>>Karen Perez: HI, I AM KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAM.
>>Jessica Vaughn: HI, I AM JESSICA VAUGHN, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA. AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
>>Lynn Gray: OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. ALL BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WITH THE DISTRICT. AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS TV AND SPECK FORUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 2.
>>Stacy Hahn: MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE THE AUTO HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEET INFORMATION OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE.
>>Nadia Combs: WE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE AUDIENCE HAS TO SAY. WE HAVE TIME BEFORE BUSINESS MEETINGS. OUR MATERIALS ARE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. 70 MINUTES IN EACH MEETING IN HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS.ORG.
>>Nadia Combs: OUR VISION IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE, 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 FUTURE.
>>Nadia Combs: GOOD EVENING. EVERYONE. THE BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HB PLANT ORCHESTRA -- SORRY, I WENT AHEAD -- NO, I AM SORRY. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. YESTERDAY THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING. SO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO SEND OUR GOOD THOUGHTS OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND TEACHERS WHO UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIFE AND JUST TO THINK ABOUT BRINGING PEACE TO OUR NATION, TO THE -- TO OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THAT. PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER VAUGHN, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR THIS EVENING.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE H.B. PLANT HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA, ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL KIM HILLENBERG AND DIRECTOR STEVEN BOSERT. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENT ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ERIC. I AM A SENIOR AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> HI. I AM ANDREW. I AM A SENIOR AND I PLAY VIOLA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KALE, I AM A SOFT MORE AND I PLAY SOPHOMORE.
>> ALEX, CELLO AND I AM A JUNIOR.
>> LUKE, I AM A SENIOR AND PLAY CELLO. JACKSON, I AM A SOPHOMORE AND PLAY BASE.
>> TIMOTHY, I AM A SENIOR AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> I AM FLYNN. I AM A SENIOR AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> I AM S.K. A JR. AND I PLAY BASE.
>> ION QUINN, A JR. AND PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> I AM HENRY, A JUNIOR, AND PLAY THE VIOLA.
>> MY NAME IS JAKE. I AM A JUNIOR. I PLAY VIOLINS.
>> I AM CHARLIE, A JUNIOR, AND I PLAY A VIOLIN.
>> I AM KYLIE, A JR., AND I PLAY A VIOLIN.
>> I AM MIA, SENIOR AND PLAY THE VIOLA.
>> I AM A SENIOR AND PLAY THE CELLO.
>> FINALA, I AM A JUNIOR AND PLAY THE VIOLA.
>> I AM CHRISTINE, I AM A SENIOR AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> I AM ANA, I AM A JUNIOR AND PLAY I A VIOLENCE.
>> I AM LUCA, A SENIOR AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> I'M MYA, A SENIOR AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.
>> I AM STEVEN BOSERT AND I AM DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAS AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS OUR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA ONE OF SIX ORCHESTRAS WE HAVE AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MUSIC EDUCATION. HOPEFULLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOP 100 MUSIC EDUCATION COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU AND LET YOU KNOW OUR FALL CONCERT IS OCTOBER AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANY OR ALL OF YOU THERE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> 3, 2, 1. .
>>Jessica Vaughn: GREAT JOB! THANK YOU! . [APPLAUSE] .
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, PARENTS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE FIVE SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, JULY 23, 2024, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. JULY 2023-2024 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, JULY 30, 2024, SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING, AUGUST 1, 2024, SCHOOL BOARD BOARD MEETING, AUGUST 27, AUGUST 24, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, 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 NONPARTISAN BOARD TO BELIEVES ALL CHILDREN WILL BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN, TO SUCCEED IN AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECOND FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SIRENS LEG TROPIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME TO ALLOW THE MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEB SITE ON CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN OUR ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. 5:01 P.M., PUBLIC HEARING AND 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE INPUT.
>>Jim Porter: MADAM CHAIR, TO THAT INPUT, WE HAVE OVER 70 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WILL GO PAST 5:01 SCHEDULED FOR BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING. FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW ON THAT. I WILL REMIND YOU AS IT GETS CLOSER THAT WE STOP PUBLIC COMMENT, GO TO THE BUDGET HEARING AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN AFTER THAT.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 THROUGH OCTOBER 15, FOUR. AND I WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS CELEBRATED SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS WHO IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC. THAT IS CLOSE TO 40% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION. SINCE 1988, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE THESE DAYS TO HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE MADE AND CONTINUED TO MAKE TO AMERICA'S -- AMERICANS SOCIETY. THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME IS PIONEERS OF CHANGE. SHAPING THE FUTURE TOGETHER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO EACH YEAR TO THE MANY CELEBRATIONS FROM OUR SCHOOLS WHICH CELEBRATE THIS MONTH [SPEAKING SPANISH] AND THEN A.02 RECOGNITION -- MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I CERTAINLY DO. I WANT TO THANK OUR HISPANIC QUORUM WHO HAS SERVED THIS DISTRICT WITH SO MUCH LOVE AND PASSION AND REPRESENT THE HIS SPANNIC STUDENTS WHICH SOON WILL BE OVER 50%. THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TO SERVED -- ALMOST FIVE YEARS. IF YOU WILL STAND MARIA GALVIDO. SHE SERVES ON THE HISPANIC SERVICES COUNCIL. RITA CRUZ FROM ENTERPRISING LATINAS. REGINA CASTILLA REPRESENT THE CITY OF TAMPA. AND ROSIA SMITH. IF PULL STAND -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ROOM -- THERE MELISSA MAGATA, THE DIRECTOR AND CHAIR. DRUCY PHILLIPS WHO SERVES AS SECRETARY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. JESSICA DE LA PUETA, OUR OUTREACH AM PASS DOOR. DR. JOSEPH, NEW TO OUR DISTRICT AND WILL SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE AND REPRESENT OUR HAITIAN COMMUNITY. MONICA MURAN. JULIE SALMENTO REPRESENTING MENTAL HEALTH. DELMA RODRIGUEZ WITH LULAC. CHRISTINA VEGA, MARIA OTERO. CHRISTINA FERNANDEZ REPRESENTING OUR MIGRANT POPULATION. AND EMMITT ROOTS. KENIA, VERONICA SMITH GOMEZ, SO HE SAN THAT ROSA. PABLO GALIDO ALVAREZ. REBECCA SALGADO WHO SERVING ON OUR HIS SETBACKIC COMMITTEE AND IS AN EMPLOYEE AS WELL. MIRANDA REMINGTON. YESEL RIVERA. MARIA PEREZ. ANA LA CHAPO. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AND NANA. THIS LINEET VIVIAN ALUDA, CHRISSY LUR FROM FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND NONE OTHER THAN OUR BOARD MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS ALSO ESPECIALLY TOWN AND COUNTRY, MEMBER NADIA COMBS. GIVE YOU ALL A BIG HAND AND ALL THAT YOU DO. I HOPE TO HECK I DIDN'T FORGET ANYBODY AND I CAN MAKE IT UP LATER. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR EVERYTHING.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO PRESENTED THEMSELVES IN REPRESENTATION OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. A.02, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT. MEMBER HAHN WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECREATION.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. SEEMS ESPECIALLY LOUD. RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. SO PROUD TO READ THIS TONIGHT. EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP IN OUR DISTRICT. FOR MANY YEARS, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HAVE BEEN PIVOTAL AT EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, FOOD PANTRY SPONSORSHIPS, YOUTH MENTORSHIPS, AND SCHOOL-WIDE INCENTIVE. JUNIOR BUCKS ELEMENTARY FITNESS PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK AND GAME DAY FOR EDUCATION EXPERIENCES HAVE ENRICHED THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY. TODAY, WE HE WILL CELEBRATE THEIR EXPANDED COMMITMENT OF 700,000 OVER TEN YEARS IN A PARTNERSHIP WHICH WILL INCLUDE -- LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND THERE. [APPLAUSE] THIS TEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF 21 BUCCANEERS ACADEMIES, FITNESS ZONES, WHICH IS COVERED PLAY COURTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. [APPLAUSE] THE SPONSORSHIP OF ATHLETICS INCLUDING HELPING TO PROVIDE NEW SCOREBOARDS FOR ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. RECORDED INFORMATIONAL MESSAGES FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MORNING SHOWS, MONTHLY RECOGNITION OF DESERVING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. AND ADDITIONAL SCHOOL-BASED SPONSORSHIP INCLUDING SIGNAGE AT CAR LINES AND FLAGS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF -- CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WITH THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AND DARCY GLAZER, PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FOUNDATION TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP. GO BUCS! . [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT EVERYBODY HERE DOES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN IN TAMPAWAY, AND THAT INCLUDES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT AND CARED SO MUCH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE. IT IS INCREDIBLE. BOTH MY FAMILY AND THE BUCCANEERS, WE VIEW CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATION AS ONE OF OUR ABSOLUTE HIGHEST PRIORITIES. AND WE HAVE TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE FOR THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL SHOW TO THIS MISSION EVERY DAY. IT IS TRULY INSPIRING. LIKE YOU, MY FAMILY BELIEVES IN DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP CHILDREN. AND WE STARTED YEARS AGO ABOUT PROVIDING FREE EYEGLASSES TO CHILDREN THROUGH OUR GLAZER VISION MOBILE. WE ARE UP TO ABOUT 200,000 EYE EXAMS FOR CHILDREN. 20,000 FREE EYEGLASSES TO HELP REDUCE BARRIERS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. AND WE HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO USE THIS SERVICE THAT WE DO. WE SEND IT OUT TO ALL THE TITLE I SCHOOLS TO GIVE STUDENTS FREE EYEGLASSES. WITH YOUR HOPE, WE FIND IT IMPORTANT TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY AS YOU MENTIONED WITH OUR FOOD PANTRIES AND OUR PERMANENT FOOD PANTRIES. WE HAVE SEEN THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND STAFF IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND YOUR DEDICATION -- YOU WAKE UP EVERY DAY TO RAISE THE BAR FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND WE COULDN'T DO ANY OF OUR WORK WITHOUT YOU. SO WE HAVE SO MUCH GRATITUDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, TODAY, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO JOIN YOU AND TO ANNOUNCE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BY PROVIDING THE STUDENTS WHERE THEIR NEEDED SUN PROTECTION, THEIR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND SAFETY PLACE TO PLAY. AND IT IS 135 OUTDOOR COURTS THAT WERE REALLY SO HAPPY TO GIVE TO THIS HICK. AND IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR PARTNERSHIP MEANS THE WORLD TO MY FAMILY AND TO THE BUB NEARS AND WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOU. SO THANK YOU SO.MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. JUST REALLY WANT TO ECHO THAT. AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PARTNERSHIP SINCE IT STARTED. AND THE WORK THAT IS DONE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT ALL LEVELS. AND WHAT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS NOW THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL EXTEND NOT ONLY THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS. AND WE JUST REALLY WANT TO LEAVE YOU TODAY WITH TWO WORDS, AND THAT IS THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THE SIGN UP THERE SAYS IT FOR ALL "PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE." YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY AND THE SUPPORT THAT THIS COMMUNITY SHOWS, A VERY HUMBLING PARTNERSHIP FOR US AND WE VALUE IT. AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. WITH THAT, YOU ALL HAVE A BAG. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO START IS -- DON'T OPEN IT YET. WE WILL COUNT IT DOWN HERE. [LAUGHTER] WE WILL HAVE A RECOGNITION PROGRAM EACH MONTH FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR -- OF THAT MONTH, THE TEACHER OF THAT MONTH AND THE SUPPORT STAFF. WE HAVE A TRADITION AT ONE BUC, ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL. SO ON THE COUNT OF THREE, IF YOU COULD ALL OPEN YOUR BAGS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY, OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, COACHES AND PLAYERS. WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NAME IS ON IT.
>> WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE.
>> THAT IS AWESOME.
>> WILL Y'ALL COME UP.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, AGAIN. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD COMMENTS NOT -- ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES ANY REHAVER INTENDED TO DISRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. WHERE HE REMINDER THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE IS 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS.
>> ARE WE READY?
>>Karen Perez: YES.
>> MY NAME IS DANIEL VALDEZ. HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MR. SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF, I AM A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RETIREE AFTER SERVING 46 YEARS IN VARIOUS POSITIONS IN OUR DISTRICT. THE FINAL POSITION WAS THAT OF DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER NAMING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL U.U.U. I BELIEVE IT IS AFTER EMILANA JOSE SALCINES. NOW YOU KNOW WHY WE CALL HIM E.J. E.J. IS AN EDUCATOR IN THE PURIST SENSE OF THE WORD. A HISTORIAN, A FORMER STATE ATTORNEY, A FORMER JUDGE, PROFICIENT LECTURER ON WEST TAMPA, YBOR CITY AND ALL THING HILLSBOROUGH. I HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE ON A COMMITTEE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA WITH E.J., THEN POLICE CHIEF NOW MAYOR JANE CASTOR, AND RETIRED DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT KEN OTERO. A PLEASURE TO WATCH E.J. EXPRESS HIS LOVE AND DEDICATION TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TO ITS STUDENTS. OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL MIAMI AND FOR ANOTHER FAMOUS CITIZEN AND ROLE MODEL FOR MANY LOCATION AND MANY ASPIRING MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION. PLEASE CONSIDER E.J. SALCINES AS THE NAME FOR THIS HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, I AM KEN OTERA. I AM ALSO A LOT DO YOUNGER THAN DAN VALDES. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT E.J. SALCINES. STATE ATTORNEY, AND ALL THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES HE ACHIEVED. THESE ARE ALL ACHIEVEMENTS THAT EVERYONE WILL BE PROUD OF BUT NOT NECESSARY IS A TSARLY W0ER9 OF OF NAMING A SCHOOL AFTER. AFTER BEING A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, I KNOW FIRST HANDS THAT STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS WELL BEING. BEGINS WITH THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL, THE FACILITY, HILLSBOROUGH, MAKE, MIDDLETON, PLANT, CHAIRMAN PER ERR ABOUT LANE AND OF COURSE, TAMPA BAY TECH MANY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE REVERE. IN THIS REALM THAT E.J. DESERVES HAVING A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HIM. EXHIBIT THE PRIDE AND CARING. WHAT BETTER PERSON TO NAME A SCHOOL AFTER THAN ONE WITH A LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS AND COMMUNITY. E.J. HAS A LOVE FOR HIS COMMUNITY BEYOND REPROACH. YOU EVER SEEN HI OF HIS ORAL HISTORIES ABOUT TAMPA, YOU WILL SEE HIS PRIDE. HECK, HE EVEN LIVES IN THE SAME HOUSE IN WEST TAMPA FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS OR MORE. E.J. EXCELS IN AN EASTERN MORE IMPORTANT AREA, A MINUTE FOR TO COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PAST AND PRESENT LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. MYSELF INCLUDED. HIS WIFE ELSA WITH AS AN INTERN TEACHER IN THE FIRST-GRADE CLASS AND KEPT ME FROM RUNNING AWAY. THE STATE ATTORNEY, HIRED THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY WHO ALSO HAPPENED TO BE GEORGE EDGECOMB. HE HELPED 500-PLUS STUDENTS GET INTO LAW SCHOOL WITH HIS FLORIDA FIRST ASSOCIATION. HE IS KNOWN -- WHICH WAS KNOWN FOR DIVERSITY AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS. HIS LOVE OF COMMUNITY AND DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS THAT SEPARATE HIM FROM ALL THE OTHERS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES TO HAVE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HIM.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>> WHAT BETTER NAME FOR A HIGH SCHOOL THAN E.J. SALCINES.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS, BOTH AS YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND CURRENTLY AT YOUR STATE SENATOR FOR DISTRICT 16. AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, WE GIVE OUR TIME, TALENT AND SOMETIMES OUR TREASURES TO THE CAUSES THAT WE HOLD DEAR. TIME AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. THE TALL ENT AND ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE WITHOUT LOOKING FOR A REWARD. FINDING MONEY TO FILL BUDGET GAPS WHEN THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE SERVICES OF OUR COMMUNITY. DORETHA EDGECOMB IS WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO BE A SERVANT LEADER. A AGAIN, PASSIONATE AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR CLOSE TO FIVE DECADES. THE PRESENT AND PAST OF THIS COMMUNITY HAVE SAT IN HER CLASSROOMS AND BECOME THE BENEFACTORS OF THE WISE KNOWLEDGE SHE HAS TO SHARE AND PASS ON, IMPACTING FUTURE GENERATIONS. HER RESILIENCE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE STRONG FIGHTER THAT SHE WAS THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. MORE THAN JUST AN EDUCATOR, SHE WAS A MINUTE FOR TO MANY. AND THE SEEDS PLANTED WITHIN CONTINUE TO BEAR AND PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT. THE NAMING OF THIS MEDIA CENTER TODAY ONLY FURTHERS SOLIDIFIES A TANGIBLE LEGACY THAT MANY HAD 9 PLEASURE OF BEARING WITNESS TO, TO THE LEGEND THAT SHE WAS AND IS. I AM PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY AND SAY THANK YOU FOR NAME THIS MEDIA CENTER AFTER DORTHEA EDGECOMB. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING TO THIS VERY FINE BOARD. MY NAME IS ANNETTE DOSIER. I'M HERE TO ASK THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER NAMING THIS SCHOOL AFTER A TEACHER, MISS AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN. WHY THE TEACHER, YOU MAY ASK? TEACHERS ARE ESSENTIAL MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY. THEY ARE PILLARS OF KNOWLEDGE, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS. WITH MISS MORGAN BEING A TEACHER WAS MORE THAN A JOB. IT WAS HER CALLING. SHE ENCOURAGED. SHE LED. SHE TAUGHT. AND SHE GUIDED, LEAVING LASTING MARKS WITH EVERY STUDENT THAT SHE TAUGHT, NO MATTER WHERE THAT STUDENT CAME FROM. THE FOUNDATION LED BY MRS. MORGAN HELPED SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN WITHIN THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. SHE WAS A TEACHER'S TEACHER. I REMEMBER MY FIRST YEAR AS A TEACHER. IT WAS MISS AQUILA MORGAN, MY AUNT, WHO WENT OUT AND PURCHASED EVERYTHING THAT I NEEDED TO GET STARTED. SO HERE I AM 32 YEARS LATER STILL STANDING AS A PROUD, PROUD, VERY PROUD PERSON STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF THIS PHENOMENAL EDUCATOR. SO I SAY TO YOU TO MAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL NEWS STANDS FOR HOPE STANDS FOR EQUALITY. MISS MORGAN WAS A TRAILBLAZER FOR EDUCATION, FOR THE CITIZENS AND THE CHILDREN OF THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, WHAT BETTER SYMBOL CAN WE HAVE THAN MRS. MORGAN. THEREFORE, I THINK IT WILL BE MOST BEFITTING TO NAME THIS SCHOOL AFTER SUCH A PHENOMENAL EDUCATOR HIS OR HER WAS TRULY IN IT FOR THE OUTCOME AND NOT THE INCOME. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Karen Perez: REQUEST CAN THE NEXT -- AND CAN THE NEXT SPEAKER 6-11, PLEASE SIGN UP.
>> I AM DONNA PERRINO. THE AUDIENCE WAS ALERT AND LISTENING. IT WAS LARGE AS A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION. IT WAS NOT MADE UP OF DECISIONMAKERS OR PEOPLE WITH TITLES BEFORE THEIR NAMES. IN FACT, THEY WERE NOTA ADULTS YET, BUT THEY WERE V.I.P.s BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FUTURE LEADERS. THEY ARE ENROLLED IN OUR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ATTENDING A SERIES CALLED "HISPANIC HEROES." SOME WERE ESOL STUDENTS BUT NOT THE SPEAKER'S MESSAGE. NOT THEIR PEER, SCHOOL OFFICIAL OR EDUCATION EXPERT, BUT RATHER A NATIVE TAMPANIAN THAT SPOKE FROM THE HEART. E.J. SALCINES SHARING HIS STORY THE SON OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS FOR WHOM HE SOMETIMES HAD TO TRANSLATE. HE SHARED THE IMPORTANCE OF MASTERING ENGLISH. HE SAID, STUDY TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. THAT IS THEIR JOB AS STUDENT. PETITION URGED THEM TO DREAM BIG AS HE DID, BECAUSE IN AMERICA, ONE CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS NO MATTER THE OBSTACLES. STUDENTS ASK QUESTIONS LIKE, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN INSULTED BECAUSE OF YOUR HERITAGE OR YOUR ACCENT? AND HOW DO YOU HANDLE MOCKERY BECAUSE OF YOUR LOOKS OR CLOTHES OR ROOTS. E.J. ANSWERED IN SPANISH, NEVER TO STOOP TO BASE LEVELS. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH AND YOUR VALUES HIGH. AND BE PROUD OF YOUR HERITAGE. HE TOLD THEM THE BEST SILENCER OF CRITICS IS TO SUCCEED AND DO GOOD. THE STUDENTS APPLAUDED LOUDLY AND ASKED HIM TO RETURN. THEY WANT TO HEAR MORE. I HOPE YOU VOTE FOR E.J. SALCINES FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA. HE WILL RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR ALL DO YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI, I AM YUCE WITH PROJECTS ABA RIGHTS. I AM A PRESIDENT. I MET WITH PRINCIPAL DOROTHY YORK, INNOVATION APOLLO BEACH, DUSTIN ROBINSON AND CHRISTINA TURNER CONCERNING MY DAUGHTER'S EDUCATION PLAN. MY CONCERNS WERE SIMPLE. TO GET MY THIRD-GRADE DAUGHTER WHO IS AUTISTIC TO READ AT KINDERGARTEN LEVEL OR ABOVE. KINDERGARTEN LEVEL OR ABOVE. OTHER SPECIFIC GOALS FROM THE EP. I ASKED FOR A LIST OF SIGHT WORDS AND STRATEGIES AND HOW THEY ARE ASSESSING THE READING LEVEL. THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ME A LIST OF THE WORDS. PROVIDED LAST YEAR THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY LESSON PLANS AVAILABLE DESPITE ADDRESS IT WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE MEET WEEKS PRIOR. THREE DAYS AFTER THE MEETING A LIST OF 40 WORDS PRINTED OUT AND A PACK OF BLANK INDEX CARDS WITHOUT AN INDICATION WHICH ONES TO START REQUEST. THIS WAS A BRAND-NEW SCHOOL STARTED IN 2022 WITH THE HEART OF THE WEALTHIEST COMMUNITIES IN MY AREA WHERE THE PTA BUDGET OF $100 MILLION. AND NOT THE ACCESS POPULATION. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSES WITH TEACHERS HAVING 20 TO 30 STUDENTS, THEIR CURRENT LESSON PLANS AND ASSIGNMENTS THAT I CAN SEE EACH WITH THEIR OWN INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIONS BUT K-5 WITH ONLY FOUR STUDENT, I AM ABLE TO GET A FRANK OF INFORMATION. HILLSBOROUGH PROGRAMS ARE FAILING OUR STUDENTS. THEY ARE REFUSING FREE RESOURCES TO PARENTS MINIMIZING OUR CONCERNS AND PUTTING THE BLAME ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. LAST YEAR, THE PRINCIPAL ONLY LET MY ABA THERAPIST TWO HOURS AT SCHOOL. WHEN I ASKED WHY, THE PRINCIPAL SAID THAT WAS DISTRICT POLICY. THAT IS A BLATANT LIE. OUR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE A VOICE IN THESE CLASSROOMS AND PARENTS DON'T HAVE THE VISIBILITY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING DAY TO DAY TO CONTROL OUR EDUCATION POPULATION AND PURE DISCRIMINATION.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CASEY FOLGER. AND I'M HERE TO SHARE FROM THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN BUY WIMAUMA SHOULD BE THE ROBERT HOWARD. ROBERT, BOBBY HOWARD RAISED IN RUSKIN, WORKED IN RUSKIN, AND WHISKED HIS LIFE EVERY DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF RUSKIN AND THE SOUTH SHORE AREA. BOBBY WHAT WAS VETERAN AND SERVED IN MILITARY FOR SEVEN YEARS. HE WORKED FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 18 YEARS. HE WAS A RESOURCE OFFICER AT EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE GRADUATED FROM. HE LIVED TO SERVE AND PROTECT OTHERS. AFTER HIS TRAGIC UNEXPECTED DEATH IN JUNE OF LAST OVER, THE SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY NAMED HIM THE MAYOR OF RUSKIN. HE IMPACTED THIS COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE HE MET. BOBBY WAS AND STILL IS A HERO. HE WAS ADMIRED FOR THINKS SELFLESSNESS KIND QUALITIES AND A MAN OF GREAT FAITH AND ALWAYS HELPED THOSE IN NEED. BOBBY WAS A DOWN-HOME RUSKIN BOY THAT LOVED TO FISH AND HUNT. HIS ACTIONS MADE HIM A TRUE HERO. 'AND HIS FAMILY STARTED THE FOUNDATION LAST YEAR. WE ARE A 501 C 3 AND TO KEEP BOBBY'S MEMORY ALIVE BY GIVING BACK TO THE SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY, WORKING TOGETHER FOR-TO-MAKE A POSITIVE AND LASTING CHANGE EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH. THE THEME OF THIS NEW HIGH SCHOOL IF NAMED THE ROBERT HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL IS COMMUNITY ACTION. WE PROPOSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND BOBBY'S FOUNDATION. WE WOULD LIKE POUR OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, SPONSORING STUDENTS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, CLUBS AND A MINUTE FOR. TODAY WE STAND BEFORE YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR VOTE FOR THE FIRST SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO BE NAMED AFTER A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, A VETERAN, MAYOR OF RUSKIN, A MAN OF GREAT FAITH AND HERO TO US ALL, THE ROBERT HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. NIKOLAS CRUZ. I AM GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF THE LAST SPEAKER. BEYOND HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES, BOBBY WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN CHARITABLE WORK. HE VOLUNTEERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DEPUTY DARLINGS, WHICH COLLECTED DONATIONS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN THE SOUTH SHORE REGION DURING CHRISTMAS. AND ENSURING NO CHILD WENT WITHOUT. HE SUPPORTED OPERATION PATRIOT, A CHARITY ASSISTING VETERANS AND STATE-RUN NURSING HOMES. HIS DEDICATION TO SERVICE WAS INFECTIOUS. BOBBY INSPIRED ME AND MANY OTHERS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS, ALWAYS LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF GIVING. BOBBY BELIEVED THAT GIVING BACK WAS NOT ONLY THE ACT OF GENEROSITY BUT THE COMMITMENT OF WELL BEING AND FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT BY THOSE WHO CARE DEEPLY OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO INVEST THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCE TO CREATE A KIND BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. BOBBY'S ACTIONS EXEMPT FLY THESE VALUES FOSTERING KINDNESS AND RESPECT IN OUR YOUTH AND SHAPING THEM INTO THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. HE ALSO BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER BY SHARING FAITH AND REMINDING THEM OF THE LOVE AND LORD OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. BY NAMING THE SCHOOL ROBERT HOWARD, WE WILL NO ONLY HONOR HIS LEGACY BUT INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW IN HIS PATH OF SERVICE. THIS IS A DAILY REMINDER OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MECHANICS MUCH HOW PROFOUND AND IMPACT ONE PERSON GIVEN BACK CAN MAKE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THROUGH THIS RECOGNITION WE CAN CONTINUE TO INSPIRE A SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER GOOD AND BUILD A STRONGER AND MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR CONSIDERING THIS PROPOSAL. I AM DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE WHO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS 12, 13 AND 14 PLEASE COME UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS FELICIA STEWART JACKSON. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NEW SCHOOL BEING NAMED, AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN. WHAT IS A TEACHER? AND WHAT IS IT SO VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS TRANSFORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER AQUILA JAY MORGAN? MISS MORGAN WAS A TEACHER. A TEACHER IS USUALLY THE FIRST FRIEND A CHILD WILL ENCOUNTER AT SCHOOL WHO WILL MOLD THEIR MINDS AND HELP TO CULTIVATE A THIRST FOR LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE. A TEACHER WHO ALSO TEACHES CITIZENSHIP TO LEARN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND TO HONOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES. A TEACHER IS A COUNCILLOR, MENTOR, CONFIDANT, AND ENCOURAGER, A BELIEVER IN THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES A CHILD'SAGE NATION AND THEIR DREAMS. BY NAMING THIS SCHOOL AF AFTER AQUILA J. MORGAN, YOU WILL BE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE, TEACHERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND THEY MOTOR. MRS. AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN WAS A TEACHER WHO FACED MANY DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES AS A TEACHER WHO SERVED 43 YEARS. SHE STARTED IN 1966. AND HER SERVICES WAS IN THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. IT IS ONLY BEFITTING THIS SCHOOL BE NAMED AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEM MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY -- MY NAME IS BARBARA WRIGHT. I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD STRONGLY CONSIDER NAMING THE HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA AFTER MRS. AQUILA MORGAN. AS EDUCATOR WHO RECOGNIZED, ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED HER PURPOSE. FOR 43 YEARS, MRS. MORGAN FULFILLED HER CAREER, LONG ASSIGNMENT AS AN EDUCATOR AT WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE ONLY SCHOOL SHE WORKED AT. SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT TEACH SOMETHING A COMMUNITY-WIDEN DEFER FROM HOME, TO SCHOOL, TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED CULTURE. SHE IS RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO EDUCATE THOSE CHILDREN. IN HER CLASS, SHE DID NOT SAY JOHNNY CANNOT READ. SHE SAID EVERYBODY WILL READ. HER ABILITY AND HER DESIRE WAS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL OF THE KIDS RECEIVED A GOOD EDUCATION. SHE TAUGHT DURING THE DAY. SHE TUTORED AT NIGHT. SO I AM ASKING YOU TODAY TO CONSIDER HIGHLY NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER AQUILA MORGAN. AN EXCELLENT EDUCATOR. MY NAME IS BARBARA WRIGHT AND I -- I ACCEPT AND APPROVE THIS MESSAGE [APPLAUSE]
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT -- NEXT SPEAKER. [LAUGHTER] NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WIMAUMA.
>> WIMAUMA!
