(SOUNDING GAVEL). >>Karen Perez: GOOD MORNING. I HOPE THAT I HOPE THAT WOKE EVERYBODY UP. THE BOARD WORKSHOP FOR FEBRUARY THE BOARD WORKSHOP FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2024, 27, 2024, IS -- WILL BEGIN. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE FOR THIS VERY ATTENDANCE FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. BEFORE BEFORE SUPERINTENDENT AYRES BEGINS DISCUSSING TODAY'S TOPIC, I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO COMMENT BRIEFLY ON THE BRIEFLY ON THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX, THE CIT, THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED DURING A FEBRUARY 14, FEBRUARY 14, 2024, WORKSHOP. BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOU'RE AWARE, A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM MYSELF AND MR. AYRES EXPLAINING THIS IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. MR. AYRES, THANK YOU FOR DISCUSSING THIS IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS AS A FOLLOW-UP TO SUNDAY'S ARTICLE IN THE SUNDAY'S ARTICLE IN THE TAMPA BAY TIMES. AND AND AS A HALT FOR A AND AS A HALT FOR A MOMENT, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PORTER. [APPLAUSE] . >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MS. PEREZ. SO TODAY'S TOPIC ON OUR WORKSHOP IS AROUND OUR MILLAGE AND MILLAGE REFERENDUM THAT WE LOOK TO TAKE BEFORE OUR BOARD MEETING IN APRIL BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE WANT TO TALK A SECOND ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX. IT'S BEEN ESSENTIAL FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM 1996 UPON ITS INCEPTION. SO JUST SOME NUMBERS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. SO THROUGH 2022, WE RECEIVED MORE THAN $655 MILLION THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX. IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, INTERESTING TO NOTE, JUST SOME OF THE THINGS AROUND IT, WE BUILT RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL, SHIELDS MIDDLE, DAVIS ELEMENTARY ALL WITH CIT FUNDS. IN ADDITION $176 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS AND REMODELS BEING COMPLETED. JEFFERSON PLANT CITY, BRANDON, JEFFERSON PLANT CITY, BRANDON, TAMPA BAY TECH AND PURCHASED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEW BUSES AND IT'S ALSO FUNDED $63.5 MILLION IN MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROJECT, NEW ROOFING PROJECTS AND 50.4 IN HVAC PROJECTS AS WELL. SO AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT'S ESSENTIAL, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INCLUDED IN SOME CAPACITY IN THE NEXT COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX. JUST TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT OUR FUTURE CAPITAL NEEDS ARE IN THE FUTURE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THIS IN THE PRESENTATION A LITTLE BIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR CAPITAL DOLLARS AND OPERATING DOLLARS. THE MILLAGE REFERENDUM WE'LL TALK ABOUT TODAY IS TALK ABOUT TODAY IS OPERATING AND WE'LL SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPITAL AND BETWEEN CAPITAL AND OPERATING SO THANK YOU, MS. PEREZ FOR BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX IS STRICTLY CAPITAL COST SO CAPITAL NEEDS WE HAVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS ARE THE FOLLOWING. WE HAVE PLANT CITY CAREER CENTER, PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL, PLANT CITY ELEMENTARY, THE HIGH SCHOOL WE'RE FINISHING UP, WAYAMA MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY, WHICH IDEAL PROJECTION TOTAL COST IS AROUND COST IS AROUND $454 COST IS AROUND $454 MILLION. HAVE GONE THROUGH THE COUNTY AND COUNTY IS VERY GRACIOUS WITH US AND WORKING WITH US OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS IN RAISING OUR IMPACT FEE OUR IMPACT FEE FEES AROUND $8,000. IT STARTED AT 4,000 AND NOW IS $8,000. THAT ONLY GENERATES ABOUT 210 MILLION SO THE NEED FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE CAPITAL SIDE IS APPROXIMATELY $244 MILLION. YES, SIR? >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, SCHOOL IMPACT FEES ARE ENTIRELY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION. THIS BOARD HAS NO ABILITY TO RAISE OR LOWER THEM. THAT'S THE COUNTY COMMISSION'S PURVIEW SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THAT. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. YOU'LL SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL AND HOW WE GENERATE DOLLARS FOR CAPITAL THAT'S BASED ON THE 1.5 MILLS WHICH BY THE WAY WAS 2 MILLS AND WAY WAS 2 MILLS AND DROPPED IN 2008 AND IS NOW 1.5 AND REMAINED THERE UNTIL TODAY. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED THAT'S THERE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON OUR CAPITAL SIDE WHICH I THINK YOU'LL START TO SEE IN A LITTLE BIT AROUND OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX. WE DID SEND A LETTER FROM MYSELF AND THE CHAIR AND WILL -- I'LL ALSO BE MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS TO LET THEM KNOW OF THE NEED OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HOW ESSENTIAL INCLUDING EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX IS. MR. FARKAS, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO C0 TURKS BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR BUILDING SIDE. >>Christopher Farkas: NO. YOU COVERED IT PRETTY WELL. I'M GLAD WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND YOU COVERED IT. IT'S THE BUCKET OF COST AND THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM WAS FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. NEW CONSTRUCTION WAS NOT IN THAT BUDGET. WE BUDGETED THAT OUT FOR YEARS 1 THROUGH 10. NEW CONSTRUCTION WAS NOT REALLY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALLOWABLE COST THAT MONEY TO A MAJORITY THERE IS DEFINITELY NOT $244 MILLION SO IF WE DON'T GET IT THROUGH THE CIT WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK THE CIT WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND WE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND A COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS BROUGHT IT UP ON HOW WE PLAN ON MEETING THE PLAN ON MEETING THE NEEDS PLAN ON MEETING THE NEEDS FOR GROWTH SO CIT IS ONE WAY TO MEET THAT NEED. >>Van Ayres: WE'LL BE MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND MY HOPE IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE TAX IN THE NEAR FUTURE. $454 MILLION OF FUTURE PROJECTED GROWTH IN THE AREAS WE MENTIONED AND IMPACT FEES AROUND 210 WHICH THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE NEED WOULD BE AROUND $244 MILLION. SO THAT IS OUR SO THAT IS OUR CIT. SO AGAIN THAT'S ON THE OPERATING -- EXCUSE ME, THE OPERATING -- EXCUSE ME, THE CAPITAL SIDE OF THE BUDGET. TODAY I'LL START GENERAL, TODAY I'LL START GENERAL, THIS MILLAGE CONVERSATION REVOLVES AROUND THE OPERATING BUDGET SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPITAL AND OPERATING AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE THERE AND HOW THIS ASK AND TO OUR COMMUNITY AROUND OUR ONE MILL FOR OUR REFERENDUM AND MILLAGE SIDE, OPERATING SIDE AND WHAT THE NEED IS THERE. I WANT TO REMIND YOU SINCE THIS IS A BOARD WORKSHOP THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WILL COME BEFORE YOU APRIL 2. WE HAVE A MONTH BEFORE THIS COMES TO YOU FOR A VOTE. THIS IS SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SEE US UTILIZE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ME BRINGING FORWARD AN AGENDA ITEM TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK. ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR US BEFORE THAT AGENDA ITEM FINALLY COMES BEFORE YOU ON APRIL 2. SO OF COURSE OUR STRATEG SO OF COURSE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS BUILT AROUND THE EXCEPTIONAL TALENT, FISCAL AND OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS REALLY THE BASE FOR OUR ULTIMATE GOAL OF ACHIEVING ACADEMICS ACROSS THIS ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THIS MILLAGE AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN THE FUTURE, HOW THAT DETAILS INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR PILLARS. ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE TALK THROUGH THIS TODAY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE IS THERE IS FIVE LEARNING LEVERS THAT DRIVE OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. AND IT REALLY IS AROUND TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERS, INSTRUCTION, ATTENDANCE AND FAMILY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. OUR MILLAGE HITS EACH ONE OF THESE. THESE ADDITIONAL AS WE BECOME TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT OUR HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE. NUMBER ONE LEVER OVERALL AS WE ALL KNOW IS A ALL KNOW IS A STABLE TEACHER OVER TIME ALONG WITH A LEADER OVER TIME. ALL THE RESEARCH SHOWS IS HAVING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER OVER TIME ALONG WITH THAT SCHOOL LEADER AND THEN FINALLY AROUND ATTENDANCE, NUMBER FOUR, MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS ARE ON TIME AND THE FOCUS HAS BEEN AROUND ATTENDANCE. SO WHAT THAT GETS TO THEN FOR US AS I MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE IS SOME OF HOW THIS NEED IS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THIS REFERENDUM WE'RE LOOKING AT. SO I TALKED ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN PILLARS. AS YOU CAN SEE WITHIN THAT STRATEGIC PLAN WE HAVE MY PRIORITIES, OUR PRIORITIES AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY, THIRD GRADE READING THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY AND GRADUATION BENCHMARKS. OUR CHALLENGES THAT WE OUR CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE RIGHT NOW THAT THIS RIGHT NOW THAT THIS REFERENDUM AND MILLAGE LOOKS TO ADDRESS AS WE LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, THIS IS OUR CURRENT OUR CURRENT CHALLENGE AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING THAT IS -- THROUGH OUR STUDENTS JUST TO THRIVE AND AGAIN THIS ALL COMES BACK TO HAVING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THAT STARTS WITH THEM BEING AT SCHOOL ON TIME EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO JUST IF WE LOOK AT 220 VACANCIES AROUND BUS DRIVERS, PLEASE KNOW WE HAVE OVER 800 SCHEDULED SCHEDULED ROUTES FOR OUR BUS DRIVERS AND ONLY HAVE 600 BUS DRIVERS CURRENTLY SO THAT'S 200 DRIVERS DOING WHAT WE ALL REFER TO AS A DOUBLE RUN. FINISHING ONE RUN, GOING TO THE NEXT BUT THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE A FULL WORKFORCE AROUND OUR BUS DRIVERS IS WE HAVE STUDENTS NOT MAKING IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME. IF WE LOOK AT THAT FOUR-LEVER AROUND ATTENDANCE THIS IN THE BOTTOM WITH THE BUS DRIVERS AND BOTTOM WITH THE BUS DRIVERS AND GETTING TO GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME, WE HAVE TO GET A HAVE TO GET A GRAPPLE ON THAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING NOW. AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD WE STARTED WITH 400 VACANCIES AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT THERE. THIS IS WHAT AS I MENTIONED AT THE BOARD MEETING, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE. THAT IS WHY I'M GOING -- WE'RE GOING -- MY RECOMMENDATION TO TAXPAYERS WHICH I'LL OUTLINE HERE SHORTLY IS TO ADDRESS THIS NEED. KNOW, -- THIS IS SERIOUS TO ME. I WOULDN'T BE ASKING FOR THIS UNLESS IT UNLESS IT ADDRESSES A NEED. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR ADDRESSES THE NEED ACROSS THE BOTTOM LINE HERE. WE HAVE TO -- IF WE LOOKED AT OUR TOP FIVE LEVERS, THIS ADDRESSES THAT. WE HAVE TO HAVE A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER OVER TIME AND A HIGHLY QUALIFIED A HIGHLY QUALIFIED LEADER OVER TIME. JUST SOME DATA AS WELL. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE RANKED. THIS IS ON THE THIS IS ON THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. FLORIDA RANKS 50 OUT OF 50 ON SPENDING AND TEACHER PAY AND SPENDING AND TEACHER PAY AND BENEFITS AND THAT'S WHY HILLSBOROUGH STUDENTS NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET GREAT TEACHERS IN FRONT OF THEM. WHAT IS KEEPING US AFLOAT NOW IS WE ARE HILLSBOROUGH STRONG. AS I GET THROUGH LATER SLIDES YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE COMPARE IN REVENUE THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALLOWS -- GENERATING THAT WE ARE NOT GENERATING. I AM THANKFUL FOR MY STAFF ACROSS THIS ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 20, 30, 40, SOME EVEN 50 YEARS. SO THIS IS SOME OF THE -- THE CENSUS BUREAU INFORMATION AROUND OUR TEACHERS AND, YOU KNOW, OUR NEED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THEN YOU START TO REALIZE THE SLIDES I'LL GET TO GET TO LATER AROUND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE GONE OUT AND ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE AROUND A MILL SO THEY CAN OFFSET THIS RIGHT HERE. OKAY. SO I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE THINGS CLEAR RIGHT HERE. SO WE HAVE TWO BUCKETS AND THIS IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED. I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET THROUGH EDUCATION FUNDING AND TEND TO THINK IT'S OVERLY COMPLICATED. IT'S NOT. WE HAVE TWO BUCKETS OF REVENUE GENERATED, CAPITAL AND OPERATING. I'M GOING TO START A LITTLE BIT ON THE CAPITAL SIDE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CAPITAL DOLLARS HOW CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE GENERATED. HERE IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. ON OUR CAPITAL SIDE, CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE GENERATED ONLY ON OUR PROPERTY TAXABLE LAND OUR PROPERTY TAXABLE LAND VALUE. PERIOD. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. OUR CAPITAL DOLLARS, DIFFERENT FROM OPERATING, OUR CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE GENERATED ON ONE FACTOR. AND THAT FACTOR IS WHAT IS OUR TAXABLE LAND VALUE. ALL RIGHT? SO I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYONE A FEW MINUTES. SEE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, IF EVERYONE LOOKS AT THE -- TAKE A LOOK AT EITHER YOUR POWERPOINT OR LOOK ACROSS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CALCULATION. THE FEFP ON THE OPERATING SIDE WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT SHORTLY, DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF EQUALIZING FUNDING BASED ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS. CAPITAL DOES NOT. CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE GENERATED JUST ON YOUR 1.5 MILLS. WE ARE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE ARE A PROPERTY POOR STUDENT RICH DISTRICT. WE ARE A PROPERTY POOR, STUDENT RICH DISTRICT. HERE ARE YOUR NUMBERS ACROSS THE BOTTOM. IF WE TAKE A LOOK YOU'LL SEE THE AMOUNT OF MONIES GENERATED. WE GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $250 MILLION OFF OUR 1.5 MILL WHICH IS GENERATED OFF THE $174 IS GENERATED OFF THE $174 MILLION OF TAXABLE LAND VALUE. CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE GENERATED ON TAXABLE LAND VALUE. THAT'S WHY WE HEAR PROPERTY RICH, STUDENT POOR DISTRICTS. PROPERTY POOR, STUDENT RICH AS AN EXAMPLE, IF WE LOOK AT THE RIGHT AND SARASOTA COUNTY, COLLIER COUNTY IN NAPLES. THOSE ARE CONSIDERED PROPERTY RICH, STUDENT POOR DISTRICTS MEANING THEY GENERATE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND TAXABLE LAND VALUE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MANY KIDS. IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN PER STUDENT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S BROKEN DOWN, HOW MUCH IS DOWN, HOW MUCH IS GENERATED PER STUDENT. THIS IS WHY ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, AGAIN, WE'RE STILL ON CAPITAL. THIS IS WHY ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, THERE WAS THE URGENT NEED IN 2015 AND 2016 AROUND WHAT MR. FARKAS MENTIONED EARLIER, A HALF PENNY SALES TAX. