A FORECASTED AMOUNT, WHICH CATEGORICAL, WHERE THE FUNDING COMES FROM. I WANT CLEAR FOR PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS, THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE. THANK YOU. I WILL STOP THERE.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY ASK ANOTHER QUESTION AND SINCE YOU MENTIONED THAT, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT -- ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AS A SCHOOL BOARD. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS NECESSARILY THAT WE ARE NOT TRANSPARENT ENOUGH OUTWARDLY ON OUR WEB SITE OR WITH PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS OR GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OUR BUDGET. EVERYTHING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS THAT YOU COULD EVER WANT ABOUT OUR BUDGET INFORMATION ONLINE, BUT THE ISSUE -- AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO MAKE MR. PORTER NOT HAPPY BY -- YEAH -- BUT IT IS MORE OF A TRUST ISSUE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THE PUBLIC JUST -- THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT TRANSPARENT ENOUGH BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB ABOUT CREATING AND CULTIVATING TRUST AMONG PEOPLE SO THEY TRUST US. WE HAVE A FINANCE COMMITTEE. PUBLIC FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE. PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR AUDITORS. ALL OF THESE THINGS, TAKING US AWAY FROM OUR OWN JOBS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. YET THE PUBLIC IS DEMAND IT. SORRY I REGRESSED A LITTLE BIT ON THAT. BUT MY ORIGINAL QUESTION -- JUST TO ADDRESS THAT, JUST TO SAY, IT IS NOT -- I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK, IN MY OPINION, IT IS TRANSPARENCY AS MUCH AS IT IS TRUST. THE OTHER THING IS, SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS MENTIONED WAS OUR -- OUR HR PORTION OF OUR BUDGET. I KNOW THAT PROBABLY -- MAYBE SIX TO EIGHT YEARS AGO, IT WAS CLOSER TO 82% THAT WE ARE SPENDING A PORTION OF OUR BUDGET ON HUMAN RESOURCES EXPENDITURES AND 90%. IT BEST PRACTICES. DO YOU HAVE CONCERN OF THAT PARTICULAR PERCENTAGE. WHAT DO YOU TO DO MANAGE THAT SO IT DOESN'T UPWARDS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT US TO UNDER THAT PERCENTAGE.
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. WE ARE UNDER 90%. THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN 85% AND 87%. BUT ALSO ABLE TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS. IF THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO CREEP UP TO 88% OR 89% BASED ON NEEDS. AND THE BIGGEST THING IS HOW YOU LEVERAGE CATEGORICAL AND LEVERAGE DOLLARS. I AM NOT AFRAID BEING 88% OR 87 OR 89% IF WE ARE MANAGING THE DOLLARS. AND LOOK AT IDA AND TITLE FUNDING TO SERVE CHILDREN. FOR US, THAT NUMBER DOESN'T -- I AM NOT AFRAID OF WHERE THE NUMBER IS IN THE TALL 80s. I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE IN A SWEET SPOT OF 87. BASED ON OUR UNIQUE NEEDS AND CARVE OUT FLEXIBILITY TO ADD POSITIONS IN PEOPLE WERE NEEDED.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS VALID CONCERNS TO BRING UP OPERATIONALLY. AND I THINK THE CLEARER WE ARE OF WHAT YOUR FISCAL PLAN IS TO MANAGE THAT PERCENTAGE SO IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO CREEP UP TOO FAR BASED ON BEST PRACTICES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BUT I UNDERSTAND IT IS A CHALLENGE -- WE WANT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AS WELL. A DELICATE BALANCE TRYING TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT TO SPEND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HUMAN RESOURCES. SO THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. IT IS JUST VERY HARD TO HEAR TEACHERS AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SOCIETY. IT IS JUST VERY, VERY CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW. BUT I THINK OVER AND OVER, WE TALK ABOUT TRUST. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT MORE THAN THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE WEREN'T HERE TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO. THE MAJORITY OF US ARE NEW. WHEN YOU SAY NOT TRUST, I THINK IT BUILDS DISTRUST, BECAUSE THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY TRANSPARENT. ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS WORKED EXTREMELY HARD AT BALANCING THIS BUDGET, AS WELL AS MISS JOHNSON AND THE ENTIRE CABINET. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT MISTRUST AND I SEE THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALL THE TIME. A LOT OF THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS WEREN'T HERE AT THAT TIME. SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO SO THAT WAY TEACHERS CAN WORK. SO WE DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN PAY FOR THE BILLS. WHO CAN'T EVEN LIVE. I MEAN IT IS JUST -- IT IS JUST KIND OF RIDICULOUS THAT WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO JUST BLAME THINGS JUST SO WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT -- THAT WE ARE UNDERFUNDED ON A STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. THAT PEOPLE KEEP BLAMING THING AND PLAYING THE SHELL GAME OF, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THAT TEACHERS AND THIS BUDGET ARE COMPLETELY UNDERFUNDED. SO IT IS NOT ABOUT TRUST. IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE JUST NOT WANTING TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. IT COMES DOWN TO JUST LOCAL, STATE, MAYBE EVEN NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE EDUCATOR ARE NOT BEING PRIORITIZED. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO BLAME THINGS AND KEEP SAYING THIS. BOTTOM LINE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, AND IT CAN'T BE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TRUST BE. I THINK IT IS MORE MISLEADING. THE MORE PEOPLE SAY THAT ON THE DAIS IT BUILDS MISTRUST. IT IS JUST THE WAY I FEEL. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK -- AND I -- I HATE TO USE THE WORD AGAIN "TRUST. "BUT WHEN WE -- AS -- AS THE PUBLIC HEARS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OR THEY SEE -- THEY REMARK ON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, THEY ONLY NEED TO LOOK AT FOUR ITEMS TO SEE THE ENTIRE -- HOW OUR BUDGET IS RATED IN THE -- IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, TELL US THE FOUR -- NAME THE FOUR AUDITS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH. AND WE HAVE -- AND THEN I WILL HAVE AN EXPLANATION ON EACH -- WELL, I WILL HAVE MISS JOHNSON. KPMG -- GO AHEAD.
>> KPMG IS OUR AUDITING FIRM. THEY AUDITED OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND THEY ARE NOT MISREPRESENTED.
>>Lynn Gray: THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS.
>> THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS CAME TO ASSESS AND THE GIBSON REPORT. AUDITOR GENERAL COMES IN EVERY OTHER YEAR TO LOOK AT OUR FINANCIALS, THE AUDITOR GENERAL OFFICE.
>>Lynn Gray: EXPAND, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS.
>> EVERY ONE OF OUR FINANCES GETS AUDITED OF HOW WE EXPEND -- WE HAVE EVALUATORS OF HOW WE SPENDS TITLE 1, 2 AND 4. WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PERKINS. ALL OF THOSE ARE REVIEWS THAT WE HAVE AN EVALUATOR COME IN TO VIEW AND THE STATE AUDIT AS WELL. AND EVERY AUDIT WE HAVE HAS BEEN CLEAN AND SAYING WE ARE MOVING IN AN EFFICIENT AND APPROPRIATE MANNER AS OUTLINED BY REGULATIONS.
>>Lynn Gray: WE HAD THE KPMG -- I HOPE I HAVE THOSE. COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS AND THE N KAFER REPORT. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE AUDITS WE SHOWED EXCELLENCE, NOT IMME MEDIOCRITY. BUT EVIDENCE. AND ANY THAT ARE QUESTIONING, IF YOU LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE AUDITS YOU WILL BE REASSURED HOW THE DISTRICT SPENDS MONEY, HOW IT WILL SPENDS MONEY AND WHERE IT GOES. AND EVERYTHING IS INCLUSIVE. SO I WOULD SAY SINCE WE ARE ON THE DAIS AND WE HAVE PUBLIC VIEWING. I WOULD INVITE ANY CONSTITUENT, ANY PARENT, ANY CONCERNED CITIZEN, SIMPLY GO TO THE AUDIT. ANY OF THOSE AUDITS. THEN YOU CAN CHECK OUT HOW WE ARE DOING. IT IS EXEMPLARY. MISS JOHNSON, SUSIE GARCIA, STEPHANIE HEATON -- SHE IS NOT HERE -- YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE CONGRATULATED AND EMBLEMATIC OF FINANCIAL STEWARD PRECIPITATION AND SO HAS THIS BOARD. THIS BOARD QUESTIONS EVERY NICKEL AND DIME. I GO AROUND AND I SEE EVERY ONE OF YOU MEMBERS ASKING THE VERY QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED. SO AT ANY RATE, THOSE ARE -- THAT IS MY SUGGESTION FOR ANYONE WHO IS QUESTIONING OUR FINANCIAL FIDELITY. AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS ARE TOO, YOU ALSO.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I WILL MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS ALREADY NOT THAT WE SHOULDN'T. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE IS INTENTIONALLY A LEVEL OF MISTRUST BEING CREATED BY POLICIES COMING OUT OF TALLAHASSEE BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY AN INTENTION TO DESTROY TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK UNFORTUNATELY CREATED MISTRUST ARE MANDATES THAT COME DOWN FROM TALLAHASSEE AND THINGS WE HAVE TO TRY TO CAREFULLY EXPLAIN. WE GET OUR PER PUPIL FUNDING INCREASED AND ALSO MANDATES THAT RAISE PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES $15 AN HOUR MORE SOONER ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAPPEN. AND WE NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. OUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD MAKE LIVABLE WAGES. THAT IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT NOT GETTING MONEY FROM THE STATE THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE PER PUPIL. A LOT OF CONFUSING FINANCIAL THINGS THAT COMES FROM A TALLAHASSEE THAT THIS BOARD NEEDS TO DISCUSS AND TALK ABOUT. IF THERE IS MISTRUST IT IS BEING MANUFACTURED INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE THE MORE CHAOS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE LACK OF SUPPORT OF SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY. THE EASY IT IS TO DESTROY TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION AND FASTER FAMILIES WILL ACCEPT PRIVATIZING EDUCATION. AND I URGE CON STITCH BENTS AND VOTER TO PAY ATTENTION -- CONSTITUENTS AND VOTER TO PAY ATTENTION AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MANDATED FROM TALLAHASSEE AND THAT'S ALL I AM GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: TWO MORE CENTS AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON. BUT I WILL SAY THIS, THAT WE ALL HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE OF THE TERMINOLOGY USE WITH REGARD TO TRUST. I DO AGREE WHAT MISS GRAY SAID THAT OUR BUDGET, OUR BOARD HAS VERY, VERY CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING AND ASKING QUESTIONS AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE LISTEN TO CONSTITUENTS AND GETTING ANSWERS AND TRYING TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN. I THINK THAT -- AND NO OFFENSE TO ANYBODY WHO SERVES ON THE FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR THE -- WHAT IS THE COMMITTEE, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. BUT WHEN WE CREATE THOSE TYPES OF COMMITTEES THAT TAKE THE AUTHORITY OR THE RESPONSIBILITIES AWAY FROM BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, THEN I THINK THAT ALSO CREATES A LEVEL OF DISTRUST THAT WE CAN'T DO OUR OWN JOBS. THAT WE HAVE TOE HAVE A FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THAT IS ALL I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT. I KNOW WE ARE DIGRESSING.
>>Jim Porter: I DO NEED TO SPEAK TO THAT. SOMETHING THAT MISS SNIVELY SAID. NONE OF THE COMMITTEES YOU MENTIONED DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY -- YOU DON'T DELEGATE.
>>Melissa Snively: I UNDERSTAND, THE PERCEPTION THAT IT IS. AND PERCEPTION IS REALITY.
>>Jim Porter: NO, IT IS NOT REALITY.
>>Melissa Snively: I AM SAYING FOR PEOPLE IT IS.
>>Jim Porter: A VERY IMPORTANT LEGAL POINT. THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DOES NOT MAKE DECISIONS. IT REPORTS BACK TO YOU LIKE THE FINANCIAL COMMITTEE AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE RECORD BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT. NO ONE ELSE. I UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTION. I NEED TO SAY THAT ON THE RECORD. YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT.
>>Nadia Combs: LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE MORE MOTIONS AN IT IS FINE. I CAN BE HERE UNTIL MIDNIGHT. I AM GOOD. BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE MOTIONS JUST ALONG WITH THIS. AND MAYBE WE NEED TO KIND OF ENGAGE MORE. THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APP APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MISS JOHNSON, CONTINUE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND TENTATIVE BUDGET.
>>Nadia Combs: A MOTION AND A SECOND AVENUE PROVING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET AS PRESENTED. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANYONE PRESENT WISH TO ADDRESS CONCERNING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND THE TENTATIVE BUDGET? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRUTH IN MILLAGE TRIM OF CHAPTER 200 FLORIDA STATUTES.
>>Nadia Combs: MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY FOR THE TRUTH MILLAGE TRIM REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 200 FLORIDA STATUTES REPRESENTED. A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY. A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. ANYONE PRESENT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF AUTHORIZATION OF STAFF TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRUTH IN MILLAGE TRIM REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 200 FLORIDA STATUTES? OKAY. BOARD MEMBERS -- IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL ADJOURN THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND RECONVENE THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME ANNOUNCE THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION. THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND 2023 BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 AT THE RAYMOND CENTER AT 901 EAST KENNEDY BOULEVARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW RESUME WITH OUR REGULAR BOARD MEET. CLOSE TO EMPLOYEE INPUT --
>>Jim Porter: MADAM CHAIR, ANOTHER 5:01 PUBLIC HEARING ON POLICIES. AND WE NEED TO DO THAT.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, MR. PORTER. KRISTIN DAVIS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. THE POLICIES BEFORE YOU, THERE ARE FIVE IN YOUR PACKET. THESE YOU REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MAY 3 BOARD WORKSHOP, THE POLICIES WERE REVIEWED, DISCUSSED AND MOVED FORWARD. AT THE JUNE 7 BOARD MEETING, POLICIES WERE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE NOTICE OF RULE MAKING REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTE 120. THE NOTICE OF RULE MAKE THE LA GACETA AND THE FLORIDA BULLETIN AND TAMPA BAY TIMES FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT AND AS WELL A HARD COPY. WE ARE BRING IT FORWARD TO THIS BOARD MEETING FOR YOUR ADOPTION TONIGHT. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY JIM PORTER TO HIGHLIGHT.
>>Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU, MISS DAVIS. THE POLICIES. OF THREE, DRUG AND ALCOHOL-FREE WORK PLACE, FROM HUMAN RESOURCES THAT'S THE BOARD SUPPORTED. ONE FROM DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. AND ONE BROUGHT BY TWO BOARD MEMBERS, MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER GRAY ON APPRENTICES. BOARD MEMBERS, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ONE. AND I THINK WE NEED -- IT MERITS FURTHER DISCUSSION TONIGHT SO THE BOARD IS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUE ARE. YOU WILL RECALL THAT YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORMER BOARD MEMBER STEVE CONA AND AN ATTORNEY HIRED BY HIS ORGANIZATION THAT OBJECT TO THIS POLICY. THE CONCERNS ARE TWO FOLD FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE POLICY. ONE OBJECTION IS THAT THE NUMBERS SET IN THE POLICY OF 12% IS TOO HIGH. AND THE OTHER CONCERN IS THAT OF VIOLATION OF THE POLICY WOULD RESULT IN LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AND THEY OBJECT TO BOTH OF THOSE. I WILL TELL YOU FOR THE RECORD THAT THE POLICY IS MIRRORED AFTER ONES ADOPTED BY THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT TWO PROVISIONS IN THE PROPOSED POLICY THAT DON'T COMPLETELY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED FROM PEOPLE OPPOSING THIS, BUT IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND. THESE ARE IN LINES 88-91. THIS POLICY WILL NOT APPLY IF, A, IT IS PROHIBITED BY OR IN CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL OR STATE LAW OR THE TERMS OF A FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SO IF -- IF THERE IS A CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW WHICH THEY ALLEGE, THIS WOULD NOT APPLY TO THE EXTENT -- TO THE EXTENT THAT IT VIOLATES THE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. OR -- AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE -- THE SUPERINTENDENT DETERMINES IN WRITING THAT APPLYING THE POLICY TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT. SO THERE IS AN OUT THERE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS THE POWER TO WAIVE THAT. I WILL TELL THAT YOU THE ATTORNEY THAT SENT THE LETTER HAS THREATENED LITIGATION. THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK THAT COULD HAPPEN. BUT I HAVE CONFERRED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY -- EXCUSE ME -- AND NO LITIGATION REGARDING FROM THEIR POLICIES. THE POLICIES ARE THERE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IF EITHER BOARD MEMBER PEREZ AND GRAY WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT IT, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE SINCE THEY ARE THE ONE THAT'S BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
>>Nadia Combs: MEMBER GRAY OR MEMBER PEREZ, WOULD EITHER OF YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS?