>> HOP RABBLE MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. WITH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. I'M HERE FOR ADVOCATE FOR NAMING THE HIGH SCHOOL TO DR. DR. AL BRITON. SERVED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR 0 YEARS. CENTRAL PARK, REMBRANDT, TAMPA HEIGHTS, SOG AND PORT TAMPA ARE MORE THAN NAMES ON 9 MAP. WHERE MY FRIEND AND I GREW UP. WE CAME FROM BLUE COLLAR WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES AND MANY OF US ESPECIALLY PARENT AT MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE FACED CONSTANT CHANGE SEARCHING FOR STABILITY. SMART, TOUGH, RESILIENT KIDS NEEDED SOMEONE TO BELIEVE NEWS AND FIGHT FOR OUR CHANCE TO SUCCEED. THAT PERSON WAS DR.AL BRITON. DEEP CONNECTION TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THE CORNERSTONE AS HER LEGACY. A HISPANIC WOMAN THAT GREW UP HERE. SHE UNDERSTOOD US BECAUSE SHE IS ONE OF US. A PROUD GRADUATE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND WAS A TEACHER AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL AND BROKE BARRIERS AS THE FIRST WOMAN AND HISPANIC WOMAN AT ROBINSON AND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS WERE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY TO EMPOWER STUDENT, FAMILY, FACULTY AND STAFF. THE RESULTS OF HER WORK ARE CLEAR. DOCTOR, NURSES, BUSINESS LEADERS, SENIOR MILITARY LEADER AS AND BRILLIANT EDUCATORS. MANY OF THE EDUCATORS WERE INSPIRED DR. BY ALBRITON TO CARRY ON HER LEGACY. HER DEDICATION IS UNMATCHED. DR. ALBRITON IS A PILLAR, EDUCATOR OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO CONTINUES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN WIMAUMA. NAMING THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL AFTER HER WILL HONOR HER LEGACY OF SERVICE, CELEBRATE HER EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO EMBODY THE VALUES: LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEA SPEAKER.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECORD. I AM JOSEPH CITRO, 33601 FOR THE RECORD. I AM A PROJECT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. GO FALCONS. BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF MEMBERS. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS SAID ABOUT SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE NAMING OF A HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER MR. E.J. SALCINES FOR THAT NAME OF THAT HIGH SCHOOL. NOT ONLY FOR HIS GREAT WORK IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, BUT FOR HIS SENSE OF HISTORY, ALL HISTORY, ALL HISTORY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AND IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BUT IT GOES MUCH DEEPER AND PERSONALLY FOR ME. HE HAS BEEN A MINUTE FOR TO ME. HE HAS BEEN A MINUTE FOR TO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. AND, AGAIN, I ASKED YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER E.J. SALCINES AS THE NAMING OF THIS GREAT HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA. THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD A WONDERFUL AUGUST, I CONGRATULATE YOU. FOR THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBER, I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL NOVEMBER. MISS EDGECOMB, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE, E.J. SALCINES, THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. KIMYETA DELANEY AND TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING ISSUES OF INTEGRITY OF THE SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. MY DAUGHTER A SENIOR WAS UNJUSTLY CUT FROM THE TEAM DUE TO MALICIOUS INTENT AND RETALIATION BY BRIELL GEORGE THE JV AND THE HAVE AERS TEE CHEER COACH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THIS CLAIMS INCLUDE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND DIRECT MESSAGES LINKED TO BOTH COACHES DEMONSTRATING THEIR INTENT. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD. IT HAS A 19-PAGE DOCUMENT WITH MY GRIEVANCE, RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FROM OTHER COACHES AND SCREEN SHOTS. THIS IS NOT A FRIVOLOUS CLAIM, NOR IS IT A QUESTION OF MY DAUGHTER'S COMPETENCE OR SKILL. THIS IS A MATTER OF POWER BEING MISUSED OF UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR THAT HAS DIRECTLY HARMED MY CHILD. COACHES SHOULD NOT FEEL THAT THEY ARE ABOVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPROACH. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT COACHES HAVE AUTONOMY OVER THEIR TEAM, THIS POWER SHOULD NOT BE USED TO CAUSE HARM. THE ROLES SHOULD -- THE ROLES SHOULD INCLUDE TEACHING, UPLIFTING AND TREATING ALL ATHLETES FAIRLY. WHAT HAS OCCURRED HERE IS CRUEL, UNJUST, AND DEEPLY CONCERNING. THOSE WHO WORK WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE GUIDED BY A HEART FOR THE STUDENTS THEY SERVICE. I ASK YOU THIS. WHAT WILL BE THE MOTIVE OF CUTTING A DEDICATED SENIOR DESIRING A CHEER SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE TEAM WHILE STILL LEAVING THREE OPEN SPOTS IF IT IS NOT BIAS AND RETALIATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, BOARD MEMBERS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. KALANDR A WADE. I AM ALSO HERE TO ADDRESS ONGOING CONCERNS OF THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY WITHIN THE SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL CHEER PROGRAM. SPECIFICALLY, A PARENT RAISED ISSUES WITH -- WITH THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MR. BREFANO WHO REASSURED HER HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE DAUGHTER WOULD MAKE THE TEAM AND PROMISED TO INVESTIGATE ANY PROBLEMS THAT AROSE. CURRENT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HAD AMPLE TIMES TO HAVE APPROPRIATE SYSTEMS AND SAFEGUARDS AND FULFILLED PROMISES OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE PARENT REQUESTED FOR TRYOUTS TO BE VIDEOTAPED AND OR HAVE AN IMPARTIAL JUDGE TO ASSIST DUE TO PAST ISSUES; HOWEVER, NO MEASUREMENTS -- NO MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CANDACE CULPEPER DISMISSED THE PARENTS CONCERN THAT THE ACTION COULD NOT BE TAKEN UNTIL TRYOUTS WERE IMMINENT .SHE STATED COULDN'T SEE THE BIG DEAL SURROUNDING CHEER WHICH REALLY ALARMS ME. BEING THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF -- BEING THAT -- BEING THE FORMER ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, SHE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THIS SITUATION HIGHLIGHTS A BROADER ISSUE OF INADEQUATE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND LACK OF PROACTIVE MEASURES. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HAS -- HAS HAD THREE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AND FOUR CHEER COACHES. I URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CRIES AND THE WORDS OF EVERYTHING WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT IN REFERENCE TO THE CHEER PROGRAM. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LEAVE THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE -- WHAT WOULD BE THE MOTIVE TO CUT A SENIOR IF IT IS NOT BIAS AND YOU STILL HAVE THREE OPEN SPOTS? THANK YOU, GUYS -- I MEAN BOARD. I AM SO SORRY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I WANT TO SPEAK ON THE SAME SITUATION. I JUST GOT TO SAY THE STUDENT ATHLETE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A POLL FROM EVERY COACH, ALL SPORTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YOU WILL WANT THIS STUDENT ATHLETE ON YOUR TEAM. SHE IS A NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY STUDENT. 3.9 GPA. SHE HAS VARIOUS PROGRAMS SHE IS PART OF FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. PRECIOUS PEARLS. BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER. TEENS IN APPLICATION. AND I JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GIVE THIS -- THIS SITUATION -- THE DUE ATTENTION THAT IS DUE FOR IT. BECAUSE IN YOUNG LADY WORKS HER BUTT OFF. I KNOW HER PERSONALLY. I UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES WHEN STUDENTS THINK THEY GOT IT MADE -- PUT ON A LITTLE WEIGHT, CAN'T TUMBLE. CAN'T CHEER AS LOUD. YOU KNOW, I GOT IT. I AM A SENIOR. IT'S MY SPOT. NO, NOT HER. SHE WORKED HER BUTT OFF AND BETTER THIS YEAR THAN SHE WAS AS A SOPHOMORE. IT HAPPENED TO HER THE FIRST TIME. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE. TWO TIMES? IT IS HORRIFIC. HER SENIOR YEAR THE BEST SO EN I DON'T REMEMBER YEAR AND GETS CUT FROM THE CHEER SQUAD AND IT IS JUST UNJUST. SO I JUST ASK A NEW GUYS REALLY CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE SAYING AND GIVING THE ATTENTION THAT IS DUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. RAMONA JOHNSON. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS ONGOING CONCERNS REGARDING THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY WITHIN THE SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL CHEER PROGRAM. YOUNG LEADER WE ARE SPEAKING OF HAS ABOUT AN COMPETITIVE CHEER LEADER FOR 13 YEARS. SHE ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH THE TAMPA BAY YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE WHEN SHE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. SHE THEN BEGAN CHEERING AT ALL-STARS AT NINE YEARS OLD AND MOVED ON TO CHEER WITH BRANDON ALL-STARS AT THE AGE OF 11. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT CHEERING IS HER PASSION. SHE HAS THE SKILLS, SPIRIT, TECHNIQUE, EXPERIENCE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO BE AN ASSET ON EVERY TEAM. OVER THIS PAST YEAR, SHE HAS NOT LOST ANY OF OTHER CHEER SKILLS BUT IN FACT GAINED SEVERAL CHEER SKILLS. WORKED WITH A PRIVATE INSTRUCTOR TWICE A WEEK IN HER CURRENT SKILLS ARIZONA A -- ON THE VARSITY 2024-'25 SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT THIS ENTIRE SITUATION HAS LEFT AN IMPACT ON HER EMOTIONALLY. SHE FEELS SHE IS BEING SINGLED OUT YET AGAIN AND DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER AS TO WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO DESERVE THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT. SHE IS DISHEARTENED BY THE UNJUSTIFIABLE DECISION MADE WITH PETTY MALICE THUS FAR AND ALL THE HARD WORK OF TRYING TO PROVE HERSELF. SHE HAD DREAMS OF CHEERING AT A COLLEGIATE LEVEL AND OBTAINING CHEER SCHOLAR HIPS, IN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WILL IMPACT HER ABILITY TO GAIN SCHOLARSHIPS. SHE LOST FAITH IN THE ADULTS SHE LOOKED UP TO AS MENTORS FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT DURING HER FORMATIVE YEARS AS A STUDENT AT SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM. MY NAME IS NICOLE KING. AND I'M HERE TO TALK OF THE ONGOING LACK OF INTEGRITY AND LEADERSHIP AT THE SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL CHEER PROGRAM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I'M HERE AS A MINUTE FOR AND TO SPEAK POSITIVELY OF THE STUDENT PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PEOPLE AUTO MEMBER OF MENTOR GROUP WITH THE DETERMINATION TO GUIDE AS PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THIS YOUNG LADIY. AND INSPIRATIONAL BEHAVIOR. A KIND HEARTED COMPARISON WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HER. I WATCH HER GUIDE AND MENTOR WITHIN THE INFORMING AS.
>>> INVOLVED THEM ON HOW TO GUIDE THEM IN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WHO TO YOU REPRESENT THEMSELVES AS YOUNG MEN. IN ADDITION TO BEING PARTICIPANT OF OUR ORGANIZATION, SHE IS ALSO A PART OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, BUSINESS BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS, AND TEENS IN APPLICATION WHERE SHE IS THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE AT SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL. THIS YOUNG LADY HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO BECOME A CHURCH AND CHEER AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL MAKING IT CRITICAL IN THE SENIOR YEAR. NONCONFRONTATIONAL AND A POSITIVE PERSON IN ALL OF MY INTERSANCTIONS WITH HER. WITH EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT HER, I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT NOT MAKING THE TEAM WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MALICIOUS ACT TOWARD A CHILD BY AN ADULT IN POWER. HE HARD OF THE SITUATION THAT LED US HERE. ISSUES WITH THE PROCESS AND THE AG AND THE STUDENT'S COMPETENCY AND SKILLS AS AN ELITE CHEER LEADER. MY CALL OF ACTION REQUEST TO HAVE THE STUDENT PLACED IN ONE OF THE REMAINING OPEN POSITIONS ON THE TEAM NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE BUT BECAUSE SHE HAS THE SKILLS AND SHE DESERVE IT IS. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS AND AUDIENCE, WE WILL DISCUSS ITEM E.01, THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, WE PRESENT THE 2024-'25 MILLAGE RATES THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE MILLAGE RATES AND ADOPTED BUDGET. OUR BUDGET INCLUDES ALL GOVERNMENT AND PROPRIETARY FUNDS OF THE DISTRICT AND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
>>Karen Perez: AT THIS TIME I WILL ADJOURN THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND OPEN THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MILLAGE RATES AND ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024- 2024-2025. ROE JOHNSON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL PRESENT.
>>Roe Johnson: GOOD EVENING, BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AND CONSTITUENTS, GENERAL MANAGER OF BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTING THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MILL ATLANTA RATES AND ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR 2024-'25 FISCAL YEAR.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES THE POWERPOINT WILL BE UP SHORTLY.
>> THE LAW THAT WAS ENACTED IN 1980 WAS VERY DESCRIPTIVE AND TO AVERAGE THE -- THE MILLAGE RATE IN THE -- IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACTUALLY SETS THE MILLAGE RATES. AND DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE IT. WE HAVE TO LEVEL THE RATES THAT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TELLS US TOO SO THIS NEXT SLIDE BASICALLY SHOWS THE TIMELINE FOR THE TRIM PROCESS. WE ARE IN THE SECOND TO LAST FINAL PUBLIC HEARING SPOT. THE NEXT STEP IS TO SENDING -- SENDING DOCUMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -- THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PROPERTY APPRAISAL AND TAX COLLECTOR. FROM THIS -- FROM THIS YOU SEE THAT THE -- THAT THE -- THAT THE MILLAGE RATES HAVE DECREASED PROGRESSIVELY OVER THE YEARS AND 2013 -- 2013, A MILLAGE RATE OF 7.8770 AND OUR MILLAGE RATE FOR 20 25 WAS 5.3880. IN '24, WE HAD A 5.40 MILLAGE RATE AND -- WE PROPOSE 5.833 MILLAGE A DECREASE OF MINU 0.0120. CURRENT 5.2412. THIS RATE IS THE RATE WHEN APPLIED TO THIS YEAR'S PROPERTY VALUE ALSO GENERATE THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNTS AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. OUR PROPERTY VALUE THIS YEAR WERE $182 BILLION, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OF $173 BILLION. IT WAS A $9 BILLION INCREASE. WE -- WE ARE -- WE STAND TO -- WE STAND TO GENERATE 943.1 MILLION. BASE DEBT OF 96% BUDGET RATE. IF WE RETAIN BUDGET THE 100%, WE WILL RECEIVE 982.4 MILLION. IT IS REQUIRED THAT WE BUDGET AT THE 96%. HOWEVER HOWEVER MY TAXES COMPUTED, YOU OWN A HOUSE $200,000, $25,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. YOUR TAXABLE VALUES IN $175,000 DIVIDED BY $1,000 IS $175 TIMES THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. PAYING $942.40 IN SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES. SO THE ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED $1.8 BILLION IN REVENUE AND SPENT $1.7 BILLION. SO WE HAD A 80.5 MILLION SURPLUS. MINUS THE 58.5 WE HAVE IN RECURRING SALARIES GAVE US A $22 MILLION SURPLUS. WE BEGAN THE YEAR WITH $330 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE. WE MOVED $48 MILLION TO ESSER. WITH THE A $400 MILLION DECREASE FOR NONRECURRING SALARIES AND THE $22 MILLION SURPLUS GIVES YOU A $395.9 MILLION FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS 22%. THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR '25 IS PROPOSED AT 4.3 BILLION. THE GENERAL FUND WHICH IS THE OPERATE WILLING FUND IS PROPOSED TO BE $2.5 BILLION. THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS THE STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICE FUND AND ALL THE GRANT. THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS WHERE WE PAY ALL OUR DEBTS FOR THE SCHOOLS WE HAVE BUILT. THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS HAS ALL THE REMODELING, RENOVATIONS AND ACTUALLY WERE ASSESSED TAX DOLLARS. AND OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUND IS FOR WORKER'S COMP, HEALTH INSURANCE AND GENERAL LIABILITY. ON THIS PAGE, YOU CAN SEE CIRCLED UP TOP, THE $39.59. WE ENDED THE 2024 YEAR WITH. AND BASED ON OUR EXPENDITURES AND REVENUE WE PROPOSE FOR '25, PROJECT ENDING THE YEAR WITH A $283.9 MILLION FUND BASS. $112 MILLION DECREASE OVER THIS YEAR. THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 2024-'25. OUR FINANCIAL MOTION IS 1.83 MILLION -- BILLION DOLLARS WE RECEIVED IN REVENUE AND 1.87 IN EXPENDITURE. SO WE ARE GOING TO END UP WITH A 45.9 DEFICIT. THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE OF $395.9, MINUS THE 45.9 DEFICIT. AND $66 MILLION IN NONRECURRING SALARIES GIVES US THE $283.9 MILLION FUND BALANCE. THIS IS -- THIS IS STILL AT 15%. THE LAST PAGE IN THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING WHICH WILL BE OPEN SHORTLY.
>> IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE STATED REQUIRED.
>>Roe Johnson: YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THE BUDGET PART. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD ADOPT A STATE BOARD MILLAGE OF 3.1400 MILLS. RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT DISCRETIONARY OPERATIONAL RATE OF. RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE LOCAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RATE OF 1.500 MILLS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE DEBT SERVICE MILLAGE RATE OF 00.00 MILLS.
>>Karen Perez: ANEED A MOTION FOR THE 2024-2025 MILLAGE RATES AS PRESENTED. A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS, AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CONCERNING A MILLAGE RATE AND ROLL-BACK RATES?
>>Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, I REMIND YOU, FOUR SEPARATE VOTES ON THIS. THIS IS ONLY ABOUT THE MILLAGE A THIS POINT. YOU ARE NOT VOTING ON THE BUDGET. THIS IS JUST THE MILLAGE.
>> MARK KLUTHO. IF -- IF THIS WAS ABOUT THE MINIMUM LAGE, WHAT -- WHAT WAS THE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET? YOU STILL CAN'T GET THESE HEARINGS RIGHT. I DON'T BELIEVE IT. THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY MENTION OF THE BUDGET. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE MILLAGE. AND YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD IT RIGHT. UNBELIEVABLE. YOUR MILLAGE GOES DOWN $9 BILLION INCREASE. SMOKE AND MIRRORS. SMOKE AND MIRRORS. THE SAD FACT IS MONEY SQUANDERED. A BIG CONTEST. HOW IS THE SICK BUILDING GOING TO BE NAMED. HOW WILL IT BE NAMED. YES. YEAH. YOU KNOW. VALUE OF THE -- OF THE PROPERTY GOES UP, UP -- THERE WILL BE MORE DETAILS TO COME.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO SPEAKERS. BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE MILLAGE RATES OR ROLL-BACK RATES AS PRESENTED? MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM NOT SURE IF IT GOES ON ONE OF THE OTHER HEARINGS OR FURTHER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT WHEN WE WENT OVER THIS, ONE THING THAT I ASKED YOU TO INCLUDE FOR THE PUBLIC CONSUMPTION IS AN EXPLANATION OF THOSE -- THERE IS A CAP ON THE MILLAGE RATE. SOME WHILE YOU GIVE THE EXPLANATION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT OF THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER AND HOW MUCH THEY PAY AND HOW THE TAXES CALCULATED. CONSTANTLY I HAVE PEOPLE ASK ME, IF WE HAVE MILLION DOLLARS HOMES AND TAXES CONSISTENTLY GOING UP, WHY IS THERE STILL AN ISSUE WITH THE REVENUE WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC HOW IT IS CAPPED AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE TAKE IN IS ALLOCATED WITH THE STATE AND COMES OUT OF OUR PURE PAPER MONEY AS FAR AS REVENUE IS CONCERNED.
>> THE CAP FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE A TAX EXEMPTION, THE CAP IS 3% PER YEAR. IF IT IS A NONHOMESTEAD PROPERTY, CAPPED AT 10% FOR ALL THE OTHER TAXES ENTITIES ACCEPT FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. THE SCHOOL BOARD LEVYS AGAINST THE MARKET VALUE. THIS IS ALL IN STATE STATUTE. I AM SORRY, I DIDN'T CATCH THE REST OF YOUR QUESTION.
>>Jessica Vaughn: SO IF WE TAKE IN OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE TAKE THAT OUT OF THE PURE PUPIL FUNDING THAT WE GET SO WE DON'T GET UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE. THAT'S CORRECT? REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE MILLAGE RATE IS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS INCREASE, OUR DOLLARS DECREASE. IT IS PART OF OUR EQUALIZATION FUNDING FORMULA.
>>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, THAT IS WHAT I ASKED TO BE INCLUDED. SOMEWHERE FURTHER IN THE SLIDE AND GO OVER. IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT IN? THANK YOU.
>> I AM SORRY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MISS JOHNSON, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>>Roe Johnson: THE BOARD ADOPT A 2024-25 OF 4,344,401,761.44.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE BUDGET. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CONCERNING THE 2024-2025 BUDGET.
>> YOU ARE SUPPOSED -- MARK KLUTHO. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION HERE. JUST BECAUSE YOU DID THE FIRST TIME LAST MONTH OR WHENEVER IT WAS, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T DO IT THIS TIME. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CANNOT FOLLOW THE LAW FOLLOW THE LAW. YOU HEAR WHAT I AM SAYING? IT'S THE LAW. YOU DO IT THE SAME WAY YOU DID IT THE LAST TIME. IT'S THE LAW. YEAH, HERE WE HAVE FOR FACILITIES $321 MILLION. INCLUDED THAT THAT WILL BE THE NEW STUPID BUILDING THAT THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE FIGHTING TO SEE WHO GETS THE NAME. SICK BUILDING. SICK BUILDING. OH, YEAH, WATCH IT. WATCH IT? YOU TELL ME TO WATCH IT. OH. YOU KNOW, I TELL YA. THE HEADLINES PROVE IT. HEAT DEATHS IN THE U.S. HAVE SOARED SINCE 1999. MOSS TECO BORNE EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS -- OH, THE WORD. ENCEPHALITIS IS KEEPING PEOPLE INDOORS AFTER DARK. FEAR FEAR OF VIRUS IS CHANGING ROUTINES IN MASSACHUSETTS. THIS IS BECAUSE A CAUSE AND EFFECT THE WAY BUILDINGS ARE BEING MADE THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING. STUPID BUILDINGS ARE BEING MADE. AND ISN'T ONE PERSON HERE BESIDES ME THAT IS GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BUDGET. AND YOU ARE A BUNCH OF FOOLS IF YOU THINK THAT EVERYTHING HERE IS OKAY. IT'S A SAD FACT. A SAD, SAD FACT. MOSQUITOES AND WEST NILE VIRUS CAN --
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN YOU ARE VIOLATING THE LAW.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>>Jim Porter: THIS IS ABOUT THE BUDGET PIECE OF IT.
>>Karen Perez: YES, REGARDING THE 2024-2025 BUDGET. SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MISS JOHNSON, PLEASE.
>>Roe Johnson: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THE 2024-2025 MILLAGE RATE AND BUDGET.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ACE ADOPTING THE 2024-2025 MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET AS PRESENTED. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY, AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CONCERNING THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTING THE 2024-2025 MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET. SEEING NO COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTING THE 2024-2025 MILLAGE RATES AND ADOPTING AN ADOPTED BUDGET. SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MISS JOHNSON, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>>Roe Johnson: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRUTH IN MILLAGE TRIM REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 200, FLORIDA STATUTES.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRUTH IN MILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 200, FLORIDA STATUTES AS PRESENTED. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CONCERNING THE AUTHORIZATION OF STAFF TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRUTH IN MILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 200, FLORIDA STATUTES. SEEING NONE, BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF STAFF TO PERFORM ALL TASKS NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH TRUTH IN MILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 200, FLORIDA STATUTES. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. STAND PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL ADJOURN THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MINIMUM LAGE RATES AND ADOPTED BUDGET FOR FISCAL 2024-2025 AND RECONVENE ON THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
>>Jim Porter: TO BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. DEL MA RODNEY GO GEZ.
>>Karen Perez: SPEAKERS 19-24 PLEASE LINE UP.
>> SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, CHAIR PEREZ, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ST STAFF, CABINET, AND THE REST OF YOU. ANY NAME IS DELMA RODRIGUEZ, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF NAMING THE HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA E.J. SALE.J. SALCINES. ALL YOU DO IS GOOGLE HIS NAME AND YOU GET HIS HISTORY. AND I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A PERSONAL REASON FOR SELECTING HIM. I AM A NATIVE TAMPANIAN -- I AM A NATIVE WEST TAMPANIAN, WHICH MEANS I GREW UP WITH E.J. I USED TO BUY HATS FOR MY FATHER FROM HIS FATHER'S STORE, WHERE HE WORKED AT THE TIME. AS A -- AS A LATINA AND ARREST TAMPANIAN, EVERY TIME E.J. SUCC SUCCEEDED, I SUCCEEDED, THE COMMUNITY SUCCEEDED. WHEN HE BECAME A LAWYER, WE KNEW THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE TO DEFEND US. WHEN HE BECAME A JUDGE, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FELT SO EXTREMELY PROUD OF HIM AND WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO FOR US. PLEASE RECOGNIZE HIM FOR WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE WILL DO AND REPRESENT TO THE 40% OF THE LATINOS IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI. I AM LAURIE PONEROFF, A 1974 FRAGILE YACHT OF ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SYLVIA ALBRITON, ENGLISH TEACHER, JOURNALISM TEACHER AND ADVISOR FOR THE SCHOOL'S NEWSPAPER. THOSE WERE HER OFFICIAL DUTIES. SHE ALSO INSPIRED MY CAREER CHOICE. 40 YEARS IN CORPORATE PUBLIC RELATIONS WITH AT&T, ITS FAMILY OF COMPANIES AND OTHERS. MY ■CAREER TOOK ME TO TOWNS IN PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, AND BACK TO FLORIDA. SYLVIA STAYED IN THIS COMMUNITY, BEFRIENDING, EDUCATING, AND LAUNCHING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS INTO THE WORLD. SHE AND I RECONNECTED ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO AND WENT OUT TO DINNER WHERE WE DID WHAT EVERYONE DOES AND TOOK A SELFIE. I POSTED THAT SELFIE ON FACEBOOK WITH A FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW SHE HAD INSPIRED ME AND MY CAREER. SINCE I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 150 FACEBOOK FRIENDS, I DIDN'T EXPECT MUCH RESPONSE. BUT THE NEXT MORNING, MY POST HAD MORE THAN 100 LIKES AND COMMENTS FROM HER FORMER STUDENTS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COLL COLLEAGUES SYLVIA HAD NOT JUST TOUCHED ME BUT BLESSED GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE. TODAY, WE CAN CONNECT ALL THOSE BLESSINGS WITH A BRICK A AND MORTAR BUILDING THAT WILL CARRY SYLVIA'S NAME AND EMBODY THE LOVE OF CHILDREN AND EDUCATION THAT DEFINES HER LIFE. I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO THANK HER FOR ALL SHE DID, DOES, AND WILL DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAN TO MAKE THE SYLVIA ALBRITON HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEA SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DON HAMPTON. MADAM PRESIDENT, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. AQUILA MORGAN. LEGACY IS A POWERFUL TESTAMENT TO PERSEVERANCE, EXCELLENCE AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN EMPLOYEE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 1666. SHE BROKE BARRIERS. SHE SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. HER 43 YEARS TEACHING CAREER DURING WHICH SHE WAS NAMED TEACH COUNTY YEAR MULTIPLE TIMES REFLECTS HER DEDICATION TO EDUC EDUCATION AND THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS STUDENTS TODAY, YESTERDAY AND IN THE FUTURE. COMING FROM A DISTINGUISHED AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY IN WIMAUMA, MRS. MORGAN REPRESENTS THE VALUE OF EXCELLENCE AND MORE IMPORTANT -- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VILLAGE THAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME. AND RAISING AND AND EDUCATING CHILDREN FROM THE PAST THROUGH THE DAY AND THE FUTURE. NAMING A SCHOOL AFTER HER SUCH AS PROPOSED MISS AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN WIMAUMA HIGH SCHOOL WILL NOT ONLY HONOR HER REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT ALSO CELEBRATE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY THE STATE OF FLORIDA COMMUNITY. HER STORY IS A WEAKEN OF HOPE AND A REMINDER OF THE PROGRAM MADE AND THE WORK TO CONTINUE THE QUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. THE AMERICAN PROMISE. AS WIMAUMA RESIDENT, I ASK ALL OF YOU SIT WILLING ON THIS BOARD TODAY TO HONOR MISS AQUILA JACKSON JR. A TEACH THEIR HAS UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE TO WIMAUMA COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS AND EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS CAN SPEAKERS 25-30 LINE UP?
>> HELLO, BOARD. MR. HAMPTON TOLD YOU EVERYTHING. WHAT I AM WITH -- I AM THEE THAN HALE. ONE OF OUR MAIN EFFORTS IN THE WIMAUMA AREA IS TO OBTAIN AUTHENTIC HISTORY. BEING REDEVELOPED NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER MISS MORGAN LIKE MR. ANTHONY WAS SAYING, THE FIRST BACK TEACHER HIRED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD OUT IN WIMAUMA. TAUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY WITH THE LATINO. WORKED WITH THE LATINA RIGHT AFTER BROKE ALL THE BARRIERS AND HELPED EVERYONE IN THE AREA TO LEARN AND HER DEDICATION SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SHARE MY FOR OF THE NEW SCHOOL BEING NAMED OF A AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN. I WORK WITH THE SARASOTA SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 15 YEARS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AS A DEBT AND SHE HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST TEACHER. MY LATE GRAND MOTHER AQULA JAY MORGAN IS THE MOTIVATION THAT WILL ALWAYS SPEAK OF INTEGRITY, FAIRNESS AND RESPECT. SHE -- BEING HIRED INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SYMBOLIZED A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD RACIAL EQUALITY AND INTEGRATION IN EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS OF 1964. AND HER KNOWLEDGE OF SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS. TRAIL PLAYER DIVERSITY AND INTRUSION BY HELPING THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY BEYOND TEACHING HOURS. SHE HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY ON AND OFF THE JOB. MY GRANDMOTHER PROVIDED CLOTHES, SHOES, SUPPLIES AND EVEN RECALL HER PROVIDE WILLING SHELTER DURING HURRICANE ANDREW. TO HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRANSFORM WIMAUMA TO WE ARE WIMAUMA HOME TO THE 5800 BLOCK OF BELL STREET TO HER WIMAUMA CLASSROOM, COMMUNITY AND BEYOND BEYOND THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY WITH myON WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPECT. WE HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU TWICE WHILE SHE WAS HERE ON EARTH. WE ARE HERE THE THIRD TIME AND SHE HAS NOW DEPARTED FROM US. HONOR THE SCHOOL AQULA J. MORGAN.
>>Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER PLE PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND EVERYONE HERE. SHEILA HELM, LIFE-LONG STUDENT OF MY MOM AQUILA J. MORGAN. IN WIMAUMA SHE KNEW HER WORTH. VALUE PEWED IN THE COMMUNITY. CHOSEN BY THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY 58 YEARS AGO. NEVER WAIVERED TO EDUCATE STUDENT, SUPPORT PARENTS AND PARTNERED WITH COLLEAGUE WITH RESULTS. SHE WORKED AS A PTA LEADER. SHE WOULD TUTOR AND GIVE FOOD, CLOTHES AND SUPPLIES, CHRISTMAS SMITHS. HER TIME. MEETING THE NEED OF OTHERS FOR F FREE. SMILING FACES. RECEIVE TEACHER OF THE YEAR SEVERAL TIMES AND BE ONE OF EIGHT NAMES BEFORE THE BOARD IN 2008 FOR A FOR A SCHOOL NAME IN TAMPA THAT WAS SUBMIT BY HER COLLEAGUES. AND DID FOR HER WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. ONCE THE HEALTH WAS 43 YEARS RETIREMENT, USED COMMUNITY CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE CLASSROOM AND MOVED THROUGHOUT THE CHURCHES. HER STUDENTS WOULD BE PASTORS, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SHE RECEIVED THE HONORARY DOCTORATE IN 2010 BECAUSE OF HER COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION TO ADD WITH HER OTHER DEGREES. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME STANDING BEFORE THE BOARD. LAST TIME SHE WAS HERE. NOW SHE IS NO LONGER WITH US. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HONOR MY MOM MRS. AQUILA J. MORGAN 33 YEARS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. FIRST CHOICE THEN AND I HOPE THE FIRST CHOICE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> ANDY MUSE. CURA TOR FOR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE TOO COOL OR TOO RARE TO LIVE IN THE LIBRARY LIVES. AND AS ANY ROLE AS A CURATOR AND ARCHIVIST. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT NOT ALL EDUCATORS ARE TEACHERS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT ROLES TO BE PLAYED. MADE SEVERAL LIFETIMES BEFORE BECOMING THE ELDER STATESMAN OF TAMPA AND WEST TAMPA. A LIFETIME OF SERVICE. BUT FOR ME, THE COMRADESHIP MADE LOVE FOR RESEARCH, THE LOVE FOR THE HISTORY HERE AND DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH FOR THEM OVER THE YEARS. AND I LEARNED FROM IT ALL. AND I AND WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA TO BE NAMED AFTER HIM. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. I AM COLETTE CLOUD COVER HANNA. AND MY MOM IS MARGARET CLARET. A STELLAR 38-YEAR TEACHER WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO GAVE TIRELESSLY IN HER CLASSROOM AND COMMUNITY. I AM A PRODUCT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I AM THE FIRST TO VOW FOR THE AMAZING TEACHERS IN OUR COUNTY. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS GREAT EDUCATORS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY JUST LIKE MY MOM, MISS CLARET. VERY PASSIONATE COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE HER TOO. HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY MOM, MARGARET CLARET AND THE OTHERS IS HOW SHE SERVED. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HER IS SHE PASSIONATELY DEMONSTRATED HER STRONG COMMITMENT TO BOTH AREAS. AND STELLAR TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, SHE HAS EARNED MANY AWARDS FROM THIS DISTRICT. AND HER SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND FOR HER SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. MOREOVER, SOME OF MERE FORMER STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR YOURSELF, MEDICAL DOCTORS, TEACHERS, CPA As AND ADMINISTRATORS WITH HER DISTRICT AND MANY, MANY OTHER ADMIRABLE CAREERS. AND HOW DO WE KNOW? BECAUSE WE ATTENDED WEDDINGS FOR HER STUDENTS NUMEROUS TIMES. BABY SHOWERS. ALL OF THE THINGS SHE STILL INCLUDED IN HER FAMILIES AND WE CAN'T GO TO A GROSS GROCERY STORE WITHOUT SOMEONE ASKING WHERE YOU MISS CLARET, MISS GLOVER, MY FORMER TEACHER. IN ADDITION TO THAT, MI MISS CLARET, MY MOM, HELPED TO WARNER $10 MILLION WITH THE MINISTRIES. SHE WAS SO COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH SHE GREW UP. ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY CORE AND INAUGURAL SUPPORTER OF THE ENTERPRISE AND LATINAS PROGRAM IN WIMAUMA AND PARTNER WITH THE MARTHA CANCER CENTER AND MENTORED. MRS. CONSIDER HER FOR THIS HONOR.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. ABIGAIL DOWNEY AND HERE TO SUPPORT MY SUPPORT FOR MARGARET CLARET. I AM A MANAGER FOR ENTERPRISE EQUITY AT MOFFITT CANCER CENTER. I WANT TO READ A REPORT FROM OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER OF LIFE-CHANGING WORK TO BRING HEALTH SERVICES TO THE WIMAUMA. DEAR MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT TO NAME THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA IN HONOR OF MISS CLARET. HER EDUCATION HAS BEEN TO THE WIMAUMA AREA AND COMMITMENT TO THE DISTRICT SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE BROADER WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. I MET MISS CLARET TWO DECADES EAST AGO AND INSPIRED BY HER UNWAVING DEDICATION. HER INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS WERE PIONEERING. A TEAM OF EDUCATORS WITH HER CO-TEACHERS TO INTRODUCE THE CONTINUING PROGRESS TEACHING METHOD. BROKE BARRIERS AS THE FIRST TEACHER TO TEACH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. AND HONORED HER AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR ON FOUR OCCASIONS. TO SAY THAT HER INFLUENCE EXTENDED BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, THE LOCAL IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS TO PROVIDE SUMMER LUNCHES FOR CHILDREN AND COMPUTER MENTORING PROGRAM TO BRING COMPUTER ACCESS TO OUR WIMAUMA YOUTH. HELPED WITH HEALTH INITIATIVES AND WORKED WITH MOFFITT CANCER SERVICES IN OUTREACH SERVICES FOR HEALTH INTEGRATION INTO THE PROING SHE ORGANIZED ENSURING THAT THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY HAD ACCESS TO CRITICAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE WELL BEING. FEW INDIVIDUALS HAD SUCH A PROFOUND IMPACT AS MISS CLARET IN WIMAUMA. IT WAS FAR-REACHING. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HER FOR THIS HONOR FOR ALL THE REASONS OUTLINED ABOVE.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN I GET SPEAKERS 31-40 TO LINE UP, PLEASE.
>> BOARD CHAIR AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE TIME NOW. EVERYTHING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE TO SEE IF YOU ARE SERIOUS OR ARE YOU CURIOUS. WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT TODAY. THREE HIGH SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER AFRICAN-AMERICANS, MIDDLETON, BLAKE, ARMWOOD. 372023-2024 I RODE BY ARMWOOD AND NEVER KNEW THAT IT WAS NAMED AFTER A BLACK WOMAN. THAT GOES TO SHOW HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO. AND IN A MODERN SOCIETY, FEW YEARS AGO A FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN PRESIDENT. WE GOT A LOT TO DO. WE GOT A LOT OF GROWING UP TO DO, MATURING TO DO. THIS IS A NO BRAINER. A TEACHER. TYPICALLY THEY NAME SCHOOLS AFTER TEACHERS. TYPICALLY THEY MADE IT ROAD AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT OR POLICE OR THE SHERIFF. TYPICALLY THEY NAME JUDGES -- JUDICIAL BUILDINGS AND COURTHOUSES AFTER JUDGES. LET'S GET A TRANSFORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA. CAN YOU SAY WIMAUMA. SOME OF YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY IT. WIMAUMA. AND TALK ABOUT WIMAUMA UNTIL THEY START MOVING AND BUILDING DOWN THERE AND START IDENTIFYING AS PEOPLE START LIVING THERE. BEFORE THEN, IT WAS BLACK PEOPLE BEFORE THE LATINO GOT THERE. WE WERE DOING IT -- DOING THE FARM WORK AND DOING ALL OF THAT. SO NOW IS THE TIME, THREE TIMES IS THE CHARM, LET'S NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER AQUILA MORGAN, TRANSFORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL IN WHERE? WIMAUMA!
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>>.
