>> HI. I'M KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. >> HI. I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. >> OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. >> YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. >> MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. >> WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. >> OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6 IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Karen Perez: MEMBER VAUGHN, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL THEATER TROUPE ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL WITH PRINCIPAL TRACY DURANT AND THEATER TEACHER AUDREY THEATER TEACHER AUDREY SCHMIDT. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> HELLO. I'M AUDREY I'M AUDREY SCHMIDT. THEATER TEACHER. I HAVE THE CAST OF ANNIE AT PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL WITH ME TODAY. >> HI. McKAYLA BROWN. I'M IN 10th GRADE. >> HI. MADISON. I'M IN THE 11th GRADE. >> RAVEN, IN THE >> RAVEN, IN THE 11th GRADE. >> I AM IN THE 12th GRADE. >> HI. EMMA. I'M IN THE I'M IN THE 9th GRADE. >> I'M IN THE 11th GRADE. >> SERENITY, I'M IN 11th GRADE. >> MADISON, IN THE >> MADISON, IN THE 11th GRADE. >> MY NAME IS ERIC AND I AM IN THE 12th THE 12th GRADE. >> I'M CADE AND I AM IN THE 12th GRADE. >> ELLIOT, 12th GRADE. >> BRISTOL CUNNINGHAM, 11th GRADE. >> HI, I'M IN 11th GRADE. >> HI, JOHN. I'M IN I'M IN 11th GRADE. >> AMAZING! GOOD JOB! [ APPLAUSE ] >>Jessica Vaughn: IF ANY FAMILY MEMBERS WANT TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE REALLY QUICKLY. THANK YOU. AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS FOR TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. I HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO ADOPT TODAY, JANUARY ADOPT TODAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND SUCCEED. AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFECTIVE -- FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTION ON OR LIVE WEBCAST, ON CABLE TV, AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, AND THAT IS 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE THAT IS 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE INPUT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT FROM THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT YOUR RESPONSES. OUR BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU YOU ADDRESS YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD COMMENTS -- WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR A STAFF MEMBER. BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. A REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES WILL START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. AND WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN. A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. WILL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS PLEASE COME UP? WILL THE FIRST SPEAKER COME UP? >> MARK >> MARK KLUTHO. WELL, HERE WELL, HERE 702, WELL, HERE 702, 7.03, 7.04. NEW BUILDINGS. I REMIND YOU OF WHAT WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID CHURCHILL SAID IN 1960:  WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US. I DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR PLANS PLANS TO KNOW WHAT A PLANS TO KNOW WHAT A FOLLY THESE ARE. HERE ARE THE HEADLINES. EARTH IS EARTH IS HOTTER THAN WE THINK. SPONGES SAY, DATA CLEANED FROM SEA CREATURES SEA CREATURES QUICKENS THE PACE OF OF GLOBAL WARMING. AND HERE, AND HERE, CATEGORY 5 AND HERE, CATEGORY 5 IS NO LONGER SCARIEST LONGER SCARIEST HURRICANE, STUDY SAYS. WHICH STORMS FIT THE STUDY'S CATEGORY 6 DESCRIPTION? IT IT LISTS SOME. NOT GOOD. YOU KEEP YOU KEEP IGNORING THAT SCIENCE OF HIGH OF HIGH PERFORMANCE PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDING. THE KEYWORD HERE IS CORRELATION. THE STUDY TELLING US WHAT THE SPONGES ARE SAYING GOING SPONGES ARE SAYING GOING BACK CENTURIES. IT GIVES IT GIVES US A PICTURE OF THE EARTH HOTTER, LIKE IT SAYS, THAN WE WE THINK. AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET HOTTER BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPID BUILDINGS. NOW, THEY JUST HAD THIS SPOTLIGHT, THE SPOTLIGHT, THE ST. PETE TIMES DID. WHAT WHAT A JOKE THAT WAS. I HAD A SIGN OUT THERE SAYING IT WAS A CIRCUS AS IT WAS. THEIR NEXT ONE, THEIR NEXT ONE, MAY THEIR NEXT ONE, MAY 21st WILL DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE. NOW, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE? ARE YOU MAKING THOSE HIGH PERFORMANCE PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDINGS? NO. SO THE SO THE PLAN IS GOING TO KEEP ON GETTING HOTTER. WHAT A WHAT A LEGACY. IT'S SO SAD. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS COLLEEN MY NAME IS COLLEEN BENUCCI. THE MOM OF TWO BOYS, VICTOR AND ROMAN AND BOTH ATTEND APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'M HERE ALONGSIDE MY FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF TURNING APOLLO BEACH INTO A K-8. AS A MEMBER OF THE K-8 INITIATIVE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE MEMBERS ABOUT THE CAUSE. ONE COMMENT THAT FREQUENTLY COMES UP IN CONVERSATION WHEN DISCUSSING HOW WE LACK VIABLE PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS IS THE IDEA THAT APOLLO BEACH SOUTH SHORE IS, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, THE FORGOTTEN STEPCHILD OF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL LAUGH AND SAY HOW IN SOME RESPECTS THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE. WE HAVE A SMALL-TOWN FEEL WITHOUT THE EXTREME HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF TAMPA PROPER. WE HAVE MORE MOM AND POP SHOPS THAN CHAINS. WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS BY WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS BY NAME. WE HAVE OUR ESTABLISHED SMALL-TOWN TRADITIONS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A HOWEVER, THERE IS A DISADVANTAGE TO BEING THE FORGOTTEN TO BEING THE FORGOTTEN STEPCHILD AND THAT IS WATCHING OUR KIDS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LEFT BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR EDUCATION. OUR COMMUNITY HAS WITNESSED OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY RECEIVE BENEFITS OF NEW SCHOOLS, MAJOR SCHOOL RENOVATIONS, AND IMPROVEMENTS. WHILE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE COASTING WITHOUT A NEW PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S BEEN OPENED IN OUR AREA IN OUR AREA SINCE 2004. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT APOLLO BEACH IS NOT AS SMALL AS IT ONCE WAS. APOLLO BEACH HAS AN AMAZING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BUT OUR KIDS' EDUCATION DOES NOT END IN THE 5th GRADE. OUR KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL AWAY FROM THEIR COMMUNITY TO FIND A VIABLE PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL. OUR KIDS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ATTEND DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS, BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR KIDS SHOULD NOT FEEL LIKE A FORGOTTEN STEPCHILD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE THE COMMUNITY OF APOLLO WE THE COMMUNITY OF APOLLO BEACH ARE ASKING THAT YOU HELP US MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM BY TURNING OUR AMAZING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INTO A K-8 SCHOOL. THANK YOU. >> HI. MY NAME MY NAME IS MY NAME IS VICTOR. I WANT AN I WANT AN 8th GRADE SCHOOL FROM APOLLO BEACH BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS A LOT OF FRIENDS AND THEY ARE REALLY NICE. AND THEY LET ME PLAY WITH THEM WHEN I WANT TO WHEN I WANT TO AND THEY ARE NICE AND IF THE TEACHER SAYS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HELP ALLOWED TO HELP ME, THEY HELP ME. THANK THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. >> HELLO. I'M JESSICA I'M JESSICA McNABE. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ATTEND APOLLO BEACH SCHOOL. I'M GOING TO READ A LETTER WRITTEN BY EMILY LANGLEY. DEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY FAMILY WHO RELOCATED TO APOLLO BEACH LAST BEACH LAST YEAR. AS A MILITARY FAMILY, WE HAVE LIVED IN FOUR DIFFERENT STATES AND THE KIDS HAVE ATTENDED OVER FOUR DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AFTER FINALLY SETTLING AT OUR LAST DUTY STATION, WE ARE EXCITED TO FINALLY CALL APOLLO BEACH OUR HOME. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE WONDERFUL TEACHER AND STAFF WHO WORK THERE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE IN SECOND AND FOURTH GRADE AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS OUR OLDEST CHILD APPROACHES MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE CONTEMPLATED SEVERAL OPTIONS SO WE CAN BALANCE OUR DAUGHTER'S EDUCATION NEEDS AND OUR FAMILY'S NEEDS. TRANSITIONING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD CREATE AN ADDED HARDSHIP FOR OUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY DURING DEPLOYMENT. MY -- WHEN MY HUSBAND MY -- WHEN MY HUSBAND DEPLOYS, WE HAVE TO COORDINATE OVERNIGHT CHILD CARE WITH LOCAL BABYSITTERS SINCE I WORK LONG HOURS AT THE HOSPITAL. THEREFORE HAVING THE KIDS IN THE SAME SCHOOL, KNOWING THEY ARE WELL SUPPORTED AND CARED FOR IS A PRIORITY. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FAMILY NEARBY, WE DESPERATELY NEARBY, WE DESPERATELY RELY ON FAMILIES -- RELY ON SCHOOL FOR OUR SUPPORT. ABES HAS BEEN A HUGE BLESSING FOR OUR FAMILY, OVERALL MAKING ABES A K-8 SCHOOL WOULD HELP PROVIDE OUR FAMILY WITH ADDED STABILITY, SECURITY AND SUPPORT. AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS DREAM COME TRUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. EMILY. THANK YOU, GUYS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. >> HI. I'M EASTON. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND I ATTEND APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY. AND I WANT TO STAY WITH MY FRIENDS THROUGH 8th GRADE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WILL THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS PLEASE LINE PLEASE LINE UP? >> HI. I'M BROOK. AND AND I'M IN THIRD GRADE. AND I LOVE MY SCHOOL AND I WANT TO BE HERE FOR 8th GRADE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. >> HI. I'M KAREN. I LIKE MY SCHOOL VERY MUCH. I HAVE I HAVE A LOT I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AND MY TEACHER TEACHER IS NICE AND I WALK TO SCHOOL WITH ALL MY FRIENDS. AND IF I GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT'S FAR AWAY, I CAN'T STAY WITH MY FRIENDS AND IT MIGHT BE TOO TOO FAR AWAY TO WALK, SO THANK YOU. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ELIE. I WANT IT TO BE 8th GRADE BECAUSE I WANT TO WALK WITH MY BROTHER SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TO 6th GRADE. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS MARSHALL CARSWELL. I THINK WE SHOULD EXPAND K THROUGH 8 BECAUSE I LOVE ALL MY FRIENDS AND THEY CARE FOR EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL. I JUST LIKE THE SCHOOL AND I THINK I SHOULD STAY HERE THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN WE GET THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS UP, SPEAKERS UP, PLEASE? NEXT SPEAKER. >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S VERY HARD TO FOLLOW THEM UP. MY NAME IS KATHERINE ANDERSON. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ONE IN FIFTH AND ONE IN THIRD. BUT TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF LINDSAY BROWN. I'LL READ WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. DEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, I HOPE YOU WILL STRONGLY CONSIDER APPROVING THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE TRANSITIONING APOLLO BEACH K-5 SCHOOL TO ONE THAT EXTENDS TO 8th GRADE. OUR SMALL PORTION OF SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. WHILE I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY FLOURISH, OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FAMILIES THAT COMES WITH IT. THE APOLLO BEACH AREA HASN'T HAD A PUBLIC K-8 SCHOOL IN TWO DECADES YET WE NOW HAVE MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS AVAILABLE THAN PUBLIC. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEIR STUDENTS FACE AND I WANT TO SECURE A HEALTHY EDUCATION FOR MY CHILDREN AS THEY GROW OLDER. I ALSO WANT TO PROTECT MY KIDS FROM THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSITIONING FROM A TRANSITIONING FROM A K-5 PUBLIC SCHOOL TO A CHARTER OR PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE DESERVE MORE PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA, PERIOD. THIS INITIATIVE NOT ONLY FAST TRACKS THAT PLAN AT A PROVEN ALREADY ACADEMICALLY ALREADY ACADEMICALLY ACHIEVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITHOUT THE LOGISTICS OF SQUEEZING IN ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL INTO OUR AREA. THE SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE IS BACKED BY THE STRONG BONDS THAT MAKE UP THE APOLLO BEACH COMMUNITY. I'VE NEVER FELT MORE HOME THAN WHEN I MOVED HERE SIX YEARS AGO. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE INITIATIVE TO HELP OUR AREA CONTINUE TO OUR AREA CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND GIVE FAMILIES THE EDUCATIONAL OPTION THAT WE CRAVE AND DESERVE. FROM LINDSAY BROWN, PARENT OF THREE KIDS UNDER SEVEN. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS JANE Q. PUBLIC, MY NAME IS JANE Q. PUBLIC, AKA, MERRILL CONNOR. UP UNTIL UP UNTIL SIX DAYS UP UNTIL SIX DAYS AGO, I UP UNTIL SIX DAYS AGO, I LIVED THE CLASSROOM, BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END. NOW I AM NOW I AM BOTH A GRADUATE NOW I AM BOTH A GRADUATE AND A RETIREE RETIREE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO WHY AM I HERE AND NOT SO WHY AM I HERE AND NOT ON A CRUISE? IN DUE TIME. I AM HERE I AM HERE BECAUSE I KNOW MY WHY. SHE IS ABOUT WAIST HIGH. HERE SHE'S SLEEPING WITH HER MICKEY MOUSE MASK. AND SHE'S MY AND SHE'S MY FAVORITE AND AND SHE'S MY FAVORITE AND ONLY GRAND GIRL. RIGHT NOW SHE LOVES SCHOOL AND SHE LOVES LEARNING. IN SIX MONTHS, SHE WILL JOIN HCPS AS A HCPS AS A KINDERGARTNER. OF COURSE, I WANT HER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO BE THE BEST. TO THAT END, I AM REQUESTING AN IN-PERSON CONFERENCE WITH IN-PERSON CONFERENCE WITH YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WITH MANY IDEAS TO SHARE, I HOPE MY 45-YEAR CAREER MY 45-YEAR CAREER WARRANTS THAT CONFERENCE. MY SCHEDULE MY SCHEDULE IS PRETTY FLEXIBLE NOW AND NOW AND MS. ARJA HAS MY NOW AND MS. ARJA HAS MY CONTACT INFORMATION. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND CABINET, I IMPLORE YOU IMPLORE YOU TO VISIT OUR SCHOOLS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. IT AVOIDS THE IT AVOIDS THE DOG-AND-PONY SHOWS WHEN THE DISTRICT IS COMING. ANYONE WHO IS DOING HER OR HIS JOB EVERY JOB EVERY DAY WILL WELCOME YOUR PRESENCE. SEE THE HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH ROTATIONS. COME AT THE START OR END OF THE SCHOOL DAY. IN THE IN THE CLASSROOM, OBSERVE HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ON THEIR PHONES AND ARE WEARING PHONES AND ARE WEARING THEIR EAR BUDS SOMETIMES HIDDEN WITH THEIR HOODIES UP, ALL VIOLATIONS OF HCPS POLICIES. STATE LAW HASN'T STOPPED IT EITHER. MOST TEACHERS MOST TEACHERS DON'T ADDRESS IT. AS I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY WHEN I DID. THE BEST LESSON IS THE BEST LESSON IS NO MATCH FOR THE LURE OF THIS PHONE. I THANK I THANK YOU I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND FOR SERVING THE STUDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CLEARLY THREE MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH TIME. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HI. MY NAME IS ALICIA TAYLOR. AND I AM A MOM OF TWO LITTLE GIRLS AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO READ A LETTER TO YOU READ A LETTER TO YOU ON BEHALF OF PATTI PAGE, WHO OF PATTI PAGE, WHO IS A WORKING MOM AND COULD NOT MAKE THE BOARD MEETING. HI, MY NAME IS PATTI PAGE.I HAVE TWO KIDS, QUINN A 6th GRADER AND EMMA A 2nd GRADER. WE HAVE LIVED IN APOLLO BEACH FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS. FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AT ABES. THEY ARE SO AMAZING AND MY SON MISSES THEM DEARLY. I HAVE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT WHERE MY SON WOULD ATTEND MIDDLE SCHOOL SINCE HE WAS IN THE SECOND GRADE. I THOUGHT FOR SURE WE WOULD HAVE A SOLUTION OR A NEW SCHOOL BUILT BY THE TIME HE WENT TO 6th GRADE, BUT I WAS WRONG. THERE WAS A NEW COUNTY K-8 SCHOOL BUILT IN THE AREA BUT IT WAS MADE A MAGNET SCHOOL THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO AS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER. WE CHOICED IN TO WE CHOICED IN TO ALL THE LOTTERIES FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA AND HE WAS STILL UNABLE TO GET GET IN. CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ONLY -- OUR ONLY OTHER OPTION BUT THE WAIST LIST FOR THOSE SCHOOLS ARE SO LONG THEY ARE ALSO LONG THEY ARE ALSO UNATTAINABLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT SO LUCKY BUT WE APPLIED TO HIS CURRENT SCHOOL AND FOUND OUT HE GOT IN DURING THE LAST WEEK OF HIS FIFTH GRADE YEAR. NOW WITH MY DAUGHTER IN SECOND GRADE, I AM BACK TO WORRYING. OUR AREA IS GROWING AT AN ALARMING RATE. IT HAS BEEN FOR YEARS, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING DONE TO HELP THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS GROW ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING MOVING OUT OF STATE IN ORDER MOVING OUT OF STATE IN ORDER TO GIVE OUR KIDS THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE. WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OUR FRIENDS AND OUR GREAT LITTLE COMMUNITY IN APOLLO BEACH, BUT THEIR EDUCATION COMES FIRST. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL, BUT THE MONEY WILL COME. IN THE MEANTIME, THE CHANCE FOR THESE STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION AT ABES WILL BE LOST. WE CAN START SMALL BY ADDING SIXTH GRADE AND THEN GROW FROM THERE, MAKING ABES A K-8 IS A SMALL, SIMPLE SOLUTION TO A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS 18 AND 19 PLEASE LINE UP? NEXT SPEAKER. >> HI AGAIN. MY NAME IS MASON. I'M IN THE FIFTH GRADE AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY. I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BIG STEP TO MAKE OUR AMAZING SCHOOL A K-8 SCHOOL. FIRST, IMAGINE THE BOND WE'VE ALREADY CREATED WITH OUR TEACHERS AND FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS FROM OUR FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN TO NOW. WE WILL BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARN TOGETHER, FEEL COMFORTABLE, AND GROW TOGETHER. OUR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, LUNCH LADIES AND LADIES AND POLICEMEN ALREADY KNOW US SO WELL. HAVING THEM GUIDE US THROUGH 8th GRADE WILL BE AMAZING, LEAVING BEHIND APOLLO BEACH MAKES US FEEL NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS. WE ARE USED TO WALKING WE ARE USED TO WALKING TO SCHOOL AND CLASSROOMS WITH OUR FRIENDS. SO LET'S EMBRACE THE CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY AND SHAPE OUR FUTURE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY PARENTS IT IS MY JOB TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN AND I KNOW IT IS YOUR JOB TO PROVIDE ME WITH A GOOD SCHOOL TO HELP ME LEARN. I PROMISE I PROMISE YOU PROVIDE ME WITH APOLLO BEACH APOLLO BEACH K-8 I WILL LEARN BETTER. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HI. THE TIME IS HERE, PANIC SET IN, TIME IS RUNNING OUT. KIDS ARE FEELING THE PANIC OF LEAVING THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR BELOVED SCHOOL. THEY HAVE A REALITY THEY HAVE A REALITY CHECK THAT THEIR NEXT YEAR, THESE FIFTH GRADERS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY. THE CHATTER HAS STARTED IN THE HALLWAY AS TO WHAT SCHOOL EACH KID IS GOING TO NEED TO ATTEND NEXT YEAR. THEIR FEAR HAS COME THEIR FEAR HAS COME TRUE. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER. THE LOTTERY HAS STARTED AND KIDS NOW HAVE A NUMBER. THIS IS SUCH A NERVOUS TIME FOR BOTH PARENTS AND STUDENTS. A K-8 AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY OFFERS A GREAT SENSE OF OFFERS A GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNAL CONNECTION CREATING NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT FEELS THAT THEY BELONG. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CREATE A NURTURING COMMUNITY THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR UNIQUE VOICE AND EXPLORE THEIR PASSION. K-8 ALLOWS KIDS WITH MUTUAL INTERESTS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES LEARNING WITH THEIR PEERS. APOLLO BEACH IS NOT THE LITTLE TOWN THAT IT ONCE WAS. WE ARE A GROWING COMMUNITY AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW. WITH THE RAPID GROWTH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE HOME DEVELOPMENTS WITH MANY FAMILIES MOVING INTO WHAT WAS ONCE A SMALL TOWN APOLLO BEACH WHICH IS SIMPLY NOT A SMALL TOWN. IN ADDITION TO THE HOME GROWTH, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE OF RESTAURANTS, FAST FOOD GROCERY STORES, HOSPITALS, ROADS, INTERSTATES, BUT JUST NOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTION FOR THESE CHILDREN. WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR OUR GROWING COMMUNITY AND WE NEED MORE OPTIONS. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU GAVE US YOUR EARS TO HEAR SO MANY OF THESE FAMILIES STRESS FOR THE DESIRE OF DESIRE OF APOLLO BEACH TO BECOME K-8. WE ARE IN PANIC MODE AS THE END OF THE YEAR IS NOW FAST APPROACHING AND THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE FILLING UP. THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT NUMBERS. THEY ARE STUDENTS. WE JUST WANT WE JUST WANT TO HELP BUILD -- WE JUST WANT TO HELP STUDENTS DREAM BIG. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? MONDAY, JANUARY MONDAY, JANUARY 30th, 2024, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS SHOWED ME JUST HOW MUCH THEY HATE PARENTS. YOU PROMISED PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS THAT YOUR HIRED GUNS WOULD ONLY BE USED TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, THAT WAS A LIE. ON JANUARY 30, THE PRINCIPAL AT ROBINSON ELEMENTARY SENT A CIVILITY LETTER TO MY HOUSE USING TWO ARMED GUARDS. IN IN AN ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS. GROSS MISUSE OF POWER AND NOT WHAT CIVILITY LETTERS ARE INTENDED FOR. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THIS, KEEP YOUR GUNS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. THESE MEN ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THEY NEED TO BE STOPPED BEING USED FOR INTIMIDATION PURPOSES. I FACED I FACED RETALIATION FOR REPORTING ROBINSON SECURITY OFFICER BECAUSE HE FILMED ME AND MY DAUGHTER WITH MALICIOUS INTENT. YOUR OFFICER SMILED FROM EAR TO EAR AS HE HELD HIS CELL PHONE APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES OVER THE WINDSHIELD OF MY VEHICLE FILMING ME AND TWO CRYING MINOR DAUGHTERS INSIDE OUR PERSONAL VEHICLE. THE MAN THE MAN WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT CHILDREN DIDN'T CARE THAT HIS ACTIONS WERE CAUSING MY CHILDREN DISTRESS. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT I HELD MY TONGUE AND DROPPED MY CHILD OFF WHILE HE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE CAR UP THE DRIVEWAY STILL FILMING. PROMISED TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION, HOWEVER IN REALITY, ROBINSON'S PRINCIPAL, THE SERGEANT, AND THE LIEUTENANT WERE ACTUALLY ORCHESTRATING THE NEXT ACT OF INTIMIDATION THAT WOULD BE USED AGAINST ME. TWO ARMED SCHOOL SECURITY GUARDS SHOWED UP TWO HOURS LATER, UNANNOUNCED, UNINVITED ON MY PRIVATE PROPERTY TO DELIVER A CIVILITY LETTER ABOUT A LEFT TURN INTO YOUR SCHOOL. I CHOSE TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN INTO THE SCHOOL LINE AT ROBINSON, ILLEGAL ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE ROAD SIGNS NEXT TO THE SCHOOL LINE SAY NO STOPPING OR STANDING. CAR LINE HAS BEEN ADOPTED OVER THE YEARS AND NO CLEAR SIGNAGE TO TELL DRIVERS WHERE THE CAR LINE LINE BEGINS. WITH PARENTS USE PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS OR PRIVATE ROADS TO MAKE MAKE U-TURNS, WE ARE SUBJECT TO VERBAL ABUSE FROM PROPERTY OWNERS. THERE IS NO SAFE WAY TO ENTER YOUR ILLEGAL CAR LINE. YOU ARE HAVING PARENTS SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN AN ILLEGAL TRAFFIC LANE. IF A WRECK TAKES PLACE IN THE DROP-OFF LANE, THE SCORED WOULD DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE NO STOPPING AND STANDING SIGNAGE. YOUR CIVILITY LETTER POLICY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED. THE MAN FROM HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS WHO IS INVESTIGATING THIS MESS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. PARENTS WHO LIVE SOUTH OF THE SCHOOL NEED FAIR AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENTER THE SCHOOL. I'M HONEST, HARDWORKING, LAW-ABIDING MAN. I EXPECT MY CIVIL SERVANTS TO BE AS WELL. YOU HAVE RUINED MY DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY AND NOW A LEGAL PRICE MUST BE PAID FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNETHICAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL ACTIONS. I WAS A WHISTLE-BLOWER FOR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS ALIKE AND YOU TREATED ME AS THOUGH I AM A DOMESTIC TERRORIST. MATT THE WELDER, GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND I REALLY DIMINISH THE DAYS WHEN OUR POLITICIANS WERE ETHICAL. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JOHN MY NAME IS JOHN BUTTERFIELD. I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AS I'M AN ALUMNI OF WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY AND DAVIDSON SCHOOL FROM THE YEARS YEARS OF 2008 THROUGH 2011. I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M IN MY SENIOR YEAR OF MY LAST SEMESTER AT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO INTERN AT BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS. SO ON THE NOTE SO ON THE NOTE OF DAVIDSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SINCE AUGUST OF 2023, I'VE BEEN 2023, I'VE BEEN PURSUING MY CAPSTONE WHERE I'M INTENDING TO DONATE 12 HEWLETT-PACKARD DONATE 12 HEWLETT-PACKARD HP TABLETS WITH KEYBOARDS TO THE SCHOOL, PROVIDED BY, GOODNESS, THE FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THROUGH MY SCHOOL'S INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET ABLE TO MEET WITH ABLE TO MEET WITH DAVIDSON ADMINISTRATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FORMULATE A FRAMEWORK TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A CAPSTONE AND HELP BENEFIT STUDENTS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED IN THE SCHOOL, BUT WHERE I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BEEN ABLE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT WAS THEIR REQUEST TO HAVE A FORM OF PERMISSION FROM THE DISTRICT. I'M COMING HERE TO I'M COMING HERE TO REQUEST, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, TO SPEAK WITH ADMINISTRATORS OR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT. JUST KIND OF SEEING IT THROUGH. IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE TO BE SPEAKING WITH YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AND MR. AYRES, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS TAD MY NAME IS TAD DENIM. GASPARILLA MUSIC FOUNDATION. MY TITLE THERE IS RECYCLED TUNES AMBASSADOR. I RUN OUR RECYCLED TUNES PROGRAM WHICH I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH. JUST WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE SCHOOLS. WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH JOHN SEAVER AND TRACY SEAVER AND TRACY LESSEE. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY. JUST FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH RECYCLE TUNES, WE ARE AGAIN PART OF THE GASPARILLA MUSIC FOUNDATION. WE WORK WITH MUSIC SCHOOLTEACHERS, PRIMARILY IN TITLE I SCHOOLS AND FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE PROVIDED INSTRUMENTS FOR THEM. NEW INSTRUMENTS. WE FIX BROKEN INSTRUMENTS AND ALSO INSTRUMENT DRIVES WHERE WE COLLECT INSTRUMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FIX THEM UP AND PASS THOSE ON TO THE SCHOOLS AS WELL. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM. LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED OVER 250 INSTRUMENTS TO 56 SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS WE PROVIDED OVER 2200 INSTRUMENTS TO 94 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AGAIN, MOSTLY TITLE I SCHOOLS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST TEN FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, BUT THIS YEAR ONE EXCITING THING FOR US IS WE'VE IS WE'VE EXPANDED BEYOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO NOW WORK WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS. AND BEEN COORDINATING WITH JOHN SEAVER AND FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS AS WELL. IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US. ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT -- ELEMENTS THAT FUNDS RECYCLED TUNES IS OUR GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL. WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF THE FESTIVAL ON FEBRUARY 16 THROUGH 18. THIS YEAR WE'RE HAVING OUR 13th FESTIVAL. AND WE'RE RELOCATING FROM WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS CURTIS HIXON PARK TO JULIAN B. LANE PARK. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BIGGER FOOTPRINT. WE'LL HAVE FIVE STAGES WITH 50 BANDS PLAYING OVER THREE DAYS. SO WE'RE REAL PROUD OF THAT FESTIVAL. WE HAVE WE HAVE -- WE HAVE -- WE FOCUS ON BANDS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WE ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL BANDS SO WE HAVE LOCAL ARTISTS THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR FESTIVAL. PROBABLY 40% OF THE ARTISTS ARE LOCAL, GIVE A CHANCE FOR THEM TO BE ON THE BIG STAGE WITH SOME NATIONAL ACTS. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AT THE HIGHLIGHT AT THE FESTIVAL, WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE POTTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEIR DRUM LINE WILL BE OUT THERE WITH THE FLAG CORPS AND PROVIDING A PERFORMANCE. WE ALSO HAVE THE TAMPA METROPOLITAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA THAT WILL BE THAT WILL BE PERFORMING. WE'RE ALSO HAPPY TO HAVE AN INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO. SUNDAY WE FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND WE HAVE A KIDSFEST WITH A LOT OF KID ACTIVITIES AND VERY FAMILY ORIENTED AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MUSIC TEACHERS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE COMING OUT AND MANNING OUR PETTING BOOTH. THEY GET TO COME UP AND TOUCH INSTRUMENT AND SEE HOW IT MIGHT INSPIRE THEM AND CHANGE THEIR LIVES. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS. TAKE CARE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE BOARD RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. THE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY 2024. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS INDEED AN HONOR. BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS CITIZENS OF THE GREAT NATION TO RECOGNIZE AND REFLECT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH STUDENTS WITH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND VALUABLE ROLE MODELS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE IS A VITAL AND RICH INGREDIENT IN THE CULTURAL GROWTH OF OUR COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE ARTS. AND OUR AMAZING ART DEPARTMENTS ARE COMING UP ARE COMING UP WITH SOME FANTASTIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE THEME. OUR SCHOOLS OUR SCHOOLS ARE OUR SCHOOLS ARE ALSO PLANNING AFRICAN AMERICAN MONTH READ-INS, FAMILY NIGHTS, FAMILY NIGHTS, SHOWCASES, OPEN MIKE NIGHTS, MIKE NIGHTS, PARADES. AND BRYANT ELEMENTARY IS EVEN DOING A WAX MUSEUM. OUR DISTRICT IS ALSO HOSTING THE BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL FINALS AT HOWARD W. BLAKE ON FEBRUARY THE 24th. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY AS A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR TO YEAR TO HONOR YEAR TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER WASHINGTON. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY 2024. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU SO ELOQUENTLY, MEMBER WASHINGTON, FOR READING THAT PROCLAMATION. THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITEMENT GOING ON IN THIS MONTH. I JUST WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF OUR AFRICAN OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE AND AND DR. AND DR. ANDREA BEVERLY, OUR BRAIN BOWL BRAIN BOWL BONANZA, FEBRUARY 24, HAS GROWN FROM 43 SCHOOLS HAS GROWN FROM 43 SCHOOLS TO 189 SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS. OUR THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS HAVE GROWN -- I KNOW GROWN -- I KNOW ALLISON GROWN -- I KNOW ALLISON EDGECOMB JUST IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS GROWTH AND PERFORMING THIS WITH FRED HEARNS, BUT IT GREW FROM -- I HOPE I HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER NUMBER -- RIGHT NUMBER -- RIGHT AROUND 40 CLUBS AND NOW I THINK WE'RE UP AND NOW I THINK WE'RE UP TO 85 CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. MEMBER WASHINGTON, WE MEMBER WASHINGTON, WE DEFINITELY ARE EXCITED TO EMBRACE THE BLACK HISTORY AND THE HISTORY, OF COURSE, VERY MUCH DEMONSTRATED WITH THE BRAIN WITH THE BRAIN BOWL AND PROUDLY SO. SO THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A NICE JOB READING THAT PROCLAMATION, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I I LIKE THE I LIKE THE DASHIKI YOU ARE WEARING. HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I'M REALLY SUPER EXCITED TO SEE ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU, MR. YOUNG, FOR SENDING US SUCH AN EXTENSIVE PDF OF ALL THE THINGS WE CAN BE A PART OF. IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT HILLSBOROUGH HAS LEANED INTO THIS BECAUSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY, RIGHT? CELEBRATING IT AND HIGHLIGHTING IT AND NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WE KNOW ABOUT BUT THE UNSUNG HEROES OF SO MUCH OF OUR HISTORY IS REALLY EXCITING. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. OH. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOU SEE YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON, THERE WERE TWO PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. IS ANN MARIE RUSSO GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BALLAST POINT ELEMENTARY. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THERE SHE IS. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANN MARIE, BEGAN HER CAREER BEGAN HER CAREER IN 1994 IN BEGAN HER CAREER IN 1994 IN HCPS AS AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER TEACHING AT SHAW, TEACHING AT SHAW, DUNBAR, BOYETTE SPRINGS AND TAMPA HEIGHTS, FORMERLY HEIGHTS, FORMERLY LEE. IN 2004 WORKED AS READING COACH SUPPORTING TEACHERS AT GRADY, ROLLING PARK, MABRY, ANDERSON AND WEST TAMPA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. IN 2014 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY AND TRANSITIONED TO GRADY ELEMENTARY ALSO AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. AN MARIE RUSSO GONZALEZ, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AND ANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS WELL. FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PLEASE STAND AS WELL. [ APPLAUSE ] CONGRATULATIONS, ANN MARIE. I DID ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALSO HERE IS BETH HASTINGS. BETH IS THE FORMER PRINCIPAL AT BALLAST POINT. STAND UP, BETH, TO RECOGNIZE YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] BETH, THE FORMER PRINCIPAL AT BALLAST POINT. TEN YEARS AS A PRINCIPAL AND 30 YEARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BETH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE WILL MISS YOU VERY MUCH. ANN MARIE, CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] BOARD MEMBERS, OUR OTHER PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT IS PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT IS CARA VON ANCKEN, NEW VON ANCKEN, NEW PRINCIPAL. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CARA, 2004 BEGAN HER CAREER AS ELEMENTARY TEACHER AT GIBSONTON ELEMENTARY AND LATER TO KINGSWOOD. 2013, SHE TRANSITIONED TO ROLAND PARK IN THE IB PROGRAM. 2015 APPOINTED ASSISTANT CARA FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION WHERE SHE SERVED SHE SERVED UNTIL 2019 WHERE SHE BEGAN WORK OVERSEES BEGAN WORK OVERSEES IN BEGAN WORK OVERSEES IN QATAR. IN 2020, RETURNED TO IN 2020, RETURNED TO HCPS AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ROLAND PARK. CARA VON ANCKEN, CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PLEASE STAND. [ APPLAUSE ] CARA, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO DO WONDERFUL AT ROLAND PARK. OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, SHE IS REPLACING SCOTT WEAVER. SCOTT LEFT ROLAND PARK AND IS THE NEW CARA AT OUR NEW THE NEW CARA AT OUR NEW K-8 THE NEW CARA AT OUR NEW K-8 AT ADAM ADAM K-8. MADAM CHAIR. THOSE ARE OUR PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. >>Karen Perez: CONGRATULATIONS, CARA. WE WILL NOW PAUSE A MOMENT FOR THOSE APPOINTMENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE BOARD MEMBER. -- WHO WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE BOARDROOM. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. >>Karen Perez: THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 1.02, C 1.02, C 1.07, C 1.02, C 1.07, C 2.01, C 2.03, AND C 7.01. RENEWAL OF myON SUBSCRIPTION TO PROVIDE myON READER TO ALL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH myON, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2012. JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS. myON IS A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONALIZED READING PLATFORM THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO DIGITAL BOOKS TO PROMOTE READING THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE OUR LITERACY RATES. THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS YEAR FOR READING WITH myON. OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ARE ON TRACK TO END THE YEAR WITH MORE READING THAN THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE APPRECIATE OUR SEVEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR PARTNERING WITH US. LIKE I MENTIONED, LIKE I MENTIONED, myON HAS BEEN A PARTNER. BEEN PARTNERING WITH myON SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2012 AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. AND THAT IS MY HIGHLIGHT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM APPROVE ITEM C 1.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: YES, AND THEY >>Lynn Gray: YES, AND THEY ARE FAVORABLE. BUT I DID WANT TO THANK ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN'S BOARD WHO JUST WHO JUST AFFORDED, GAVE WHO JUST AFFORDED, GAVE myON 100,000 TOWARD THE WORK, THE GOOD WORK OF GETTING OUR STUDENTS MORE STUDENTS MORE LITERATE. SUCH A HUGE DRIVER AND A MOTIVATOR. I WANTED TO ASK, AND I THINK IF I'M NOT I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MAYBE IT'S MS. PEPE, YEAH, MS. PEPE. I WANTED TO ASK WHEN WE HAVE THE D AND F SCHOOLS, AS WE HAVE ALL BEEN FOCUSING ON, CAN YOU SHARE HOW myON HOW myON MAY HAVE THAT, OH, LET'S JUST SAY, BENEFICIAL PUSH TO GET THESE SCORES TO GET THESE SCORES UP? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE KNOW THAT HAVING ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS AND BOOKS IS KEY TO EVERY STUDENT, NOT JUST OUR D AND F SCHOOLS, BUT OUR D AND F SCHOOLS, BUT ALL SCHOOLS IN GENERAL. SPECIFICALLY WITH THEM, I KNOW JULIE AND JULIE AND DAVID WORK EXTENSIVELY. THEY ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT WITH myON TO WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCESS TO THE BOOKS ARE BEING READ, PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM THEY HAVE. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH THOSE SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT, ONE, THEY ARE USING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN SUPPLY THE BOOKS THAT THEY WANT AND ARE INTERESTED IN. YEAR TO YEAR WE LOOK AT THOSE. >>Lynn Gray: I THINK THE QUESTION WILL PROBABLY COME UP WITH ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT THE DATA THAT YOU THAT THE DATA THAT YOU ALL HAVE, POSSESS, WILL REVEAL THAT POSSESS, WILL REVEAL THAT THIS ENDEAVOR SHOWS POSITIVE READING RESULTS. >> WE KNOW THE MORE >> WE KNOW THE MORE THAT KIDS PRACTICE READING AND LOVE READING FOSTERS THAT. SO WHEN WE SEE OUR NUMBERS AND THE DATA AND THE EVALUATION THAT YOU HAVE IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM, IT KEEPS GROWING AND GROWING, AND THAT'S, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WHEN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT ONES WITH YMCA AND OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. OF COURSE, THE CHILDREN'S BOARD THAT YOU MENTIONED. THE UTILIZATION OF IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. AND, OBVIOUSLY, THEY TOO RECEIVE A LOT OF OUR FEEDBACK ON HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER WITH MORE ACCESS, BUT ALSO HOW TEACHERS USE IT IN THE CLASSROOM. SO WE JUST APPRECIATE THAT AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP. AS A MATTER OF FACT, OTHER DISTRICTS COME TO SEE WHAT OUR PARTNERSHIP LOOKS LIKE WITH WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S AN EXCITING THING THAT WE WANT TO KEEP GOING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU. >>Lynn Gray: ONE MORE QUESTION. WHEN WE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS VERY CRITICAL, YOU HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. HOW WILL WE KEEP THESE HOW WILL WE KEEP THESE PARTNERS? WE WANT TO MAKE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUSTAIN THIS WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP. >> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. WHAT WE NOTICED, OF COURSE, WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD MANY PARTNERSHIPS. THESE PARTICULAR PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN WITH US AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE SINCE DAY ONE. OF COURSE, THE AMOUNT YOU CAN SEE FROM YEAR TO SEE FROM YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDS, OF COURSE, OF HOW THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING. SO WE KNOW WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT THAT WE NEEDED TO SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THAT AND OBVIOUSLY BEING WITH THEM AS THEY ALSO WERE HIT WITH SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. BUT EVEN THROUGH THERE, THEY KEPT AND GIVEN US SOME. OF COURSE, WITH ESSER DOLLARS WE WERE ABLE TO USE TO SUBSIDIZE THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE, OF COURSE, TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES WITHIN OUR OWN, WITH COMPREHENSIVE READING PLAN AND SOME OTHER PIECES. WE ALSO WORK WITH ANN MARIE COURTNEY TO ENSURE OTHER PARTNERS AS WELL TO SEE HOW WE CAN EXPAND THAT. >>Lynn Gray: I THINK YOU ALL AND YOUR TEAM IS DOING AN EXTRAORDINARILY WONDERFUL JOB. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE TO LITERACY AND TO GATHER MORE READING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I ALWAYS TRY AND SHARE THE myON UPDATES MONTHLY. I'M ALWAYS KIND OF BLOWN AWAY WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF BOOKS ACCESSED SINCE THE BEGINNING. OVER 83 MILLION BOOKS. THAT IS THAT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF ACCESS. I KNOW NOT EVERYONE HAS A LAPTOP AND SO FORTH, BUT YOU CAN EVEN ACCESS THIS ON YOUR PHONE. I'M GLAD THAT MEMBER GRAY BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN'S BOARD. I WANT TO THANK THE CHILDREN'S BOARD AS WELL AND MEMBER GRAY FOR ALWAYS BEING A CHAMPION AROUND THIS PROGRAM AND LITERACY. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, EARLY LEARNING COALITION, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY, YMCA AND UNITED AND UNITED WAY. SUSTAINABILITY I DON'T THINK WILL BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE EVEN IF WE WE LOOK AT THE ADULT LITERACY RATES AND HOW MANY STRUGGLING ADULTS WE HAVE WHO ARE NONREADERS OR NONREADERS OR STRUGGLING TO READ, THIS READ, THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED KIDS TO GRADUATE OUR SCHOOLS KNOWING OUR SCHOOLS KNOWING HOW OUR SCHOOLS KNOWING HOW TO READ SO WE CAN SO WE CAN REMOVE ANY ADULT READING ISSUES. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THAT'S WHY THEY WERE SO COMMITTED FOR SO MANY YEARS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO READ BEYOND SCHOOL. IT IMPACTS EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE AFTER YOU LEAVE SCHOOL AND IN SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM IS FOR EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST KIDS THAT ARE PRE-K TO 12. I MEAN ANY PARENT CAN ENROLL THEIR CHILD. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR KINDERGARTEN READINESS NUMBERS AND READINESS NUMBERS AND WE THINK ABOUT THOSE OF US ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE TEACHERS, ABLE TO READ IN KINDERGARTEN. THAT IS THE EXPECTATION. THE SOONER WE CAN GET BOOKS IN FRONT OF KIDS, THE MORE, ONE, THEY WILL BE ENTHUSIASTIC TO READ, MOTIVATED, INTERESTED. THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO PHONICS AND LANGUAGE. WE EVEN HAD SOME PARENTS WHO SAY THEY HAVE USED myON TO LEARN HOW TO READ. BUT BECAUSE THEY WILL READ THE STORIES TO YOU, STORIES TO YOU, IT'S STORIES TO YOU, IT'S BILINGUAL, AND IT DOESN'T AND IT DOESN'T END AT THE COMPUTER OR THE PHONE. myON PUSHES INTO OUR CLASSROOMS TO FIGHT SUMMER SLIDE WITH THEIR WITH THEIR STREET TEAMS. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THAT OVER THE SUMMER, CHECK OUT WHERE THEY ARE. THEY ARE IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. AND SO MUCH FUN TO SEE THE COLLEGE KIDS COME IN AND GET KIDS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT READING OVER THE OVER THE SUMMER. AND THERE ARE READING CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR AND THEY HAVE ONE GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THE DIVERSITY OF THE BOOKS. KIDS CAN FIND THEMSELVES ON myON AND THEY CAN TRAVEL TO PLACES THAT THEY HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE OR MAYBE NEVER WILL. IT'S ABOUT ACCESS. I'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM THROUGH MANY LITERACY INITIATIVES AND IT'S REALLY THE MORE WE CAN GET BOOKS IN KIDS' HANDS, MANY OF US GREW UP IN HOMES WITH CHILDREN BOOKS AND WE BOUGHT CHILDREN BOOKS FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY RIGHT NOW IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR FOOD AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A $2 BOOK. TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS -- I MEAN, SOME PARENTS USE IT FOR BEDTIME BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE BOOKS IN THEIR HOME. THEY PULL UP myON AND THEY READ TO THEIR CHILD OFF OF THAT. WE KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT READING MOMENT IS AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND EDUCATORS. I'M EXCITED I'M EXCITED THAT WE SUPPORT THIS. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR JULIE AND DAVID COLE FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT CHAMPION AROUND LITERACY AND LOOKING TO FILL THE GAP WITH THIS DISTRICT AND THIS COMMUNITY IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. THEY WILL STAND WITH US. IF THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS TO FOCUS ON FOCUS ON LITERACY, THEY WILL STAND WITH US AND DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR IN THEIR POWER TO HELP US RAISE THOSE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SO DESPERATE TO RAISE. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WITNESS THIS PROGRAM AND TO BE A PART OF IT AND JUST TO SEE THE FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. WHEN WE HAD THE LITERACY FAIRS FACE TO FACE, WE WOULD DO PARENT TRAININGS SO THAT THEY WOULD KNOW HOW TO LOG ON TO myON AND GET THE BEST BENEFIT. TEACHERS USE IT. SO MANY TEACHER RESOURCES SO MANY TEACHER RESOURCES IN myON AS WELL THAT CAN BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM AND SO MANY RESOURCES FOR PARENTS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN HELP READ AT HELP READ AT HOME WITH THEIR CHILD. IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM. SO THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. ANYTIME THERE'S ANY TYPE OF CONTRACT CONTRACT THAT COMES THROUGH THAT'S QUITE HIGH IN FUNDING, I ALWAYS TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO LOOK AT IT. FOR ME, THE IDEA THAT THIS my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myON IS SO, SO CRITICAL. I THINK WHEN I GO TO SCHOOLS OFTEN, I'M SEEING THEM USING myON AND SMART BOARDS, BEING INNOVATIVE AND SHOWING THAT. I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL AND I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK DAVID AND JULIE COLE BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST SUCH AMAZING PARTNERS WITH OUR DISTRICT. THEY WORK SO HARD. LITERACY IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEM AS IT IS TO ALL OF US. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE HARD WORK AND JUST SAY THAT THIS IS A REALLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT CONTRACT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO IT AND STUDENTS ARE USING IT. I LOVE THE I LOVE THE COMPETITIONS BECAUSE THAT REALLY WORKS. KIDS LOVE THAT, AND THAT REALLY WORKS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO ECHO SO MUCH OF WHAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY SAID. ESPECIALLY SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS. I HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH FEEDBACK ABOUT THE BLACK HISTORY COMPETITIONS AND ACCESS WHEN IT COMES TO myON AND BEING IN THE CLASSROOM FIRSTHAND, I'VE SEEN WHAT AN IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY CAN SEARCH FOR, AGAIN, TO DR. HAHN'S POINT, TO THINGS THAT INTEREST THEM. IT'S SUCH AN EASY SEARCHABLE MENU TO FIND THINGS THAT EXACTLY MIGHT BE AT THEIR LEVEL AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GETTING KIDS ENGAGED IN READING IS FINDING WHAT SPEAKS TO THEM AND WHAT INTERESTS THEM. YOUR POINT ABOUT HOW KIDS CAN FIND THEMSELVES IN THESE BOOKS BY SEARCHING AND HAVING ACCESS TO IT IS SO IMPORTANT. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THAT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AGAIN, FIRSTHAND, I'VE SEEN WHAT AN IMPACT IT HAS IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND ON OUR STUDENTS. I CAN'T SAY HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE FOR IT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, DAVID AND FIRST OF ALL, DAVID AND JULIE, THANK YOU ALL THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I WAS VERY ELATED WHEN YOU CAME TO EAST TO EAST TAMPA BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT COMING TO EAST TAMPA, ESPECIALLY IN LITERACY. DR. HAHN, YOU KNOW YOU'RE NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK FOR THAT. WE HAVE A GREAT FAIR. EACH YEAR, WE HAVE SO MANY KIDS COMING OUT AND GIVING myON -- myON IS GIVING THEM BOOKS AND THE KIDS ARE SO EXCITED. I TELL YOU, I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WE WON'T BE SUCCESSFUL. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY AFFAIR. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU DON'T GO TO ONE SIDE. YOU ALL OVER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THAT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE LITERACY IS NUMBER ONE. YOU'VE GOT TO READ. YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO READ. IF YOU CAN'T READ, YOU CAN'T DO NOTHING. YOU REALLY CAN'T. AND READING TO UNDERSTAND. MANY PEOPLE CALL WORDS BUT READING IS IMPORTANT. YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO READ AND UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN. I WANT TO THANK YOU. DR. HAHN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. GROWING UP, I'M GOING TO TELL ON MYSELF. GREEN STAMPS. WE USED TO WE USED TO SAVE GREEN STAMPS, THE STORES USED TO DISPLAY SOME BOOKS. AND WE USED TO SAVE THE GREEN STAMPS TO GET THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, WHETHER IT WAS ENCYCLOPEDIAS OR THE DISNEY COLLECTION OR WHATEVER BOOKS WERE THE FLAVOR OF THE MONTH AT THE STORE. BUT THAT WENT AWAY. THAT WENT AWAY AND THE STORES NO LONGER DO THAT. SO WITH SO WITH myON, IT'S KIND OF THAT GREEN STAMP, ELECTRONIC ABILITY. I I VISITED A I VISITED A SCHOOL THIS PAST FRIDAY. AND ONE OF THE AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS SHOWED ME WITH EXCITEMENT HIS myON. ON HIS COMPUTER. BUT ONE THING THAT HE SAID TO ME WAS THAT HE READ THE BOOK, ONE OF THE BOOKS IN myON AND THEN HE ASKED HIS MOM, HE HE ASKED HIS MOM, HE WAS GOING TO SAVE HIS MONEY SO HE COULD BUY BUY THE BOOK ITSELF BECAUSE SO HE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE BOOK THAT HE WANTED IT HARD COVER. AND HE WANTED IT HARD COVER JUST IN CASE HE WENT SOMEWHERE WITH HIS PARENTS THAT HE HIS PARENTS THAT HE COULDN'T GET, YOU KNOW, INTERNET. THAT WAY HE COULD READ HIS BOOK. YOU'RE NOT ONLY OPENING THOSE DOORS ELECTRONICALLY. YOU'RE ALSO OPENING SOME DOORS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GO FIND THOSE BOOKS, TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THOSE BOOKS AND OPEN THEIR OWN LIBRARIES BECAUSE THEY'VE READ THOSE BOOKS ONLINE. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BOTH, DAVID AND JULIE, FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CHILDREN IN OPENING NEW PATHWAYS FOR THEM IN THEIR EXPLORATION AND LOVE OF READING. SO THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOU SEE YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS. THE NEXT ITEM THE NEXT ITEM IS 1.07, SMALL GROUP TUTORING SERVICES, HIGH DOSAGE, GRADES 6-12. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR. SO FOCUSED CARE INC. WILL PROVIDE 604 STUDENTS AT NINE TARGETED MIDDLE SCHOOLS TARGETED MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND 1,264 STUDENTS AND SIX TARGETED HIGH SCHOOLS SMALL GROUP TUTORING FROM A LIVE ONLINE TUTOR MINIMUM OF TWICE A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS WERE SELECTED FOR PARTICIPATION BASED ON THEIR FAST ON THEIR FAST EOC DATA FROM SPRING 2023 AND FALL OF 2023. MIDDLE SCHOOL TUTORING WILL FOCUS ON FOCUS ON ALGEBRA ONE AND 7th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aren Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1.07. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WHO AM I ASKING MY QUESTIONS TO? IT'S REALLY MORE OF A COMMENT MORE THAN A QUESTION. I HOPE THIS HAS THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE THINKING BECAUSE IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, BUT I AM REALLY GOOD, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP OUR STUDENTS ESPECIALLY SINCE A LOT OF IT IS VIRTUALLY. THE ONLY THING I'M ASKING BECAUSE IT IS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY FOR THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, IF WE GET GOOD DATA ON IT AND WE'RE GOING TO RENEW THIS, THAT THAT IS INCLUDED AND WE CAN SEE THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING. AGAIN, IT SOUNDS GREAT ON PAPER, BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO APPROVE FOR TUTORING ONLINE IN THE CLASSROOMS. BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD PLAN FOR IT AND YOU'VE DONE YOUR RESEARCH AND USED THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE. SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN AND IF THIS COMES BACK NEXT YEAR, WE REALLY HAVE THAT DATA TO SEE THE IMPACT BECAUSE THIS IS A HEAVY ONE FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I WANT TO THANK MS. RAY BURN, BURN, MS. BERGMAN AND MS. FRENCH. NOW, WHEN WE HAD THE MELROSE AND I WENT INTO THIS WITH A FEW OF YOU, I THINK, OH, YOU, I THINK, OH, MS. BERGMAN. MELROSE ELEMENTARY F SCHOOL TERMINATION. DR. REID FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. CAME DOWN WITH THE IDEA OF EXACTLY -- AND YOU HAD THE EXACTLY -- AND YOU HAD THE NAME OF IT -- ACCELERATE -- HOW TO ACCELERATE THE PROGRESS OF ACCELERATE THE PROGRESS OF THE LEARNERS HAVING TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTY. SO WHAT SHE DID IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING. SHE PUT THREE SMALL GROUP IN FRONT OF THE FRONT OF THE TUTORS, AND THAT SCHOOL -- NOW, THIS WAS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. IT WAS A PILOT. TURNED FROM AN F TO AN A. NOW, MIND NOW, MIND YOU, THEY HAD THE COMMUNITY AND, MR. YOUNG, WHEREVER YOU ARE, THAT WAS A BIG PORTION OF IT. THEY HAD COMMUNITY THEY HAD COMMUNITY BUT THEY HAD TWO TUTORS. WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHAT I'M SAYING IS I KNOW IT WORKED IN THAT CASE AND I THINK ALSO THE EQUITY POINT IS ALSO THE EQUITY POINT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE BECAUSE TUTORS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND NOT EVERYONE HAS EASY ACCESS TO TUTORS. BUT HERE WE ARE GIVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HIGH NEEDS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS -- MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY -- WELL, NOT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. GIVING THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPERT TUTORING AND TO REALLY GIVE THE GIVE THE EQUALITY OF LEARNING TO THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL. SO JUST THINK, I ALWAYS THINK THIS. WHAT WHAT IF WE DIDN'T DO WHAT IF WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING? LET'S JUST DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY AND LET'S LET THEM FAIL. SO WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THIS BIG KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THIS BIG ABYSS AND YOU'RE FILLING IT AND YOU'RE FILLING IT UP WITH SOLID ATTENTION, LITERACY ATTENTION. SO I JUST THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND I'VE SEEN IT WORK. I KNOW IT DOES WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD, AS MEMBER VAUGHN SAID, THE DATA, BECAUSE WE WILL ONLY BE MOTIVATED BY SEEING THE RISING SCORES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMITMENT AND FOR BEING INNOVATIVE. THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM. IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WE DID RECEIVE SOME RESEARCH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY AROUND HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GETTING STUDENTS TO RECOVER FROM THE LEARNING LOSS. AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS ARTICLE THAT CAME ACTUALLY TO ME THROUGH THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS, THEY FOCUS ON THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, SO STUDENTS IN SCHOOL IN FRONT OF TEACHERS BACKLEARNING EVERY SINGLE DAY AND HOW IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE IS FOR LEARNING. THE SECOND THING THAT THEY HIGHLIGHTED WAS HIGH-DOSE TUTORING. I HAPPENED TO BE I HAPPENED TO BE SITTING AT A CONFERENCE AND THE ARTICLE THAT CAME TO ME CAME TO ME HIGHLIGHTED CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SITTING TO MY LEFT WAS A PRINCIPAL FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED BALTIMORE. AND THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER FROM BALTIMORE WAS SITTING ON MY RIGHT. WHILE I'M NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CONFERENCE SPEAKER, I'M LOOKING AT THE ARTICLE THAT JUST CAME ACROSS, I REALIZE WHAT A GREAT RESOURCE I HAD IN THE TWO PEOPLE BESIDE ME AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM AFTER HOURS AT THE CONFERENCE DISCUSSING WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT HURDLES THEY ARE HAVING, WHAT BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION. THE LAST THING THAT THE ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTED WAS HAVING A VERY ROBUST AFTER-SCHOOL ROBUST AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, IF YOU CAN GET CHILDREN TO ATTEND, BUT ALSO A ROBUST SUMMER PROGRAM. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE PLANS AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS A GREAT IMPLEMENTATION TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT DATA TO YOU ALL. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. DURING MY AGENDA REVIEW, I HAVE A LOT OF BACKGROUND. FOR 20 YEARS I'VE RUN AFTER-SCHOOL AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAMS, A TUTORING CENTER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO THIS IS SOMETHING I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH. SO WHEN I HEARD, INITIALLY I WAS LIKE THE RATES OF 1755, THAT IS REALLY UNHEARD OF. REALLY VIRTUAL OR ANY ONLINE OR IF YOU GO ANYWHERE, THE RATES FOR A SMALL ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING IS TRIPLE THAT. AND THAT IS A FACT. SO I THINK THAT RATE IN ITSELF IS AMAZING. KNOWING THE TEACHERS ARE CERTIFIED IS AMAZING. AND ALSO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ABSENTEEISM, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR A CHILD TO KEEP COMING TO SCHOOL. 10th, 11th GRADE YEAR WHEN THEY KNOW THIS ONE TEST IS KIND OF LIKE OVER THEM THE ENTIRE YEAR. I'VE MET SO MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THAT GRADUATION LINE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO TEST WELL ON AN ALGEBRA OR GEOMETRY AND ALGEBRA OR GEOMETRY AND THAT REALLY KIND OF DOESN'T MOTIVATE A CHILD TO COME TO SCHOOL. IT DOESN'T MOTIVATE THEM TO SEE THE END. SO KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SUPPORT, JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS AT A SCHOOL AND THE STUDENT SAID TO ME, I HAVEN'T PASSED A READING BENCHMARK, WHAT SHOULD I DO? I SAID YOU NEED TO PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. READ EVERY DAY, TAKE THE CLASS BUT YOU ALSO NEED ADDITIONAL TIME. NOT EVERY CHILD IS SELF-MOTIVATED OR THEY MIGHT HAVE OTHER ISSUES OR MIGHT BE WORKING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR LIMITS ARE, THEIR LIMITS ARE, BUT THEIR LIMITS ARE, BUT HAVING THIS AND MAKING SURE THIS IS IN PLACE, I FEEL LIKE THE DATA WILL BE STRONG. CURIOUS ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR THE INNOVATION. I THINK THE PRICE POINT IS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY REALLY, REALLY, REALLY -- IS QUITE AFFORDABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN SUCH MASS NUMBERS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. NOT SEEING ANY MORE COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS 2.01, CONTRACT RENEWAL APPROVAL FOR BridgePrep ACADEMY OF TAMPA. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO BridgePrep ACADEMY OF TAMPA HAS REQUESTED A CONTRACT RENEWAL OF FIVE YEARS. FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL. BridgePrep ACADEMY OF TAMPA DUAL LANGUAGE DUAL LANGUAGE SERVING 346 STUDENTS IN GRADES STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8. PRESENT CONTRACT EXPIRES JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR. 2418 WEST SWANN AVENUE IN TAMPA. THE SCHOOL EARNED A GRADE OF B 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR AND D IN THE CURRENT BASELINE YEAR CURRENT BASELINE YEAR OF 23-24. IF YOU LOOK AT CURRENT SCHOOL GRADE HISTORIES FROM 1920, 2021, NO GRADE IN 2021 TO 22 AND 2022-23 WERE ALL Bs. THIS PAST YEAR WAS A LETTER D. FLORIDA STATUTE PERMITS THE RENEWAL FOR SCHOOLS THAT COMPLETED CONTRACT COMPLETED CONTRACT TERM IN ACORNS WITH FLORIDA STATUTE. A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW REPORT PROVIDES THE BOARD WITH RATINGS ON A SET OF CRITERIA EVALUATING THE OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND GOVERNING PERFORMANCE OF THE SCHOOL. ALL RATINGS WERE SATISFACTORY WITH 11 RECOMMENDATIONS. THAT IS MY HIGHLIGHT OF BridgePrep. CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR FIVE YEARS. >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 2.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER COMBS, MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW, BridgePrep 2020 NO BridgePrep 2020 NO GRADE, 2021 NO GRADE. 2021-22, B AND THEN THEY WENT DOWN TO A D. NOW, THERE HAS TO BE REASONS -- THERE ALWAYS ARE -- BUT I WANT TO SAY THE GOOD NEWS IS, AND THIS IS AS AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, MEMBER, THAT 79.2% THEY AFFORD THE FREE AND THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. THERE ARE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS MADE MADE FOR THE MARGINALIZED STUDENTS WHICH IS A GOOD THING. THERE'S A LOW THERE'S A LOW ELL THERE'S A LOW ELL RATIO, THERE'S A LOW ELL RATIO, AND THERE IS A THERE IS A FAIRLY, 14.8 FOR DISABILITIES IS NOT THE LOWEST, ANYWAY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE B TO D AND GET STARTED WITH THAT? >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MS. GRAY. THE SCHOOL THE SCHOOL UNDERWENT CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. THE PRINCIPAL THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS AND BROUGHT THE SCHOOL TO THE SCHOOL TO A B LEFT AND ACTUALLY CAME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO LEAD ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. THE NEW -- SO THERE WAS LEADERSHIP TURNOVER AND THERE WAS A WAS A LOT OF STAFF TURNOVER. ON TOP OF THAT, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT OVERSEES THE SCHOOL WAS BRAND-NEW. THE OLD ONE SOLD IT TO A NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY. SO THE SCHOOL HAS FELT A LARGE AMOUNT OF CHANGES IN OPERATIONS AND ACADEMICS. HOWEVER, THE NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY COMPANY HAS PUT IN COMPANY HAS PUT IN STAFFING SUPPORT WITH A COACH SPECIFIC FOR THE FOR THE NEW PRINCIPAL AND THEY HAVE STRENGTHENED THE LEADERSHIP TEAM. THE SCHOOL LACKED A VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND THEY HAVE WORKED WORKED ON WORKED ON THAT. SO THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE SCORES WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF YEAR BECAUSE OF ALL THE SUPPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN. >>Lynn Gray: IT IS A COMMONALITY THAT WHEN YOU THAT WHEN YOU RESTRUCTURE, THE WHOLE BIZ IS TO IMPROVE. MY QUESTION, DR. DELANGE, WHEN I MENTIONED THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH FOR 79.2% OF THE STUDENTS, WHAT WAS IT LAST YEAR? THERE IS PROBABLY A GROWTH IN MY MIND OF THAT DEMOGRAPHIC. >>Cinzia DeLange: LET ME SEE. I'M LOOKING AT THE EM GRAPHICS. -- I'M LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS FOR 20. I DON'T HAVE THE I DON'T HAVE THE FRL DATA WITH ME RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY -- OH, NO, I DO, ACTUALLY. I'M SORRY. SO IN 21-22, THERE SO IN 21-22, THERE WERE SO IN 21-22, THERE WERE 61.1%. IN IN 22-23, 79.2. AND THIS AND THIS YEAR, 78. >>Lynn Gray: SO THE HORIZON LOOKS FAIRLY BRIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE USED TO THE MORE ARE USED TO THE MORE CHALLENGED SITUATION OF THE STUDENT. SO AT ANY RATE, LET'S HOPE THAT THIS NEW STAFFING WORKS. THANK YOU, DR. DELANGE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I KNOW THEY ARE REQUESTING A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, BUT IS IT A REQUIREMENT -- OR WHAT ARE WE AS A DISTRICT RECOMMENDING? >>Cinzia DeLange: GREAT QUESTION. THE LEGISLATION, THE LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY SAYS SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF A RENEWAL AND HAS RECEIVED A GRADE LOWER HAS RECEIVED A GRADE LOWER THAN A B IN THE MOST RECENTLY GRADED SCHOOL YEAR MUST BE RENEWED NO LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. SO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM A MINIMUM OF FIVE MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. >>Patti Rendon: DO WE HAVE ANY -- IS THERE ANY OTHER -- -- IS THERE ANY OTHER -- AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND CHANGE OF PERSONNEL.  WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE MANAGING ENTITY IS MAKING AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL IS BEING DONE. BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER SUPPORTS ON OUR END THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THE SCHOOL? >>Cinzia DeLange: YES, >>Cinzia DeLange: YES, MA'AM. FOR ANY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT RECEIVES A D AND AN F, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND SUBMIT IT TO US, IN THIS CASE THE CHARTER OFFICE. AND WE, WITH THE HELP OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS, MEET WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL LEADER QUARTERLY TO LOOK AT THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY HAVE PLACED IN THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND WE DISCUSS THEM AND THEY SHARE DATA WITH US SHARE DATA WITH US TO SHOW THAT THE STRATEGIES ARE WORKING. SO THAT IS PART OF OUR PROTOCOL FOR D AND F SCHOOLS. >>Patti Rendon: WHERE ARE WE AT CURRENTLY BridgePrep? DO WE HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN OR DUE AT A CERTAIN TIME? >>Cinzia DeLange: BECAUSE THE GRADES CAME OUT THIS YEAR, THEN THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WILL START AND THE PROTOCOL WILL START NEXT YEAR. >>Patti Rendon: OKAY. THANK YOU. >>Cinzia DeLange: YOU'RE WELCOME. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER COMBS. HI, DR. DELANGE. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, THE EXPECTED OUTCOME. YOU YOU HAVE 364 STUDENTS. IS THE 93,000, IS THAT A CERTAIN PERCENT -- I MEAN, IS THAT A PERCENTAGE OR PAY FOR ONE ADMIN OR A COUPLE OF ADMIN? >>Cinzia DeLange: THE ADMIN FEE IS CALCULATED WITH A VERY SPECIFIC FORMULA THE SPECIFIC FORMULA THE DOE GIVES US. IN THIS CASE FOR THIS SCHOOL, IT'S 5% FOR IT'S 5% FOR HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOLS, IT'S 2%. >>Nadia Combs: OKAY. I WAS WONDERING. OBVIOUSLY, MY CONCERN IS ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA ARE A SCHOOLS AND THAT'S NOT AN A SCHOOL. THAT IS A D SCHOOL. I KNOW THINGS CAN CHANGE. JUST A LITTLE JUST A LITTLE WORRISOME ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE PASSING A LOT OF DOCUMENTS AND PAPERWORK, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THAT WAS NOT REALLY LOCKED UP OR IT WAS OPEN. SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENT RECORDS, PARENTS ARE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT STUDENT RECORDS. SO THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN TO ME AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH THIS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES BEING FOUND ALL THE WAY ACROSS, IEP TO THE DOCUMENTATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? >>Cinzia DeLange: YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED ALL THE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. AND THEY HAVE AND THEY HAVE ALREADY PLACED STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO IMPROVE THOSE. ON TOP OF THAT, NEXT YEAR, TOGETHER WITH THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WE GO OUT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REVIEW AND WE DO REVIEW AND WE DO A POST-CONTRACT RENEWAL SITE VISIT, RENEWAL SITE VISIT, TARGETING SPECIFICALLY THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT FULLY COMPLIANT. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I HAD ONE I HAD ONE LAST QUESTION. SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE LET YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME. THE ONE AREA WHERE IT SAYS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUMMER READING CAMP, IS THAT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT LAST SUMMER THERE WASN'T A SUMMER READING CAMP BUT THEY PLAN ON HAVING ONE THIS YEAR? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT NOW. READING THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. >>Cinzia DeLange: THAT'S CORRECT. >>Nadia Combs: LAST SUMMER, EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T DOING WELL, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SUMMER CAMP. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE ONE THIS SUMMER. >>Cinzia DeLange: THEY WILL HAVE ONE THIS SUMMER. >>Van Ayres: THAT ADMIN FEE, 59% IN CASE OF THE SCHOOL, THOSE ARE MONIES THAT COME BACK TO THE DISTRICT. THOSE ARE THE COSTS WE INCUR HAVING A CHARTER OFFICE. AS WE COLLECT THE ADMIN FEES, THOSE ARE MONIES THAT COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE UTILIZE FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO RUN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. >>Nadia Combs: I NOTICE OFTEN TWO, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND COMBINE TOGETHER TO HAVE ONE FEE. I SEE THAT HAPPEN OFTEN ON THIS DAIS WHERE IT STARTS WITH TWO DIFFERENT ONES AND THEN EVENTUALLY JUST HALF OF THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS ADDRESSED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD AS WELL AND MEMBER COMBS SPECIFICALLY WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE REPORTING WHERE IT WAS GIVING WHAT HAD BEEN REPORTED, THERE WERE SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT WERE IN THE YELLOW. BUT MY QUESTION COMES TO THE DATA FOR THIS YEAR. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF I'M INTERPRETING THIS TESTING RIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FALL DATA FOR FOR THE FOR THE 23-24 FAST TEST, AND IF I'M INTERPRETING THIS RIGHT, IS THIS CORRECT THAT THIRD GRADE FAST TEST, 0% OF KIDS ARE ON LEVEL OR PROFICIENT IN MATH? AM I SEEING THAT DATA RIGHT? >>Van Ayres: I'M LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL, MEMBER VAUGHN. JUST KNOW, IF THAT IS 0%, THAT THEY HAD THIRD GRADE FOR MATH FAST, THAT'S NOT TOTALLY OUT OF REALM BECAUSE REMEMBER THAT IS TESTING END OF GRADE. THEY ARE TESTING THE THIRD GRADERS IN SEPTEMBER FOR WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW IN MAY. SO IN MATH PARTICULAR, YOU DO SEE LOWER NUMBERS IN MATH JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH INSTRUCTION FOR THAT ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. WE USUALLY SEE EVEN ON OUR END OUR MATH FAST ARE TYPICALLY LOWER LOWER PM-1, START TO GET BETTER 2. HAVEN'T HAD WHOLE YEAR OF INSTRUCTION. THEY TEST END OF YEAR RIGHT THERE AT THE BEGINNING. THAT IS THAT IS CORRECT, 0. >>Jessica Vaughn: SPRING 27, PREVIOUS FALL 6 PERCENT. I HADN'T SEEN ZERO BEFORE. FOR ELA IN THE FAST FOR THIRD GRADE, 3%? IS THAT CORRECT? 3% OF THE CHILDREN ARE ON LEVEL IN THE ENTIRE THIRD GRADE? >>Van Ayres: CORRECT. CORRECT WAY TO READ THAT, FOR ALL THE ALL THE THIRD GRADERS THAT TOOK IT AT THE BEGINNING FOR IT AT THE BEGINNING FOR PM-1 THAT THAT ONLY 3% OF THEM ARE ON LEVEL RIGHT NOW, CORRECT. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE IT'S END OF YEAR. THEY ARE TESTING WHAT THEY SHOULD KNOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND TESTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. >>Jessica Vaughn: LOOKING AT SPRING, ALTHOUGH DOWN FROM PREVIOUS YEAR FROM 4 TO 3 PERCENT, IF IT WAS STAYING ON TARGET, IT WOULD BE AT 22%? >>Van Ayres: THAT IS CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO GET HELP AND MAKE SURE I WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: YES, I'M GLAD THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE ANY SCHOOL THAT GOES FROM ONE GRADE OF A B TO A D, THOSE QUESTIONS ARE VERY, VERY CRITICAL. I APOLOGIZE IF SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE JUST NOW QUESTIONS ARE JUST NOW COMING OUT THAT WEREN'T GIVEN PRIVY TO. DR. DELANGE, I'M ON PAGE 7. DSOL -- DSOL -- ESOL TEACHERS, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS REQUIRED TRAINING, REQUIREMENTS. OF COURSE, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT. BUT WITH A 6.2% ELL POPULATION, IF THEY ARE NOT IF THEY ARE NOT TRAINED, IF THEY ARE NOT TRAINED, THE LIKELYSHIP OF THE PASSING GOES DOWN DOWN EXPONENTIALLY OR LET'S JUST SAY ALSO THE APPRECIATION OF A STUDENT THAT IS HISPANIC THAT DOES NOT KNOW THE LANGUAGE. THIS NEW ORGANIZATION I'M HOPING IS LASER FOCUSED ON THAT DEMOGRAPHIC. ALSO MORE WORRISOME I THINK TO ALL OF US, PAGE 7, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECOMMENDATION TO ENSURE TEACHERS RECEIVE TEACHERS RECEIVE ANNUAL FLORIDA STANDARDS TRAINING PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WITHOUT PD FOR TEACHERS AND WE ALL ALL KNOW THIS, IT'S GOING TO ALL KNOW THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO VERY DIFFICULT TO GAIN VERY DIFFICULT TO GAIN THOSE SCORES. THESE THESE ARE THESE ARE WORRISOME QUESTIONS AND I THINK THAT AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY GET THOSE -- KEEP TRACK OF THEM. DR. DELANGE, I KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS HANDY DANDY. GO AHEAD, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. >>Cinzia DeLange: I COMPLETELY AGREE, AGREE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY INDICATIVE OF A VERY INDICATIVE OF A VERY THOROUGH REVIEW THAT WE DO AS A REVIEW THAT WE DO AS A DISTRICT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE FACTORS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT. AGAIN, WE, AFTER THE AGAIN, WE, AFTER THE REVIEW, WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THE SCHOOL COMPANY AND THE SCHOOL LEADER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED MECHANISMS TO FIX ALL THE ITEMS THAT KIND OF SURFACED DURING THE REVIEW. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I SEE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 2.03, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS CORPORATION FOR IMPLEMENTING FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR. SO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS CORPORATION IMPLEMENTS THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO JOBS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH SUPPORT OF HCPS, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND MOA, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WAS CREATED TO AGREEMENT WAS CREATED TO ENSURE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HCPS AND WHERE WAS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS CORPORATION. HCPS WILL PROVIDE 150,000 TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF FUTURE ACADEMY FOR THE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT FOR FCA WAS ADDED TO COLLECT THE NECESSARY DATA TO MEASURE THE OUTCOMES OF THE STUDENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM EVERYTHING FCA WILL OFFER. FCA CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTED IN ENGLISH COURSES AS WELL AS CTE COURSES NEXT SCHOOL YEAR ACROSS OUR 28 HIGH SCHOOLS AND FOUR CAREER CENTERS. AND THAT IS ITEM 2.03. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 2.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER COMBS, MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER HAHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE COULD START WITH MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. I REALLY WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY ATTEND A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE. TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT, MORE CRITICAL IN OUR COMMUNITY, MORE CRITICAL IN OUR COUNTRY. I THINK WHEN YOU GO TO GET YOUR CAR FIXED OR WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO GET ANY KIND OF -- ANYTHING THAT'S TECHNICAL, VOCATIONAL, I THINK THAT REALLY IS THE FUTURE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT EUROPE, ASIA, LOOK AT ALL THESE COUNTRIES, THEY ARE SO AHEAD OF US. FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY I THINK IS JUST SO, SO CRITICAL JUST SO, SO CRITICAL FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, I ENDED UP GOING TO ONE OF THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY PROGRAMS. AND I URGE ALL OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY TODAY IF YOU SPEAK THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE OR SEE OR GET INVOLVED OR PARTICIPATE TO REALLY KNOW THE IMPACT OF IT. I THINK IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT SOMETHING AND SAY, HEY, BUT IF YOU GO THROUGH THE VERY BEGINNING, I'VE BEEN ON, I'VE BEEN SITTING THERE AT THE BUSINESS PANELS. LAST WEEK I WENT OUT TO THE BUSINESS VISITS. ALSO THE CAREER DAY. I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND SIT ON A BUS WITH 47 OR 50 CHILDREN TO REALLY KNOW THE IMPACT. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2022 FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2022 TO 2023, THERE WERE THERE WERE 5, 595 STUDENTS THAT WENT TO THE PANELS. THE PAST YEAR WE'VE ALREADY THE PAST YEAR WE'VE ALREADY HAD 7,277 STUDENTS. I CAN'T TELL YOU AND I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF THE PANELS, WHAT THE SENIORS HAVE TO SIT THERE AND SAY. A LOT OF SENIORS ARE SITTING THERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR NEXT MOVE IS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. AND THIS NOT GIVES THEM HOPE BUT ALSO GIVES THEM KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE. JUST LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS WITH ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS WITH A BUS WITH 45 STUDENTS AND I WOULD SAY PROBABLY HALF OF THEM WERE ELA STUDENTS AND THEY ALL WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED BECAUSE THE IDEA OF GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE OR EVEN GOING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS NOT REALLY AN OPTION FOR THEM. BUT SEEING A COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO SUPPORT THEM, THAT THEY CAN GROW, THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT. RIGHT NOW WE'RE OFFERING CURRICULUM FOR THOSE SKILLS THAT WE TALK ABOUT, THOSE SOFT SKILLS WHERE KIDS DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK IN FRONT OF SOMEONE, SHAKE SOMEONE'S HAND, CREATE A RESUME. THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT IMPORTANT SKILLS THAT ARE BEING TAUGHT EVERY DAY THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS. IN TERMS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT -- I SAW THIS ON THE BUS LAST WEEK. 39% OF OUR STUDENTS DID NOT THINK THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BEFORE THE FIELD TRIP. AT THE END, IT WAS 80%. THAT MEANS MORE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MORE STUDENTS WANT TO STAY HERE AND WORK. AND THERE ARE BUSINESSES ALL AROUND. WHEN I DROVE TO NORTHWEST TAMPA AND WE WERE TALKING, THERE WERE SO MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR STUDENTS, MORE THAN THERE ARE STUDENTS AVAILABLE. I PERSONALLY WANT TO SAY I OBVIOUSLY AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. I THINK I THINK FOR I THINK FOR $4.2 BILLION ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVICES 240,000 STUDENTS, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE FUNDING AND MORE SUPPORT, BECAUSE WHAT I SEE THIS PROGRAM DOES, EVEN JUST THE MESSAGES THAT THEY SEND EVERY WEEK TO STUDENTS OR THE FILMS THAT THEY HAVE IN THE CLASSES, KIDS ARE GETTING SKILLS THAT ARE INVALUABLE TO THEM FOR THEIR LIVES. SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT START, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT IS IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH MEMBER COMBS ON SOME OF HER COMMENTS. FUTURE CAREER FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY, THEY ARE A CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM THAT PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE WITH HELPING STUDENTS DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS. I'VE BEEN TO SOME OF THESE EVENTS AND I THINK THAT STUDENTS EXPLORING A WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES AND PROFESSIONS, WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO COLLEGE OR RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO CAREER IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK SOME OF THE RUB FOR ME SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THE SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THE MOU KEEP COMING UP EACH TIME IT'S BROUGHT TO THE BOARD. I KNOW THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO OR THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT THIS COMING TO THE BOARD AS AN ASK OF AROUND $250,000. I'M GLAD IT'S NOT. SO THAT'S WHERE MY COLLEAGUE AND I KIND OF PART WAYS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS PROVIDING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS PROGRAM. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT GO INTO THIS PROGRAM FROM THE BUSINESSES THAT BUY TABLES AT THE EVENTS THAT CAN BE UPWARD TO MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY PAY, ANYWHERE BETWEEN 600 AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS. AND THEN A $2 MILLION APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR THIS PROGRAM RIGHT NOW GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE. WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED IN THE BEEN PROVIDED IN THE MOU, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT SHOWS ANY OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT THIS PROGRAM IS THIS PROGRAM IS RECEIVING. I'LL TELL YOU WHY THAT'S CONCERNING AND WE ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF IN-KIND. TRANSPORTATION, SCHOOL SITES FOR THE BUSINESS THE BUSINESS PANEL, SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, SO THE TEACHERS CAN CHAPERON, ALL ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. WHEN YOU'RE ASKING WHEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR $150,000 AND YOU'RE DEMONSTRATING THAT IN THE BUDGET BUT NOT SHOWING ANY OTHER REVENUE, IT REALLY -- OTHER REVENUE, IT REALLY -- AND THEY ARE LEGITIMATE EXPENSES, BUT NOT BUT NOT DISCLOSING THE REVENUE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE THAT. AS A AS A DISTRICT, WE CAN MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS. AND IT KEEPS COMING UP EVERY TIME THIS TIME THIS COMES. LIKE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON THE FUNDING THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING. IN ADDITION TO THE 150,000. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO BEYOND THIS, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I NEED A LITTLE MORE NEED A LITTLE MORE BUDGETARY INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER GOVERNMENT TAX DOLLARS GOING INTO THIS PROGRAM. THE OTHER CONCERN IS WITH THE OTHER CONCERN IS WITH THE ENGLISH COURSE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT MANDATORY. IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE -- >>Van Ayres: THAT IS CORRECT. >>Stacy Hahn: 20% OF THE CURRICULUM IN ENGLISH 4 IS THIS CURRICULUM? THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME. IT SAYS 20% OF THE IT SAYS 20% OF THE CURRICULUM IN ENGLISH -- >>Van Ayres: WORKED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND OPERATE EITHER BETWEEN ENGLISH CLASSES OR CTE COURSES. FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY WILL WORK ALONGSIDE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATOR AT EACH SCHOOL. >>Stacy Hahn: I'M SURE THE CURRICULUM IS GREAT. I DON'T THINK THE ENGLISH COURSE IS THE PLACE FOR IT. THIS IS A THIS IS A COURSE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION. AND I JUST THINK THAT IT DILUTES THE FOCUS AND DEPTH OF THE FOCUS AND DEPTH OF THE ENGLISH COURSE AND THAT MAYBE IT'S BEST IN CAREER AND TECH COURSES OR CAREER COURSES OR CAREER COURSE, ELECTIVE COURSE. I DON'T AGREE WITH PUTTING IT IN ENGLISH. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DATA. WE ASKED ABOUT FOR DATA. THANK YOU FOR THE DATA. THE DATA IS AROUND CAREER EXPLORATION. IT'S STUDENT DATA. BUT IT DOESN'T CAPTURE THE IMPACT OF THE MISSION OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO GREAT JOBS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WE'RE NOT -- THERE'S NO MEASUREMENT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL JOB PLACEMENTS OR SKILL DEVELOPMENT OR CAREER ADVANCEMENT FOR PARTICIPATING STUDENTS, AND THERE'S STUDENTS, AND THERE'S NO DATA AROUND THE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES THAT COULD REALLY INFORM AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW THIS PROGRAM IS FULFILLING WORKFORCE NEEDS. SO THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I THINK THIS IS THINK THIS IS VALUABLE, BUT I THINK WE CAN SWING BIGGER. AND I THINK THIS AND I THINK THIS MOU SHOULD INCLUDE THE INCLUDE THE DISTRICT, FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND CAREER SOURCE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE THE DATA AND THEY CAN PROVIDE THE DATA ON JOBS BEING JOBS BEING CONNECTED TO STUDENTS. THEY HAVE CERTAIN PROGRAMS THEY HAVE CERTAIN PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS. AND THIS IS FREE. THEY ARE FUNDED THEY ARE FUNDED BY THE STATE. AND BY INCLUDING THE CAREER SOURCE WE CAN SOURCE WE CAN ENSURE SOURCE WE CAN ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO REAL-TIME IMPLEMENTATION. I DO THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION HERE TO TABLE THIS AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE COURSE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE BUDGET. AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO BROADEN THIS MOU SO THAT THE CAREER SOURCE PIECE, THEY COULD HELP BUILD THE HELP BUILD THE CURRICULUM. THAT COULD SAVE DOLLARS, THE $50,000 ON THE CURRICULUM. THEY COULD HELP WITH THE BUSINESS PANEL COST. THERE IS A THERE IS A MOTION. >>Jim Porter: CLEAR THE BOARD, PLEASE. THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO TABLE THIS UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING. THAT REQUIRES A SECOND. SO YOU SHOULD ASK IF THERE IS A SECOND TO THE MOTION. >>Karen Perez: IS THERE A SECOND FOR MEMBER HAHN'S MOTION? >>Jim Porter: THERE IS A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. WHAT THAT MEANS, BOARD MEMBERS, ALL YOU'RE DISCUSSING NOW IS -- CLEAR THE BOARD AGAIN, PLEASE -- ALL YOU ARE DISCUSSING NOW IS WHETHER THE ITEM SHOULD BE TABLED OR NOT. YOU MAY HAVE DEBATE ON THAT. NOT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CONTRACT, WHETHER YOU WANT TO HEAR IT TONIGHT OR HEAR IT IN THE FUTURE. >>Karen Perez: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING TABLING THIS ITEM FOR THE FUTURE? MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I CAN SPEAK ON WHY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD TABLE IT. >>Jim Porter: THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SPEAK ON, YES. >>Patti Rendon: IT KIND OF GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE COMMENTS THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY TONIGHT. I'M KIND OF IN BETWEEN WITH EVERYBODY. THERE ARE 17 BILLS RIGHT NOW AT OUR STATE LEGISLATURE FOR CTE PROGRAMS. OUR LEGISLATORS ARE PUTTING A TON OF TIME, ENERGY, AND FUNDING INTO CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MOU DOESN'T GIVE A LARGE ENOUGH SCOPE OF WHAT WE AS A DISTRICT ARE GOING TO DO WITH OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY INTO A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. AND THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN COMES IN. I'VE GOT TO LOOK AWAY I'VE GOT TO LOOK AWAY FROM AND LOOK AT THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF THIS. IF ENGLISH, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AFFECTING ENGLISH, BUT I HAVE A CONCERN THAT IT IS IN THE SENIOR ENGLISH AND WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THESE SKILLS PRIOR TO SENIOR YEAR. WHAT HAS THE DISTRICT DONE TO QUESTION WHERE THIS IS BEING PLAYED, WHERE ARE WE APPROACHING AND GETTING THIS OUT TO THE MOST STUDENTS SO THAT IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE ACADEMIC GAINS WE NEED TO MEASURE BUT YET IT REACHES ALL OF OUR STUDENTS? HOW ARE WE DOING THAT AS A DISTRICT? I DON'T THINK THIS ANSWERS THAT. I THINK IT PUTS AN ANGST ON OUR PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE TO MEET THOSE BENCHMARKS FOR GRADUATION. I THINK THAT IT HURTS THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE MET THE BENCHMARKS BY SENIOR YEAR AREN'T IN AN ENGLISH CLASS. THEY ARE DOING THE AP ENGLISH OR DOING THE DUAL ENROLLMENT ENGLISH OR IB ENGLISH AND NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS ADDRESSED IN THIS MOU. SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT SEEING THOSE PROGRAMS. SO I THINK WE AS A DISTRICT HAVE NOT GIVEN THIS NOT GIVEN THIS A BROAD ENOUGH SCOPE OF WHERE WE CAN INTEGRATE CTE-LIKE PROGRAMS LIKE CTE-LIKE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, WHERE WE ARE GIVING THE SOFT EDUCATION, WHERE WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, WHETHER SOPHOMORE YEAR OR JUNIOR YEAR AND THEN COME BACK WITH THOSE PANELS IN THE SENIOR YEAR WHERE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN COMES IN THAT WE'VE NOT WE'VE NOT REALLY VETTED THIS ENOUGH. WHERE AS A DISTRICT ARE WE COMMITTING TO COMMITTING TO CTE FOR THE MOST STUDENTS, NOT JUST OUR CERTIFICATE-BASED STUDENTS? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS. THAT'S WHAT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS. HAVE WE AS A DISTRICT LOOKED AT EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GOING EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT IT TO 200,000 STUDENTS, NOT JUST THAT. BECAUSE EVEN IN OUR ENGLISH STUDENTS, AS A SENIOR YEAR, WE'RE NOT APPROACHING THOSE KIDS. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE BROAD SCOPE OF THOSE STUDENTS. SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO GIVE THE MOST STUDENTS. THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN COMES IN. ONE OF THE THINGS, LIKE, WE'RE NOT MAKING THIS MANDATORY ANYMORE. THE FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID NOT MAKE THIS TYPE OF A PROGRAM MANDATORY IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, THOSE SCHOOLS DID NOT DID NOT PARTICIPATE. THEY DIDN'T. DIDN'T PARTICIPATE AT ALL. WASN'T UNTIL LAST YEAR THAT WE MANDATED THAT WE HAVE A CTE PROGRAM LIKE THIS IN ALL OUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT THEY ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED. I GO BACK AND ASK THE DISTRICT, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT EVERYTHING, AND ARE YOU PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE PROGRAM TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM THE BEST KNOWLEDGE AND THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES? AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS IT. THAT'S WHY I ASK THAT YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEM, BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TABLING OF IT I WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT. IF WE WERE TO TABLE THIS IF WE WERE TO TABLE THIS MOU, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE PROGRAM AS IS RIGHT NOW? I DID GO OUT ON A FIELD TRIP LAST WEEK. I KNOW SIGNING DAY IS COMING UP. DOES THAT AFFECT IT FOR NEXT YEAR? WHAT IS THE DATE THIS WOULD NEED TO BE APPROVED IN ORDER FOR IT NOT TO INTERRUPT THE FLOW OF WHAT'S ALREADY GOING ON WITH THE CURRICULUM? I WOULD LIKE THE DETAILS AROUND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >>Van Ayres: I WOULD WORK WITH MY STAFF AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO BRING THIS BACK AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON FEBRUARY 20. I WOULD BRING IT BACK RIGHT AWAY. WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THIS AND BRING THIS ITEM BACK AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT THE FUNDING WITH THE PROGRAM, I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER. BUT I WOULD BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. >>Jessica Vaughn: WHEN DOES THE CONTRACT START? MOU? >> AS SOON AS IT'S APPROVED OR IT PASSES THROUGH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S WHEN THE FUNDS ARE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY? >> WE'LL WORK ON THE FUNDS AS SOON AS SOON AS -- SOON AS -- YES. VAUGHN VAUGHN SINCE I HAVE SOME -- >>Jessica Vaughn: SINCE I HAVE SOME MORE TIME, CAN I GET MORE CLARITY FROM YOU, DR. HAHN, ON WHAT YOU WOULD BE EXPECTING BY TABLING IT AND HOPING TO SEE? IS IT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES? >>Stacy Hahn: THREE THINGS, FUNDING, TRANSPARENCY. IT'S THE IT'S THE ENGLISH COURSE, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH. AND THEN EXPANDING THE MOU TO BRING IN CAREER SOURCE TO FILL IN IN ANY GAPS AROUND TRAINING, DATA, SO FORTH. >>Van Ayres: THOSE ARE THREE THINGS I CAN BRING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. >>Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE TO SAY I REALLY DO LOVE THE IDEA OF PARTNERING WITH CareerSource. I THINK THAT IS AN UNTAPPED ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVEN'T WORKED WITH FULLY AND THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL. MY BIGGEST CONCERNS ALSO REVOLVE JUST AROUND THE DATA AS FAR AS HOW MANY STUDENTS FROM THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY OBTAIN JOBS. I KNOW SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO THAT. DO YOU FEEL DO YOU FEEL LIKE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS AND PROVIDE THAT DATA SO WE COULD SEE IT IN REAL TIME? IS THAT WHAT YOU HAD ORIGINALLY SAID? >>Stacy Hahn: YEAH, I DO BELIEVE THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BRING A HOLISTIC APPROACH. THEY COULD PROVIDE REAL-TIME INFORMATION ABOUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND THEN THEY COULD LET US KNOW THROUGH LET US KNOW THROUGH THEIR DATA INFRASTRUCTURE, AS KIDS ARE EXPLORING THEIR CAREERS THROUGH THE CAREER ACADEMY, HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY CONNECTING WITH JOBS, RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT IS JUST A BIGGER PICTURE. IT IS A IT IS A BIGGER SWING AT THE BALL. IT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE HELPING MOVE STUDENTS THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I JUST THINK THAT HAVING CareerSource WITH THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND THE DISTRICT RESOURCES, I MEAN, CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE THE POWER AND THE LEVERAGE BEHIND THAT PARTNERSHIP, THAT THREE-WAY, THAT IT WOULD BE AMAZING FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO THE SO THE RESOURCES. IT COULD PROBABLY HELP DECREASE SOME OF THE EXPENDITURES, EVEN ON WHAT I'M SEEING IN FRONT OF ME. THE BUDGET. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY A MISSED OPPORTUNITY IF IT'S NOT EXPLORED. AND THAT'S WHY I AM SUGGESTING IT. AND AND JUST THE PIECE ON MAKING THE OPPORTUNITIES MORE DIVERSE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. >>Jessica Vaughn: AGAIN, I'M SORRY TO ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS, BUT THIS CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, DO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE THREE THINGS THAT DR. HAHN HAS HIGHLIGHTED YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING BACK TO BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE? >>Van Ayres: WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK -- >>Jessica Vaughn: -- SHE COULD POSSIBLY SUPPORT THE AGENDA ITEM. >>Van Ayres: I'LL WORK WITH THE NUMBERS INDIVIDUALLY. THE THREE THINGS DR. HAHN JUST NAMED, WE CAN BRING BACK AND HAVE READY FOR THAT FEBRUARY 20th BOARD MEETING. JUST FOR CLARITY, THE ORIGINAL AGENDA ITEM WAS APPROVED DECEMBER OF 2022 IS WHEN THE BOARD APPROVED IT. AND WHAT WAS SET FORTH IN SOME OF THE DISCUSSION, THAT'S WHAT I THINK FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS, HOW TO GET IT TO ALL STUDENTS AND THAT'S WHERE ALL ENGLISH CLASSES CAME IN. THAT'S WHERE THAT POINT OF ENTRY WAS GOING TO BE TO ALL ENGLISH CLASSES. SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE HERE IN THIS MOA COMES TO THE POINT OF MAYBE IS THAT TOO MUCH TO HAVE IT IN EVERY ENGLISH CLASS? TAKING UP TOO MUCH OF THE CURRICULUM TO INCORPORATE OTHER CTE COURSES AS WELL AND GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO THE FLEXIBILITY TO THE SCHOOLS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS -- WHATEVER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT YOU WANT TO TAKE, I CAN SEE BOTH SIDES OF WE'RE SIDES OF WE'RE PUSHING IT TO TOO MANY AND INTERFERING WITH ENGLISH CLASSES AND AT THE SAME TIME HOW DO WE GET THE EXPOSURE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. >>Jessica Vaughn: AND I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. WE HAVE FINANCIAL LITERACY NOW THAT'S MANDATED BY THE STATE AS ONE OF OUR COURSES. IS THAT 9th GRADE OR WHAT GRADE IS THAT APPLICABLE, OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES? >> IT IS AN ELECTIVE SO MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HIGH SCHOOL. >>Jessica Vaughn: I THOUGHT