>> NO.
>>Nadia Combs: OKAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. AT THIS TIME, MISS DAVIS, WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THEN MOVE TO VOTE.
>>Jim Porter: WE NEED A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. IF WE CAN HAVE A MOTION. THIS IS FOR ALL THE POLICIES.
>>Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED POLICY.
>>Jim Porter: PUT THAT ON THE FLOOR -- THE MOTION WILL BE FOR ALL FIVE POLICIES. IF -- IF SOME BOARD MEMBERS ARE CONCERNS OF SOME OF THEM, WE CAN BREAK IT OUT. BUT PUT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR FIRST AND DEAL WITH IT PROCEDURALLY HOW YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ALL FIVE POLICIES AND BREAK IT OUT AFTERWARDS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVISED POLICIES, ALL FIVE POLICIES. A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY STATING THE POINT WHERE YOU MADE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN SEND A LETTER STATING IF HE FEELS THAT THERE IS SOME CONFLICT WITH THIS POLICY WITH REGARDS TO THE PROJECT SPECIFICALLY.
>>Jim Porter: WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THAT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE QUESTIONS TO THE POINT YOU MADE THAT UPON THE POLICY STATE LAW IS IN CONFLICT, THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO RE-EVALUATE AND IF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS CONCERNED WITH THE JOB, EX-EXPRESS CONCERNS AND SAY WE DON'T HAVE TO HONOR THIS POLICY ON A CONSTRUCTION JOB. IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS -- FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU -- DO YOU INTEND TO DO THAT ON SOME PROJECTS?
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GET INTO EACH PROJECT. WE WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICY IMPLEMENTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD AS THE MAJORITY. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH OUR SUBCONTRACTORS AND MAKE CERTAIN THEY CAN OBTAIN AND MEET THIS THRESHOLD. IF THEY CAN NOT, THEN WE NEED SOMETHING SERIOUSLY DONE AT A SCHOOL TO ADDRESS A BILL OR MAINTENANCE ISSUE, WE MAY HAVE TO WAIVE THAT PROCESS AND THAT POLICY. MR. FARKAS. I KNOW WE HAVE DONE A LIGHT CONVERSATION AND DONE RESEARCH. IS THERE A PERCENTAGE WE ARE WAIVED IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED OF TODAY?
>>Christopher Farkas: WE DON'T HAVE THE HARD DATA BUT WE HEAR THAT HAPPENS ON THE REGULAR BASIS DEPENDING ON TYPE OF WORK. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND THAT TYPE OF WORK. I PLAN TO BRING IT BOOK TO THE BOARD. I TONIGHT HAVE DATA.
>>Addison Davis: LOOK AT ANALYTICS IF IT IS IMPLEMENTED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY AS WELL. AND THE OVERALL IMPACT OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO WAIVE. NOT SAYING THAT WE WILL MATCH THAT INTENSITY OR THAT NUMBER, BUT GIVE US A GOOD INDICATOR OF WHAT VENDORS ARE ABLE AND NO THE ABLE TO DO TO HAVE PROJECTS ABLE TO BUILD IN THE FUTURE.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SO THEN IF THAT IS THE CASE, WILL THE BOARD BE NOTIFIED OF THAT? DOES THAT BECOME AN AGENDA ITEM? SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION ON?
>>Jim Porter: NOT AN AGENDA ITEM. THE POLICY HAS THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO THAT. YOU CAN REQUEST FOR PURPOSES OF TRANSPARENCY TO PRESENT IT TO THE BOARD AND COMMUNICATED TO THE BOARD BUT WILL NOT REQUIRE BOARD ACTION. A SUPERINTENDENT DECISION.
>>Jessica Vaughn: HOW CAN I REQUEST FOR TRANSPARENCY TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD. NOW --
>>Jim Porter: TWO WAYS OF DOING THAT. YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION. I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT IS INDICATE THAT HE IS WILLING TO DO THAT. IT WILL BE PUBLIC RECORD. THERE WILL BE NO -- NO REASON TO HIDE IT. IT WILL JUST BE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO GET THAT INFORMATION WHEN IT HAPPENS.
>>Nadia Combs: I THINK SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, YOU WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, ANY TIME THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE IT HAS TO BE WAIVE ASK STAFF TO ENGAGE AND I WILL TURNKEY AND ENGAGE THE BOARD AS WELL. WE WILL HAVE CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION AS ALWAYS. INTO MY LONG E-MAILS, I TRY TO MAKE IT SHORT. AND RATIONALE WITH THAT PROCESS TO HAVE SPEAKING POINTS IF ANYBODY ASKS THE QUESTION IN THE RATIONALE WHY WE HAVE TO DO SO.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, MR. PORTER.
>>Jim Porter: THE REQUEST IS TO BE TO VOTE ON THESE SEPARATELY, SO THE TECHNICAL TERM IS YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE A SERIATEM. AND THAT IS A PROCEDURAL MOTION AND YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THAT NOW MEHANNA WE CAN GROUP THE FIRST THREE. SO THREE SEPARATE VOTES.
>>Jim Porter: IF YOU CAN GET A SECOND ON THAT.
>>Nadia Combs: MEMBER SNIVELY GAVE A SECOND.
>>Jim Porter: MAKE SURE THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT IS. INSTEAD OF VOTING FOR ALL FIVE AT ONCE, YOU WOULD VOTE FOUR OF THEM SEPARATELY. THE BOARD HAS NO QUESTIONS. JUST VOTE ON WHETHER YOU ARE OKAY WITH VOTING FOR THEM SEPARATELY.
>>Nadia Combs: I WANT TO CLARIFY I THOUGHT THE FIRST THREE WOULD BE TOGETHER. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED. AND THEN FOUR AND FIVE. THREE SEPARATE VOTES.
>>Jim Porter: THE FIRST THREE ARE THE SAME SUBJECT AND APPEAR IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR POLICY MANUAL. MEHANNA CAN I SAY WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
>>Jim Porter: SURE MEHANNA I WOULD HATE. IF THERE IS ONE OR TWO THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT, I WOULD HATE TO NOT FOR ANY OTHER KIND OF POLICIES. WE TALK OF TRANSPARENCY. THAT MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT TO SEE HOW WE FALL ON THESE. I APPRECIATE ANY CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO VOTE TO SEE -- WE HAVE A SECOND TO SEE IF WE ARE GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO THREE DIFFERENT VOTES AND YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE YES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR THEM SEPARATE, ALL TOGETHER, YOU WOULD VOTE NO. OKAY.
>>Jim Porter: CLEAR THE BOARD.
>>Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY. AND IT PASSES WITH SIX VOTES TO GO AHEAD AND BREAK IT INTO THREE AND WITH MEMBER GRAY VOTING NO. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE FIRST THREE POLICIES.
>>Jim Porter: I THINK MISS SNIVELY WANTS TO SPEAK --
>>Nadia Combs: YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE FIRST THREE.
>>Melissa Snively: YES, ONE IS THE APPRENTICE POLICY.
>>Melissa Snively: I WILL WAIT UNTIL IT IS APPROPRIATE.
>>Nadia Combs: THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION AND --
>>Jim Porter: YOU CAN VOTE FOR A MOTION FOR EACH SEPARATE ONE.
>>Nadia Combs: A MOTION AND A SECOND TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST THREE.
>>Jim Porter: POLICIES 11.34, 31.24, AND 41.24, REGARDING THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL-FREE WORKPLACE BROUGHT BY HUMAN RESOURCES.
>>Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE FIRST THREE POLICIES? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO VOTE ON THE POLICY, MR. PORTER?
>>Jim Porter: POLICY 5630.01 BROUGHT BY DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION REGARDING THE SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
>>Nadia Combs: OKAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THAT POLICY. A MOTION FROM MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW THE FINAL POLICY WHICH IS THE APPRENTICE POLICY.
>>Jim Porter: POLICY 6320.03 BROUGHT BY BOARD MEMBERS GRAY AND PEREZ.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO DISCUSSION. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS AGAIN? WHAT IS THE INTENT?
>>Jim Porter: THE POLICY BROUGHT BY TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO INCREASE THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS MY UNDER STANDING.
>>Melissa Snively: IS THAT THE TINT? I GUESS THE REASON I ASK THAT IS THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE THE APPRENTICESHIP INSTEADS OF FORCING A MANDATED SITUATION ON TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. MY QUESTIONS -- HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS. MR. FARKAS AND MR. DAVIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL HAVE -- YOU EVEN ALLUDED TO THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA. WHEN DID THIS GET PASSED BY THE CITY AND WHEN DID THIS GETS PASSED BY THE COUNTY AND DO WE HAVE ANY DATA WHETHER THIS EVEN WORKS TO IMPROVE THE APPRENTICESHIP PERCENTAGE OR NOT. AND DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY LOGISTICALLY AND OPERATIONALLY THIS CAUSES FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT IT CAUSES FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE OVERALL IMPACT. AS THE POLICY MOVES FORWARD. I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL DATA IN FRONT OF US. WE TALKED ABOUT OBTAINING THAT. INDICATES THERE HAS BEEN HARDSHIPS AND THE MAJORITY OF SOME OF THE WORK HAD TO BE WAIVED DUE TO THE FACT OF THE INABILITY OF SMALL COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS, ABILITY TO HAVE FUNDING, PROPER FUND TO CREATE THE APPRENTICESHIPS. NOT THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THIS, BUT TO HAVE THE FUNDING SOURCE TO CREATE THAT MENTALITY WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION. MR.FARKAS.
>>Christopher Farkas: THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT INTERNALLY WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TEAMS. THE MECHANISM TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCOUNT FOR THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGES. WHO IS GOING TO TRACK THAT? SOMEONE ON OUR SIDE OF THE HOUSE THATS TO TRACK THAT. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW AND HAVE TO TALK TO MR. DAVIS OF A --
>> ANOTHER DISTRICT EMPLOYEE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO ADD TO YOUR TEAM TO TRACK THIS. ANOTHER EXPENDITURES.
>>Addison Davis: THERE IS A PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRACK THAT, SO I WOULD ASSUME SO.
>> ALL I WILL SAY SI UNDERSTAND THE INTENT. THE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD. WE WANT TO BOLSTER OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR -- FOR APPRENTICESHIPS AND APPRENTICE WORK THAT IS OUT THERE. PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE TELLING ME OR MANDATE TO ME HOW MANY CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES I HAVE TO HAVE. HOW MANY SALESPEOPLE I HAVE TO HAVE IN MY OFFICE. HOW MANY OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS I HAVE TO HIRE WHEN I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN MY BUSINESS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. I THINK THIS IS A BAND-AID ON A BROKEN ARM. SYSTEMATICALLY WE CAN DO OTHER THINGS THAT BOLSTER OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND CREATE WORK FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT FORCING THE ISSUE IS NECESSARILY GOING TO SOLVE THE APPRENTICE PROBLEM. AND HONESTLY, REALLY NOT ANY TEETH IN IT IF YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR THE AUTONOMY TO JUST SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF IT DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, WE WILL BYPASS IT AND MOVE ON. THAT DOESN'T SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS EITHER. I THINK THE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD HERE, BUT I THINK THERE ARE DEEPER ISSUE WITH THE APPRENTICESHIPS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE A MANDATE. THAT IS MY TWO CENTS. THANKS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. PETITION TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH AT OUR WORKSHOP AND ONE THING WE ALL AGREE ON AND MEMBER SNIVELY JUST SAID IT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WANT TO EXPAND OUR APPRENTICE SHIP PROGRAMS. I DISAGREE WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT. I AM ALSO THINKING -- I AM GOING -- I AM THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS SAID OF THE HARDSHIP OF SOME OF THE SMALLER COMPANIES. I KNOW WE HAVE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT OUR MINORITY BUSINESSES AND CONTRACTOR THAT'S WORK WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ON DIFFERENT JOBS AND THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. AND YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR MINORITY BUSINESS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE VERY CHALLENGING IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THIS CRITERIA THUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BIDDING PROCESS. SO, YOU KNOW, I DO WORRY ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT. I -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK -- I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY DOES THIS. YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE DECISIONS AROUND POLICY. THAT IS GOOD FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT IT IS GOOD FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. AND MR. FARKAS ALSO SHARED THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY HIRE SOMEBODY. THAT TAKES AWAY FTE. WE JUST HAD A VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT FUNDING AND TRUST AND ALL OF THAT. SO YOU KNOW, AGAIN -- AND I WILL AGREE WITH MEMBER SNIVELY ON THE FACT THIS DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY TEETH AS A POLICY IF AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN, YOU KNOW, WORK AROUND IT AT HIS DISCRETION APPROPRIATELY. SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS -- MY FEELINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED ON IT THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE APPRENTICE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW. MY BROTHER WENT THROUGH AN APPRENTICE PROGRAM. HE TEACHES IN THE UNION APPRENTICE PROGRAMS. AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT. BUT, YOU KNOW, MANDATING HOW FOLKS RUN THEIR BUSINESSES AND PUTTING THE MINORITY SMALL BUSINESSES AT RISK IS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S A NO FOR ME.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS PAUSE THIS BECAUSE WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS FOR A WHILE -- FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES -- THEY ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL ANY DAY NOW. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THINK ABOUT THEIR TIME. SO I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO EMPLOYEE INPUT AND AFTER THAT WE WILL GO BACK TO THIS. BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY 15 MINUTES AHEAD OF TIME -- IS THAT OKAY, MR. PORTER.
>>Jim Porter: YOU NEED TO OFFICIALLY RECESS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND READJOURN -- YEAH, READJOURN.