>> HELLO, BOARD. MY NAME IS CHADWICK HANNA. ONE THING I HAVE TO DO IS -- THE FIRST THING I EVER DID WAS -- I SAID THAT WHENEVER I GOT IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE I WOULD GIVE GOD THE PRAISE. AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL DO BEFORE I START. PRAISE GOD. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ALLEGHENY FRANCISCAN MINISTRIES WHO WROTE A LETTER TO HONOR MISS MARGARET CLARET FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER. AND IT GOES, IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT ALLEGHENY FRANCISCAN MINISTRIES SUPPORT THE NAMING OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S NEWEST HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA TO HONOR MISS MARGARET CLARET. THIS RECOGNITION WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS ACADEMIC AND DEEP COMMUNITY-BASED LEGACIES OF MISS CLARET. FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, A COLLABORATOR WITH THE ALLEGHENY FRANCISCAN MINISTRIES AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE WRY MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL FOR THE COMMON GOOD. AND AFTER HER RETIREMENT FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, MISS CLARET WAS INVITED BECAUSE OF HER COMMITMENT AND CREDIBILITY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE AS AN INAUGURAL MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CURRENT INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT. AND OVER TIME, OVERTIME AND LINCOLN PARK. FROM 2014 TO 2023. AND SHE WAS WITH THE WIMAUMA COUNCIL OF THE COMMON GOOD AND INFORMING ALLEGHENY INVESTMENT OF NEARLY $2 MILLION IN THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFY PRIORITIES. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, WE ASK YOU TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER HER.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>> I AM ANDREW WALKER. A FORMER TEACHER AT TAMPA TECH HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE WITH CANTREL ALBRITON. A PRIVILEGE THAT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA WILL BE NAMED IN HONOR OF SYLVIA CAN CANTREL ALBRITON. MY FORMER TAMPA BAY TECH IN FOUR YEARS. MANY TEACHERS HAD ADMINISTRATOR, SISTER AN DEAR FRIEND THAT WE KNEW IN OUR HEART CARED ABOUT FACULTY STAFF AND MOST OF ALL HER STUDENTS. DR. SYLVIA ALBRITON IS A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY. DEDICATED 40 PLUS YEARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SHE WAS AND IS A VERY CARING EDUCATOR AND HUMANITARIAN. DR. SYLVIA ALBRITON IS A DEDICATED MOTHER, WIFE AND GRANDMOTHER AND A LIFE-LONG TEACHER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHO EXHIBITED REMARKABLE LOVE FOR HER COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORS IN WIMAUMA, FLORIDA. ONE OF THE MOST APPRECIATIVE PARTS OF LIVING IN WIMAUMA IS ITS DIVERSE POPULATION, SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE A FAMILY. ALL THOSE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND A SMALL TOWN FEEL WHERE EVERYONE LOOKS OUT FOR EACH OTHER. IT IS HOME FOR DR. ALBRITON. I PROUDLY REQUEST THE SCHOOL BOARD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION NAMING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN BUY MASSACHUSETTS AFTER A DEARLY BELOVED FORMER PRINCIPAL, DR. SYLVIA CANTREL ALBRITON. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS SIMON CANASSE. AND NEVER HAD THE GOOD FOR CHURP OF MEETING MISS ALBRITON OR. I HAD THE PLEASURE TO KNOW E.J. SALCINES. FORMER JUDGE, LAWYER, FORMER STATE ATTORNEY AND ABOVE ALL, A ORAL HISTORIAN. AND RACIAL PRECEDENCE OF ONE OF HIS PROFESSIONALS AND HE CONTINUED THE STUDY OF SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW. AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN OF THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS HE HELPED GET ACCEPTED AT THE SCHOOL TO BECOME LAWYERS. HE HAS BEEN A MINUTE FOR TO MANY IN TAMPA'S LATINO COMMUNITY AND OTHER JUDGES AND POLITICIANS. ONE OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE IS WHEN I SERVED AS THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS. I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT SENT E.J. FOR APPOINTMENT. I CONSIDER THAT A MARQUEE IN MY LIFE. AND I WAS SO PROUD TO HAVE HAD THAT -- THAT OPPORTUNITY. IT WAS A ROLE THAT HE NOT ONLY EMBRACED WITH INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE OF LAW BUT A ROLE HE TRULY EXCELLED AT. I CAN COUNT ON ONE SCHOOL HOW MANY SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAD NAMED AFTER A HISPANIC INDIVIDUAL. YOU SAID IT YOURSELF. 40% OF THE STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE HISPANIC. GIVEN THE NUMBERS OF HISPANICS IN OUR COUNTY, WE ARE OVERDUE. WE WILL ADD ANOTHER AND NO ONE DESERVED THE HONOR NO MORE THAN MY FRIEND E.J. SALCINES IRONICALLY DURING HISPANIC PERCENTAGE MONTH. HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS HELPED TO MAKE US WHAT WE ARE, AMERICA'S GREATEST CITIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS WITH THE ROLE AS A HUSBAND, FATHER, SON, GRANDFATHER AND FRIEND. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, MS.
>> HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. GOOD AFTERNOON. ANY NAME IS JENNIFER SOULS. A NATIVE FLORIDIAN BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH TAMPA AND I GRADUATED FROM T.R. ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1994. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DR. ALBRITON. MY GOAL IS TO NAME THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN HER HONOR TO COMMEMORATE HER LEGACY IN EDUCATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. DR. ALBRITON SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL OF ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS AND NOT ONLY THE FIRST FEMALE PRINCIPAL AND THE FIRST HISPANIC WOMAN AND THE FIRST ROBINSON HIGH TO SERVE IN THAT POSITION AS SHE IS THE GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 1967. MY SENIOR YEAR I WAS D DR. ALBRITON'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT. FOSTERED A CULTURE WHERE I AND OTHER STUDENTS EXCELLED WITH LEARNING AND PRACTICES LIFE SKILLS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF SATURDAY. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO THRIVE IN DEVELOPING MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS A STUDENT LEADER. THIS EXPERIENCE ALLOWED ME TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING TO PLAN AND EXECUTE EVENTS AND I LEARN TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL TEAMS THAT ENABLED ME TO FLOURISH IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AS I WENT ON IN A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AROUND THE WORLD COMMANDING AN AIR FORCE SQUADRON AND RETIRING AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL. THE PRACTICAL SKILLS I LEARNED FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER HAS STAYED WITH ME MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT DR. ALBRITON CREATED. MODELLED BEING A FEMALE AND A SUCCESSFUL WORKING MOM AND THIS INSPIRED ME AS A YOUNG TEENAGER TO TRAIN BIG FOR MY FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN NAMING THIS NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA AFTER DR. SILL VENA CAN CANTREL ALBRITON. HER LIFE WORK THROUGHOUT ALL OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MAKES HER THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR THIS HONOR.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, MIKE PLORE, MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. GO TIGERS. THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME. IMAGINE EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DROPPING ONE TO THREE LETTER GRADES THIS YEAR. WHY? TEACHERS ARE REFUSING TO DO THE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION PROCESS. ACCELERATION POINTS ARE EARNED WHEN A STUDENT PASSES A INDUSTRY ACCELERATION AND POINTS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL GRADE. WITHOUT ACT SELL RATION POINTS. MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL GOES FROM A C TO AN IF. CAN REPLACE ONE SCIENCE AND TWO MATH CREDITS. HERE THE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION INDIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO SCHOOL GRADE BY ALLOWING UNDERSERVED STUDENT POPULATION THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED ON AN ALTERNATIVE PATH. JULY 18, THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A NEW DOCUMENT THAT CHANGED THAT PROCESS. IT WENT, FROM A ONE-PAGE PROCESS TO THE SAME ONE 114 PAGES. TEACHERS WILL NOT DO IT. WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED ON AUGUST 5 BY FLORIDA JARGO, THE TEACHERS REVOLTED AND IT BECAME AGGR AGGRESSIVE. 114 PAGES. ADDITIONALLY, MR. JARGO ADDED 30 DAYS FROM TEST READINESS TO ACTUAL CERTIFICATION INSTEAD OF ONE. WITH THESE FACTORS INVOLVED, TEACHERS SIMPLY WON'T DO IT. IT IS A VOLUNTARY PROCESS. ALL RIGHT. THESE BARRIERS, TEACHERS ARE JUST GOING TO NOT DO THEM THIS YEAR. IF WE DON'T MAKE THIS CHANGE, IT HURTS THE KIDS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GUYS APPROVED THIS. AND THAT IS WRONG. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO SOMETHING THAT IS SENSIBLE. PLEASE GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I AM THE PASTOR OF THE ST. MARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN PARISH, FLORIDA, WHERE MI MISS AQULA MORGAN WAS A LIFE-LONG MEMBER. SHE WAS RAISE THERE AT THAT CHURCH AND DIED AS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. ACTIVE AS A TEACHER, TRUSTEE, USHER, SPIRITUAL ADVISOR FOR SO MANY. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CHURCH'S CONTINUED GROWTH. AND SHE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY OF PARISH AND WIMAUMA AS A WHOLE. WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN MRS. MORGAN'S CLASSROOM, BUT I HAVE BEEN IN HER PRESENCE COUNTLESS TIMES AND WITNESSED THE IMPACT SHE MADE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT SHE TAUGHT AND RAISED. SHE TOOK SPECIAL NOTICE OF EVERY STUDENT AT THE MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST ASSOCIATION WHICH CONSISTS EVER OVER 50 CHURCH TO ENSURE THEY GRADUATED AND WAS PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF LIFE. A TRAILBLAZER AND. OF LATE 60s AND UNTIL INTEGRATION. HER LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE WAS CRITICAL IN CALMING THE ATTENTION AND FEAR THAT CAME WITH THE NEW CONCEPT OF INTEGRATION. AN EDUCATOR SHE WAS. AND SHE WAS A GIFT TO GOD. AND SHE USEDED THAT GIFT TO TEACH MEMBERS OF SOME OF THE MOST FINEST STUDENTS IN THE STATE. HAVING SAID THAT, I BELIEVE THE MAIN THING THAT KEPT MISS MORGAN MOTIVATED AND ENCOURAGED TO DO HER BEST WAS HER STEADFAST LOVE FOR GOD AND HER UNWAVING FATE. NOT ONLY DID SHE WALK BY FAITH BUT WALKED AND OBEYED THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SPEAKERS 41-47 TO LINE UP. CAN I GET SPEAKERS 41-47 TO LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO. ANY NAME DAPHNE O'REILLY. I AM A PHYSICIAN AND PART OF THE GROUP ABA RIGHTS. YOU A 2I678 IS NEUROCONDITION THAT WILL SHOW HOW PEOPLE BEHAVE AND ACTED. PREVALENCE OF AUTISM CONTINUES TO INCREASE OVER THE LAST CURRENT YEARS, AND DATA ONE IN 36 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES IS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM. MY SON IS PART OF THIS DATA. A BRIGHT BOY WHO LEARNED TO READ, WRITE AND BASIC MATH BEFORE STARTING PRE K AT HOME. I AM NOT A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL, ONLY A MOTHER WITH THE DESIRE FOR A FUTURE FOR HER SON. DESPITE HAVING WELL-MEANING STAFF AT THE SCHOOL AND THEIR EFFORTS, A BOY THAT LOVES TO LEARN GOES TO SCHOOL AND REFUSES TO WORK AND HE IS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE AND LEARN THE THINGS I KNOW HE IS ABLE TO DO BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS TO SUCCEED. EVERY YEAR, WE GO THROUGH REGRESSIONS AND CHALLENGES I BELIEVE ARE DUE TO THE APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT OF BEHAVIORS. ABA IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED METHOD TO HELP ARE AUTISM TO THRIVE. CURRENT LAW TO ALLOW ADA SERVICES AT THE SCHOOL BUT THE PROCESS IS LENGTHY AND BURDENSOME FOR PARENTS ON THE SPECTRUM. WE ARE ASKING FOR SIMPLIFICATION OF THE PACKAGE THAT ADDS ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM. PARENT ARE FORCED TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE ILLEGAL IMPLICATIONS AND THE ALTERNATIVE WILL BE SACRIFICING OUR KIDS EDUCATION. WHY ARE ALL THESE REQUIREMENTS BEING ADDED WHEN THE LAW CLEARLY STATES THAT NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. MY SON'S NEEDS ARE NOT ANY LESS THAN ANY OTHER STUDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. HE HAS A RIGHT TO A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PROCESS ONE OF COLLABORATION TO ENSURE THE CHILDREN ARE BEING SERVICED APPROPRIATELY AND NOT A LIST OF ADDITIONAL BURDEN FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAMILIES. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS KARLA SPARKS. I AM A RETIRED EDUCATOR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR AND MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND STAFF, IF THERE IS ANYONE I KNOW WHO DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR NAME ATTACHED TO A SCHOOL FOREVER, TO HAVE THAT LEGACY, AND LEAVE THEIR FOOTPRINT ON THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS IT IS DR. SYLVIA CANTREL ALBRITON. SYLVIA IS ONE OF THE FINEST EDUCATORS I HAD PRIVILEGE TO WORK DURING MY 46 YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR. SYLVIA HELD MANY POSITIONS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. TEACHER, DEAN, ACONSTITUTESY CONTINUE AT PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL, GENERAL DIRECTOR AND FRIEND. THAT LAST POSITION "FRIEND" IS WHAT SET SYLVIA APART FROM OTHERS AS SHE IS A TRUE FRIEND TO ANYONE ANY AGE, ANY POSITION WHO WANTS TO BE HER FRIEND. I OBSERVED SYLVIA IN ACTION AS SHE LED FACULTY MEETINGS. WHEN I SAW HER PRESSURE WASHING THE SIDEWALK NEAR THE MAIN OFFICE SERVING STUDENTS IN THE CAFETERIA DURING A CRITICAL SHORTAGE, AS SHE WATERED PLANTS SHE PLANTED TO MAKE SEWER SCHOOL BEAUTIFUL. AS SHE ROLLED COINS FOR A STUDENT CLUB WHOSE SPONSOR WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SECURE FUND RAISING MONEY. AND I SAW FIRST HAND WHERE SHE MANAGED TEACHER-TO-TEACHER DISPUTES. INEQUITIES AND ALL MANNER OF CHALLENGES RUNNING A LARGE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL. NOTHING WAS TOO DIFFICULT AND NOTHING WAS TOO DEMEANING FOR SILL VENA TO MANAGE. SHE COULD AND DID DO IT ALL. SYLVIA LOVES PEOPLE. FOR ALL OF THESE FINE QUALITIES, I ADVOCATE FOR SYLVIA CANTREL ALBRITON AS YOU NAME THE NEWEST HCPS HIGH SCHOOL.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TIMOTHY KNIGHTON. I PASTOR SAINT MARY'S COMMUNITY CHURCH PLANT CITY. I WANT TO READ THIS VERY QUICKLY AND I WILL GO BACKWARDS, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS A GRAVE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. I WROTE THIS E-MAIL -- AND I AM GOING TO ASK THAT MR. PEREZ AND MR. VAN AYRES WILL SHARE THIS WITH THE REST OF THE BIRD. I AM REVEREND TIMOTHY KNIGHTON. SENIOR PASTOR AT ST. MARY HE IS IN PLANT CITY AND THE GRANDFATHER OF MIKALA AND GAVE HER STUDENT NUMBER. I AM WRITING BECAUSE A GRAVE CONCERN OF MY GRAND WATER MIKALA AND HOW THE SITUATION HAS BEEN HANDLED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IN PLANT CITY, PASTORS COME TOGETHER AND CHOOSE SCHOOLS WHERE WE GO TO HAVE PRAYER FOR THE FORTHCOMING SCHOOL YEAR FOR GOD'S PROTECTION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THANK THE SCHOOL WE CHOSE THIS YEAR WAS LINCOLN. THAT SUNDAY IT WAS RAINING AND MYSELF AND SOME OF THE PARISHIONERS IN THE RAIN PRAYING AND I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS LETTER. JUST TO DEF YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, MIKALA ENTERED SCOOT CITY OF TAMPA SYSTEM WITH AN IEP FOR SPEECH. AT THIS TIME -- WHEN TIME WENT ON, SHE STARTED EXPERIENCING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS THAT SOME WOULD CONSIDER AS COMMON FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILD, WHILE THINKING IT WAS JUST HER BEING DEFIANT, I WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH MISS RUSHING AND THE LINCOLN SCHOOL. I AM GOING TO FAST FORWARD. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD. I WENT TO TRY TO GET HER WITH A 504 PLAN. IT WENT UNFOUNDED. NO ONE DID ANYTHING TO HELP HER. THANK GOD FOR MISS TRACYE BROWN TALKED ME INTO NOT PULLING MY CHILD OUT OF COOL AND HOME SCHOOLING HER. SHE ASKED ME TO WORK WITH HER. THAT WAS A MEETING THAT WAS CALLED. I, AS HER ADVOCATE, WAS NOT INVITED TO THE MEETING. HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DECISION FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND NOT HAVE SOMEONE TO ADVOCATE FOR HER.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EIC AND CHILDREN OF COLOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I AM NOT GOING AWAY. IT IS GOING TO GET FIXED.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM LATOYA LEVITT. THE PROUD GRAND WATER OF MISS AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN. BEFORE YOU YOU HAVE A BROCHURE, EDUCATOR MISS AQULA MORGAN. IF I PASS THIS HELP SOMEONE ALONG THE WAY, LIVING IS NOT IN VAIN. YOU CAN SEE MISS MORGAN'S WORK FOR THE FUTURE OF WIMAUMA. AFTER THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL WIMAUMA HIGH WAS TRANSFORMED TO I WOULD PIE ELEMENTARY. THE COUNTY SELECTED IN IS MORGAN. NO ONE WOULD GO TO WHAT WAS FORMED AS MULBERRY, WIMAUMA. BUT MISS MORGAN, A RESIDENT, WAS THERE FOR 43 YEARS. YOU CAN SEE IN THE PAMPHLET WHERE YOU ALL HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED HER GREAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY OCTOBER 3, 2022. SPOKE OF HER DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY. HOW HER REPUTATION WAS REGARDED BY HER COLLEAGUES AND YOU WERE AWARE OF HER WORK AND DID NOT KNOW HER NAME. I HAVE STOOD BEFORE YOU TWICE BEFORE TODAY IS MY THIRD TIME BEFORE YOU ALL. IT IS MY HARD WORK. BECAUSE MY HEART WORK. TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRST TRANSFORMATIVE HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS BEING BUILT BE NAMED TO HONOR A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATOR IN WIMAUMA. MISS MORGAN STOOD UP FOR WYOMING STUDENT AND FAMILIES. MANY EDUCATORS ARE STANDING ON HER SHOULDERS. THAT COMMUNITY AND COUNTY IS HERE TO STAND UP TO SHOW YOU THAT WE ARE ALL WANTING YOU TO HONOR MISS MORGAN. YOU WILL SEE IN YOUR HANDBOOK THE LAST POLICY PRINTED FOR A SCHOOL THAT WAS NAMED FOR MR. KENNETH ADUM. REFER TO THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTION ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY SITES HOW FACILITIES SHOULD BE NAMED. PLEASE HONOR MISS AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN NOT BASED ON THE COLOR OF HER 16, BUT COMMISSIONER COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR. I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO ONCE AGAIN RECOMMEND DR. SYLVIA CANTREL ALBRITON FOR CANDIDATE FOR NAMING A SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS THE BE BEGINNING TEACHER WITH STILL STARS IN MY EYES, I WENT TO AN EDUCATIONAL FAIR. AND THEY HAD A T-SHIRT. I HAD TO BUY IT. IT HAD A SPACECRAFT AND IT SAID "I TOUCH THE FUTURE. I TEACH. "I THINK THAT IT IS ONE THING TO TEACH STUDENTS. IT IS ANOTHER THING TO JUST TEACH A SUBJECT MATTER. SYLVIA ALREADY ADVOCATED TEACH THE STUDENT. BE THERE FOR YOUR STUDENTS. AND SHE WAS THERE FOR THEM. THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN -- WELL, MAYBE NOT SO YOUNG ANYMORE AND NEVER GAVE UP ON HIM. WORKED WITH HIM SO HARD TO KEEP HIM IN SCHOOL. ONE OF HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE THIS. GRADUATED BECAUSE OF HER. AND WENT INTO THE MILITARY. AND IN IRAQ, HE SUFFERED A SEVERE BRAIN INJURY. HE IS THE ONE THAT FIRST NOMINATED HER. AND IT IS HIS LOVE AND DEDICATION TO HER THAT DREW ME IN. AND WE FORMED A GROUP. AND THAT GROUP IS FROM EVERY GENERATION, CULTURE, RELIGION, FINANCIAL, POLITICAL BACKGROUND, AND EVERYONE OF THEM GET ALONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONE CAUSE, ONE PERSON WHO SETS A STANDARD. AND SHE HAS SAID IT. IT IS HER TESTIMONY FOR THE FUTURE.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS OLIVIA BLACKMAN. I AM A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER AT SEMINOLE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY. I WANT TO ADDRESS A PRESSING ISSUE RELATED TO THE RECENT BOUNDARY CHANGES AND SCHOOL CLOSURES. SPECIFICALLY CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR STUDENTS. THE CLOSURE OF CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED ON THE DAILY COMMUTE FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS. PREVIOUSLY STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED CLEVELAND COULD WALK TWO MINUTES TO GET THERE. DUE TO THE BREAD, THESE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WALK 15, 20 MINUTES PLUS TO REACH OUR SCHOOL. INCREASE IN DISTANCE BARRIER WITH FAMILIES WITH LIMITED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. CURRENTLY A SCHOOL HAS ONLY ONE DESIGNATED ESC BUS THAT WILL NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. MANY FAMILIES ARE LEFT WITH THE CHOICE TO WALK OR RELY ON CARPOOLS FOR THOSE WITH ONE CAR. NO TRANSPORTATION AT ALL. WALKING LONG DISTANCES. ESPECIALLY ACROSS MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LIKE SLY AND NORTH NEBRASKA AND SLIGH AND NORTH CENTRAL WITHOUT ANY CROSSING BOARDS POSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES. AS A SOCIAL WORKER, ONE OF MY ROLES INVOLVE EMPATHIZING AND BARRIERS THAT AFFECT STUDENTS REGULAR ATTENDANCE. IT IMPACTS STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND CONSEQUENTLY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS LIKE SCHOOL BUSES MIGHT NOT BE FEASIBLE, I URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING A CROSSING GUARD AT THE MAJOR INTERSECTION NEAR OUR SCHOOL. THIS MEASURE WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW WALKING LOCKER DISTANCES. ADDITI ADDITIONALLY EXPLORING RIDE SHARE PARTNERSHIPS. I RECOGNIZE THAT OUR DISTRICT PARTNERS WITH RIDE SHARE FOR SOME FAMILIES. MANY HAVE FALLEN INTO A GRAY AREA TOO CLOSE TO QUALIFY FOR SERVICE BUT STILL STRUGGLING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. ACTUALLY GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS SANDRA MYTH AND A ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 75 APPEAR AND I TAUGHT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 39 YEARS. I BELIEVE DR. SILL VENA CANTREL ALBRITON IS THE MOST OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW UNIVERSITY -- NEW UNIVERSITY -- WISHFUL THINKING. NEW HIGH SCHOOL TO BE NAMED INFORM WIMAUMA. U\. U\. U\. SYLVIA ALBRITON IS AN EDUCATOR. NOT JUST TEACHING SCHOOL BUT IN VARIOUS POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAUGHT AT A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND ALSO A INNOVATOR. SPEARHEADED, IMPLEMENTED MANY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. FOOD PRODUCTION ESOL, MUL MULTIPLE JOTC PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, ENGINEERING PROGRAMS, CAREER CENTERS. FIREFIGHTING ACADEMIES. PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAMS. EVEN JAPANESE CLASS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHE IS ALSO A COLLABORATOR. SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE PARTNERSHIPS. PAN AM UNIVERSITY OF MILLION. SEMINOLE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL. WEST UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL. AND PEER EDUCATOR. ALSO A COMMUNICATOR. HER DOOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF. EVERYONE. AND IT STILL IS THAT WAY. SHE IS OPEN TO TALK TO ANYONE AND WITH ANYONE AND HE HAS TOUCHED THOUSANDS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SCOTT FITZPATRICK. AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF THIS HONORABLE BOARD. I AM A RESIDENT OF WIMAUMA, FLORIDA. AND I AM HERE IS TODAY IN SUPPORT OF NAMING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL AFTER MY THIRD GREAT GRANDFATHER, PLEASANT FRANKLIN STANLIN. IN 1853, PLEASANT WAS BORN IN BOSTON, GEORGIA. ACCORDING TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIS FOR -- HISTORIC REPORT ON PAGE 12, STATES PLEASANT FRANKLIN STANLIN WAS THE FIRST EVEN IN SETTLER IN THE REGION THAT WOULD BECOME WIMAUMA. HE MOVED FROM THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA TO SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AROUND 1875, WHERE PETITION BEGAN GROWING CITRUS. MR. STANLIN TRAVELED TWO DAYS BY OX-DRAWN WAGON TO HAVE HIS ORANGE PACKED FOR SHIPMENT. NOT UNTIL THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WILL THIS PORTION OF THE COUNTY RECEIVE A CONNECTION. MARRIED LUCY A. HUTCHINSON. PLEASANT AND LUCY SETTLED ON A TRACT OF LAND IN WIMAUMA, FLORIDA. THIS WAS OVER 30 YEARS BEFORE THE TOWN WAS NAMED PLEASANT AND LUCY RAISED NINE CHILDREN, OPENED A MERCANTILE STORE, POST OFFICE -- THE FIRST POST OFFICE -- AND A SCHOOL. PLEASANT SERVED AS THE FIRST POSTMASTER. BY THE TIME WIMAUMA WAS NAMED, PLEASANT WAS IN THE AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS. BY THE TIME THE RAILWAY WAS BUILT IN 1902, PLEASANT WAS 50 YEARS OLD. A SUPPORTER OF EDUCATION. HE -- HE IS THE FOUNDER OF ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA. I READ THAT -- THAT THE SCHOOL WAS KNOWN AS GRANGE HALL SCHOOL. AND I READ THIS WAS THE THIRD SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, MY NAME IS RON FIGUEROA. AND I AM THE NOW RETIRED FORMER CHIEF JUDGE OF THE 13th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE, THIS SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA WILL GET A GREAT NAME. YOU GOT -- COME ON --. [APPLAUSE] YOU HAVE SOME AMAZING NAMES TO CHOOSE FROM. I DON'T ENVY YOU FOR THAT. I'M HERE AND HONORED TO BE HERE IN HONOR OF U E.J. SALCINES THAT I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 50 YEARS. MORE THAN A FRIEND TO ME. A MINUTE FOR AND INSPIRATION IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND MY LIFE. A MENTOR. LAWYERS, JUDGES AND TO COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND SO MUCH MORE. HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS STATE ATTORNEY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND A JUDGE OF THE SECOND DCA HAS TOUCHED ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AS STATE ATTORNEY, HE SAW JUSTICE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE. HE SPOKE IN COURT FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. HE EMPHASIZED TO ALL OF HIS ASSISTANTS, AND I WAS ONE OF THEM, THAT THE GOAL WAS NOT TO SIMPLY GET CONVICTIONS BUT TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND TO MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING. AS AN APPELLATE JUDGE, HE INTERPRETED THE LAWS OF OUR STATE AND MADE SURE THEY WERE APPLIED TO EVERYONE, ALL PEOPLE EQUALLY. BUT HIS INFLUENCE GOES BEYOND THE COURT ROOM AND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. JUDGE SALCINES IS A TREASURED ICON, EDUCATORS AND CUSTODIAN OF THE PAY MAZING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN HIS RETIREMENT. STEPPED UP FOR INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE. HE BREATHE LIVES INTO HISTORY. I KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE. WE DON'T NAME SCHOOLS AFTER EVERYBODY. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE DECISION TO CREATE AN E.J. SALCINES HIGH SCHOOL IS A DECISION YOU WILL NOT REGRET. A NAME THAT WILL BRING PRIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY TO HONOR SUCH A WELL DESERVING MAN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO TRULY INSPIRE ANY YOUNG STUDENT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND SALCINES HIGH SCHOOL.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER AND 48-58 TO LINE UP, PLEASE.
