. >> I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORK FORCE SPROGS. >>Jessica Vaughn: HI, I AM >>Jessica Vaughn: HI, I AM JESSICA VAUGHN, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. >>Lynn Gray: 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. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL US, ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 634 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. >> MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE >> MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE AT OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS IS AVAILABLE AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. >>Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE INCLUDE TIME BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. ALL ALL MATERIALS CAN BE VIEW THE ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE OUR MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. >>Nadia Combs: OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE, TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. [GAVEL SOUNDING] >>Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2024 IS NOW OF JANUARY 23, 2024 IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE 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 NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Karen Perez: MEMBER VAUGHN, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. >>Jessica Vaughn: >>Jessica Vaughn: YES, THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAGNET DRUM LINE ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL STACEY STACEY SCHPALM AND BILL STACEY SCHPALM AND BILL RINI. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> HI, MY NAME IS MICHAEL ESTEVEZ IN THE ESTEVEZ IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. >> I AM ERNESTO AND.8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. >> I AM IN THE 8 PTHS GRADE AND I PLAY BASE DRUM. >> >> MY NAME IS ANTHONY >> MY NAME IS ANTHONY GOMEZ IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. >> JASON, >> JASON, AND I AM IN 7th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TENOR DRUM. >> I AM IN THE 8 PTS GRADE AND PLAY PLAY TENOR. >> I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> I AM IN 7th GRADE. AND I PLAY AND I PLAY TENOR. >> MY NAME IS SERGIO AND I AM IN 7th GRADE AND I PLAY BASS DRUM. >> I AM JUAN GONZALEZ AND IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. >> I AM AARON AND IN 7th GRADE AND PLAY AND PLAY BASS DRUM. >> I AM IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SQUADS. >> MY NAME IS BILL, THE >> MY NAME IS BILL, THE PROUD DRUM DIRECTOR. AND MY MOM CAME TO CUBA IN 1953 AND I WOULD NOT BE COLLEGE BOUND IF DIDN'T START CLARINET IN SIXTH GRADE AND I WENT SIXTH GRADE AND I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ON A UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ON A CLARINET CLARINET SCHOLARSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS IN YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Jessica Vaughn: IF ANY PARENTS WANT TO COME TO THE FRONT TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE. >> ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, READY, THREE, THREE, TWO, ONE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, FANTASTIC JOB. FANTASTIC FANTASTIC [APPLAUSE] >>Henry "Shake" Washington: GREAT JOB. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. A SECOND BY MEMBER A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY, JANUARY 9, 2024, SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE -- IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOU SEE YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD TO BELIEVES NONPARTISAN BOARD TO BELIEVES THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN, TO SUCCEED, AND OUR AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE A WAY FOR TO PAVE A WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GO BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ THE BOARD'S GUIDELINES. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITOR YUM. IT CAN BE IT CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AND THAT IS AT 6 P.M., EMPLOYEE INPUT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR BOARD -- OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS NOT BE DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER, BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAK WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, A RED LIGHT, AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. >> >> HELLO. >>Karen Perez: HI. >> JESSICA M >> JESSICA McNEEB AND >> JESSICA McNEEB AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MISS M ON BEHALF OF MISS McCONNELL. SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN BEEN TEACHING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY AT APOLLO SPECIFICALLY AT APOLLO BEACH FOR TEN. THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY OUR SCHOOL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A K-8 EXPANSION. TWO OF THE MANY REASONS ARE CONGESTION AND CONNECTION. LET'S FIRST START BY CONGESTION. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW I AM NOT FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW I AM NOT TALKING OF COUGHS OR COLDS. TRAFFIC HAS TRAFFIC HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM. AND WITH THE RAPID GROWTH IN RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IT WILL NOT RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IT WILL NOT GET BETTER IN THE NEAR TERM. CURRENT OPTION FOR SIX TO EIGHTH GRADE FOR OUR STUDENTS TOO FAR AWAY FOR STUDENTS TO BIKE OR WALK TO SCHOOL. WHILE BUSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MANY OPT FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND MAGNET WITH NO BUSING OPTIONS. THIS MEANS THAT PARENTS MUST DRIVE DRIVE OR ARRANGE RISE FOR OUR STUDENTS STUDENTS HEADING TO A TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM. I HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FREQUENTLY SIGNED OUT BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS MUST PICK UP MIDDLE SCHOOLERS OR WANT TO, QUOTE, BEAT THE CAR LINE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN FOR MY STUDENTS, HOWEVER, IS NOT TRAFFIC, IT IS SENSE OF CONNECTION. THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THAT -- KEEP IT. THEY ARE THEY ARE FORCED TO CHANGE SCHOOLS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. ACCORDING NUMEROUS SOURCES INCLUDING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, CHILDREN WHO, QUOTE "FEEL CONNECTED TO PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES MAY BE COMMUNITIES MAY BE BUFFERD FROM THE OTHER RISK FACTOR INFORMATION THEIR LIVES." END QUOTE. OUR SCHOOL DOES THIS VERY WELL. OUR KIDS ARE PART OF A CARING COMMUNITY WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ADULTS AND OTHER STUDENTS. IN THE PAST, MANY IN THE PAST, MANY STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED ATTENDED APOLLO BEACH FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE. I I NOTICED A TREND OF I NOTICED A TREND OF CHILDREN LEECHING OF THIRD TO FOURTH DAY. THEIR PARENTS WANT TO SECURE A, QUOTE, SPOT, TO ATTEND CHARTER SCHOOLS CLOSER TO THEIR HOME. AS A TEACHER, THIS BREAKS MY HEART. AS A STUDENT THEY ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FRIENDS AND MUST START AGAIN WITH NEW PLACES AND NEW ADULTS. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE THOSE PRECIOUS CONNECTIONS SO VITAL AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THE MOST WELL-ADJUSTED MIDDLE SCHOOLERS EXPERIENCE. EXPANDING OUR SCHOOL FOR SIXTH THROUGH THROUGH 8th GRADE WILL ALLOW PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR KIDS IN PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR KIDS IN APOLLO BEACH AND BUILD ON STRONG CONNECTIONS THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ALREADY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS McCONNELL, THIRD GRADE. >>Karen Perez: THANK >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MEGAN STONE. I AM A PARENT OF THESE TWO YOUNG MEN AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MY YOUNGEST IS MY YOUNGEST IS ACTUALLY IN THE VERY FIRST VERY FIRST VERY FIRST VPK AT APOLLO BEACH AND HE HAS A MESSAGE HE WANTS TO SHARE WITH YOU. >>Lynn Gray: FIRST SPEAKING DEBUT. >> I LOVE MY SCHOOL. >> CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER. >> CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER? >> THANK YOU >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT NEXT SPEAKER? >> HELLO, MY NAME IS AMBER MILLS. I HAVE BEEN I HAVE BEEN SELLING REAL ESTATE IN APOLLO BEACH FOR 24 YEARS NOW. PRIOR TO PRIOR TO THAT AS A CHILD, PRIOR TO THAT AS A CHILD, I ATTENDED APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY, THEN EISENHOWER AND GRADUATED ICE BAY. MY SON ALSO WENT TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND I HAVE TWO GRANDSONS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN APOLLO BEACH IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. IF YOU EVEN LOOK ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, MY KITCHEN WINDOW, I CAN SEE THE SCHOOL IN PLAIN SIGHT. I AM ALSO A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SCHOOL THE SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT TO ME FOR FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS AS WELL AS FOR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. HAVING A HUGE WATERFRONT TAX BREAK WITHIN APOLLO BEACH, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT DRIVING DOWN APOLLO BEACH BOULEVARD APOLLO BEACH BOULEVARD LITTERED WITH POTHOLES, LACK OF LANDSCAPING AND BROKEN SIDEWALKS. OUR TOWN IS OVERLOOKED IN AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, MY BROKER JUST RECENTLY ASKED TO GET APPROVALS FOR 44 NEW WATERFRONT HOMESITES TO BE DEVELOPED, BUT WE WERE DENIED FROM THE COUNTY DENIED FROM THE COUNTY CITING NOT ENOUGH SCHOOL SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH AND THAT IS ONLY 44 HOMES. INSTEAD OF A NEW SCHOOL, PRIME U.S 41 REAL ESTATE USE FOR A BUS PARKING LOT FOR ALL THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD WE NOT TAKE THE CLASS ACT AMAZING CULTURE THAT APOLLO BEACH HAS TO EXPAND IT TO GIVE APOLLO BEACH RESIDENTS A MUCH-NEEDED MIDDLE SCHOOL ON LAND THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE ON THE WEST SIDE OF 41. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE CULTURE WITHIN APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY WILL EXPAND TO ALLOW FOR OUR TOWN TO HAVE ANOTHER TOWN TO HAVE ANOTHER A-RATED MIDDLE SCHOOL TO SUPPORT GROEP GROWTH, INCREASE THE TAX BASE GROWTH, INCREASE THE TAX BASE FURTHER AND MAKE OUR TOWN FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I AM SUPPORTING THE K-8 INITIATIVE AND LONG OVERDUE TO A MUCH-NEEDED ANSWER TO A PROBLEM. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EMILY PICKET. I AM A MOM OF TWO -- TWO I AM A MOM OF TWO -- TWO BOYS AT TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I AM ALSO THE I AM ALSO THE PTA PRESIDENT THERE AND THE FLORIDA THERE AND THE FLORIDA ORGANIZER FOR MOM'S CLEAN AIR FORCE. A COMMUNITY OF 1.5 MILLION MOMS AND DADS AND DADS UNITED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE. WE HAVE 186,000 MEMBERS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MOMS CLEAN AIR FORCE TO AIR FORCE TO THANK YOU FOR THE AIR FORCE TO THANK YOU FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S CLEAN BUS PROGRAM AND CON GARAGE LATE YOU FOR THE GRANT FOR 20 ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES. TAMPA HAS THE MOST POLLUTED AIR OF ALL OF FLORIDA. AND THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IS THE LEADING SOURCE OF POLLUTION IN THE FORM OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. THE BIG YELLOW DIESEL BUSES THAT CURRENTLY TRANSPORT OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS POLLUTION. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TAILPIPE POLLUTION IN THE AIR CONTRIBUTING TO ASTHMA AND EVEN CANCER. WHAT IS WORSE THAT THE AIR INSIDE THE BUS IS FREQUENTLY MORE TOXIC THAN THE AIR BEHIND IT. THIS MEANS THAT CHILDREN AND BUS DRIVERS ARE STUCK IN A POLLUTED CABIN EVERY DAY WHEN THEY RIDE THE BUS. THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES WHICH HAVE ZERO EMOTION MISSIONS, OUR KIDS AND BUS DRIVERS WILL BREATHE CLEANER AIR TO AND FROM SCHOOL. OUR COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE LESS AIR POLLUTION. AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WILL SHOW ITS COMMITMENT TO DECREASING ITS CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE WARMING GREENHOUSE CLIMATE WARMING GREENHOUSE GASES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND CELEBRATE THE DISTRICT'S AWARD FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. WILL SPEAKERS 6-8 PLEASE LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE AN I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNINGS. JULIE JULIE GEPHART. TOMORROW AT 9 A.M., THE DISTRICT WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO KEEP THIS BOOK BOOK "IDENTICAL" IN THE BOOK "IDENTICAL" IN THE NEWSOM LIBRARY. WILL NOT AFFECT THE 24 OTHER SCHOOLS IT WILL STILL REMAIN IN. JUDGING FROM THE PATTERN OF BOOK CHALLENGES THUS FAR, PROBABLY WILL REMAIN AT WILL REMAIN AT NEWSOM DESPITE DRAMATIC CHILD RAPE, DRUG USE, IDEALIZATION, IDEALIZATION, BDSM AND MANY DESCRIPTIVE SEX SCENES. THE THEMES OF THE BOOK THE THEMES OF THE BOOK LITERALLY ON EVERY PAGE. COMPOSED OF SEVEN MEMBERS CHOSEN BY THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS WHO ALSO CHOSE THE BOOK FOR HER LIBRARY CON VEENDZ IN NOVEMBER AND UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO RETAIN THE BOOK. THE COMMITTEE CONVENED AND CALLED IT A CAUTIONARY TALE. THAT IS THE WAY THEY EXCUSED THE DESPICABLE CONTENT IN THIS BOOK. WIKIPEDIA DEFINES WIKIPEDIA DEFINES "CAUTIONARY TALE" AS HAVING THREE PARTS. WARNING OF DANGER, WARNING OF DANGER, THE NARRATIVE, SOMEONE PERFORMS THE FORBIDDEN ACT AND THE FORBIDDEN ACT AND THE VIOLATOR COMES TO AN UNPLEASANT FATE. NOT WHAT WE SEE IN THIS BOOK, A MATRIX OF INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MATRIX OF INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TOXIC BEHAVIOR, SELF-HARM, TOXIC BEHAVIOR, SELF-HARM, BULIMIA, SUICIDAL IDEALIATION, STEALING PARENTS' HARD LIQUOR, GLORIFICATION OF ALL THESE THINGS ARE IN THIS BOOK. SHE TRADES SEX FOR DRUGS SHE TRADES SEX FOR DRUGS AND THINGS LIKE THIS, I LIKE MY BELLY EMPTIED OF FOOD, FAT AND PAIN. AND THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. LIKE IT DOESN'T COME BACK IN THE END AND SHE SAYS I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT. SHE ALSO SAYS MOST OF THE TIME DYING IS MY ONLY MEANS OF DYING IS MY ONLY MEANS OF ESCAPE. BUT LET ME READ TO YOU A LITTLE OF THE OF THE BDSM ON PAGE OF THE BDSM ON PAGE 212-214. SO TROUBLING BECAUSE NOT ONLY FACE RAPE BUT SHE COMES BACK AND SAYS I LIKED IT. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE TEACHING THE GIRLS HERE. I NOTICED THE NYLON CORD TIED TO THE HEADBOARD. HIS VOICE IS ALMOST A SNARL AND HIS VOICE IS ALMOST A SNARL AND HE SAYS THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE GAMES. ROPE AROUND TIGHTLY. AND AND SAYING SCREAM. WOULD ANYONE HEAR? WOULD ANYONE CARE? HE FORCES HER TO SAY PLEASE, SIR, PUNISH ME. FLIPS ME ON MY BELLY. YANKS MY LEGS APART. I AM HELPLESS, I AM HELPLESS, EXPOSED AND HE THRUSTS HIMSELF INTO HER. AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE, SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE -- THE LEATHER SNAPPED AGAINST HER SKIN. AND THEN SHE SAYS SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I SAY QUICKLY THAT I MIGHT LIKE IT AND ASK TO PLAY IT AGAIN. I DO WANT TO PLAY AGAIN SOON. SO -- THEN WE HAVE THE SO -- THEN WE HAVE THE RAPE. THIS DECISION WILL BE MADE AGAIN TOMORROW. AND I REALLY HOPE YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS BOOK DOES NOT HAVE REDEMPTIVE STUDENT FOR ANY STUDENTS AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING THIS IN BE PUTTING THIS IN FRONT OF ANYONE ELSE'S CHILDREN. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HELLO, NATALIE BAILEY. I AM GOING TO BE READING A LETTER FROM A FOURTH-GRADE STUDENT THAT USED TO ATTEND APOLLO BEACH. I BELIEVE -- MY NAME IS MADISON BROWN. I BELIEVE APOLLO BEACH WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT MIDDLE SCHOOL. HAVING ATTENDED FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FOURTH, I CHERISH THE MEMORIES AND WONDERFUL FRIENDS, MINIMAL BULLYING AND WARM WELCOMING FROM TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, TRUSTWORTHY MENTORING AND ENGAGING LESSONS CONTRIBUTED TO A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE OF APOLLO BEACH WERE NOT ONLY FRIENDLY BUT KIND AND A PLACE I WILL TRULY MISS AND WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK. A SPINOFF THAT A SPINOFF THAT K-8 FOR POLO BEACH WILL BE A GREAT CHOICE. COMMUNAL CREATING ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT FEELS THEY BELONG. WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE THE -- THE NURTURING COMMUNITY THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO FIND AN UNIQUE VOICE AND EXPLORE THEIR PASSION. K-8 WILL ALLOW KIDS WITH MUTUAL INTEREST CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING WITH THEIR THEIR PEERS THAT THEY ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH. THESE KIDS FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH EACH OTHER SINCE KINDERGARTEN, AND THEY ARE NEIGHBORS. NOT ONLY ARE THE KIDS THAT FEEL COMFORTABLE, BUT THE PARENTS AS WELL. WE, TOO, HAVE GROWN UP WITH THESE KIDS AND FAMILIES AND CONSIDER THEM FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. WE ALL FEEL SAFE AS WE ARE RESPECTED AND HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND GOALS AND VALUES. WE BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND OUR SCHOOL. K-8 WILL CREATE A SAFE AND K-8 WILL CREATE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR SCHOOL BY EMPHASIZING ASPECTS OF OUR SCHOOL INVESTMENTS THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO BE MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR SCHOOL LIFE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE TO IMPORTANT ADULTS AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME. KIDS HAVE BUILT TRUST WITH THEIR SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND  PEERS. SAD TO SEE THEM LET THIS GO. K-8 WILL BE AN EASY TRANSITION. APOLLO BEACH IS NOT THE LITTLE TOWN IT ONCE WAS. WE ARE A CONTINUING COMMUNITY AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW. WE SEE THAT RIGHT WE SEE THAT RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE RAPID GROWTH IN HOMES AND TOWNHOUSES AND CONTINUING MORE AND MORE DEVELOPMENT WITH FAMILIES MOVING INTO THE APOLLO BEACH AREA. IN ADDITION TO HOME GROWTH, INCREASE OF RESTAURANTS, FAST FOOD, GROCERY STORES, ROADS, HOSPITALS, BUT NOT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTION FOR KIDS IN THIS GROWING COMMUNITY. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU GAVE US OUR EARS TO HEAR SO MANY FAMILY'S STRESS. AND WE REALLY HOPE YOU CONSIDER APOLLO BEACH TO BE A APOLLO BEACH TO BE A K-8. WE WILL ALL IN PANIC MODE AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS FASTLY ENDING AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE FILLING UP. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HOW ARE YOU DOING. DEREK BAILEY. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW EXAMPLE OF HOW WE HAVE SOME KIDS THAT -- WE ARE LOSING MONEY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEY ARE GOING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND GOING EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. SOPHIA, A FIFTH GRADER WHO NO LONGER LONGER GOES TO APOLLO BEACH AND THEY HAD TO SECURE A SPOT AT A CHARTER SCHOOL SO THEY COULD BE TOGETHER. THIS IS WHY I THINK APOLLO BEACH SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO HAVE HIGHER GRADES ALLOW $. AHOLLOW BEACH IS THE PERFECT SCHOOL FOR ME AND MY SISTER. I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE I CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL WITH MY SISTER UNLESS IT IS UPGRADED TO ALLOW HIGHER GRADES. APOLLO BEACH HAS MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNDERSTANDING TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME AT THEIR SCHOOLS. I THINK IT IS -- I AM SORRY, I REALLY LIKE HOW I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MY SISTER TOO AND NOT BE SEPARATED AND GOING TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IF WE CAN MAKE THIS A K-8. IT WILL HELP OTHER PARENTS. MANY PARENTS MAY STRUGGLE TO FIND A SCHOOL FOR THEIR KIDS. YORK HAS SO MANY YORK HAS SO MANY ATTENDING THE SCHOOL AND A SCHOOL AND A SMALL CHANCE THAT SCHOOL AND A SMALL CHANCE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE ACCEPTED. IF APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY WAS OPEN TO A K-8 RELIEVE MANY PARENTS AND KINDS FROM THE STRUGGLE AND WORRY AND TAKE A HUGE WEIGHT OFF THEIR SHOULDER. ME AND MY FAMILY LOVED APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY AND A WISH COME TRUE TO TRUE TO RETURN TO THIS SCHOOL NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT MY SISTER. ME AND MY SISTER WILL BE HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE TO RETURN. WE WOULD KNOW OUR SURROUNDINGS BETTER. I WOULD BE WITH MY SISTER IN THE FIRST YEAR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO GO WITHOUT HER. TO SUMMARIZE, MANY PARENTS AND KIDS WILL BE COMFORTABLE AND FEEL WELCOME. BUILD A COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND RELIEVE A TON OF PROBLEMS. IT IS ALSO GOING TO IT IS ALSO GOING TO HELP TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITY AS YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW IT IS GROWING ROAR VERY, VERY QUICKLY. MORE MORE PERMITS BEING PULLED FOR DIFFERENT TOWN HOMES, MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES IN THE MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES IN THE VICINITY. LET'S GET AHEAD OF THE CURVEBALL. THAT WILL BE GOOD. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. HI. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS LISETTE MY NAME IS LISETTE BONATO, I AM CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT 57 FLORIDA STATEHOUSE AND I AM A CONSTITUTIONAL CANDIDATE. I'M HERE TODAY NOT ONLY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS A CANDIDATE, BUT ALSO TO ELEMENTARY LET YOU KNOW I STAND ON CERTAIN THINGS HERE. WE KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL NEED WE KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MATH MEDIATION. PASSING RATES FOR STANDARD PASSING RATES FOR STANDARD ALGEBRA TEST IS 30 TO ALGEBRA TEST IS 30 TO 2 THAT SUN ACCEPTABLE. I WANT TO TAKE OUT PORN FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND WE ARE ALL ADULTS HERE. NOT ONLY MOM, GRANDMA, BUT ALSO A RETIRED WAR VETERAN. I DECIDED NOT TO RETIRE. I DECIDED TO STAND UP FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND THAT IS ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR MINDS AND KEEPING THEM SAFE. YOU KNOW MY PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME OR MY SIBLINGS OF WHAT WE WERE LEARNING. THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT. READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC. WE NEED THAT BACK IN THE SCHOOL AND STOP THIS OTHER NONSENSE AND BRING IN ADDITIONAL IDEOLOGIES INTO THE INTO THE CURRICULUM AND MAKE IT HALLOWEEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE TEACH TO PRESENT TO THE STUDENTS, OKAY. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE, THEIR MINDS INNOCENT. AND WE NEED TO BE THE ONES TO DO THAT HERE. WE NEED TO KEEP THE WE NEED TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON OUR CHILDREN AND MEETING CHILDREN AND MEETING AUTHENTIC ACADEMIC ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. AND THAT IS THE END OF THE AND THAT IS THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE HAVE ONE RECOGNITION, ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION OF ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND MEMBER GRAY WILL BE READING THIS. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH, AND I AM VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING ALIGNED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS AND EFFECTS AS MANY AS 27.6 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE INCLUDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO ARE TRAFFICKED FOR LABOR AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. AND, WHEREAS, ACCORDING THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE, FLORIDA RANKS THIRD IN THE NATION FOR NUMBERS OF THE NATION FOR NUMBERS OF 781 REPORTED CASES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE AVERAGE AGE OF TRAFFICKED YOUTH IS 11 TO 13 YEARS OLD. NOW THE AVERAGE AGE HAS DROPPED TO 10 YEARS OLD. WHEREAS, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER SUPPORT