>>Nadia Combs: IF THAT IS OKAY -- I FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE -- QUITE A BIT OF TIME BEFORE WE ACTUALLY VOTE ON THIS. SO I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS THAT. IS THAT OKAY? IS EVERYONE OKAY WITH THAT? WE WILL GO AHEAD AND RECESS THE POLICY AND MOVE ON TO EMPLOYEE INPUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- YOU KNOW, CONSIDER THEIR TIME. WE WILL NOW TAKE THE EMPLOYEE INPUT EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENING, SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES TO ATTENDS MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. MANY WAYS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF THE AGENDA ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUE THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTEND TO BE A DISCUSSION OF SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TO YOU SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT THE ISSUE ARE RELATED TO YOUR JOB AND THE IT IS STRICT. EACH SPEAK WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND I WILL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, ROB KRIETE. CTA. TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH MILLAGE. I HEARD A LOT OF THINGS. COMES FROM THE FACT THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS UNDER ATTACK IN OUR STATE. AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY RIGHT HERE AND NOW. I CAN REALLY DIVE INTO THAT. WE DRESS IT UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN THE STATE, BUT ULTIMATELY WE ARE STARVING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER. OVER 900 INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES, 900 ESP VACANCIES. THIS ISSUE IS NOT GETTING BETTER. THE MILLAGE IS ONE SOLUTION AND ONE WAY TO HELP IT. NOT A MAGIC WAND. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR OF THAT. UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO, WE ARE A DONOR DISTRICTS. WE MAKE A LOT OF MONEY IN HILLSBOROUGH. AND WE SPEND THAT MONEY. WE SEND THAT MONEY TO OTHER DISTRICTS TO HELP FUND THEM. IT IS FAIR, EQUITABLE AND RIGHTS. WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IN MILLAGE IS MONEY THAT WE WOULD GENERATE HERE AND SPEND HERE ON THAT WHICH WE BELIEVE IN. STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, THOSE WITHOUT PARTY AFFILIATION, WE ALL AGREE. WE WANT STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS DESPITE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE. WE NEED TO DO THIS. WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW. I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CLIMATE IN WHICH WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS IS TOUGH. BUT WE HAVE TO DO THIS FOR -- FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. SO LET'S GET THIS DONE AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THAT.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI. GOOD EVENING. I WAS GOING TO SAY AFTERNOON. BUT FIRST, AT THE TIME THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MADE THEIR FINAL COMMENTS AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, I WAS THE ONLY EMPLOYEE WHO SPOKE. TWO OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OPENLY CHIDED ME FOR NOT CELEBRATING THE WORK HILLSBOROUGH HAS DONE. ONE STARED AT ME THE ENTIRE TIME THEY WERE MAKING THEIR COMMENTS. THESE TWO USED THEIR AUTHORITIES TO PRESSURE EDUCATOR TO NOT COMPLAIN. AND I WAS MADE AN EXAMPLE OF. THESE ACTS WILL STOP OTHER EMPLOYEES FROM SPEAKING OUT AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THIS BOARD. MY MAIN POINT IN SPEAKING TODAY THOUGH IS A CONCERN OF BARGAINING IN THE MILLAGE. WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE BARGAINING IS GOING ON WILL BE DRAGGED ON UNTIL THE MILLAGE VOTE IS COMPLETE. REAL FEARS GOING ON BOTH SIDES. IF IT PASSES, THERE IS A FEAR THAT THE COMPENSATION THAT HAS BEEN AGREED UPON FROM HCTA IN THE DISTRICTS WILL BE IGNORED OR SOME OTHER DEFINITION OF COMPENSATION. IF IT DOESN'T PASS, THERE IS A FEAR THAT EDUCATOR ALSO BE BLAMED FOR IT. THE FEAR COMES FROM YEARS OF DECEIT AND ABUSE. HOW CAN YOU FIX IT? THIS IS SOME SUGGESTIONS. THE TRUST MUST BE EARNED BACK SLOWLY. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED HERE FOR 15 YEARS, I DON'T TRUST THAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN THE WAY THAT THEY ALWAYS SAY THEY WILL HAPPEN. BUT IN TERMS OF THE MILLAGE, I WOULD SUGGEST REAL INFORMATION SENT DIRECTLY TO EMPLOYEES. WHAT COMPENSATION? IS IT AN EXTENSION OF OUR CURRENT SALARIES OR BLENDED IN WITH ANY STEPS THAT WE RECEIVE. BLENDED IN WITH OTHER BENEFITS. WHEN WILL WE RECEIVE IT? THE MONEY DOESN'T COME IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT PASSES. SO AT WHAT POINT SHOULD WE START TO SEE THOSE MONIES. WHO RECEIVES IT? FROM MY UNDERSTANDING ALL SCHOOL BOARD EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE IT, BUT MAYBE I AM WRONG. IF I AM CORRECT, THEN SPELL IT OUT. DISTRICT RESOURCE TEACHERS ASSISTANTS, MR. DAVIS, HIS CABINET AND SO ON. NOT THAT NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE DESERVE IT, BUT STATE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THIS NEEDS TO GO TO BARGAINING AND TO BE APPROVED BY YOU, BUT SURELY YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE LAID OUT. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RECEIVED OUR MAIL-IN BALLOTS. AND THIS IS ONE ITEM WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE VOTING. I WILL ALSO BE AT MY SCHOOL'S INFORMATION SESSION ON AUGUST 2. AND WE WILL BE SEEKING OUT OUR ANSWERS. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. BY NOW, I THINK WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE TEACHER SHORTAGE THAT IS AFFECTING OUR AREA AND OUR COUNTY AS A WHOLE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND -- THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SCHOOL STAFF ISSUE. WE ARE SHORT TEACHERS, PARENTS, CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS, BUS DRIVERS, LUNCHROOM STAFF. THEY SEEM TO BE SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD TO FIGURE OUT WHY? WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE STOP THIS? HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH, YOUR TEACHER'S UNION AND EMPLOYEES HAVE TOLD YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO STAY. TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF NEED TO BE ABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF NEED THEIR CONTRACTS HONORED. NOT BROKEN DAILY TO ACCOUNT FOR YOUR UNDERSTAFFING. THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK ONE JOB ONLY SO THEY CAN BE THE BEST FOR THEIR STUDENTS. YET WE KEEP HEARING THE SAME WORDS EVERY YEAR. NO TO RECURRING EXPENSES. WE JUST CAN'T DO IT. NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO -- WE ARE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR A RAISE, ALTHOUGH LOTS OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ARE PASSING THEM FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLISHED PAY SCHEDULED AND STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED SO THAT EMPLOYEES ARE PAID ACCORDING TO THEIR ACTUAL YEARS OF SERVICE. WE DID THE PLANNING, THE PLCs, THE DATA DIVES, THE TEACHING, THE EXTRACURRICULARS. THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF KEPT THIS DISTRICT AFLOAT DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREAT DATA THAT THE DISTRICT IS PRAISE PRAISING THEMSELVES FOR ON THE NEWS. NOW AFTER ALL OF THAT, THE NEGOTIATING TEAM SHOWS AND SAYS SORRY, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THE STEP FOR LAST YEAR. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, NOT THIS YEAR EITHER. HOW CAN YOU KEEP MAKING WORKING CONDITIONS UNBEARABLE, NOT HONOR PRIOR AGREED-UPON SALARY SCHEDULES AND STILL WONDER HOW TO FIX IT. WHEN THE NEGOTIATING TEAM SHOWED UP WITH THE FIRST BARGAINING SESSION, THEY SHOWED UP WITH NOTHING. NO OFFER PREPARED AT ALL. THE DOWNTOWN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FLIPPANT OF TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL STAFF HERE. THE WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO HONOR AND AGREE TO HCTA'S PROPOSAL TO GIVE EMPLOYEES THE PROPER STEPS, BOTH OF THEM, RECOGNITION FOR OUR YEARS OF SERVICE, PAY OUR ESPs A LIVING WAGE. NOT IF A REFERENDUM PASS ABOUT YOU BEFORE THAT BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND MIGHT STOP PEOPLE ON THE FENCE AND UNDECIDED YET FROM LEAVING AND CREATING MORE VACANCIES THAN THE THOUSANDS YOU ALREADY HAVE.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU, MISS COMBS, MISS VAUGHN AND MR. WASHINGTON FOR DECIDE TO RUN. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS. THANK YOU MISS HAHN AND MISS PEREZ FOR YOUR TWO YEARS DEDICATED TO OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU MISS GRAY FOR YOUR FOUR YEARS OF HARD WORK. THANK YOU MISS SNIVELY FOR SIX YEARS OF SERVICING PART OF YOUR AREA. AND FINALLY, WELCOME TO OUR COUNTY, SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS, YOUR FIRST FOUR MONTHS WITH US HAVE BEEN VERY ILLUMINATING. YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICE FOR THE MATH TEACHER MY NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE OFF, BUT I ASSURE NO MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE ON MY PART. I CENTER MY 8th YEAR TEACH WITH THIS COUNTY, I AM STILL CODED AND PAID AS A TEACHER WITH FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. FOR TWO YEARS, TEACHER HAVE BEEN HELD ON THE SAME STEP ON THE PAY SCALE. AND WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT YET AGAIN WE WILL NOT GAIN OUR EARNED YEAR OF SERVICE. I WANT TO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR PAST TWO YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY. AND NOW I WANT TO YOU IMAGINE YOUR LEADERS INFORMING YOU THAT THOSE TWO YEARS WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED. ADDITIONALLY, ANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS UPCOMING YEAR WILL ALSO NOT BE RECOGNIZED. DON'T WORRY, THE DISTRICTS WILL STILL SHARE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH STAKEHOLDER IT IS THEY WERE THE ONES PULLING GROUPS, PLANNING INTO THE NIGHT AND WORKING TIRELESSLY WITH STUDENTS TO RAISE THE SCHOOL GRADE. BUT THE TEACHER WHO WORKED SO HARD FOR SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS WILL ONCE AGAIN GO UNRECOGNIZED. TELLING US THAT THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR OUR ALREADY EARNED STEP INCREASES IS THE BIGGEST SLAP IN THE FACE YOU COULD GIVE YOUR TEACHERS. THOSE OF US WHO ARE LEFT. WHAT OTHER JOHN WILL LET THEIR EMPLOYEE COMPLETE -- JOB WILL LET THEIR EMPLOYEE COMPLETE ONE, TWO, THREE YEARS OF LOYALTY, AND THEN INFORM YOU THAT THOSE YEARS DON'T COUNT. WHY ARE OUR SCHOOLS FILLED WITH VACANCY? I AM SURE I DON'T KNOW. GIVE US OUR EARNED RATE OF PAY. GIVE US OUR STEP INCREASES. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. AND THIS CLOSES THE EMPLOYEE INPUT PORTION OF OUR MEETING. WE WILL NOW RECONVENE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED POLICIES. WE ARE DISCUSSING THE FINAL POLICY, WHICH IS THE APPRENTICE POLICY. I KNOW MEMBER SNIVELY, MEMBER HAHN YOU SPOKE. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO MEMBER PEREZ. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: SO OUR STUDENTS ARE HESITANT. THE STUDENTS THAT REALLY -- DON'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT THEY ARE HESITANT ON PURSUING OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, AS A DISTRICT, WE COLLABORATE WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS, HERE, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. SO COLLABORATING WITH OUR UNIONS IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO FOLLOW THEIR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IS A PLUS FOR US IN THIS DISTRICT. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ENCOURAGING TO OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. BUT IT WILL MAINTAIN OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOL REDUCE YOUR DROPOUT RATE AND IT WILL SEND OUR STUDENTS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY -- THAT THEY ARE WORKING FOR THEIR FUTURE. AND THERE WILL BE MORE APT TO PURSUE NOT ONLY THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE, BUT A CAREER THAT WILL MAINTAIN THEM HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE NECESSARILY TO MAKE A COMMENT BUT I WILL BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE. THIS WAS A POLICY AND WAS VETTED AND VOTED ON DURING A WORKSHOP COMPLETELY. AND IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUS IN TERMS OF YES. AND ALMOST UNANIMOUS. AND A CONSENSUS. KRISTIN.
>> I WANT THE BOARD TO KNOW THERE ARE NO VOTING AT WORKSHOPS.
>>Lynn Gray: A CONSENSUS, RIGHT. A UNIFIED CONSENSUS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOCC ALSO HAD CONSENSUS. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT -- AND TO MEMBER PEREZ'S POINT, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ABSOLUTELY VISION THAT ALL HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE APPRENTICESHIP SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A DIRECT PATHWAY TO A CAREER. AND THIS IS A VERY HIGH QUALITY, VERY HIGHLY RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE, STATE REGULATED AND THE HYPOTHETICAL PART, THE ARGUMENT ABOUT WE NEED A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OR WE WILL NEED AN EMPLOYEE TO KEEP TRACK. THA THAT IS HYPOTHETICAL. WE KNOW WE HAVE MANAGED SO MANY WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS A NEED TO BE DONE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DISTRICT CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. THOSE ARE BARRIERS. WHAT YOU ARE MENTIONS, FOLKS, ARE BARRIERS. THE SURPT, IS HE GOING TO A JOBSITE AND REALLY RECOGNIZE THE FAULT. AND CONTRACTORS GOING TO COME TO HIM. WHAT IS GOING ON. WE ARE ESTABLISHING NEEDLESS BARRIER TO A RESOUND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN UNDER -- AT LEAST WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED HAD CONSENSUS TO THIS BOARD. I THINK WE ARE REHASHING WHAT REALLY HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED. I APOLOGIZE FOR REDISCUSSING IT. BUT, ALSO, I THINK THAT THE CONTRACTORS WILL ENJOY A HUGE WORK FORCE TO MATCH THE AMOUNT OF BUILDING GOING ON IN TAMPA, WHICH IS HUGE. AND ALSO THE PAY WILL ALSO BE RECOGNIZED BY OUR STUDENTS AND I THINK IT IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK OF THIS POLICY AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHY SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES CREATING POLICIES LIKE THIS. YOU KNOW LABOR UNIONS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S WORKER RIGHTS. THAT IS THE REASON WE HAVE MANY OF THE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE FOR WORKERS RIGHT NOW. AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE BEING DEMONIZED. THEY ARE BEING STARVED OUT BY SUBPAR COMPETING COMPANIES THAT WANT TO PAY THEIR WORKERS LESS AND OFFER THEM LESS BENEFITS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CREATING THESE POLICY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING OUR STUDENTS AS MEMBER PEREZ BROUGHT UP, THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR JOBS LOCALLY TO PROVIDE THEM BENEFITS THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM ACTUAL TRAIN THAT THEY CAN USE IN OTHER PLACES, IT IS ALL ABOUT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE CONCERNS THAT MEMBER HAHN BROUGHT UP. SHE SEEMS TO BE CONCERNED MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT -- MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT GIVING MINORITY COMPANIES AN OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER, WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS THAT ENTHUSIASM WHEN WE ARE CONTINUALLY PIGGYBACKING CONTRACTS REPEATEDLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND NOT GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE MINORITY BUSINESSES TO, AS WELL, COMPETE FOR THOSE CONTRACTS AND GOING OUT OF COUNTY FOR THE LOWEST PRICE. ALSO, IF THAT IS A CONCERN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US CHAMPION A POLICY SIMILAR TO THIS THAT WILL DESIGNATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DISCRETION DEPENDING ON HOW THIS ONE GOES FOR MINORITY BUSINESSES TO COMPETE IN OUR BIDDING PROCESS. WE DON'T HAVE TO CANCEL ONE POLICY TO SAYS THERE ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF WORK AND THAT WE EITHER HAVE TO GIVE IT TO -- YOU KNOW, COMPANIES THAT HAVE MINORITY INTERESTS OR OWNED BY MINORITY WORKERS OR LABOR UNIONS. WE HAVE ENOUGH WHERE IF THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITIES, MAKING SURE WE ARE CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO SET OUR STUDENTS UP TO BE THE MOST PREPARED AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING MINORITIES A CHANCE TO COMPETE. WE CAN CREATE POLICIES THAT GO HAND IN HAND WITH THAT. SO THAT IS KIND OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATION. I THINK WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT BETWEEN THE WORKSHOP AND HERE. SO I WANTED TO ADD MY TWO CENTS. AND I WILL LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I CAN SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING AND I THINK WE HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN THE WORKSHOP AND TODAY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK OUR OPINIONS. AND SO MR. SUPERINTENDENT, I AM SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU OVER THERE, BUT MISS VAUGHN HAD MENTIONED ABOUT SOMETHING -- I THINK IT WAS ALLUDING TO BRINGING US REPORTS -- OR REPORTING BACK TO THE BOARD WHEN YOU HAVE TO BYPASS THIS OR MAKE AN EXCEPTION OR GOING AGAINST STATUTE. MY SUGGESTION IF THIS PASSES TO POTENTIALLY PUT IT ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA AND THAT WAY YOU CAN REGULARLY REPORT ON IT. AND I WOULD REALLY -- I WON'T BE HERE IN A YEAR, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE PRUDENT FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE DATA A YEAR FROM NOW AND SEE IF IT REALLY IS MEETING THE INTENT OF THE POLICY OR NOT MEETING THE INTENT OF THE POLICY AND WHAT CONSEQUENCES, IF ANY, HAVE BEEN REALIZED BY -- BY UTILIZING THIS POLICY OR HAVING TO FOLLOW THIS POLICY.