>> HI, TAMARA PEREZ AND I REPRESENT THE 1700 PLUS MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP PROJECT ABA RIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THE FIRST TIME OUR GROUP HAS SPOKEN AT A BOARD MEETING BUT FEEL THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL WE SEE CHANGE WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. MUCH LIKE A STUDENT WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY REQUIRES THE SUPPORT OF A WHEELCHAIR TO ACCESS THEIR EDUCATION. OUR CHILDREN WITH INVISIBLE DISABILITIES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS LIKE ABA. TODAY, MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP WILL SPEAK OUT AND HIGHLIGHT AREAS OF CONCERN AND BARRIERS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FACE WITH ABA THERAPY IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A FOLDER THAT I PUT TOGETHER CONTAINING THE ORIGINAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PROCEDURE AND NEW REVISED PIP DOCUMENT, A STARK DIFFERENCE. WHAT WAS A SIMPLE DOCUMENT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS IS FILLED WITH LEGAL JAR BEGAN. SADLY WE ARE WORSE OFF TODAY WITH THESE NEW PROVISIONS THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO. WE TOOK THE LIBERTY OF DRAFTING OUR OWN PIP DOCUMENT INCLUDED IN YOUR PHOTO SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT FOR STAFF REVIEW. WE UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE OR FEEDBACK. ALSO INCLUDED IS A DISTRICT POLICY WE DRAFTED AND IN YOUR E-MAIL, YOU WILL FIND A TRAINING VIDEO WE CREATED. AS YOU CAN SEE WE PUT A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO THIS. THIS IS MY PASSION PROJECT AND I WILL SEE THIS THROUGH UNTIL THE END. WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT MANY OF THE ISSUES CAN BE WITH PROPER EDUCATION SURROUNDING BARKSA IN THE CLASSROOM. I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THESE ISSUES WITH THE BOARD. WE HAVE HEARD A LOT TALK BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REAL ACTION. AND UNTIL WE DO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> ANY NAME IS MICHELLE CIRILLA WITH ABA RIGHTS. AND THE PARENT OF TWO STUDENTS. ONE OF MY TWINS IS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM. MY FUNCTIONS WITH SOCIAL AN EMOTIONAL DELAYS. MONTHS OF FIGHTING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, THE DISTRICT, TOO MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND FINALLY HIRING AN ATTORNEY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING FOR 22 YEARS, MY SON WAS PRIMARILY PERMITTED TO RECEIVE ABA SERVICES ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN. I'M HERE TODAY AS A PARENT WHO HAPPENS TO BE AN ATTORNEY I AM INCREDIBLY TROUBLED BY THE CURRENT PACKET. SOME ARE REASONABLE OTHERS ARE VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW. I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON THE INDEMNI INDEMNIFICATION, STATES THAT THE DISTRICT CAN REQUIRE THAT THE PRINCIPAL CAN CONSENTS TO TIME AND PLACE AND THE PIP MUST BE QUALIFIED AND HAVE A BREAK GROUND SCREENING. STATUTE STATES, AND I QUOTE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING THIS SUBSECTIONS, DISTRICT MAY NOT IMPOSE ANY REQUIREMENTS BEYOND THOSE REQUIRED SPECIFIED. -- REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED. EGREGIOUS ONE-SIDED INDEMNIFICATION FOR A BLANKET TO THE DISTRICT FOR THEIR CHILD TO RECEIVE THERAPY. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OR ALL DAMAGES, UNINTENSIONLE, INTENTIONAL ACTS AND ALL FEES AN COST WHICH IS MAY INCLUDE HUNDREDS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF LEGAL FEES AND PAY THEM IN 30 DAYS. ONLY ESE POINTS MUST SIGN THIS. NOT WILL THE STATUTE THAT I THAT THE DISTRICT MUST NOT IMPOSE OTHER REQUIREMENTS, BUT A CONTRACT PARENTS MUST SIGN, COERCED TO SIGN TO FOR THEIR CHILD TO GET MUCH-NEEDED THERAPY. I ASKED THE DISTRICT WHAT IF A PARENT HIRED AN ATTORNEY WHICH EVERY PARENT SHOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD IT WAS REQUIRED BY OUR ATTORNEY. PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY FORCED TO SIGN A ONE-SIDED DOCUMENT PUT THEIR HOME, SAVINGS, VEHICLES ON THE LINE FOR THEIR CHILD TO RECEIVE ABA SERVICES THAT THE DISTRICT HAS NO RESOURCES TO PROVIDE.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, SVETLANA -- I AM MOTHER OF THE BOY -- I AM SO SORRY. I START TO CRY. MY SON IS SECOND-GRADER AND AT PATEL SINCE KINDERGARTEN. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM WHEN HE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD. AND LAST YEAR WITH SIX, IDENTIFIED WITH ADHD. SO -- SO HE HAS INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN. DESPITE HAVING A IEP PLAN IN PLACE, HE IS STRUGGLING SIGNIFICANTLY IN KEY ACADEMIC AREAS PARTICULARLY READING AND MATH. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STATE ASSESSMENT IN THE YEAR, HIS PERFORMANCE IS AT PRE K OR EMERGENT KINDERGARTEN LEVEL AND MADE LITTLE OR INSIGNIFICANT PROJECT DURING HIS IEP GOALS. HIS LACK OF PROGRESS IS NOT NEW. AND GOALS WERE UNMET. IT WAS EVIDENT FOR ME THAT CURRENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL ARE INSUFFICIENT AND INEFFECTIVE TO MEET HIS GOALS -- HIS NEEDS. HE ACQUIRES MORE INTENSIVE AND CONSISTENT ONE ON ONE SUPPORT. LAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING AND PLEADING WITH THE SCHOOL FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYST THERAPIST TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH MY SON IN THE CLASSROOM. HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS HELD WITH THE SCHOOL TEAM WITH REPRESENTATIVE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT THERE PRESENT PROVIDED MEDICAL REPORTS FROM MULTIPLE PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTAL NUTRITION, PSYCHOLOGISTS, ABA THERAPISTS. THE RECOMMENDATION, OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION HAS DENIED OUR ASK FOR INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. LAST YEAR WITH AABA ON FEW OCCASIONS, I CAN COUNT ONLY FIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SERVED MY SON A DISSERVICE AND IMPACTED HIS ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BRIAN DE SOSO, A PARENT WITH ABA RIGHT. A PARENT OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH-F HIGH-FHIGH-F HIGH-FUNCTIONS ADHD. I WANT MY KID TO NOT LIVE WHAT I EXPERIENCED. I CAN SEE THE THINGS I EXPERIENCED AS A KID AND NEVER GOT DIAGNOSED. TOOK 20 YEARS TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AND LOOK YOU IN THE EYE. THAT IS WITH KIDS WITH ASD HAVE. HE JOINED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THREE WEEKS AGO. WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS OF PIP AND TOLD YOU NEED A IEP EVALUATION AND REPORT BEFORE YOU CAN GET HELP. SO THE STATUTE SAYS THAT PIP COLLABORATION IS MEANT TO BE MUTUAL AND HAS NO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AN IEP IN PLACE. THE DISTRICT EXPERINTERPRETS LAW DIFFERENTLY. WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER AWARENESS. I AM A TECHNOLOGIST. I AM WILLING TO HELP TO BE PART OF THE AWARENESS. BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE SCHOOLS DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS AND I HAVE SEEN JUST BY GIVING ABA, MY SON COULD FOLLOW ONE-STEP DIRECTIONS CAN FOLLOW TWO, THREE-STEP DIRECTIONS. WEIGH WANT TO ENABLE HIM EARLY IN LIFE SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT 15 YEARS. IF WE DO IT EARLY, WE ARE HELPING THE DISTRICT AND HAVE A LOT MORE LEADERS. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. I'M HERE TO NOMINATE -- I AM HENRY MARSET. HERE TO NOMINATE DR. SYL SYLVIA ALBRITON FOR THE NEW SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA. I HAD THE PLEASURE NO KNOW DR. ALBRITON SINCE HE WAS A STUDENT, A INTERN AT ROBINSON AND INTERN AT TAMPA BAY TECH AND WAS PROMOTED PETITION SHAME GENERAL DIRECTOR OVER TECHNICAL PROGRAMS. SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO BACK AND TEACH ENGLISH. THAT IS WHAT SHE DID. WENT BACK AND GOT A JOB WORKING WITH THE JUVENILE FACILITIES AND WON TEACHER OF THE YEAR THERE. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. I AM KIM HERNANDEZ BRENNAN. AND I AM A BORN AND RAISED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MY DAD WAS BORN AND RAISED IN YBOR CITY. AND I AM GOING TO TALK OF E.J. SALCINES. FIRST OF ALL, I AM GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE SUNGLASSES. I AM COMING OFF OF OCULAR AND I LOOK LIKE QUASI MOW TOE WITHOUT THEM AND I DO APOLOGIZE WITH YOU ALL. JUDGE FIGUEROA, MY FORMER BOSS TALKED OF EJ'S BACKGROUND. I WANT TALK ABOUT MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH HIM AND HOW HE LED ME INTO THE PROFESSION OF LAW AND TOP MY DREAM JOB OF BEING A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE. I WAS 33 OR SO. A CPA. I GOT RELOCATED TO JACKSONVILLE JACKSONVILLE WITH BARNETT BANK. I HATE IT. I WANTED TO COME BACK TO TAMPA AND BE A LAWYER. MY DAD CASEY HERNANDEZ SAID I AM TAKING YOU DOWN TO TALK TO E.J. SALCINES. E.J. TALKED TO ME OF THE PRACTICE OF LAW, THE PRACTICE OF BEING A JUDGE, ABOUT ALL OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT JUDGES DO AS FAR AS THE LAW, RESPECT FOR HERS. ALL THOSE THINGS. AND WE SAT THERE FOR TWO HOURS. AND WE TALKED. I -- I ENDED UP DOING EVERYTHING I COULD TO DO GET READY -- FOR THE LSAT. MY MOTHER TRIED TO PERSUADE ME FROM BECOMING A JUDGE. UP BECAME A JUDGE BECAUSE OF E.J. AND LIVING MY LIFE-LONG DREAM. HE HAS MENTORED MANY, MANY OTHERS LIKE MYSELF AND THEY HAVE ALL BECOME SUCCESSFUL LAWYERS AND JUDGES. YOU CAN NOT GO LONG BY NAMING A SCHOOL AFTER SUCH A GREAT MAN. I HOPE YOU CONSIDER HIM AND I AGREE WITH JUDGE FIGUEROA. WE HAVE A LOT OF CANDIDATES AND WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE WILL BE A WONDERFUL DECISION BUT I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MY NAME IS ROBIN LOCKETT. AND I'M HERE FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST REASON IS IN JULY -- I AM WITH FLORIDA RISING .IN JULY, WE HELD A -- A COMMUNITY QUORUM. AND DURING THAT FOR RECOMMEND, I WAS VERY SPECIFIC WITH REGARDS TO MY QUESTION ABOUT CREATING -- THE WORKSHOP THAT PEREZ -- THAT MEMBER PEREZ WANTED TO HAVE AROUND SUSPENSIONS. AND I ASKED EACH CANDIDATE, SITTING BOARD MEMBERS AND CANDIDATES IF THAT QUESTION OR THAT PROCESS WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN, WOULD YOU SUPPORT IT. NOW IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROCESS OF THE REQUEST WAS PASSED, BUT MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER GRAY DID NOT SUPPORT IT -- OR -- OR YOU DIDN'T SUPPORT IT. THAT IS TROUBLESOME TO ME, RIGHT. BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF US REALLY HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE. AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO. WHEN YOU COME INTO THE COMMUNITY, SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY. AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW IT UP WITH ACTION. SO I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU GUYS DID NOT SUPPORT IT. BECAUSE I WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN MANAGING THAT ASK. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP NEXT STEPS. I HOPE YOU ALL ARE VERY ACTIVE WITH REGARDS WITH COMING UP SOMETHING AROUND THESE SUSPENSIONS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY WITH BLACK AND BROWN KIDS. COUPLE UP WITH A SOLUTION I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND A TEACH THEIR LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND A TEACH THEIR MADE AND POPULAR PEOPLE COMING HERE SUPPORTING A HIGH INFLUENTIAL NAME. I AM SORRY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> DEAR MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MY NAME IS JOAN KRAMER. I AM CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF ENTERPRISING LATINAS. WE ARE LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY OF WIMAUMA. I'M HERE TO PROPOSE THAT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA BE CLAIMED IN HONOR OF MISS MARGARET CLARET, A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF WIMAUMA AND EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR AND A TIRELESS COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF WIMAUMA, COMBINED WITH HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION MAKES HER THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR THIS HONOR. FEW EDUCATORS FROM WIMAUMA CAN CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN SUCH A FOUNDATIONAL INFLUENCE ON SO MANY WHO NOW HOLD IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL ROLES WITNESS THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE BOARD OF COMMUNITY. BEYOND HER REMARKABLE ROLE AS AN EDUCATOR, SHE HAS TIRELESSLY ADVOCATED FOR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT HAVE ENRICHED THE LIVES OF WIMAUMA RESIDENTS. NAMING THE NEW SCHOOL AFTER MISS MARGARET CLARET NOT ONLY HONOR HER EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT ALSO SERVE AS A LASTING REMINDER OF THE VALUES SHE IS EMBODIES, DEDICATION TO EDUCATION. UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND AN UNYIELDING BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND EVERY PERSON. IN SUMMARY, WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU WILL ARRIVE AT A FAVORABLE DECISION ON BEHALF OF MARGARET AND WIMAUMA. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, ALL. I WANT TO COMMEND ALL THE NAMES THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE NEW SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA, AND THATS WHAT HE I'M HERE TO TALK AND SUPPORT. BY WEAR MANY DIFFERENT HATS TODAY. AND TWO GRADUATES OF HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. ONE BEING AUTISTIC, NONVERBAL. HE IS 23 YEARS OLD AND HE DID BENEFIT FROM ABA THERAPY. SO IT DOES WORK. BUT I HAD TO FIND IT OUTSIDE. SO I WANT TO GIVE MY SHOUT OUT TO ABA AS WELL. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO BE THERE, BUT THAT IS MY LITTLE SHOUT OUT TO THEM SECOND OF ALL, I AM A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY. AND THE PAST 20 YEARS, AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. SCHOOL DISTRICT. I AM A WIFE OF A MASTER DEPUTY. AND HE SERVED AS A SRO FOR 17-PLUS YEARS. AND NOT KNOWING IN HE WILL COME HOME OR NOT BECAUSE OF HOW VIOLENT THINGS ARE GETTING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT HAPPENED IN ATLANTA THE OTHER DAY AND I'M HERE AS WELL A VOLUNTEER -- A PART OF NAMING THE IN YOU SCHOOL AFTER AT THE TEE ROBERT HOWARD. HE IS -- HE WAS A DEDICATED BRAVE, DEEPLY COMMITTED INDIVIDUAL. HE SERVED TO PROTECT AND TO PROTECT ALL -- ALL FEELING SO SAFE. AND I NKNOW WORD THAT CAME UP WITH BEING A FRIEND. DEPUTIES BRIDGED STUDENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I JUST WANT TO.
>> CAN I GET SPEAKERS 59 THROUGH 68 TO LINE UP AS WELL.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LINCOLN TAMAYO, THE HEAD OF SCHOOL OF THE ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF TAMPA AND THE CHIEF OFFICER OF THE ACADEMY THAT OVERSEAS ACADEMY PREP CENTERS IN ST. PETERSBURG AND LAKELAND. EJ SALCINES IS THE MOST POSITIVELY INFLUNGAL LEADER IN TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN AT LEAST THE AND CAREER 60 YEARS AND FOUR TERMS AS HILLSBOROUGH STATE ATTORNEY AND 14 YEARS AS THE FLORIDA DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS. HIS INFLUENCE ON THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IS TRANSFORMATIONAL AND GENERATIONAL. FROM THE RANKS OF THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNDER MISS LEADERSHIP. 4 2 FEDERAL AND STATE JUDGES. TWO STATE ATTORNEYS. TWO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHIEF JUDGES. TWO PRESIDENTS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION. A PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR. AND A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA. I HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO HIS POSITIVE INFLUENCE, HAVING THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH MR. SALCINES ON THE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD FOR THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, HIS JUDGMENT, WISDOM AND SENSE OF FAIRNESS ARE UNSURPASSED. IT WOULD BE MOST FITTING TO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EDUCATED AT A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER E.J. SALCINES WHO SERVED OUR COMMUNITY SO HONORABLE AND VIGOROUSLY FOR OVER 50 YEARS. HE IS THE REAL THING WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AN INFLUENCER IN THE MOST POSITIVE, EDIFYING AND TRUEST SENSE OF THE TERM. SCHOOLS THAT LAUNCH THE COMING GENERATIONS OF OUR CITIZENS SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER COMMUNITY PILLARS LIKE ECHLTDJ. SALYINES WHO MADE TAMPA AND THIS COUNTY ONE OF THE GREATEST.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING CHAIR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. YOU HAVE A VERY TOUGH JOB TODAY. ANY NAME A ADRI COLINA, A THIRD GENERATION TAMPA NATIVE AND A GRADUATE. AS YOU KNOW NOT ALL LESSONS ARE LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM AND NOT ALL LESSONS ARE RESTRICT TODAY MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGLISH. TODAY, EACH OF YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF GENERATIONS TO COME BY NAMING THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA AFTER E.J. SALCINES. WITH WIMAUMA'S LARGE HISPANIC IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, NAMING THIS HIGH SCHOOL AFTER A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND RESPECTED SUN OF SPANISH IMMIGRANTS AND OVERALL GREAT MAN WILL SERVE AS A BEACON OF HOPE, INSPIRATION AND POSSIBILITY FOR ITS STUDENTS. MR. SALCINES UNDERSTOOD FROM AN EARLY AGE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, HELPING AND SUPPORTING OTHERS. THE LESSONS HAS TAUGHT HAVE BEEN LIFE LESSONS IN HOW HE LIVED. DEMONSTRATING RESPECT, COME PASSION, RESPECT, KINDNESS AND EMPATHY FOR EVERYONE. HE HAS NEVER BEEN TOO BUSY TO HELP ANYONE. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE. REAL HEROES. WORLD WILL BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF THERE WERE MORE EJ SALCINES IN IT. HE IS AFFECTION MALL IN NATALIE KNOWN AS TAMPA'S FAVORITE SON BECAUSE IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF TAMPA HISTORY AND LOVING OF TOWN. TAMPA GIRL DESCENDENT OF CUBAN, HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS. LIVING, WALKING PROOF THAT YOU CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE. HIS LIFE HAS BEEN THAT OF THE ULTIMATE EDUCATOR ON SO MANY LEVELS AND REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST IN HUMANITY. THERE IS NO OTHER LIKE E.J. I URGE YOU TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO NAME THE SCHOOL IN HONOR OF E.J. SALCINES. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. JENNETTE FENTON AND HERE SPEAKING INDIVIDUALLY TONIGHT AND REPRESENTING THE WEST TAMPA CHAMBER AS ITS PRESIDENT. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT NAMING THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA FOR THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES. I WILL NOT REPEAT HIS EXEMPLARY QUALIFICATIONS AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT INFORMATION. JUDGE SALCINES IS A PROUD SON OF WEST TAMPA AND THOSE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED TO KNOW HIM. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND A PUBLIC SERVANT ARE WELL RECOGNIZED AND HAVE IMPROVED OUR WORLD IMMEASURABLY. HIS BELIEF IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO LIFT UP INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES IS EVIDENCED BY HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ASSIST THOSE ASPIRING TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAREERS OF NUMEROUS ATTORNEYS THROUGH HIS HELP, ALLOWING THEM TO ATTEND HIS PETITION LOVED ALMA MATER SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW. HE HAS MENTORED MANY ALONG THE WAY AND HIGHEST SUCCESS AS A LAWYER, STATE ATTORNEY, JUDGE AND COMMUNITY LEADER. I RECALL AN ENCOUNTER WITH JUDGE SALCINES DECADES AGO WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT MY SON AND SAYS, IF HE WANT TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL, YOU LET ME KNOW. MY SON WAS TEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. JUDGE SALCINES IS BELOVED FOR HIS RENOWNED KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY AND KNOWLEDGE OF SHARING KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS. THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR JUDGE SALCINES TALK AND MANY PUBLICATIONS. BY PROFESSION HE IS A LAWYER, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE AT MISS HEART AND CORE, HE IS AN EDUCATOR. IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS HONOR NOT ONLY FOR JUDGE SALCINES, BUT THE WEST TAMPA COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU RESPECT AND HONOR A MAN LIKE THAT, YOU ALSO RESPECT AND HONOR THE COMMUNITY HE COMES FROM. SO, YES, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THREE THREE, VERY, VERY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND ASK THAT YOU --
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR PEREZ, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SOUP SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS DR. BOBBY SMITH. THE PRINCIPAL OF WEST UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL. GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU AGAIN. FIRST, CONGRATULATION TO MEMBERS COMBS, VAUGHN AND WASHINGTON ON YOUR RECENT REELECTION. MEMBER GRAY FOR MOVING FORWARD IN A VERY CROWDED FIELD. I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. MY PLEASURE TO REPRESENT THAT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL UUU BE NAMED IN BE WHO WE ARE OF DR. SYLVIA CANTREL ALBRITON. HAS BEEN AN AMAZING AMBASSADOR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FIVE DECADES AND ESTABLISHED A LEGACY SECOND TO NONE. BELOVED BY HER FORMER STUDENTS AND THOSE WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HER. SHE HAS BROKEN THROUGH BARRIERS OF GENDER AND RACE TO BECOME A SYMBOL OF SUCCESS. I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND THE POWER OF THAT A SCHOOL'S NAMESAKE CAN PUT ON THE TRAJECTORY OF SUCCESS. NOT THE NAME. IT IS WHAT THE NAME REPRESENTS THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE WHILE I AGREE THAT YOU HAVE SEVERAL QUALITY CANDIDATES, I HUMBLY COME BEFORE YOU AND CONSIDER YOU NAMING THE SCHOOL IN THE QUALIFICATION OF DR. SYL SYLVIA ALBRITON.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON BUT GOOD EVENING BY NOW. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERI SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MY NAME IS MICHAEL ALBRITON. AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU OF MY WIFE DR. SYLVIA A WILL,BRITON. WE ARE HERE THAT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER HER. I AM SURE YOU ALREADY HEARD FROM A LOT HER FORMER STAFF MEMBERS, STUDENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE. IT HAS BEEN OVER 45 YEARS. I DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IN ANYMORE. SHE HAD AN IMPACT ALL OVER THIS COUNTY DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SHE STARTED OUT TEACHING AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE TOWN AND COUNTRY AREA. WORKED AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL, PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, A PRINCIPAL AT ROBINSON AND TAMPA BAY TECH. AT TAMPA BAY TECH, SHE GOT TO MEET STUDENTS AND PARENTS FROM ALL OVER THIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE THERE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT OVER 100 BUSES EVERY DAY THAT ROLLED INTO THE SCHOOL WITH STUDENTS UP A OVER THE COUNTY FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS THEY WERE OFFERING SO ANYWAY. SHE ALSO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AS WELL AS ESTABLISHING ROTC FLOGS THIS COUNTY, WHICH IS -- PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTY WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND A GOOD THING. GENERAL DIRECTOR FOR CTE AND HELPED TO OPEN CAREERS BUYERS WITNEY AND SIMMONS. IF I CAN TELL YOU IN 52 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, SHE ALWAYS SAID BASICALLY, JUST GIVE ME THE KIDS. WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT, THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WHOLE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. SHE IS MY TEACHER ALSO. AND ALWAYS TELLING ME AND TEACHING ME SOMETHING NEW. [LAUGHTER] SO ANYWAY, MY TIME IS UP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS GENRE, JOHN MICHAEL RAY, EVERYBODY KNOWS ME AS COACH. I HAVE KNOWN MISS ALBRITON, MY WHOLE SCHOOL LIFE. SHE HAS BEEN MY TEACHER ADMINISTRATOR, DIRECTOR. SHE HAS DONE THE WHOLE THING. I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 37 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN RETIRED FOR 700 AND SOMETHING DAYS. NOT THAT I AM COUNTING. BUT I HAVE AN IDEA, BECAUSE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NOMINATING. I HAVE AN IDEA FOR, LIKE, E.J. SALCINES. CHANGE THE NAME OF TAMPA BAY ELEMENTARY TO E.J. SALCINES ELEMENTARY. TURN WYOMING INTO MISS MORGAN. AND PUT THE NEW SCHOOL -- THE NEW SCHOOL AS MISS ALBRITON. THAT'S -- THAT WOULD -- THAT IS MY IDEA. [ APPLAUSE ] I KNOW YOU HAVE A HARD JOB --. [APPLAUSE] BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE -- AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED ARE CHRISTIAN EDIBLE PEOPLE. BUT I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT NAMES LIKE WIMAUMA CAN BE REPLACED WITH MORTON OR -- I AM NOT SURE HER NAME. BUT -- I KNOW FOR THE NEW SCHOOL, MISS ALBRITON. THAT IS JUST AN IDEA. AND PEACE OUT. ENJOY. [ APPLAUSE ] [LAUGHTER]
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> WOW, I GOT TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS. ANYWAY, MY NAME IS CHARLIE MIRANDA. I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY ON A DAILY BASIS. YOU DO A TOUGH JOB AND NO MATTER WHICH WAY THIS GOES, THE SEVENTH LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY. AND TO YOU MR. SUPERINTENDENT, OUR GREAT DRAGON. LET ME SAY THIS. I AM NOT ASKING YOU FOR SUPPORT FOR E.J. SALCINES BECAUSE HIS PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS. NOT BECAUSE HE WAS A CITY SOLISER. NOT AT ALL. I AM NOT ASKING YOU TO SUPERVISE HIM BECAUSE HE WAS STATE ATTORNEY. NOT AT ALL. I AM NOT ASKING TO YOU APPOINT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS APPOINT BY ONE OF THE FINEST GOVERNOR OF THE COURT, LAWTON CHILES. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ONLY THAT, BUT ALL OF THAT. NOT ONLY THAT, BACK WHEN IT WAS NOT COMMON TO HELP SOMEBODY OF ANOTHER COLOR OR HIS.
>>
>> SPANNIC BACK THEN, HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO NAME ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS OF LAW BY THE NAME OF JUDGE EDGECOMB. HE WAS THE FIRST TO HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL OF COLOR IN THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE A COURTHOUSE NAMED AFTER, WHO? JUDGE EDGECOMB. WHO WAS A GREAT INDIVIDUAL AND A WONDERFUL JUDGE. SO I AM ASKING YOU NOT BECAUSE I'M HERE, BUT I, MYSELF, GET NERVOUS WHEN I AM FACING SEVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAWN MITCHELL, CAPTAIN RETIRED U.S. ARMY AND GRADUATE OF T.R. ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL 1977. STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE TO NAME THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL AFTER THE EXTRAORDINARY DR. ALBRITON. HER CAREER IS A TESTAMENT TO UNWAVING COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENT AND FAMILY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND IT IS PRO FUNDS REACHING BEYOND THE WALLS OF EVERY CLASSROOM. PERSONALLY, HER GUIDANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT DURING HIGH SCHOOL WAS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR ME. HER LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE INSPIRED ME TO BE A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND THE PRIVILEGE OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR GREAT NATION. IN MY CAREER AND THE WORK I HAVE DONE AND IT CONTINUE TO DO, I CARRY FORWARD HER LEGACY OF SERVICE AS A PROVIDER ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN WHO FACE MANY OF THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT DR. ALBRITON. HER INFLUENCE EXTENDS BEYOND ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL AND EXAMPLE IS THE PROJECT, REFLECTION OF PEACE OF MIND WHERE SHE USED CREATIVE WRITING A AND POETRY FOR INCARCERATED YOUTH TO EXPLORE THEIR EMOTIONS AND FIND THE PATH FOR REHABILITATION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF LIFELONG DEDICATION OF MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES WHO NEED IT THE MOST HELPING ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. LOOKING AROUND THIS ROOM TODAY WAS FANTASTIC BECAUSE I SAW THE MANY LIVES THAT DR. ALBRITON HAD TOUCH AND IMPACT EXTENDS BEYOND THOSE WALLS AND THOSE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE. WE ARE SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF AS WELL. DR. ALBRITON. BECAUSE SHE IS A THREAD THAT UNITES US AND ENSURES HER LEGACY CONTINUES BY NAMING THIS NEW SCHOOL IN HER HONOR. REPRESENTS THE VERY ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY, A LEGACY THAT MUST INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THE PROPOSAL AND RECOGNIZING THIS LASTING CONTRIBUTION FOR DR. SYLVIA CANTREL ALBRITON.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT PEREZ, VICE-CHAIR VAUGHN AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING HERE FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND BOY WHAT A JOB YOU HAVE THIS EVENING. FRANCIS PERONI, THIRD GENERATION TAMPA NATIVE, CHAMBERLAIN GRAD AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER NAMING THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA AS EMILIANO SALCINES. I'M HERE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY GRANDFATHER'S 111th BIRTHDAY. MY GRANDFATHER INTRODUCED ME TO EJ SALCINES AND HAS BEEN A DEAR FRIEND TO MY FATHER, MY MOTHER A 35-YEAR TEACHER AND TO ME, THIRD GENERATION, THE GOLD STANDARD FOR A LEADER AND MENTOR NOT ONLY IN THE LEGAL FIELD BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. MY AUNT ROSALIE GAVE ME A DR. SEUSS QUOTE. TO THE WORLD YOU MAY BE ONE PERSON. BUT TO ONE PERSON, YOU MAY BE THE WORLD. E.J. SALCINES MEANS THE WORLD TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. HE REMAINS LOYAL AND DEDICATED TO THIS COMMUNITY, HIS HOME. YOU HAVE HEARD HOW HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF THE COMMUNITY BY HIRING THE FIRST FEMALE PROSECUTOR GWEN YOUNG AND FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROSECUTOR GEORGE D. END COMB. OPENING THE DOORS FOR THOUSANDS WHO FOLLOW IN FOOTSTEPS. HE VALUES EDUCATION AND ROUTINELY SHARES HIS KNOWLEDGE THROUGH LECTURES AND INFORMALLY THROUGH COFFEE SHOPS. FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, THE ONLY ASK WHEN ANYONE ASKS OF HIM IS MAKE US PROUD. HIS HONOR MAINTAINS HIS FOR RECORD OF ENTIRE COMMUNITY, CITY GAR SHOPSING SHOVENS AND THE HISTORY OF THE CUBAN SANDWICH. HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED AND HONORED ABOUT I COUNTLESS ORGANIZATIONS AND KNIGHTED BY THE KING OF SPAIN. A LASTING PIVOTAL TRIB THE FEW BEAUT. AND HOPE WE CAN CHEER TODAY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE CHAIR PEREZ, VICE-CHAIR VAUGHN AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. I'M JUDGE FAULKENBERG AND THE PLEASURE OF SERVING YOU AS OUR COUNTY COURT JUDGE. TODAY, I ALONG WITH SO MANY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE RENAMING OR NAMING OF WIMAUMA HIGH SCHOOL TO THE E.J. SALCINES HIGH SCHOOL. AS YOU KNOW, THE NAME OF A SCHOOL SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE STUDENTS THAT IT SERVES. IN MAKE THIS DECISION. I URGE TO YOU CONSIDER WHAT IMPACT THE PASS I HAVE TO IMP IMPACT. 'S MAN OF HONOR, INTEGRITY AND DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE CAREER FOR OTHERS FIRST AS THE SOLICITOR FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THEY CAN FOR HIS STATE ATTORNEY. WE CAN TALK OF HIS ACCOLADES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BE FINISHED NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY. THE ONE CONSTANT THEME OF JUDGE SALCINES, HE INSPIRED MANY AND HE HAS BEEN A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL, FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. HE HAS RELENTLESS. HE HAS WORKED SO HARD. HE HAS SENT THE MESSAGE. HE HAS ENCOURAGED SO MANY. THAT YOU COULD ACHIEVE ANYTHING YOU CHOOSING TO ACHIEVE DESPITE COLOR, DESPITE ECONOMICS AND THAT IS WHY JUDGE SALCINES DESERVE AS SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HIM, BECAUSE HE IS AN INSPIRATION. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU AS LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD ASPIRE. ASPIRE THAT OUR CHILDREN KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM. ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TODAY THAT YOU NAME THE SCHOOL WIMAUMA E.J. SALCINES HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NECK SPE-- NEXT SPEAKER. AND 68-74 TO LINE UP.
>> GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR, BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME THIS EVENING TO HEAR FROM US AS WE ARE ALL ON SPEAKING ON OUR NE HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA. A POLL THE TOP THREE NAMES WERE INDEED MISS MORGAN, ROBERT HOWARD OF WIMAUMA HIGH SCHOOL. UNDOUBTEDLY GREAT NAMES INCLUDED IN THIS AND THEY DESERVE THEIR PLACE LIKE THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME STATED PREVIOUSLY FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION. TODAY I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS IN WIMAUMA ASKING TO YOU TAKE THE TIME AND NAME OUR SCHOOL AFTER ROBERT L. HOWARD. I COME BEFORE YOU AS MANY PEOPLE BEFORE YOU TOLD ME WHO BOBBY WAS WAS. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT THE NAME MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. ROBBED L. HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL COVER ALL BASES THAT WE INSPIRE AND ASPIRE CHILDREN TO COME AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AS A HILLSBOROUGH NATIVE RAISED IN WIMAUMA SINCE CHILDHOOD. DEVOTED COUNTLESS HOURS TO CHURCH AND SURROUNDING CHURCHES. A MAN OF FAITH GIVING GOD ALL THE GLORY AND INSTILLING GREAT VALUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. HE ATTENDED HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS A STUDENT AND A VOLUNTEER WORKER. BOBBY WAS IN THE ARMY AIRBORNE FOR SEVEN YEARS BEFORE JOINING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR FOLLOWING 18 YEARS. WORKED WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AS AN OFF-DUTY DEPUTY VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME IN OUR SCHOOL EVENTS. UPON HIS PASSING, BOBBY WAS LOCALLY NAMED THE MAYOR OF WIMAUMA FOR THE CONTRIBUTION AND LOVE HE POURED INTO THE COMMUNITY. HIS COMMUNITY 1R06789S DEPUTY DARLINGS AND RAISE MONEY AND GIVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO THE WIMAUMA FAMILY WHO COULDN'T AFFORD A GROUP CHRISTMAS FOR FAMILY. PART OF OPERATION PATRIOT AND VETERANS IN STATE-FUNDED NURSING HOMES WITH FINANCIAL. AND PART EVER OPERATION ONE CALL AWAY COLLECTING NEW STUFFED ANIMALS TO GIVE PATROL DEPUTIES FOR HOLIDAYS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, I AM DR. KATHLEEN HEIDI. I AM THE DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT OF AND THE SCHOOL BOARD STAFF FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. AS AN EDUCATOR, I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ADVOCATE FOR A FEW MOMENT ON JUDGE SALCINES. I FIRST MET JUDGE SALCINES 43 YEARS AUTO AGO. ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS ELLEN WAS IN THE CRASH. I LADIES AND GENTLEMENED THAT TO GET THE STATE ATTORNEY TO COME INTO MY CLASS. HE IMMEDIATE ME ACCEPTED AND MONDAY, BIG STORY. E.J. BIG STORY. NOT -- HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THIS. BUSINESS ATTORNEY. BIG CASE. JUDGE SALCINES CAME INTO CLASS. I WAS AMAZED. I WAS ONE OF HIS STUDENTS AND I WAS RIVETED. JUDGE SALCINES CAME TO MY CLASS COUNTLESS TIME. I CAN'T ESTIMATE HOW MANY TIMES. I TAUGHT CLASSES OF 441 STUDENTS. STANDING ROOM OPEN. HE WOULD WEAR HIS ROBES AND HE WAS A SHOWMAN. ESPECIALLY LIKED TO ENGAGED. WALKED UP AND DOWN THE AISLES. THE STUDENTS WERE AMAZED AND LISTENING AND INTENT ON EVERY WORD. REAL LEARNING CAME YARDS WAR. HOUR AND 15 MINUTES. AT WITH UNPOINT HOUR AND A HALF. THE JUDGE WILL STAY FOR 40 MINUTES AND TALK TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT LAW SCHOOL. THIS LAST SUMMER I TAUGHT A COURSE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE. I SAID, JUDGE, PLEASE COME IN AND TELL THE STUDENTS WHAT IT WAS LIKE 40 YEARS AGO. WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN THE '60s. HE CAME. HE TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES. HOW HE HAD LIFTED PEOPLE UP. WE ALREADY MENTIONED JUDGE. JULIANNE HOLT THAT MENTORED OTHER STATE ATTORNEYS THAT BECAME JUDGES.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, HONORABLE BOARD -- SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS -- IS MACY LAWSON. AQUILA MORGAN WAS A PRODUCT OF THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. SHE WAS ALSO A STAPLE OF THAT COMMUNITY. SHE LEFT HER MARKS ON ME OF A LOVER OF GOD. AND AS A TEACHER. SHE STUDIED DILIGENTLY TO BECOME ALL THAT SHE COULD FOR HER STUDENTS. HER DEDICATION TO TEACHING, HER CARING FOR HER STUDENTS AND HER INSPIRING WORDS REALLY IMPACTED THE LIFE OF HER STUDENTS, THE LIVES OF HER STUDENTS AND CHURCH MEMBERS. THEREFORE, SHE WASN'T INFLUENCED BY HER INCOME TO MAKE SURE THAT HER STUDENTS GOT THE BEST OUTCOME. SHE WAS BORN A TEACHER. AND THAT SHE DID FOR 43 YEARS. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, THE SCHOOL MUD IS BE NAMED AQUILA JACKSON MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS DR. FARFAKIS. BOARD CERTIFIED AND OWNER OF ABA PRACTICE FOR STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I AM ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF PROJECT ABA RIGHTS. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME ISSUES SURROUNDING COLLABORATION MEETINGS. THE PRIVATE PERSONNEL PACKETS THAT THE MEETINGS ARE ACQUIRED BEFORE PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS CAN OBSERVE, COLLABORATE AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS. THERE YEAR, SEVERAL OF MY CLIENTS AND MANY OTHER STUDENTS BEGAN THE SCHOOL YEAR WITHOUT THESE VITAL SUPPORTS BECAUSE THESE MEETINGS WERE NOT SCHEDULED. SOME PARENTS HAD TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME UNTIL SERVICES WERE FINALLY APPROVED AND PUT IN PLACE. THIS ISN'T JUST A INCONVENIENCE, IT IS A FAILURE TO MEET THE MEDICALLY MEDICAL NEEDS OF OUR VULNERABLE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION. COLLABORATION MEETINGS ARE NOT JUST A CHECKLIST ITEM. THEY MUST BE THE STARTING POINT OF A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS EDUCATORS, CLINICIANS AND PARENTS UNITE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. WHEN THE MEETING ARE DELAYED AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IMMEDIATE AND SEVERE. I ATTENDED COLLABORATION MEETINGS WHERE THE FOCUS SUBMITTED FROM THE CHILD'S NEEDS TO THE SCHOOL'S PREFERENCES. I HAVE SEEN PRINCIPALS OPPOSE HAVING THERAPISTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL STAFF DISMISS PARENTS' CONCERNS. AS A BEHAVIORAL ANALYST, I HAD MY RECOMMENDATIONS IGNORED WITHOUT A FAIR CHANCE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE. THERE MUST BE A CHANGE. COLLABORATION MEETINGS MUST BE HELD BEFORE THIS SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AND COMPLETED IN A TIMELY MANNER. THEY SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR PURPOSE AND INCLUDE A LIST OF ATTENDEES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE MUST ENSURE THAT EVERY VOICE IS HEARD AND RESPECTED. THIS IS HOW WE GUARANTEE THAT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES ARE CHOSEN AND DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS ARE MADE. AND THE STUDENTS' NEEDS MUST REMAIN AS A PRIORITY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS RONNIE JETER AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE OF WIMAUMA TO TALK TO YOU OF MARGARET CLARET. TO SAY SHE WAS A TEACHER, I DON'T THINK THAT IS FAIR. HER LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND THAT. I SEE HER AS A COMMUNITY ADVISOR -- A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR. I THINK SHE IS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. AND WHAT SHE DID, MANY OF YOU, SHE WAS A PRODUCT -- OR IS A PRODUCT. OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. LIKE MANY OF YOU, SHE EXPERIENCED SEGREGATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL. LIKE MANY OF YOU A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE KIDS AND STILL CONTINUED TO TEACH EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOM. LIKE MANY OF YOU. SHE WAS A CHAMPION FOR THE LATINO POPULATION GROWING EVER -- EVERY YEAR IN THE -- IN THE TOWN OF WIMAUMA. AND YET, SHE DIDN'T JUST STICK TO HER JOB AS A TEACHER. SHE DECIDED TO WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE NONPROFITS TO DEVELOP WIMAUMA, BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. SO THIS DOESN'T JUST MEAN -- AS WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW. THE NATIONAL LITERACY MONTH. THAT IS GREAT. AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE CONTINUE TO DO HER JOB EVERY DAY. AND KNEW THAT HER STUDENTS, HER COMMUNITY NEEDED MORE AND ROSE TO THE OCCASION. DOING THAT AS STAYED EARLIER, WORKED WITH THE ALLEGHENY FRANCISCAN MINISTRY AND ORGANIZATION TO WRITE GRANTS TOTALING MORE THAN $10 MILLION. SO WHILE THERE ARE SOME HERE THAT ARE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE IN THE CLASSROOM. I AM PROUD OF MARGARET CLARET WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY GRANDMOTHER OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS IN THE CLASSROOM TO SUPPORT HER STUDENT. WE KNOW MANY OF THEM AS FAMILY NOW WHAT SHE DID TO SUPPLEMENT WHEN THINGS BROKE DOWN AND THE PITFALLS OF -- SHE WAS ABLE TO STEP IN. SO WHEN THE BUSES WEREN'T WORKING, SHE WAS THERE TO TAKE PEOPLE HOME. WHEN PEOPLE WERE HUNGRY, SHE STAND TO FEED THEM. I WANT TO KEEP WIMAUMA, A WIMAUMA AND NAME IN AS A CHILD OF WIMAUMA.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD. I AM TIMMY YOUNG. IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO MAKE THIS VERY SIMPLE. THE WRITING ON THE BOARD SAYS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. AND MY AUNT, MARGARET CLARET DID EXACTLY THAT. SHE WAS A TEACHER. YOU HEARD SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT HER AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE DID FOR THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY, BUT SHE ALSO PREPARED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF HER STUDENTS AND HER FAMILY FOR LIFE. SO WHAT I AM ASKING TO YOU DO -- I WILL MAKE THIS VERY SIMPLE. PLEASE ELECT MARGARET CLARET. NAME THE SCHOOL BOARD AFTER MARGARET CLARET T. I WILL TELL YOU A STORY. BACK IN THE 70s, EARLY '70s. I TRANSFERRED FROM RUSKIN ELEMENTARY TO WIMAUMA. AND IT WAS A LOT OF -- LET'S JUST SAY WE WEREN'T WELCOMED AT THAT TIME IN THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE TEACHERS SAID -- AND REFUSED TO TEACH ME. THIS GOES PERSONALLY. MY AUNT WAS TEACHER AT THAT TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WAS A TEACHER OR TEACHER AIDE SAID, OH, NO, YOU ARE GOING TO TEACH HER. THE TEACHER DIDN'T WANT ME IN HER CLASSROOM, BUT BECAUSE OF MY AUNT, I WAS ABLE TO GO IN THE CLASSROOM AND SHE TOLD ME TO BEACON WITH YOUR MIND AND YOUR BRAIN. SHOW THEM EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF. SHE HAS BEEN DOING THAT NOT ONLY FOR ME, FOR THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY AND ALL THE STUDENTS. I AM ASKING YOU FROM THIS DAY FORWARD AND RIGHT NOW, PLEASE ELECT MARGARET CLARET. GIVE HER FLOWERS NOW SO SHE CAN SEE THEM. BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME, THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. AND I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD. MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHERYL JAMES. AND I AM A RETIRED EDUCATOR FROM MANATEE COUNTY WHERE I TAUGHT FOR 35 YEARS. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER NAMING THE SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA AQUILA MORGAN. I GOT TO KNOW HER AT CHURCH, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE. SHE WAS A GREAT MOTIVATOR. SHE WORE MANY, MANY HATS. NOT ONLY AN EDUCATOR, BUT SHE WAS AN ENGINEER, A DOCTOR, AN ATTORNEY, A COUNSELOR. SHE WAS A PARENT. SHE WORE MANY, MANY HATS. AND ONE OF THE HATS THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME WAS A MOTIVATOR TO ME. WHEN I MET HER, I HAD BEEN TEACH BEING 24 YEARS. AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT EDUCATION AND TEACHING AND -- AND THE TIMES THAT HAVE CHANGED. HOWEVER, I TOLD HER BEFORE I RETIRE, I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO BACK AND GET MY MASTER'S. AND SHE SAID, WHY HAVEN'T YOU? AND I TOLD HER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE A DINOSAUR IF I GO IN THE CLASSROOM. SHE PERSUADED ME TO GO BACK AND GET MY MASTER'S AFTER 24 YEARS OF TEACHING, EVEN THOUGH I HAD A FEW YEARS LEFT OF RETIREMENT. AND I APPRECIATED THAT. SHE GAVE ME THAT PUSH. SHE GAVE ME THAT DRIVE THAT I DIDN'T THINK -- AND, OF COURSE, WHEN I WENT BACK, I WAS IN THERE WITH STUDENTS THAT WERE BORN THE YEAR I STARTED TEACHING. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> MY NAME IS JULTA GORDON. A STUDENT. AND READ THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL POLICY. ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, SCHOOL SITES AND FACILITIES SHALL BE NAMED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RENDERED -- RENDERED OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATORS FOR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS AND FOR GROUPS AND CLUBS AS INDICATED. ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL. FOR U.S. PRESIDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, EDUCATORS, OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS. AND AN ELECTED -- ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR SCHOOL NAME SHALL HAVE PUBLIC OFFICE FOR A PERIOD. NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. NO CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE SHALL BE CONSIDERED. NO SCHOOL SITE FOR FACILITY WILL BE NAMED FOR A LIVING PERSON.