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DOLLARS GENERATED ON OUR CAPITAL SIDE BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT'S NOT GENERATED BASED ON STUDENTS. IT'S JUST GENERATED ON LAND VALUE. THAT'S WHY IT WAS THE URGENT NEED BACK IN 2016 AROUND GETTING THAT HALF PENNY SALES THAT HALF PENNY SALES TAX PASSED. SO SO AGAIN, CAPITAL IS GENERATED. YOUR REVENUE IS BASED ON TAXABLE LAND VALUE, PERIOD, THAT'S IT. WHAT YOU GET IS THE MONIES GENERATED AND THE CAPITAL DOLLARS IS USED FOR BUILDINGS AND MAINTENANCE. THEN WE MOVE TO THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING I MISSED AND THEN BASICALLY HALFWAY THROUGH OUR HALF PENNY FIVE YEARS AND THE TEAM, THE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, EVERYWHERE I GO, YOU KNOW, FROM THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS BEING MET, IT HAS BEEN JUST AN AMAZING -- IT HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO GET OUR HALF PENNY SALES TAX PASSED IN 2018. >>Christopher Farkas: SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH. WHICH MEANS HALF THE PROJECTS ARE NOT DONE. I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE SAW THAT PASS, WE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WOULD WOULD BE DONE INSTANTANEOUSLY. THAT BEING SAID TO MR. AYRES POINT, IT HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER. THE AMOUNT OF WORK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS INCREDIBLE. WE WE TALKED ABOUT A HALF PENNY PROMISE KEPT. WE HAVE DONE LOT OF WORK MAKING SURE WE'RE TRANSPARENT WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND MAKING SURE EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S SPENT, THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHERE IT'S SPENT WITH IT'S SPENT WITH PICTURES AND DOCUMENTATION TO BACK THAT UP. SO FAR WE AEARNED AS OF A MONTH AGO $662 MILLION AND DONE 700 PROJECTS WITH THAT. THERE IS 120 AIR THERE IS 120 AIR CONDITIONERS ALREADY REVAMPED OR TOTALLY REPLACED WHICH HAS AFFECTED 3 MILLION SQUARE FEET WORTH OF AIR CONDITIONED SPACE. THERE ARE TONS MORE PROJECTS AND YOU'LL SEE EVERY SUMMER WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH AND WE ALSO HAVE A LITMUS TEST. WE SAY WE DO PROJECTS IN YEARS 1 THROUGH 5 AND 6 THROUGH 10 IN THE BUCKETS. WE'RE OVER 50% DONE SO WE'RE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF THE GAME A LITTLE BIT. WE WERE FRONTLOADED WITH AIR CONDITIONING PROJECTS BECAUSE THAT WAS OUR GREATEST NEED. WE HAVE DONE MORE THAN 50% OF THE PROJECTS. OTHER THINGS ARE LIKE ELEVATOR MODERNIZATIONS. MOST SCHOOLS HAVE ONE ELEVATOR AND WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS IT'S HARD TO GET IT REPLACED SO HAVE TO MODERNIZE THAT. WE'RE ALMOST 80% OF THE WAY DONE WITH THAT. SOME THINGS WE HAVE MOVED AT A QUICKER PACE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THEY HAVE FAITH IN US WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO AFFECT OUR STUDENTS AND THAT'S OUR CAPITAL SIZE OF THE HOUSE AND THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION WILL FOCUS ON THE OTHER SADE OF THE HOUSE. >>Van Ayres: THIS IS YEARS 1 THROUGH 5 AND 10. YEARS 6 THROUGH 10 IS SPOKEN FOR. THERE WAS ALREADY A PLAN FOR THOSE 10 YEARS OF WHAT THE MONIES WOULD BE USED FOR. SO REMEMBER FROM MY EARLIER CONVERSATION AROUND CIT, THOSE PROJECTED GROWTH NEEDS WE SEE, THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX ALREADY HAS OUTLINED YEARS 1 THROUGH 5 WHICH ARE ALREADY COMPLETED AND 6 THROUGH 10, EXACTLY WHAT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN THAT SIDE OF THE HALF PENNY. WE STILL HAVE THE NEED WITH OUR GROWTH IN PLANT CITY, GROWTH IN PLANT CITY, WAYAMAMA GROWTH IN PLANT CITY, WAYAMAMA PARTICULARLY. THE IMPACT FEES WILL NOT MEET THE NEED. THAT'S OUR ASK. SO THAT'S OUR CAPITAL SIZE. TO SUMMARIZE AGAIN, CAPITAL IS GENERATED. THE REVENUE JUST ON PROPERTY TAX, LAND VALUE TAX, LAND VALUE ONLY. THERE IS NO EQUALITY, EQUITY TO HOW CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE GIVEN OUT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT'S BASED ON THE 1.5 MILLS. NOW WE'LL FLIP TO THE OPERATING SIDE. SO CAPITAL IS COMPLETE. SO I HAVE MY CHIEF SO I HAVE MY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER MS. OFFICER MS. ROE JOHNSON HERE AS WELL. WE KNOW HOW CRITICAL IS IT TO BE EXCELLENT STEWARDS OF DOLLARS AND THE FINANCE TEAM, OUR INTEAR TEAM OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY 2 TO 3 YEARS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, AS WE OVERHAUL OUR FINANCES THAT WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE DOLLARS WE RECEIVE FROM OUR TAXPAYERS RECEIVE FROM OUR TAXPAYERS SO OUR NEXT SLIDE, I'LL HAVE MS. JOHNSON HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS OUR FINANCIAL OVERHAUL AND BOND RATING OVERHAUL AND BOND RATING UPDATES WE WE HAVE. >> GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. YES. IT'S A FINANCIAL OVERHAUL FOR OUR OPERATION FUND. SO IT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOARD TO ASSURE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING THINGS TO THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE AS SURE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE AS A DISTRICT. WE ACCURATELY RECONCILE STUDENT ENROLLMENT TO GET THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE STATE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE COUNT RIGHT SO THE DISTRICT GETS THE ALLOCATION FOR APPROPRIATION. WE ALLOCATE UNION BASED ON ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS AND STATE MODEL REQUIREMENT. WE'RE LIVING WITHIN THAT MODEL AND WE'RE ALLOCATING BASED ON THOSE COUNTS. WE ASSURE THE HIRING OF STAFF. IT'S NOT JUST DONE IT'S NOT JUST DONE WILLY-NILLY. WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE BUDGET BEFORE WE HIRE STAFF AND ANY RESOURCE. WE HAVE REALIGNED THE RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED RESOURCES BY NOT SUPPLEMENTING AND SUPPLYING BECAUSE THAT'S HAPPENED A LOT AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THE RESTRICTED RESOURCES ARE IMPACTFUL FOR STUDENT LEARNING. ALSO WE REDEFINED THE CAPITAL TRANSFER PROCESS. MAKE SURE WE WERE FOLLOWING STATE STATUTES WHEN WE ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE CAPITAL DOES NOT HAVE SALARIES OR BENEFITS. BUT IN THE STATUTE WE CAN MAKE THOSE TRANSFERS FOR ALLOCATIONS OR EXPENDITURES THAT HAPPEN ON OPERATIONAL FUNDS SO WE'RE DOING THAT WITHIN THE STATUTE. WE'RE DOING A WE'RE DOING A MULTI-YEAR FORECAST AND PROJECTION IS REQUIRED AND WE'RE PROJECTING OFF FIVE YEARS. IT'S REQUIRED BY THE BOND. IT IMPACTS OUR RATING IT IMPACTS OUR RATING AND SEE IF WE'RE STABILIZING AS A DISTRICT OR THE DISTRICT IS HEADING FOR RECEIVERSHIP. ALSO, WE'RE RESTRUCTING OUR ALSO, WE'RE RESTRUCTING OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE WITH THE WORKFORCE BASED ON WORKFORCE BASED ON ATTRITION. WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE OR RETIRE WE'LL LOOK AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED STAFFING AND WE ALLOCATE APPROPRIATELY. SO THE RESULTS OF ALL SO THE RESULTS OF ALL THAT, WHICH IS A FINANCIAL OVERHAUL, WE HAVE A BALANCED OPERATING BUDGET THAT ARE LESS THAN THE REVENUE WITH OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE A HEALTHY AND STABLE FUND BALANCE. IN '21 WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, THE DISTRICT WAS PROJECTING $150 MILLION DEFICIT. WE WERE CLOSING AT A NEGATIVE 21. WE HAVE 45 MILLION RESTRICTED BUT BEFORE WE CLOSED THE BOOKS WE WERE ABLE WITH ONE-TIME RESOURCES TO CLOSE THAT FUND BALANCE TO BE $147 MILLION. FROM FROM THAT TO DATE, 2023 WHEN WE CLOSED THAT, WE'RE AT 300 FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBLE WHICH IS 20%. THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS 3%. SO WE'RE SO WE'RE LIVING WITH THAT. OUR BOND RATING HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AFFIRMATIVE UPGRADED TO AFFIRMATIVE A-RATING AND IT'S FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE. FOR ALL OUR RATING AGENCIES, WE JUST HAVEN'T HEARD JUST HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MOODY YET. I'M SURE THEY'LL CONFIRM THAT A, AFFIRM AFFIRM RATING AND ALSO WE WON'T AFFIRM RATING AND ALSO WE WON'T HAVE THE NEGATIVE HAVE THE NEGATIVE OUTLET ANYMORE FROM RATING AGENCIES. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE DISTRICT HAD NO FINDINGS IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS SO THAT'S A PLUS FOR THAT'S A PLUS FOR THE FINANCE TEAM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON. SO JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT SHE SHARES WITH US, AROUND RIGHT SIZING THE WORKFORCE, ACTUALLY WHEN I CAME IN AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT IN 2015, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF PERMANENT EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAD IN 2015 AS WE LOOK TO RIGHT SIZE OUR WORKFORCE. YOU CAN SEE THAT WORK HAS YOU CAN SEE THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THE LAST NINE YEARS TO GET TO OUR RIGHT SIZING OUR WORKFORCE AND JUST WITHIN SOME OF THAT, OF THAT, SO IN 2015, OF THAT, SO IN 2015, WE ALMOST 16,000 16,000 TEACHERS. 15, 15,952 AND WE CURRENTLY SIT AT 15,952 AND WE CURRENTLY SIT AT 955 SO THE COUNSEL FOR GREAT CITY SCHOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, IN OUR OTHER AUDITS THAT TALKED ABOUT THAT WE HAD TOO MANY TEACHERS AND THE TEACHERS AND THE CLASS SIZE WAS TOO LOW SO THIS IS WORK DONE OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS. OUR ASK IS WE HAVE DONE OUR PART TO RIGHT SIZE AND AS WE LOOK TO THEN POSITION OURSELVES TO ACCELERATE OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS. INTERESTING SO TEACHERS APs IN 2015, WE HAD 450. WE CURRENTLY SIT ABOUT 388 RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SEE REDUCTION IN APs. IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS IN 2015 WE SAT AT 354. AND CURRENTLY WE SIT AT 309. SO SO SUPPORT PERSONNEL, 9755 AND CURRENTLY AT 8954. OKAY. SO THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SLIDE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL HAVE A GOOD HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THIS TWO FUNDING BUCKETS. SO REMEMBER, AGAIN, I SAID IT 10 TIMES. I'LL SAY IT AN 11th. CAPITAL IS NOT GENERATED ON STUDENTS. IT'S GENERATED ON PROPERTY TAXABLE LAND VALUES. YOU GET WHAT YOU GET. THAT'S WHY THE NEED FOR THE HALF PENNY. THE FEFP IS AN INCREDIBLE THE FEFP IS AN INCREDIBLE SYSTEM, EQUALIZING FUNDING. THE FEFP THAT ALL THE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA PARTICIPATE IN EQUALIZES FUNDING BASED ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS SO YOU DON'T HAVE PROPERTY RICH SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A HUGE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE PROPERTY POOR. THAT'S WHY THE STATE CREATED THE FEFP. IT'S A PHENOMENAL SYSTEM. ONE LOOKED AT ACROSS THE NATION OF HOW YOUR FUNDING IS OF HOW YOUR FUNDING IS EQUALIZED AND EQUITABLE FOR THE MANY FACTORS. WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE FEFP AND IT'S A COMPLICATED FORMULA. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IT EQUALIZES FUNDING. YOU CAN SEE THAT WHERE WE SIT IN STATE FUNDING, IS WHERE? WE ARE THIRD. WHY ARE WE THIRD? BECAUSE WE'RE THE THIRD LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AGAIN, PHENOMENAL SYSTEM. IT MAKES IT FAIR. MAKES IT FAIR BASED ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS. SO MIAMI-DADE RECEIVES THE MOST FUNDING, THEY HAVE THE MOST STUDENTS. BROWARD BROWARD SECOND, HILLSBOROUGH THIRD AND ORANGE IN THE REST. SO FAIR PLAYING SO FAIR PLAYING FEFP, FANTASTIC. WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS IS THE 16 YEARS IS THE ISSUE THAT 16 YEARS IS THE ISSUE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO ADDRESS NOW. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT STATE STATUTE ALLOWS SCHOOL COUNTIES TO LEVY AN ADDITIONAL MILL FOR ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL OPERATING COST. AGAIN, STATE STATUTE ALLOWS ON TOP OF THE FEFP SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COUNTIES TO LEVY AN ADDITIONAL MILL FOR OPERATING COSTS. HERE IS THE ISSUE. THIS IS ON TOP OF THE FEFP SO IF WE LOOK AT YOUR GREENS AND I'LL GIVE EVERYONE A MINUTE TO LOOK AT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE BEING BROUGHT INTO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT LISTED THERE IS IN GREEN HAS ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR OPERATING COST. AGAIN, ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR OPERATING COST. IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHAT IS MAJORITY OF MAJORITY OF OPERATING COST? SALARIES. WE CANNOT COMPETE WITH SALARIES WHEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT'S BEING BROUGHT IN THAT WE DO NOT HAVE. IT'S NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD ANYMORE. IF WE WERE JUST ON AN FEFP FORMULA AND THERE WAS NOT THIS DRASTIC CERTAIN -- SCHOOL DISTRICT AROUND US THAT HAS THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE, I WOULD NOT BE BE COMING TO TAXPAYERS RIGHT NOW ASKING BUT THIS IS -- WE HAVE A NUMBER OF -- A HUGE NUMBER OF VACANCIES. THIS IS WHAT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. THIS IS OUR CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE FACING. I WOULD NOT BE BRINGING THIS UNLESS THIS IS THE -- THIS WOULD HELP US ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE. IF WE LOOK ACROSS THE TOP AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE. AND I'LL ADD THIS. THE TOP SCHOOL -- TOP SIX LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND I'LL GO SEVEN WITH PINELLAS, MIAMI-DADE IS NUMBER ONE. THEY HAVE THE ADDITIONAL 1 POINT OPERATING MILLAGE. BROWARD HAS IT, NUMBER TWO. WE'RE THREE, WE DON'T. ORANGE IS FOUR. THEY HAVE IT. PALM BEACH HAS IT, THEY'RE FIVE. DUVAL HAS IT, THEY'RE SIXTH AND PINELLAS HAS AN ADDITIONAL OPERATING MILLAGE AS WELL. IT'S ADDITIONAL REVENUE BEING BROUGHT IN AS WELL AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE ON OPERATING GOES TO SALARIES. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THE STRUGGLE OF COMPETING OF RETAINING AND RECRUITING THE BEST TEACHERS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT'S A CHALLENGE WE'RE FACING. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY -- NO OTHER WAY AROUND IT. I HAVE TEACHERS THAT ARE LEAVING. I HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GOING TO OTHER COUNTIES WHICH WE'LL LOOK AT IN A MINUTE BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL TWO TO THREE ADDITIONAL TWO TO THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. NEXT SLIDE JUST SUMS IT UP. HERE IS A VISUAL AS YOU CAN SEE. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE SO NOT ONLY ARE WE AT A CHALLENGE THAT WE -- OF THE TOP SIX, TOP SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHERE WE STATE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT SURROUNDS US AND WE'RE SURROUNDED BY COUNTIES THAT HAS ADDITIONAL REVENUE ON TOP OF THE FEFP. WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT IN A SECOND. FEFP EQUALIZES FUNDING BASED ON STUDENTS. ALL THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE COMES IN. NOW PUTS US AT A NOW PUTS US AT A DISADVANTAGE TO COMPETE. WE'RE ONLY SITTING WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH STRONG EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 30 YEARS AND LONGER THAT ARE KEEPING US AFLOAT. WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP RECRUIT AND THE OTHER PART THAT I'LL GET TO IN A THAT I'LL GET TO IN A MINUTE IS THAT WE HAVE GOT -- WE'VE GOT TO START BUILDING OUR BENCH. OUR BENCH BEGINS AT RECRUITING OUR TEACHERS INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AT 22, 23 YEARS OLD THAT EXIT UNIVERSITY AND CAN BUILD THEIR CAREER THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M NOT GETTING OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF IN IN THE EARLY YEARS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER SCHOOL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT AGAIN, WE ARE AT A SEVERE DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO COMPETE WITH SALARIES WHEN YOU LOOK AT SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND US THAT ALL HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE. AGAIN, 20th TIME, IF IT WAS ALL BASED ON EQUALIZED FUNDING AND WE ALL ARE IN THE SAME GAME, THAT'S ONE THING. WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME GAME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL OPERATING MILLAGE. SO AS AN EXAMPLE HERE, AND WE'RE GETTING -- WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THE END HERE. AS YOU SEE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE OUR STARTING TEACHING SALARIES ARE. 10-YEAR TEACHER SALARIES. I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK. AVERAGE BUS DRIVER SALARY. STILL LEAVING ALL THE WORK THAT MR. FARKAS AND MS. JOHNSON HAVE DONE EVEN IN THE LAST GO AROUND WITH BARGAINING AND WORKING WITH HECF AND WE'RE STILL LAGGING BEHIND. WHY? I THINK YOU CAN -- EVERYONE CAN SEE NOW. WE DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BRINGING IN. SO YOU CAN SEE THERE SO YOU CAN SEE THERE WHERE -- WHAT PARTICULARLY WHERE -- WHAT PARTICULARLY BOTHERSS ME ABOUT THIS ONE, I MEAN ALL OF THEM, RIGHT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TWO TOP LEVERS. REMEMBER IT WAS TEACHER OVER TIME. NUMBER TWO IS LEADER OVER TIME. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR AVERAGE -- THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT IS THE OUT IS THE AVERAGE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SALARY WITH ADMINISTRATORS. WE KNOW NUMBER ONE IS TEACHERS AND HAVING HIGH QUALITY TEACHER OVER TIME BUT NUMBER TWO IS A HIGH QUALITY LEADER OVER TIME AND AS YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND ON SOME OF OUR SALARIES. WHAT ALL THIS -- AND WE'RE TALKING SALARIES BUT REMEMBER THIS COMES BACK TO HAVING OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED. HOW? NUMBER ONE, HIGH QUALITY TEACHER OVER TIME. HIGH QUALITY LEADER OVER TIME. THIS ASK THAT I'M COMING TO THE BOARD WITH IN APRIL PROVIDES US THE ABILITY TO START BUILDING OUR BENCH AND OUR BENCH AND TO START BUILDING OUR OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A CAREER OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO OUR MILLAGE IS OUR PROMISING SOLUTION OF COURSE. A DETAILED PLAN WHICH I'LL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH IN A SECOND. FINANCIAL FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, WE'LL HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE DOLLARS AND HOW THEY'RE SPENT. AND REMEMBER, DIFFERENT THEN, THIS IS INTERESTING TO KNOW ABOUT THE OPERATING MILLAGE, THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE HALF PENNY WHICH CAN BE 10 OR 20 YEARS. THE MILLAGE IS A MAX OF FOUR YEARS. ALL WE'LL TALK ABOUT IF IT'S SALARIES, SALARIES, THESE ARE SUPPLEMENTED THAT AFTER FOUR YEARS, IT HAS TO BE BE REUPPED AGAIN. OKAY. SO WE TAKE A LOOK OF WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE. THIS ONE MILL AS WE LOOKED AT THE SLIDES EARLIER, WHAT THAT GENERATES. REMEMBER AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE 1.5 MILLS, THE ONE MILL WE'D GENERATE IS BASED ON WHAT? YOUR TAXABLE LAND VALUE. NOT ON STUDENTS. SO THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THAT 1 MILL ON THE TAXABLE LAND MILL ON THE TAXABLE LAND VALUE WOULD BRING IN $177 MILLION. CHARTER SCHOOLS GET THE PROPORTIONATE SHARE WHICH IS $26.6 MILLION WHICH LEAVES US AROUND $154 MILLION TO DISTRICT SCHOOLS. IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON COST, IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON COST, A MILL IS $1 PER THOUSAND. AS WE LOOK -- AS YOU AS WE LOOK -- AS YOU CALCULATE THAT OUT, THAT'S ON YOUR TAXABLE VALUE, RIGHT? NOT WHAT YOUR -- IS WORTH BUT YOUR TAXABLE YOUR TAXABLE VALUE OF YOUR HOME IS SO THE AVERAGE HOME IS $375,000. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS 350 SO THE AVERAGE THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IS $350 A YEAR ON TOP OF THEIR CURRENT PROPERTY TAXES WHICH WOULD AVERAGE TO A DOLLAR A DAY. SO NOW WE GET INTO THE SO NOW WE GET INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? BOARD MEMBERS, I'M COMING WITH A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE PLAN OF WHAT MY PROPOSAL IS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FEEDBACK DURING OUR CONVERSATION TODAY. AND WE'RE GETTING TO THE END. BUT THIS IS MY PROPOSAL. AS WE LOOK ON THE -- IF I COULD PUSH YOU TO THE PROJECTED MILLAGE REVENUE, THAT WOULD GENERATE 988. IT LEAVES THE VERY BOTTOM -- THE -- THE PROJECTED DISTRICT SCHOOL PORTION WOULD BE $150 MILLION. HERE IS MY PROPOSAL. AND IT'S PRETTY AND IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHT AND SIMPLE. 92% OF THAT MILLAGE I'D WANT TO GO TO SALARIES. SO IF WE LOOK AT THE $150 MILLION, 92% OF THAT IS THE 138 MILLION ON YOUR BOTTOM RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S 138 MILLION. HOW THAT 138 MILLION IN MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE BROKEN OUT WOULD BE 70% OF THAT WOULD GO TO TEACHERS SO IF WE LOOK ACROSS, NOW I'LL FLIP YOU TO THE TEACHER SUPPORT STAFF ADMINISTRATORS. LITTLE OVER 13,000 TEACHERS. SUPPORT STAFF A LITTLE OVER 9,000 AND THEN ADMINISTRATORS LESS THAN 1,000. SO AS YOU BREAK UP THAT 92%, FROM THE $150 MILLION, THE 92% IS 138 MILLION. HOW THAT 138 MILLION WOULD BE BROKEN OUT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING. 70 PEST OF THE DOLLARS -- 70% OF THE DOLLARS TO TEACHERS BECAUSE THERE IS MORE OF THEM. EACH TEACHER WOULD GET A SUPPLEMENT OF $6,000 TO THEIR BASE SALARY. ALL SUPPORT STAFF, $3,000. AND ADMINISTRATORS, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, $6,000 AS WELL. SO YOU CAN SEE SO YOU CAN SEE 70-25 AND 5. SO THE SO THE 138 MILLION GOES BROKEN OUT THIS WAY. 6,000 FOR EVERY TEACHER IN MY PROPOSAL. IT'S THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD WHETHER I'M A FIRST YEAR TEACHER OR OR TEN-YEAR TEACHER. THIS WOULD PUSH AS I TALKED ABOUT MY BENCH EARLIER, BUILDING THE BENCH AND SUPPORT STAFF AND TEACHERS AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT WOULD PUT OUR STARTING TEACHER SALARY FROM STARTING TEACHER SALARY FROM 47.5 TO 53. SO 92% OF THE DOLLARS AGAIN IN MY PROPOSAL WOULD GO TOWARDS SALARIES AND WOULD LEAVE ANOTHER 8% WHICH IS THE VERY BOTTOM RIGHT IS APPROXIMATELY 11 MILLION $500,000 TO GO TO OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. BUT REMEMBER, OPERATING MOST OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET IS SALARIES. I WANTED MOST OF THIS MILL TO GO TO SALARIES. THIS THIS ADDRESSES THE NEED. THIS FOR ME, WHAT I TALKED ABOUT, THE VACANCIES WE HAVE AND HAVING PEOPLE THAT ENTER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, I WANT THEM TO BE IN OUR SYSTEM JUST LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND ME AND MYSELF THAT ENTER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND STAY AND STAY FOR 30, 35 YEARS. THIS ADDRESSES THE NEED OF BUS DRIVER DRIVER VACANCIES. IT WILL HELP US -- OF MR. FARKAS'S 800 ROUTES HAVING 800 DRIVERS. OF THE ADDITIONAL 400 VACANCIES WE HAVE, FILLING THE 400 SPOTS. THIS RAISES THE FLOOR FOR US AND MAKES US ULTRA MAKES US ULTRA COMPETITIVE IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING OUR WORKFORCE. SO VERY CLEAR I THINK. 92% TO SALARIES. THE OTHER 8% WOULD THEN GO TO OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. WE'RE ALMOST TO THE END. I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO SOME, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION. SO THE LAST OTHER -- THE 8% OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS LEARNING TRIPS FOR EVERY GRADE WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NEW HANDS ON NEW HANDS ON EXPERIENCES TO TAKE STUDENTS BEYOND CLASSROOM WALLS AT NO COST TO STUDENTS WHICH INCLUDES INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION. THIS THIS WOULD MEAN FIELD TRIPS FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY UP THAT WE'D PROVIDE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH WOULD PROVIDE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AT NO COST FOR OUR STUDENTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. WE'D UTILIZE OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT PARTNER WITH US ALL THE TIME ALREADY. I WON'T SIT AND NAME THEM ALL OFF BUT WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH -- EVERYONE KNOWS OUR FIFTH GRADE WITH BIZ TOWN FINANCE GRADE WITH BIZ TOWN FINANCE PARK. SIXTH GRADE NATURES CLASSROOM. GREAT PARTNERS AT THE GREAT PARTNERS AT THE GLACER MUSEUM AND THESE ARE MUSEUM AND THESE ARE EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT CLASSROOM. VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS NEW MONIES WOULD DO FOR NEW VISION FOR OUR NATURES CLASSROOM. EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY REMEMBERS NATURES CLASSROOM AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO SOME NEW THINGS AT NATURES CLASSROOM WHICH WE CAN BALANCE OUT BETWEEN SOME CAPITAL COST BUT ALSO ON THE OPERATING SIDE AND INSTRUCTIONAL OF OUR NEW VISION FOR NATURE'S FOR NATURE'S CLASSROOM AND WHAT THAT THAT THEN WOULD LOOK THAT THEN WOULD LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOR -- AS A LEARNING CENTER ALONG THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER. THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES. ONE OF THE ONES THAT I ALSO AM PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS TO ENSURE WITH THIS EXTRA 8% ON INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, WE HAVE HEARD THE NEED, AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS AROUND ADDRESSING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE ALL HEARD SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE, THE NEED FOR THIS TABLE, THE NEED FOR OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELORS AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL. THEY WERE THEY WERE -- IN 2020 AND WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT AND WE KNOW THE NEED, OUR STUDENTS NEED, OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELORS AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN THAT WORKLOAD WORKLOAD GOT MOVED FROM OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELORS THAT THAT WAS THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS AND GOT MOVED TO GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, IT BECAME ONE MORE THING FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND WE EVEN HAVE, CHAIR PEREZ, DISCUSSIONS AROUND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED THEM TO DO. THIS WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF PROVIDING THE COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELORS AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL. AND FINALLY SOME OTHER ONES WITH NEW SPORTS OPTIONS AND NEW SPORTS OPTIONS AND P.E. EQUIPMENT. IT'S IMPORTANT WHAT I HEAR AS WELL, AND MS. VAUGHN EVEN I THINK MENTIONED AT THE STUDENT FORUM, HEARING FROM STUDENTS, EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO SEE MORE OF. OUR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, MR. ROBINSON BUDGET COMES FROM THE THE OPERATING SIDE. THAT'S AN OPERATING SIDE OF THE BUDGET AND WE GENERATE MONIES THROUGH TICKET SALES BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COVER ALL THE COSTS. SO ATHLETICS, WE LOOK TO DO INNOVATIVE THINGS INNOVATIVE THINGS AROUND INNOVATIVE THINGS AROUND ATHLETICS AND P.E. AS WELL. SOME FINAL THINGS HERE. OF COURSE AN INDEPENDENT OF COURSE AN INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WE HAVE FOR -- FOR THE HALF PENNY THAT WE REVIEW EVERY DOLLAR SPENT. DETAILED SPENDING PLAN AND WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH OUR PARTNERS. OUR PARTNERS HERE TODAY FROM HECF AND HECF AND CTA SO IRAN, RA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO JUST SOME OF THE OTHER ENGAGEMENTS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE ASSUMING THE BOARD, THIS WILL BE AN AGENDA ITEM, ASSUMING IT GETS APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD. SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH PLANNING WE PLAN WE PLAN MOVING FORWARD. AND THIS IS WHAT THAT MILLAGE WOULD DO TO STRENGTHEN OUR FOUNDATION AND COMPETE ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND I'LL KEEP GOING BACK TO THAT. THIS IS ABOUT HAVING OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS THRIVE AND THE WAY WAY THEY DO THAT, THEY THRIVE EVERY DAY WITH A CONSISTENT TEACHER OVER TIME, A CONSISTENT LEADER. WE DESERVE WHAT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO TODAY IS THE 27th SO TODAY IS THE 27th WITH SO TODAY IS THE 27th WITH OUR WORKSHOP PROPOSED APRIL 2 SCHOOL BOARD VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION AND LANGUAGE. YOU HAVE WITHIN YOUR BINDERS THE RESOLUTION AND BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT I HAVE TAKEN THAT I HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT AND AND APPROVED AS WELL. I AM IN FAVOR. IF THERE IS RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANYTHING I'M HAPPY TO HAVE FEEDBACK ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. ULTIMATELY IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING. WHAT IS KEEPING US AFLOAT RIGHT NOW IS HILLSBOROUGH STRONG. IT IS OUR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US THAT ARE STICKING WITH US AND WE DESERVE TO DO OUR STUDENTS -- OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THE BEST. I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE IN YEARS TO COME AND SEE THESE NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT ARE POSTED. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER IN OVER CLASSROOM AND SUPPORT STAFF, VACANCIES THAT ARE FILLED AND IN HILLSBOROUGH STRONG AND I'VE SAID IT FROM DAY ONE, EVERYONE MATTERS. EVERY DAY MATTERS AS WE LOOK TO EVERY DAY MATTERS, IT'S CONSISTENCY DAY AFTER DAY. MEANING KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL ON TIME. OUR OUR 78,000 THAT RIDE A BUS EVERY DAY, ROUTE RIGHT NOW GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME SO EVERY DAY MATTERS WITH ATTENDANCE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THE NEED WITH THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WE HAVE. AND THEN EVERYONE MATTERS IS -- LIKE I SAID FROM DAY ONE, IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US. NOT ONE PERSON. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSION. THAT IS MY REVIEW OF THE AGENDA ITEM THAT WILL COME BEFORE IN APRIL, SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY DISCUSSION AND ANY DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK YOU HAVE. >>Jim Porter: AND BEFORE THE BOARD DISCUSSES, YOU HAVE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU. THAT'S DRAFT LANGUAGE AND THAT'S DRAFT LANGUAGE AND OPEN TO CHANGE. THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS LIMITED TO 75 WORDS. THAT'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN THE STATUTE. THE OTHER REQUIREMENT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS THE STATUTE REQUIRES US TO REQUIRES US TO SEND THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO THEN HAS A MANDATORY DUTY TO SEND IS TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS HAS TO HAVE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE BY MID-AUGUST AND WE HAVE THE DATES CODIFIED. THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD IS WELL AHEAD OF THAT BY HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING IN APRIL. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION THROUGH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NO LATER THAN AUGUST. THAT'S HOW THIS PROCEEDS THAT'S HOW THIS PROCEEDS PROCEDURALLY. PROCEDURALLY. >> THANK YOU. NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS OTHER THAN MYSELF AND MS. PEREZ ASKED TO BE IN THE CUE RIGHT NOW. IS THAT CORRECT? DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD FIRST, MR. PORTER? >>Jim Porter: SO MEMBER GRAY HAD A PRE-SCHEDULED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT SHE COULD NOT MISS BUT SHE ASKED ME TO PUT INTO THE RECORD THE FOLLOWING. I SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM FOR THE MILLAGE TO BE ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 2024. LIKEWISE BOARD MEMBER RENDON ALSO HAD A CONFLICT SHE COULD NOT MISS AND ASKED ME TO READ THE FOLLOWING INTO THE RECORD THE FOLLOWING INTO THE RECORD WHICH I'LL DO NOW. "MADAM CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, REGRETTABLY A PRIOR COMMITMENT THAT COULD NOT BE RESCHEDULED PREVENTS MY ATTENDANCE ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024. THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT, STAFF, HCTA AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED IN ADVANCE OF THE WORKSHOP. I HAVE REVIEWED IT THOROUGHLY AND PLAN TO REVIEW THE DISCUSSIONS UPON MY RETURN FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND ONE THAT DESERVES OUR TIME AND DUE DILIGENCE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING MY COMMENTS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD ". >> THANK YOU. SO I'LL GO AHEAD. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I MEAN, SO CLEAR DOWN TO HOW MUCH EACH EMPLOYEE WOULD GET BASED ON THIS. MAKING IT VERY CLEAR, YOU KNOW, HOW THE CAPITAL WORKS VERSUS OPERATING. I MEAN, IT WAS JUST -- I DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYBODY COULD SEE THIS PRESENTATION AND NOT UNDERSTAND BOTH THE NEED AND HOW OUR FINANCES WORK SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. OH, LOOKS LIKE MEMBER GRAY IS COMING IN. ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY BECAUSE I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TOUCHED ON IS BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES. AND I KNOW THAT'S A CONCERN ACROSS THE COUNTY NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS NECESSARILY GETTING WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ON TIME ACADEMICICALLY BUT IF THEY HAVE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AND OTHER PROGRAMS THEY ACCESS IN THE MORNING TIME. MY QUESTION IS LOOKING AT THIS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WE'RE LOOKING AT A STRAIGHT $3,000 INCREASE FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF. NOW THE QUESTION THAT WE NOW THE QUESTION THAT WE CONSTANTLY BRING UP IS WILL THAT BASICALLY MAKE US COMPETITIVE BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT LOSING BUS DRIVERS, OUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR IS COMPETITOR IS AMAZON OR OTHER PLACES THAT OFFER PLACES THAT OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVERS. WILL A $3,000 INCREASE BE ENOUGH TO BE COMTETPETITIVE WITH AMAZON AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT FILLING THE SHORTAGES? >>Christopher Farkas: GREAT QUESTION. IT GETS US THERE AND CLOSER. MS. JOHNSON AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES MADE A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE WHERE WE ARE WITH BUS DRIVERS. I THINK IT GETS US FARTHER DOWN THAT ROAD. A $3,000 JUMP IS A MUCH BIGGER JUMP THAN WE CAN DO FROM ORTRADITIONAL BUDGET SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET INCREASES. SO IT GETS US TO A COMPETITIVE SPOT BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND KEEP GIVING INCREASES TO NOT BE IN A BUDGET TO CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE. SO YES, IT GETS US MORE COMPETITIVE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SECONDLY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I APPRECIATE THE COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELORS WERE INCLUDED IN THIS. SINCE WE REDUCED THOSE, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS NAVIGATING THAT HAS BEEN WHAT A CHALLENGE IT'S BEEN WITHOUT THOSE AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THOSE AND I THINK THAT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE. ONE OF THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES IS NAVIGATING WHETHER IT'S THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS OR HOW TO APPLY TO COLLEGE. SO I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU PRIORITIZE THAT AND MADE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT IN THIS PRESENTATION. ALSO I'M REALLY GLAD YOU INCLUDED THE SURVEYS FROM OUR EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE UNIONS AS WELL AS HASPA FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS. YOU KNOW, I HAD TIME TO LOOK THROUGH THESE AND I THINK THAT IT'S OBVIOUS AND IT REINFORCES THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED THAT WHEN I GO INTO MY SCHOOLS THAT THE TWO BIGGEST ISSUES RIGHT NOW ARE HAVING COMPETITIVE PAY WHICH WE'RE ADDRESSING WITH THIS AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES ON OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE EVEN IF WE'RE PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES THE RIGHT AMOUNT THE NEXT ISSUE IS EMPLOYEE BURNOUT. WHETHER THAT MEANS SUCCESS COACHES IN OUR SCHOOL OR MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH PARAPROFESSIONALS OR MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING ENOUGH OF THAT SUPPORT STAFF TO WHERE OUR EDUCATORS CAN FOCUS ON THE MAIN POINT OR THE MAIN CURRICULUM AND MAKING SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE EDUCATED, MY QUESTION IS, ASIDE FROM JUST EXPANDING TEACHER PAY, WILL THIS WILL THIS MONEY ALLOW US TO ALSO MAKE SURE WE CAN HAVE A RIGHT SIZE WORKFORCE WHEN IT COMES TO IT? TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN -- IF THERE IS A SCHOOL THAT'S MAINTAINING A FRAGILE C AND IDENTIFY TWO OF THE SCHOOLS I WENT INTO LAST WEEK, THAT THEY REALLY ATTRIBUTE BEING ABLE TO KEEP THAT GRADE TO THE EXTRA SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE. WILL THIS ALLOW US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO HAVE A COMPETITIVE SIZED SIZED WORKFORCE AND NOT JUST EMPLOYEE PAY? >>Van Ayres: I'D ADD THIS MILL IS ON THE OPERATING SIDE. IT CAN BE USED IN THE SAME RESPECT THAT OUR OTHER OPERATING BUDGET CAN BE BUDGET CAN BE USED AS WELL. SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING AND THAT QUESTION IS WE LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS. AS WE LOOK AT THE 1.0 MILL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D LOOK AT ACROSS ALL OUR SCHOOLS. IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR NEEDS, MS. VAUGHN, THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ON OUR OTHER SIDE OF OUR BUDGET WITHIN OUR OPERATING SIDE THAT WE'D ADDRESS THOSE PARTICULAR NEEDS BUT IT IS OPEN. I'M OPEN TO I'M OPEN TO ANY FEEDBACK THAT IF -- IF THAT'S A DIRECTION THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, WE CAN DO THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THROUGH OUR NORMAL PROCESS OF ALLOCATING OUT TO SCHOOLS WOULD BE AS PART OF OUR NORMAL OPERATING BUDGET. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF QUESTINS ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD. BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AS WE ABOUT THAT AS WE PREPARED FOR THIS WORKSHOP. THE NEXT THING THAT I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU KIND OF GOING OVER HOW WE ARE PROPERTY OVER HOW WE ARE PROPERTY POOR AND STUDENT RICH AND DOING A CHART THAT SHOWS OTHER THAN PASCO THAT WE BRING IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY IN CAPITAL PER STUDENT. I THINK THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. I ALSO LOVE HOW YOU HIGHLIGHTED NOT JUST LIKE, THE ARTS AND OTHER EXTRA CURRICULARS THAT WE ARE -- SO VALUED IN OUR SCHOOLS BUT REALLY NARROWED IT DOWN TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS WE ALREADY HAVE FOR OUR FIELD TRIPS AND TALKING ABOUT SPORTS EXPANSION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT FROM OUR STUDENT FORUMS THE FROM OUR STUDENT FORUMS THE BIGGEST THING WE HEARD THAT KEEPS OUR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN SCHOOLS, FEELING LIKE THERE IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND COMING EVERY SINGLE DAY ARE THE EXTRACURRICULARS WHETHER IT'S THE JOURNALISM CLASS, FOOTBALL CLASS, IT MEANS THEY SHOW UP JUST TO BE A PART OF THAT. THAT GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH EVERY DAY MATTERS, EVERY STUDENT MATTERS BECAUSE ATTENDANCE IS SO IMPORTANT. SO I SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE SOME MORE POINTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY, SO I'LL GET BACK IN THE CUE. MEMBER -- THE QUEUE. MEMBER GRAY, YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE PRESENTATION. DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK IN THE QUEUE BEFORE I MOVE ON? DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO GET IN THE QUEUE BEFORE I MOVE ON? MEMBER GRAY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >>Lynn Gray: SO I SQUEEZED IN. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE. SO THE GENESIS OF THE MILLAGE AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR AS WELL IS FOR -- AND TIS GOES WITH THE SURVEY, FOR TEACHER PAY. SO 86% OF THE SURVEY WHICH WENT OUT TO MAYBE 500 OUT TO MAYBE 500 TEACHERS, IS THAT AN ACTUAL -- MAYBE 443. SO 86% HAVE SAID TEACHER SO 86% HAVE SAID TEACHER PAY IS THE NUMBER THE NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, FORCE OF INTEREST OR THE NEED. SO WHAT I WANT TO BE CAREFUL AND THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN, FOR THOSE REMARKS REGARDING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AND THE LAST TIME WITH THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT IS WE GOT TOO DIVERSE. WE GOT TOO FANCY. I LOVE THE ARTS. AND I LOVE THE NATURE'S CLASSROOM AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU HANDLE ONE OR TWO, MY THOUGHT IS I WANT THE ESE PARAS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE IN THIS LIST, THERE IS NO -- THERE IS NO -- ESE IS HUGE. A HUGE POPULATION. THEY GET IGNORED TOO MANY TIMES. IN MY -- THAT'S IN MY -- THAT'S MY FEEDBACK. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT ACADEMIC SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT ACADEMICS, PERHAPS THE -- THE COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ENERGY FROM TEACHER PAY FROM TEACHER PAY, I WORRY THAT AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO GO AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE THAT RABBIT HOLE OR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PTA MIGHT BE TELLING PARENTS ONE THING AND THE PARENTS ONE THING AND THE CTA, ANOTHER. SO SO I JUST -- I'M NOT GOING TO SO I JUST -- I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY BUT I'M GOING TO WORRY BUT I'M GOING TO SAY, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, PLEASE KEEP THE EYE ON THE BALL. A GOOD TENNIS PLAYER HAS TO HAVE THE EYE ON THE THE EYE ON THE BALL ALL THE TIME. AND THIS IS TO WIN. AND YOU WANT TO WIN. AND THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE, MAKE, CTA MEMBERS, MAKE, CTA MEMBERS, THERE IS NOW NOT A WAY OF TAKING THE FUNDS OUT AUTOMATICALLY. NO MORE AUTOMATIC DEDUCTION, RIGHT, FROM THE -- FROM OUR PART? SO HOW IS THEIR MEMBERSHIP -- DE, DO WE HAVE -- I DIDN'T ASK --. >>Van Ayres: I'LL HAVE TO GET MR. MR. CRETE. I'M NOT SURE THE MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS. I'M NOT SURE. >> THE LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1 ON JULY 1 --. >>Van Ayres: COME ON UP. MR. FARKAS MR. FARKAS FOR A MINUTE? >> THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. THE LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, SO JUNE 30, WE HAD 63% OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL UNIT IN THE UNION. SO ON JULY 1, ZERO BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAW. SINCE THEN WE ADDED WELL OVER 7,000 MEMBERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS WE'RE OUT THERE TALKING TO EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. SO WE'RE BUILDING IT BACK EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE EXPECT TO MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN AND COLLABORATE WITH ALL OF YOU FOR COLLABORATE WITH ALL OF YOU FOR YEARS TO COME. >>Lynn Gray: WELL, WE'RE GOOD TO GO ON YOUR SIDE. THAT'S VERY VALUABLE BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAD THAT MINUS LAST TIME. SO WE WANT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG PLUS. BUT BASICALLY BUT BASICALLY AS JIM PORTER SAID, MY STATEMENT IS TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VOTE, HAVE IT ON THE VOTE, HAVE IT ON THE BALLOT, THIS PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY. FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY. THAT'S ON PAGE EIGHT SO WHEN WE TALK TALK ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE THE BIGGEST ROLE MODELING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SELECT THOSE FOLKS WHEN WE START LOOKING INTO LOOKING INTO IMPLEMENTING --. >>Van Ayres: VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE DID THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX. THOSE WOULD BE MEMBERS THAT I WOULD SELECT TO BE A PART OF THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT FOR THE MILL. SO THOSE WOULD BE SELECTIONS THAT I'D MAKE THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY. VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE -- WE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO BUILD ON WITH THIS MILLAGE IS THIS MILLAGE IS THE THIS MILLAGE IS THE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS THAT OUR CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND ALL THE WORK ON OUR TEAM, MR. WORK ON OUR TEAM, MR. FARKAS, HAVE DONE AND BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT OVER EVERY PENNY WE SPENT SO IT WOULD BE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND EVERY DOLLAR SPENT AND THOSE WOULD BE SELECTIONS I'D MAKE THAT ARE LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. YES, MA'AM. >>Lynn Gray: THAT'S FANTASTIC BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE A VERY GREAT JOB GREAT JOB AND VERY TRANSPARENT. THE TIMELINE, I SEE THAT THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE THE ACTUAL VOTE VOTE LAST QUESTION. THIS IS ON THE THIS IS ON THE COMMUNICATION. WE'RE LOOKING AT CHART -- IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE, IT SAYS -- PAGE SAYS -- PAGE 11, TO GAIN INSIGHT IN DRAFTING THE IN DRAFTING THE MILLAGE REFERENDUM PLAN, DISTRICT STAFF MET WITH -- SO I'M -- IT HAS HERE OBVIOUSLY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE MEMBERS AND THE VARIOUS FOLKS AND COMMITTEES, CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS. HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT -- HOW WILL OUR WILL OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS BENEFIT AND ARE THEY ON THIS -- THE SAME TRAIN OF THOUGHT HERE. >>Van Ayres: ABSOLUTELY. THEY'LL GET THEIR PROPORTIONATE SHARE SO IN SOME OF THE SLIDES, WE HAVE THE 177 MILLION AND THEIR SHARE IS ABOUT $26 MILLION SO THEY'LL GET $26 MILLION INTO THEIR OPERATING SIDE AND OPERATING COST THAT THEY'LL TAKE THAT ON. >>Lynn Gray: OKAY. >>Van Ayres: SO THERE -- THEY RECEIVE THEIR SHARE SO THIS MILL IS NOT -- THIS INCLUDES EVERYONE SO THEY RECEIVE THEIR PROPORTIONATE SHARE AND IT'S BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, SO THAT RIGHT NOW SITS AROUND THE 177 SITS AT $26 MILLION TO CHARTERS THEY CAN USE FOR OPERATING SIDE AND COST. >>Lynn Gray: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PART OF THAT QUESTION, YOU HAVE RIGHT BELOW CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS, INDIVIDUAL LEADERS AND CIVIC COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS GROUPS. I THINK YOU SHOULD ALSO ADD RELIGIOUS LEADERS BECAUSE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT 5 AS SHAKE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL, CHURCHES ARE THE MAIN PARTS OF THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS. SO LET'S SO LET'S ADD RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND AGAIN, ON AND AGAIN, ON COMMUNICATION, PAGE 12, PAGE 12, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, FIVE IN PERSON AND TWO VIRTUAL. JUST BECAUSE I PUT ON SCHOOL DISTRICT WIDE EVENTS, THE VIRTUAL SEEMS TO WORK BEST IN SOUTH TAMPA. SO I THINK YOU NEED TO SO I THINK YOU NEED TO HONE IN ON THAT AREA. ALSO, ON THE COMMUNICATION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, WHERE IT SAYS INCLUDING ONGOING MILLAGE SAYS INCLUDING ONGOING MILLAGE INFORMATION ON DISTRICT E NEWSLETTERS, DON'T FORGET THE NEWSLETTER WELL BEING FOR YOU. THAT GOES OUT TO ALL EMPLOYEES. AND ALSO THAT'S AND ALSO THAT'S VERY POPULAR AND ALSO THAT'S VERY POPULAR AND READ THROUGHOUT. LAST ON THE LAST ON THE COMMUNICATION, PAGE LAST ON THE COMMUNICATION, PAGE 13, DISTRICT 13, DISTRICT SITES. COPY THE REFERENDUM MODEL OF -- OH, YES. YOU REMEMBER HOW WE DID THE -- WHEN WE HAD THE SCHOOLS BEING RENOVATED, CHRIS KNOWS ALL TOO WELL, WE PUT IN THE YARD SIGN. I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE GREAT, YOU KNOW, WAY TO ADVERTISE AND NOT AS EXPENSIVE. SO I THINK THAT CONCLUDES AT LEAST MY POINTS THAT I WANTED TO COVER. I AM LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN HAS SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ALL THE OTHER BOARD COMMENTS AS ALL THE OTHER BOARD COMMENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AND NOW CHAIR PEREZ. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SO IT'S NOTHING LIKE COMMENTS WITHOUT SOME FIREWORKS. WILL THE EMPLOYEES AT THE TOP OF THE SCALE ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS INCREASE? >>Van Ayres: YES. IT'S OFTEN. SO WHETHER -- IF I'M A 25-YEAR TEACHER, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SALARY SCHEDULE THAT WE NEGOTIATE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THIS MILLAGE IS EVERY -- IT LASTS FOR FOUR YEARS SO THE MILLAGE IS A SUPPLEMENT SO IF WE LOOK AT TEACHERS, THE 6,000, IF I'M A 25-YEAR TEACHER OR 1-YEAR TEACHER IT'S $6,000 THAT THEY'D EACH RECEIVE. SO I THINK OUR 25 IS SO I THINK OUR 25 IS 72, WOULD PUT -- IT WOULD PUT THEM AT 78. THE FIRST YEAR TEACHER STARTS AT 47, IT WOULD THEM AT 53.5. IN THIS PROPOSAL, MY RECOMMENDATION, IT'S A STRAIGHT AMOUNT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR TEACHERS, THE 3,000 FOR SUPPORT STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL. WHETHER I'M AN AP OR WHETHER I'M AN AP OR PRINCIPAL, AND IT'S CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD. WE ARE WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE UP, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE BOARD AND THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION I IS THE RECOMMENDATION I HAVE. >>Karen Perez: I NOTICED -- WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT SPARK. HOW MUCH DO WE RECEIVE IN SPARK? >>Van Ayres: SO THAT IS -- SO OUR SPARK PAYMENT, SO FOR THE PUBLIC, THE SPARK PAYMENTS IS WHAT OUR WHAT OUR INCENTIVES WE RECEIVE FOR OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. TO PARTICIPATE TO PARTICIPATE AND TEACH IN THE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS. I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS 5,000. IT'S PART OF OUR -- NOW THAT -- SO IF I AM -- SO GREAT QUESTION. IF I'M A TRANSFORMATION NETWORK TEACHER, AND JUST TO USE AN EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY A 10-YEAR TEACHER, LET'S TEACHER, LET'S ASSUME THAT NUMBER IS 62. I WOULD THEN HAVE MY $5,000 SPARK PAYMENT. IT WOULD PUT US AT IT WOULD PUT US AT SEVEN AND THIS WOULD IT AT 73 SO THIS IS ON TOP OF THAT. SO THE TRANSFORMATION SPARK IS ALMOST TO MS. VAUGHN'S QUESTION, THAT'S -- WE STILL HAVE OUR REGULAR OPERATING SIDE. THIS IS JUST TO REP RAISE THE FLOOR -- HELP RAISE THE FLOOR A LITTLE BIT. THE SPARK IS ON TOP OF THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENT FOR MILLAGE. >>Karen Perez: SO WITH THE SPARK BONUS, WHAT HAS OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT LOOKED LIKE? >>Van Ayres: I COULD PULL >>Van Ayres: I COULD PULL THE DATA ON OUR DATA ON OUR -- DO WE HAVE -- DO WE KNOW OFF THE TOP? SO THE -- I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT DATA. I AM I AM SPEAKING I AM SPEAKING QUALITATIVELY THAT AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE INCENTIVIZE TEACHERS TO BE A PART OF THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK, THE SPARK PAYMENT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING STAFF INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING STAFF OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK SCHOOLS. I CAN PULL THE DATA. SO THE QUESTION WOULD -- >> ARE YOU ASKING HOW MUCH WE SPEND A YEAR? >>Karen Perez: HOW MUCH -- WE RECEIVE A YEAR BUT HOW MANY TEACHERS RECEIVE THE SPARK. >> OH, THE NUMBER -- I THINK >> OH, THE NUMBER -- I THINK SHAY HAS THE NUMBER. >>Van Ayres: ABOUT 1700 TEACHERS. SO IF WE THINK 1700 TEACHERS RECEIVE SPARK AND/OR RENAISSANCE PAYMENTS. SO 1700 RECEIVE THE INCENTIVE TO TEACH AT A TEACH AT A TRANSFORMATION SCHOOL. >>Karen Perez: RIGHT. BECAUSE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE HAVE 1.46 MILLION RESIDENTS. OUT OF THOSE 1.46 MILLION OUT OF THOSE 1.46 MILLION RESIDENTS, 29% ARE RESIDENTS, 29% ARE LATINOS AND 16% ARE 16% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN 16% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN WHICH 16% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN WHICH IS IS 664,815. AND WE HAVE CURRENTLY AND WE HAVE CURRENTLY 34 FAILING SCHOOLS? HAVE -- MS. McRAE, WHAT'S THE NUMBER? HOW MANY IN THE HOW MANY IN THE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS? SO 50 SCHOOLS IN THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK CURRENTLY. NOT ALL ARE FAILING. RIGHT. WE'VE GOT MANY THAT ARE -- THEY ARE -- WE KEEP SCHOOLS IN THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. THE WHOLE GOAL IS FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO GET OUT OF TRANSFORMATION NETWORK AND THEN BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME SO IT'S -- IT'S KIND OF A BALANCE THAT WE LOOK AT WHICH SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING EXTRA ATTENTION TO. >>Karen Perez: RIGHT. SO IN SO IN INCENTIVIZING OUR TEACHERS, TEACHERS, AND I GET TEACHERS, AND I GET -- HOW IS TEACHERS, AND I GET -- HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP OUR THIS GOING TO HELP OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK TRANSFORMATION NETWORK ALONG WITH, AND I'LL SAY THIS, WITH TRANSPORTATION. WE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. BECAUSE LOT OF OUR BECAUSE LOT OF OUR CHILDREN, AND I GET THESE PHONE CALLS. A LOT OF A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO ARE MISSING -- LET ME GET MISSING -- LET ME GET TO THE TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION PAGE. BUS DRIVERS. THAT'S ON PAGE -- IT THAT'S ON PAGE -- IT DOESN'T HAVE A PAGE. YOU SAID 45 MISSED HOURS YOU SAID 45 MISSED HOURS OF CLASS EACH YEAR. WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE 15 WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE 15 MINUTES LATE. AND 8,000 STUDENTS AND 8,000 STUDENTS GET TO SCHOOL LATE. AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT ONLY A 3,000, AS MEMBER VAUGHN SAID, A 3,000 PAY RATE TO THESE 3,000 PAY RATE TO THESE SUPPORT STAFF. AND A LOT OF OUR AND A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE ARE LATINO AND ARE LATINO AND ARE LATINO AND AFRO ARE LATINO AND AFRO AMERICANO, THEY ARE REALLY SUPPORTED BY SUPPORT STAFF. LET'S BE TRANSPARENT AND LET'S BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE SPARK BONUSES THAT STILL HAVEN'T RAISED THAT BAR FOR OUR STUDENTS. RIGHT? SO -- AND I'M GOING TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE BECAUSE I STILL HAVE A HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. AND UNDERSTANDING HOW AND UNDERSTANDING HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP OUR GOING TO HELP OUR STUDENTS. I'M LOOKING AT I'M LOOKING AT WHERE YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE OTHER DISTRICTS. AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW MANY FAILING SCHOOLS THEY FAILING SCHOOLS THEY HAVE, HOW THEY SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS OF COLOR, COLOR, AND COLOR, AND BECAUSE I KNOW MIAMI IS DOING REALLY WELL. I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANY FAILING SCHOOLS AT FAILING SCHOOLS AT ALL OR MAYBE ONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT WHILE WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THEM TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. >>Van Ayres: I'LL JUST ADD >>Van Ayres: I'LL JUST ADD THAT THIS ADDITIONAL MILLAGE REFERENDUM, THIS HELPS US RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS. HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS ACROSS THE BOARD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S TRANSFORMATION OR TEACHERS THAT ARE IN OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS. THIS IS ACROSS THE BOARD. AND I WILL ADD TO MIAMI-DADE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MIAMI-DADE HAD THEIR MIAMI-DADE HAD THEIR MILLAGE, THEIR MILL, PROBABLY I THINK IT'S SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS NOW. SIX. SIX YEARS THEY HAD IT. AS WE LOOK AT IT, AS WE WANT TO COMPARE SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE BRINGING THAT UP. LET'S COMPARE TO MIAMI-DADE WHEN WE LOOK AT THEY HAD ADDITIONAL REVENUE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS WE HAVEN'T. SO THAT'S A GREAT POINT AS WE LOOK AT LOOK AT HOW REVENUE AND THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS. IF WE WANT TO COMPARE US, WE TALK ABOUT THE FEFP EQUALIZES FUNDING. WHAT HAPPENED AND WE'LL USE MIAMI-DADE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS THEY HAD ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO HELP THEM RECRUIT AND RETAIN AND GET HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS ACROSS THE BOARD WHICH I'M SURE IN TURN, THIS HELPS ALL OUR SCHOOLS SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. >>Karen Perez: BECAUSE WE'RE THIRD IN LINE FOR THE SCHOOLS -- FOR HOW MANY STUDENTS WE HAVE. >>Van Ayres: YES, WE'RE THIRD. TOP TWO, MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD, THEY HAD IT -- I KNOW MIAMI-DADE WAS SIX. I'LL HAVE TO PULL BROWARD. MR. FARKAS, ON THE BUSES, JUST SO -- THIS IS AN IMPORTANT -- I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED BUSES BECAUSE AS WE LOOK LOOK AT THE HIGH LEVERS IN LOOK AT THE HIGH LEVERS IN ACHIEVEMENT, ATTENDANCE IS A CRITICAL ONE AND AS WE LOOK AT THIS AND HOW IT'S ABLE TO HELP US DRIVE STUDENT US DRIVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AS WE LOOK AT BUS DRIVERS, MR. FARKAS, MR. FARKAS, WITH A QUESTION, WAS THERE -- AS WE LOOK AT ROUTES. >>Christopher Farkas: ONE OF THE THINGS WE TAKE ABOUT IS ROUTES WHICH IS IMPORTANT. WE HAVE 600 DRIVERS AND ALSO ABSENTEEISM FOR BUS DRIVERS JUST LIKE TEACHERS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A 90% ATTENDANCE RATE. WE SHOULD HIRE 300 MORE BUS DRIVERS. ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE HAS SUITE DRIVERS AND SUB DRIVERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER WE SHARE AS MR. AYRES SHARED. THAT'S JUST MISSING ROUTES FOR DRIVERS. SO IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT BECAUSE WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN KIDS GET TO SCHOOL AND ADMINISTRATORS OF SCHOOL SITES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. EVEN IF THE BUS IS LATE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET BREAKFAST. FOR SOME KIDS, THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THEY GET BREAKFAST. IF YOU'RE 5 MINUTES LATE TO SCHOOL AND ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TO EAT, YOU MISS CLASS TIME. SO IT HAS DIRECT IMM PACT ON INSTRUCTION. FORMER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN THE ROOM AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, YOU KNOW IT IMPACTS INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT'S A DISRUPTION DISRUPTION IN THE CLASSROOM AND EVERYONE ELSE TURNS AROUND AND SEES THAT TOO. I THINK IT'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN KIDS BEING LATE TO SCHOOL AND A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON INSTRUCTION IN THE FIRST PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY. >>Van Ayres: AS WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WE HAVE, BOTH TEACHER AND BUS DRIVERS VACANCIES TO THINK THAT WE'RE OPERATING THE WAY WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT WITHIN THE EMPLOYEES TO SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW HARD WORKING THEY ARE AND I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH ABOUT THE CULTURE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS. SO TO EVEN LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND KNOW THE AMOUNT OF THE AND KNOW THE AMOUNT OF THE STRUGGLES WE'RE HAVING, AND WHETHER IT'S THE BUS DRIVER HAVING TO -- THE PRINCIPAL OR AP HAVING TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL OR HAVING TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL OR GO TO ANOTHER RAMP TO TRANSFER STUDENTS, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO -- WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST PARTICULARLY LAST FEW YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN -- WE GOT TO GET TO I HAVE BEEN -- WE GOT TO GET TO A PLACE RARE ABLE TO A PLACE RARE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS ACROSS THE BOARD IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND GET US COMPETITIVE AND EQUAL LEVEL OFF THE PLAYING FIELD. >>Karen Perez: I'LL GET BACK IN THE THE QUEUE. >>Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE MYSELF, MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER PEREZ. ANYONE ELSE TO ADD IN THE QUEUE? OKAY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS DISCUSSION IN GENERAL. I THINK WE HIGHLIGHTED REALLY GOOD POINTS. WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH THE BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH THE DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD SO FAR DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD SO FAR IS WHILE THE SUPPORT AND REALIZATION THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS IS HERE, WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR HARD TO FILL VACANCIES AND MAYBE AND MAYBE REVAMPING THIS SO WE'RE PRIORITIZING THAT. WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPARK PAY AND MAKING THAT MORE COMPETITIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR, BUT WHAT I HEARD IS MIAMI-DADE PAYS A DIFFERENCE OF 10 TO $20,000 IN THE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS TO THE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS TO PRIORITIZE THAT. I KNOW THAT MIGHT I KNOW THAT MIGHT NOT BE REALISTIC FOR US BUT MAYBE INCREASING SPARK IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. I AGREE WITH MEMBER GRAY. WE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM TALKING ABOUT THE ESE DEPARTMENT REPEATEDLY AND AS A BOARD WE REPEATEDLY AND AS A BOARD WE SO WHETHER IT MEANS SPARK PAY OR PARAPROFESSIONALS ONE OF THE THINGS OUR TEACHERS HIGHLIGHTED THE MOST IS THE MOST IS LACK OF SUPPORT AND LACK OF OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS WHEN IT COMES WHEN IT COMES TO ESE TEACHERS. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY BOARD MEMBERS. WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING, WHAT I'M READING IS FOR THE MOST PART THEY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF SUPPORTING THIS SUPPORTING THIS AND NEEDING THIS. THEIR CONCERNS ARE JUST CLARITY AROUND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO. WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. MAKING SURE WE HAVE STABILITY AND TRUST WITHIN OUR LEADERSHIP SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING FROM OUR EMPLOYEE SIDE. AND WHEN I HEAR FROM VOTERS HONESTLY THE BIGGEST CONCERN I HAVE, WE ALMOST PASSED THIS LESS THAN 600 VOTERS LAEST TIME, IS GUARANTEEING IT'S GOING TO KEEP THEIR FAVORITE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM OR TEACHERS THAT CLASSROOM OR TEACHERS THAT THEY NEED THE MOST. SO WITH ALL THAT FEEDBACK, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS OUR FUTURE IF WE DON'T PASS THIS IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING. WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS AND WHAT DOES OUR FEATURE LOOK LIKE IF WE DON'T GET THIS? >>Van Ayres: OUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE WHAT WE HAD IN THE SCREEN. INCREASED NUMBER OF VACANCIES, BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES. THIS IS A -- LIKE I TOLD THE PRINCIPALS PRINCIPALS LAST MONTH, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAYBE EVER. WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A TIME TO WHERE ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE WE ARE NOT ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE. WHAT KEPT US AFLOAT, AGAIN, IS THE EMPLOYEES IN THE DISTRICT FOR A LONG TIME. THIS IS -- THIS IS EVERYTHING TO ME. I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW -- LISTEN. I'M GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS I'M GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT IS -- THIS IS THIS IS WHAT IS -- THIS IS COMMUNITY, PERIOD. AND I JUST -- I WANT TO ENSURE AND I JUST -- I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING, MS. VAUGHN, THAT MS. VAUGHN, THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE. WE HAVE TO HAVE IT TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE. WE CAN ALWAYS -- WE CAN KEEP PLAYING THE GAME. BUT WE KEEP PLAYING THE GAME, WE'RE PLAYING IT LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND IT'S RIGHT NOW AND IT'S TAXING OUR EMPLOYEES TO NO END, HAVING TO COVER FOR OTHER CLASSROOMS, COVER BUS DRIVER RUNS, WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE NUTRITION STAFF AND HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES WE HAVE THERE. SO THIS IS ULTRA SO THIS IS ULTRA IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT WE ME THAT WE GET THIS THROUGH AND WE EDUCATE. THIS IS JUST REALLY FOR ME AROUND EDUCATING OUR AROUND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE NEEDS FOR -- WE ALL WANT GREAT SCHOOLS. I THINK YOU ASK ANYBODY, EVERYBODY WANTS GREAT SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE WAY WE DO THAT IS SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND STARTS WITH HAVING THE GREAT HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER OVER TIME. WE CAN'T HAVE TEACHERS THAT ARE LEAVING MIDYEAR TO GO TAKE A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE TO MAKE MORE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO MAKE MORE MONEY WE'VE GOT TO GET TO A PLACE TO WHERE WE'RE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND IF PEOPLE MAKE A CHOICE THEY WANT TO MOVE OUT OF EDUCATION, THAT'S ONE THING BUT NOT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS WHEN WE CAN TRY TO HELP AND ASSIST AS MUCH AS WE CAN. AROUND THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK AND SPARK PAYMENT, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT. IF WE WANTED TO -- WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER 8%. THAT'S $11 MILLION. IF THE BOARD DECIDES AND WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO CARVE A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THAT TO GIVE TO OUR -- AS PART OF SPARK INCENTIVE, WE CAN DO THAT. THERE IS FLEXIBILITY THERE TO DO THAT WITH SALARIES SO THAT'S ALL OPEN TO -- AND THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP. THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT AND WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE THIS AGENDA ITEM COMES FORWARD SO THAT'S ACTUALLY -- THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY -- THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK THERE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONEST ANSWERS. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE. AND ONE THING WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT UP IS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND THE CHALLENGE OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE A PIPELINE. AGAIN WHAT WE TALK ABOUT AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE PRESENTATION REPEATEDLY IS STABILITY. STABILITY IN OUR TEACHERS. STABILITY IN OUR LEADERSHIP. ALL THE WAY FROM THE CLASSROOM UP INTO THE DISTRICT. AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ASIDE FROM THE FROM THE TEACHER PIPELINE IS OUR LEADERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPAL PIPELINE. SOME OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE HOW MUCH WE PAY OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND THE FACT THEY MIGHT BE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND MAKING LESS THAN A TEACHER WHOSE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOREVER. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT RIGHT NOW OUR SUCCESS IS DUE TO OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES AND MOSTLY OUR TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AND STAY WITH THAT. I I APPRECIATE THAT. SO AGAIN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ESE, SPARK OR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE COMPETITIVE PAY WHEN IT COMES TO LEADERSHIP AND BUILDING A PIPELINE TO LEADERSHIP IS ALL IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT AS A BOARD. I SUPPORT THIS 100%. NOT JUST BECAUSE I SEE THE VALUE IN IT BUT ALSO BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS THAT OUR COMMUNITY ALMOST TOLD US THAT THEY WANTED TO PASS THIS, THAT THEY VALUE THIS. I THINK THERE WAS SOME ISSUES WITH TRUST AT THAT TIME IN THE COMMUNITY BUT I THINK THAT WE AS A BOARD AND WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP HAVE WORKED HARD TO OVERCOME A LOT OF THAT AND LOT OF THAT AND BE EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT AND HAVE HIGH LEVEL CONVERSATIONS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK WE BUILT THAT TRUST AND RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE AS YOU PRIORITIZE AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, HAVING STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS AN ASSET TO EVERY COMMUNITY. ACCESS TO QUALITY EACHUALIZED EDGE -- EQUALIZED EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATION AND OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I APPRECIATE THIS WORKSHOP AND YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MEMBER GRAY, YOU'RE NEXT IN THE QUEUE. >>Lynn Gray: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FORMS OF ABOUT THE FORMS OF REVENUE THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE. MR. FARKAS, WE SUCCESSFULLY GOT THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO. HOW MUCH ARE WE HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING FOR THE -- THE -- MENTIONED THAT WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH GOOD SHAPE WITH IMPACT FEES AND GOOD SHAPE WITH IMPACT FEES AND THE UPCOMING MILLAGE BECAUSE THE MILLAGE WILL BE FOR OPERATING AND NOT CAPITAL. BUT IMPACT FEES IS FOR CAPITAL. HOW MUCH ON A -- >>Christopher Farkas: IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THE EASIEST WAY TO FORECAST THAT IS TALK ABOUT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND IT'S KIND OF WHAT SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING WHICH IS WE HAVE $450 MILLION IN NEEDS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION THROUGH 2031. AND WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET $210 MILLION IN IMPACT FEES. THAT'S A PROJECTION BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON WHO PULLS THE PERMIT AND BUILDS THE HOMES. SO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE HAVE HALF OF WHAT WE NEED FROM AN IMPACT FEE STANDPOINT. OVER OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE'RE GATHERED TO MAKE ABOUT 2 GATHERED TO MAKE ABOUT 200 -- >>Lynn Gray: IT'S A BIG POINT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT TWO SCHOOLS WE DID SCHOOLS WE DID RENOVATIONS, RIVERVIEW AND I THINK SHIELDS CAME TO A HUNDRED MILLION CAME TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN DOLLARS IN CAPITAL FUNDS JUST FOR RENOVATIONS FOR THOSE TWO SCHOOLS. SO IF WE DON'T GET THE SO IF WE DON'T GET THE CIT INCLUSION, THIS IS BIG. THIS IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL BECAUSE JUST AGAIN, FOR TWO SCHOOLS, 180 MILLION AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT FEES, WHICH IN NO WAY PAY FOR THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL NEEDS THAT WE'LL HAVE, CAPITAL NEEDS THAT WE'LL HAVE, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE GET AND BECOME PART OF THAT CIT. YOUR REMARKS? >>Van Ayres: I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER IN THE WORKSHOP AT THE BEGINNING. I DID TALK ABOUT ALL THAT THE CIT HAS DONE FOR THE DISTRICT SINCE 1996. ALL THE MONIES THAT HAVE COME IN, WHAT WE PUT IT INTO BUT IT IS -- I WILL BE OUT. WE SENT A LETTER OUT TO THE COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASKING THEM, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE -- THEY LISTEN TO US AND WE HAVE A PLACE. IT'S A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX AND SCHOOLS ARE A BIG PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THOSE IMPACT FEES YOU MENTIONED, AROUND 8,000, THAT NUMBER WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE AROUND 16,000 FOR IMPACT FEES TO KEEP UP WITH THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS, THE BILL WE HAVE IN PLANT CITY, WAYAMAMA, PLANT CITY CAREER CENTER OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. SO THAT NUMBER, WE'RE THANKFUL IT GOT TO THE 8,000 THAT HELPED US OFFSET SOME OF THE COST BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW, WE DON'T GET MONEY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE TALKED ABOUT THE 1.5 CAPITALS OUT THERE. WE DON'T GET MONEY FROM ANYWHERE THAT SAYS HERE IS MONEY, BUILD SOME SCHOOLS. IT ALL HAS TO BE GENERATED FROM IMPACT FEES OR THE 1.5 CAPITALS WE GENERATE. AS WE MENTION EARLIER, WE'RE NOT A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S A PROPERTY RICH STUDENT POOR SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE'RE PROPERTY POOR. WE DON'T GENERATE THE VALUE IN OUR -- FROM PROPERTY TAXES TO KEEP UP WITH CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S WHY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE NEED IN '96 AND HAVE THE NEED NOW. >>Lynn Gray: I'M SURE YOU BROUGHT IT UP TO THE BOARD, THAT THE MILLAGE WE'RE ASKING FOR THE MILLAGE WE'RE ASKING FOR IN 2008 WE ACTUALLY HAD THAT AND THEN THEY REDUCED IT SO WE'RE THEN THEY REDUCED IT SO WE'RE TO -- AND STILL A TO -- AND STILL A MINUS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU. SO ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS THE CAPITAL MILL, THE SLIDE I HAD UP THERE THAT LISTED 1.5 MILLS AND THE MONEY WE GENERATE BACK IN 2007, IT WAS TWO MILLS. THE NEXT YEAR IT WAS 1.75 AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR 1.5. IT'S NOT RECOVERED FROM THE 2.0 TO 1.5, YOU KNOW, SINCE OBVIOUSLY 2008. THAT'S 15 YEARS AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE REDUCTION IN CAPITAL, THE MILLS FOR CAPITAL. THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE WERE DESPERATE IN 2016 WHEN WE COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH OUR CAPITAL COST. BECAUSE AT THAT BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THE MILLAGE WAS DROPPED. WE'RE A PROPERTY POOR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NEEDED THE HALF PENNY. THANKFULLY THE HALF PENNY PUT OUR SCHOOLS IN A POSITION AND WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH AND I CAN'T THANK OUR CAN'T THANK OUR TEAM OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE IMPROVING WITH THEIR BUILDINGS. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WORK OF NOT ONLY OUR TEAM BUT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND ENSURING, LIKE WE'LL HAVE ON THE MILLAGE SIDE AS WELL ASSUMING IT PASSES, ASSUMING THEY'RE HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURING EVERY DOLLAR WE EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND IS GOING TOWARDS WHAT WE SAID. >>Lynn Gray: IT'S A SHAME THAT WE GOT TO THIS DIRE SITUATION WITH THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS BUT I WON'T GO INTO THAT, YOU KNOW, KNOW, EMOTIONALITY AND FRUSTRATION. THE ABSENTEEISM IS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND THE POINT WAS MADE ABOUT THE BUS DRIVERS. AND CHRIS, YOU KNOW WE'RE ALMOST 300-SOMETHING BUS DRIVERS SHORT PER DAY ON PER DAY ON ANY GIVEN DAY. I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITIES, YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE PRIORITY TYPE DISCUSSION AS WELL AS THE AS THE PARAS. PARAS ARE FORGOTTEN ALL THE TIME YET THEY'RE INSTRUMENTAL TO THE TEACHER AND DELIVERING LESSONS AND BACKUP. SO I'M JUST SO I'M JUST PUTTING THOSE WORDS OUT THERE OUT THERE BECAUSE THOSE ARE WORDS THAT MEAN A LOT TO WORDS THAT MEAN A LOT TO SUCCESSFUL TEACHING. EFFECTIVE TEACHERS. AND AND GETTING THE KIDS THROUGH THAT THIRD GRADE -- OH, MY GOODNESS. THE THIRD GRADE CHALLENGE OF LITERACY. THE NEXT POINT I WANT TO SAY IS A POINT THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS TOUGH SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THERE IS SAFETY ISSUES. WE KNOW THERE IS SCHOOLS IN HIGH NEEDS NEEDS AREAS. WE CALL A GROUP OF THEM TRANSFORMATION. LAST TIME, FEW YEARS AGO, WE CALLED THEM SOMETHING CALLED THEM SOMETHING ELSE. I CAN'T REMEMBER. ACHIEVEMENT SCHOOLS. BEFORE THAT WE HAD ANOTHER TITLE. SO I MEAN, SO I MEAN, WE'RE GROUPING SCHOOLS BUT IN TRUTH, THE SCHOOLS BUT IN TRUTH, THE REALITY IS AND REALITY IS AND SHAE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THE ANALOGIES SHOW A TRANSFORMATION SCHOOL MIGHT NOT BE NAMED TRANSFORMATION BUT IT'S IN FACT HIGH NEEDS. SO WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND THINK AS A BOARD AND I HOPE THAT -- I'M SURE THIS BOARD WILL AGREE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TEACHERS IN THAT MORE DISTRICT SITUATION AND ESE TEACHERS, NEED TO HAVE TEACHERS, NEED TO HAVE A PAYMENT RELEVANT TO THE RELEVANT TO THE INCREASED AMOUNT OF WORK. AND ALL THAT GOES TO PRINCIPALS AND APs. I'M -- SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, I'M I'M SHARING THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE IT'S -- WHEN WE START TO GO OUT FOR MORE GO OUT FOR MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE -- ROB CRIETE, WE HAVE TO HAVE -- ROB CRIETE, THANK YOU, AND VAL CHURCHMAN. WE HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORTERS THAT HEAR THAT, HEY, WE KNOW YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SCHOOL. WE KNOW THE LITERACY IS ONE OR TWO. WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GET MORE ENERGY AND MORE RESOURCES AND MORE AND MORE COLLECTIVE COLLABORATION AND MORE EVERYTHING TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS. SO ANY, IT'S ENOUGH SAID BUT SO ANY, IT'S ENOUGH SAID BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S A DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S A PRESENTATION PART THAT NEEDS PRESENTATION PART THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED BE INCLUDED AND AGAIN, AND I SAY THIS WITH THE UTMOST CAUTION, YOU HEAR ME SAYING AND EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE OH, LET'S PAY ATTENTION TO THE ATTENTION TO THE ESE AND PARAS AND BUS DRIVERS. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF WE'RE CITING WE'RE INTERESTED ONLY IN THE TEACHER PAY THE TEACHER PAY BUT, THE TEACHER PAY BUT, DA-DA-DA, SO -- SO THIS IS GOING TO BE -- YOU HAVE TO CRAFT IT IN A WAY WHERE WE'RE NOT GETTING TOO FLAMBOYANT AND CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? >>Van Ayres: I AGREE. THAT'S WHY MY PROPOSAL IS STRAIGHT ACROSS FOR TEACHER SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS AND I OUTLINED THE AMOUNT EARLIER BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT EVERYONE AND THE SUPPORT STAFF IS EVERYONE IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. YOU CAN'T START TO SAY, ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER. EVERYBODY IS IMPORTANT. SO POINT HEARD AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SUPPLEMENT TO THE MILLAGE WAS VERY CLEAR TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT EVERYONE. EVERYONE MATTERS. RIGHT? SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THAT CLEAR THAT ALL OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SUPPORTED IN THIS. BECAUSE IN THE END, WE'RE A PEOPLE BUSINESS. IT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. WHEN OUR KIDS -- WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED. IT'S ABOUT HAVING, NUMBER ONE, HIGH QUALITY STAFF AND TO MS. PEREZ'S COMMENTS, IT CAN BE A SUPPORT STAFF PERSONNEL OR ESE PARA OR SECRETARY IN AN OFFICE OR TEACHER. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE BOARD. SO THANK YOU. >>Lynn Gray: AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LISTENING AND HEARING FROM BOARD MEMBERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES VERY, VERY VERY, VERY DEEPLY, IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS HAS TO HAS TO COME FROM THE HEART TOE TO -- AND THE PASSION THAT WE HAVE AS A STUDENT-CENTERED SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD. SO EVERY CITIZEN HAS CHILDREN, SO EVERY CITIZEN HAS CHILDREN, LOVED ONES, LOVED ONES, AND GRANDPARENTS HAVE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. BUT WE NEED FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE THE BALLOT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER COMBS? YOU'RE NEXT YOU'RE NEXT IN THE QUEUE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS A GREAT JOB. THIS FOLDER, THIS NOTEBOOK, ALL THE DETAILS. I LIKE THE WAY IT WAS BROKEN OUT, VERY CLEAN, VERY CLEAR, I THINK WITH ALL OF IT. I HAD A COUPLE I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS. WHEN YOU DISCUSS THE WHEN YOU DISCUSS THE -- WHAT WE'D BE PAYING, HAVE YOU TALKED TO CTA AND HASA WHEN YOU CAME UP WITH THE SALARY STRUCTURE? WHO DID YOU GET INPUT FROM? >>Van Ayres: ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE A COLLABORATIVE ACROSS THE BOARD SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ROB, IRAN AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND DO ON MY OWN WITHOUT GETTING WITHOUT GETTING INPUT FROM EVERYONE. SO TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, YES. >>Nadia Combs: I KNEW YOU DID DO THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THE UNION HAS SPOKEN TO YOU AND THE PRINCIPALS HAVE AND THE PRINCIPALS HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU. I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE INADEQUATE FUNDING, JUST YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF FUNDING WOULD WE GET FROM THE STATE THIS YEAR AND IT LOOKED LIKE MAYBE $220 AND PEOPLE WERE VERY EXCITED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE FROM 120. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF YOU ADD A ZERO TO THAT, AND YOU ADDED 2200, YOU'D STILL BE BELOW THE AVERAGE OF THE U.S. CENSUS. SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. IF WE ADDED FOR 4700, WE ADDED 2200, WE'D BE 6900 AND ALMOST A THOUSAND DOLLARS OFF THE AVERAGE. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHERE WE'RE LIVING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHICH IS THE HIGHEST INFLATION RATE AND THEN YOU'RE NOT EVEN PAYING TEACHERS, AND I HAVE TO SAY, SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY, THAT'S A REASON NOT TO PASS THE TAX BUT WE'RE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS IMPACTED BY IT IMPACTED BY IT OR THEIR, YOU KNOW, KNOW, SIBLINGS OR SOMEBODY SO EVERYBODY IS BEING IMPACTED. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN WE WENT TO THE STATE OF THE REGION AND TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THEIR HOMES HERE AND WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR THEIR TAXES OR ALL OF THAT, IT'S REALLY UNHEARD OF. I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW TEACHERS ARE LIVING HERE AND HOW THIS DISTRICT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. AND -- TO THRIVE. SO OFTEN YOU'RE HEARING PEOPLE SAYING, I DON'T LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ANYMORE. I LIVE IN WESLEY CHAPEL OR NEW PORT RICHEY OR WHATEVER. IF YOU CAN TURN AROUND AND IF YOU CAN TURN AROUND AND LIVE IN THE DISTRICT THAT'S CHEAPER TO LIVE IN AND GET PAID MORE, WHY WOULDN'T YOU GO? I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS NOT JUST KEEPING PEOPLE HERE BUT ATTRACTING PEOPLE AS WELL. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING IS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WORKING UNTIL 90 OR 100 YEARS OLD. SO HOW ARE WE ATTRACTING NEW PEOPLE AND WHY WOULD NEW PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NO MATTER WHAT, HOW HILLSBOROUGH STRONG IT IS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TAXABLE AMOUNT, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN PEOPLE THINK THEY'LL PAY, YOU KNOW, $2,000. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY THAT. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF MISINFORMATION LAST TIME. SO JUST A COUPLE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE TO REALLY WORK HARD. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PUSH TO FINANCIAL STABILITY AND RO RO JOHNSON, I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD AT THAT. PEOPLE ARE UPSET AND IT'S HARD AT THE SCHOOLS NOW. I WILL SAY THERE IS A LOT OF JOB OPENINGS. THERE IS A LOT OF WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GOING TO THE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS, NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO WORK WITH ARE YOU GOING TO WORK WITH CHALLENGING STUDENTS AND ENVIRONMENTS BUT ALSO WHERE YOU'LL HAVE TO COVER A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXTRA CLASSES THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT THERE. IT'S SO MUCH MORE TO ATTRACT SOMEONE THAN JUST PAY. THERE IS A LOT OF COMPONENTS OF THAT. I THINK THE FINANCIAL STABILITY. I THINK HAVING SUCH CLEAN AUDITS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE JUST HAD A CLEAN AUDIT. THE BOND RATING IS GOING UP. THAT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK LOOKING AT REPURPOSING SOME OF THE SCHOOLS WE'RE REPURPOSING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW AND WE'LL CONTINUE LOOKING AT THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE WE NEED TO RIGHT SIZE NOT JUST THE DISTRICT BUT RIGHT SIZE SCHOOLS LIKE I SAY OVER AND OVER. WE CAN'T KEEP SCHOOLS SO WE CAN'T KEEP SCHOOLS SO UNDER ENROLLED EVEN IF IT'S CONVENIENT FOR FAMILIES. IT'S BETTER TO UTPUT THE RESOURCES BACK OUT AND MAKE THE SCHOOLS WHICH IS A STABLE SCHOOL. IF A PRINCIPAL IS OVERSEEING 800 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ANOTHER ONE IS OVERSEEING 180 STUDENTS, HOW IS THAT EQUITABLE FOR ANYONE AND HOW DO WE NOT USE THE RESOURCES FOR ESE SPECIALISTS AND SPECIALISTS AND TEACHERS AND ALL THAT. I SEE THERE IS A DECREASE IN THE WORKFORCE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY LAYERS AS WE HAD BEFORE. OUR WORKFORCE IS THINNER AND WE LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT THAT COMES THROUGH. AS SMALL OR LARGE AS IT IS, I LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT AND I KNOW THE BOARD DOES AS WELL AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH HCTA. I THINK SOME OF THE I THINK SOME OF THE MISTAKES WE MADE LAST TIME, THE FOCUS, THE CAMPAIGN HAS TO BE FOCUSED AROUND STUDENTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. GETTING STUDENTS ON TIME TO SCHOOL SO THEY CAN HAVE A BREAKFAST. GETTING STUDENTS TO A CLASSROOM WHERE THEY HAVE A CERTIFIED TEACHER WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPENING FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR SIX MONTHS. GETTING SECURITY TO THE STUDENTS SO THAT WAY THEY'RE PROTECTED. GETTING STUDENTS THE MUSIC AND ART PROGRAM THEY'RE MISSING. MAKING SURE THE CAREER RESOURCES -- I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THE MARKETING THE MARKETING NEEDS TO BE AROUND STUDENTS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CUSTOMERS. AND FOCUSING ON THE LEVELS WE TALK ABOUT, THE STUDENTS MOST IN NEED, THE ESE AND ELL STUDENTS BECAUSE THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND THE NEEDS ARE COMING IN AND KIDS ARE NOTICING THOSE NEEDS, HOW MUCH THEY NEED. AND FINALLY GOING OUT TO THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND BUILD THE TRUST. I CAN THINK OF MANY THINGS WE DID WRONG AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I GO INTO THE VOTING BOOTH I'LL HAVE ONE VOTE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. AND IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT THEY WERE IN THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. NONPARTISAN. THE WHOLE BOARD WANTED IT BECAUSE THEY WANTED THE TAXPAYER TO CHOOSE THAT. IF YOU'RE SHOWING A COHESIVE BOARD AND SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PARTY YOU BELONG TO, LET THE VOTERS CHOOSE AS A SCHOOL BOARD, WE SEE WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM. WE'RE 50th. LET US SEE AS A BOARD THAT WE'RE COHESIVE JUST LIKE ALL THE SURROUNDING OTHER BOARDS. I I HOPE TO SEE THAT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER WASHINGTON, YOU'RE NEXT IN THE QUEUE. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT, YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE PREPARATION. THE BOARD HAS HAD GOOD QUESTIONS BECAUSE THE BECAUSE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT, I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER ALL THE WAY HAVE BEEN A TEACHER ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. A LOT OF TIMES MONEY IS IMPORTANT BUT LEADERSHIP IS QUITE IMPORTANT TOO. LEADERSHIP IS THE KEY. THAT'S THE KEY THAT'S THE KEY TO SUCCESS. AND MAYBE WE CAN TAKE SOME OF THESE MONIES AND TRAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO -- IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT NEED TO BE TRAINED IN THAT NEED TO BE TRAINED IN BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. BEING TRANSPARENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE -- WE SAID, MAN, WE GOT MAN, WE GOT 350,000, $350 MILLION OR WHATEVER WE HAVE. WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT, THEY SAY THEY HAVE MONEY. WHY THEY CAN'T DO ALL THIS? BUT WE DON'T DO A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING HOW THE BUDGET WORKS TO THE PUBLIC. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T KNOW HOW THE BUDGET WORK. I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME AND THEY SAY, SHAKE, YOU HAVE ALL THAT MONEY AND STILL WANT MONEY BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THE BUDGET WORKS. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN'T TAKE ONE BUCKET AND PUT IT IN ANOTHER BUCKET. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE COMMUNICATIONS I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO, SUPERINTENDENT, SO THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GO OUT SELLING THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S A SELL. WE GOT TO SELL IT. WHEN WE GO OUT AND SELL IT, AND WE GOT TO SAY, WE GOT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT YOU CAN'T DO B OUT OF THAT BUCKET SO PEOPLE WILL STAND. AND MS. JOHNSON, YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB TO GET US BACK WHERE GREAT JOB TO GET US BACK WHERE WE SHOULD BE AND I THINK WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IF BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE GO THE RIGHT WAY AND GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT'S GOING ON. I KNOW WE'RE LIVING IN TOUGH TIMES. I MEAN, IT'S HARD TIMES NOW. SO IF SOMEBODY IS SPENDING THAT MONEY, VOTING TO SPEND THE MONEY, THEY NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT MONEY. THAT'S THE POINT. MAKING SURE THEY KNOW AND WE KNOW THE MONEY CAN'T JUST BE MOVED ANYWHERE IN THE BUDGET. AND IN CLOSING, I'M FOR IT. I'M GOING. I THINK WE CAN DO IT. BUT WE GOT BUT WE GOT TO REALLY PUSH HARD AND SELL THE PROGRAM. BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE NOT GOING TO BUY IT. NO MATTER WHAT. YOU CAN GIVE AWAY GOLD AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT THAT GOLD. THEY WANT MORE. THEY WANT SOMETHING ELSE. SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO OUT AND BE SALES AND SELL IT GO OUT AND BE SALES AND SELL IT 100% AND NOT -- AND NOT LISTEN 100% AND NOT -- AND NOT LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE I THINK THE LAST TIME WE REALLY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF BACKING. BUT IF WE GO OUT AND DO THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, I THINK WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. OKAY. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT? >>Van Ayres: I WANTED TO SUM THINGS UP FROM THE THINGS I HEARD FROM MEMBER COMBS AND WASHINGTON. TO THE TWO BUCKETS, CAPITAL AND OPERATING, REMINDER THAT THE CAPITAL IS BASED ON THE TAXABLE LAND VALUES WE HAVE. NOT BASED ON STUDENTS OR NEED. IT'S JUST STRICTLY BASED ON THAT VALUE. HENCE THE NEED FOR THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX. HENCE THE NEED FOR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX IN THE FUTURE TO KEEP UP THE 8,000 IMPACT FEE IS NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE FUTURE GROWTH IN FUTURE GROWTH IN WAYAMAMA AND PLANT CITY IN PARTICULAR OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. ON THE OPERATING SIDE AS ON THE OPERATING SIDE AS AN AN EXAMPLE, REMEMBER THE FEFP IS A GREAT SYSTEM THAT EQUALIZES FUNDING ACROSS SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE IT BASES IT ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS. IT'S A GREAT SYSTEM. OUR ISSUE BECOMES WHEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT OTHER DISTRICTS BRING IN THAT WE DO NOT. SO THE FEFP IS A SO THE FEFP IS A SYSTEM IN WHICH EQUALIZES EQUALIZES FUNDING, MAKES IT FAIR ACROSS DISTRICTS. WITHIN THE WITHIN THE FEFP, ALL THE DISTRICTS LEVY A DISCRETIONARY OPERATING MILLAGE. WE CAN LEVY AN ADDITIONAL 4.78. WE GET WE GET THAT MONEY WITHIN THE WE GET THAT MONEY WITHIN THE FEFP SYSTEM, WE ACTUALLY GET A SUPPLEMENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT'S WITHIN THE FEFP SYSTEM BECAUSE WE DON'T MEET THE STATE AVERAGE FOR PROPERTY TAX VALUES SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WITHIN THE OPERATING BUDGET HOW THE FEFP TAKES AND EQUALIZES FUNDING BECAUSE THEY SAY, HECK, HILLSBOROUGH WITH THEIR 4.78 DOESN'T EVEN REACH THE STATE AVERAGE IN PROPERTY TAX VALUES AND THEY ADD A SUPPLEMENT WITHIN THE FEFP TO BRING US JUST TO THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. I'M NOT COMPETING WITH OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES BUT THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE FEFP AND HOW IT'S A SYSTEM THAT HELPS EQUALIZE FUNDING BASED ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS. CAPITAL BASED ON VALUE. OPERATING BASED ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS. OUR ISSUE BECOMES TO BE COMPETITIVE, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE GOT TO EQUALIZE THE REVENUE THAT WE BRING IN. WE'RE JUST IN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO COMPETE. MS. JOHNSON? >> I'D LIKE TO ADD ON TO THAT, SUPERINTENDENT, ONCE THAT 330 MILLION IS IN THE FUND BALANCE, THAT'S ONE TIME MONEY. REOCCURRING COSTS CANNOT BE ADDED TO THAT ONE-TIME MONEY. I WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT. PEOPLE SEE THAT FUND BALANCE AND IT'S SO HIGH BUT IT'S NOT REOCCURRING DOLLARS. IT'S ONE TIME BECOMES ONE-TIME MONEY AND WE DEFINITELY NEED A FUND BALANCE AS YOU KNOW SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DON'T HAVE TO BORROW FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAN HAPPEN AND TO SUPPORT OUR PAYING OUT THE PAYROLL ALSO. BECAUSE WE HAVE A CASH FLOW ISSUE AT -- IN OCTOBER. SO THOSE -- THE RATIONALE THAT FUND BALANCE IS THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAX DOESN'T COME IN UNTIL END OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. WE ONLY HAVE LESS THAN 15 MINUTES LEFT AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A VERY BRIEF COMMENT AND I KNOW MEMBER GRAY WANTED TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT AND THEN MEMBER PEREZ WILL MAKE PEREZ WILL MAKE CLOSING COMMENTS. I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR THIS. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND I VALUED EVERY VALUED EVERY SINGLE PERSPECTIVE HERE TODAY. I AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS THAT WE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS BECAUSE WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN OUR SCHOOLS AND TALKING TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE CERTAIN THINGS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL POSITIONS WE'RE HAVING A CHALLENGE FILLING. WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED THAT THIS IS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND TEACHER PAY. ABSOLUTELY 100%. THAT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS MADE CLEAR TO US THAT THEY VALUE AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK OUR MESSAGING AND TO MEMBER GRAY'S POINT HAS TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND ABOUT OUR TEACHERS AND AND ABOUT OUR TEACHERS AND KEEPING OUR QUALIFIED AMAZING TEACHERS IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE ONE QUESTION, MR. FARKAS. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD BRING STARTING PAY FOR TEACHERS UP TO 53,000. WHERE DOES THAT PLACE US STATEWIDE AS FAR AS BEING COMPETITIVE? WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE WE LOOKING AT? >>Christopher Farkas: STARTING TEACHER PAY? I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I'LL HAVE TO DEFER. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. THAT WAS -- THAT WAS -- YES. >>Van Ayres: WHERE WE LINE UP, AVERAGE TEACHER INCOME, SUPPORT STAFF, AS WELL, WHERE WE'D BE WITH THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENT. >>Jessica Vaughn: WHICH WOULD BE WHERE? I CAN'T SEE THAT. >>Van Ayres: SO STARTING TEACHER IS 4,000 HIGHER THAN PASCO. 1500 HIGHER THAN PINELLAS. >>Jessica Vaughn: DO WE KNOW WHICH DISTRICT PAYS THE HIGHEST STARTING TEACHER PAY IN FLORIDA? >>Van Ayres: MANATEE. IT STARTS AT IT STARTS AT 55 I THINK STARTING. I KNOW IN SARASOTA THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO 55 AND I THINK SARASOTA WITH A MASTER'S YOU START AT 60. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. >> (INAUDIBLE). >>Jessica Vaughn: I DID. YEAH. YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ON THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBER GRAY, A BRIEF STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL GO TO MEMBER PEREZ. >>Lynn Gray: BRIEF STATEMENT. I AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS THAT ALL THE BOARD -- MEMBER COMBS -- I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE ALL HAVE TO SELL THIS. WE ARE ONE BIG FAMILY OF BOARD MEMBERS SO IT'S GOING TO MEMBERS SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. SECOND, SECOND, TRUST SECOND, TRUST IS BUILT ON SECOND, TRUST IS BUILT ON COMMUNICATING, MS. JOHNSON, YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB MS. GARCIA WITH THESE AUDITS. WE KEEP GETTING TREMENDOUS POSITIVE AUDITS OVER AND OVER -- THE OVER -- THE CAFR, THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS. I SHARED FROM THE DAIS, WHY I SHARED FROM THE DAIS, WHY ARE WE NOT BEING MORE WE NOT BEING MORE WE NOT BEING MORE PRE WE NOT BEING MORE PRE -- IN SHARING THAT WE ARE VERY SOUND AND RELEVANT. YOU'RE HERE TO LISTEN TO COMMENTS. WE'RE MAKING COMMENTS AND I -- I JUST THINK THOSE JUST THINK THOSE AUDITS NEED TO BE DEFINITELY COMMUNICATED. THANK YOU. SEE, THAT WAS QUICK. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR CHAIR, MEMBER CHAIR, MEMBER PEREZ. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SO I WAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK, AND GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK, ESPECIALLY FROM OUR ESPECIALLY FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE PARENTS WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS. I PROVIDED THE STATISTICS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY AND LATINO AND AFRO AFRO AMERICANOS THAT ARE PAYING THE TAXES AS WELL, AND THEIR FEEDBACK TO ME IS WHILE THEIR STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING THE SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS, THESE SCHOOLS ARE SCHOOLS, THESE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING THEIR STUDENTS. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT -- AND THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING CALLED CHALLENGING, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT, THAT A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED. THEY'RE BEING THEY'RE BEING MOVED, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BEING MOVED, YOU KNOW, ON A REGULAR BASIS. RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, THEIR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED, REPURPOSED, AND THEIR PARENTS REPURPOSED, AND THEIR PARENTS JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WITH JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WITH THE COMPETITIVE PAY, IS THERE A GUARANTEE THAT THE TEACHERS WILL GO TO GO TO THESE HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS GO TO THESE HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS AND SERVE THESE STUDENTS. WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY TOO FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY TOO WILL BE AFFECTED AND THEY WANT TO KNOW. THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WANTS TO KNOW THAT THEIR STUDENTS KNOW THAT THEIR STUDENTS WILL BE SERVED, AND THEIR STUDENTS WILL BE LIFTED AND, YOU KNOW, THAT THE STUDENTS WILL BE TARGETED THE STUDENTS WILL BE TARGETED TO BE ALSO BE ALSO ADDRESSED IN ALL THIS. >>Van Ayres: SO MY RESPONSE WOULD BE THAT WITH THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENT, THIS IS FOR ACROSS THE BOARD. THIS IS TO ENSURE WE HAVE HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS ACROSS THE BOARD. WHAT WE CAN LOOK AT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS IS WITHIN THAT ADDITIONAL 11% -- EXCUSE ME, THE 11 MILLION, THE 8%, IF WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL MONIES WE WANT TO ALLOCATE, IF WE WANTED TO LOOK AT INCENTIVES WITHIN THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK WE CAN DO THAT. THIS IS TO CURE THE VACANCY CHALLENGE WE HAVE ACROSS THE BOARD. SO THIS IS -- AND A LOT OF OUR VACANCIES, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE BOARD, THIS IS TO ENSURE WE HAVE HIGHLY QUALIFIED HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN ALL OUR OUR CLASSROOMS. >>Karen Perez: I WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A GREAT PRESENTATION. AND MS. JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING US, YOU KNOW, MUCH FOR KEEPING US, YOU KNOW, ABOVE THE FRAY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. (SOUNDING GAVEL)