>>Addison Davis: THAT WILL BE PERFECT.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY. SO IT PASSES WITH FIVE YESES AND TWO NOS AND MEMBER SNIVELY AND MEMBER HAHN. THANK YOU. THIS NOW CLOSES OUR -- THIS NOW CLOSES OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD,C 10.01,C 6.03, 05, 08, 09, 11 ANDC-7-01. OKAY. WE WILL BRING -- START WITH 10.01 WHICH IS THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR SAFE SCHOOL OFFICERS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEMS.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM AND CHAIR, TO BRING OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE -- WITH THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS PUBLIC SCHOOL SAFETY ACT. TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN ARMED ASSET AT THE SCHOOLS TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR STUDENTS. CURRENTLY ALL 56 BRICK AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOLS OPT TO UTILIZE OUR DISTRICT RESOURCE OFFICERS. AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN WE PARTNER WITH THEM AND PREPARE THEM. LAST MEETING I SPOKE ABOUT AN AADDITIONAL $7,000 EXPENDITURE THAT THE DISTRICTS WAS ASSUMING. AND THAT IS BECAUSE AFTER TALKING TO MR. NEWMAN, ALL LINKED TO THE US, BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR EMPLOYEES ONBOARDING THEM AND GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES, MATERIALS AND TRAINING THAT THEY NEED AND TRANSITION THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO THE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO CHARGE THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THE FUNDING FOR THAT PARTICULAR OFFICER. THE START-UP $7,000 IS THE COST IT TAKES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE, TRAIN AND EQUIP THESE INDIVIDUALS AND MONEY OPENLY THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND OUT OF OUR FUNDING BECAUSE WE DON'T -- THEY DON'T ASSUME THAT COST. AND PAUSE THERE COULD BE A BACK AND FORTH RELATED TO THE ENDS OF THE YEAR IF THEY NO LONGER NEED THAT RESOURCE OFFICER AND THEY WANT TO CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE TAMPA PD, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL COME TO US AND WILL HAVE TO FILL THAT INDIVIDUAL WITH A VACANCY OR DETERMINE WHETHER WE NEED THAT ASSET AT ALL. CHIEF NEWMAN IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY COME UP WITH THIS PROCESS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVEC-10.01. A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER SNIVELY AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, BUT I GUESS THE CLARIFICATION WOULD BE PRIOR CONTRACT, EXCEED 50,000. WOULD EXCEED 50,000.
>> MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM. THIS THAT $50,000 THRESHOLD SET BY MR. GIBSON AND MISS JOHNSON OUR CFO MADE SURE WE DON'T GO OVER THAT AMOUNT. STARTING TIME AND ENDING TIME AND OVERTIME ASSOCIATE WITH THAT AND THE CHARTER PAYS ALL THAT. WE PUT A CAP IN THERE. OBVIOUSLY SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T GET THE ALLOCATION THAT A BIGGER CHARTER SCHOOL MAY. A CAP -- MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE NOT HIT THAT THRESHOLD BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED CREATING THE CONTRACTS FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
>>Nadia Combs: I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WE HAVEN'T HIT THAT, BUT IF WE DO, CAN WE CHANGE THE WORDING ON THE CONTRACT?
>>Addison Davis: TO THE CHAIR, YES, WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AND CONNECT WITH OUR LEGAL AND LOOK AT WHAT OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND COSTS AND INTERNAL COSTS ARE. IF WE HAVE TO DECIDE TO INCREASE THAT COST, WE CAN DO THAT AS A COLLECTIVE.
>>Nadia Combs: SO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ANY COST THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE $50,000 IN THE LAST TWO YEARS?
>> NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF ABSENT THE ONBOARDING START-UP COST THAT WE PAY FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING, MEDICAL EXPECTS, PSYCHE EXAM, TRAINING, THEIR D-AND-DELETE SPACE>G LICENSE, OUTFITTING THEM COMPLETELY, SENDING THEM TO OUR TRAINING AND SHERIFF CHRONISTER. THOSE EQUIPMENT AND START-UP COSTS ARE -- THOSE ARE OUR EMPLOYEES SO THOSE ARE OUR COSTS.
>>Nadia Combs: MY QUESTION WILL BE, WHY ARE NOT THE INDIVIDUAL CHARTERS PAYING FOR THOSE COSTS RS. AND IF NOT, IS THIS SOMETHING A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM OR ASK. I AM JUST CURIOUS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY WHO ENDS UP NOT BEING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
>> I CAN ANSWER THE LATTER QUESTION. THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM FOR EACH ONE OF THE 67 COUNTIES IS INTERPRETED DIFFERENTLY. FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM, IN OTHER WORDS, GUARDIANS HAVE AN EXISTING SECURITY DETAIL. SHERIFF CHRONISTER SAID WE DO EVERYTHING THAT THE STATE BEGINS TO ASK FOR. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 30 YEARS. HE SAID I WILL GUARDIAN-CERTIFY YOUR SECURITY PEOPLE, NOT TEACHERS, NOT EMPLOYEES, NOT ADMINISTRATORS, YOUR SECURITY DETAIL BUT ONBOARD THEM LIKE YOU HAVE ALWAYS ONBOARDED THEM TO THE SHERIFF DIDN'T HAVE TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF ONBOARDING GUARDIANS AND LEASING THEM TO US. WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY THAT HAS THAT TYPE OF MODEL. OTHER COUNTIES ALLOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM AND SHERIFF OFFICE EMPLOYEES. THE SPIRIT OF THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM WAS THEORETICALLY THAT IT IS NOT AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. YOU CAN GUARDIAN CERTIFY ANY EMPLOYEE THAT YOU LIKE, AND IT WOULDN'T COST YOU ANYTHING. WE ALREADY HAD AN EXISTING SECURITY DETAIL. LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS REGION AND THE STATE, THEY CAN -- -- THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AVAILABLE MANPOWER TO STAFF EVERY SITE. SO BY INCREASING OUR IT HE TAIL, IT ALSO MEANS WE ARE IN-- DETAIL, IT MEANS WE ARE INCREASING OUR COST. WE STARTED THIS '18 GOING INTO A19, A LOT OF DISCUSSION WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL PASS ON THOSE START-UP COSTS. THOSE ARE ALL CONTRACTUAL THAT CAN BE NEGOTIATED EVERY YEAR AND HAVE A SET COST. THEY ARE OUR EMPLOYEES. IF I START MY SCHOOL YEAR OFF AND I BID FOR THAT SCHOOL WHICH OUR EMPLOYEE ARE ALLOWED TO DO BECAUSE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. THEY BID FOR A, B C CHARTER SCHOOL AND A SCHOOL THAT IS CLOSER TO THEIR HOME BECOMES AVAILABLE, THEY GO TO WORK FOR ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS BRINGING OUR EQUIPMENT WITH IT. A FLUID DEPLOYMENT BECAUSE A LOT OF MOVING FROM SITE TO SITE THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. SURELY SOMETHING THE SUPERINTENDENT, OUR LEGAL FOLKS AND THE CHARTER OFFICE CAN DISCUSS IN TERMS OF OUR ANNUAL RENEWALS. THESE ARE ALWAYS ANNUAL RENEWALS.
>>Nadia Combs: OKAY. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE SAFE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY GO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE FOR NEXT YEAR. AND IF WE DO HAVE TO INCREASE IT, WE DO. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THOSE FUNDS -- OUR SCHOOL FUNDS TO BE GOING TO PAY FOR THE CHARTER. WE WANT SAFETY FOR EVERYONE, AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE PAID FOR WHATEVER SERVICE WE ARE PROVIDING. THAT IS WHY I PULLED THE ITEM. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. MEMBER SNIVELY. YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: CHIEF NEWMAN, THIS MAY GO TO FINANCE, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF RECOGNIZING THE CONCERN FROM CHAIR COMBS WITH THE FINANCE. WE ARE CONTRACTED FOR EIGHT HOURS, BUT IF IT IS OVERTIME, YOU KNOW, THE -- THE RESOURCE OFFICERS GET PAID, I BELIEVE, TIME AND A HALF, PERHAPS A LITTLE EXTRA. SO IS THAT AN OCCASION, COULD THAT WARRANT A POSSIBILITY OF --
>> THAT HAPPENS WEEKLY. WE HAVE SEVERAL CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT START-UP AND ENDING TIMES. AS A RESULT, THEY PAY FOR THE OFFICER TO BE ON THAT SITE EARLIER IN THE MORNING AND LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND THEY PAY THEM OVER TIME. SOMETHING THAT THE CHARTER COMPLETELY PAYS FOR. THEY ALSO PAY FOR THE OFFICER TO BE ON SCHOOL. I THINK CHA CHAIR COMBS IS TALKING ABOUT ARE THOSE INITIAL START-UNCOSTS WHATEVER YEAR THEY GO UP. BULLET-PROOF VESTS GO UP. START-UP COSTS GO UP. AND THAT WILL RAISE WITH INFLATION. BUT WHEN SOMEONE WORKS OVERTIME WITH A CHARTER SCHOOL BECAUSE THE HOURS ARE DIFFERENT, THE SCHOOL FUNDS IT COMPLETELY.
>>Lynn Gray: OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST A CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, BY THE WAY.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, APPRECIATE IT.
>>Nadia Combs: OKAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 5.03, AMENDMENT OF THE CONTRACT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THERE ARE SAN AMENDMENT FOR THE -- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. BEFORE ON JUNE 7, WE APPROVED 12 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HAVE BEFORE, AFTER AND SUMMER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE. THIS IS BRINGING BACK TWO ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS. THE BOARD -- THE CHILDREN'S BOARD EXTENDED THEIR SERVICES AND HAD ADDITIONAL MONEY TO BRING TWO SCHOOLS DESOTO. THE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AND SCHOOL BOARD AND KELLY PARISH BECOME CHAMPIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION. A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND SECOND FROM MEMBER GRAY. MADAM SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF OUR AFTERSCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS AND JUST TO THANK -- PUBLICLY THANK THE CHILDREN'S BOARD FOR EXTEND THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE TWO SCHOOLS TO BE ADDED TO THIS PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU TO BOTH ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROVIDING AND DELIVERING ENRICHMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: I WOULD BE REMISS -- BECAUSE I AM ON THE CHILDREN'S BOARD AND MISS PARIS DOES SO MUCH -- SO MANY GREAT INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT MANY, MANY OF OUR HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS. AND THAT IS VERY MUCH RECOGNIZED WITHIN THIS AGENDA ITEM AS WELL. HIGH QUALITY TOO, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. SO A GREAT ADDITION. THANK YOU, MISS PARIS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN?
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ACTUALLY TO GO OUT AND SPEAK TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. SEE THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING THERE. AND HONESTLY, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IMPRESSED ME. SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT. WE ARE WORK WITH THEM MORE. EVEN IF IT IS THROUGH THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PARTNER WITH THEM, BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY OFFER OUR STUDENTS FROM AFTERSCHOOL CARE TO SUPPORT TO -- TO THE WAY THEY STRUCTURE THEIR PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE MEETING THE ACADEMIC NEEDS AS WELL AS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS. I AM MORE EXCITED TO SEE ANY MORE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS ITEM TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM AND HIGHLIGHT IT.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.01. USE OF TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS FOR SECURITY AND ATHLETIC CONTEST FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Addison Davis: AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND FORMALIZE OUR AGREEMENT WITH TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS FOR EVENTS. WE PAY OUR STAFF AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF INDIVIDUALLY. WE ALSO PAY THE HILLSBOROUGH SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO THOSE EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO PAY THE CITY OF TAMPA THE MONEY AND THEY DISPERSE IT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. THIS IS TO FORMALIZE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. OVER THE $50,000 THRESHOLD. THE $170,000 COMES TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL TO WORK THIS PROCESS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMC-# R 6.01. A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST TO CLARIFY THIS IS THE NORMAL AMOUNT OF SECURITY. THIS IS OUR ANNUAL AGREEMENT. IN THE MEMORANDUM, THE COVER MEMORANDUM, IT REFERS TO ADDITIONAL SECURITY, WHICH IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE NORMALLY CONTRACTED FOR. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS IS CLEAR THESE ARE NOT ADDITIONAL TO WHAT WE NORMALLY USE, THAT'S CORRECT?
>>.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS TO MAKE CERTAIN.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND.IT IS AS UNANIMOUSLY. 6.05, AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES 22192-ATS-IV CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH DISCIPLINE ASSOCIATES.
>>Addison Davis: THIS IS FOR OUR TURNAROUND SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT GRANTS AND TIERED APPROACH FOR DISCIPLINE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND BEHAVIORAL, PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES. EVERY SCHOOL IN THE TRANSFORMATIONIAL NETWORK TO TAKE THE FUNDS AND BUILD TRAININGS INTERNALLY AND ISOLATE AND IDENTIFY A VENDOR. 12 OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT CAME AND IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO GO OUT AND BRING A VENDOR TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PROCESS CEASE AND TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO SUPPORT TEACHERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOW TO CONNECT WITH CHILDREN. THIS IS ALL ABOUT LOOKING HOW WE WORK THROUGH POWER STRUGGLE WITH STUDENTS. HOW WE HAVE CALMING MECHANISMS AND STRATEGIES. LOOKING AT SELF-CONTROL STRATEGIES AND TO ADDRESS AND REDEFINE OUR PREVENTION TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME SUCCESSFUL. A GRANT IDENTIFIED BY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER IN TRANSFORMATION TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN AND STAFF.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION TO APP APPROVE C-6.05. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS.
>>Jessica Vaughn: YES, THANK YOU. I SPENT TIME WITH MISS M[L]CCREA TALKING ABOUT THIS. ANYTHING I SEE WITH DIS-EUCLIDEAN ESPECIALLY IN OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING RESTORATIVE IN NATURE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE LOOK LIKE. I APPRECIATE SHE GAVE ME A LOT OF ANSWERS AND I WANTED TO RECAP WHAT THE ANSWERS WERE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY TO LOOK DEEPER. IF THERE ARE SOME DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS TO GIVE TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS TRIGGERING THE BEHAVIOR, TO REALLY IMPLEMENT, RERESTORE TO PRACTICES. I KNOW WE HAVE LEFT THINGS AND I KNOW YOU SENT SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT I WANTED TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION IS, I THINK IT IS INTERESTING AND GOOD IF WE ARE TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STRATEGIES THAT CAN CAUSE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN A DEEPER MEANINGFUL WAY. ONCE WE IDENTIFY THAT. WHAT IS IN OUR TOOLBOX AND TOOL KIT AS PART OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS AND STAFF THEN HAVE THE MEANS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING THAT IS DEEPER. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ON OUR WEB SITE, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SEE IF THAT IS IMPLEMENTED IN TRAINING. WHAT ARE WE DOING. WE TALKED ABOUT PARTNER WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO IDENTIFY THINGS. I WANTED MORE FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE ONCE WE LED TEACHER TO IDENTIFY THEM. THE SUPPORT WE ARE GIVING THEM TO HELP OUR STUDENTS IN THAT CASE.
>>Addison Davis: MISS McCREA.