>> GO AHEAD, TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY.
>> AND -- SHE SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL BEING NAMED OF A HER GREAT GRANDMA, AQULA JACKSON MORGAN. THANK YOU!
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. NOW I WILL CALL ON A SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS.
>>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONE PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. AND I WOULD LIKE NICOLE ZAMORA TO PLEASE STAND. ACTUALLY NICOLE, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY AROUND. COME ON DOWN THE MIDDLE OVER HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, NICOLE ZAMORA, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF TOWN AND COUNTRY ELEMENTARY. EDUCATOR FOR 23 YEARS. HER CAREER BEGAN AS AN IMMEDIATE TEACHER AT MORTGAGE ELEMENTARY IN 2001. SERVED AS A MATH AND SCIENCE RESOURCE AT SHAW AND CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHILE ALSO SERVES AS A DISTRICT TRAINER FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. NICOLE BECAME THE ADMINISTRATOR IN 2014 AT CRESTWELL ELEMENTARY AND PROUDLY SERVED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT TOWN AND COUNTRY ELEMENTARY. AND AS NEW PRESSURE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY ELEMENTARY. NICOLE, CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU, NICOLE.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. CONGRATULATIONS MISS ZAMORA. NOW WE WILL PAUSE FOR A MOMENT FOR ANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE AUDITORIUM. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE HEARD, C-503, 04, 1.01, 1.02, 5.0, 66.02 AND 7.03. FIRST ITEM C 5.03 NAMING THE MEDIA CENTER AT ROBLES ELEMENTARY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES.
>>Superintendent Ayres: PASS THIS OFF TO CHIEF OF SCHOOLS. DR. GRAYS. IF YOU CAN PROCEED NAMING THE MEDIA CENTER AT ROBLES ELEMENTARY.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IN DR. CHRIS EVEN THIS HARRIS, THE PRINCIPAL AT ROBLES ELEMENTARY.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF ROBLES ELEMENTARY. MORE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, DEDICATION AT RENAMING OUR NEW MEDIA CENTER AFTER THE PRESTIGIOUS MI MISS DORETHA EDGECOMB. A TRUE PRODUCT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE OVER HER YEARS OF COMMITMENT AND 30 AT THAT, I MIGHT ADD. RENAMING OUR LIBRARY IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HER CONTRIBUTION AT ROBLES; HOWEVER, THE BEST ADVOCATES ARE OUR AMAZING ROBLES COMMUNITY. STANDING WITH US TODAY IS MR. WALTER GIBBONS WHO REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY. IS HE HERE IN PLEASE JOIN ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NO PROBLEM. HOW ARE YOU DOING.
>> GOOD, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. IT IS JUST FITTING THAT WE DO I THINK WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO WAS TO LIFT THIS LADY UP. MISS DORETHA EDGECOMB. SHE HAS BEEN A PIVOTAL PERSON BEEN ROBLES COMMUNITY AND THE NUCCIO COMMUNITY. SHE USED TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN SHE WOULD COME AND WE WOULD ASK HER TO COME OVER FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. SHE WOULD SAY ROBLES IS MY SCHOOL. AND THAT STUCK WITH ME. THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME WHEN SHE SAID THAT. AND JUST DIFFERENT THINGS SHE HAS POURED NOT ONLY INTO THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE NUCCIO COMMUNITY, BUT STUCK WITH HER WORD. WE HAD AN EVENT CALLED -- CALLED -- I CALLED UP MISS EDGECOMB. WE HAVE AN EVENT OUT TO ROBLES WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP. SHE SAID I HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON, BUT IF I HAVE THE TIME, I AM GOING TO BE THERE. WHAT DID SHE DO? SHE SHOWED UP. NOT ONE TIME AT ROBLES -- AND I HAVE BEEN AT ROBLES 21 YEARS -- THAT SHE DENIED US, I CAN'T COME. WE HAD A -- I BELIEVE IT WAS A -- SOMETHING LIKE AN HONOR SOCIETY THAT WE PRESENTED AT ROBLES. SHE SHOWED UP. SPOKE WITH THE STUDENTS. AND EMPOWERED THE STUDENTS. AND THAT DID SOMETHING FOR ME WHEN THIS LADY CAN DO WHAT SHE DID AND CONTINUE TO DO IT FOR YEARS. I SEE HER AT THE HOPE CENTER, DIFFERENT PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF TAMPA. JUST BEING A BLESSING. A SCRIPTURE PRESIDENT BIBLE IN PROVERBS THAT SAYS LET A MAN OR A STRANGER PAT YOU ON THE BACK. MISS EDGECOMB, I AM PATTING YOU ON YOUR BACK. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER COMBS.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM GOING TO BE SHORT BECAUSE MISS EDGECOMB DOESN'T WANT TO STAY HERE ALL NIGHT. [LAUGHTER] BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GREAT PEOPLE. THAT IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD. MRS. EDGECOMB, YOU ARE TRULY AN OUTSTANDING PERSON. YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. AND JUST HELPING PEOPLE OUT. JUST CONTRIBUTING BACK TO YOUR COMM COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO IN LIFE. AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE A GREAT PERSON. NOT ONLY THAT, MRS. EDGECOMB, YOU HAVE BEEN A MENTOR TO ME. WE TALK SOMETIMES. SHE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO. AND I UNDERSTAND. [LAUGHTER] I VERY WELL UNDERSTAND. I AM AN OBEDIENT PERSON, BELIEVE ME, I WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR KUDOS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND MOST OF ALL FOR "SHAKE" WASHINGTON AND HIS FAMILY. I APPRECIATE THAT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: YES. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW REMEMBER HERE LISTENING TONIGHT AND WE HEARD SO MUCH OF THE EDGECOMB FAMILY. THAT IS A FAMILY THAT HAS LEFT SUCH A MARK. YOUR HUSBAND, YOUR DAUGHTER AND YOU. AND YOU HAVE LEFT SUCH A MARK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT IS JUST A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN CELEBRATING YOUR LEGACY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE. I CAN SAY PERSONALLY AS A BOARD MEMBERS HERE FOR A FEW YEARS THAT MISS EDGECOMB HAS CALLED ME. SHE CONGRATULATED ME. SHE IS STILL INVOLVED. I MEAN SHE IS STILL SO ACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOU TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOU SATURDAY AS WELL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ALSO WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO SAY. IT IS A COMPLETE LONGER TO BE ABLE TO NAME IN AFTER MISS EDGECOMB. YOU KNOW -- HONOR TO BE ABLE TO NAME THIS AFTER MISS EDGECOMB. I ALREADY LOOKED UP TO YOU AND YOU WERE A ROLE MODEL. BUT THE MORE I LEARNED THE STUDENT QUORUMS WHO TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU INTRODUCED THAT AND OTHER THINGS THAT YOUR SERVICE STILL LEAVES A LEGACY ON THIS BOARD. AGAIN, YOU ARE DEFINITELY ONE OF MY ROLE MODELS AND I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM STILL HERE TO BE ABLE TO NAME THIS AFTER YOU AND SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND HOPEFULLY ONE AMONGST MANY. WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS NAMED COMING UP. AND I AM SURE WE WILL HEAR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING US TO CARE FOR OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THAT YOU ARE CHAIR PEREZ. THIS IS SO WELL DESERVED. YOU ARE -- YOU WERE AN AMAZING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND AN AMAZING LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MUCH LIKE "SHAKE" YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE WITH ADVICE AND SUPPORT. AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT FOR THE YEARS. MY ONLY REGRET IS I NEVER GOT TO SERVE WITH YOU ON THIS BOARD. BUT YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION. SOMEONE TO LOOK AT TO SEE, HOW DID YOU LEAD AND NAVIGATE SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES DURING YOUR SERVICE. THAT HAS INFORMED MY SERVICE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD BLESS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND DORETHA, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW HAS TURNED A CORONER THEIR LIFE A BETTER PART OF THEIR LIFE. YOU HAVE TOUCHED SPACES OF SO MANY EDUCATORS AND INDIVIDUALS. YOU KNOW, BEING A LIFELONG EDUCATOR EACH US A LOT AND YOU ARE FLORIDA FOR THAT LOVE OF LEARNING AND HELPING TO MENTOR OTHERS. I AM ALSO REMINDED THAT YOU ARE A SCHOOL BOARD LEADER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOUR WONDERFUL DAUGHTER, ALISON EDGECOMB. ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT. AND JUST THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN. INTEGRITY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN. AND PROFESSIONAL ACHL THAT I HAVE GIVEN. A -- PROFESSIONALISM THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MAD MEMBER RENDON.
>>Patti Rendon: YOU ARE THE STANDARD OF WHICH WE ALL SET. WOULD LOVE TO LOOK BACK TO SAY WE NOT ONLY TOUCHED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE COMMUNITY. WE TOUCHED EVERY LIFE THAT WE HAVE PASSED OR EVERY DECISION WE HAVE MADE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHOW SFURP AND KINDNESS. PRIORITY OR PARENTS AND LITERACY AND PRIORITY ON OUR COMMUNITY AND A PRIORITY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND BE EDUCATED ON THOSE RESOURCES SO THEY MAY BE EMPOWERED TO BE EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO BE. THANK YOU FOR SETTING THE STANDARD.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER REN RENDO. MISS EDGECOMB, YOU SHOWED UP AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND EDUCATOR AND YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW UP. MANY TIMES AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, PEOPLE HANG UP THEIR HAT, AND, YOU KNOW, RETIRE. AND THEY, YOU KNOW, GO AWAY AND ENJOY THEIR LIFE WE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY LIFE WITH YOU AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY LIFE WITH YOU. I KNOW THIS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER A APPRECIATES THAT. SEEING YOU CONTINUE TO CRAFT AND MOLD US AS BOARD MEMBERS, BUT ALSO AS SERVANTS. SO I APPRECIATE THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR US. [APPLAUSE] SO SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS! . [APPLAUSE] [CHE [CHEERING]
>> CHAIR PEREZ, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, SOMETIMES A MERE THANK YOU DOESN'T DO THE JOB. AND AT THIS MOMENT, A MERE THANK YOU OR I APPRECIATE YOU OR I APPRECIATE THIS HONOR DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THE DEPTH OF THE GRATITUDE THAT I FEEL AT THIS MOMENT. IF MY HEART COULD SPEAK, IT WOULD BE MORE PRECISE OF HOW I REALLY AND TRULY FEEL. I AM SO HONORED AND PROUD TO HAVE THIS TRIBUTE AT ROBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT WAS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS A PRINCIPAL. I BECAME A BETTER PERSON. I BECAME A PERSON THAT I BETTER UNDERSTOOD THE WORLD IN A DIFFERENT WAY. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MR. GIBBONS WHO IS KNOWN AS MR. G. AT ROBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND FOR HIS COMMUNITY EFFORT THAT IN FACT INITIATED THIS HONOR. I WILL ALWAYS BE INDEBTED TO YOU AND ALL OF THOSE WHO THOUGHT I WAS WORTHY OF THIS HONOR. AGAIN, THANK YOU DOESN'T REALLY GET TO HOW I TRULY FEEL. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO CRY. BUT I DID FOR JUST A SECOND. BUT I THOUGHT I HAD THE -- I DIDN'T WANT MY MAKE MACHINE UP TO RUN. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD BETTER GET IT TOGETHER. I AM SO APPRECIATIVE TO ALL OF HOW HAVE COME TO SUPPORT ME, MY DAUGHTER, ALISON, MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, FORMER COLLEAGUES, ALL THOSE WHO THINK -- WHO TOOK THE TIME TODAY TO COME AND CELEBRATE WITH ME. THANK YOU, DR. HARRIS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AT ROBLES. IF I COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE MY LIFE AGAIN, I WOULD DO ROBLES ANOTHER TIME. I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR JOBS, HOWEVER. IT WAS THE HIGH POINT OF MY 52 YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR. I KNOW THAT I WAS A -- I WAS AN EFFECTIVE PRINCIPAL BECAUSE THE TEACHERS IN THAT SCHOOL BELIEVED IN OUR STUDENTS AND TAUGHT THEM AND NURTURED THEM WITH THE BELIEF THAT THEY COULD LEARN AND SUCCEED. THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR, AGAIN. IT IS AMAZING ONE THAT WILL ALWAYS HOLD TRUE TO MY HEART. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>>Karen Perez: NEXT ITEM 5:04, THE NAMING OF SCHOOL UUU IN WIMAUMA. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM GOING TO FIRST GO OVER THE SCHOOL WHERE IT IS GOING TO BE AND TOSS IT OVER TO MR. PORTER FOR THE LOW DIS PARTICULARS. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL KNOWN AS UUU LOCATED AT A 88-ACRE SITE WESTLAKE DRIVE IN WIMAUMA. THE SCHOOL IN THE FAST-GROWING AREA OF SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WILL ACCOMMODATE NEARLY 3500 STUDENTS. THE PROPERTY WILL ALSO BE HOME TO AN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE FUTURE. INPUT FOR A NAME HAS BEEN SOLICITED BY PARENT LINK, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEVERAL NEWS OUTLETS. SO MR. POVERTIER, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER FROM -- PORTER, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER FROM HERE PORTE COCHERE FOR YES, YOUR DECISION IS GOVERNED BY SCHOOL BOARD POLICY THE COMMEMORATION OF SCHOOL FACILITIES. CLARIFICATION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE ABOUT THAT SOME PEOPLE QUOTED FROM A POLICY -- AN OLD POLICY QUOTED FOR. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD THAT YOU MY NAME A SCHOOL FOR A LIVING PERSON. THERE WAS A PERIOD WHERE THIS POLICY CHANGED EVERY POLICY CYCLE. AND THIS -- THIS POLICY WAS ENACTED IN 2019 AND IN EFFECT FOR FIVE YEARS. HE HAD A 7th GRADER ABLY READ YOU TO THE POLICY AND I WANT TO REITERATE THE CRITERIA AND WHAT DECISION MUD IS BE BASED ON. INDIVIDUALS THAT RENDERED OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE FOR GROUPS. U.S. PRESIDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, EDUCATORS AND OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS. AND ELECTED OFFICIAL PROPOSED FOR A SCHOOL NAME SHOULD BE IN PUBLIC OFFICE FOR A PERIOD OF NO LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT MEANS IF THERE WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT RECENTLY RETIRED, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF OFFICE FOR FIVE YEARS AND NO CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE MAY BE CONSIDERED. YOU WILL BE VOTING BY BALLOT THIS EVENING WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN IN A MINUTE, BUT I WOULD LIKE DR. GRAYS TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS AND HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT WITH THE NAMES THAT YOU HAVE AND WE WILL GIVE IT BACK TO ME AND WE WILL TALK THROUGH THE VOTING PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. I WILL GIVE TAN OVERVIEW AND BREAK ON OF FORMS OF COMMUNICATION. A RELEASE SET OUT ON JULY 8 TO STAFF AND FAMILY OF FEEDER SCHOOLS SUMNER, LEONARD, EISENHOWER, SHIELDS, RUSKIN, CYPRESS CREEK, BELMONT AND YORK WENT OUT. NEXT DOOR APP TO ZIP CODES AND SCHOOLS AROUND UUU. SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. A SHORT BLURB FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE AN GRAPHIC FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB SITES. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE VARIOUS COMMUNICATION TOOLS. FACEBOOK, THREE POSTS ON JULY 8, 26 AND AUGUST 7 FOR A TOTAL REACH 118,657 PEOPLE. INSTAGRAM, THREE POSTS FOR A TOTAL REACH OF 10,513 PEOPLE. TWITTER POSTS FOR A TOTAL VIEWS OF 4927. ON THE NEXT DOOR APP, THERE WERE 3 IMPRESSIONS AND E-MAILS IN NEWS LEADERS THAT WENT OUT JULY 8 AND AUGUST 5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE INFORMATION OF THE NAMING OF UUU WAS ALSO SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES: OBSERVER NEWS, OSPREY OBSERVER, MY MASSACHUSETTS EDC, ENTERPRISING LATINAS, LEAR, TAMPA BAY TIMES, ALL TV STATIONS, ENGLISH AND SPANISH-SPEAKING, SOUTH SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 92.5 AND 101.1. WIMAUMA TOGETHER, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION, CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION, SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AND WIMAUMA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, THERE WERE 36202 INCLUDING ONLINE, NINE E-MAILS AND 284 THROUGH U.S. MAIL. FULL LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS WAS ANALYZED, DUPLICATES AND INAPPROPRIATE SUBMISSIONS WERE REMOVED AND A MASTER ALPHABETICAL LIST WAS COMPLETED. MR. PORTER.
>>Jim Porter: THANK YOU. YOU ARE AT A POINT WHERE YOU NEED NO MAKE A DECISION. THE PROCESS FOR THE LAST SCHOOL NAMES IS A BALLOT PROCESS. A BALLOT WITH YOUR NAME AND WRITE YOUR SELECTION. THEY BECOME PUBLIC RECORD AND ANNOUNCE WHO RECEIVED THE NUMBER OF VOTES. IN ORDER TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE, A PERSON MUST RECEIVE FOUR VOTES. IF THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING, NO ONE RECEIVES FOUR VOTES, THE TWO TWO VOTE GETTERS TO THE NECK ROUND AND THE BOARD MUST CONTINUE VOTING UNTIL A PERSON OR GEOGRAPHIC NAME RECEIVES FOUR VOTES. AND AFTERWARDS, I WILL ASK YOU TO MAKE A MOTION TO CODIFY AND MEMORIALIZE THE SELECTION YOU MADE WITH AT LEAST THE FOUR VOTES. AT THIS POINT, WE WILL PASS OUT THE BALLOTS SO THEN -- YOU WILL VOTE AND THEN -- YOU WILL VOTE WITH THE BALLOT AND HAVE THE OFFICIAL VOTE AND DISCUSSION -- YOU CAN HAVE THE DISCUSSION FIRST IF YOU WOULD LIKE OR WAIT AFTER THE FIRST ROUND. IT IS UP TO YOU ALL. SO THEN -- YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BALLOTS PASSED OUT AND GET ON THE BOARD IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. NO MOTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE AT THIS POINT. JUST A DISCUSSION ABOUT -- AND IF YOU WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR POSITION AND EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION, NOW WILL BE THE TIME TO DO THAT. ALSO TIME AFTER A MOTION IS MADE WHEN THE BALLOTING IT COMPLETE.
>>Karen Perez: WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION AS OF RIGHT NOW. I WILL START THAT DISCUSSION. SUPERINTENDENT, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW MANY SCHOOLS -- BECAUSE SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS ONLY THREE SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS. HIGH SCHOOLS. BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE NAMED AFTER AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS, HISPANIC LEADERS, AND, ALSO, ITALIAN OR -- HOW -- WHAT DOES THAT BREAKDOWN LOOK LIKE.
>>Superintendent Ayres: GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO PULL THAT UP. YES, THIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO E-MAILED FOR YOU AS WELL. AFRICAN-AMERICAN, 32 SCHOOLS CURRENTLY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NAMED AFRICAN-AMERICAN AMS. 32. HIS HISPANIC, A TOTAL OF SEVEN. ITALIAN, TOTAL 11.
>>Karen Perez: OKAY. HOW MANY NAMED AFTER CAUCASIAN?
>>Superintendent Ayres: WE WOULD HAVE TO --
>>Karen Perez: I JUST WANT THE NU NUMBER.
>>Superintendent Ayres: 104.
>>Karen Perez: 104. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO -- YOU KNOW, MY PREFERENCE IS, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS A LEADER WHO REALLY HAS MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, LIFTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, OF COURSE, IS E.J. SALCINES IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE, YOU KNOW, IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT OUR 40% STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE LATINOS. AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THE NAMES IN THEIR SCHOOLS SUPPORTING THIS COMMUNITY AND THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE MY -- MY SUPPORT RIGHT NOW. MEMBER HAHN?
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I MEAN, THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS CERTAINLY A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT IT IS ALSO AN EXCITING DECISION TO MAKE. SO MANY WONDERFUL NOMINEES. IT IS JUST WONDERFUL TO READ ALL OF THE HEART-WARMING LETTER, E-MAILS, TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE PH PHONE. YOU KNOW, I AM -- I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER BOARDS HAVE NAMED THIS MANY SCHOOLS. I HAVE BEEN UP HERE SIX YEARS. I NAMED QUITE A FEW SCHOOLS. AFTER MY FIRST YEAR, YOU KNOW, I REALLY STARTED HAVING A CRITERIA. AND I ASKED TWO QUESTIONS. TO HELP ME NARROW IT DOWN BECAUSE EVERYONE ON THE LIST IS A REMARKABLE PERSON. AND I ASK, WERE THEY A K-1 A K-EDUCATOR AND TAUGHT AND SERVED IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I START THERE AT BOARD MEETINGS AND OTHER SCHOOL NAMES, THERE ARE VERY FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE EDUCATORS AT THIS LEVEL. YOU KNOW, AND -- AND WORKED ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS. YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. NOT A LOT OF EDUCATORS' NAMES K-12 EDUCATORS NAMES ON BUILDING. SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME, I THINK, TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY EVERY TIME IT COMES TO US TO USE IT TO DO JUST THAT. TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE WHO COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING THEY WANTED IN LIFE AND THEY CHOSE TO BE A K-12 OR PRE-K-12 EDUCATOR AND WORK IN OUR DISTRICT. A LOT OF SACRIFICE WHEN YOU WORK IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. ALL YOU HAVE US KNOW THAT ON THIS BOARD AND IN THIS ROOM. SO ONE SUCH NOMINEE STOOD OUT DURING THIS PROCESS FOR ME. HER CHILDREN WROTE PARTYFELT ACCOUNTS OF HER SPIRIT AND LOVING NATURE AND HER DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY SPOKE OF HER AGAIN RADIOS TEE, UNWAVERING FAITH, QUALITIES ECHOED BY EXTENDED FAMILY, FRIENDS BANDS STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES. AND COLLECTIVELY, THESE STORIES PAINTED A BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN WHO LIVED, TAUGHT AND RAISED HER FAMILY IN WIMAUMA. TONIGHT I BELIEVE RECOGNIZING MISS MORGAN WILL BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A WOMAN WHO DEEPLY LOVED AND SERVED HER COMMUNITY AS A K-12 EDUCATOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 43 YEARS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WHO SAT HERE ALL NIGHT, WHO STOOD BEFORE US AND SHARED THEIR PERSONAL STORIES. AND THEY WERE ALSO TOUCHING -- THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION, BUT I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND WHATEVER THE OUTCOME TONIGHT, WE WILL ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBERMAN. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: MY FIRST THOUGHTS IS APPRECIATION FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE LEADERS AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORTED THOSE LEADERS WHO WERE RECOMMENDED. THOSE REMARKS THAT YOU MADE WILL BE EMBLEMATIC IN THE LIVES OF EACH OF THEM AS WELL AS THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS NOT AN EASY CHOICE. I WISH THERE WAS A FORMULA THAT I COULD USE, BECAUSE AFTER EIGHT YEARS, I STILL LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE INGREDIENTS OF THE PERSON -- WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO OFFER. WHAT DO THEY STAND FOR. HOW ARE WILL THEY AFFECT OUR STUDENTS. PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY IS HOW WILL THEY AFFECT THE STUDENTS. AS -- I AM GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRAGMATIC. RIGHT NOW I FEEL THAT AS I -- AS WE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND AS WE ARE VERY AWARE IN A FEW YEARS THAT PERHAPS MAYBE 53% OF OUR STUDENTS WILL BE HISPANIC. AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WIMAUMA AREA. ENTERPRISING LATINAS. AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT. I FEEL VERY, VERY DEEPLY THAT THE PERSON WE NEED TO CHOOSE REFLECT THE HERITAGE AND THE HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITIES. AND I -- I PLURALIZE THAT. COMMUNITIES. I FEEL THAT AS I DID LAST TIME, I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT E.J. SALCINES, I DO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT AND I DO ALSO AGREE THAT MISS MORGAN SEASON A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT AND A TEACHER. A WONDERFUL TEACHER. 43 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS AND LOVED BY BLACK, BROWN IMMIGRANTS AND ALL AROUND IN WIMAUMA. I ALSO KNOW AND APPRECIATE SO MUCH OF SYLVIA ALBRITON ON OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE AND SERVED HER STUDENTS WITH LOVE, PASSION AND HIGH REWARD. I WILL BE PERFECTLY FRANK, BOBBY HOWARD. I DIDN'T HAVE A BACKGROUND UNTIL TONIGHT FOOT PRINT TO ADD VIA TOWN AND COUNTRY, BE IT WIMAUMA, RUSKIN SOUTH SHORE. AND NEAR PLANT CITY, SEFFNER, ALL THOSE COMMUNITIES. I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN BE STANDARD, BE THE ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF THAT. I FIND THAT NOMINATING IF THAT IS THE RIGHT WORD OF TAMPA IS ONE OF OUR OWN E.J. SALCINES REPRESENTING WEST TAMPA. REPRESENTING JESUIT WHICH I TAUGHT FOR MANY YEARS REPRESENTING, A WEEKEN OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION. I HAVE TO SAY GIVEN THE DIFFICULT CHOICE BUT GIVEN WHAT THIS MAN HAS DONE INCLUSIVE IS NOMINATING A JUDGE, FIRST BLACK JUDGE, JUDGE EDGECOMB. SORRY WITH THE PRONUNCIATION. I HAVE TO SAY THAT HE IS A MAN OF DIVERSITY, WHICH IS VERY -- EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOW THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT WHOEVER THE SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER. DOES EMBRACE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENTS. SO I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND E.J. SALCINES. AND THAT IS -- THAT IS WHERE I AM AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU MADAM -- MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON.