IT-WA S MANDATORY. THEY HAVE TO TAKE AT SOME POINT? >> YES. >>Jessica Vaughn: IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT THE GRADE LEVEL THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE. >> >> YES, MA'AM. >>Jessica Vaughn: I JUST WANT TO STATE I SUPPORT FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. I REALLY APPRECIATED MY EXPERIENCE THERE. I GOT TO SPEAK TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND SEE T TEACHERS AND SEE THE IMPACT. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT THE BARRIERS. SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT. AGAIN, IF TABLING THIS FOR NOW GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GET THAT MOTION WHERE YOU COULD EVENTUALLY SUPPORT THIS, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO IT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ON THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDO MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rend >>Patti Rendon: I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. SO WE'RE APPROVING FUNDING THAT WE'RE ALREADY USING? THAT'S WHERE MY CONFUSION COMES IN. THE FUNDING WE APPROVED LAST YEAR, WASN'T THAT FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR OR WE'RE NOW APPROVING FUNDING WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY USED IT? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. >>Van Ayres: WE HAVE NOT USED ANY FUNDING OUT OF WORKFORCE FOR ANY FCA. THIS IS ALL NEW FUNDING HERE. SO IT WAS APPROVED DECEMBER OF 2022. SO THAT 150,000 THAT WAS APPROV APPROVED DECEMBER 2022 WAS FOR ONE YEAR. NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT T NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT TO WHERE THE FUNDS THAT WAS UTILIZED FR THE FUNDS THAT WAS UTILIZED FROM DECEMBER 2022 TO NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS TIME TO RE-UP. >>Patti Rendon: WE'RE NOT BALANCING OUT WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE'RE NOT APPROVING FOR A SCHOOL YEAR. SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE. >>Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. IF YOU REMEMBER -- YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT BECAUSE DECEMBER IS WHEN, BECAUSE IT WAS AN INITIAL 150,000 IN DECEMBER OF 2022 THAT IT WAS APPROVED. YEAH, WE'RE KIND OF MID SCHOOL YEAR. YES, MA'AM. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS. I THINK WE DO HAVE TO SEE WHERE IS IT LEADING TO, WHAT JOBS ARE THEY LEADING THEY LEADING TO AND WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A YEAR OR TWO TO LOOK AT THAT. WHEN YOU SEE ALL THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH, IT'S VERY HARD TO MEASURE AFTER THEY GRADUATE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. BY LAW, EVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAS TO HAVE A CAREER FAIR. HAS TO HAVE A CAREER DAY. THIS IS THAT ON EXTRA STEROIDS. IT'S NOT JUST GIVING A CHILD A DAY TO WALK THROUGH DAY TO WALK THROUGH AN AUDITORIUM AND SEE WHAT OPTIONS ARE OPEN. IT'S ALLOWING STUDENTS TO REALLY DELVE IN DEEP AND SEE WHAT'S UP THERE WITH THE BUSINESS FAIRS, TO LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE A $4.2 BILLION ORGANIZATION. AND OUR SENIORS THAT DON'T GO TO COLLEGE OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE LEFT NOT REALLY WITH A FUTURE. THE IDEA THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TABLE SOMETHING TABLE SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THOUSANDS, EVERY SENIOR, AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ENGLISH CLASS, I'VE LOOKED AT THE CURRICULUM. I SPENT TIME LOOKING AT THE CURRICULUM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M ALSO ON THE CAREER SOURCE, THE NEW CONSORTIUM. SO I'M INTERESTED IN ALL OF THOSE GROUPS GETTING TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY IMPACTING SENIORS, THAT'S HELPING SENIORS, AND TO TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT THE CURRICULUM, TO SEE THAT OR GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND TALK TO THE TEACHERS ABOUT THE TEACHERS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ENGLISH CURRICULUM AND HOW THEY HAVE MODIFIED THAT. OR GO TO ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL AND SEE 170 OF THEIR SENIORS WENT THROUGH AND ALL OF THEM CAME BACK VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE AND JOBS IN THE NORTHWEST TAMPA, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE TAMPA, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE A $4.2 BILLION ORGANIZATION, I SEE THINGS COMING ACROSS EVERY DAY HERE THAT DON'T IMPACT STUDENTS AS DIRECTLY. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO SAY, HEY, THIS CHILD TOOK A JOB AT AMAZON OR THIS PERSON IS WORKING WITH THIS COMPANY. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A YEAR OR TWO, TWO, BUT LEGALLY WE HAVE TO HAVE -- STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE A CAREER FAIR. THIS NOT JUST HAS A CAREER FAIR, YOU HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS COMING OUT IN A PANEL AND TALKING TO EVERY SINGLE SENIOR, TALKING ABOUT TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THEN SECONDARY, THEN YOU HAVE SENIORS GOING OUT TWO, THREE DIFFERENT JOBS, LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND ASKING QUESTIONS AND SEEING WHAT'S AROUND THEIR AREA WHERE THEY LIVE. I'M NOT TAKING THEM ALL THE WAY TO PLANT CITY. NORTHWEST TAMPA, A LOT OF THE STUDENTS I HAD NO IDEA THAT THESE BUSINESSES AND THESE OPPORTUNITIES. AND EVERY COMPANY WE WENT TO WAS HIRING LIKE 20 TO 40 PEOPLE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S CONNECTING THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND THEN AND THEN FINALLY, TO HAVE SUCH A HUGE JOB FAIR. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY, CareerSource ABSOLUTELY, CareerSource ANDAL ALL OF THESE. CHRIS JARGO AND SCOTT BROOKS WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND THEY KNOW HOW GREAT IT IS GREAT IT IS FOR STUDENTS. WE SHOULD BE TALKING WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO THEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW IT IMPACTS STUDENTS IN THE RIGHT WAY AND IMPACTS THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO TRADITIONAL COLLEGE. SO THE IDEA OF TABLING SOMETHING THAT THESE PEOPLE, NO, THERE WASN'T $2 MILLION. THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY STATE APPROPRIATIONS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CEO IS WORKING PRETTY MUCH FOR FREE. EVERYBODY IS WORKING FOR FREE. SO LET'S LOOK AT THOSE DETAILS. BUT THE IDEA OF TRYING TO TABLE SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS, THAT HELPS OUR TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO COLLEGE, I ACTUALLY -- I THINK IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE. IF WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE DATA, SAYING, HEY, LET'S SEE MORE DATA, BUT I CAN SHOW YOU ALMOST EVERY -- IN FACT, EVEN THE TUTORING THAT WE PULLED TUTORING THAT WE PULLED TODAY, $323,000 THAT WE PASSED TODAY, PROBABLY DOES NOT IMPACT AS MANY STUDENTS AS HAVING A JOB AND A TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL PROGRAM. I DEFINITELY DON'T AGREE IN TABLING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. I'D LOVE TO SEE ANYONE WHO WOULD GO AGAINST IT TO SHOW ME THAT YOU SPENT TIME GOING TO THE FIELD TRIPS FROM BEGINNING TO END OR THAT YOU EVEN LOOKED AT THE CURRICULUM. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: OH, BOY. YEAH, I WASN'T PREPARED FOR YEAH, I WASN'T PREPARED FOR ANY DISSIDENCE ON THIS ISSUE AT ALL. I LOOKED AT THE FULL AUDITORIUMS AND I LOOK AT THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS HOW STUDENTS ARE MOTIVATED TO NOT ONLY FIND OUT THIS IS THE KIND OF JOB I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AND 50% OF THE LOVE TO HAVE AND 50% OF THE KIDS BEFORE AND AFTER ARE BEFORE AND AFTER ARE MOTIVATED. THEY KNOW WHAT JOB THEY ARE INTERESTED INTERESTED IN, 49.27 PERCENT. I PLAN TO FIND A JOB IN MY COMMUNITY AFTER I COMMUNITY AFTER I GRADUATE. 52.49 PERCENT, THESE KIDS 52.49 PERCENT, THESE KIDS ARE MOTIVATED BEYOND A SMALL PORTION. THEY ARE MOTIVATED TO NOT ONLY STAY IN STAY IN SCHOOL BUT TO LEARN A SKILL. I HAVE NOT EVER SEEN ANYTHING SO SUCCESSFUL AS THIS CAREER ACADEMY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL WITH A MEANINGFUL DESTINATION OF -- YOU KNOW, THE BRAIN SKILLS THAT REALLY DEVELOP A CHILD. I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD EVEN BE QUESTIONED. AND LIKEWISE, MY FIRST COMMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE. WE'RE GOING WE'RE GOING TO BUILD, OPEN WE'RE GOING TO BUILD, OPEN BY 2025 IN PLANT CITY. BY STINGRAY. A SCHOOL IN A SEPARATE RING FOR VOCATIONAL TECH. AND THEN PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL, WE'RE PLANNING ON ALSO. SO THE NEED FOR SO THE NEED FOR VOCATIONAL TECH, WE ARE WE ARE HAVING THE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STUDENTS. NOW, POINT TAKEN. THERE WAS THERE WAS A MENTION OF THE SCOPE, HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAY A SCOPE THAT INVOLVES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EMPLOYERS, BUSINESS AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, TRAINING PARTNERS, INDIVIDUALS, FIELD TRIPS, THE SCOPE IS UNCANNY. ENGLISH -- CAME UP WITH THE ENGLISH TIE IN, THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO, WHICH IS LOGICAL, BUT ON THE PAPER ON THE PAPER HERE, THE ATTACHMENT A IT SAYS IT'S OPTIONAL. TRULY, NO ONE IS SAYING YOU HAVE TO TEACH THIS IN AN ENGLISH CLASS. CLEARLY SAYS IT'S OPTIONAL. I COULD BE WRONG BUT READING IT, IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CURRICULUM WITHIN ANY CURRICULUM WITHIN ANY ENGLISH CLASSROOM WILL BE OPTIONAL. SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? WE'RE NOT MAKING THEM. ANYWAY, I'M ANYWAY, I'M DISAPPOINTED FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT. MUCH MORE MUCH MORE PREPARED FOR THE LEGISLATIVE, THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON, SOME OF THOSE BLANKS I SURELY HAVE. BUT MY GOODNESS, JUST KEEPING OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL, KEEPING THEM EXCITED, GIVING THEM THE HOPE OF A WONDERFUL JOB CAREER, HOW CAN WE NOT SAY YES WE NOT SAY YES TO THIS? ANYWAY, THAT'S ENOUGH SAID FOR ME. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. HOW ARE WE GOING TO CAPTURE THIS DATA? BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT. SO WE MUST DO SOMETHING QUICKLY. SO MY QUESTION, HOW ARE WE GOING TO CAPTURE THE DATA? >> ONE NEW THING IS THE DATA SHARING AGREEMENT, SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY TRY TO GATHER DATA POINTS AROUND HOW THEY CAN MEASURE THAT SUCCESS. WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE LEARNING HOW THAT HAPPENS BUT THEY NEVER HAD A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT TO ACTUALLY GO ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING CAPTURING THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS ATTENDING THE EVENTS AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE HIRED FOR FUTURE PURPOSES TO ACTUALLY GET THAT MEASUREMENT OF SUCCESS. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY BUST OUR BUNS TO GET DATA BECAUSE PEOPLE GOT JOBS. WE DON'T KNOW THAT. SOME OF THE THINGS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW. >> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHY THE DATA SHARING AGREEMENT IS NEW THERE AND PROVIDES THE ANGLE TO TRY TO GATHER THE DATA SO WE CAN MEASURE AND SEE HOW STUDENTS ARE GETTING HIRED, WHAT COMPANIES ARE GETTING INVOLVED AND SO ON SO WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THAT? >> THE TIMELINE IS WHEN EVERYTHING, IF IT GOES THROUGH, ABSOLUTELY THEN THE DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WILL HAPPEN AND THEN STRATEGIZE WITH FCA AROUND HOW THAT WILL WORK AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF SUPPORT OF CTE WORKFORCE, SCOTT BROOKS AND CHRIS JARGO. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE THAT BEFORE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING? >> I CANNOT ASSURE WE'LL HAVE IT BY THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THAT IS A HELL -- EXCUSE ME, OF TIME. >> I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE IT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE MOA, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH FIRST SO WE CAN PROVIDE THE DATA FOR THEM. AS WE GO THROUGH IT TO SEE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET DATA BASED ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ALREADY. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. SO THE EXPECTATION IS NOT TO HAVE DATA IN TWO WEEKS. THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE TO COLLECT DATA MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HAVE THIS HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF DATA WE WANT WHEN THIS COMES TO THE DAIS, THERE ARE PROMISES AND THEN IT COMES BACK A YEAR LATER AND THERE'S NO DATA. THAT'S WHERE THE CareerSource CAN COME IN. I DON'T WANT EXPECT I DON'T WANT EXPECT DATA IN TWO WEEKS. AND THE DATA SHARE AGREEMENT, WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AGENDA ITEM, I'LL DISCUSS THAT. BUT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE A DATA SHARE AGREEMENT, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT DATA YOU'RE SHARING OR WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO COLLECT IS CONCERNING AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION WHEN THIS GOES BACK TO THE AGENDA AGENDA ITEM. WE'RE NOT SAYING THIS PROGRAM ISN'T VALUABLE AND ISN'T VALUABLE AND IT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE. TABLING IT FOR TWO WEEKS IS SAYING, ONE, SAYING, ONE, I WANT SOME CONSIDERATION AROUND HAVING IT EMBEDDED IN THE ENGLISH COURSE. THE CURRICULUM DOESN'T CURRENTLY EVEN ALIGN WITH STATE STANDARDS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD SO THAT EVEN NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON. I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO BE DONE IN TWO WEEKS. WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR BY TABLING IT FOR TWO WEEKS IS TO PUT -- CONSIDER A LARGER CONSIDER A LARGER MOU PARTNERSHIP, BRINGING CareerSource IN TO HELP COLLECT SOME OF THAT WORKFORCE DATA SO THAT NEXT YEAR WHEN IT COMES WE HAVE IT. AND HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AROUND THE AROUND THE ENGLISH AROUND THE ENGLISH COURSES AND THE FISCAL TRANSPARENCY. WHAT OTHER REVENUE STREAMS, SO WE KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THIS BUDGET ARE BUDGET ARE WE INVESTING IN. IF THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS GIVING A HALF A MILLION AND THEY ARE GETTING REVENUE FROM SPONSORS OR TABLE SPONSORS FROM BUSINESSES, WHAT BUSINESSES, WHAT PORTION OF THIS IS -- WHAT PORTION OF OUR INVESTMENT IS IT OF THE BUDGET, OF THE OVERALL OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. I HAD THE SAME QUESTION LAST YEAR WHEN THE COUNTY COMMISSION GAVE THE MONEY. I THINK THOSE ARE VALID QUESTIONS TO ASK AND I DON'T THINK TWO WEEKS THINK TWO WEEKS IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO HAVE THEM ANSWERED. BUT IF THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ALL AGREE UPON, THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD FEELS, I WILL RESPECT THAT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. THANK THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: I KEEP GETTING OUT OF THE QUEUE AND PUTTING MYSELF LAST. I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK MY QUESTIONS. HOW LONG HAS CAREER ACADEMIES BEEN A PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS? >>Van Ayres: >>Van Ayres: SO 2020-2021 >>Van Ayres: SO 2020-2021 -- MR. BROOKS, COME ON BROOKS, COME ON UP. I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK ON THE DATE. BUT I KNOW FCA HAS WORKED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BEEN A PARTNER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. FINANCIALLY I FINANCIALLY I KNOW THAT 59,000 IN 2021, DECEMBER 22 WAS THE 150,000 THE BOARD APPROVED. EXACT DATES OF THE PARTNERSHIP? >> IT'S BEEN OVER TEN YEARS. STARTED OVER TEN YEARS AND THEN SLOWLY AT THAT POINT I KNOW IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF SMALL SCHOOLS IN PLANT CITY AND THEN WE IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT EXPANDING IN EAST TAMPA. IT WAS THE FLEX COHORT WE LOOKED AT. IT WAS A BIG LIFT AND WE WENT TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY. IT'S BEEN OVER TEN YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. >>Karen Perez: OKAY. BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONS, AND THE SURVEY QUESTION SAYS GOOD JOBS AVAILABLE IN MY COMMUNITY. I KNOW WHAT KIND OF JOB I'M INTERESTED IN. I PLAN TO FIND A I PLAN TO FIND A JOB IN MY COMMUNITY AFTER I GRADUATE. THERE ARE GREAT THERE ARE GREAT COMPANIES IN MY COMMUNITY. MY COMMUNITY HAS JOBS AVAILABLE THAT I'M INTERESTED IN. BUT NONE OF THESE BUT NONE OF THESE SURVEY QUESTIONS ANSWER WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN SELECTED FOR A JOB OR HOW MANY COMPANIES MANY COMPANIES HAVE SELECTED OUR STUDENTS FOR JOBS. AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF STUDENTS SELECTED FOR JOBS. OR THEY HAVE SECURED EMPLOYMENT BASED ON ATTENDING THE FIELD TRIP THAT THEY CAN START AFTER GRADUATION. IF I'M NOT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I BELIEVE THAT'S SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I HEAR. BECAUSE EVEN THEN AFTER THEY LEAVE SCHOOL AND GRADUATE OR IF THEY DROP OUT OF SCHOOL, I'M NOT SURE AT LEAST FROM THE DATA THAT I HAVE I HAVE HERE THAT I HAVE HERE THAT THEY ARE SECURING EMPLOYMENT BASED ON FUTURE CAREER ACADEMIES. AND THE COMPANIES THAT THEY AND THE COMPANIES THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH, IF THE WORKING WITH, IF THE STUDENTS HAVE SECURED EMPLOYMENT, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THESE COMPANIES? DO WE CONTINUE GOING BACK TO THE COMPANIES THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT SECURING EMPLOYMENT WITH AND MAYBE DROPPING THEM OFF AND ADDING OTHER COMPANIES ON? WHAT DOES THAT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THE PERCENTAGE LOOK LIKE WHEN WE'RE LIKE WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THESE COMPANIES? DO WE CONTINUE GOING TO COMPANIES THAT SHOW UP BUT THEN DON'T HIRE OUR STUDENTS? I WOULD LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL WITH THIS, WITH THIS, BUT WITH THIS, BUT IF WE CAN SECURE THE SURVEY RESULTS TALKING ABOUT GOOD JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SURVEY RESULTS TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE SECURED EMPLOYMENT AND WHICH COMPANIES HAVE MADE JOBS READILY AVAILABLE FOR THE STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I THINK SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ASKED WHEN YOU GO TO THE COMPANIES AND YOU ASK FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO CLARIFY. FIRST OF ALL, THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE STATE REQUEST WAS $1 MILLION, NOT 2. AND ALSO, THERE'S ALREADY THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY IS ALREADY WORKING WITH CareerSource TOGETHER. AS I SAID, AND THAT'S AS I SAID, AND THAT'S TRUE. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU, BECAUSE I THINK WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS LIKE IT'S COMING FROM GENERAL DOLLARS. IT'S ACTUALLY COMING FROM WORKFORCE FUNDS. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HOW MANY CERTIFICATES AND HOW MANY, ALL THE APPRENTICESHIPS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS DOING. SO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, MR. BROOKS, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM IS? DO YOU THINK IT'S DO YOU THINK IT'S VALUABLE? DO YOU THINK IT'S COMING FROM YOUR WORKFORCE FUNDS? I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU BECAUSE I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE PEOPLE HAVE THIS THOUGHT OR THIS PROCESS. IT SHOULDN'T BE AN ENGLISH CLASS. SHOULD BE THIS. BUT THEY ARE NOT ON THE GROUND GOING THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS, EXPERIENCING THAT, AND I KNOW FOR THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND VERY INVOLVED NOW WITH CareerSource AND VERY INVOLVED WITH THE TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT OVERALL. >> YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. WE LOOK AT THIS AS A GREAT INVESTMENT. WHEN WE LOOK AT COMPANIES LIKE MOFFITT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PUBLIX, MOSAIC, BAY CARE, AND WHEN YOU'VE SEEN THAT THEY PUT THEIR MONEY, THEY STEPPED FORWARD AND BEEN A PART OF THIS, TO US WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE A PARTNER INVESTING WITH THEM. THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN LIFT THERE. THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO THIS ON OUR OWN, ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T HAVE THE STAFF. NOBODY ON OUR TEAM DOES. THAT'S WHY WHEN THIS THING FIRST WAS BIRTHED IT STARTED OUT AS THE NONPROFIT AND WE WERE ALLOWING THEM TO WORK WITH THE COMPANY. SO WE ARE ONE OF THE INVESTORS. HCC, THERE ARE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE THAT HAVE ALL PUT THEIR DOLLARS. CareerSource, WE WORKED WITH THEM FROM DAY ONE. I HAVE SERVED ON CAREERSOURCE'S BOARD FOR 15 YEARS MAYBE. SO THEY HAVE BEEN A PART A LONG TIME WITH US. ONE OF THE THINGS A ONE OF THE THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, THEY ARE USED TO DEALING WITH ADULTS. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH MINORS. ONE OF THE THINGS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE DATA SHARING GETS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A STICKING POINT SOMETIMES IS THEY LIKE THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS OF OUR MINORS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT DATA, PUT INTO EMPLOY FLORIDA AND DO SOME OF THAT. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY HESITANT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH STUDENTS, FOLKS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY UNDER 18 AND A LOT OF INSTANCES THAT ARE JUST GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND GOING INTO THE WORLD OF WORK. GETTING THAT DATA IS A LITTLE TRICKY WITH THOSE FOLKS. CareerSource NORMALLY WOULD DEAL WITH A LOT OF ADULTS AND THAT'S REALLY THEIR WHEEL HOUSE AND VERY GOOD WORKING WITH THAT. I DON'T MEAN TO BELABOR IT. FOR US, WE FEEL LIKE FOR US, WE FEEL LIKE THE 150,000, SO MANY OF THESE STUDENTS GO AND MEET WITH THE COMPANIES AND THE COMPANIES TELL THEM GET YOUR CNA AND WE'LL HIRE YOU. OR WE'LL HIRE YOU TODAY IN THIS JOB OR GET YOUR CNA, JOB OR GET YOUR CNA, LPN OR ANOTHER LICENSE, WE'LL PAY YOU MORE. YEAH, WE'LL HIRE YOU TO WORK ON THE SHOP FLOOR OR PARTS WAREHOUSE, GET THIS WE'LL WAREHOUSE, GET THIS WE'LL HIRE YOU AT A MUCH HIGHER WAGE. IT IS A WAY TO RECRUIT STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. HUNDRED PERCENT WHY WE SPEND THE MONEY, WHAT WE INVEST IN AND WHY WE GET THE ROI. HCC I THINK HCC I THINK IF YOU ASK THEM HAVE A VERY SIMILAR MINDSET THE WAY THAT THEY DO THAT. FOR US IT'S A MATTER OF THIS IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE WE NEED. THIS IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE WE LOOK FOR IN OUR APPRENTICESHIPS AND OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES. SO FOR US, PUTTING THESE DOLLARS HERE PROBABLY MAKES THE MOST MARKETING SENSE FOR US. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. AS I WAS GOING TO SAY, I USUALLY TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED EVEN THAT WE'RE HAVING -- I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO REALLY DIG IN DEEP AND LOOK AT THAT AND SEE, TALKING TO YOU, I HAD A VERY LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU FOR THREE YEARS AND GOING OUT AND SEEING THIS. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WORKFORCE DOLLARS THAT ARE IMPACTING ALL THESE SENIORS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN ESPECIALLY BRIGHT FUTURE AND THEN SAYING, NOT ONLY THAT, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE CREATED WITH THESE COMPANIES, WITH THESE BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HIRED THIS YEAR, FOR YEAR, FOR $150,000 FOR $4.2 BILLION ORGANIZATION, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU COME BACK IN A WEEK. I THINK IT SHOULD BE LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT MORE OF. WE WANT MORE DETAILS. WE WANT MORE THIS. LET'S CONTINUE WORKING WITH CareerSource, BUT TO TABLE SOMETHING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING IMPACTED ON EVERY DAY THEY GO OUT THERE, I CAN TELL YOU THE IDEA IDEA OF JUST HAVING, GOING OUT AND AND HAVING A CAREER EVENT IN AN AUDITORIUM, IN A SCHOOL DOES NOT IMPACT STUDENTS THE WAY THIS IS IMPACTING STUDENTS. I THINK EVERY BOARD MEMBER NEEDS TO GO OUT TO SOME SENIORS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OR TALKED TO SOME SENIORS AFTERWARDS AND FIND OUT HOW IT'S IMPACTED THEM AND HOW IT IMPACTED THEM AND HOW IT IMPACTS ALSO OUR PARTNERSHIPS, LIKE ST. JOE'S, BAY ST. JOE'S, BAY CARE, EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL, MOSAIC, THEY ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'RE BRINGING AND NOT LIKE WE MENTIONED, THE BIGGEST THING THAT I FOUND WAS A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT WE HAD IN OUR OWN SCHOOLS UNTIL THEY ATTENDED SOME OF THESE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. I HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS SAY THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR WE HAD ANY KIND OF PROGRAM OR ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, LOOKING AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE OUR TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO INCREASE AND THIS ALLOWS THAT INCREASE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I JUST THINK I'M GLAD EVERY PENNY COUNTS. $150,000. FROM WORKFORCE. IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF GENERAL FUND. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US FOR MANY WITH US FOR MANY YEARS. CHRIS JARGO AND SCOTT BROOKS WHO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THEY THINK THIS PROGRAM IS GREAT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR A WEEK. I AM SO I AM SO THANKFUL FOR FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. I THINK IT HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON SO MANY STUDENTS. SOME SCHOOLS LIKE STEINBRENNER OR PLANT HIGH SCHOOL WHERE KIDS AREN'T GOING TO THAT COLLEGE AND THEY SIT THERE AT GRADUATION AND HAVE A FEAR AND THEN THINK, WOW, I CAN GO TO I CAN GO TO MOSAIC AND WORK FOR THEM OR THEM OR GO DOWN TO THE WATER WORKS OR WORK FOR PARKS WORKS OR WORK FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPEN TO THOSE STUDENTS. SO I HAVE A HARD TIME. I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO TABLE IT. I'D LIKE TO VOTE FOR THIS TODAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE WANT MORE DATA TO TRACK THE STUDENTS, EVEN THOUGH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PRIVACY DATA AND AS I SAID, CareerSource IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. YOU'RE LOOKING AT BEING AGED OUT THERE FROM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME SUMMER PROGRAMS BUT REALLY IT'S AN ADULT PROGRAM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONFUSION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. I FEEL LIKE IT WILL EXPAND THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE WILL WONDER WHY WE'RE HESITANT TO CONTINUE SUCH A GREAT PATH FOR OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN A COMMENT. FIRST OF ALL, THE TEACHERS OPT INTO THIS CURRICULUM, NOT THE STUDENTS, IS THAT STUDENTS, IS THAT CORRECT? THE PRINCIPAL. SO IT'S NOT STUDENT SO IT'S NOT STUDENT DRIVEN AS FAR AS WE AREN'T IDENTIFYING STUDENTS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY COLLEGEBOUND AND MATCHING THEM TO THIS PROGRAM. THE PRINCIPAL IDENTIFIES IT. >>Van Ayres: RIGHT NOW IT'S IN ALL ENGLISH ALL ENGLISH CLASSES. THAT'S TO ATTEMPT TO HIT ALL STUDENTS IN ALL OF OUR ENGLISH CLASSES. CORRECT, MR. BROOKS? RIGHT NOW. THAT'S MOVING FORWARD IS OPTIONAL. RIGHT NOW IT'S IN ALL OF OUR ENGLISH CLASSES. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. BUT I GUESS MY POINT IS, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT MATCHING STUDENTS WHO WERE CONCERNED MIGHT NOT BE COLLEGEBOUND OR WHO MIGHT HAVE INTEREST FOR WORKFORCE SPECIFICALLY. THIS IS A VARIATION OF STUDENTS. SOME STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE A CAREER TO GO TO COLLEGE WHO ARE IN THIS PROGRAM AND EXPERIENCING THIS. IT'S A VARIETY OF STUDENTS. THAT'S THE CLARITY I'M TRYING TO GET. >>Van Ayres: GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THIS IS MORE ABOUT EXPOSURE, EXPOSING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO WHAT POTENTIAL WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE. MR. BROOKS, DID YOU WANT TO ADD DETAILS? >>Warren Brooks: YOU ARE SPOT ON. ALL THE SOFT SKILLS AND THINGS WE DO THROUGH THE CURRICULUM IS EXPOSED TO ALL THE STUDENTS. WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIELD TRIPS AND ALL THE OTHER EVENTS, THOSE STUDENTS ARE THE ONES CHOOSING TO DO THAT. WE'RE NOT PICKING A LIST OR THEY ARE NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN'T, THAT KIND OF STUFF. THE STUDENTS ARE OPTING IN. THEY ARE CHOOSING TO BE A PART OF THAT AND THEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH AND THEY ARE THE ONES TAKING ADVANTAGES OF THE FIELD TRIPS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. BECAUSE I DID SPEAK TO SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO WERE IDENTIFIED THEY WERE GOING THROUGH COLLEGE. AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT YOU BROUGHT THEM GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY FOR COLLEGE EVEN IF THEY ARE COLLEGEBOUND. NOT ALL OF THESE STUDENTS, THIS IS NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS WHO AREN'T COLLEGEBOUND. THIS IS NOT SOME NECESSARILY ONLY LIFE-IMPACTING THING FOR STUDENTS WHO AREN'T COLLEGEBOUND. IF WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND NOT JUST THE ONES NECESSARILY ON THAT TRACK FOR COLLEGE. I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE CONFUSING COMMENTS FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. SECONDLY, WHILE I APPRECIATE THE IMPACT AND I DO SEE THE IMPACT FIRSTHAND. AGAIN, I JUST WENT. I SPOKE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, THIS PROGRAM HAS AN IMPACT THAT'S IMPORTANT. NONE OF MY QUESTIONS ARE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS VALUE. BUT I DID ASK FOR DATA LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID THIS. AND THAT GAVE AN ENTIRE YEAR TO GET THE DATA SHARE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEEDED. AND WHETHER THAT'S AN ISSUE ON OUR END BECAUSE WE ASKED FOR IT COLLECTIVELY AS A BOARD AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THROUGH THE DISTRICT, WE DIDN'T PUT IN PLACE WHAT WE NEEDED TO WHAT WE NEEDED TO ALLOW THAT OR WHETHER THAT IS A DEFICIENCY SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT WHEN WE TALKED THAT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, WE SAID WE VALUE THIS, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO SEE AS FAR AS IMPACT IS HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTING OR GETTING OR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE JOBS. AND THE FACT THAT IT'S A YEAR LATER AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION FOR DATA SHARE AGREEMENTS OR WHATEVER IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND A RED FLAG. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S AND I DON'T THINK IT'S UNFAIR FOR BOARD MEMBERS WHO OUR JOB IS TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO WANT TO HAVE THAT DATA. WE TALK ABOUT DATA AND WE ASK FOR CHARTS AND GRAPHS AND INFORMATION FOR ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DECISION THAT WE MAKE, WHETHER IT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND OR NOT, WHETHER IT'S A BIG EXPENSE OR WHETHER IT'S A SMALL EXPENSE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I VALUE FROM THIS BOARD IS THAT WE HAPPEN TO BE DATA DRIVEN.  AND WHY I APPRECIATE THE FACT OF BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND TALK TO STUDENTS, THAT'S NOT HOW I WANT TO MAKE MY DECISIONS FROM THE DAIS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE REAL-TIME NUMBERS OF HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT JOB. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IF IT'S NOT A HIGH NUMBER IT DOESN'T HAVE VALUE BECAUSE I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE EXPOSURE IN GENERAL AND EVEN IF OUR GENERAL AND EVEN IF OUR STUDENTS DON'T NECESSARILY MATRICULATE INTO THOSE JOBS IMMEDIATELY, MAYBE THEY COME BACK IN FIVE YEARS. MAYBE THEY JUST KNOW ABOUT IT. I WAS UNBELIEVABLY IMPRESSED BY ONE OF OUR DISTRICT PEOPLE ONE OF OUR DISTRICT PEOPLE CTE -- DIDN'T GET HIS NAME -- HOW HE CONNECTED WITH STUDENTS, GOT THEM A FOLDER AND GOT THEM ON THE RADAR. IT'S NOT UNFAIR FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO WANT HARD DATA WHEN WE ASKED FOR IT THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THE FIRST THING. THE SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WITH THIS CURRICULUM AND ENGLISH CLASSES IS IT 20 PERCENT OF THE ENGLISH CURRICULUM? 20%? >>Van Ayres: WHAT PERCENT? >> TYPICALLY ONE DAY A WEEK THAT TEACHERS HAVE THE OPTION. YES, ABOUT 20%. >>Jessica Vaughn: MY QUESTION WOULD BE AND WE DIDN'T ASK THIS LAST TIME, WHATEVER WAY THIS GOES, I ANTICIPATE THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO COME BACK TO US AT SOME POINT, WOULD BE OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THIS PROGRAM, WHAT ARE THEIR ELA SCORES, FAST SCORES IN COMPARISON TO STUDENTS WHO AREN'T IN THIS PROGRAM? WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND IMPACT, NOT JUST ABOUT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING JOBS, BUT ARE THESE COURSES HELPING OUR ELA SCORES? ARE THE SOFT SKILLS HELPING OUR STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROFICIENCY OR IS THIS TIME A DEFICIT? THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EMBEDDING THINGS IN OUR CURRICULUM AND MAKING CURRICULUM AND MAKING DECISIONS. I HAVEN'T ASKED FOR THAT PREVIOUSLY. WHICHEVER WAY THIS GOES, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR THAT GOING FORWARD SO WE CAN SEE IF THIS HAS AN IMPACT ON THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS SINCE WE'RE EMBEDDING THIS INTO OUR ELA. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: YEAH, MEMBER COMBS, YOU'VE MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT I HOPE YOU'VE GONE OUT AND SEEN IT. I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND IN FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND I'M 100% PROVIDING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS FOR CTEs. SO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR THAT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION THAT THERE ARE 17 BILLS OUT THERE THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATING TO THAT. I JUST AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IS IT OUR SCHOOLS AND IS IT ENOUGH? IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT IS REACHING KIDS THAT ARE NOT IN REACHING KIDS THAT ARE NOT IN A CERTIFICATE BASED PROGRAM, CORRECT? AND, QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED IN 1920 SCHOOL YEAR, IT WAS TO GO TO FOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF PLANT CITY. AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT, IT NEVER REQUIREMENT, IT NEVER DID. MY KIDS GRADUATED IN '20 AND NEVER EVEN KNEW THE PROGRAM EXISTED. THOSE KIDS THAT NEEDED JOBS TO GO THROUGH COLLEGE, THOSE KIDS THAT NEEDED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, THOSE KIDS THAT NEEDED EXPANSION NEEDED EXPANSION OUTSIDE THEIR OWN FAMILY SCOPE NEVER KNEW IT. MY CONCERNS ARE COMING IN FROM THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A PROGRAM THAT I'M NOT SURE MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT. I'M NOT SURE IT GIVES THE FULL SCOPE. I HAVE THE CONCERNS THAT MEMBER HAHN DOES ABOUT HAHN DOES ABOUT ENGLISH IN OUR SENIORS. MAJORITY OF SENIORS MAJORITY OF SENIORS THAT ARE TAKING SENIOR TAKING SENIOR ENGLISH THAT ARE NEEDING IT AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION HAVE OTHER GRADUATION HAVE OTHER BENCHMARKS THEY NEED TO MAKE AND THAT'S WHERE OUR PRINCIPALS ARE COMING BACK HAVING AN ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S TIME AWAY FROM THAT BENCHMARK THAT IF THEY DON'T GET THERE, THEY MAY NOT GET THAT CAREER. AND SO WE NEED TO FIND A WAY WITHIN OUR WITHIN OUR DISTRICT TO DO BOTH. PROVIDE THAT ACADEMIC RIGOR AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. BUT MY CONCERN IS THIS IS NOT ENOUGH, AND WE'RE INTERFERING WITH THAT FINAL STEP FOR OUR SENIORS. SO I APPLAUD US FOR DOING THIS. I JUST WANT OUR DISTRICT TO LOOK AT OPTIONS. LOOK AT SOPHOMORE YEAR, LOOK AT SOPHOMORE YEAR, LOOK AT JUNIOR YEAR. LOOK AT IT, AGAIN, LIKE OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM, PULLING IT INTO ALL OF THE CLASSES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS. I DON'T THINK THIS DOES ENOUGH TO GIVE ENOUGH TO OUR STUDENTS. I DON'T WANT TO ELIMINATE IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING ENOUGH. AND WE'RE NOT AS A DISTRICT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. YES, I HAVE BEEN AT FUTURE CAREER ACADEMIES AND I CAREER ACADEMIES AND I DO SUPPORT A LOT OF WHAT THEY DO BUT THIS IS HAND TYING THEM. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE BUY-IN FROM PRINCIPALS IF THEY HAVE HAVE TO CHOOSES GRADUATION WRITES OVER RESUME BUILDING. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT. WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROVIDE BOTH TO OUR STUDENTS? SO IF WE SO IF WE NEED TIME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE DISTRICT TO LOOK AT IT, I WANT THEM TO HAVE TIME TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER CHAIR PEREZ. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION. >>Jim Porter: PLEASE CLEAR THE BOARD. CALL THE QUESTION IS A PRIVILEGED MOTION. IT REQUIRES A SECOND BEFORE IT CAN GO FURTHER. THERE IS A SECOND. THERE'S NO DEBATE ON THIS. CLEAR THE BOARD AGAIN. THE GET THE LIGHTS READY TO VOTE. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO END DEBATE AND VOTE ON THE MOTION TO TABLE VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE DEBATE, VOTE NO. IF YOU WANT TO END DEBATE, VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING, VOTE NO. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON. THE MOTION IS TO CALL THE QUESTION. THAT IS A MOTION THAT HAS TO BE VOTED ON. IF THE MOTION IF THE MOTION PASSES, THEN YOU IMMEDIATELY VOTE. IT'S TWO MOTIONS. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP DISCUSSING IT, VOTE NO. IF YOU WANT TO END -- THERE'S GOING TO BE A SECOND VOTE NO MATTER WHAT, MS. RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I THOUGHT CALL THE QUESTION WAS THERE WAS NO MORE DISCUSSION AND GO TO VOTE -- >>Jim Porter: NO, YOU VOTE ON THE CALL THE QUESTION. VOTE YES IF YOU WANT TO STOP DEBATE. VOTE NO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP TALKING. OKAY. SO NOW THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, THERE'S NO MORE DEBATE. PLEASE PREPARE THE VOTING LIGHTS AGAIN. THE ONLY THING YOU'RE VOTING ON IS WHETHER TO TABLE THIS. IF YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS, VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THE CONTRACT, VOTE NO. TABLE VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO TABLE IT VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, VOTE NO. THE MOTION FAILED BY A VOTE OF 4-3. THAT MEANS WE'RE BACK -- THE CONTRACT WILL BE HEARD TONIGHT. PLEASE CLEAR THE BOARD PLEASE CLEAR THE BOARD AGAIN. THE AGENDA ITEM IS GOING TO BE HEARD TONIGHT. YOU MAY CONTINUE DEBATE OR YOU MAY SIMPLY VOTE. THAT'S UP TO YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. THE AGENDA ITEM IS GOING TO BE VOTED ON TONIGHT. IT'S NOT BEEN TABLED. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DEBATE OR YOU CAN JUST VOTE. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE. I THINK EVERY ARGUMENT THAT WE HEARD TONIGHT IS VERY VALID. I WANTED TO JUST SAY, AND I'M NOT REAL GOOD AT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. MY PERSONALITY IS TO TAKE CARE OF IT AS WE ARE HERE. MY QUESTION IS, SCOTT BROOKS, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, CHRIS JARGO. SORRY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ME YOUR AGE. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH CareerSource. THEY ACTUALLY WANTED ME ON THEIR BOARD AT ONE TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AGE GROUP IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE CareerSource AGE GROUP, WHICH IS A HUGE POINT IN ITSELF. THIS IS LIKE A LAWYER THIS IS LIKE A LAWYER HERE. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN DEALING, SCOTT, WITH DEALING, SCOTT, WITH VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION? >> I THINK I STARTED WHEN I WAS 12. >>Lynn Gray: WHEN YOU HAD CONCURRED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT YOU FELT THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY FILLS A NEED THAT PERHAPS THE CAREER SOURCE DOES NOT IN NOT IN ANY OF THOSE APPRENTICESHIP, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL POCKETS, BUT YOU FELT THAT THIS CareerSource DOES CareerSource DOES FILL THE NEED AS IT AFFECTS OUR AS IT AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS, AS IT AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM. >>Lynn Gray: YOU'RE BASING IT ON ALMOST 30 TO 40 YEARS OF VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE. NOW, I DON'T KNOW ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO WOULD ROOM WHO WOULD ARGUE AGAINST ROOM WHO WOULD ARGUE AGAINST YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AND CHRIS JARGO IS NOT GOING TO SPEAK BECAUSE HE'S NOT HERE. I KNOW WHERE HE IS. I'VE LEARNED LONG AGO ON THIS BOARD THAT OUR STAFF, OUR CABINET MEMBERS ARE SO WELL VERSED AND SO PREPARED AND I'M ALWAYS SO PROUD OF YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU KNOW A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN I DO, I HAVE A TENDENCY TO LISTEN TENDENCY TO LISTEN AND TO REALLY APPRECIATE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE GATHERED THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO ASK. I'M GOING TO GO WITH THIS CareerSource FOR MANY, MANY REASONS, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE YOU FEEL IT IS VERY VALID AND WORTHWHILE. I'VE BEEN ON ENOUGH CareerSource EXPEDITIONS. I'M THE CHOIR. YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF MY OPINION. SO THAT'S THE END OF THAT. THAT'S IT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD DECISION. I SEE THE VALUE IN ALL THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF MY BOARD MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO SAY I BARELY SUPPORTED NOT TABLING THIS. IF WE DON'T HAVE DATA NEXT YEAR I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS ITEM IN GENERAL. LIKE IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ME THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT LENGTH LAST YEAR AND THAT WE HAVE NO DATA. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT FALLS, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT DATA BY NEXT HAVE THAT DATA BY NEXT YEAR AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT HOLISTICALLY WITH IT, BUT I BARELY SUPPORTED BARELY SUPPORTED THIS. PLEASE MAKE SURE NEXT YEAR AND AGREE WITH DR. HAHN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FUNDING SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH CAREER SOURCE. I THINK IT IS AN I THINK IT IS AN UNDERUTILIZED ORGANIZATION AND OUR DISTRICT HAS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES. IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS CAN PARTNER WITH ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT MOU, I HOPE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT REACHES OUR DISABLED STUDENTS AND STUDENTS UNDERREPRESENTED IN A LOT OF OUR TYPICAL LOT OF OUR TYPICAL CLASSROOMS. SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS ON THIS ITEM. I SUPPORTED IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO STOP THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE. I KNOW PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT SEE VALUE ON IT, BUT WE NEED NUMBERS AND DATA AND NOT JUST TALKING TO DIFFERENT STUDENTS. THANK THANK YOU. >>Van Ayres: MEMBER VAUGHN, IF I CAN ADD, MYSELF AND OUR TEAM PRIDE OURSELVES AND AS WE GO THROUGH OUR AGENDA REVIEW PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THIS BOARD HAS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ON EACH PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM. HEARING FROM THE BOARD IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU ALL FELT WERE NOT ALL FELT WERE NOT THERE AND WE WILL IMPROVE UPON THAT AND THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. KNOW THAT FOR ME AND MY TEAM THAT IS MOST MORE THAN FOR US, AS YOU GO TO VOTE FOR CERTAIN AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE OUR AGENDA REVIEW PROCESS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. MOVING FORWARD, ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, MAKE SURE YOU REACH OUT AND WE'LL ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK SOME OF THIS IS JUST MISINFORMATION. ONE OF THE THINGS IS WHEN WE SAID LIKE THEY RECEIVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, NO, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. AND THEN ALSO THE DATA SHARE, THAT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT THING BECAUSE PARENTS REALLY WANT PRIVACY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SHARE INFORMATION FROM THEIR CHILDREN. SO IT IS REALLY A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT AND I SEE EVERYBODY AGREEING. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PARENT CHOICE AND PARENTS, WHAT THEY WANT, THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING. A LOT OF PARENTS DON'T THINK IT'S OUR BUSINESS. SO I THINK THAT IS SO I THINK THAT IS VERY, VERY -- IT'S VERY DELICATE. ALSO, I DO AGREE. OF COURSE, WE WANT DATA. I THINK AFTER THE JOB FAIRS OR CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THE COMPANIES AND SEEING HOW THEY ARE AND SEEING HOW THEY ARE HIRING, I THINK THAT THIS BOARD HAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY WHAT THEY WANT. THEY HAVE HEARD THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST SENIORS. IT'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT DRILLING DOWN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TEACHING KIDS. I KNOW WHEN I TAUGHT OVERSEAS IN ASIA, AT MIDDLE SCHOOL THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. SO THE IDEA IS, AND ALSO, WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER BY TALKING TO OUR SENIORS, IT'S ALSO PROVIDING A FEEDER PATTERN TO OUR TECHNICAL OUR TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE TALKED OVER AND OVER ABOUT IS HOW OUR SENIORS GET ALL THIS INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGE, BUT THEY GET VERY LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MANY OF OUR SENIORS DON'T KNOW THOSE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR OWN SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S A FACT. SO THIS IS NOT JUST -- AND I AGREE WITH YOU, MEMBER RENDON, THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO DO MORE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ELIMINATE OR DISCARD THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE DOING THAT GOES BY THE LAW, BY STATUTES, WHERE WE'RE GIVING KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A PROGRAM. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DISCARD IT BECAUSE OF THAT. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMENTS. I THINK PEOPLE TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY. I JUST DON'T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY. I'M HERE FOR ONE REASON AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR LIFE AND THAT MEANS OUR SENIORS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT TECHNICAL OR VOCATIONAL. AND THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. AS FAR AS OUR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, BELIEVE ME, IF THEY FELT THAT THAT WAS REALLY IMPACTING, THEY WOULD BE HERE OR THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT IT. HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS DO NOT MESS AROUND. IF THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH SOMETHING, YOU WOULD HEAR ABOUT IT. IT'S OPTIONAL. A LOT OF THOSE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE USING IT AS OPTIONAL. SOME OF THEM ARE USING IT THERE. SOME OF THEM ARE IMPLEMENTING IN THEIR CURRICULUM. IT DEPENDS. A LOT OF THE KIDS WHO ARE IN THOSE -- WHO ARE IN ENGLISH 4 ARE NOT TAKING AP ENGLISH OR OTHER ENGLISH BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO IN A DIFFERENT TRACK. AND AS FAR AS A LOT OF OUR SENIORS GOING THERE WHO MIGHT BE GOING TO COLLEGE, THEY HAVE TO WORK, AND THEY SEE A COMPANY THAT'S NOT GOING TO JUST GIVE THEM A MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE OPPORTUNITY, BUT THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO SUPPORT THEM IN COLLEGE. I HEARD A LOT OF I HEARD A LOT OF THAT. THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PROGRAM ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THIS IMPACTS THIS IMPACTS THOUSANDS OF OUR STUDENTS. IT ALSO ALLOWS ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEM. IT IS A WIN-WIN IN EVERY FACTOR, SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS. I APPRECIATE ALL MY BOARD MEMBERS ALSO SUPPORTING THIS. I THINK FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY HEARS WHAT WE NEED. I THINK WE KNOW ABOUT THE DATA SHARING POINTS BECAUSE THAT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE AND THAT WAS FROM NOT -- THAT WAS FROM REALLY BOTH SIDES, ALL SIDES. SO IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLEX THAN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT GETTING CHILDREN'S DATA. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. I THINK I WAS PRETTY CLEAR IN MY ORIGINAL COMMENTS AROUND THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, NOT THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY GETTING THAT FUNDING. THEY ARE CURRENTLY GETTING THEY ARE CURRENTLY GETTING BOCC FUNDING, A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT I WAS VERY CLEAR ON HOW I COMMUNICATED THE APPROPRIATIONS ASK OF A MILLION OVER TWO -- OR A MILLION DOLLARS, I THINK IT WAS 2 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS. SO A MILLION EACH YEAR. 20% OF THE CURRICULUM OF THE ENGLISH CLASS, THE CURRICULUM IS NOT ALIGNED WITH STATE STANDARDS. THAT IS A LOT FOR ME. THAT'S BOTHERING ME THE ENGLISH CLASS. AND I APPRECIATE THE PASSION AROUND THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I'M JUST FRUSTRATED THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE LAST TIME THIS HAS COME TO THE DAIS, IT'S LACKED LACKED A LOT OF IMPACT DATA OR ANY ANY IMPACT DATA. AND THAT'S WORRISOME. YEAH, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO EXPAND, BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GRANTS OUT THERE FOR CAREER AND TECH ED THAT THIS ORGANIZATION COULD GO AFTER. OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE GETTING MONEY FROM OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, AND I THINK THE FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, TOO. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. APPRECIATE IT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO NOW YOU UNDERSTAND SO NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BOARD NEEDS. WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO, MADAM CHAIR, LET'S SO, MADAM CHAIR, LET'S VOTE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER HAHN VOTING NO. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 7.01, APPROVE THE REAL PROPERTY EXCHANGE CONTRACT. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS THE LAST AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING. THIS IS A PROPERTY EXCHANGE THAT ULTIMATELY BE USED FOR PLANT CITY CAREER CENTER THAT WILL OPEN IN AUGUST OF 2025. DISTRICT STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH PLANT CITY STAFF TO EXCHANGE PROPERTY OWNED BY PLANT CITY AND THE SCHOOL BOARD. THE SCHOOL BOARD OWNS PROPERTY NORTH OF MUD LAKE ROAD, CHARLIE GRIFFIN ROAD SURROUNDED BY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS. THIS PROPERTY IS 16.29 ACRES. THE PLANT CITY PROPERTY IS LOCATED NORTH OF EAST PARK ROAD NEAR THE PLANT CITY STADIUM WITH EASY ACCESS TO JIM JOHNSON ROAD TO THE EAST AND REDMOND PARKWAY TO THE TO THE WEST. CITY PORTION CITY PORTION UNTIL 52.5 ACRES. REAL PROPERTY EXCHANGE CONTRACT HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REAL ESTATE COUNSEL AND THE PLANT CITY ATTORNEY. EXCHANGE PROPERTY WILL ALLOW FOR THE DISTRICT TO BUILD A CAREER CENTER AS THIS IS A 9-12 HIGH SCHOOL AND ADULT EDUCATION CAREER CENTER. THE PLANT CITY CAREER CENTER, AS I MENTIONED IT PROPOSED TO OPEN IN AUGUST OF 2025. THE EXCHANGE PROPERTY WILL ALLOW PLANT CITY TO USE THE PROPERTY FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR A PROPOSED CITY PARK TO SERVE THE SUBDIVISION THAT SURROUNDED THE SITE AND THOSE AREAS THAT SITE AND THOSE AREAS THAT ARE GROWING IN PLANT CITY. THIS EXCHANGE IS THIS EXCHANGE IS BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH PARTIES AS THIS AGENDA ITEM. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER AND A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I ALWAYS LIKE TO PULL DOWN ANY ITEMS WHERE WE'RE DOING A MASSIVE LAND SWAP BECAUSE I GET LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LATER ON. BUT THIS LOOKS GREAT. I WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT, I MEAN, IF WE'RE TRADING LAND TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A CAREER BUILDING, A CAREER ACADEMY OF SUCH AND THEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A PARK AND IT'S NOT JUST BEING SOLD OFF FOR DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A PARK. I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL. I'M GLAD THAT I PULLED IT DOWN AND WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT IT AND JUST TALK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: YEAH, I WANTED TO SAY THE SAME THING. THIS IS THIS IS REALLY, REALLY EXCITING WITH PLANT CITY. I REALLY HAD ONLY BEEN OUT TO PLANT CITY ONCE BEFORE I GOT ELECTED AND THEN I'VE BEEN OUT THERE SO MANY TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. TO SEE THAT GROWTH AND TO SEE THE NEED TO HAVE SUCH A PROGRAM, TO HAVE SUCH A SCHOOL IS JUST AMAZING. THAT AREA OF TAMPA IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE. IF I DIDN'T LIVE ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER END, MAYBE I WOULD THINK ABOUT MOVING OUT THERE. IT'S GREAT TO SEE, AS I SAID JUST EVEN TONIGHT WHEN YOU SEE THE STUDENTS COMING HERE, THEY CAME FROM PLANT CAME FROM PLANT CITY, SUCH A DIVERSE STUDENTS THERE. SUCH A NEED FOR TECHNICAL, ESPECIALLY BEING IN THAT I-4 CORRIDOR, THIS IS REALLY EXCITING. THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, BECAUSE YOU ARE VERY INNOVATIVE AND TO BE WORKING ON THIS, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: YEAH, I THINK IT IS THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY. I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE TO PLANT CITY. I'VE JUST BEEN WARNED, I'VE BEEN WARNING THAT I MAY. IT EMBRACES WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CAREER AND TECH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, PLANT CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NOT ONLY A BELIEVER, BUT AN ACTUAL SUPPORTER. THEY DON'T JUST TALK THE TALK. THEY WALK THE THEY WALK THE WALK. BIG DIFFERENCE. THE THE CITY, THE MAYOR, THE FORMER MAYOR, RICK LOT, MAYOR, RICK LOT, MS. FRY, SO MANY DIFFERENT LEADERS IN PLANT CITY ARE ABLE AND WILLING CITY ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO SACRIFICE MUCH OF THEIR OWN TIME AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO REALLY AFFORD THE ATTENTION TO THOSE THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO WILL BECOME FUTURE VOCATIONAL TECH EXPERTS AND HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES EVENTUALLY. AND I JUST THINK IT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING. I LOOK FORWARD -- CHRIS, MR. FARKAS, WHEN ARE WE FARKAS, WHEN ARE WE OPENING? 2025? >>Christopher Farkas: AUGUST OF -- >>Lynn Gray: AUGUST. GREAT EVENT COMING UP. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: WELL, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING. SO FOR THOSE OF US ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, CHRIS FARKAS, RICK LOTT, THE MAYOR OF PLANT CITY, THE COMMISSIONERS OF PLANT CITY, EVERYONE THAT HAS COME BEHIND THIS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, PLANT CITY IS A WELL-OILED MACHINE. IT DOES THINGS VERY IT DOES THINGS VERY METHODICAL WITH PURPOSE AND THEY TAKE THEIR TIME. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT, WHEN THEY WANT IT, AND THEY BUILD THEIR CITY WITH SUCH INTENTION. AND THIS IS WITH SUCH INTENTION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, OF OUR COMMUNITY, OF OUR FUTURE BUSINESSES, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS DOES. I AM SUPEREXCITED THIS IS GOING TO BE IN MY TO BE IN MY AREA. I'M SUPEREXCITED FOR THE COMMUNITY OF PLANT CITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. LONG TIME COMING, AND SO THANK YOU, RICK LOTT, YVONNE AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN CHAMPIONS FOR NOT ONLY THIS BUT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU ALL AND I'M SUPEREXCITED THAT WE GET TO VOTE FOR THIS. IT'S A WELL DESERVED AND LONG TIME COMING. >>Van Ayres: MADAM CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO ADD AS WE LOOK AT OUR NEW SCHOOL OPENINGS, TO SUMMARIZE, WE HAVE ADAM K OPENING UP FOR 2024. 2025, TWO NEW SCHOOLS SO WE HAVE THE PLANT THE PLANT CITY CAREER CENTER ON THIS SITE AND ALSO OUR WIMAUMA HIGH SCHOOL THAT ALSO OPENS UP IN 2025 TO KIND OF PUT A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPEN. I WANT TO THANK MR. LOTT AS WELL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. APPRECIATE YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW WE HAVE NO EMPLOYEE COMMENT THIS EVENING. WE WILL MOVE INTO WE WILL MOVE INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. >>Van Ayres: FIRST OFF THIS MONTH WE ARE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. DURING FEBRUARY, OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL REFLECT ON THE NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT HISTORY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. THIS YEAR OUR THEME IS CENTERED AROUND CELEBRATING AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE ARTS. OUR ACADEMIC SERVICES TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH STUDENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAVE DEVELOPED A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS DEVELOP A DEEPER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS. ALSO IS MR. BROOKS STILL HERE? IT'S HIS MONTH. THE ASSOCIATION FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION HAS DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS CTE MONTH. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S RECOGNITION IS CELEBRATE TODAY, OWN TOMORROW. CTE SERVES AS THE FOUNDATION OF A STRONG, CONTINUOUSLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER OVER 400 UNIQUE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COURSES IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, WHICH RANGE FROM 17 CAREER CLUSTERS. THESE PROGRAMS HELP PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS THE SKILLS TO PURSUE ADVANCE SKILL OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. ALSO THIS WEEK, SEEN A ALSO THIS WEEK, SEEN A LOT OF IT ON X, SOCIAL MEDIA, FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH 9 IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK. THIS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT SCHOOL COUNSELORS CAN HAVE IN HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE SCHOOL SUCCESS AND PLAN FOR A CAREER. SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORK WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND TEACHERS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO LEARNING AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN HELPING STUDENTS EXAMINE THEIR ABILITIES, STRENGTHS, INTERESTS, AND TALENTS. THEY FOCUS ON POSITIVE WAYS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC CAREER AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS FOR THEIR WORK AND INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS. AROUND OUR PILLAR TWO AROUND SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, WHAT CULTURE, WHAT YOU'LL SEE TO THE LEFT, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. OUR STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY I'VE DECIDED TO CREATE THE HCPS STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL. I MET WITH THE FIRST COHORT STUDENTS CONSISTING OF HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE. EACH MONTH WE WILL MEET TO DISCUSS INITIATIVES AND OVERALL STUDENT EXPERIENCE. COMING MONTHS, ADD A SECOND COHORT TO INCLUDE BOTH JUNIORS AND SENIORS. THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR ME. THIS IS MY SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL. IT STARTS WITH JUNIORS. SO WE'LL HAVE JUNIORS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR AND THEN DURING THE SUMMER ADD A NEXT GROUP OF JUNIORS. FOR MY SUPERINTENDENT SEAT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A COHORT OF JUNIORS AND SENIORS ACROSS ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT I WILL MEET WITH MONTHLY. THE MEETINGS START IN THE SUMMERTIME AND THEN I MEET WITH THEM DURING THE EVENING AT THEM DURING THE EVENING AT ISC FROM OUR 5 TO FROM OUR 5 TO 7:30 FROM OUR 5 TO 7:30 AND I WANT TO THANK SUE BURKETT IN HELPING ME WITH MY LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL GETTING KICKED OFF AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, SUE, IN ALL THAT. THANK YOU. TO THE RIGHT THERE, YOU WILL SEE WE HAD MANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT CAME OUT TO LOPEZ ELEMENTARY AND LOPEZ LOPEZ EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. JUST THANK YOU TO IMAGINE CARE FLORIDA FOR INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS. THEY SPENT OVER 25,000 TO TURN SPACES ON EACH CAMPUS INTO A BRAND-NEW INCENTIVE AND SENSORY ROOM. I KNOW MEMBER I KNOW MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER WASHINGTON, WE PLAYED WASHINGTON, WE PLAYED PING-PONG. REMEMBER THAT. YES, WE DID. MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER VAUGHN AND, OF COURSE, MEMBER RENDON, WE WERE ALL THERE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, CHAIR PEREZ WAS THERE AS WELL. APPRECIATE ALL THE BOARD SUPPORT. WE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE 2024 BATTLE OF THE BELT SAFETY CAMPAIGN AWARD CEREMONY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NCSO AND GEICO RIVERVIEW OFFICE. THIS COMPETITION CONSISTED OF SEVERAL ENTRIES IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES, SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AND POSTER DESIGN ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO WEAR THEIR SEAT BELTS AND PRACTICE SAFE DRIVING HABITS. CONGRATULATIONS TO CONGRATULATIONS TO BLOOMINGDALE FOR PLACING FIRST IN THE FOR PLACING FIRST IN THE BEST OVERALL CATEGORY. NATIONAL MAGNET AWARD, A LOT OF RECOGNITION HERE. NATIONAL MAGNET AWARD WINNERS, YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN ALL OF OUR SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION AWARD WINNERS, BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WE HAD FIVE SCHOOLS EARN THE NATIONAL MERIT AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN '23 FOR THE NATIONAL MERIT. 27 TOTAL WINNERS IS MORE THAN WE EVER EARNED IN OUR DISTRICT'S HISTORY. ALSO FINISHED SECOND IN THE STATE FOR STATE FOR TOTAL AWARDS EARNED. SPECIAL KUDOS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT. EXCELLENT AWARD EXCELLENT AWARD WINNERS. LING DON, MACFARLANE PARK, SHORE, SPOTO, TAMPA BAY TECH. KUDOS OUT KUDOS OUT TO BOB COX AND ALL THE LEADERS IN OUR MAGNET SCHOOLS. HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AFTER WE LEFT OUR WORKSHOP LAST WEEK TO HEAD OVER TO -- WHERE DID I GO? THAT WAS MIDDLETON. WE HAD OUR PRELIMINARY ROUNDS FOR 8th ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL COMPETITION. THE COMPETITION IS A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT AWARENESS AND PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING RELATED TO AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS ON MAKING IT TO THE FINAL ROUND WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FEBRUARY 24, AS MEMBER WASHINGTON MENTIONED EARLIER, THE FINALS FEBRUARY 24th AT BLAKE. ELEMENTARY FINALISTS ARE CARROLLWOOD, CHILES, TURNER/BARTELS, PRIDE, BROOKER AND RIVER AND RIVER HILLS. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL FINALIST, BENITO, BURNS, MEMORIAL, MULRENNAN, TOMLIN AND TURNER/BARTELS AGAIN. HIGH SCHOOL, OUR HIGH SCHOOL, OUR FINALISTS ARE STRAWBERRY CREST, BLOOMINGDALE, GAITHER, NEWSOME, ROBINSON, AND THE HOST SCHOOL, MIDDLETON ALSO A FINALIST. THEN WE ALL LAST THURSDAY HAD AN INCREDIBLE INSIDE CELEBRATING THE ROCK STARS OF OUR DISTRICT. WE ANNOUNCED OUR 2024 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD WINNERS. JUST A REALLY GREAT EVENING AND CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. CLAYTON, PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ON BEING NAMED OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. MARIE ORTIZ AT TEMPLE TERRACE WAS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. AND DR. JOSEPH, A COMMUNITY RESOURCE TEACHER AT JENNINGS IS OUR IDA S. BAKER EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER. THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE EPITOME OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HILLSBOROUGH STRONG AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER FOR THEM AND EXCITED AS THEY EMBARK ON THIS NEW JOURNEY OVER THE NEXT YEAR AS THEY REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT. A COUPLE MORE. WE HAD SOME CHEERLEADING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE THREE. CONGRATULATIONS TO DURANT, PLANT CITY, AND STRAWBERRY CREST CHEERLEADING TEAMS ON WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS OVER THE WEEKEND. THESE THREE SQUADS, ALONG WITH EIGHT OTHER SCHOOL TEAMS FROM OUR DISTRICT WILL NOW HEAD TO NATIONALS. MEMBER RENDON, YOU DIDN'T SWEEP IT. MEMBER VAUGHN GOT ONE IN THERE WITH STRAWBERRY CREST. YOU WERE CLOSE, YOU WERE CLOSE, BUT YOU DID -- YOU DID GET THIS ONE, THOUGH. ALSO EXCITING, ONE OF OUR -- YEAH, THIS IS TRULY AMAZING. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BLOOMINGDALE VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM ON UNDEFEATED SEASON. THEY WENT 24 AND 0 THIS YEAR AND RECENTLY EARNED THE WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS TITLE. THEY ARE SET TO PLAY THEY ARE SET TO PLAY MANATEE IN THE FHSSA 2024 DISTRICT SERIES AND THAT AND THAT BEGINS TOMORROW NIGHT. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO FOLLOW THEM TO THE PLAYOFFS. ONLY UNDEFEATED TEAM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BULLS OF BLOOMINGDALE AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, OUR SUSPENDED AGENDA NEXT WEEK ON THE 20th, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR READING PM 2 DATA. MY NEXT SUSPENDED AGENDA UPDATE WILL REALLY CONSIST OF ALL OUR PM 2 DATA. SO REALLY SOME OF THOSE LEADING INDICATORS WITH FAST PM 2 DATA WILL ANALYZE SOME OF THAT. BUT THAT WILL BE ON THE 20th, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: WE HAD A WORKSHOP ON THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT DISCIPLINARY REPORT, SUSPENSION, DRESS CODE, ALL WHICH AFFECT STUDENTS ACADEMIC, STUDENTS ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOL. HAD THAT ON TUESDAY. WHAT WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP WITH THE REALITY OF D AND F SCHOOLS AND HOW ABSENTEEISM AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, STUDENTS MISSING MORE THAN MISSING MORE THAN 10% OF THE SCHOOL DAY IS VERY MUCH HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS IT IS NATIONWIDE. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE OR JUST ASK THAT WE PUT THIS ASK THAT WE PUT THIS ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA. I KNOW, MS. BROWN, YOU HAD AN IDEA HOW TO DO THAT. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE REAL QUICK LICKETY-SPLIT? BECAUSE THIS BOARD IS GETTING TIRED, RIGHT? >> WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PROVIDE FOR YOU A PERCENT EACH MONTH OF BY AREA OF OUR MONTH OF BY AREA OF OUR PERCENT OF STUDENTS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE PRESENT 90% OR MORE OF THE TIME. OR WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SAME DATA IN THE REVERSE, WHICH IS THOSE THAT ARE THAT ARE MISSING 10% MORE OF THE TIME, WHICH TELLS US WHAT IS OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT EACH MONTH FOR YOU. >>Lynn Gray: THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, MADAM CHAIR, IS IT OKAY AND, MADAM CHAIR, IS IT OKAY IF I CARRY ON IN BOARD COMMENTS? >>Karen Perez: YEAH. >>Lynn Gray: CARRY ON, I SHALL. TRAUMA-BASED TEACHING, PABLO, DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDES UP? WE HAD A WONDERFUL, GENEROUS CHILDREN'S GRANT CHILDREN'S GRANT OF $1.3 MILLION, AND THIS WAS $1.3 MILLION, AND THIS WAS GIVEN TO GIUNTA AND FROST ELEMENTARY, GIUNTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BOY, OH, BOY, WHAT WE HAD THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT SUPPORT TEAMS AND I DON'T HAVE -- MY TV THING DOES NOT WORK, BUT MANY OF YOURS DO. WE HAD NOT ONLY THE COACHES INVOLVED WITH THEIR RUNNING BECAUSE IT BECAUSE IT REDUCES STRESS. EVERY MORNING THE STUDENTS WOULD DO THEIR RUN. COACH BOWER, THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE, VERY CUTE, THIS IS ALL YOUR SUPPORT TEAM OF EVERYONE FROM THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, METROPOLITAN BOARD, METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES AND MANY OTHER AGENCIES. BUT WE ALSO BUT WE ALSO HAD YOGA. AGAIN, TO TRAUMA BASE IS ALL ABOUT DE-ESCALATING ABOUT DE-ESCALATING AND HAVING THE TEACHERS DO THE DE-ESCALATING BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE COMING IN, AS YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, MANY OF THEM, SOME PART OF TRAUMA. TRAUMA CAN BE LIKE OF EYESIGHT. TRAUMA COULD BE HUNGER. TRAUMA COULD BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. TRAUMA COULD BE TRAUMA COULD BE CYBERBULLYING. WE COULD GO ON AND WE COULD GO ON AND ON. THE GENESIS IS TO REDUCE, FOR TEACHERS TO LEARN TO REDUCE, DE-ESCALATE THOSE BEHAVIORS THAT MAY INFRINGE ON A STUDENT'S LEARNING. SO THAT'S A GREAT THING. SO ONWARD. OUR NEXT HUMAN TRAFFICKING STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY IS ON FEBRUARY 8th AT MABRY ELEMENTARY AT ELEMENTARY AT 5:30. ALWAYS SO PROUD OF OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE, MADE UP OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CITY OF SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CITY OF TAMPA, FBI, AND FBI, AND NO MORE FOUNDATION, OTHER AGENCIES. I'LL LET THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS MENTION THE BUCKLE UP STUDENTS, BUT AS YOU KNOW, BLOOMINGDALE WON THE WON THE BATTLE OF THE BELTS AND IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. I ALSO WANTED TO REMIND -- OH, MY GOODNESS, I'M GOING TO BE UNDER TIME HERE -- THE WELLNESS REVOLUTION WEEK IS REVOLUTION WEEK IS HERE. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- WE HAD OURS FOR THE PRINCIPALS AND APs BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPREAD IT THROUGH THE STUDENTS AS WELL, AS WELL, AND THAT'S THROUGH FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH THE FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH THE 9th. I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK ASHLEE CAPPUCCI FOR LEADING THAT CHARGE WITH THE STUDENTS. ALSO, AND I HAVE SO MUCH ELSE, BUT AT ANY RATE, I'VE TALKED ENOUGH TODAY. JUST SO JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT OUR JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT OUR COUNCILS -- NATIONAL COUNSELING OR HILLSBOROUGH COUNSELING WEEK? NATIONAL. WE CAN'T SAY WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR OUR COUNSELORS, AND THEY ARE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING OUR KIDS FOCUSED AND BALANCED, BUT EVEN MORE. SO THANK YOU, COUNSELORS, EVERYWHERE. WE ARE SO WE ARE SO SUPPORTIVE OF YOU. WOW, YOU DO SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M DONE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, MADAM CHAIR, I DID SEE YOUR DAUGHTER ON TV. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. SHE DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS GOOD. OKAY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS. YESTERDAY WE HAD A GOOD RETREAT. ONE OF THE BETTER ONES THAT WE HAVE HAVE HAD. I WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT AYRES FOR YOUR AYRES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, DR. WHELAN FOR YOUR WHELAN FOR YOUR SURVEY. WHAT A GREAT SURVEY AND MR. PORTER FOR YOUR GUIDANCE. WE REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME. OUTSTANDING FOOD. YOU ALWAYS FIND SOME GREAT FOOD, ALL THE TIME. YOU REALLY DO. BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME IN OUR RETREAT AND WE GOT A LOT ACCOMPLISHED YESTERDAY DURING THE RETREAT. ALSO I WANT TO THANK BLOOMINGDALE FOR WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BELTS AND UNDER THE THE LEADERSHIP OF JACKSON, THOSE LED THEM ALL THE LED THEM ALL THE WAY. JERRY JACKSON SON WAS THE LEADER AND MEMBER RENDON DAUGHTER WAS A LEADER. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. CONVEY THAT TO THEM, PLEASE. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CONGRATULATE ALL OF CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WAS FOR THE CANDIDATES THAT WAS FOR THE EIE. I THINK IT WAS GREAT. A GREAT EVENT. EVERYBODY IS A WINNER. EVERYBODY IS A STAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE IDA S. BAKER DIVERSITY EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR. DR. JOSEPH FROM DR. JOSEPH FROM JENNINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR WAS MARIA OF THE YEAR WAS MARIA ORTEZ FROM IT'S THE AND IT'S THE AND TEACHER OF THE YEAR FROM HOWARD BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL IN PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT LOPEZ. I'LL LEAVE THAT TO MS. RENDON BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO ALSO, MRS. RENDON. THAT WAS GREAT FOR THE STUDENTS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: YEAH, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PABLO, CAN YOU SHOW THE VIDEO? M >> THIS IS SO FUN. >> THIS ROOM IS SO FUN. IT HAS SO MANY GAMES. I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS ROOM IS SO FUN. M >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, PABLO. SO I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK IMAGINE CARE WHO DONATED IMAGINE CARE WHO DONATED OVER $25,000 TO LOPEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. THEY HELPED SUPPLY THE THEY HELPED SUPPLY THE PBIS ROOM FOR LOPEZ ELEMENTARY AND THE SENSORY ROOM FOR LOPEZ EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. ALSO PROVIDED OVER $1500 TO A TEACHER FUND. THEY PROVIDED BACK PACKS AND SUPPLIES TO EVERY SINGLE STUDENT AT BOTH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS LUNCH FOR ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AT LOPEZ, BOTH EXCEPTIONAL CENTER AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN, AND THAT HOLDS A LOT WITH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND AN MARIE COURTNEY. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK HER FOR THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT SHE DID WORKING WITH IMAGINE CARE TO BRING THIS TO LOPEZ BRING THIS TO LOPEZ ELEMENTARY AND EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. IT MEANS QUITE A BIT TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. PABLO, DO YOU HAVE THE PICTURE FROM TODAY? I HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH OUR STUDENT SERVICES AS WE HAD THE SCHOOL LUNCH EXPERIENCE THAT CAME BACK SINCE COVID. AND TODAY ALL THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO GO IN AND SAMPLE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND GIVE THEIR OPINIONS. SO THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE UTILIZING THE STUDENT DATA FOR WHAT THEY WILL PLAN FOR THE WHAT THEY WILL PLAN FOR THE MENU NEXT YEAR. QUITE AN ADVENTURE AND QUITE THE EXPERIENCE. I WANT TO THANK STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. THE LAST SHOUT-OUT IS FOR BATTLE OF BELTS. OUT OF THE 29 HIGH SCHOOLS, 18 OF THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN BATTLE OF THE BELTS. IT IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY NEEDS OF USING THEIR SEAT BELTS. WE ELIMINATE SO MANY UNNECESSARY FATALITIES BY JUST USING OUR SEAT BELT. SO I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATIONS AT ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS FOR PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON THIS AND MAKING SURE CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THAT USING YOUR SEAT BELT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. SO IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE EVERY YEAR. WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE BACK FINANCES TO OUR STUDENTS IN THEIR SGA PROGRAMS IN THEIR SCHOOLS. OVERALL IT MAKES OUR KIDS SAFE AND SUCH A NEED TO DO THAT. OUR KIDS PARTICIPATE AND THEY ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BETWEEN THAT. PEERS MEAN A LOT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE ONE MORE SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AROUND THE SCHOOLS AROUND THE DISTRICT. THEY ARE TRULY AN EXAMPLE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. THEY HAVE COLLABORATED TOGETHER. I SEE THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. I SEE THEM AT VARIOUS EVENTS. THEY ARE OUT THERE SUPPORTING THEIR STUDENTS AFTER HOURS, BEFORE HOURS, AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH OF HOW THEY ARE JUST PUTTING THEIR TIME, TALENT, AND ENERGY DIRECTLY INTO OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE CLASSROOMS, IN THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND THAT SHOWS IN EXACTLY HOW THEIR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING. SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I WANTED TO KIND OF GATHER ALL THE TIME THAT YOU'VE LOST TO LET YOU SPEAK. THE CLICKER WENT OFF. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I COSIGN ON TO PRAISING OUR ADMINISTRATORS. AMAZING, WONDERFUL, HARDWORKING PEOPLE. I HOPE WE CAN PAY THEM MORE GOING FORWARD. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON, FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP YOU DID WITH LOPEZ. OUR TWO PRINCIPALS BETWEEN LOPEZ ELEMENTARY AND LOPEZ ELEMENTARY AND LOPEZ ESE CENTER ARE JUST TWO FANTASTIC, PHENOMENAL LEADERS. AND TO SEE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SOME SUPPORT REALLY IS A GAME-CHANGER FOR BOTH OF THEM WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY BOTH SERVE. AND IT WAS REALLY FUN. THE STUDENTS WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THOSE BACK PACKS. KEY, MAKE THEM CLEAR SO THAT THE KIDS CAN SEE WHAT IS INSIDE OF THEM WHEN THEY GET THEM IMMEDIATELY AND THE EXCITEMENT IS UNCONTAINABLE. I ALSO BEAT A CERTAIN CHAIR AT AIR HOCKEY. ASIDE FROM THAT, IT WAS A SPECTACULAR DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING US IN THAT AND FOR WORKING WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP. EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT IT. WHAT A MOVING CEREMONY. SO BEAUTIFUL. SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR EDUCATORS AND MAKE THEM FEEL VALUED AND CELEBRATED. OUR WINNERS WERE OUTSTANDING. THINKER ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES I COULD PROBABLY CRY JUST REMEMBERING THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID AND HOW IMPORTANT AND PASSIONATE THEY ARE AND SEEING ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS DRESSED UP WHO WERE NOMINATED AND UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T WIN. IT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. I DO WISH IT WAS A LITTLE MORE ACCESSIBLE. I THINK SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T COME TO IT IF THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHOSE SCHOOL IS NOMINATED OR DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SUCH A VALUE AND SO MOVING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF OUR EDUCATORS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY -- WHO DON'T HAVE SOMEONE NOMINATED OR AREN'T THERE TO ROOT FOR SOMEBODY JUST TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE IT BECAUSE IT IS SO POWERFUL. BATTLE OF THE BELTS WAS REALLY INTERESTING. I GOT TO HANG OUT I GOT TO HANG OUT WITH I GOT TO HANG OUT WITH A SOCIAL INFLUENCER DOG THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET. BUT THE STATISTICS WERE ALARMING AND I LEARNED A LOT. MR. BRADY, WHO YOU SENT AS A SURROGATE TO SPEAK FOR YOU, DID AN AMAZING JOB. HIS SPEECH WAS REALLY PERSONAL AND IMPACTFUL, AND HE JUST DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. I JUST I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HE REPRESENTED YOU WELL THERE. I THINK THAT LOPEZ ELEMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PBIS RULES. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT. I KNOW, MEMBER GRAY, YOU'VE BEEN A HUGE CHAMPION OF IT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I'D LOVE TO SEE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES TO DEFINITELY GET AT LEAST ONE IN EVERY SINGLE ONE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT. ALSO, I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE SURPRISING BUT I HAVE SOME REQUESTS ABOUT OUR SPORTS DEPARTMENT. I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PARENTS RECENTLY THAT HAVE ACTUALLY MOVED OUT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND MOVED TO PASCO BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO PLAY FULL-ON FOOTBALL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PASCO COUNTY AS OPPOSED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND A LOSS. I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US BE ABLE TO EXTEND THAT TO OUR TO EXTEND THAT TO OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY SOME OF OUR STUDENTS, THAT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER GETTING THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL IF THEY GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IF THEY THINK IT MIGHT OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITY. I KNOW IT WOULD BE A HEAVY LIFT BUT I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'LL GET GRANTS TO DO THE START-UP PROGRAM. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF WE CAN OFFSET SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT WILL ACTUALLY COME BACK TO OUR DISTRICT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUSTAINING IT, THE YEARLY COST OF THAT. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO REVISIT OUR LACROSSE RULES AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT A MAKE THAT A BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE AS WELL BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT. I KNOW WHEN WE EXPANDED IT, WE WERE HESITANT AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A GOOD FOUNDATION, BUT I THINK WE'VE HAD TO START AND IT IS TIME TO EXPAND THAT FURTHER AND LOOK AT THAT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST. FINALLY, JUST ONE LAST REQUEST, RECENTLY I HAD A TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN IN OUR DISTRICT FOR 30, 35 YEARS WHO LOST HER HUSBAND AND WAS JUST DEVASTATED THAT THERE'S NO DEREEFMENT TIME AND THEY HAVE TO USE THEIR -- BEREAVEMENT TIME AND THEY HAVE TO USE THEIR SICK TIME. HER DAUGHTER GOT TWO WEEKS IMMEDIATELY AND DEEP IN MOURNING AND WORRIED ABOUT HER SICK TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH FLU AND COVID FLU AND COVID GOING AROUND. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS BEREAVEMENT TIME AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK WOULD LOOK LIKE IN LIEU OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES. GET THAT ON THE RADAR. BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EXCITED ABOUT CELEBRATING, GETTING OUT TO THE SCHOOLS. I'VE SEEN EXCITING DOOR COMPETITIONS SO FAR AND STUDENTS SHARING FACTS ABOUT SOME PEOPLE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT ARE REALLY INFLUENTIAL. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT IN OUR DISTRICT. THAT'S IT. THANKS SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I WANT TO ALSO CONGRATULATE OUR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD WINNERS. IT WAS SUCH A FUN NIGHT AND FILLED WITH SO MUCH POSITIVITY AND SURPRISES AND SURPRISES FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT THAT SUPERINTENDENT THAT MADE IT EXTRA FUN. YES, THE SPEECHES JUST FROM THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOMINATING THE TEACHERS WERE SO MOVING AND THEN THE SPEECHES FROM THE TEACHERS WERE REALLY A TESTIMONY TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS. IT IS TRULY THE MOST IT IS TRULY THE MOST UPLIFTING AND REALLY BEST THING THAT WE, I THINK, DO IN THIS DISTRICT. AND AND HEF DOES A GREAT JOB SUPPORTING THAT AND PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, ALONG WITH ANN MARIE COURT NEEP IT IS A HEAVY LIFT, BUT, MAN, IT HITS A BUT, MAN, IT HITS A HOME RUN EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND THEN WE DID HAVE A GREAT RETREAT. WE'RE FIRING ON ALL WE'RE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS. PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST ONES WE HAD AND THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT. AND THEN JUST LASTLY, AS SOME OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID, EXCITED TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. SOME WONDERFUL. IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL TIME TO HONOR HONOR TRAILBLAZERS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH AND INSPIRE US. I, TOO, LOVE YOUR I, TOO, LOVE YOUR DASHIKI. DID YOU TELL ME WRONG? DASHIKI. I LOVE IT. YOU ARE ON POINT EVERY TIME I SEE YOU. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FUN THINGS TO CELEBRATE THIS MONTH AROUND THAT. SO THAT WILL BE SO THAT WILL BE GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS. EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS APPRECIATION WEEK, I FEEL LIKE WE APPRECIATE YOU EVERY WEEK, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE EXTRA BUT THIS IS JUST ONE EXTRA WEEK TO LET YOU KNOW. AS I SAID, I OFTEN SAY EQ IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS IQ. SO MAKING SURE THAT KIDS ARE STABLE AND POSITIVE AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I GO OUT TO SCHOOLS. THIS PAST WEEK I WENT TO TWIN LAKES IN TOWN N' COUNTRY. I ALSO LIKE TO GO OUT AND SEE PROGRAMS. SO PABLO, IF YOU COULD SHOW THAT. I WAS ABLE TO GO VISIT THE HOSPITAL HOMEBOUND PROGRAM WHICH IS BASICALLY AGE PRE-K TO 22 YEARS OLD. IT'S ONE OF THE FEW IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS WHERE YOU HAVE 30 TEACHERS AND THEY ARE IMPACTING THEY ARE IMPACTING OVER 200 STUDENTS. THIS IS LED BY PRINCIPAL BRYAN AND I KNOW TRACYE BROWN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM WHEN I WAS OUT THERE. THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT A GREAT JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP THEM. THEY HAVE COUNSELORS, BUT THESE ARE OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS WHO THEY VISIT THEIR WHO THEY VISIT THEIR HOMES. THEY VISIT THEM IN HOSPITALS, AND THEY ALSO DO ONLINE. SO I KNOW THAT LAST YEAR WE DID THE GREAT AMERICAN THE GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN. MADAM CHAIR PEREZ AND I WE BOTH DID THE HOSPITAL HOMEBOUND. I WENT OUT THERE TO REALLY SEE WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT. THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO HAVE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING GREAT, GREAT THINGS. ALSO, ONE OF OUR FINALISTS, SHERYL WAS A FINALIST FOR IDA S. BAKER. SHE WAS EXCITED BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO SPOTLIGHT HOSPITAL HOMEBOUND. I SAID I'LL ALSO SHARE PICTURES FROM ALL OF YOU. THEN I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE IDA S. BAKER AWARDS. GOING BACK TO FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY, THE SECOND SLIDE, PABLO, THIS WAS FOR ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL, SO IT WAS JUST AWESOME. WE WENT OUT TO SEVERAL BUSINESSES AND SEVERAL LARGE COMPANIES IN NORTHWEST TAMPA AND ALSO TO THE WATER TREATMENT PARK. BUT WHAT I NOTICED IS A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH, THEY HAVE REALLY LEARNED TO KIND OF DO SOMETHING HANDS ON AND PROVIDE STUDENTS A LOT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE THEY WALK OUT. SO I THINK AS THE TIME HAS GONE BY, IT'S REALLY INCREASED THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM. AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION FOR OVER A DECADE NOW, AND THIS WILL BE NOW, AND THIS WILL BE OUR 11th SCHOLARSHIP FOR KNOWLEDGE FOR ANY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, ANY CHILD WHO IS IN SCHOOL WHO HAS HAD CANCER, WHO HAS HAD A BLOOD DISORDER, THEY CAN GET A SCHOLARSHIP. THE DEADLINE IS MARCH 1st, BUT THEY ALSO GIVE A SIBLING, SOMEONE WHO IS A SIBLING THAT SUPPORTED THAT. LAST YEAR WE DID NOT HAVE ONE APPLICANT. IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE PERSON DEALING WITH CANCER BUT IT'S ALSO FOR THE SIBLING IN SUPPORT OF THAT. SO I WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, TO PLEASE, THIS HAS BEEN GONE OUT TO ALL THE COUNSELORS. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER IS A CENTER THAT JUST GOES OUT THERE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES. SO IT'S NOT GIVING MEDICAL. IT'S GIVING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THEY HAVE SATURDAY PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE FREE SUMMER CAMPS. IT'S JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THEN, LASTLY, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH LITTLE TIME TO TALK ON THE BOARD, LIKE I CAN'T TALK TO DISTRICTWIDE, BUT I KNOW THAT I LIVE OUT IN NORTHWEST TAMPA, AND RIGHT THERE ON LUTZ LAKE FERN, I WANTED TO CALL TO ACTION, ESPECIALLY WITH MEMBER VAUGHN AND OUR DISTRICTWIDE MEMBERS, BUT BUT EVERYONE, BUT THERE IS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, THERE IS A TRUCK EXCAVATING THAT'S ABOUT TO GO PAST ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. MARTINEZ, STEINBRENNER, AND SO IT'S AN EXCAVATION REALLY NEAR MY HOME WHERE THEY ARE TAKING THE ROCKS, THE QUARRY AND THEY WANT TO GO BY THE SCHOOL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I TALKED TO MR. FARKAS ABOUT THAT, AND IT IS GOING TO THAT, AND IT IS GOING TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 13. SO WE'RE GETTING OUR PTAs TO GO OUT THERE AND DO CONTACT HEARINGS AT HEARINGS AT HCFL.GOV TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE TRUCKS ARE NOT GOING BY. THEY ARE THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE GOING TO GO BY HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE BELL RINGS OR HALF AN HOUR AFTER, BUT THESE ARE LARGE TRUCKS THAT USED TO GO TRUCKS THAT USED TO GO ON THE SUNSHINE SKYWAY BUT WILL NOW BYPASS ALL THE SCHOOLS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PRESCHOOLS IN THAT AREA, TOO. I'VE GOTTEN VERY INVOLVED WITH MY COMMUNITY OUT THERE AND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP THESE TRUCKS OUT OF THERE AND ALSO TO KEEP OUR AREA RURAL AND NOT HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH IN THAT AREA. I JUST WANTED TO, BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL ALL OF YOU BUT I WANTED TO INFORM YOU OF THAT. I KNOW THAT MR. FARKAS WILL BE DOING A LETTER AND I'VE ALSO CONTACTED ANN MARIE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO STOP THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AREN'T STUDENTS AREN'T IMPACTED ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY NEW DRIVERS THERE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER COMBS. FIRST I WANT TO THANK MEMBER RENDON FOR RENDON FOR IMAGINE CARE.  THE PRIMARY CARE PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, MENTAL WELLNESS AND NUTRITION ALL GO HAND IN HAND IN HAND IN HAND IN LIFTING OUR CHILDREN, AS WE GROW, BRINGING THESE SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THEM TO GO AND SEEK THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES AND TO THEIR FAMILIES FAMILIES ARE ADDING BUILDING BLOCKS TO THEM AND TO THEIR FUTURE. SO I WANT TO THANK SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. I I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT ALLIANCE THAT YOU'VE FORMED WITH THEM. EVEN MORE SO, AS I WAS WATCHING THE STUDENTS THAT THAT'S THE STUDENTS THAT THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT BECAUSE IT'S TO AFFECT BECAUSE IT'S OUR PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL FORWARD AND ALSO OUR HIGH-NEED STUDENTS. THOSE STUDENTS WERE JUST ECSTATIC AND EXCITED TO BE THERE AND TO RECEIVE NOT JUST THAT SUPPORT IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT ALONG WITH THEIR BACK PACKS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, THE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION WINNERS. EVERYONE WHO WENT OUT THERE AND WHO WERE WHO WERE THERE, THEY WERE ASKED, OUR SUPERINTENDENT ASKED ALL THE TEACHERS WHO WERE NOMINATED TO STAND UP, ALL THE PRINCIPALS WHO WERE NOMINATED TO STAND UP. THE AUDIENCE WAS FULL. IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENING. BUT I BUT I JUST WANT BUT I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS, THE BEST OF THE BEST FOR THAT EVENING. I'VE I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW, THAT WIG THAT YOU CAME OUT WIG THAT YOU CAME OUT ON THE STAGE WITH, IT WAS AMAZING. YEAH, WE HAD TO DO A DOUBLE-TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS YOU. I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND, PABLO, DO YOU HAVE THAT -- I WANT TO SHARE WITH I WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE. LAST MONTH ON LAST MONTH ON JANUARY 18, WE CUT THE RIBBON THE RIBBON ON A THE RIBBON ON A MUSEUM AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. [ CHEERING ] >> AN EXCITING >> AN EXCITING EVENT. WE ARE ACTUALLY COLLABORATING WITH THE FOUNDATION AND DOING A MINI-MUSEUM AROUND ARTIFACTS OF AMERICA. AND IT'S EXCITING, AND IT'S EXCITING, RIGHT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING THE COMMUNITY INSIDE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, COLLABORATING AND BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH STAFF AND STUDENTS IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> SO TO SEE THESE ARTIFACTS HAS BEEN -- WHEN I WALK IN THERE, I WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOODNESS. BUT THIS HAS BEEN BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND FOR ME TO WALK IN THERE TODAY AND SEE IT AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS PUT INTO IT. BUT ALSO, THE AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF IT, I'M JUST SO EXCITED. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MARCOS I WANT TO THANK MARCOS MURILLO BUT ALSO CHRIS FARKAS FOR ALL THE TIME, THE TIME, ALLOWING ME TO CALL AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, AND I AM NOT KIDDING WHEN KIDDING WHEN I SAY THAT. AS WE WERE PLANNING AS WE WERE PLANNING AND ORGANIZING, I WAS JUST AGGRAVATING YOU GUYS. I WOULD LIKE MR. I WOULD LIKE MR. MURILLO TO I WOULD LIKE MR. MURILLO TO ALSO TALK ABOUT TALK ABOUT OR SPEAK TO THE NAMES OF ALL THE STAFF INVOLVED IN THIS, PLEASE. >> I WANT TO THANK CHRIS >> I WANT TO THANK CHRIS FARKAS, ALSO BEN MOORE AND JAMES DERRINGER AND SUPERVISOR ROBERTO MARTINEZ. IT WAS A GROUP EFFORT. IT WAS TIME, IT WAS TIME, DEDICATION, AND IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. THE WORK WAS AN AMAZING WORK. IT WASN'T JUST TO GET IT DONE. IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE A MINI-MUSEUM INSIDE THE OLD CONFERENCE ROOM AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, THE ONE THAT MR. VAN AYRES USED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL. HE COULDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THAT CONFERENCE CONFERENCE ROOM. YEAH, THE PICTURE IS NO LONGER THERE. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE STAFF. THEY DID GREAT WORK, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM HERE. LOUIS, JORGE, LOUIS, JORGE, SAMMY, LOUIS, JORGE, SAMMY, VERNY, RODOLFO, RODOLFO, RAFAEL, RODOLFO, RAFAEL, DON, JORGE, ALEJANDRO, JESUS. PETER, JESUS, PETER, JESUS, ARMANDO, ALEXANDER, AGAIN ROBERTO MARTINEZ. HE WAS THE LEAD SUPERVISOR AROUND THE WORK AND, OF COURSE, THE SUPPORT OF CHIEF OF OPERATIONS IN OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE, OUR STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THE ARTIFACTS AND SEE IF THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THEIR NOT TOUCHED THEIR MOTHERLAND TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME BE ABLE TO SEE SOME ARTIFACTS FROM THEIR HOME AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM. I KNOW THAT THERE I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT A GENTLEMAN WHO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW HIS ROOTS OR WHERE HE CAME FROM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND DO NOT -- I'VE NEVER SEEN -- HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING FROM THEIR HOME. WITH THAT SAID, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]