>> THANK YOU, MISS VAUGHN. SHE BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD POINT. NOT ALL DISCIPLINE ISSUES ARE RELATIVE TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON CAMPUS. WHAT A WE ARE X EXPERIENCE IN OUR SCHOOL ARE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA. EXPERIENCING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY AND KIDS NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE A CHOICE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPER HEALTH HELP THAT THEY NEED. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SHAMARA BIRD WHO WORKED WITH OUR HOMELESS DIVISION. WHAT ARE THE RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO OUR FAMILY IF HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THOSE THINGS? WHERE ARE THEY HOUSE? DOING THAT RESEARCH, WE HAVE ON OUR CANVAS SITE, A PLACE WHERE ANY TEACHER, ANY STAFF MEMBER ACCESS TO CANVAS CAN GO ON AND IDENTIFY RESOURCES FOR FOOD, SHELTER, FOR CLOTHING, FOR HOUSING. AND THERE ARE HYPER LINKS TO COMMUNITY DIVISIONS, TO MUNICIPALITIES OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GET RESOURCE THAT ARE NONEDUCATIONAL RELATED AND THEY WANTED TO FIND THOSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED, WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION. MISS VAUGHN, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE CIRCLE BACK WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND ALL OUR SUPPORT SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION. I WENT ON MYSELF AND NAVIGATED THE INFORMATION MYSELF. SOMETHING I LEARNED AS WELL THAT THAT STUFF IS MONITORED AND THEY UPDATE IT QUITE FREQUENTLY TO MAKE SURE THERE IS RECENT AND CURRENT INFORMATION ON THAT SITE. BUT JUST TO STRESS THAT NOT ALL DISCIPLINE ISSUES ARE SCHOOL-RELATED ISSUES. AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE REALLY BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH KIDS AND GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, WE WILL FINDS THERE ARE ISSUE THAT'S WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES TO SUPPORT NOT JUST THE STUDENT BUT THE FAMILY'S NEEDS. A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO CIRCLE BACK MAKE SURE THE SCHOOLS HAVE THE INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO ACCESS ANYTHING THAT IS NONEDUCATIONAL AND OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT WALLS.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I DID HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. I LOVE THE IDEA OF CIRCLING BACK AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE AT THE SCHOOL UNDERSTANDS THAT. SINCE WE ARE DOING THIS TRAINING AND A PIECE OF THE TRAINING AND SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE CUSTOMIZING IT TO OUR DISTRICT. MY SPECIFIC QUESTION IS, WILL THAT INFORMATION BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE END TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING THE TRAINING OR HAVING THIS ENGAGEMENT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THOSE LINKS AND A FOLLOW-THROUGH WITH THIS PIECE.
>> YES, MA'AM.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ON THE DESCRIPTION, I NOTICED THERE ARE -- LET'S SEE, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12 -- 12 SCHOOLS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS. AND LOOKING AT THE AGREEMENT, THIS -- AND I AM JUST TRYING UNDERSTAND THIS. BECAUSE $12,000 FOR FOUR SESSIONS. $3,000 FLAT RATE INCLUDE ALL EXPENSES A DAY. THIS SEMINAR WILL EXPLAIN WHY PEOPLE DISENGAGE AND MISBEHAVE, ETC. IF THIS IS A SEMINAR, AND PRESENT IN A SEMINAR FORMAT, WHY DO WE HAVE TO LIMIT IT TO 12 SCHOOLS. UNFORTUNATELY I SAYS THERE DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS IN ALL SCHOOLS. WHY DO WE LIMIT THIS TO JUST THE 12 SCHOOLS WHERE POTENTIALLY THIS CAN BE FORMATTED IN A WAY THAT ALL SCHOOLS CAN PARTICIPATE AND MAYBE VIRTUALLY PARTICIPATE IF THEY CAN'T BE ON-SITE FOR THE ACTUAL SEMINAR. UNLESS IT IS MORE THAN A SEMINAR, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS HOW I AM UNDERSTANDING IT.
>>Addison Davis: I WILL START AND THEN GIVE IT TO MISS McCREA. THIS IS ONLY DRIVEN FOR TURN A-AROUND SCHOOLS AND TRANSFORMATIONIAL NETWORK FOR THE TURN AROUND SUPPORT GRANT. WE WILL HAVE TO USE THE FUNDING FOR THOSE SCHOOLS IMPACTED UNDER THAT UMBRELLA AND TRAIN THE TRAINER TO EXPAND IT. AFTER REVIEWING A QUARTER OR A SEMESTER WITHIN A SCHOOL DISTRICTS. MAYBE AN EXPANSION THAT WE USE OTHER FUNDS TO DO SO. MISS McCREA, YOU WANT TO A ADD TO THAT.
>> YES. THIS WAS AFFORD TO SCHOOLS A D AND F. THAT WAS 28 OF OUR SCHOOLS. PRINCIPALINGS HAD THE AUTONOMY HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE AND CULTURE. NOT ALL PRINCIPALS WANTED TO BRING IN A TRAIN TO GET STRATEGIES. SOME WANTED THEIR TEACHER TO COME ON CAMPUS AND CREATE TIER ONE SYSTEM AND STRUCTURES. MORE OF A PRINCIPLE OF -- PRINCIPAL AUTONOMY. AND MANY ARE SETTING UP SYSTEMS, INCENTIVE AND REWARD-BASED SYSTEMS. SCHOOLS NEEDED TO GET FOUNDATIONALLY WHAT THEIR DISCIPLINE STRUCTURES WILL LOOK LIKE AND OTHER SCHOOLS READY TO BRANCH OUT AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON STRATEGY. THESE PRINCIPALS GOT TOGETHER AND COORDINATED THIS THEMSELVES AND THEY SAID WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER, COME TOGETHER AS SCHOOLS AND HAVE RIDGE TALK TO OUR SCHOOLS. THIS WAS INITIATED FROM THE SCHOOL SIDE NOR FROM THE DISTRICT.
>> THIS HELPS ME UNDERSTAND A COHORT OF PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND SO -- SO, THAT'S ALL I REALLY WANTED WAS JUST CLARIFICATION WHY OR WHY NOT WE COULDN'T REPLICATE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION SO THAT OTHER SCHOOLS OR PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHER ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SOME OF THESE TACTICS AND STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: I WAS THINKING MEMBER COMBS -- EXCUSE ME, THANK MEMBER VAUGHN FOR PULLING THIS ITEM. BECAUSE MISS McCREA, YOUR WORK WITH THE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS ARE SO CRITICAL. WE KNOW AT HOME IS A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS ARE BORN AND THEY GO ON THE BUS AND GO TO THE SCHOOLS. WHAT I WANT TO SUGGEST -- AND THIS IS IT JUST AN IDEA. WE HAVE PBIS IN OUR SCHOOLS, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INCENTIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS RESTORATIVE FOR MATTERS OF DISPROPORTION AT OF SUSPENSIONS, ALL KIND OF RATIONALE TO SUPPORT CHILD AND TEACH THEM STRATEGIC WAYS TO REALLY MITIGATE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY PROCESSES. ALL THAT IS TO SAY CAN WE NOT HAVE AN UMBRELLA KIND OF VIEWPOINT FROM THE PBIS TODAY, BUT KIND OF PUT THAT FOR AT-HOME. SO YOU HAVE IN CLASS AND AT HOME. YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING? BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHILL ROOMS AND ALL THE REWARD ROOMS ALREADY SET UP. AND BY THE WAY, EISENHOWER HAS THAT REALLY GREAT PLAN FOR THEIR PBIS. HE IS SO EXCITED. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE EXCITING AND VERY DRAWN TO THE STUDENTS. THEY RECOGNIZE THE PBIS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? JUST COLD CALL HERE. JUST ASKING.
>> LOTS OF SCHOOLS ARE WRAPPING THEIR ARMS AROUND PBIS. PBIS DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE, PROVIDES GUIDANCE OF HOW TO SET UP TIER ONE STRUCTURES. NOT ONLY PROVIDES GUIDANCE, BUT CALLS OUT HOW MULTIPLE PLAYERS OF A SCHOOL CAMPUS WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MAKE A SYSTEM WORK THAT IS REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS FOR KIDS AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES FOR KIDS. FOR PBIS, IT DEFINES WHAT THE ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES AND THE TEACHER IS. AND WE NEED THAT GUIDANCE SO EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT IS THEIR HAND IS WHEN DEALING WITH STUDENTS AND DISCIPLINE. PBIS HAS BEEN VERY ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE IT SETS UP SOME GUIDANCE HOW TO MAKE TIER ONE -- WHEN WE SAY "TIER ONE" WE MEAN WHAT IS INCLUDED FOR ALL KIDS, EXPECTATIONS FOR EVERY KID ON CAM PAUSE AND PBIS PROVIDES GUIDANCE, DIRECTIONS AND MAPPING OUT HOW EVERYBODY ON CAMPUS KIND OF PLAY AS ROLE IN SETTING UP GOOD SYSTEMS FOR SUPPORT.
>>Lynn Gray: I WAS JUST THINKING OF AT HOME. KINDS OF ADDING ANOTHER LAYER, BUT THE THOUGHT IS EXCELLENT. AND SO WELL NEEDED. BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
>> HOW TO EXTEND IT TO THE --
>>Lynn Gray: WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PBIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN?
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. IT IS NOT EXACTLY TIED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT KIND OF GOES ON WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER AND I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP BECAUSE SEEMS THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE. WE ARE TALKING OF HOW MUCH OF OUR GENERAL FUND IS ALLOTTED TO SALARIES. I THINK ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS HOW MANY TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS WE STARTED WITH. AND HOW UNIQUE HILLSBOROUGH WAS TO THE -- TO THE JOB THAT BE NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE HIGHEST LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS. AND I JUST WANT TO ASK, IS THERE -- IS THERE AN EQUATION -- DOES IT EQUATE TO HAVING MORE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR UNDER PERFORMING SCHOOLS WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT PERCENTAGE.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT -- IN 2019, THE LAST TIME -- WE HAD PERFORMING SCHOOLS. THOSE SCHOOLS DO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WHETHER IT BE INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, DISTRICTS, RESOURCE TEACHERS, ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS, ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, ADDITIONAL PRINCIPALS AND ALL THAT TO DETERMINE HOW WE CAN GET THEM TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY FLUID. ALL OF THAT I WOULD SAY YES. WHAT WE HAVE REALLY DONE, AS I SAID BEFORE, MAXIMIZE ALL THE FUNDING SOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO ALLEVIATE THE GENERAL FUNDS IN THAT PROCESS.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT IT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISE FOR A SCHOOL THAT HAS SO MUCH WORK TO DO ON ITS UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS TO HAVE A HIGHER CAP ON SALARIES. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. VERY GOOD POINTS. WHAT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THE BOARD, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, IS TO SEE A BREAKDOWN ON WHAT WE ARE SPENDING ON TRANSFORMATIONIAL SCHOOLS. AND WHAT PART OF WHAT WE ARE SPENDING COMES FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, RIGHT. .BUCKETS ARE THE MONEY -- BECAUSE WE GET MONEY FROM MANY DIFFERENT BUDGETS TO SUPPORT WHAT WE DO AT TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS. SO MAYBE THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT EVERY BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO GET -- WRAP THEIR HEAD AROUND. HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING AND WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.07, INVITATION TO B BID 221122-EST-JV, TOTAL PERFORMANCE SERVICES DBA POWER UP EDU INTERACTIVE PHRASING BUNDLE. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT IN ITEM.
>> THIS IS JUST THAT COOL. A LOT IN OUR SUBJECT LINE. STUDENTS THAT HAVE DISBLTS AND MAY HAVE LIMITATIONS AND CANNOT USE OUR CURRENT STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES WHEN IT RELATES TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION. BEING ABLE TO CREATE AND PARTNER WITH A VENDOR WITH MOBILE CLASSROOMS FOR ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION. THEY WILL BRING GIANT INTERACTIVE PROJECTIONS, LIGHTS, SOUNDS IN ALL CURRICULUM THROUGH INTERACTIVE MOVEMENT AND JUST A MOBILE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR HEALTHY FOCUS AND THEIR FITNESS AND FOR US TO BE INNOVATIVE HOW WE CONTINUE TO SERVE CHILDREN. THIS WILL BE USE WITH TITLE IV AND WITH OUR FISCAL EDUCATION DOLLARS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. TO APPROVE 6.07. MEMBER MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>>Jessica Vaughn: I DO, THANK YOU. I HAD A THOROUGH CONVERSATION YESTERDAY. WHILE IT SEEMED EXCITING, I WANTED TO KNOW THE PROCESS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS REQUESTING IT. HOW THEY GOT ACCESS TO THE EQUIPMENT. HOW IT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THEM -- THAT'S OKAY. I DID THAT, TOO, RECENTLY. WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD TO CALL AND REQUEST, WHETHER THEY CAN PUT IN A REQUEST THROUGH THE INTERNET. I GOT A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THE ONE THAT I KNOW SOMEBODY SENT ME SOME FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO CHECK IT TODAY WAS THE WARRANTY INFORMATION ON THE EQUIPMENT ITSELF.
>> A ONE-YEAR WARRANTY FOR SOME OF THE THINGS -- THE LIGHT BULK AND PIECES WITH THE PROJECTOR THAT SUPERINTENDENT SDAFS MENTIONED. A THREE--- -- DAVIS MENTIONED. THREE-YEAR WARRANTY AND THE GIGANTIC PROJECT THEIR FITS IN THE GYM. IT IS MOBILE. WE ALREADY TALKED TO PABLO AND HIS TEAM AND WILL BE TRAINED BY AREAS. AND THEY HAVE ONE PERSON IN OUR PE DIVISION, THE ONE DRT THAT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE IT AND LESS CHANCE WHEN THEY THEY CAN CAN OUT, SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO TEMP SINGLE TIME THEY DO IT. ON PROFESSIONAL STUDY DAY. AND EVERYBODY WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT DOES AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN, AFTER IT IS APPROVED, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET WORK WITH THAT. WE ARE VERY EXCITE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.
>> I LOVE THAT PIECE. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE. I KNOW WHEN YOU REQUEST IT, YOU REQUEST FOR HOW LONG YOU ARE GOING TO NEED IT. IF WE ARE FINDING MULTIPLE REQUESTS AND PEOPLE ARE USING LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED, OTHER REQUESTS ARE COMING IN, YOU KNOW, AFTER THAT AND WE ARE FINDING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PIECE TO MEET THE DEMANDS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WILL RELOOK AT PURCHASING MORE FOR AND TRACK THAT -- TRACK THOSE TRENDS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE ALWAYS START SMALL WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY. TO MAKE SURE. HOW GREAT WILL BE IT AT EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL. WE START SMALL ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEWER TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS PRETTY OUT THERE AND PRETTY INTERACTIVE AND NEW. SO WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL. WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT AND USE IT. WE WANT ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS TO USE IT. OUR PE PROFESSIONALS IN ESP SPORP TO ARE TRAINED AND WE DO FEEDBACK AND TO SEE THAT. TO HAVE CHANGES TO MOVE FORWARD AND ABSOLUTELY. OUR HOPES IS THAT THIS WILL BE AS EXCITED AND WONDERFUL AS WE KNOW IT IS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER PEREZ.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. CAN YOU RESTATE AGAIN THE FUNDING SOURCE THIS IS COME FROM.
>>Addison Davis: THIS IS TITLE 4 FUNDING AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION FUNDING, ALL THAT ARE LEVERAGED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ONGOING NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THEM TO INTERACT WITH PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
>>Karen Perez: OKAY. SO MY QUESTION IS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. MEDICAID DOLLARS. BECAUSE THIS IS -- OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AM I CORRECT?