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I HAVE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE DID THE FIRST GROUNDBREAKING OF THIS SCHOOL, THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FROM EVERY TOWN HALL MEETING THAT THIS SCHOOL REFLECT THE COMMUNITY OF WIMAUMA. I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG GIRL -- NOT YOUNG GIRL, YOUNG WOMAN. I WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD GO OUT AND PROVIDE WISH GRANTING TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IN THE WIMAUMA AREA THAT WERE -- CHILDREN WHO WERE DYING OF HIV. I REMEMBER AS A CHILD, COMING UP AND GOING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT FARMING COMMUNITIES FROM FORT MYERS. AND WE WOULD DRIVE THROUGH WIMAUMA TO SEE DIFFERENT FAMILY MEMBERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS. AS I WAS OLDER AND COME OUT HERE, I WOULD IN MASSACHUSETTS IS CHANGING. THE -- WISCONSIN IS CHANGING. THE HISTORY OF WIMAUMA IS LOSING ITS. MANY OF THE FORMS ARE MOVING OUT OF WIMAUMA. THEY ARE MOVING OUT OF OTHER COUNTIES AND MOVING CLOSER TO OKEECHOBEE. THAT IS NOT WHAT WIMAUMA WAS. IT WAS RAMPER AND FARMER AND RAILROAD AND CAPTAIN DAVIS BEGAN WIMAUMA. WIMAUMA IS NAMED AFTER THE THREE LAWYERS THAT HE HAD. THOSE DAUGHTERS NAME WERE WILLIE, MAUDE AND MARY. I KNOW BECAUSE I WROTE IT DOWN BECAUSE I FORGET. BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS -- WIMAUMA IS OFTEN THE MAP. LET'S BE REALISTIC. A BIG HIGH SCHOOL IN WIMAUMA. NO ONE WOULD EVER GUESSED. YOU KNOW, OUR HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS WIMAUMA BECAME AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT IS THE SAME BUILDING. WHICH IS WHY MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIDN'T WANT WIMAUMA HIGH SCHOOL. BECAUSE IT WAS WIMAUMA BEFORE AND THEY DON'T WANT IT REPLACED. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AND UNDERSTAND IT VERY STRONGLY. I STRUGGLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO PHENOMENAL EDUCATORS COMING FROM WIMAUMA. AND HOW DO YOU PICK ONE? HOW DO YOU PICK ONE? IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PICK ONE. I HAVE LEANED VERY HEAVILY ON EVEN CONTEMPLATING THE FOUNDER OF WIMAUMA. BECAUSE WITHOUT THE FOUNDER, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY NAMED WIMAUMA, NAMED THE LAKE WIMAUMA. THAT LAKE PRODUCED AND ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD WHAT WAS STOCKED IN THE LAKE. PROVIDED THE FARMS OF THE WATER THAT CAME FROM THERE. IT WAS A VERY CRITICAL PIECE. BUT I AGREE WITH DR. HAHN WE HAVE VERY FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO HONOR EDUCATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE RESPECT THE HISTORY OF WIMAUMA. WE RESPECT THE COMMUNITY OF WIMAUMA AND WE LOOK AT OUR EDUCATORS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY UNIQUE THIS SITUATION IS, WE DON'T JUST HAVE EDGE CHATERS. BUT WE HAVE TEACHERS. TEACHERS THAT STAYED IN THE CLASSROOM. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MISS ALBRITON, YOU WERE AMAZING IN YOUR TENURE THROUGH ALL THE ELEMENTS YOU SERVED WITHIN ALL THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOTHING TO SAY THAT IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN WONDERFUL. BUT I THINK FOR THIS PARTICULAR TIME, AND WIMAUMA IS CHANGING AND BECOMING SO DIFFERENT. WHO WOULD THOUGHT A LAGOON -- THEY ARE BRINGING UP SO MANY THINGS. WIMAUMA IS CHANGING AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT HISTORY THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY. AND I -- I STRUGGLE WITH THIS VERY MUCH BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO VERY GOOD EDUCATORS. AND AS FAR AS MR. SALCINES. HE IS A WONDERFUL MAN. AND HE DOES WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND HE WAS WONDERFUL WITHIN THE LAW AND WONDERFUL -- BUT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE HAVE TO PRESERVE WIMAUMA. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT NEEDS TO REPRESENT WIMAUMA AND REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY OF WIMAUMA AND WHERE WIMAUMA COMES FROM. BECAUSE OF THAT, I AM GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING AQUILA MORGAN. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, YOU KNOW SOME YEARS AGO, I -- I DIDN'T REALIZE WHO -- WHO THE GREAT PERSON -- I MR. GATLIN WAS TELLING ME, AND MR. JIM GATLIN WAS MY PRINCIPAL WHEN I WAS HIS A.P. AT CHAMBERLAIN AND HE USED TO WORK IN WIMAUMA. HE USED TO WORK THERE. YES, HE DID. AND HE ONCE SAID, YOU KNOW, MAN, THAT LADY DOWN THERE. SHE TAKES CARE OF EVERYBODY. SHE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. SHE IS THE QUEEN OF WIMAUMA. I SAID THE QUEEN OF WIMAUMA? HE SAID YES. I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET MRS. MORGAN. SHE WAS PHENOMENAL PERSON WHEN I MET HER. VERY EASY GOING. LOVED PEOPLE. AND I AM NOT TAKING ANYTHING FROM MISS ALBRITON BECAUSE WE WERE PRINCIPALS TOGETHER AND DID YOU A GREAT JOB. YOU ALWAYS WILL BE IN MY HEART. BUT WIMAUMA, WE GOT THE WIMAUMA. WE GOT TO HAVE SOMEONE DOWN THERE THAT CAN KEEP IT GOING. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T -- WE DON'T GIVE TEACHERS ENOUGH RESPECT. I MEAN, WE GOT GREAT EDUCATORS AND VERY FEW TIMES WE NAME SOMETHING AFTER THEM. AND NOT THAT MR. SALCINES WAS BAD AND EVERYTHING. HE IS GREAT. BUT WE ALSOS HAVE GREAT PEOPLE IN E-- WE ALSO HAVE GREAT PEOPLE IN EDUCATION, WE REALLY DO AND ESPECIALLY TEACHERS. WE DON'T NAME TOO MANY THINGS AFTER TEACHERS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL NAMED AFTER A TEACHER, DO WE? NO, ALL ADMINISTRATORS OR HIGHER OR -- COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO -- AND THIS IS WHAT GOT ME. THIS IS WHAT CAUGHT ME. I GOT TO READ THIS. AND I AM NOT GOING TO PREACH. I AM GOING TO READ IT. MRS. LEVITT. CONTINUE, MY GRANDMOTHER WALKED BY FAITH. WALKED BY FAITH. WHEN THE FEAR AND -- AND WHEN -- IN FEAR AND COMMITTED TO ALL STUDENTS, WHITE, BLACK, BROWN, ENSURED THEY ALL RECEIVED FAIR, FUN, FIRM AND DEVELOPED A GREAT LOVE FOR EDUCATION. THAT IS GREAT. THAT IS GREAT FOR ANY -- ANY -- ANY EDUCATOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. YOU CAN'T GET GREATER -- YOU CAN'T SAY BETTER THAN THAT. IT CAME OUT THE NEWSPAPER. YOU CAN NOT SAY IT BETTER THAN THAT. SO I AM CASTING MY VOTE TONIGHT FOR MISS MORGAN [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY DR. HAHN. SHE ALWAYS SPEAKS SO ELOQUENTLY WHAT AN HONOR THIS IS. IT IS AN HONOR. AN HONOR TO SIT UP HERE AND HAVE ALL THE STORIES SHARED WITH ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND MONDAYESTLY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS. WE AS A BOARD HAVE HAD TO MAKE SOME OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS. A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES HAD TO MAKE. AND THIS ONE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST. SOMEBODY CAME UP EARLIER AND SPOKE AND SAID WHEN YOU CAST A VOTE FOR ONE PERSON, YOU ARE ALSO CASTING A VOTE FOR THAT COMMUNITY. I DON'T EVER WANT ONE COMMUNITY TO FEEL IF I CHOSE ONE PERSON OVER THE OTHER I DON'T SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY AND HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MADE TO OUR COMMUNITY OR TO EDUCATION OR TO ANYTHING. AND, AGAIN, WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH -- I HAVE GOTTEN STACKS OF LETTER IN THE MAIL TO MY PERSONAL HOUSE. AND THREE FOURTHS OF THEM, I READ AS MUCH AS I COULD WENT OVER AND INUNDATED TEXT MESSAGES AND E-MAILS. AMAZING TO HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE SO PASSIONATELY SPEAK ABOUT PEOPLE. HARD TO CAST ONE VOTE. I KNOW IT IS FOR ALL OF US. WE WOULD LOVE TO HONOR EVERYONE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION HERE. ONLY THING THAT GIVES ME SOLACE, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE SCHOOLS TO NAME. EVEN IF WE DON'T CHOOSE A PERSON YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR TONIGHT DOES NOT MOO EN WE MIGHT NOT CHOOSE THEM AGAIN. WE DIDN'T CHOOSE MR. ADUM FOR A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN A SCHOOL NAMED FOR HIM. THAT IS THE ONLY THING. FOR SOME REASON, WE DON'T CHOOSE THE PERSON YOU ARED A VIS SKATING FOR, PLEASE KNOW THERE WILL BE -- ADVOCATING FOR, PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. FROM MY OWNER PERSONAL STORIES, FROM READING WHAT MASS BEEN SUGGESTED. WHAT VOTES COME OUT OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. LISTENING TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. IT IS REALLY, REALLY HARD, I WILL VOTE FOR MISS MORGAN. [LOUD CHEERING]
>>Jessica Vaughn: OH, MY GOODNESS. THANK YOU, MISS ALBRITON FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. AGAIN, THERE ARE LOTS MORE SCHOOLS COMING. SO PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. I LOOKED FORWARD TO HEARING MORE OF MR. SALCINES AS WE GO ON IT AND THAT IMPLORE SCHOOLS AND I LOVED HEAR HIS CONTRIBUTION. BUT THAT'S WRITE LANDED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. SO MANY GREAT INDIVIDUALS OUT HERE. AND IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN YOU SEE HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD LIKE I LOOK AT DR. ALBRITON AND THE MOST VOTES WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT SUPPLEMENTARY OF THAT AND I LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER -- WE RECEIVED SUMMARIES OF THE TOP THREE AND DR. ALBRIGHTON WAS NUMBER ONE FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE VOTES AND STUFF. THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT THAT. AND I LOOK AT MISS MORGAN AND EVERYBODY WHO WAS HERE TODAY. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I HAVE REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1 IS TO ME, IT IS PRETTY SHOCKING TO SEE THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN SCHOOLS THAT ARE NAMED AFTER HISPANIC INDIVIDUALS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. YOU KNOW, ALMOST 40% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HISPANIC. WHEN I GO OUT AND IN TOWN AND COUNTRY AREA AND I LOOK AT HOW MANY SCHOOLS HAVE GROWN, AT ONE POINT, WE WERE LOOKING AT CLOSING MORGAN WOODS AND INSTEAD, 200 STUDENTS HAVE COME IN. AND DISTRICT 1, WE HAVE SO MANY -- SO MANY STUDENTS COMING IN FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, FROM VENEZUELA, FROM COLUMBIA, FROM PUERTO RICO, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE COMING TO DISTRICT 1. YOU KNOW, I -- I CAN SENSE THE VOTE OF WHERE IT IS -- MISS MORGAN IS GOING TO BE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE START LOOKING AT SOME HISPANIC INDIVIDUALS. SOMEONE LIKE E.J. SALCINES AND REALLY LOOK AT PEOPLE TO SOMETIMES -- I LOOK AT PRESIDENTS, GENERALS, SCHOOLS WERE NAMED AFTER SO MANY THINGS AND GREAT TO NAME -- WE NAMED YORK AFTER A TEACHER. AND WE ALSO, YOU KNOW -- THEN WE NAMED MR. ADUM AFTER AN ADMINISTRATOR. I DON'T ALWAYS THINK IT HAS TO BE AN EDUCATOR. I THINK IT HAS TO BE SOMETIMES SOMEONE WHO INSTILLED INSPIRATION IN PEOPLE, WHO CHANGED PEOPLE'S LIVES, WHO MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO DO BETTER, AND TO WANT TO REPRESENT MORE. AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE LOOK AT WHO OUR SCHOOLS ARE NAMED AFTER, I THINK IT IS KIND OF SHOCKING TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS 11 ITALIAN NAMES AND ONLY SEVEN HISPANIC NAMES AND 40% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HISPANIC AND THE STUDENTS IN WIMAUMA, THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS WILL BE HISPANIC OR A MIX -- OR -- IT WILL BE A MIX. EITHER WAY, AS I SAID, I AM FINE WITH ANY TIME THAT IS SELECTED TODAY. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT NO MATTER WHAT ALL THESE LEADERS HAVE BEEN AMAZING AND WONDERFUL. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE TO ALMOST 8:00 TONIGHT REALLY TALKING OF THE PEOPLE WHO MADE SUCH AN IMPRESSION ON YOU. I WAS SO TOUCHED BY PEOPLE WHO CAME AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR TEACHERS OR THEIR MENTORS AND PEOPLE WHO REALLY IMPACTED THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]
>>Jim Porter: WE STILL NEED TO DO THE BALLOTS AND THEY WILL BE TALLIED AND THEN A MOTION AFTER THAT. SUPERINTENDENT WILL ANNOUNCE -- SORRY -- TONYA WILL GIVE IT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>>Superintendent Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS. I HAVE THE RESULTS. FOUR VOTES FOR AQUILA J. MORGAN. THREE VOTES FOR E.J. SALCINES. FOUR VOTES FOR AQUILA WAS HENRY "SHAKE" WASHINGTON, PATTI RENDON, STACY HAHN AND JESSICA VAUGHN. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THREE VOTES FOR E.J. SALCINES, NADIA COMBS, LYNN GRAY, AND KAREN PEREZ.
>>Jim Porter: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. APPROPRIATE TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER MISS MORGAN.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED FOR THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE BE QUIET. PLEASE. AND BE RESPECTFUL. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING]
>>Karen Perez: WE'RE GOING TO RECESS FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
>>Karen Perez: WE'RE READY TO START THE MEETING NOW. THE NEXT ITEM IS 1.01, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGREEMENT WITH CHAPTER ONE U.S. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. CHAPTER ONE U.S. HAS BEEN PROVIDING SHORT BURST FACE-TO-FACE TUTORING SINCE 1993 AND CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 40,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION. UNDERGO INITIAL TRAINING IN EARLY LITERACY SKILLS, INSTRUCTION FOLLOWED BY CONTINUOUS, ONGOING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TUTORS DELIVER PHONICS AND WORD SKILLS AND INSTRUCTIONS FACE TO FACE AND ONE-ON-ONE TO STUDENTS WHO THEN RECEIVE IMMEDIATE REINFORCEMENT OF ASSIGNED SKILLS. THIS GOES DIRECTLY WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AROUND THIRD GRADE PROFICIENCY AND INCREASING THAT NUMBER. WE HAD A 5% JUMP THIS PAST YEAR. THIS IS AN ITEM WE WILL HAVE IN PLACE, WILL ASSIST US IN REACHING GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR. TRACIEE BERGMAN IS HERE AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING 1.01.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 1.01. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I DID NOT HAVE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE WENT OVER IT, BUT THERE WERE TWO ITEMS I PULLED SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE AS WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT OUR READING RATES BUT SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CREATE EQUITY AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THESE TO OUR TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AND WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO LITERACY I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO ANSWER THE COMMUNITY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO SUPPORT OUR MOST MARGINALIZED STUDENTS OR OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED THE MOST SUPPORT. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AS WELL AS ANOTHER ITEM THAT COMES UP LATER TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THIS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR, THOUGH, THE DATA NEXT TIME. IT'S GREAT THAT WE PULL THIS OUT AND WE TRY THIS AND WE'RE GIVING EXTRA SUPPORT AND TUTORS ARE FANTASTIC BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE GO TO REAPPROVE THIS NEXT TIME, IT'S EFFECTIVE AND HAVING AN IMPACT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BERGMAN FOR ANSWERING SO MANY OF MY QUESTIONS. I OBVIOUSLY HAD AN INTEREST BECAUSE I HAD TUTORING CENTERS FOR 20 YEARS AND SAW SUCH A BIG ITEM WITH A HIGH PRICE WITH TITLE ONE, I CAN SEE THE NEED FOR IT AND THE BIGGEST QUESTION, WHY DIDN'T IT GO OUT FOR RFP, WHY WAS IT A SOLE SOURCE BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANT TO GET THE BEST VALUE FOR OUR MONEY. I TRY TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE PENNY THAT WE SPEND ON THE AGENDA ITEMS. WHEN I SEE LARGE AGENDA ITEMS, HOW DOES IT IMPACT STUDENTS. HOW MANY STUDENTS IS IT GOING TO IMPACT ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING OUT OF TITLE ONE DOLLARS. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD GIVE US A SHORT SUMMARY ON WHY IT WAS SOLE-SOURCED BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND HOW THE PAYMENT WILL BE BASED ON DELIVERABLES ON THE STUDENTS. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> SURE. ONE OF THE THINGS AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CHAPTER ONE IS A SOLE SOURCE IS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE FACE-TO-FACE COMPONENT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. A LOT OF TUTORING COMPANIES OFFER TUTORING BUT THEY ARE ONLINE, VIRTUAL, MAY BE AFTER SCHOOL, WHICH DOESN'T BRING THAT WHOLE EQUITY PIECE THAT BOARD MEMBER VAUGHN WAS REFERRING TO IN THE ACCESS PIECE WHICH WE KNOW ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AT TITLE ONE SCHOOLS. WE WENT WITH THE SOLE SOURCE ON THIS ONE. ABLE TO GO DOWN TO MANATEE COUNTY, ONE OF THE DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA WHERE CHAPTER ONE IS BEING USED, WATCHED IT IN ACTION, SAW THE TUTORS IN ACTION. WHAT THEY HAVE DOESN'T COMPARE. SO WHEN YOU PUT THINGS OUT FOR SOLE SOURCE, IF THERE IS A LARGE INTEREST OR IT DOES APPEAR THAT THERE IS A COMPARABLE PRODUCT TO WHAT YOU PUT OUT, THEN YOU DO HAVE TO SHIFT TO THE RFP PROCESS AND THERE WASN'T BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT IN THEIR APPROACH. THAT IS HOW WE LANDED WITH THE SOLE SOURCE PIECE AS FAR AS THAT GOES. AND THE PAYMENTS. THANK YOU. I WAS LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER PART TO THIS. THE PAYMENTS, THIS CONTRACT WAS WRITTEN TO BE AN OUTCOMES BASED CONTRACT. IT IS ONE OF TWO. WE'LL GET TO THE SECOND ONE IN JUST A MINUTE, THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. SO WE HAVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS JOINED A GROUP, A COALITION WITH THE FIRST COHORT IN WRITING OUTCOMES BASED CONTRACTS WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS IT WE WANT OUT OF THE PRODUCT THAT WE'RE PURCHASING, IN THIS CASE THE TUTORING. WHAT WE WANT IS STUDENT PROFICIENCY. WE WRITE THE CONTRACT BASED ON THE OUTCOMES WE WANT TO SEE. WE WORKED WITH THE VENDOR IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE OUTCOMES ARE REASONABLE BUT ALSO STRETCH THE STUDENTS, STRETCH THE GROWTH, STRETCH US TO HOLD TO THE FIDELITY OF THE PROGRAM AND STRETCH THE COMPANY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THEY SAY THEY DO AS WELL AS THE RESULTS WE NEED. WE HAVE DIFFERENT MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, INCLUDING BOTH GROWTH MEASURES AND PROFICIENCY MEASURES. FROM THERE, WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR MIDYEAR DATA. WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS, AS WELL AS DIBBLES DATA AND END OF YEAR DATA. VENDOR IS PAID BASED ON OUTCOMES PREDETERMINED AND WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT. PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS DON'T REACH THAT, THE VENDOR DOESN'T GET PAID THE FULL AMOUNT. WRITE THE CONTRACT, IT IS A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF PAY BASED ON HOW WELL THE STUDENTS PERFORM.
>>Nadia Combs: I WANT TO THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL CONTRACT. I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WE ARE TARGETING OUR MOST MARGINALIZED STUDENTS, OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST. SO MY QUESTION IS, WILL THIS BE STUDENTS IN GENERAL, ESE, ALL STUDENTS BELOW LEVEL?
>> THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BASED ON -- INITIALLY BASED ON THIRD GRADE PROFICIENCY. WE LOOKED AT TITLE ONE SCHOOLS THAT WERE STRUGGLING WITH PROFICIENCY BUT ALSO HAD GAPS IN EITHER KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE, OR BOTH. THIS IS A WHOLE-CLASS MODEL TUTORING PIECE. THE TUTORS WILL WORK WITH ALL STUDENTS IN THE KINDERGARTEN AND THE FIRST GRADE AT THE SITES WITH THE PURPOSE OF BOTH ACCELERATING PROGRESS FROM STRUGGLING STUDENTS AS WELL AS ACCELERATING GOES THAT CAN BE ACCELERATED AND PUSHED EVEN FURTHER TO BECOME BETTER READERS AT YOUNGER AGES. IT IS A WHOLE CLASS MODEL. WHERE IT DIFFERS IS IN TERMS OF SHORT BURST TUTORING. THE NUMBER OF SESSIONS THE STUDENT WOULD RECEIVE AS WELL AS THE DURATION. IT IS TRULY HITTING ALL OF STUDENTS. EVEN IF YOU ARE A HIGH PERFORMING READER IN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE, THAT'S NOT TO SAY IF WE DON'T GIVE YOU THE ATTENTION YOU NEED YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STRUGGLE LATER ON. IT IS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE --
>>Nadia Combs: WILL YOU GET FEEDBACK HALFWAY THROUGH? WE'LL GET SOME INFORMATION FROM YOU THEN?
>> YEAH, INFORMATION BEGINNING WITH PM 2 DATA CYCLE. WE USE PM 1 AS BASELINE DATA COLLECTION BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TESTING IT. YES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THAT DATA FOR THE PMT PIECE. IN ADDITION, OUR TEAM AND OUR TEAM FROM CHAPTER ONE ARE ALSO WORKING TOGETHER SO THAT INCLUDES CONSISTENT MEETINGS. WE ALREADY MET WITH THE SITES TO TALK THROUGH IT WITH THEM. INPUT FROM PRINCIPALS, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY THAT COMMITTED TO IT IS ON BOARD WITH US AND CONTINUE TO DO SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD. NOT ONLY GETTING FEEDBACK FROM WHAT WE SEE IN THE DATA BUT THE ADMINISTRATORS AND LITERACY COACHES AT THE SITE.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK THIS IS GREAT. REALLY TEACHING IMPLICITLY AND TEACHING PHONICS AND PULL OUT AND WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE MAYBE NOT MAKING THE GAINS THEY NEED TO. I THINK IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A REAL GAME CHANGER FOR MANY STUDENTS. THAT'S VERY EXCITING AND MS. FOSSICK FOR BRINGING THIS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS 1.02, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGREEMENTS WITH AMIRA LEARNING INCORPORATED. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM THAT MS. BERGMAN WAS SPEAKING OF. WE ARE EXPANDING WITH AMIRA TO IMPLEMENT ONE-ON-ONE AI BASED READING TUTORING FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 LUNE SECOND AND THIRD GRADE STUDENTS AT 45 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 15 OF OUR ELEMENTARY SITES PARTICIPATED IN A PILOT UTILIZING THE AMIRA READING TUTOR DURING THE 23, 24 SCHOOL YEAR. IN ADDITION, THIRD GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER READING CAMP DUE TO THIRD GRADE RETENTION UTILIZED AMIRA. OF THE STUDENTS 25% RECEIVED A SCORE AT OR ABOVE THE 50% PERCENTILE LEADING TO A PROMOTION TO THIRD GRADE. MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATES THAT STUDENTS WHO READ WITH AMIRA FOR JUST TEN MINUTES A DAY EXPERIENCE READING GROWTH AT A RATE TWICE THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AS WE THINK ABOUT LAST YEAR, HERE IS ANOTHER ITEM TARGETING OUR THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY. WE HAD A 5% JUMP FROM 46 TO 51 THIS PREVIOUS YEAR. WE TALK 5%. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THAT'S OVER 700 STUDENTS NOW APPRECIATIVE IN THIRD GRADE. TRACY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID AND COLLEEN, LAST YEAR TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AND LOOKING TO MOVE MORE. 5%, THAT'S OVER 700 STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY APPRECIATIVE IN THIRD -- PROFICIENT IN THIRD GRADE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. THAT IS ITEM 1.02, AMIRA.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1.02. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M VERY ELATED. VERY SUCCESSFUL, 85% OF THE TEACHERS SEEM TO ENJOY THIS. ALSO AS MEMBER COMBS ALLUDED TO, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE HIGH NEEDS POPULATION. THERE'S ONLY, I THINK, SEVEN HISPANIC -- CLARIFY THAT. I HAVE 22 AFRICAN AMERICANS, 7 HISPANIC AND 11. IS THERE MORE THAN THAT ON THE HISPANIC AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT? I HAVE THE 15 ELEMENTARY SITES.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE POPULATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE SELECTED OR LIKE IN TERMS OF --
>>Lynn Gray: I HAVE 32 AFRICAN AMERICANS, 7 HISPANIC, AND 11 ARE THE REST. ONLY DISCREPANCY IS WHY AREN'T THERE MORE HISPANIC IN RELATIVE POPULATION? BUT COLLEEN, GO AHEAD, MS. FOSSETT.
>> WE'RE JUST WONDERING WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME DATA IN ORDER TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, MA'AM.
>>Lynn Gray: IT'S COMING FROM THE GAP ANALYSIS WHERE IT SAYS AMIRA LEARNING PILOT STUDY ALLOWED 775 THIRD GRADE, FIRST PAGE, 775 THIRD GRADE STUDENTS. 15 ELEMENTARY SITES. I TOOK NOTES, MS. BERGMAN, THAT I HAD 32 AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, 7 HISPANIC, AND 11 WERE THE REMAINDER. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT, I CAN -- WE CAN DO THIS ONE ON ONE. SINCE WE'RE IN THE SPIRIT OF HISPANIC RECOGNITION, ET CETERA, I'M STAYING ON THAT SAME WAVE LENGTH. MY QUESTION ALSO, OR MAYBE MY COMMENT, WE'RE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. I WANT TO HAVE YOU SHARE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE THE REASON IS I PUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WORKSHOP TWICE AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DID NOT WANT THAT OR MANY OF THEM, AND THAT CAME FROM ORANGE COUNTY, BUT WE'LL DO IT IN JULY. AM I SEEING THAT THE TEACHERS ARE ALREADY USING THIS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A TUTORING EXPERIENCE?
>> SO WHEN THE STUDENTS GO ON TO THE PROGRAM, GENERALLY THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, IT'S NOT LIKE A CHAPT GPT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. IT'S ACTUALLY THE TUTOR ITSELF. THE STUDENTS, IT IS A FLUENCY BASED PROGRAM. SO THE STUDENTS PUT THE HEADPHONES ON WITH THE MICROPHONE AND THEY READ INTO -- THEY READ THE PASSAGE ALLOWED. IF THEY MAKE AN ERROR, AMIRA, THE AI COMPONENT IS WHAT CATCHES THAT ERROR AND PROVIDES THEM THE IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK AND THE INSTRUCTION FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT THAT ERROR AND BE ABLE TO APPLY IT INTO OTHER PASSAGES. SO IT IS THE AMIRA, THE NAME AMIRA, SHE IS THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SHE IS THAT TUTOR PIECE. SO IT PROVIDES THEM WHEN YOU TAKE THEIR PLACEMENT ASSESSMENTS, ABOUT A TEN MINUTE THING JUST TO PLACE THEM INTO THE RIGHT PIECE. FROM THERE IT CAN GUIDE THEM INTO THE STORIES AND BASED ON THE ERRORS, IT PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS AND AS IT SEES THE PRACTICE AND INSTRUCTION IMPROVE, IT MOVES THEM AT THE LEVEL AND THAT'S HOW THEY CONTINUE TO GROW. WHAT'S COOL ABOUT IT, IT ALSO RECORDS THE READINGS THAT THE STUDENTS DO. SO IF FAMILIES COME IN FOR CONFERENCES OR IF YOU'RE -- FAMILIES ARE LIKE I DON'T THINK MY CHILD HAS ANY ISSUES, THEY ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT, IT PROVIDES THAT CONCEPT WHERE YOU CAN SHARE THAT RECORDING WITH THEM AS WELL AMIRA, THE AI PORTION IS THE TUTOR WHO LISTENS AND DIAGNOSES AND INSTRUCTS BASED ON THAT.
>>Lynn Gray: LOOKING AT LONG RANGE AS WE GO THROUGH LITERACY AND AS WE GO THROUGH TUTORING AND ALL THE OTHER ASPECTS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, WHAT IS YOUR -- HOW ARE YOU LOOKING AT AI IN TERMS OF YOUR FUTURE PROPOSITIONS? I'M GOING TO ASK THAT AS A GLOBAL QUESTION, BUT I AM REALLY INVOLVED INTO WHAT INFLUENCES THAT WE ARE USING AS A DISTRICT WITH A.I. TECHNOLOGY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, MS. GRAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR, WHEN MS. BERGMAN AND I BRING ITEMS TO THE BOARD, THEY ARE STRATEGIC AND VERY TARGETED. WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BEFORE WE DID ANY KIND OF MASS PURCHASE, MASS IMPLEMENTATION, WE DID A PILOT LAST YEAR. LET'S TRY IT, LET'S BE PURPOSEFUL IN WHERE WE PLACE IT. MAKE SURE THERE IS SUPPORT AT THE SCHOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITH FIDELITY AND MAKE SURE THE PRODUCT WORKS FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE EXPANDING THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE EXCELLENT RESULTS THAT WE SAW WITH THIS PRODUCT LAST YEAR. IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE SAME EXCELLENT RESULTS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS PRODUCT TO OTHER SCHOOLS. WHEN IT COMES PARTICULARLY TO AI, I'M GOING TO EQUATE IT TO ANY PRODUCT WE USE. IT GOES THROUGH THOROUGH VETTING TO MAKE SURE IT IS HIGH QUALITY, TO MAKE SURE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT ALIGNS WITH THE SCIENCE OF READING INSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE WITH ANY TECHNOLOGY WE USE, THERE ARE APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO PROTECT STUDENTS AND THEIR PRIVACY, TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ACCESS TO ANY RECORDINGS OR CHAT FEATURES WHICH THERE AREN'T WITH THIS ONE, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE, IF PARENTS HAVE QUESTIONS, IF THEIR CHILD COMES HOME AND SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT MY TUTOR TODAY, WELL THAT WAS THE AI TUTOR AMIRA. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS WE LOOKED AT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A.I., WE COMPARE IT TO ANY OTHER TYPE OF INSTRUCTIONAL PURCHASE WE MAKE TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS ALL THOSE CRITERIA, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE LONG RUN. I WISH THERE WERE A.I. EXPERTS IN THE WORLD, BUT ANYTHING I SAY TODAY OR LEARN TODAY ABOUT A.I. CHANGES BEFORE I GO TO BED TONIGHT. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VETTING ANY PRODUCT THAT COMES TO US AND MAKE SURE THOSE APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR STUDENTS.
>>Lynn Gray: I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH A.I. AS A TEACHING TOOL. THERE ARE USES AND ABUSES, AS I'VE BEEN REMINDED AT USF. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT MS. McRAE IS GOING TO HAVE FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS HOPEFULLY AN A.I. TYPE OF WORKSHOP, SOME TYPE OF TEACHING ELEMENT SO WE ARE FAMILIAR AS WELL. IN MY MIND, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND A.I. IS GOING TO BECOME NOT A MIDDLE NAME BUT CERTAINLY A VERY BIG NAME IN A FULL NAME TYPE OF DESCRIPTION. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS 5.02, GRADUATION SCHEDULE FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THESE ARE OUR GRADUATION DATES FOR 24-25 AND OUR SENIOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS WANT THESE DATES. AS SOON AS THESE GET APPROVED WE'LL GET THEM OUT RIGHT AWAY. I WANT TO THANK MS. VER RANO WITH ALL THE HARD WORK. I THINK THIS IS THE EARLIEST WE'LL HAVE IT OUT TO OUR FAMILIES. HERE IT IS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER. GRADUATIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TUESDAY MAY 13 THROUGH MAY 29. HELD AT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS EXPO HALL AND SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21. GRADUATIONS HELD AT FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS EXPO HALL WILL HONOR 28 TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS, 9 ADULT EDUCATION SCHOOLS, 3 TECH COLLEGES, FOUR CAREER ACCELERATION ACADEMIES AND VHK-12. DATES TIMES AND LOCATIONS FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT CENTERS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED AND ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE. THE 2025 GRADUATION SCHEDULE FEATURES NEW START TIMES OF 8 A.M., 1130 A.M., 3 P.M. AND 6:30 P.M. GRADUATION SCHEDULE ON WEDNESDAY MAY 21st HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO MAKE BETTER USE OF TIME. AFTER APPROVAL, THE GRADUATION SCHEDULE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE AND SCHOOLS MAY BEGIN NOTIFYING STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND STAFF. HERE IS THE BEST NEWS OF ALL. ALL GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN 2025 WILL BE HELD BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025. NO GRADUATIONS ARE SCHEDULED ON MEMORIAL DAY THAT MONDAY, MAY 26, AS IT IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH MS. BURANO. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING GRADUATION DATES FOR 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 5.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I JUST PULLED IT INFORMATIONALLY. AS YOU MENTIONED THIS YEAR, MORE THAN ANY YEAR, I HAD PARENTS IMMEDIATELY ASKING ME WHEN THESE WOULD BE RELEASED WHICH I LOVE BECAUSE I AM A PLANNER BUT I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE PLANNED THAT FAR IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS TAKEN CARE OF QUICKLY SO WE CAN ALLOW PARENTS THE FLEXIBILITY OF PLANNING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THE GRADUATIONS AND HOPEFULLY NOW PARENTS WILL BE FREE AND FAMILIES WILL BE FREE TO MAKE WHATEVER CHOICES THEY NEED TO. SO THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I PULLED IT FOR THE SAME REASON. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. IT HIGHLIGHTS IT. IF NOT, IT GOES INTO CONSENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION. THANK YOU, MS. BURANO, YOU DO A FANTASTIC JOB, EVERY YEAR AT GRADUATION YOU WORK SO HARD AT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS CELEBRATED AND IT RUNS SO SMOOTHLY AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ALL THESE FOUR YEARS, YOU DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES OF YEAR. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO WITH THAT.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON.
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JENNIFER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I DO KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK. NOT JUST THAT BUT THROUGHOUT THE GRADUATIONS IT TAKES A LOT OF PREP AND A LOT OF ORGANIZATION TO PUT ALL OF US AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I DO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND SAY THAT I AM AGAINST BOTH NEWSOME AND SUMNER BEING SO LATE IN THE EVENING WITH THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL HAVE TO EXIT AFTER DARK AT 9:00 AT NIGHT. WE'RE LOOKING AT 9,000 PEOPLE LEAVING THE FAIRGROUNDS THE SAME TIME AFTER HOURS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE COULD HAVE A SMALLER SCHOOL LEAVING AT THE SAME TIME GETTING OUT A LITTLE EARLIER AND AT THAT HOUR MAY NOT EVEN BE DARK YET, AROUND 8:00 OR 8:30. KNOWING WE HAVE 800, 850 STUDENTS ON TOP OF TEN TICKETS PER STUDENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT 9500 PEOPLE LIVING AT 9 P.M. AT NIGHT AND THAT IS A LOT, ALL GOING OUT ONE LANE ONTO MARTIN LUTHER KING IS QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC. I DO WANT TO OFFICIALLY GO ON RECORD THAT LAST YEAR IT RAN EXTREMELY SMOOTHLY WITH BOTH OF THE LARGE SCHOOLS COMING IN AT 8:00 AND OTHER GRADUATIONS STARTING AT 9. I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE DONE THAT WAY. I RECOGNIZE IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT I DO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD TO SAY THAT IS A CONCERN OF MINE. BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING THAT PARKING LOT AT A LATE HOUR IN THE EVENING WITH SO MANY STUDENTS AND PARENTS. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE TWO HOURS PLUS THEY GET DIPLOMAS, PLUS GETTING INTO CARS. I CONSULTED WITH A COUPLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, OKAY, DOES IT REALLY MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? THEY ARE LIKE, YEAH. THAT MANY PEOPLE LEAVING, AND WE REALLY HAVE ONE LANE GOING ONE WAY ON 301. IT'S A LOT TO GET OUT OF THAT PARKING LOT QUICKLY AND AT DARK WITH 900 STUDENTS COMING OUT, 9,000 PEOPLE. I WISH WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR. IT RAN VERY SMOOTHLY AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING. HAD THAT VOLUME OF PEOPLE AND PUSHED IT BACK A LITTLE BIT. SO I DO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD SINCE ONE OF THE TWO SCHOOLS IS IN MY AREA. I MAKE THIS COMMENT ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. THEY ARE LARGE SCHOOLS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE. THANK YOU. I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WILL BE GRADUATING AND IT WILL BE MY LAST ONE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. JENNIFER, WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO DO.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. YOU DO A GREAT JOB. YOU ARE VERY ORGANIZED AND YOU KEEP ME ORGANIZED. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: AND THANK YOU, JENNIFER. YOU ARE THE MOM AND YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF US AND YOU KNOW THAT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. I CONCUR WITH MEMBER RENDON. THE 8:00 FOR MANY REASONS, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY THE POPULATION IS QUITE HIGH, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LATE, 9:00, 10, 10:30, AND I HAVE TO THINK, PERHAPS WE CAN RELOOK AT IT. I KNOW WE USED TO DO 7:00.
>>Van Ayres: ADJUSTED THAT TO 6:30. 8 IS THE A.M. LATEST GRADUATION IS 6:30 P.M.