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE CAN LOOK AND SEE IF THAT IS A QUALIFIER FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
>>Karen Perez: OKAY. BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE, RIGHT. BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ASSISTING OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. AND THAT -- THAT SHOULD BE A MAJOR FUNDING SOURCE RIGHT THERE IS OUR MEDICAID DOLLARS.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. WE WILL DEFINITELY LOOK AT IT. YES, MA'AM.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WITH GRAY NOT BEING ON THE DAIS. NEXT IS 6.08, SOLE SOURCE, 22154-SSD-IV, BRITON EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS TO BEHAVIOR FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL EXPLAIN.
>>Addison Davis: THIS IS ONGOING PROFESSIONAL TRACKING FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. INSIGHT ABILITIES TO HAVE A SUITE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE AND UPDATE AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION PLANS FOR OUR SCHOOLS. SAME TOKEN, WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW US TO LOOK AND ENHANCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND STRATEGIES RELATED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. THIS IS A TOOL THAT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT AND REALLY FOCUS ON OUR DISPROPORTIONATE REMOVAL OF BLACK STUDENTS. AND THIS HAS ONGOING REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES, ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. FACE-TO-FACE, ON DEMAND VIDEOS FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND STRENGTHEN RTI, MTSS FRAMEWORKS AS WELL. THIS IS GOING TO BE USED WITH IDA FUNDING AND $170,000 EXPENDITURE. DR. HICKMAN FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW. DOC, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY? OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF ESE. ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THE THING I WANT TO ADD, SORT OF A REPEAT. REPEAT FOR OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS BENEFITS FROM THIS. ADDS TO THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM WHERE WE TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER. PROVIDE IT RAY CROSS THE DISTRICT AND DEVELOP A PLAN, AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN, SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO RIGHT NOW. SOMETHING IF YOU ASK ACROSS THE DISTRICT HOW MANY FBAs OR BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION PLANS. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. THIS IS FOR TEACHER TO HAVE ACCESS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.08. A MOTION. SO WE WILL JUST GO AHEAD AND START WITH THAT ORDER. IF YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR NAMES UP. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, THANK YOU. SO WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS IN DETAIL TONIGHT. SO -- I MEAN THIS AFTERNOON. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRICE OF IT. YOU KNOW GOING UP SO. AND I WAS TOLD WE HAD A PILOT PROGRAM AND NOW EXTENDED IT TO AUTO OUR SCHOOLS. I FELT COMFORTABLE HOW IT IS A TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW TEACHER TO CREATE THESE INTERVENTION PLANS MORE EASIER. PULLED DATA WHICH IS SOMETHING WE NEED DESPERATELY. OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PIECE. AND IT WILL BE DONE IN PERSON AND THEN THERE WILL BE FOLLOW-UP TRAINING VIDEOS. YOU KNOW MY CONCERNS WERE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GAUGE -- I MADE THIS CLEAR -- GOING FORWARD NEXT YEAR IF THIS COMES UP FOR RENEWAL, THE DATA FROM THAT. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH -- HOW USER FRIENDLY IT IS. THAT IS THE CONCERN I HAVE AND WHETHER OR NOT TEACHER ALSO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN THE WAY WE ARE HOPING TO AND THEY UNDERSTAND IT AND UTILIZE AND EXTRACT DATA THE NEXT TIME THEY COME UP FOR RENEWAL. YOU ANSWERED THE MAJORITY OF MY QUESTIONS AND I AM GREATSFUL. HOW WE ARE UTILIZING. HOW MANY TEACHERS AND DO THEY LIKE IT AND MORE GOING THROUGH NEXT YEAR.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR BRING THIS FORWARD. I THINK THIS IS MUCH NEEDED. THE POPULATION IS HUGE. THE NEEDS ARE GREAT. LET ME JUST POINT OUT AN EXAMPLE. DURING OUR HISPANIC FORUMS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT PRINCIPALS IN ELEMENTARY HAVE BROUGHT UP DOCTOR NOT ONE OF THE BIGGEST, BUT A PROMINENT PROBLEM. IS THE GIFTED KIDS BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, WE DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION OR KNOW IF THEY ARE GETTED OR NOT. SO WE MISS A LOT OF THOSE STUDENTS IN GETTING THEM THE TRAINING -- LET ME SEE, THE ATTENTION THAT THEY SO MUCH NEED. AND SO IT PUTS A CLOSE EYE ON THOSE STUDENTS THAT SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS. SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS, THAT IS A HUGE PROACTIVE WAY OF HANDLING SO MANY OF OUR CHILDREN TO BE CLOSELY RECOGNIZE THAT ARE ESC STUDENTS. ALSO, WHEN I TALKED THE PRINCIPALS, THEY LOVED THIS. AND I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD SMILE BECAUSE THE PRINCIPALS ARE VERY HAPPY FOR THIS TYPE OF ELEMENT TO HELP THEM WRITE THEIR PLANS OR KNOW THEIR PLANS, TO RECOGNIZE THE IEPs. AND LAST, THE DISPROPORTION AT OF BLACKS AND THOSE WHO HAVE DISBLTS. THIS IS -- THIS IS AFFECTING MANY OF OUR MINORITIES. IN THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE AND RESOURCE HELPS THAT PARTICULAR GROUP TO GET THE STRATEGIC ENERGY, THE POSITIVE STRATEGIC ENERGY ARE OF WHAT THIS INITIATIVE GIVES. IT PAYS ATTENTION TO A LOT OF THE STUDENTS IN MY MINDS. THE HUGE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT WE SEEM TO MISS THEIR NEEDS. AND GOOD JOB. IF I MISSED ANYTHING, I AM SURE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER WILL PROBABLY SAY SOMETHING. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WHEN I WAS A PROFESSOR AT USF AND PREPARING FUTURE SPECIAL ED TEACHERS CREATING A BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION PLAN, COLLECTING THE DATA, AND KNOWING HOW TO UTILIZE THAT DATA TO INFORM THEIR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY, IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROJECTS WE DID IN THE SPECIAL ED PROGRAM. AND IT WAS -- IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN A SPECIAL ED TEACHER'S TOOLBOX THAT WE ALTERNATIVELY SITTERFIED MOST OF OUR TEACHERS. THEY WILL NOT -- CERTIFY MOST OF THOSE TEACHERS. THEY WON'T GET THAT TRAINING. GLAD TO SEE IT AS A TOOL IN THEIR TOOLBOX TO CREATE THIS, UTILIZE THE DATA. YOU KNOW, IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL. AND IF IT CAN BE USED BY ALL TEACHERS INSIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND OUTSIDE TO -- YOU KNOW, AS ONE OF THOSE INTERVENTION THAT'S MAY BE ABLE TO HELP TEACHERS WITH CHALLENGING STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AS MEMBER GRAY SPOKE ABOUT. I THINK IT IS GREAT. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS A WONDERFUL TOOL FOR ALL TEACHERS TO HAVE AND WILL HELP ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THE DAY KAY -- THE PRE-K-12 CONTINUUM. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>> I WANTED TO GIVE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK TO BOARD MEMBERS THAT SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS REACHED OUT TO SUPPORT THIS. AND I WAS GOING TO READ ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT ONE OF THEM SHARED WITH ME. AND I ATTENDED A BRIEF TRAINING YESTERDAY. THE PROING WOULD BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL FOR THE MTSS PROCESS AND FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL WITHOUT -- WITHOUT ANY RESOURCE PEOPLE TO CREATE BEHAVIOR PLANS. MY ADMINISTRATION TEAM WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING BEHAVIOR PLANS. THIS PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT OUR WORK WITH ALL KIDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO I THINK IF PRINCIPALS ARE WILLING TO REACH OUT AND WRAP -- WANT TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND IT AND SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS WILL HELP THEM WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, THEN WE SHOULD SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. I PULLED IT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS, BUT I DO LOVE THE CLARIFICATION BECAUSE WE HAD SOMEONE COME IN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT SAY WHY DID IT GO FROM SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD A FEW SCHOOLS AND NOW WE ARE PILOTING AND EXTENDING IT. THAT IS WHY THE COST ASSOCIATE IS SO MUCH HIGHER. I REALLY THOUGHT THAT THE PILOT RESULTS WERE REALLY AMAZING AND HEARD MEMBER SNIVELY MENTIONING PRINCIPALS. NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS ARE USING THAT. I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT BUT VIDEOS THERE TO SUPPORT TEACHERS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENT DISCIPLINE ISSUES. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A LOT -- WE HAVE A LOT OF VACANCIES. WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE COVER CLASSES AND A CHALLENGING TIME AND SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY USEFUL IF I AM COVERING A CLASS FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS OUT. IT WILL BE VERY USEFUL AS A TEACHER. I THINK SO THIS CAN BE USED IN A WIDE -- NUMEROUS WAYS. I THINK FOR ME JUST LOOKING AS MEMBER VAUGHN SAID, LOOKING AT THE USAGE AND NOT MONDAY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT TOOL, BUT SOMETIMES SO MANY TOOLS THAT PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS DON'T KNOW WHICH TOOL TO USE. WE NEED TO MONITOR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND ENCOURAGE -- IF WE ARE NOT SEEING SCHOOLS UTILIZE IT OR SEEING THE USAGE OF THAT. WE SEE THERE ARE RESULTS ON THAT. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE TO YOU MONITOR IT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE VERY END SO WE ARE UTILIZE IT SO SCHOOLS ARE NOT NOT USING AND MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT. THOSE ARE MY ONLY COMMENTS. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, DAD DAM CHAIR. ALSO I GOT A FEEDBACK FROM QUITE A FEW PRINCIPALS ABOUT THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WILL DEEPLY HELP A PERSON WHO COMES IN -- COMES IN AND THE TEACH IS NOT THERE. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IN FRONT OF THEM. YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THEY HAD ALL THAT PAPERWORK. YOU HAVE TON OF PAPER -- YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PAPERWORK TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE KID MANY TIMES. THIS ELIMINATES A LOT OF THAT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I AM BACK IT 100%.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.11. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS -- SORRY, LET ME GO BACK, 6.09. HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL FOR 2023. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THIS BOARD DOES A GOOD JOB OF FINDING ATTRACTIVE WAYS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES. ONE OF THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THE EMPLOYEE COST OF OUR FIRST LOCAL REMAIN ZERO DOLLARS IT COST TO OUR EMPLOYEES. WE COVER THAT AND GIVE $100 UP-FRONT BENEFIT ALLOWANCE FOR COVER FIRST. AND PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. THIS IS BRING TO RECOGNIZE THAT WITH THIS A 6.1% INCREASE IN OUR INSURANCE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. IF WE LOOK AT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS VERY MINIMAL INCREASE OF OUR INSURANCE WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGH HUMANA. AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE STATE WE SEE INCREASES -- MAJORITY ARE IN DOUBLE DIGITS. OUR TEAM IS REALLY WORK WITH OUR COMMITTEE AND ALSO WITH OUR GROUP TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS. THERE WERE ARRANGE CONCERNS THAT 426 COUPLES THAT WOULD BE -- WILL BE PENALIZED IN A WAY OR ADDED ADDITIONAL FINANCE BURDEN TO THEM. WE APPRECIATE THIS COMMITTEE COMING BACK TOGETHER WITH DISTRICT STAFF, ALL OF OUR UNIONS, ACCOUNTING STAFF, OUR BENEFITS ENROLLMENT STAFF, HUMAN CAPITAL, TO ALL COME BACK. AND THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED. NO COST TO ANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE MARRIED OR NOT. AND THAT CONTINUES TO REMAIN THE SAME. THIS EXPENDITURE ASK A $7.9 MILLION INCREASE. AND OVERALL $164 MILLION COMMITMENT FROM OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-6.09. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: WELL, I JUST -- FIRST AND VERY SATISFIED THAT THE TWO MARRIED DISTRICT EMPLOYEE CONUNDRUM WAS RESOLVED. AND ALSO, HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE WELLNESS PROGRAM IS BEING EXPANDED. AND ALSO, THE HEALTH THAT IS NEW FOR TYPE II DIABETICS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR EMPLOYEES WITH HOW -- DO WE REALLY CARE FOR THE WELL BEING, PHYSICAL, MENTAL WELL BEING OF OUR EMPLOYEES? AND ABSOLUTELY WE DO. AND THIS SPEAKS TO THAT AS WELL. AND THAT -- THAT IS JUST THE COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE ON THIS GIVEN THAT WE DEFINITELY REACHED AN AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. I WILL SUPPORT THIS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER VAUGHN?
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THE REVISION ONCE WE HEARD FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. THERE WAS SO MUCH ANXIETY ABOUT THAT. I AM REALLY HAPPY TO SEE WE LISTENED TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND REVISED THAT. I KNOW IT IS A TOUGH TIME AND PRICE ARE RISING AND WITHER TRYING TO MITIGATE THAT. MY QUESTION IS SOME OF THE COVERAGE THROUGH HUMANA. I AM GETTING A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE NORMALLY SERVICES PEOPLE COULD ACCESS BEING TAKEN AWAY. LIKE MOST RECENTLY AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS QUESTION. WE ARE NO LONGER PARTNERING FOR CVS MINUTE CLINIC FOR PEOPLE TO GO GET TREATMENT IF THEIR PRIMARY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR A WALK-ON. IS THAT TRUE?
>> THAT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT THAT WAS MADE LAST YEAR, BUT THE CVS IS STILL A PART OF IT. I DON'T KNOW IF CVS IS STILL DOING THE MINUTE CLINIC AND WE CAN FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS. WHAT THE PROVIDERS ARE AVAILABLE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE HAD SOME SHIFTS FROM WALGREEN'S A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY UPDATES ON CVS. WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AS PROVIDERS CHANGE, DOES THAT ANXIETY AND WHAT HUMANA OFFERS. SOMETHING WE CAN REVISIT WITH THEM AFTER IT PASSES OR BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND AS THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN.
>> WE STAY IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ACCOLADE PROGRAM AVAILABLE THROUGH HUMANA TO HELP THEM THROUGH ANY OF THE QUESTIONS OR CHALLENGES.
>>Jessica Vaughn: LET'S SAY IF THAT WAS THE CASE, WE COULD LOOK AT REVISIT WHAT PROVIDERS?
>> YES, WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WE PUSH THIS OUT AND THANK TRACY FOR EVERYTHING SHE DOES. SHE IS SO AMAZING AND DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB. I KNOW THAT THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE COST OF INSURANCE HAS GONE UP THROUGHOUT -- THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE GREAT EVERYONE LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING AT -- WE RECEIVED SO MANY E-MAIL ABOUT THE -- ABOUT THE TWO COUPLES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND I KNOW THE INSURANCE AND THE COST OF INSURANCE HAS JUST GONE UP, I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT IT WAS TO BRING THIS BACK AND MAKE IT BETTER, YOU KNOW, FOR A MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYEES. I KNOW OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS AND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO. IS BRING THOSE CONCERNS TOGETHER AND MEET WITH HUMANA AT SOME POINT AND GIVE THOSE CONCERNS FOR TRACY SO SHE CAN ENGAGE WITH THEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR -- FOR DOING THAT. ANY QUESTIONS? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.11, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNUAL MEMBER WITH THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS.
>> THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP OF 68 LARGE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. URBAN DISTRICTS THAT MATCH OUR DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THIS IS AN ADVOCACY GROUP FOR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE INNER CITY STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY. IMPROVING FINANCES, OPERATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, LEGISLATION, STUDENT IMPROVEMENT, PROCESSES AND ALL TO BE ABLE TO BECOME STRONGER AND HAVE A TRUE PLCs. WE ASK OUR TEACHER TO HAVE PLCs AND NOT ONLY THROUGH THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENTS AND ALSO STAFF TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND PROBLEM SOLVE WITH PROBLEMS AND PRACTICE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEMC-6.11. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER SNIVELY, YOU PULLED THE ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONE OF THE REASON I PULLED THIS ITEM IN ADDITION TO HIGHLIGHT IT IS BECAUSE -- USUALLY IT DOES COME UP ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WHY WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS SO I WANTED YOU TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT OUR DISTRICT RECEIVED BY BEING MEMBERS. I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEIR MEMBERSHIP FEE WENT UP SO GREATLY FROM -- YOU KNOW FROM 2019-2020 $58,000 TO NOW -- ALMOST $64,500. DISAPPOINTED THEY TOOK QUITE A LEAP IN THAT. MAYBE COULD YOU -- COULD YOU SPECIFICALLY LIST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN -- THAT YOU THINK OUR DISTRICT HAS BENEFITED FROM INCLUDING MAYBE THE AUDIT THAT THEY PROVIDED US?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE WEEKLY MEET WITH SUPERINTENDENTS. AND WHETHER WE ARE ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, HOW WE INCREASE INTERVENTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS OR HOW WE TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SUICIDE PREVENTIONS THAT WE IMPLEMENT. OR LOOKING AT OUR FINANCES, EVERY WEEK THERE IS A PROBLEM AND PRACTICE THAT I AS SUPERINTENDENT CAN BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN. I KNOW WE HAVE ROSE INVOLVED IN. CHRIS IS INVOLVED IN. EVERYBODY IS ENGAGED. I THINK WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS TO ENGAGE. TO REALLY, LEARN AND GROW AND SHARE WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE NATION THROUGH A VIRTUAL PLATFORM AND PERSPECTIVE. ANY TIME THAT ANY OF US MAY HAVE A PARTICULAR ISSUE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE REVIEWED OR LOOK AT SUCH AS WE DID RELATED TO OUR FINANCES, THEY WILL ASSEMBLE A SUITE OF EXPERTS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND REVIEW ALL INFORMS AND PROVIDE A SOPHISTICATED REPORT IN IDENTIFYING ACTION STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN THAT ARE ALL CENTERED AROUND BEST PRACTICES. THIS IS A COHESIVE GROUP OF LARGE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PROBLEM SOLVE AND NOT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO BE ALONE IN PROBLEMS AND PRACTICES THAT THEY CONTINUE TO SOLVE EVERY SAY. I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT IN MORE DETAIL FOR -- WELL, FOR ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T LIVE IN A BUBBLE AND ALWAYS A GREAT IDEA TO POP UP OUR HEADS AND LOOK AROUND AT SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHAT'S WORKING. NO SENSE OF REINVENTING THE WHEEL. SOMETIMES IF SOMETHING IS WORK IN ANOTHER DISTRICT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT WILL WORK HERE, BUT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE GIVEN US SOME GOOD IDEAS AND GOOD GUIDANCE IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE WITH WE NEED IT. SO JUST WANTED TO -- MORE HIGHLIGHT IT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT. WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST TO GO OUT INDEPENDENTLY FOR THAT AUDIT?
>>Addison Davis: THAT AUDIT WOULD HAVE COST NORTH OF $100,000. IT COULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TODAY 200,000 BECAUSE OF THE 3.3 BILLION BUDGET.
>>Stacy Hahn: WE WENT OUT BEFORE I WAS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE GIBSON REPORT AND INTO THE SIX FIGURES.
>>Addison Davis: COMPLETELY.
>> OVER 800,000.
>>Addison Davis: THAT IS RIGHT.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.01, APPROVE GUARANTEE MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE WELDING LAB ATOR WIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE, PROJECT NUMBER TBD.
>>ER WIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO IMPROVE THEIR EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES WHERE STUDENTS ARE TRAINED AND INSTRUCTED WITH TECHNICAL WELDING. WHAT THIS DOES IS ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND, TO IMPROVE ELECTRICAL, TO IMPROVE HEATING VENTILATION AND HVAC TO UPDATE THEIR EXISTING LABS ALL THROUGH -- FINANCIALLY BACKED BY ADULT WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. AN $800,000 EXPENDITURE.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEMC-7.01. A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. AND SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>>Jessica Vaughn: WHO LET ME TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM OF THIS. I LOVE WELDING AND THE CORE OF SO MANY OTHER TRADE PROGRAMS YOU CAN GET INTO. I THINK WELD SOMETHING ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT SOMEONE CAN GO INTO. TALKING TO MR. BROOKS ABOUT IT, I UNDERSTAND WE GOT THE EQUIPMENT THROUGH A GRANT THAT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE AND WAITING TO BE ABLE TO OU OUTFIT ERWIN THAT DES OFFICER RATLEY NEEDS HELP WITH THE EQUIPMENT. TO MAKE SURE STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO DRAIN THE STUDENTS FOR THIS KIND OF LAB. THE ONE QUESTION I DIDN'T GET ANSWERED AND GOES TO YOU MR. FARKAS, HOW DO WE CHOOSE THE COMPANY TO OUTFIT THE LAB.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. DC STUDIOS DID THE WELDING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND A COST REDUCTION BECAUSE THEY SET UP A FORMAT. A LOCAL FIRM. A 19-YEAR-OLD FIRM. WE START WITH SMALh WHICH MEANS WE CAN CHOOSE THOSE. THEY WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THAT FIELD.
>>Jessica Vaughn: WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THIS OUT FOR A BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE GUIDELINES BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE COMPANY THAT OUTFITS IT. YOU ARE SAYING WE HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE TO DO IT ARE WE ALSO GOT A DISCOUNT.
>> YES, MA'AM, IF UNDER $4 MILLION CONTINUING SERVICES. OVER $4 MILLION, WE GO THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS.
>>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE CONTINUE TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WANT TO PROVIDE REAL QUICK A COUPLE OF UPDATES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT IS HAPPENING FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE INFORMED OF. THE FIRST BURN THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL TAX -- SALES TAX HOLIDAY. THIS STARTED ON JULY 25. AND IT WILL EXTEND THROUGH AUGUST 7. REGARDLESS IF WE ARE IDENTIFYING OR PURCHASING LEARNING AIDS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, COMPUTERS, ACCESSORIES, ALL A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY ON THIS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE HOPE OUR FAMILIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AS WE GET OUR CHILDREN READY AND PRIME TO COULD AM BACK TO SCHOOL. THIS SATURDAY ON JULY 30 AT THE WESTSHORE PLAZA. 15TH ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR SPONSORED BY TAMPA BAY PARENTING. THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT ALL OF OUR INITIATIVES AT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR OUR FAMILIES. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT THE WESTSHORE PLAZA MALL. HOPE TO SEE OUR PARENTS THERE. ALSO A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH A FOUNDATION, FAMILY FOUNDATION. OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH HELD AT RAYMOND JAMES AUGUST 6. 9:01 TO 1:01 LED BY THAT DOES BULLARD. WE KNOW HIM AS A WWE AMBASSADOR. TITUS O'NEILL. HE CONTINUES TO BE A CHAMPION FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION. AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY OF CREATING STRONG SCHOOLS IN STRONGER HILLSBOROUGH. I WANT ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENT TO UNDERSTAND THAT ON A PRIMARY ELECTION, A REN DUMB TO INCREASE THE ONE MILL FOR ADDITIONAL TAX FOR A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD. THE FOUR-YEAR PERIOD IS THE LENGTH AND LONGEST DURATION AS A SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND GIVES US US THREE YEARS TO PROVIDE COMPETENT -- TO ATTRACT TRAINED TEACHERS AND PUTTING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER AND LEADERS IN FRONT OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS WILL ULTIMATELY INCREASE STUDENT OUTCOMES. ULTIMATELY THIS FUND ALSO BE USED TO REIMAGINE, REDESIGN, AND OUR COMPENSATION PLANS FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. EVERY EMPLOYEE. AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO EXPAND VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION FOR 15,000 YOUNGSTERS WHO CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE IT. EXPAND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND BE BE INNOVATIVE IN THE SOLUTION AND SPACE. ALL I WANTED TO SHARE AS WE GET READY TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL. WE WANT TO WELCOME OUR TEACHERS BACK VERY SOON. AND THANK YOU FOR OUR OPERATIONAL STAFF MEMBERS AND ALL OUR VENDORS IN OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OF ALL THE PROJECTS THEY IMPLEMENTED, AND ALL OF THE LEADER HOGS HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE. HATS OFF TO MR. CONNOR AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM FOR AN AWESOME, OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. WE PRAEL REALLY APPRECIATE IT, SUE Mc CREA AND EVERYONE FOR PROVIDING A CONCENTRATION OF FOCUS AS WE NAVIGATE TO OUR NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BOARD COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 ADDITIONAL -- 30 SECONDS OF ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER PEREZ, WE WILL BE BEGIN YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, WITH SCHOOL STARTING, YOU KNOW SCHOOL SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT FOR THIS BOARD MEMBER AS I AM SURE IT IS FOR YOU. ON THIS COMING SATURDAY AT 7 P P.M., I AM GOING TO BE HAVING AN INCREDIBLE CONVERSATION. IT'S CALLED "BETWEEN TWO WORLDS." BETWEEN FLORIDA AND TEXAS. I AM GOING TO BE COLLABORATING WITH SARAH MANN. SHE IS AN EDUCATOR WITH 28 YEARS WORTH OF EXPERIENCE WORK WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SHE HAS WORKED AS A TEACHER, COACH, SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR SERVING STUDENTS FROM FIFTH TO 129S GRADE. A-- 12th GRADE. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER HE HAS HELD MULTIPLE DISTRICT LEVEL POSITIONS WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION. ALSO, SHE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH BACKGROUND AND OTHER CRISIS RESPONSE EXPERIENCE. SHE -- SHE HELPED COORDINATE T THE FLORESVILLE INDEPENDENT FOLLOWING THE SUTHERLAND SPRINGS CHURCH SHOOTING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES IN HER DISTRICT. WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER IN AND COLLABORATING, TALKING ABOUT HOW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER AND SHE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW TEXAS AND HER COMMUNITY OF PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WORKS FOR THEM. AND WHAT WORKS FOR US. AND COLLABORATE TOGETHER UNITEDLY ABOUT WHAT WORKS BOTH WAYS IN PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS. AND I AM -- I AM INVITING OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN THIS -- IN THIS AMAZING CONVERSATION. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. TRANSPARENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. JUST BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. AND I HOPE EVERYONE JOINS ME.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME GIVE KUDOS OUT TO POLICE JOHNSON. YOU DID A GREAT JOB TODAY. WHEN WE MEET ONE ON ONE, YOU HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE NUMBERS IS NOT MY GAME. I AM A DRIVER'S ED MAN. SO WHEN I COME TO SEE YOU, YOU HELP ME OUT A LOT. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT JOB. THE FIRST TIME IN 50 SOME YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE BLACK FOR A WHILE. YEAH. SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. MR. FARKAS, CAN'T LEAVE YOU OUT. I WANT TO THANK YOU. JAMES. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AT JAMES WITH THE HVAC AND MEDIA CENTER AND PUT IN RENOVATIONS THERE. I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT IS DISTRICT 5. OKAY. ALSO DR. HAHN AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OVER 3,000 BOOK BAGS -- NOT BY OURSELVES NOW. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THERE AT THE BULLITT FOUNDATION. WE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH FOUNDATION. 30,000 OF THEM FOR THE BULLITT FAMILY FOUNDATION WHICH WILL BE AUGUST 6 LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID AT 9 A.M. AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM. ALSO I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION WHERE I HAD A CHANCE TO FILL UP BAG WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR TEACHERS AND AT SELECT PICK-UP POINTS. I ENJOYED THAT. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HELP TEACHERS OUT TO SERVE TEACHERS. THEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY -- MEMBER VAUGHN AND I MET WITH MISS HART, ALONG WITH MISS DAVIS. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM. HOW WE CAN IMPROVE SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT. AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING VERY WELL IN DISTRICT FIVE. AND WE WANTED HER TO COME OUT TO DISTRICT FIVE TO VISIT. AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD. AND ALSO THANK YOU, MISS VAUGHN. YOU DID A GREAT JOB TOO BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT SOME POINTS THAT REALLY NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT OUT. NOW ON -- ON THIS WEEKEND, WEEKEND COMING UP, WE ARE CELEBRATING FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY ON JULY 31 AT ALLEN TEMPLE CHURCH. WE WANTS TO YOU COME OUT. IT IS GOING TO BE FROM 12:00 TO 3:00. WE ARE COLLECTING -- WE WANT TO GIVE AWAY OVER 3,000 PAIR OF TENNIS -- SHOES. THAT IS OUR GOAL. WE ARE AT 2250. WE HAVE STUDENTS -- WE WANT TO GIVE OUT BOOK BAGS AND EVERYBODY -- WE WANTED TO DO IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A LOT THE OF SHOES TO GIVE AWAY. AUGUST 31, COME OUT AND SUPPORT US AT ALLEN TEMPLE. WE ARE GOING TO A LOT OF GAMES, FOOD -- ALL THE FOOD YOU NEED. A LOT OF FOOD BECAUSE REVEREND DANS LOVES TO COOK. YOU KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU SUPE. YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY AND PLEASE COME OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: YEAH, IN BIG CAPITAL LETTERS I HAVE THANK YOU TEACHERS, STAFF, PRINCIPALS AND CABINET FOR THE HUGE SUCCESS, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS OF OUR GRADES. IT WAS ON THE BACKS OF EACH OF YOU AND THAT WE KNOW. ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT COMING UP FOR REGISTRATION, THANKS TO MONICA VERA-TIRADO AND THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE WILL HAVE THE TRANSLATOR TO HELP OUR HISPANIC FAMILIES REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN TO MITIGATE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. ALSO, OUR HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU, DR. ROSS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. EVERY SCHOOL WILL HAVE A POSTER NOW SAYING NO VAPING IN ADDITION TO NO SMOKING. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING HOPEFULLY NOW OR FEW DAYS. SO THAT IS GOING TO BE UP. THEN WE HAVE THE BRING TO BUY LITERACY SUMMER CAMP. THIS IS FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE FIRST YEAR. BUT IT REALLY SHOWS HOW OUR -- OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAS EXPANDED DIVERSITY AND PUTTING IT IN A CAMP FOR ALL CHILDREN. JUST -- I THINK THIS IS A 50-SECOND VIDEO, PABLO. ARE WE GOING TO WATCH THAT? HE IS FOCUSED.
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOUND DIFFICULTIES.
>>Lynn Gray: WE DON'T HAVE SO SOUND. ANY RATE BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS NOT LONG. .GREAT PROJECT AND WE ARE TRYING TO EXPAND DIVERSITY AND BETWEEN THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, THE LITERACY IS HAPPENING THROUGH SUMMER CAMPS. AND THEN PABLO -- I GUESS WE HAVE ANOTHER VIDEO, BUT I WILL HAVE TO WAIT.
>>THE GOAL IS TO D<KEEP CASE NEXT>I LIVER A CAREER-FOCUSED EDUCATION. A SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME VERY POPULAR. AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF LOCAL FAMILIES APPLIED TO THE BRIDGE TO BUY LITERACY PROGRAM. THE DISTRICT HELD A LOTTERY. AND SURPRISE THE FUTURE SPANISH-SPEAKING STUDENTS. TAKE A LOOK.
>>LEAH, CONGRATULATIONS, LEAH! YOU WERE SELECTED AS THE BRIDGE BY LITERACY PROGRAM! YAY Y!
>> STUDENTS GOT A SURPRISE VISITS TO THEIR HOME EVEN GET TO MEET THEIR FUTURE TEACHERS. SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM LAUNCHED THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE GOAL IS DELIVER A CAREER OPINION FOCUSED EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THE PROGRAM WILL LAUNCH AT TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE FALL --
>>Lynn Gray: OKAY, THAT IS THAT 50 SECOND. ANOTHER VIDEO -- LET ME JUST SHARE, FIRST, THE BACKGROUND. CAN YOU PUT IT ON PAUSE FOR A SECOND. SO THIS IS A STUDENT -- ACTUALLY THIS REPRESENTS THE MIGRANT POPULATION. THANK YOU, CAROL MAYO, BUT OUR BILINGUAL COUNSELING TEAM HAD THE ABILITY TO AWARD A SCAR LARSHIP ALAMEDA, McDONALD FROM EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL ALONGSIDE OUR COMMUNITY DONOR ATTORNEY EDWARD REYES. THE OTHER RECIPIENT FOR T THE MIGRANT WAS FRANCISCO FROM LEONARD HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING IN GEORGIA IN THE FIELDS. AND THIS IS -- ANYWAY, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A VIDEO. THEY HAVE BEEN -- THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THEY RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP. PABLO, CAN WE SEE A BIT OF IT.
>> I HEARD THIS WEDNESDAY WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A MEETING. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT GO BECAUSE I AM IN GEORGIA WORKING WITH MY PARENTS. WE WORK ALMOST A FULL DAY IN THE FIELD PICKING AND PACKING TO TOMATOES. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AND HELP ME PAY FOR MY TUITION AT HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE. SOMETHING MY PARENTS WITH CANNOT EASILY AFFORD BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK FOR MONTHS. ANOTHER REASON TO BE GRATEFUL BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED INTO SCHOOL AND EVEN HELP THEM WHEN THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT SUCH A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND I AM GLAD I GOT TO LEARN ABOUT IT. .WITH THE HELP OF THE SCHOLARSHIP I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING HCC WITHOUT MY PARENTS STRESSING THEMSELVES TOO MUCH IN THE FIELDS. ONE AGAIN, I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AND I AM CURRENTLY OUT OF STATE WORK WITH MY PARENTS, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO MEETS NEW PERSON. THANK YOU. AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR SUMMER.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ATTORNEY EDWARD REYES FOR THIS AND CAROL MAYO FOR BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. YOU HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. THEY ARE GIVERS AND THOSE WHO DEFINITELY NEED THE -- NEED THE ATTENTION, OF COURSE, AND THE SCHOLARSHIP. THANK YOU FOR ME GOING OVER. AND THAT IS AS USUAL.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU MEMBER GRAY FOR SHARING THAT OF THE MIGRANT SCHOLARSHIPS. USF COLLEGE OF ED HAS A MIGRANT CENTER AND GIVE OUT SCHOLARSHIP TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BE TEACHER. WE SHOULD FIND OUT HOW MANY THEY GAVE OUT AND THEY ATTEND USF TO BECOME TEACHERS. I JUST WANT TO SHARE -- I WENT OUT TO MITCHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TWO WEEKS AGO. AND I AM -- I MET WITH THE STREET TEAM. THEY HAVE BEEN GOING OUT TO MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT THIS SUMMER WITH THE STREET TEAM SUMMER PROGRAM. AND THEY READ TO THE STUDENTS AND THEY TALK OF THE IMPORTANCE OF READING. AND THE STUDENTS WERE SO EXCITED, THE ONES ATTENDING THE SUMMER PROGRAM. AND THEY GAVE OUT PRIZES TO THE STUDENTS. AND AT THE END OF THE SUMMER AND END OF THE PROGRAM, THEY -- WILL GIVE OUT PRIZES TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE READ THE MOST MINUTE IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND THEY WERE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MYON FOR HAVING THAT SUMMER PROGRAM. I WAS ABLE TO GIVE EACH OF THE STUDENTS A M[L]CDONALD'S BOOKMARK. AT THE BOTTOM YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE OF THE ICE CREAM CONE AND THE COOKIES. IF A. A FREE COUPON THAT STUDENTS CAN MURN IT INTO A McDONALD'S. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CASPER AND McDONALDS AND A BIG HIT AT THE CHILD LITERACY AND BIG HIT FOR THE MYON STREET TEAM SUPPER PROGRAM. THANKS THE BULLARD FAMILY FOUNDATION AS MISS MEMBER WASHINGTON DID. WE HAD SUCH A FUN SATURDAY A AT AMALIE ARENA OPINIONED CLOSE TO 1,000 VOLUNTEERS AND BUILD THOSE BACKPACKS AND PACK THEM AND 30,000 BACKPACKS ARE GOING TO GO OFF TO RAYMOND JAMES AND BE USED AND GIVEN OUT ACTUALLY AT THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH THAT I AM EXCITED TO ATTEND IN A FEW WEEKS IN AUGUST. THANK YOU FOR THE BULLARD FOUNDATION AND TO THADDEUS BULLARD FOR ALL HIS SUPPORT TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK THE HILLSBOROUGH CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION. I SIT ON THEIR BOARD AND THANKS THEM -- THANK THEM FOR THE SUPPORT THEY ARE GIVING OUR TEACHERS THROUGH THE TITLE I SCHOOLS IN THE TEACHING STORE. AS MEMBER WASHINGTON MENTIONED, HE WAS THERE VOLUNTEERING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH CHAMPIONS FOR OUR TEACHERS. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MEMBER WASHINGTON FOR MENTIONING OUR DIANE HART VISIT AND BEING SUCH A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR YOUR DISTRICT. IT IS GREAT WHEN I CAN COME TOGETHER TO TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE SO COMMITTED TO OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY. TALK OF SOLUTIONS, EARLY LITERALTURE, FUNDING AND ALL THAT. I LOVE THAT BRIDGE TO LITERACY. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE BILINGUAL PROGRAM WHEN MY SON WAS STARTING SCHOOL. A GREAT OPTION FOR KIDS TO LEARN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. IMPRESSED IN BOARD COMMENTS TO SEE OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WORKING SO HARD TO DO THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE ASIDE FROM JUST OUR JOB OF BALANCING THE BUDGET AND HAVING THESE BOARD MEETINGS WE ARE REACHING OUT AND INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHETHER IT IS THROUGH READING AND OFFERING SERVICES AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL NEEDS, WHETHER WITH THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY AND CONTINUING TALKING OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS. I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANTED TO GET A HEADS UP TO PARENTS. IF YOU WERE GETTING RID OF SOME OF YOUR CLOTHES FROM LAST YEAR, I KNOW I AM BUYING LARGER SIZES, DONATE TO OASIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. THEY COLLECT GENTLY USED CLOTHES TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS IN NEED HAVE UNIFORMS AND CLOTHES THAT I NEED. IF YOU ARE THINKING WHAT DO I DO WITH THE UNIFORM THAT'S MY STUDENTS OR KIDS, LOOK FOR YOUR CLOSEST OASIS DONATION BOX. GEARING UP, A LOT OF TEACHERS THAT ARE EXCITED OF OUTFITTING THEIR CLASSROOMS AND WISH LIST OF THINGS THAT PARENTS IF THEY HAVE THE MEANS CAN DO. THERE IS A WEB SITE ON FACEBOOK CALLED ADOPT A TEACHER THAT YOU CAN JOIN, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR SCHOOL AND SEE IF YOUR TEACHER HAS POSTED ANY WISH LISTS. I KNOW I FULFILLED QUITE A FEW AND GREAT TO GET A THANK-YOU NOTE FROM A TEACHER OF ONE ITEM THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE OF STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY WANT. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT I BELIEVE OUR CHOICE WINDOW OPENED UP AGAIN. OUR LAST CHOICE WINDOW. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND. PARENTS ARE LOOKING FOR THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHOICE, ANOTHER WINDOW OPENED UP. DID THAT GO LIVE AT 5.
>> SORRY, MR. AYES.
>> OPENS UP TONIGHT AND CLOSES TOMORROW. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. ONE THING TO TOUCH ON, I KNOW THIS BOARD DOESN'T LIKE ANY SURPRISES, SO -- [ LAUGHTER ] -- SO I AM JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT I HAVE BEEN CONTACTS ABOUT AFEW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IN OTHER COUNTIES ABOUT SOME GUN SAFETY RESOLUTIONS AND PROGRAM THAT THEY ARE WORK WITH WITH PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS IN THE SCHOOLS ABOUT GUN SAFETY AND PARENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO GOING FORWARD, THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD TO LOOK AT. HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TALKING OF SAFE USE OF GUNS GOING FORWARD. I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. AND THEN FINALLY, JUST TO OUR TEACHERS AND TO OUR STAFF. I KNOW SOME TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA JOBS OVER THE SUMMER BUT EITHER WAY, I HOPE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THIS SUMMER TO REPLENISH YOUR SOULS, RECONNECT WITH LOVED ONES, TAKE TIME TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR THAT MADE US SO SUCCESSFUL, THAT WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND HOPE OFF THIS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GO INTO THE NEXT YEAR. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT YEAR. I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND I AM THANKFUL TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND HOPE WE ARE READY TO START THE NEW OVERCOMING UP. THAT'S ALL. THANKS TO MUCH.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TOUCHED ON A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS AND I WON'T REITERATE ALL OF THEM. BUT I WILL SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. HEARD GREAT FEEDBACK FROM ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I HAVE SAID THIS SINCE I STARTED AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT PRINCIPALS, THEY ARE THE SITE LEADER OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE CRITICAL AND THEY SET THE TONE AND THEY SET THE CULTURE FOR THEIR SCHOOL. THEY ARE THAT IMPORTANT. AND SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN THEIR FUTURES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENTS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON A -- TO A GREAT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. I WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU AND ANN MARIE COURTNEY WHICH IS SOMEWHERE -- SHE -- SHE DOES A GREAT JOB CONNECTING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESOURCES OUT THERE. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THANK HER FOR ALLOWING THE -- BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TO COME IN ABOUT CUB SCOUTS BECAUSE WE ARE RECRUITING AGAIN NOW THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND THE PANDEMIC MOSTLY SUBSIDED. THERE ARE KIDS THAT REALLY WANT TO GET OUTSIDE AND HAVE SOME FUN AND THE CUB SCOUTS IS THE WAY TO DO THAT AND LEARN CITIZENSHIP AND GOOD BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THINGS IN SCHOOLS FOR SITE LEADERS. WANT TO THANK SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SPECIFICALLY THE GREATER RIVERVIEW CHAIRMAN WILL OF COMMERCIAL, THE VALRICO AND THE PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH UPCOMING TEACHER WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST COMING UP NEXT WEEK. I HOPE TO SEE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AT THOSE EVENTS. I AM SURE OTHERS HAPPENING WITH OTHER CHAMBERS AROUND THE DISTRICT. THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES IN MY AREA AND THEY MAKE REAL BIG EFFORT TO -- TO PUT ON A FANTASTIC EITHER BREAKFAST OR LUNCH DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE YOU GO TO. AND GIVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS -- SUPPLY THE TEACHERS WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS. AND SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE FANTASTIC EVENTS AS THEY -- AS THEY ARE ANNUALLY. AND THERE ARE A BUNCH OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVES OUT THERE. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TAX-FREE HOLIDAY. AND IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ADOPT A TEACHER ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE OR DONATE, JUST TO HAVE IT SHIPPED. THESE DAYS YOU CAN GO ONLINE -- NOT THAT I WANT TO NECESSARILY PROMOTE ONE PLACE, BUT I KNOW YOU CAN GO TO AMAZON AND BUY AND DROP SHIP A WHOLE SCHOOL SUPPLY KIT TO ANY SCHOOL. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS WHO CAN REALLY USE SOME HELP WITH SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS. SO BE GENEROUS IF YOU CAN. AND I AM GLAD THAT -- FIRST OF ALL, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SUM IS ALMOST OVER. THAT BLOWS MY MINDS A LITTLE BIT. I HOPE LIKE MISS VAUGHN SAID, THAT A LOT OF OUR STAFF HAS A CHANCE TO RECHARGE AND REGROUP. AND REPLENISH OVER THE SUMMERTIME. AND WE ARE ALL EXCITED ABOUT SCHOOLS STARTING BACK NEXT -- NEXT MONTH. JUST IN COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE WILL BE BACK IN THE THROES OF OUR DAILY ROUTINES WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. SO BEST WISHES TO EVERYBODY. WELCOME BACK TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF. AND WELCOME TO SOME OF THE NEW TEACHERS AND STAFF INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT START OF THE YEAR. THANKS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. I FIRST WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN VALDEZ FOR A HEALTH FAIR WE HAD LAST WEEK AT HCC. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THERE AND THOUSANDS PACKS WERE GIVEN, BUT WHAT REALLY WAS SURPRISING AND NOT SURPRISING WAS THE AMOUNT OF HEALTH CARE WORKER THERE IS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE NEEDED IMMUNIZATION, HEALTH CARE. I MET SO MANY STUDENTS. SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO JUST ARRIVED A WEEK AGO FROM CUBA THAT WERE 16 AND 17 YEARS OLD. IT WAS REALLY -- WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU SAW HOW HIGH THE NEEDS ARE IN THOSE AREAS. AND I WANT TO THANK SO MANY DISTRICTS PERSONNEL. I WANT TO THANK PHASE. WE HAVE SO MANY DISTRICTS MEMBERS OUT THERE SUPPORTING STUDENTS. THAT, AS WELL AS THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WENT WITH JANET CRUZ. WHEN SHE HAD HER -- HER OUTREACH FOR HER JOBS. THERE WERE SO MANY -- PEOPLE THERE REPRESENTING. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN OUR DISTRICT WHO ARE OUT THERE ON SATURDAYS AND ON THE WEEKENDS AND AFTER SCHOOL DOING ALL THOSE EXTRA OUTREACH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. ALSO, FOR THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, THANK YOU MEMBER WASHINGTON AND MEMBER GRAY AND I, MYSELF WENT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE HEART AND THE SOUL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS. AS MUCH AS I WANT TO BE SUPER POSITIVE BECAUSE I AM A POSITIVE PERSON. BUT THE HUNDRED OF VACANCIES THEY ARE DEALING WITH NOW AND AS WE BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR HOW THEY ARE FEELING. UP SAW A PRINCIPAL YESTERDAY AT A GREAT MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND SHE TOLD ME THAT HER TOP, TOP ENGLISH EXPERTS, MERE SUBJECT AREA LEADER CAME TO HER YESTERDAY AND SHE HAD BEEN A TEACH ARE FOR 12 YEARS AND SAID I QUITS. I CAN STILL BE IN THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM. I WILL MAKE $7,000 MORE AND WOK OUT OF MY HOUSE. THE TRUTH IS, WE ARE LOOKING AT -- I TALKED TO SOMEONE TODAY AND A PANDEMIC OF HUMAN CAPITAL. IF YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT AND YOU CAN'T BE SERVED, THAT IS ONE THING. YOU HAVE A ROOM FULL OF STUDENTS AND YOU DON'T HAVE A TEACHER AND HAVE TO HAVE COVERAGE. AND I APPRECIATE YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS FOR LOOKING AT HOW EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE -- YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HANDS ON DECK, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE AND THE LOCAL LEVEL. WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR TEACHER, BUS DRIVER, NUTRITION FOR HIGHER SALARIES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOVING LEFT AND RIGHT TO TAMPA. BUT PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE HERE AND TEACH HERE. SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO. WHEN I SEE THOSE TEACHERS AND I GET THOSE E-MAILS. HONESTLY IT KEEPS ME UP. I WONDER WHY DID I TAKE THIS JOB. TOOK IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I BELIEVE IN TEACHERS AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT EACH AND EVERY DAY THESE PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AS EXCITED TO OPEN UP THE DOORS TO SCHOOL, SOME ARE SITTING WITH 10 TO 14 VACANCIES. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND I KNOW THAT THE BOARD IS WORK SO HARD AS WELL AS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE EVENING. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [GAVEL SOUNDING]