>>Lynn Gray: OH, OKAY. WELL, THEN, JUST ERASE WHAT I SAID. ONCE YOU GET BEYOND MY BEDTIME, IT'S NOT -- AT LEAST I CAN'T GO. BUT THAT'S WITHIN MY COMFORT ZONE, SO THANKS.
>>Nadia Combs: PEOPLE WANT A ROTATION. PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY WANT EARLY IN THE MORNING. I ALSO THINK THERE ARE BIG SCHOOLS LIKE ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S 3,000 STUDENTS AS WELL. I THINK PEOPLE LEAVE CONCERTS FROM THERE ALL THE TIME LATE AT NIGHT. I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY ARE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE 8:00 IN THE MORNING. ME PERSONALLY, MY CHILD GRADUATED FROM A LARGE HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE IT IN THE AFTERNOON, RIGHT? SO I THINK THE ROTATION IS RIGHT. I THINK IT'S FAIR. IT'S RUN SMOOTHLY. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PINPOINT LIKE ONE TIME IN THE MORNING FOR EVERYONE. THAT'S JUST MY FEEDBACK. YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF CONCERTS GOING OUT THERE ALL THE TIME. PEOPLE ARE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS ALL THE TIME. EVEN LARGER GROUPS LIKE THAT. I THINK THE ROTATION REALLY DOES MAKE SENSE. I THINK IT'S FAIR. WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS YEARS OR IN THE PAST, I SEE A ROTATION, I THINK SCHOOLS WANT THAT. I THINK PARENTS WANT THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT FAIR AND EQUITABLE THAT WAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF LARGE SCHOOLS. SO I KIND OF LIKE THE CHANGE AND I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO LATE WITH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. STILL PRETTY LIGHT OUT AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 6.02, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 2024. RO JOHNSON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Ro Johnson: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WE HIGHLIGHTED THIS ITEM AS PART OF OUR PRESENTATION, BUT WE'RE READY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINAL BUDGET.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I DON'T, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW WE ENDED UP DOING THE BUDGET WE JUST PASSED FOR THE YEAR AND THAT CIRCUMVENTED OUR MEETING FOR THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. I APPRECIATE YOU SENDING IT TO ME AND I LOOKED OVER IT, BUT I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MONTHLY AMENDMENTS GOING FORWARD. IF WE CAN MAKE SURE, EVEN WHEN DOING A YEARLY BUDGET, WE BUILD IN A MEETING TO GO OVER THIS. ANYTIME I VOTE ON THESE, I LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS. IF WE CAN SCHEDULE THAT THE NEXT TIME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S A VERY LARGE QUESTION AND ENCOMPASSES SYNERGY. THERE ARE VARIOUS CONCERNS ON SCHOOL SITES ABOUT THE FTE PROCESS WHICH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FTE WHICH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO FUNDING. WITH THIS, WE'RE GETTING SOME TYPE OF ACCURACY MAYBE ON THE STUDENT COUNT. HOW WILL WE HANDLE PERHAPS INACCURATE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO WEIGHTED AND UNWEIGHTED FTE IN THE FUNDING AND INVOLVES THE FUND BALANCE. IT INVOLVES YOUR MONTHLY UPDATES, AMENDMENTS. CAN WE BE SURE THAT THERE IS ACCURACY IN THAT NUMBER AND THEREFORE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE FROM FTE?
>>Ro Johnson: I'LL LET DR. TOM WEEKS SPEAK TO THE ACCURACY OF THE DATA.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANT TO ASSURE THE BOARD IS WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO OUR BASE ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE DISTRICT. WE'RE WITHIN A HUNDRED STUDENTS OR SO FROM WHERE WE PROJECT THAT BEING AS OUR ACCURATE FINAL NUMBER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING FROM A CTE PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ESE PERSPECTIVE. THESE ARE ALL AREAS THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH WITH THE VENDOR AND WORKING THROUGH WITH OUR INTERNAL CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE ALIGN WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT, FOR THE STATE, FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THESE SPECIFIC AREAS, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE NUMBERS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE VENDOR. WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS GETS AS BEST AS IT CAN BE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY.
>>Lynn Gray: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THE ESE IS THE COMPLIANCE ISSUE AND THE FTE, OF COURSE, IS FUNDING AND SO IS THE HALL WITH NUTRITION. THOSE ARE ALL FUNDING SERVICES THAT WILL AFFECT OUR OVERALL BUDGET. SO I THINK THAT'S A PRIORITY. I'M KEEPING MY EYE ON IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT WE HAVE THIS AS AN ACCURATE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, AND MS. JOHNSON THAT YOU CAN, IN FACT, CROSS-REFERENCE WITH THE UPDATES ON THE CORRECTIONS IF NEED BE THAT DR. WEEKS IS SAYING. WE HAVE 130, LET'S JUST SAY -- 130 PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS BUT YOU SOLVED 80 OF THEM, RIGHT, IN SYNERGY.
>> WORKING STEADILY THROUGH THE LIST. WE PARED IT DOWN CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE VENDOR TO MAKE SURE THEIR PRODUCT MEETS OUR NEEDS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK INTERNALLY WITH CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS I.T. PERSONNEL AND INCORPORATE OTHER MEMBERS SUCH AS MS. JOHNSON'S TEAM SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT ALL THE NUMBERS ARE ALIGNED AND AGAIN, GET THEM AS ACCURATE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
>>Lynn Gray: MAKE NO MISTAKE, A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE DOING THE OLD-FASHIONED PAPER METHOD FOR FTE. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE BIGGEST DEAL OUT OF IT RIGHT NOW, BUT LET'S DEFINITELY PUT THAT ON PRIORITY AND I THINK YOU ALREADY HAVE. THE NUTRITION, THE FTE AND THE ESE AS A PRIORITY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS IN MY CLOSING COMMENTS TO TALK ABOUT SYNERGY. NOW THAT I HAVE YOU I'D RATHER TALK ABOUT THIS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES I'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND OUR DATA PROCESSORS AND ALL OUR ESE TEACHERS AND EVERYONE IS VERY FRUSTRATED. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME OF THE YEAR. MY FRUSTRATION IS YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH ME. YOU NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD. I MEAN, LAST WEEK, I SENT YOU AN E-MAIL AND I HAD TO CONTACT THE CABINET. I'M NOT HEARING INFORMATION FROM YOU. YOU NEED TO BE UPDATING US REGULARLY. PEOPLE ON SCHOOL SITES ARE STRUGGLING AND IT'S SO DIFFICULT FOR DATA PROCESSORS, ESE SPECIALISTS. I'M HEARING FROM ESE TEACHERS WHO WANT TO WALK OUT OF THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THAT. I'M FEELING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS PROGRAM, AND STILL -- I'M STILL NOT GETTING A CLEAR ANSWER FROM YOU AND I NEED TO GET UPDATES REGULARLY. THE IDEA THAT I HAVE TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND I DON'T HEAR FROM YOU AND THEN I HAVE TO COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT, I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED -- AS A BOARD WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING UPDATES FROM YOU REALLY ON A DAILY BASIS ON WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT'S HAPPENING. THIS IS REALLY A BIG PROBLEM. AND YOU'RE LEADING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE REGULAR UPDATES ON THIS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ASK FOR THAT.
>>Van Ayres: MS. COMBS, WE'LL ENSURE THAT THE BOARD RECEIVES THOSE UPDATES. MR. FARKAS, MR. WEEKS, WE CAN ENSURE THAT HAPPENS. NO DOUBT, WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR, SYNERGY HAS BEEN THE BIG HICCUP FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. CAUSED TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION. PRINCIPALS MEETING AND VERY EVIDENT THE FRUSTRATIONS WITH SYNERGY. SYNERGY WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2019. WE HAD A THREE-YEAR WINDOW TO LAUNCH SYNERGY. 2022 WE DIDN'T LAUNCH IT. 23 WE DIDN'T LAUNCH IT. HERE WE HAVE A PRODUCT, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, SPENT MONEY ON. TIME TO GO IN 24. IT HAS CAUSED US ISSUES, CAUSED TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATIONS. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH EACH OF THOSE. WHAT WE CAN'T HAVE IS YOU NOT RECEIVING THE COMMUNICATION THAT YOU FEEL AS A BOARD THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING AND WITH RESPECT TO SYNERGY SO WE'LL ENSURE THAT COMMUNICATION GETS TO YOU. IT'S BEEN WITHOUT SYNERGY, WE'VE HAD A GREAT START TO THE YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN THE THING THAT CAUSED TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION. I MENTIONED TO THE -- DAY TO DAY, SYNERGY IS WHAT EVERY EMPLOYEE USES EVERY DAY. WHEN THERE IS FRUSTRATION CHANGING THE SCHEDULE, MS. McRAE GONE TO SCHOOLS AND BEEN THROUGH THAT WITH THEM AND HAVE THEM SHOW US WHAT THE ISSUES ARE WORKING THROUGH EACH OF THOSE. FTE, KNOW THAT SYNERGY HAS BEEN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, PALM BEACH AND CLAY COUNTY. THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR FTE SYSTEM AND HOW TO OPERATE, BUT WE GOT TO GET BETTER. THEY GOT TO GET BETTER. WE GOT TO GET THROUGH WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE INTO THE NEW SYSTEM. THINGS SYNERGY HAVE THAT ARE A POSITIVE THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE WHICH IS BETTER. THE DAY TO DAY AND SLOW AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO UTILIZE THE SYSTEM AS EFFECTIVELY AS WE CAN, IT CREATES A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF ISSUES AND FRUSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ME AS WELL.
>>Nadia Combs: AS I SAID, FOR ME, I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE AT A SCHOOL SITE TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE ISSUES. I SHOULD BE HEARING THAT DIRECTLY FROM YOU, DR. WEEKS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND THEN I ALSO SHOULD HEAR ABOUT SOLUTIONS. I WANT TO HEAR, IF THIS IS NOT WORKING IN A WEEK, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO OR TWO WEEKS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IF IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM DOING IEPs. WHEN I HEAR NOTHING AND REACH OUT AND STILL HEAR NOTHING, THAT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND I THINK I'M A PRETTY RATIONALE PERSON. I THINK WITH SOMETHING THAT I KNOW AT EVERY SCHOOL SITE I'M HEARING SO MUCH FRUSTRATION, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE. OUR GRADES. THE SALARIES. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT THINGS GOING ON, BUT AS A BOARD, I NEED TO BE INFORMED OF THAT. I DON'T NEED TO GO OUT AND GET THAT INFORMATION. I'M EXPECTING THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS FROM HERE ON OUT.
>> MEMBER COMBS, I'D LIKE TO SAY, I APOLOGIZE, THERE ARE INFORMATION E-MAILS THAT GO OUT FAIRLY REGULARLY. I DID NOT REALIZE IF THE BOARD DID NOT SEE THOSE. SO I WILL ENSURE THAT --
>>Nadia Combs: I DON'T WANT TO GET AN E-MAIL THAT EVERY TEACHER IS GETTING. I WANT TO GET AN E-MAIL AS A BOARD MEMBER WHO IS GETTING INFORMED ON WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE EVERY WEEK, HOW HAVE WE GOTTEN BETTER. IF WE'RE NOT GETTING BETTER, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO SOLVE IT.
>>Karen Perez: DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO A HYBRID MODEL, CHANGE SOMETHING? WE CAN'T CONTINUE ON THIS WAY. IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND MAYBE GO BACK TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE ESE FOR THIS YEAR OR UNTIL DECEMBER TO RESOLVE IT. WE CAN'T EXPECT ESE TEACHERS WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD, WHO HAVE SO LITTLE TO BE EXPECTED TO SPEND HOURS AND HOURS TO TRY TO COMPLETE AN IEP. I'VE SHOWN MY FRUSTRATION. I'LL MOVE ON.
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. I LIKE MS. COMBS WAS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL MY COMMENTS TO DO THIS. QUITE FRANKLY, I'M DONE. I AM ABSOLUTELY DONE. WE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR AS A BOARD THAT YOU HAVE HAD FOUR YEARS TO PREPARE FOR THIS SYSTEM. EXPLAIN HOW WE ONLY HAD 20 TRAIN THE TRAINER FOR 20,000 EMPLOYEES TO PREPARE FOR THIS LAUNCH. WHY ON DAY ONE COULD OUR TEACHERS NOT ACCESS FEDERALLY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS? WHY DID WE NOT TEST THE SYSTEM ALL YEAR LONG? WHY DID WE REDUCE WORK GROUPS FOR 20 DIFFERENT WORK STREAMS TO KEEP IT GOING? WHY ARE WE STILL TODAY HAVING TO DO A MANUAL COUNT OF CLASSROOMS? WE SPENT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND WE MAY BE CORRECTING THINGS NOW WHICH, BY THE WAY, YOU'RE NOT AND YOU CAN'T EVEN ANSWER IT TRUTHFULLY ON HOW MANY THINGS WE'VE CORRECTED BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE SCHOOLS OUT THERE ARE COMING AROUND WITH WRAPAROUNDS THAT THEY HAVE TO COME UP THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING 12, 15, 16 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK, REWRITING SCHEDULE AFTER SCHEDULE, REWRITING FINDING, DOING WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE FAILED OUR TEACHERS. WE HAVE FAILED OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AND WE HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT OURSELVES. AND I FIND IT JUST APPREHENSIBLE THAT YOU EVEN TRY TO HAVE AN EXCUSE. I'M GOING TO REQUEST, SUPERINTENDENT, THAT THIS BOARD HAVE A COPY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT DR. WEEKS SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH BEFORE WE EVER STARTED THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT HE WAS DOING THE LAST 12 MONTHS PREPARING FOR THIS LAUNCH. THERE ARE TWO SYSTEMS HE HAS LAUNCHED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. NEITHER ONE ARE FULLY FUNCTIONING AND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THAT. I THINK IT'S TIME THAT IT'S OVER. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY APPALLING THAT TODAY WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND GET A MANUAL COUNT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT CAN'T TRACK IT. AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT'S COMING NEXT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS BOARD DESERVES TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, HOW YOU PREPARE TO LAUNCH IT, AND WHAT'S COMING NEXT AND WHAT WILL FIX IT. IF I HEAR ONE MORE TIME THAT WE DIDN'T PROVIDE YOU THE FUNDING TO LAUNCH IT AFTER YOU SAT ON IT FOR FOUR YEARS IS JUST AN EXCUSE. FOUR AREAS TO LAUNCH THIS. BY THE WAY, THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE STILL HAVING TROUBLES WITH THAT SYSTEM. AND KNOWING THAT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SYSTEM, YOU SHOULD HAVE COME TO US AND TOLD US WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. INSTEAD, YOU CONTINUED TO LAUNCH A SYSTEM THAT YOU KNEW WAS FAILING IN OTHER DISTRICTS. THERE'S NOTHING REGARDING SYNERGY THAT WE CAN SPEAK OF WELL. NOT ONE THING. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DESERVE BETTER ANSWERS. WE DESERVE AN UPDATE. AND WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO ASK FOR IT. WE SHOULD BE GIVEN A STATUS EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING, OUR TEACHERS ARE SUFFERING, AND OUR ADMINISTRATION SUFFERING. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE AN EXCUSE FOR THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE DO NOTHING BUT OWE THEM AN APOLOGY FOR NOT PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR. I'M SORRY THAT IT'S HARSH, BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN UNEXCUSABLE WAY FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO BE APPRECIATED FOR THE JOB THAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE'VE ASKED THEM TO WORK MORE HOURS. WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO WORK TWICE, THREE TIMES, FOUR TIMES. THEY HAVE BEEN WRITING SCHEDULES OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THE SYSTEM FAILS. I SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SYNERGY IS THE PAIN IN THE BUTT BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT OF CALLS. WE SPOKE EARLIER TODAY. WHAT SOLUTION WE GONNA DO? BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UPSET. WE CAN'T HAVE OUR TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES UPSET. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A SOLUTION.
>> I CAN TELL THE BOARD AT A HIGH LEVEL HOW WE'RE OPERATING TODAY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THIS BUT I CAN PROVIDE GREATER LEVELS OF DETAIL TO EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IF THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH EDUPOINT, THE VENDOR, TO ENSURE THEY MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE PROVIDED THEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY MEET ALL THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE PAID FOR OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. AS A CORRECTION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING, MEMBER RENDON, NOT FOUR. IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLY LONGER. BUT WE WORK WITH OUR INTERNAL CONSTITUENTS. THIS IS NOT AN I.T.-ONLY PROJECT. THIS IS NOT AN I.T.-ONLY PROCESS. WE HAVE MULTIPLE GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT NEED TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS. SO, FOR INSTANCE, ESE AND MTSS AND HOW WE TAKE ATTENDANCE, ALL OF THAT IS BASED OFF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WERE GIVEN TO PROVIDE TO EDUPOINT TO ALLOW THEM TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO THEIR PRODUCT. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE VENDOR. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH INTERNAL CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE WE MAKE THIS PRODUCT BETTER. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. YES, THERE WAS AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. WAS IT COMPLETE? ABSOLUTELY NOT. WERE WE AT THE POINT WE WERE SPENDING DOLLARS? AND IF WE HAD OUR WAY, WE WOULD HAVE PUSHED THIS BACK ANOTHER YEAR. HOWEVER, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE PAID ANOTHER ALMOST $2 MILLION TO THE VENDOR FOR SOMETHING WE WEREN'T USING YET AND WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY INCREASE OUR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH REQUIREMENTS GATHERING. CONCERNS WITH TRAINING. AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY OF THIS SOUND LIKE EXCUSES. I CAN PROVIDE GREATER LEVELS OF DETAIL TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY. WASHINGTON WASHINGTON WITH THIS OVERVIEW, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TRAINERS TO TRAIN PEOPLE?
>> WHEN THE PROJECT WAS IDENTIFIED, THE WAY THAT IT WAS SET UP IS THAT WE WERE GOING TO PAY AND PROPOSE THE TRAIN THE TRAINER MODEL. EACH FUNCTIONAL AREA HAS A PERSON THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS THEIR TRAINER, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE THE ONES WHO IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL IN THOSE AREAS. WE PERFORM MULTIMODAL TRAINING AT THIS POINT. SYNERGY HAS PROVIDED A NUMBER OF TRAININGS FOR US. TRAINING DOCUMENTATION, TRAINING VIDEOS THAT EXIST ON CANVAS. THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONAL FAQs THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING DROP-IN TRAININGS THAT BOTH SYNERGY, THE EDUPOINT FOLKS ARE CONDUCTING AS WELL AS OUR ESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE CONDUCTING. THESE OCCURRED DURING VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY, VARIOUS DAYS OF THE WEEK TO ENSURE WE CAN HIT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN BASED OFF OF THEIR SCHOOL SCHEDULES. IT'S A CHANGE. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. THIS IS THE LARGEST UNDERTAKING THIS DISTRICT HAS TAKEN IN 33 YEARS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO GO VERY EASILY, VERY CALMLY AND VERY QUIETLY. AND PEOPLE ON THE END. AGAIN, EVERYBODY HAS TO EMBRACE THIS CHANGE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN JUST SAY WE'RE FLIPPING A SWITCH. THIS IS HOW YOU'RE DOING IT, AND IT WILL BE PERFECT. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE VENDOR. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE VENDOR. WE'LL CONTINUE TO GATHER OUR REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ON IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES WITH OUR INTERNAL CONSTITUENTS, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER.
>> YES, SIR.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: I KEEP YOU AT YOUR WORD. GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>>Karen Perez: LET ME GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT. SO YOU HAD INTERNAL FOLKS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, AM I CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>Karen Perez: AND THESE INTERNAL FOLKS WERE ALREADY TARGETED FOR THIS INFORMATION.
>> CORRECT.
>>Karen Perez: DID THEY FAIL IN PROVIDING THE INFORMATION?
>> IT'S NOT BLACK AND WHITE. THERE ARE LEVELS OF FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. WE HAVE NOT IN SOME CASES PROVIDED CONSISTENT REQUIREMENTS OR COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE THE VENDOR. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE PROVIDED THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE VENDOR DID NOT MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS, AND THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE ARE STILL LACKING REQUIREMENTS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUALS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT OUR WORK PROCESSES ARE SPREAD OVER MULTIPLE PORTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION. MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. I'LL TAKE ATTENDANCE AS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THERE IS NO ONE DEFINITIVE PERSON THAT CAN TELL YOU WHAT ATTENDANCE MEANS. WE HAVE FOUR INDIVIDUAL GROUPS THAT DEFINE HOW ATTENDANCE IS TAKEN. SO THEREFORE WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT SETS OF REQUIREMENTS. IN THE PAST, WE HAD A PERSON WHO OVERSAW ATTENDANCE AND WE WOULD SAY WE CAN DEFINE 100% CERTAIN THIS IS WHAT ATTENDANCE MEANS AT EVERY LEVEL OF SCHOOL. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT IN YEARS. IN SOME CASES, WE ARE FALLING SHORT BECAUSE WE CAN'T ADDRESS OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES EFFECTIVELY ENOUGH. AGAIN, SOME OF THIS IS ON THE VENDOR. SOME OF THIS IS ON US. I'M NOT GOING TO SUGAR COAT IT. IT'S A MIXTURE.
>>Karen Perez: SO, SUPERINTENDENT, THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF THIS DISTRICT. ONE AREA -- LET'S TAKE ATTENDANCE, FOR INSTANCE, ONE WAY. ANOTHER AREA IS DOING ATTENDANCE ANOTHER WAY, AND ANOTHER AREA IS DOING ATTENDANCE ANOTHER WAY. THAT'S HOW WE CONTINUE TO FAIL OUR STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ONE SET OF STANDARDS THAT WE FOLLOW, SAY, FOR INSTANCE, FOR ATTENDANCE.
>>Van Ayres: FOR ATTENDANCE, THERE IS ONE SET OF STANDARDS WE FOLLOW.
>>Karen Perez: THEY ARE DOING IT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS. I'M GIVING JUST AN EXAMPLE AND THIS HAPPENED. ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, EXCUSE ME, BOARD MEMBERS FOR USING WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, IT WAS A SH-TSHOW. JUST SAYING. I WAS RECEIVING CALLS. PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING. NOBODY KNEW, IT WAS HORRIBLE. BUT MYSELF, LIKE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID, DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY PHONE CALLS. WE GOT NO INFORMATION. FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL NOW, NOTHING. I CAN'T TELL YOU. I'VE RECEIVED, HEY, THIS IS MY ACTION PLAN. WE'RE HERE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL WE DID THIS. WEEK NUMBER TWO, WE DID THIS. THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING. I'VE RECEIVED NOTHING AT ALL. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHAT THE TEMPLATE IS TO FIX THIS. PARENTS ARE CALLING ME. THEY ARE HIGHLY UPSET. I'M TRYING TO MANEUVER AND PATCHWORK AND TRYING TO TALK TO THEM, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SYNERGY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, THE ATTENDANCE IS NOT COMING THROUGH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT SHOWING UP AND THE SCHOOLS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. IT WAS BEYOND JUST ATTENDANCE, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. IT WAS A WHOLLY MESS. AND NOBODY, AT LEAST THIS BOARD MEMBER, CALLED OUT TO REACH OUT TO LET US KNOW, HEY, YOU KNOW, BE PREPARED BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. BOARD MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: I USUALLY DON'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE. HERE YOU ARE. YOU'RE HEARING FROM BOARD MEMBERS FRONT AND CENTER. IN MY MIND, THE BIGGER PROBLEM COMES ALSO WITH THE LACK OF INTERFACE WITH THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH NOT ONLY COMPLIANCE ISSUES, WE'RE DEALING WITH FUNDING. ALSO, WE'RE ASKING TEACHERS FOR EXTRA TIME. I KNOW YOU HAVE TEN DROP-IN TRAINING SESSIONS, COMING UP, BUT ARE WE SUPPORTING TEACHERS WITH A STIPEND? IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE SPENDING ALREADY COUNTLESS HOURS TEACHING. THAT'S ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM. BUT WHAT I THINK AND I'M LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LOVE TO ENTERTAIN, AND DR. WEEKS, YOU ARE ONE PERSON, AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF AIMING OUR ARROWS AT YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN -- I DON'T HAVE THE SOLUTION. PERHAPS BOARD MEMBERS CAN HELP. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TALK TO EDUPOINT, THE PARENT COMPANY OF SYNERGY. I THINK WE NEED TO DIRECT THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO OWN THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE IS A REVERSE OR A HYBRID. THERE PROBABLY IS NOT, BUT WE HAVE TO, NOW THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO OWN IT. WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT IT AS DO THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING RIGHT BEFORE US. JUST LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WE'LL HAVE TO KNOW AND HAVE TO LEARN THIS. BOARD MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN HANDLE A WORKSHOP ON THIS OR YOU WANT ONE, BUT I DEFINITELY WOULD MYSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS SYSTEM SHOULD WORK. I WANT TO ASK THOSE HARD QUESTIONS TO EDUPOINT AND SYNERGY. AND I WANT TO GET THIS, I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS INTELLIGENTLY WITH ALL THESE UPSET PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS VERSUS SAYING, OH, WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT. SHOULD BE 130 PROBLEMS, NOW 80 PROBLEMS. AT THAT RATE WE SHOULD GO TO NO PROBLEMS. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, THIS IS NOT AN ABSENT HEADACHE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AND AS THE YEAR GOES ON, IT WILL GET MORE COMPLICATED. I'M GOING TO SUGGEST, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, A WORKSHOP, SOME TYPE OF METHOD WHERE WE CAN LEARN AND% ASK QUESTIONS, NOT JUST TO DR. WEEKS, BUT ALSO TO THE ONES THAT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT. I WILL MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? THAT'S WHERE I'MHEAD FOR.
>>Van Ayres: I HEAR YOU. WE'LL START WITH THE DAILY COMMUNICATION TO THE BOARD. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT A WORKSHOP, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THE ENTIRE BOARD, MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO THAT. I KNOW OUR DATES LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER ARE ALREADY FILLED.
>>Lynn Gray: AT ANY RATE, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I WANT TO LEARN MORE AND I'LL ASK FOR A MEETING WITH EDUPOINT. BEFORE WE KEEP COMPLAINING AND COMPLAINING, WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY THE WORDS, THE VERBIAGE ON OUR COMPLAINTS AND OUR CONCERNS. I'M NOT A TECH EXPERT AND NEVER GOING TO PRETEND TO BE. BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE AND THE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE HAD. I THINK THAT IS ESSENTIAL. OTHERWISE, I DEFINITELY THINK WHEN WE GO TO SCHOOL SITES, WE WILL BE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF FRUSTRATION AND NEGATIVE CULTURE. I THINK THAT'S WHERE, IN MY VIEW, GOING. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: GOODNESS. OKAY. SO WE STARTED OFF THIS AGENDA ITEM WHERE I WAS ASKING FOR ANOTHER MEETING TO BE ABLE TO GO OVER THIS. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN MY CLOSING COMMENTS WHERE IT IS WHERE I WISH I WAS GETTING AND MORE COMMUNICATION FROM STAFF AROUND ISSUES. I HAVE SEVERAL MESSAGES TONIGHT WHERE PEOPLE ARE APOLOGIZING, WHERE I ASKED FOR A FOLLOW-UP ON SOMETHING OR ASKED FOR SOMETHING TO BE INCLUDED IN A PRESENTATION AND IT WASN'T. I THINK THE FRUSTRATION FOR BOARD MEMBERS IS WE'RE KIND OF HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T MAKE THE DECISIONS, WHEN WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ON AND WE BEAR A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATIONS WHEN WE GO INTO THE SCHOOLS OR WHEN WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS AND WE ARE THE ONES HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SO THE FRUSTRATION THAT YOU'RE FEELING FROM BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR US WHEN WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IT INSTEAD OF BEING BLINDSIDED BY IT IS THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE GET WHEN WE WALK INTO A SCHOOL OR WHEN WE DEAL WITH A PARENT OR DEAL WITH SOMEONE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. WHAT YOU'RE FEELING RIGHT NOW IS WHAT WE FEEL SEVERAL TIMES A DAY QUITE OFTEN. I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THIS, EVEN STARTING WITH THE ORIGINAL AGENDA ITEM IS WE JUST NEED, IF THERE ARE DELAYS, IF THERE ARE HICCUPS, IF WE UNDERSTAND THAT, IT'S EASIER FOR US TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ESE CONTINUALLY, LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT MEETING. PARENTS SPOKE TONIGHT. I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN PARENTS WERE HERE, PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP WITH THIS MEETING OF ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF IT. TONIGHT WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, DID THAT MEETING HAPPEN? WHAT CAME OUT OF THE ABA? WAS THE POLICY CHANGED AND UPDATED? AGAIN WE'RE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT IN PUBLIC COMMENT, RIGHT? I THINK JUST WHAT I'M HEARING, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON AND SO MUCH FRUSTRATION RIGHT NOW THAT THE MORE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, THE EASIER IT IS FOR US TO KIND OF MANAGE THAT. THAT'S MY ONLY THOUGHTS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
>>Nadia Combs: I'M JUST GOING TO SAY JUST A COUPLE OF LAST THINGS ABOUT SYNERGY. THIS IS FOR ME THE BIGGEST PRIORITY RIGHT NOW AS A BOARD MEMBER. THERE IS NOTHING MORE OF A PRIORITY FOR ME THAN RESOLVING THIS. I THINK PROBABLY WHERE YOUR BIGGEST ISSUE WAS WHEN YOU HAD FIVE YEARS, PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED ALL LAST YEAR. TRAINING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON ALL THE TIME. THE IDEA THAT YOU HAD 20 PEOPLE OR YOU WERE TRYING TO GET THE COUNSELORS OR GET SOMEONE HERE OR THERE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALL ALONG, LONG AHEAD OF TIME. EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE A SOFT OPENING ON SOME SCHOOLS. GONE THROUGH, LOOKED AT THAT. THE OTHER ISSUE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A BUSINESS BACKGROUND, WHAT MOTIVATES SYNERGY TO DO ANYTHING NOW? THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE PAID ALL THAT MONEY. WE SHOULD HAVE HELD SOME MONEY BACK. WHAT MOTIVATES A COMPANY NOW TO HELP US ONCE WE'VE GIVEN THEM ALL THAT MONEY? IT'S A BIG ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR A WORKSHOP. PEOPLE CAN'T WAIT WORKING 18 HOUR DAYS FOR THAT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. THIS NEEDS TO BE YOUR PRIORITY. I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE TO WORK 24 HOURS A DAY, YOU NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT, IF IT IS A HYBRID OR WHATEVER, GO ON SCHOOL SITES, FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND REALLY PUT THE ENERGY INTO THAT. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW. NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT GETTING ACCURATE FTE COUNTS, MORE IMPORTANTLY IT'S TAKING HOURS FOR PEOPLE. I SAW SOMEONE, 500 PEOPLE AHEAD OF THEM IN A QUEUE. AND THEN SOMEONE SENT ME A SCREEN SHOT WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO DOWNLOAD A FORM FOR ONE AND A HALF HOURS AND IT WASN'T BEING DOWNLOADED. THESE ARE HUGE, HUGE ISSUES. AND THIS NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY. HONESTLY, WHEN YOU TALK, I FEEL LIKE YOU SPEAK IN CIRCLES. I'M NOT GETTING A DIRECT ANSWER FROM YOU. I AM NOT GETTING A DIRECT TIMELINE. ALSO NOT GETTING A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY FROM IT. I NEED YOU TO REALLY FOCUS ON THIS AND WORK ON THIS. YOU DROPPED THE BALL. THE TRAINING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WELL AHEAD OF TIME. YOU HAD YEARS FOR THIS. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ON THAT. I'M LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE AT THE SCHOOL SITE, ALL OF US IN HERE, WE'RE NOT AT SCHOOL SITES. SOME OF US HAVEN'T BEEN AT SCHOOL SITES FOR MANY YEARS. WE FORGET. NONE OF US ARE IMPORTANT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL. THE PRINCIPAL, THE DATA PROCESSOR, THE STUDENTS, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. IF WE ALL DISAPPEARED, GUESS WHAT, THE SCHOOLS WOULD STILL RUN BUT THEY NEED TO BE RUN EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AND YOU DROPPED THE BALL AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET DAILY UPDATES AND THAT YOU RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND IF NOT, FIND A PLAN. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR A WORKSHOP. PEOPLE CAN'T WAIT FOR A MONTH OR TWO. IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. IF THAT MEANS GOING BACK TO SOMETHING OR DOING A HYBRID OR DROPPING IT OR LOOKING AT SYNERGY AND SAYING THEY DID NOT DO WHAT WE NEEDED THEM TO DO AND MAYBE FILE A LAWSUIT, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, SYNERGY NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AS WELL. THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT WHAT IT PROMISED TO BE, THEN THAT IS BIG ISSUE AS WELL. IF THEY ALREADY GOT PAID, WHAT MOTIVATES THEM TO WORK WITH US?
>> MEMBER COMBS, I WILL SAY THAT, YES, I DROPPED THE BALL WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMUNICATION PIECE. I APOLOGIZE TO THE BOARD. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE IN COMMUNICATING THE ISSUES SINCE DAY ONE. MY CONCERN WAS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE WORKING AND EXPENDING EVERY RESOURCE POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M DOING RIGHT NOW THAT I WILL SAY, I HAVE TASKED THE TEAM TO PRIORITIZE ALL OF THE ITEMS BASED OFF OF ANY BUDGETARY RELATED IMPACT AS WELL AS ANY REGULATORY RELATED IMPACT. THOSE ITEMS HAVE TO GET ADDRESSED FIRST AND FOREMOST. WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH EDUPOINT, WE ARE EXPLORING EVERY AVENUE TO ENSURE THAT EDUPOINT PROVIDES THE PRODUCT THAT WE PAID FOR AND CONTINUE TO PAY FOR, AND THEIR MOTIVATION IS THE $2 MILLION A YEAR BASICALLY THAT WE WILL PAY IN MAINTENANCE. SO THAT'S THEIR MOTIVATION TO KEEP US HAPPY. PLUS, WE ARE THEIR LARGEST ACCOUNT. THEY WANT US TO BE A REFERENCABLE ACCOUNT. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT, SO THEY ARE GOING TO WORK AS BEST AS THEY CAN TO GET US SUPPORTED. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE JUST HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT THEIR PRODUCT LOOKS LIKE AND WHETHER OR NOT IT PROVIDES EVERYTHING WE NEED AS A DISTRICT.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON.
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO, DR. WEEKS, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT YOU ARE THE LEAD FOR ALL OF OUR I.T. PROJECTS RELATED TO ALL OF THE SYSTEMS?
>> I WOULD SAY YES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THIS IS NOT AN I.T. PROJECT. THIS IS A DISTRICT PROJECT.
>>Patti Rendon: AREN'T YOU IN CHARGE OF THE SYSTEMS WHICH WE IMPLEMENT THAT WE VOTE ON, YOUR PROJECTS, INCLUDING N 4, SYNERGY. THIS IS WHAT THE BOARD VOTED ON THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE?
>> WE PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCT RUNS. WE DO NOT PROVIDE THE PROCESSES OR PROCEDURES THAT GOVERNS HOW THE TASKS ARE RUN.
>>Patti Rendon: YOUR DEPARTMENT IS NOT IN CHARGE OF PICKING THESE SYSTEMS AT ALL? YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>>Thomas Weeks: THE SYSTEM WAS PICKED ACTUALLY THROUGH A I CAN BACK IN 2019. THROUGH A COMMITTEE BACK IN 2019. I WAS NOT IN CHARGE IN 2019.
>>Patti Rendon: YOU HAD THE SYSTEM FIVE YEARS. IT WASN'T FOUR. IT WAS FIVE. LET ME MAKE SURE. SO AS YOU KNEW IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT IT WASN'T UP TO PAR, BECAUSE YOU'VE AGREED THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROJECT MEETINGS, HAVE YOU BEEN ATTENDING THESE PROJECT MEETINGS?
>> I ATTEND AS MANY PROJECT MEETINGS AS I CAN, YES.
>>Patti Rendon: SINCE WE KNOW THIS FAILED, HOW FREQUENTLY HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE PROJECT MEETINGS?
>> WE HAVE PROJECT MEETINGS BASED ON A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS. I ATTEND AS MANY PROJECT MEETINGS AS I CAN. I ATTENDED THE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS WE'VE HAD WITH EDUPOINT EXECUTIVE MEMBERS TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE PROJECT THE WAY IT'S GONE AND WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY ALIGN WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT WE GET WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE PAID FOR.
>>Patti Rendon: WE HAVE ABOUT 20 WORK STREAMS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT THAT ARE ALL UTILIZING SYNERGY. HOW MANY OF THE WORK STREAMS HAVE YOU MET WITH TO UNDERSTAND THE ACTUAL DIFFICULTY THEY ARE CURRENTLY HAVING SO WHEN YOU ARE MEETING WITH EDUPOINT, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE FACTS BEHIND YOU AND KNOW WHAT THE SYSTEM PROBLEMS ARE.
>> AS THE PROJECT SPONSOR, I ONLY LOOK AT THIS AS A CURSORY LEVEL.
>>Patti Rendon: AT THE END OF THE DAY, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS SYSTEM. I THINK THE BOARD IN ENTIRETY HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCURATE DATA. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I ASKED FOR BEHAVIOR DATA. IT TOOK TWO DAYS TO GET ME ACCURATE BEHAVIOR DATA THAT I REQUESTED. NOBODY WITHIN OUTSIDE OF A SCHOOL CAN PULL THE DATA. IT TOOK TWO DAYS TO GET THE DATA. THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. WE COULD LIST MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE SYSTEM. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I HEAR HERE TODAY IS ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY, ZERO SOLUTIONS, AND YET OUR DISTRICT -- I'M HUNDRED PERCENT BEHIND MEMBER COMBS WITH THIS ONE -- THAT EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL, EVERY ADMINISTRATOR, EVERY TEACHER, EVERYONE THAT WORKS THERE IS HAVING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR INEFFICIENCY IN IMPLEMENTING THIS SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD WANTS TO LOOK AT ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER AND APOLOGIZE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET IT RIGHT. AND THREE WEEKS IS ENOUGH TIME TO AT LEAST DO SOMETHING OR SCRAP IT AND START WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS OR ANY OF OUR STAFF TO BE TREATED THIS POORLY ANY LONGER. AND THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS HAPPENING THE WAY IT IS. ALL I HEAR TONIGHT IS BLAMING EVERYBODY ELSE AND ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THAT IS NOT OKAY. I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT OKAY WITH IT. IT'S OUR STUDENTS AND PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THEM. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE ACTUALLY ENROLLED INTO ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT THEY WERE IN THREE YEARS AGO AND THEY SHOW UP WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, WHERE ALREADY ENROLLED AND MESSED THEM ALL UP. WE COULD GO ON AND ON TO THE DANGERS WE PUT OUR STUDENTS IN. WE COULD GO ON AND ON. AT THE END OF THE DAY, SUPERINTENDENT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: WE'VE GOT TO FIX THIS BECAUSE IT IS A PAIN IN THE ASS. TOO MANY PEOPLE CALLING. WE'RE BOARD MEMBERS. THEY LOOK UP TO US. THEY CALL US. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. HAVE YOU RECEIVED CALLS IN YOUR OFFICE?
>> I RECEIVE CALLS REGULARLY, TEXTS, E-MAILS.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: HOW ARE WE CORRECTING THE CALLS YOU'RE RECEIVING? I'M GETTING A HELL OF A LOT OF CALLS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS. HOW ARE WE CORRECTING. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY CALL? I NEED TO HAVE AN ANSWER, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
>> DEPENDING ON WHAT THE REQUEST IS OR THE CONCERN IS, THAT'S REALLY HOW WE RESPOND TO IT. FOR INSTANCE, TAKING ATTENDANCE, THE HELP DESK WILL SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS. THEY CAN CALL THE I.T. HELP DESK. WE HAVE THE DATA PROCESSORS AND DATA PROCESS SUPPORT THAT HELPS THE DPs OUT OF THE SCHOOL SITES. AND I WILL SAY THIS, AND MEMBER RENDON, I TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS. YES, THIS HAPPENED -- THIS DID HAPPEN UNDER MY WATCH, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I STARTED OR HAVE CONTROLLED COMPLETELY FROM THE INCEPTION. SO YOU'VE ASKED ME TO BUILD AN AIRPLANE WHILE GIVING ME A SUBPAR FRAME THAT SOMEBODY ELSE BUILT AND THEN SAID MAKE IT THE CONCORD. I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT EVERYBODY IS LEVERAGING. YES, I SCREWED UP. I WILL SAY IT, ADMIT IT PUBLICLY, I SCREWED UP ON THE COMMUNICATIONS PIECE. THAT IS ON ME.
>>Patti Rendon: YOU NEVER TOLD ME OR A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD YOU COULDN'T BUILD THE CONCORD.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THE COMPANY, CAN THEY COME OUT TO HELP?
>> SO WE HAVE EDUPOINT RIGHT NOW --
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: EDU POINT, WHOEVER IT IS, CAN THEY COME OUT TO HELP?
>> WE HAVE EDUPOINT HELPING. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, THE ENROLLMENT PIECE, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR TEAM WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. AS MS. JOHNSON CAN ATTEST TO AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS, WE WORK STRAIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WERE CALLS A VARIOUS NUMBER OF TIMES, E-MAILS GOING BACK AND FORTH SHOWING WHAT PROGRESS WAS MADE, WHAT PROGRESS WASN'T MADE. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TAKING LIGHTLY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH WE AND THE VENDOR ARE WORKING ON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: WE CAN'T HAVE THE EMPLOYEES CALLING LIKE THAT. WE JUST CAN'T. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. LIKE I SAID EARLIER TODAY WHEN WE WERE TALKING, WE CAN'T HAVE THIS. SOME THINGS IN LIFE YOU CAN HAVE AND SOME YOU CAN'T. THIS IS ONE OF THE DAMN ONES WE CAN'T. A LOT OF PEOPLE UPSET. WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION HOW WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
>>Jim Porter: MADAM CHAIR, I'LL NOTE THIS AGENDA ITEM, -- APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S RELATED. IF YOU NOTE THE TIME AND YOU STILL HAVE SOME OF THE AGENDA TO GO THROUGH, UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER BOARD COMMENTS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CALL FOR THE VOTE AND MOVE ON. I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS HEARD WHAT YOU NEEDED HIM TO HEAR.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR COMPLAINTS OR AGGRAVATION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHICH ONE WE'RE ON.
>>Van Ayres: ONE MORE 7.03.
>>Karen Perez: ITEM 7.03, PIGGYBACK WITH ARIEL BUSINESS GROUP, INCORPORATED. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Van Ayres: THIS PIGGY BECOME A CONTRACT ALLOWS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HIRE A VENDOR FOR SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON AS NEEDED BASIS. THIS INCLUDES JOB OVERSIGHT ASSISTANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CRUCIAL FOR EFFECTIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT. ARIEL BUSINESS GROUP WILL SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER BY SOLICITING, SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR LOCAL MINORITY BUSINESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THIS PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO ENGAGE WITH 20% LOCAL MINORITY BUSINESSES ALIGNING WITH THE OSD GOALS. THAT IS ITEM 7.03.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.03. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>>Jessica Vaughn: I'M SCARED TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, WHERE IT MAY LEAD. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE PIGGYBACKING ON BUT TO HELP IDENTIFY AND ENSURE WE'RE OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO SMALL AND DIVERSITY OWNS BUSINESSES WHEN IT GOES OUT FOR RFP AND BIDDING. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT BECAUSE WHEN I GO IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING EVERYONE ACCESS TO THESE. I KNOW THAT'S HOW THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO ME. VERY QUICKLY AFTER THAT LAST AGENDA ITEM, CAN YOU KIND OF HIGHLIGHT HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
>>Christopher Farkas: THIS IS A POSITIVE ITEM. THIS IS ONE THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR SMALL MINORITY BUSINESSES, VETERAN OWN, WOMEN BUSINESSES. ARIEL GROUP HAD SUCCESS NOT JUST WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE AIRPORT AND THE PORT MAKING SURE WE GET LOCAL PARTICIPATION FOR OUR PROJECTS. ANYWAY WE CAN GET BETTER WITH LOCAL PARTICIPATION WITH TAX DOLLARS, THAT IS THE FOCUS. IMPROVE THE CONCEPT, MAKE SURE THEY CAN PROVE WHAT THEY DID. IF WE USE THEM, USE THEM MORE OFTEN. EXCITED TO BRING THE GROUP ON. HAD SUCCESS IN OTHER AREAS WITH GOVERNMENT WORK. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT.
>>Van Ayres: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY COMMENTS WILL BE BRIEF. NUMBER ONE, ENROLLMENT NUMBERS. WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT FROM 15 DAY COUNT OF LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. OUR NUMBERS ARE UP, CHARTERS SCHOOLS ARE ARE DOWN. AS WE LOOK AT THE PRODUCT WE PRODUCE AND FAMILIES CHOOSING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE'RE UP APPROXIMATELY 1800 STUDENTS FROM LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME. CHARTER NUMBERS ARE DOWN. 1600. AS WE LOOK, ALWAYS AS WE PROJECT A BUDGET IN THE SPRING TIME LEADING TO THE FALL IT'S WHERE OUR NUMBERS ARE GOING TO LAND. WITHIN WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT -- WHEN WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT PROVE WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE AND CONTINUE TO BE FOR OUR FAMILIES, THAT IS A POSITIVE SIGN. OTHER UPDATE WAS AROUND SYNERGY AND KEEP PROVIDING THOSE UPDATES ON A REGULAR, REGULAR BASIS AND CONTINUE TO PROBLEM SOLVE UNTIL THE FRUSTRATIONS ARE GONE. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WE'LL MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK. 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: PABLO, CAN YOU PUT THE SLIDE UP? JUST ONE SLIDE. ALL RIGHT. MAYBE NOT. HOLD ON. NOW, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT. WE HAVE OUR STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY FORUMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, YORK INNOVATION WILL BE THE FIRST ONE, SEPTEMBER 26. THEN WE'RE AT WILSON, JANUARY AT ADUM AND FEBRUARY AT TURNER/BARTELS AND APRIL 24 AT CARROLLWOOD. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AWARE, HOPEFULLY, OF THE STUDENT ONLINE. THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SAFETY STRATEGIES TO HELP THEIR STUDENTS FOR PARENTS TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN TO BECOME SAFE WHILE THEY ARE DOING THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ONLINE. NEXT, OKAY, DONE WITH THE SLIDE. NINTH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL AND MEMBER SHAKE WASHINGTON IS ALSO ON THIS COMMITTEE. WE HAVE OUR PRELIMINARIES AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ON JANUARY 28, 2025. THEN BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL, JANUARY 29, 2025. LETO HIGH SCHOOL, JANUARY 30th, 2025. AND MIDDLETON, FEBRUARY 22, 2025. LAST YEAR, WE HAD I THINK, SHAKE, WE HAD OVER 189 SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL PREPARE AND 44 THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS. WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE. DR. BEVERLY IS IN CHARGE OF THE NINTH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY. AND WE JUST CAN'T THANK HER ENOUGH. NEXT, A BIG AWARD HAS HAPPENED FOR JESSICA DE LA PRIETA. HISPANIC HERITAGE IS A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF FLORIDA AND CITY OF. IN HONOR OF NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, THE MAYOR JANE CASTOR AND THE SPANISH SPORT CASTING SYSTEM RECOGNIZE JESSICA DE LA PRIETO TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SHAPING OUR CITY THROUGH BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, NATIONAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, CUBAN COMMUNITIES, VENEZUELAN COMMUNITIES, NICARAGUAN COMMUNITIES, COLUMBIA, SPANISH, PUERTO RICO AS WELL. IF I DIDN'T SAY HAITIAN, BUT JESSICA DE LA PRIETO IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE NINTH ANNUAL VIVA TAMPA BAY HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD, VERY WELL DESERVED. NEXT, WE HAVE A FLORIDA TEACHER OF THE YEAR. JAMIE. THIS COMES FROM DANA FROM TURKEY CREEK CLASS 1972. THE IDEA WAS TO GIVE THIS PARTICULAR PERSON, JAMIE SUAREZ, SHE WAS NAMED THE 2025 TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THIS IS ALL RELATING BACK TO THE WONDERFUL AREA CALLED TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF JAMIE SUAREZ. AND SHE IS A K-8 MATH TEACHER. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS A SHOUT-OUT. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SHOUT OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO SHOUT AT ME IF I DON'T STOP TALKING. ALL RIGHT. DONE.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: LET'S GO WITH AUGUST 10. OH, YEAH, WE HAD A GREAT TIME ON AUGUST THE 10. WE HAD MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL 90th CELEBRATION PARADE AND ALSO WE HAD THE ALUMNI TAKEOVER, WHICH WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WONDERFUL LEADERS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR COMING OUT. ON THE 18th, YOU CAN SEE ME AND MRS. RENDON. WE WERE AT THE SOCCER GAME. WE HAD ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE THERE. I THINK CHRIS FARKAS WAS THERE. IT WAS FILLED. GREAT TIME. FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME TO SEE ALL THE FAMILIES. AT THE SOCCER GAME. AUGUST 31st, WE HAD, THIS WEEKEND BURNETT, I WENT AND DONATED CLOTHES. THEY HAD THE WOLF DEN AKA COMMUNITY CLOTHES SUPPLY CLOSET. THEY ARE UNDERWAY HAVING A CLOSET FOR STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE CLOTHES AND FAMILIES WILL BE COMING OUT. WE HAVE A LOT. THAT WAS JUST ONE DAY. SO WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON THERE. AND THEN THE LAST ONE, SEPTEMBER THE 30th, WE HAD THANK YOU FIRST, SOUTH FLORIDA MISSIONARY BAPTIST BROTHERHOOD MINISTRY FOR DONATING $250 TO TWO TEACHERS AT CORR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THANK YOU ALSO FOR COMING TO YOUR SCHOOL AND DONATING MONEY. WE HAD GRACE, A FIFTH GRADE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER AND WE HAD TRACY INGRAM, A FOURTH GRADE ELE TEACHER. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON.
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST WANT TO THANK CHAIR PEREZ AND I CELEBRATED WITH PEPIN ACADEMY FOR THEIR 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR PEPIN ACADEMIES HERE IN THE HILLSBOROUGH AREA. THEY WERE A GROUND BREAKING MOMENT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. 25 YEARS AGO, MANY INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WERE JUST BEING CLOSED AND THINGS WERE CHANGING. TO BE INNOVATIVE THE WAY THEY WERE AND TO PUT SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY IS SO INCREDIBLY SPECIAL. BOTH CHAIR PEREZ AND I WERE THERE TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM AND WE WANT TO THANK THE PEPIN FOUNDATION FOR THE WORK THEY DO ON AN ONGOING BASIS, NOT ONLY WITH THEIR ACADEMIES, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THAT WAS HUGE. WE SPOKE A LOT ABOUT THE THINGS GOING WRONG TONIGHT AND THE FRUSTRATION WE HAVE, IS BUT I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO OUR ADMINISTRATORS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR SCHOOL STAFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THIS SCHOOL YEAR SO FAR. AS A BOARD MEMBER, I CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH. I AM SURE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FEEL THE SAME WAY. WE ARE JUST SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THE WRAPAROUNDS YOU HAVE CREATED. THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU ARE COLLABORATING WITH EACH OTHER WITH YOUR COHORTS AT OTHER SCHOOLS TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS. YOU ARE JUST DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AND TO OUR ACADEMIC STAFF AND OUR OTHER DISTRICT STAFF THAT ARE HELPING THEM ALONG THIS WAY, OUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS, OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE JUMPING IN TO HELP IN THIS PROCESS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SAID THANK YOU BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THAT, THEY PUT A SMILING FACE ON. THEY ARE PUTTING CURRICULUM IN FRONT OF STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED. THEY DESERVE 150% OF OUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOUS THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM. I WANT TO SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR STAFF ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID. THE SATURDAYS, THE SUNDAYS, THE ONGOING REWRITING AND CREATIVENESS AND THINGS THAT THEY DO. ON TOP OF IT, THEY ARE THERE ON FRIDAYS. THEY ARE THERE ON SATURDAYS. FRIDAY NIGHT AT SCHOOL. VOLLEYBALL GAMES. EVERYTHING GOING ON RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE STILL SHOWING UP. THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERYTHING YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS TO COVER. I'LL TRY TO MOVE QUICKLY. FIRST OF ALL, UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST ONE OF OUR STUDENTS ON LABOR DAY AT FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL. A SENIOR. I JUST WANT TO SEND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY AND TO THE SCHOOL. I KNOW IT WAS A HARD LOSS. FOR SOMEONE WHO SAT ON THE TPO BOARD, TAMPA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PEDESTRIAN FATALITY RATES IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR SAFE SIDEWALKS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S SAFE TO SEND OUR KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND JUST SAY OUR CONDOLENCES AND HOW SAD THAT IS. NEXT, SOMEONE HAD ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT OUR FOOTBALL GAMES. I GUESS THERE'S BEEN SOME DISTURBANCES AND CHALLENGES GOING ON. I DON'T WANT YOU TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOME FOLLOW-UP ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ENSURE SAFETY AND TO MANAGE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, AS WELL AS THEY HAD SUGGESTED MAYBE IF WE MOVE IT EARLIER IN THE DAY OR FOOTBALL TIMES CHANGE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT HAS AN EFFECT, POSITIVE EFFECT ON IT. I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY REACH OUT TO ME WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. I SAID I WOULD AS IN ON. IF SOMEBODY COULD FOLLOW UP WITH ME ON THAT. BLACK BRAIN BOWL, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND WORKING SO HARD ON THAT, MEMBER GRAY. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT SOME OF MY SCHOOLS DID NOT PARTICIPATE. IT'S BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE A TEACHER WHO WAS WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME AND SPONSOR. BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE TALKING, MS. McRAE, YOU SAID A PARENT COULD DO THAT AS WELL. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN CASE YOU ARE AT A SCHOOL AND WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR SCHOOL CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE BLACK BRAIN BOWL. UNFORTUNATELY IF WE DON'T HAVE A TEACHER WHO IS ABLE TO SPONSOR THAT, THAT PARENTS ARE ABLE TO SPONSOR THAT CLUB. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY GIVE US MORE PARTICIPATION. I KNOW I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO DO THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL. I ALSO WANTED TO ASK YOU, DR. GRACE, ABOUT OUR SENIOR POLICY AROUND THE LAST SEMESTER, IF STUDENTS HAVE SO MANY EXCUSED OR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES THAT THERE HE IS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THEM BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO TESTS. I KNOW A LOT OF ANXIETY AROUND THAT. NOT RIGHT NOW BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICY. I UNDERSTAND UNEXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ABSENCES BUT IF EXCUSED ABSENCES AND STUDENT HAS A LONG SICKNESS AND WHATNOT, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS. I WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU. ALSO BRING UP TO FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, ONE THING I'M GOING TO DISCUSS AGAIN AS WE GO FORWARD IS BRINGING OUR SUBS BACK TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WHERE PEOPLE TOLD ME EXPERIENCES WITH KELLY STAFFING. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT. SOMEBODY WHO WORKED BOTH FOR KELLY AND IN-HOUSE, I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR OUR OWN DISTRICT. TALKING ABOUT ESE OR DIFFERENT THINGS WHERE WE HAVE SUBS FILL IN AND MAKE SURE WE DO THE TRAINING WITH FIDELITY, WE'LL SEE DIFFERENCE IN CLASSROOMS. SOMETHING I'LL BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT. I MENTIONED THAT TO YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I ALSO WANT TO ECHO WHAT MEMBER RENDON SAID, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW WE SOMETIMES AS BOARD MEMBERS TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER OR HIGHLIGHT THINGS. WE ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS. TALKING TO PARENTS WHO ARE LOVING SENDING THEIR KIDS TO OUR SCHOOLS AND HAVING GREAT EXPERIENCES. I EVEN THINK WITH TEACHERS, BURNT OUT AND EXHAUSTED, BUT ALSO TRYING TO HAVE A GOOD YEAR AND SEEING SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS PUTTING INTO PLAY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND LET THEM KNOW WE APPRECIATE IT AND THERE ARE GREAT AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. ALSO TO YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WHEN IT CAME TO THE MILLAGE. I KNOW THAT WAS A REALLY CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHO ARE STILL USING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ATTACK YOU PERSONALLY, WHICH I FIND TO BE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR STUDENTS WHEN THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE USING THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO TEAR US OR TEAR YOU DOWN. AGAIN, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT THIS SCHOOL YEAR. I'M GLAD TO STILL BE HERE. THAT'S IT. THANKS.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I'M GLAD MEMBER RENDON BROUGHT UP THE PEPIN 25th ANNIVERSARY. I WASN'T ABLE TO GO BUT I DID RECORD AN ONLINE VIDEO. IT IS A VERY SPECIAL SCHOOL, HAS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART AND IN THE HISTORY OF MY CAREER. I SAT ON THEIR BOARD A LONG TIME AGO AND RAN A SUMMER PROGRAM IN MATH AND READING FOR THEM THROUGH USF COLLEGE OF ED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND JUST LOVE THE WORK THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HOPEFULLY 25 MORE YEARS WE'LL BE SAYING THAT AGAIN. I WANTED TO GIVE READ ON MY ON-UPDATES BECAUSE READING WAS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER. READ ON/myON HAD A SUMMER COMMUNITYWIDE CAMPAIGN. #JUST 2 BOOKS. FUN VIDEO TO KICK THIS OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER. THEY REALLY WANTED KIDS TO READ AT LEAST TWO BOOKS. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF BOOKS ACCESSED WAS IN AUGUST, 182,015 BOOKS. BOOKS COMPLETED 40,180. AND TIME SPENT READING, JUST UNDER 18,000 HOURS. 17,999. HURRAH. THANK YOU, myON FOR HELPING US WITH SUMMER SLIDE, AND ENCOURAGING KIDS TO READ AND OFFERING ACCESS TO BOOKS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THEY ALSO HAD THE STREET TEAM OUT THIS SUMMER. THEY VISITED ALL THE SLP SITES. ALL THE HOST SITES, THE YMCA CAMPS, PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 99 VISITS. THE STREET TEAM GOES OUT. IT'S FANTASTIC. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY SEE THIS IN ACTION. IT'S FUN. THEY GO OUT. DO A LOT OF READING GAMES WITH KIDS AND GIVE OUT PRIZES AND GET KIDS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT READING AND BOOKS. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. IT'S SOMETHING TO VISIT OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS AT SOME OF YOUR SITES. LE SO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH MYON, THEY HAVE UPDATED CURRICULUM FOR ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES. NOW DISTRICTWIDE ASSIGNMENTS CREATED AND SHARED WITH ALL TEACHERS. THERE IS A NEW myON FEATURE THIS YEAR WHERE STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECORD THEIR ANSWERS VERBALLY WHEN WORKING ON AN ASSIGNMENT, WHICH AS SOME OF US KNOW, KIND OF WORKING IN THAT ESE ARENA, THAT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR A LOT OF KIDS TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WHEN THEY CAN SAY IT INSTEAD OF WRITE IT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THEIR EXCEPTIONALITIES WHICH CREATE A BARRIER TO EXPRESSING WHAT THEY KNOW. I REALLY LIKE THAT FEATURE. myON HAS MOVED TO A SINGLE SIGN-ON WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PARENTS TO ACCESS THE LIBRARY AND THE BOOKS. THANK YOU FOR myON AND TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO INVEST IN myON SO KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS ALL YEAR ROUND. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. THIS OCTOBER 3rd, PABLO WILL BE OUR THIRD ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION THAT WILL BE HELD IN LETO. AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. LAST YEAR, LITERALLY THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE. I WANT TO REALLY THANK MARCUS MURILLO WHO HELPED SO MUCH. MELISSA MORGADO AND THE WHOLE TEAM OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. WE'LL HAVE EVEN MORE VENDORS, MORE PEOPLE THIS YEAR. THIS THURSDAY -- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3rd. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CELEBRATION TO CELEBRATE IN TOWN N' COUNTRY. THANK YOU TO MARISSA McCOY, PRINCIPAL AT LETO, WHO IS HOSTING THAT. IT IS A VERY BIG EVENT. I HOPE MANY OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT. FINALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 40% OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE HISPANIC AND REALLY MAKING SURE WHEN YOU LOOK AT TOWN N' COUNTRY AND THAT AREA, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE MORGAN WOODS. YOU'RE SEEING HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS GOING INTO TOWN N' COUNTRY. LOTS OF SCHOOLS HAVE 500 OR MORE STUDENTS. THE POPULATION HAS REALLY INCREASED. EVERY SCHOOL IN DISTRICT ONE IS A, B, OC. THAT HISPANIC POPULATION, FAMILIES ARE WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE TO LIVE THAT AMERICAN DREAM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS ARE DOING WELL AND IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE. I REALLY AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARENT COMMUNITY CENTER. I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT. PEOPLE ALREADY WORKING AT ROSSAC. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING. NOTHING EXTRA. JUST MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR DISTRICT PEOPLE, TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THIS REALLY QUICK CLIP FROM SPECTRUM NEWS. HERE WE GO.
>> LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS JUST WRAPPED UP THEIR FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES. THE SCHOOL LEADERS SAY IT COULD TAKE A WHILE FOR STUDENTS TO ADJUST. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO JUST MOVED HERE. IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THEY ARE WORKING TO OPEN A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTER IN TOWN N' COUNTRY. SPECTRUM BAY NEWS 9 ELIZABETH GUTIERREZ GIVES US A SNEAK PEEK AT THE CENTER AND THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON FAMILIES.
>> THIS STARTED 20 YEARS AGO.
>> A PROJECT YEARS IN THE MAKING. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS SAYS WITH MORE STUDENTS REGISTERING IN THE DISTRICT, THEY WANTED TO CREATE A PLACE NEW FAMILIES CAN FEEL CONNECTED.
>> NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM, OUT OF STATE OR OUT OF THE DISTRICT OR OUT OF THE COUNTRY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT PARENTS IN THE DISTRICT ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER.
>> NADIA COMBS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE, SAYS ALMOST HALF OF THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT ARE HISPANIC. AND THE CENTER HAS BEEN SOMETHING SHE'S BEEN PUSHING FOR, A PLACE THAT HELP FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, OFFERING ENGLISH COURSES AND THE BASICS OF HOW TO USE SCHOOL APPS.
>> THOSE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES ARE THRIVING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TEACH THEM HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. WHAT KIND OF CREDITS DO YOU NEED FOR COLLEGE, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY ARE. BECAUSE WHEN WE STABILIZE FAMILIES, THEN WE STABILIZE STUDENTS AND WE HAVE A BETTER AND STRONGER COMMUNITY.
>> THE CENTER WILL BE A BENEFIT FOR PARENTS LIKE LYNNETTE SUAREZ. SHE MOVED TO FLORIDA A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THERE'S STILL A LOT SHE'S LEARNING AS SHE GETS INVOLVED IN HER CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
>> THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SOMEONE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR EDUCATIONAL CAREER AND LEARN WHERE TO APPLY.
>> THE SPACE WILL OFFER SCHOOL REGISTRATIONS, PHYSICALS, TRANSCRIPTS, TUTORING FOR STUDENTS, EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION SUPPORT AND MUCH MORE. LYNNETTE SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, SO HAVING THE SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF HISPANIC STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE AS PARENTS NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR CHILD STUDIES TO LEARN WITH THEM.
>> EDUCATING THE FUTURE LEADERS OF AMERICA. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WANT TO CONTINUE OPENING THE DOORS FOR MORE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN TAMPA, ELIZABETH GUTIERREZ, SPECTRUM NEWS.
>> THANK YOU, ELIZABETH. THE CENTER IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN THREE WEEKS, AND THEN IT WILL BE OPEN EVERY DAY FOR FAMILIES. THE CENTER IS LOCATED AT 5630 NORTH LOIS AVENUE IN TAMPA.
>>Nadia Combs: AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO THANK OWEN YOUNG AND THE ENTIRE FACE TEAM. YOU COULD SEE SO MANY PEOPLE AT THE DISTRICT WERE OUT THERE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. LASTLY I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MEMBER LYNN GRAY WHO IS GOING TO SERVE ON THE FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, DIRECTOR KRISTIN DAVIS ALONG WITH CHAIR DR. WILLIAM ALLEN AND VICKY CHAIR KRISTY CRAWS. SHE WILL BE WORKING ON THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT ALSO CONTINUE FIGHTING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND MAKING SURE THAT EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY. WE'RE 50th IN THE NATION ON FUNDING IN FLORIDA AND WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I'M GOING TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MEMBER VAUGHN SAID REGARDING THE FIGHTS AT THE SCHOOL. WE'VE HAD ALREADY TWO GAMES, WHERE FIGHTS BROKE OUT. AT TAMPA BAY TECH, SOMEBODY SHOT OFF SOME FRAMEWORKS.
>> CORRECT. I BELIEVE WEEK ZERO. PRESEASON.
>>Karen Perez: AND THEN LAST WEEK.
>> LAST WEEK -- WE HAD NONE, CORRECT, LAST WEEK.
>>Karen Perez: NO. LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.
>>Van Ayres: MR. FARKAS, I KNOW YOU WERE --
>>Christopher Farkas: WE DID HAVE A SMALL ALTERCATION BUT BETWEEN MEMBERS OF SAME SCHOOL, NOT OPPOSING SCHOOLS. SMALL ALTERCATION AT A GAME THIS LAST FRIDAY.
>>Karen Perez: I KNOW THERE WERE SOME SUGGESTIONS ROLLING AROUND WITH REGARD TO HAVING STUDENTS WITH I Ds COMING TO THE GAME OR ONLY THE STUDENTS WHO SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE GAMES COME TO THE GAMES OR THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING UNTIL THE STUFF IS FIXED, HAVING THE GAMES ON SATURDAY MORNINGS.
>>Christopher Farkas: WE DID MEET DR. GRAY AND ROB NELSON AND GARY WERE ALSO THERE TOO WITH CHIEF NEWMAN AND THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO EACH ONE OF THOSE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE. THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THERE IS A PROCESS RIGHT NOW FOR WHAT WE CALL SPOTLIGHT GAMES. IF IT IS A RIVALRY GAME, TO ADD SECURITY IS THE FIRST PART. OTHER THING I WOULD SAY EACH SCHOOL HAS THE ABILITY TO TRACK TICKET SALES, MAKING SURE WE KNOW WE CAN LIMIT THOSE OR CAP THOSE FROM A SAFETY AND SECURITY STANDPOINT TO DO THAT AS WELL. I WOULD SAY ONE THING, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA AND DON'T MEAN TO BE CONDESCENDING ANY STRETCH, HAVING IT ON SATURDAY, WHEN YOU ARE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, YOU GET KIDS FROM ALL SCHOOLS. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, PULLING A GAME OFF AND PUTTING IT ON A SATURDAY, YOU GET MORE KIDS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY GAME. WE NEED TO KEEP DOING THAT. THERE'S ALWAYS -- FOOTBALL GAMES ON FRIDAY NIGHTS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE FROM WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. NO QUESTION. BUT A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THERE IS ATTENTION, SOMETIMES IT EXACERBATES THE SITUATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO PUT SECURITY IN THAT PART TOO AND LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS. WE ASKED HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, APAs TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE WITH US IF THEY HEAR THINGS. LONG ANSWER TO SHORT QUESTION, BUT SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP MONITOR.
>>Karen Perez: THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO AVOID, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, LOOKING AT THE LONG-RANGE ISSUES, TO MAKE SURE NOTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS HERE IN TAMPA. JUST SAYING. ALSO, I WANTED TO THANK DR. WEHLAND AND THE PRINCIPAL FROM LETO HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAD A YOUNG LADY, A STUDENT WHO HAD GRADUATED. SHE DIDN'T GET HER DIPLOMA ON TIME. AND WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT DIPLOMA TO HER AT HOME. AND WE DID IT ON A FRIDAY. SHE WAS SO EXCITED. SHE WAS JUST ELATED. I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU, DR. WAILnd FOR GOING OUT OF YOU'RE WAY FOR MAKING SURE THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF AND THE STUDENT GOT HER DIPLOMA. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, STUDENT AYRES, FOR MAKING SURE THIS HAPPENED. AND THAT'S THE GOOD, SOME OF THE GOOD STUFF THAT HAPPENS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE. I KNOW WE HAVE HICCUPS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AMAZING THINGS THAT HAPPEN. WE WOULDN'T BE THE 7th LARGEST IN THE NATION AND THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IF WE DIDN'T HAVE INCREDIBLE STAFF AND LEADERSHIP AND TEACHERS. I THINK WE HOLD YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE BEING INCREDIBLE AND AMAZING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THAT'S WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO AND SAY WHAT WE SAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP YOU GROW. WITH THAT SAID, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]