STAFF, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN RECOGNIZING POTENTIAL POTENTIAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND IN HELPING POTENTIAL VICTIMS IN HELPING POTENTIAL VICTIMS ASSESS, SPECIALIZE SERVICES. AND WHEREAS, THE BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE RISK THE RISK FACTORS OF THE RISK FACTORS OF VULNERABLE YOUTH AND CHOOSES TO EDUCATES STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE WARNING SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TRAFFICKING AND INCREASED USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS A PLATFORM TO CONTACT, RECRUIT, AND GAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR VICTIMS INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR VICTIMS AND, NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS, AND OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF WILL TAKE AN ADVOCATE'S ROLE IN COMMUNICATING INFORMATION TO ITS INFORMATION TO ITS STAKEHOLDERS SO THAT ALL SO THAT ALL STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY DILIGENTLY -- EXCUSE ME -- IDENTIFY AND REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHEREBY SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT STRONG MESSAGE THAT THE DISTRICT WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY NORM OF WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY NORM OF ANY FORM OF THIS CRIME. MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE FORMED IN 2018 COMMITTEE FORMED IN 2018 THROUGH THEIR YEARS OF EFFORT AND EXPERIENCE. EACH OF YOU THAT ARE SITTING HERE AND SOME THAT COULD NOT HERE AND SOME THAT COULD NOT ATTEND HAVE BROUGHT IN MUCH-NEEDED AWARENESS TO -- EXCUSE ME -- TO THE NEFARIOUS ELEMENTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO OUR STAFF AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO OUR STUDENTS. OUR EFFORTS ARE NOT YET DONE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR AWARENESS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY VIA OUR FUTURE SCHOOL COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS YEAR. I WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING FOLKS TO BE TO BE RECOGNIZED AND STAND AT THIS TIME. I WOULD FIRST WELCOME THE I WOULD FIRST WELCOME THE CITY LEE LEE BERCAW. AND THEN I AM GOING TO GO RIGHT ON DOWN. THANK YOU. AND THEN WE HAVE THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CORPORAL ASHLEY LINDEN AND CHRIS AND CHRIS RUHL. SOME OF THESE FOLKS CANNOT ATTEND TONIGHT. RECOGNIZING AMBER JOHANN ON, FIRST FIRST PRIORITY OF TAMPA PAY. AMY WELCH WHO IS THE PTA PARENT TEACHER TEACHER ASSOCIATION. AND ASHLEY, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BETSY BETSY 234U8MARITI THAT REPRESENT THE FBI. GLAD YOU MADE IT. CONNIE ROSE, VICTIMS TO SURVIVORS. DENISE DENISE SOVINO, LEONARD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. DOTTY GROVER SKIRP WHOSE NO MORE FOUNDATION, HEART DANCE FOUNDATION, HEART DANCE FOUNDATION. DRUCY PHILLIPS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ESHA PATEL. I DON'T THINK SHE IS ABLE TO COME TONIGHT BUT WE WILL SEE HER SOON. JANET EDWARDS, PAVING THE WAY FOUNDATION. JENNETTE JENNETTE MATA, JESSICA DE LA LA PRITA WHO IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. JESSICA, STAND UP. JUNE JUNE WALLACE, SHARED HOPE JUNE WALLACE, SHARED HOPE ORGANIZATION. KATE KATE HOPA, THE KNOW MORE FOUNDATION. KELLY LOPEZ. KELLY BRENNAN, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. KEN HART. VERONICA SCHMIDT GOMEZ. LAURA CROSS, WHO IS OUR COMMUNICATION EXPERT. MARY BROWN JOSEPH, SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL NOW AT BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL, GUIDANCE. MYA RIVERA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SHE IS HERE -- WHEREVER SHE IS. YES, I THINK SHE IS MERE. MIA. >> SHE HAD TO LEAVE. >>Lynn Gray: SHE HAD TO LEAVE. MELISSA MELISSA MAGATA. ALVA SELL MONDAYS. NANCY NANCY HARTWELL. MY PLEASURE ALSO SYLVIA SYLVIA ALBRITON. THIS IS LAST BUT PROBABLY NOT THIS IS LAST BUT PROBABLY NOT THE LEAST, NATALIE THE LEAST, NATALIE VASQUEZ. IF YOU CAN ALL GIVE THEM A BIG HAND. [ APPLAUSE ] I DID MISS ANYBODY? >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU MISSED MISS JOHNSON FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. >>Lynn Gray: THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHO DID I MISS? I AM SORRY, MISS JOHNSON. YEAH, I ANNOUNCED HER. I GOT EVERYBODY. I HAVE THE VOICES COMING IN JUST TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MESS UP. AND WE WANT TO REALLY THANK ALSO -- NOT ONLY OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ABSOLUTELY ARE WITH US ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT ALSO OUR ALSO OUR SUPERINTENDENT AYRES FOR BEING EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE AND COMING TO SOME OF THE EVENTS. I AM I AM DONE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH JANUARY 2024. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. AS MEMBER GRAY SAID, FLORIDA IS THE NUMBER THIRD IN THE NATION FOR THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING USING THE HOTLINE. AND TAMPA CONSISTENTLY RANKS AMONG THE HIGHEST CITIES IN THE NATION FOR THE PREVALENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SINCE 2020, THE INTERNET HAS BECOME THE TOP RECRUITMENT LOCATION OF ALL FORMS OF TRAFFICKING. SO OFTEN, IT IS THROUGH THE PHONES WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING GROOMED. AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS $150 BILLION GLOBAL CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP SINCE 2018 AND ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT HERE. IT DEFINITELY TAKES A TEAM. I HAVE BEEN TO ONE OF THE OUTREACH -- PARENT OUTREACH -- COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS WHICH WAS AMAZING AND BRINGING STUDENTS IN WHO ARE WORKING ON THAT. WE HAVE A STUDENT COMING FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT WILL JOINED PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT WILL JOINED FROM BERKELEY. MISS PATEL WHO IS ALSO WORKING. ALL HANDS ON DECK. DOESN'T MATTER PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOL. OUR KIDS ARE SO OUR KIDS ARE SO VULNERABLE AT ALL THESE AGES AND YOU ARE SEEING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. NOT JUST ADULTS BUT CHILDREN. THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE AND THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. ALL YOUR ALL YOUR MONTHLY MEETINGS AS WELL AS YOUR PARENT OUTREACH AND NUMEROUS ONCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND PLEASE YEAR AND PLEASE ATTEND THOSE AND GET INFORMED AND KEEP YOUR CHILDREN INFORMED WHAT CHILDREN INFORMED WHAT IS HAPPENING. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKS HARD TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAFE. I KNOW IT IS A LOT TO VOLUNTEER AND ORGANIZE, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. >>Karen Perez: THANK >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I WANT TO THANK MEMBER GRAY FOR CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE FROM THE CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE FROM THE DAIS FOR MANY YEARS AND ALL THE WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS AND SHINING A LIGHT TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE ROOM TONIGHT WHOSE EFFORTS EACH AND EVERY DAY KEEP CHILDREN SAFE THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AS A MOM OF THREE, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: WELL, I HAVE BEEN THANKING YOU, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE YOU THE BARRIER IN MANY CASES BETWEEN THE ACTUAL ACT OF SEX TRAFFICKING, PORNOGRAPHY, ON THEIR PHONES, AND EVENTUAL -- THE REAL CASE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND I KNOW THAT CORPORAL LINMAN SAID 36 CASES -- MAYBE 35 ARRESTS RECENTLY. IT IS A VERY TERRIBLE THING TO SPEAK LIKE THIS. BUT I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN. AND THEIR AGES ARE VERY TENDER AS OUR BOARD MEMBER -- MEMBER AS OUR BOARD MEMBER -- MEMBER HAHN. AND CERTAINLY MEMBER COMBS. WE HAVE CHILDREN. AND WE ARE VERY WORRIED AND WE WANT TO MAKE PARENTS EXTREMELY AWARE THE BEST WE CAN SO THEY HAVE AT LEAST THE HAVE AT LEAST THE KNOWLEDGE OF SOME OF THESE SOME OF THESE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. WE WILL ADVERTISE OUR EVENTS LATER ON DURING THIS BOARD MEETING. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEARTS. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU DROVE VERY FAR TO BE HERE TONIGHT. SO WE ARE -- THIS BOARD IS APPRECIATIVE AND SO -- SO IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] NOW I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. NOW WE WILL NOW WE WILL -- NOW WE WILL -- NOW THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE HEARD. C 2.01, C 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, 3.01, C 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, 3.01, 6.01, 7.01, 7.01, 7.02, 7.01, 7.02, 7.03. C IN UP C IN UP C IN UP  2.01, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, PROPOSALS, RFP, TRAINING SOLUTION INNOVATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS. >>Superintendent Ayres: THIS >>Superintendent Ayres: THIS ITEM FOR THE INSTRUCTION ACADEMY, PRIM BASE LESSONS, HANDS-ON REMEMBER INDUSTRY STANDARD EQUIPMENT AND STRUCTURED TRAINING. THE SIMULATIONS ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH INDUSTRY AND THE FLORIDA FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICITY, HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING OF WHICH CONDITIONING OF WHICH ARE PART OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AT THE CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY AT BOWERS WHITLEY. WE EXPECT IMPLEMENTING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY WILL HAVE ENROLLMENT TECHNOLOGY WILL HAVE ENROLLMENT AND AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY AT BOWERS WHITLEY IN THE CURRENT AND FUTURE SCHOOL YEARS. >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C 2.01. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND FROM MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? >>Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER PEREZ. I WANTED TO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THIS. THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF CHRIS JARGO AND SCOTT BROOKS. THIS WAS A THIS WAS A CONGRESSIONALLY FUNDED COMMUNITY GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED $1 MILLION AND REPRESENTATIVE KATHY CASTOR OBTAINED THAT GRANT FOR US AND THAT $1 MILLION WILL GO THAT $1 MILLION WILL GO INTO BOWERS WHITLEY FOR CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS WATERS FOR THE MEDICAL TRAINING. AND THIS HVAC -- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME MAKING SURE WE CAN DO SOME HOME-GROWN -- YOU TALK OF 255 HOME-GROWN -- YOU TALK OF 255 SCHOOLS AND ALL THE AC PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF DEVICES THAT ARE SO -- I MEAN, THERE ARE -- THIS IS A BRAND-NEW -- YOU DON'T SEE THEM IN ANY OTHER DISTRICTS. TO HAVE THE AMAZING MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN THROUGH HVAC, HEATING AND SOLAR HANDS ON THROUGH THIS MACHINERY. I WANT TO THANK YOU. WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING CTE PROGRAM. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK KATHY CASTOR FOR BRINGING THE MONEY TO THE DISTRICT, WORKING TOGETHER, MAKING A DIFFERENCE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT ONLY CAN EDUCATE KIDS AND KNOW THAT TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS REALLY WHAT THE FUTURE NEEDS. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY -- YOU KNOW, YOU ARE GOING TO END UP HAVING PEOPLE WITH HANDS-ON JOBS THAT CAN MAKE A FUTURE, THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION AND I WANT TO THANK THE CTE PROGRAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM IS C 2.02, CONTRACT NEXT ITEM IS C 2.02, CONTRACT RENEWAL APPROVAL FOR RENEWAL APPROVAL FOR WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. INNOVATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. SUPERINTENDENT WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, THE FIRST OF TWO CONTRACT RENEWALS WE HAVE THIS EVENING. THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR THE RENEWAL FOR THE APPROVAL FOR WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING PERFORMING ARTS. WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OPENED IN 2004. THE SCHOOL IS A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL SERVING 143 STUDENTS IN GRADES GRADES K-5. THE PRESENT CONTRACT EXPIRES JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR. SCHOOL LOCATED 4817 NORTH FLORIDA AVENUE. THE SCHOOL EARNED A GRADE OF A IN THE IN THE 2021-'22 SCHOOL YEAR. FLORIDA STATUTES PERMITS THE RENEWAL OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT FOR SCHOOLS THAT COMPLETED THEIR CONTRACT TERMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLORIDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLORIDA STATUTE. THE THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW REPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW REPORT PROVIDES THE BOARD WITH RATINGS ON A SET OF ON A SET OF CRITERIA FOR FINANCIAL, PERFORMANCE AND GOVERNANCE OF GOVERNANCE OF THE SCHOOL. ALL WERE SATISFACTORY WITH SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS HAS REQUESTED A CONTRACT RENEWAL OF FIVE YEARS. SO THAT IS THE AGENDA ITEM FOR CONTRACT RENEWALS FOR WALTON. WE ARE HERE FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OF COURSE, MISS OF COURSE, MISS DELANG IS HERE AS WELL -- THERE SHE IS OVER THERE -- FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS QUESTIONS OF THIS CONTRACT RENEWAL. >>Karen Perez: A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C SECOND TO APPROVE C 2.02. A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS. SECOND FROM MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I HAVE A COMMENT. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL, MISS THE PRINCIPAL, MISS WALTON, AND THE FOUNDER OF WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. I WANT TO SAY THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUT IN EFFORT SHE PUT IN AND THE DEDICATION SHE PUT IN TO THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY SHE LIVES IN ARE JUST LIVES IN ARE JUST TREMENDOUS. STUDENTS WERE ENERGIZED AND EXCITED TO BE AT SCHOOL. THEY LOVE THAT SHOW THEIR GIFT AND PRESENT IT TO THE COMMUNITY AND LONGEVITY OF THEIR AND LONGEVITY OF THEIR TEACHERS. A TRUE COMMUNITY AND HOME WHERE SHE IS AT. SHE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB OF ORGANIZING AND GETTING A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY EVERY TIME SOMEONE WALKS WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR. THEY REVISITED AND BROUGHT IN THEIR PARENTS TO CONTINUE TO BE A VITAL ROLE WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND A TRUE HONOR TO BE ABLE TO VOTE TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. UP WISH WE HAD A LITTLE MORE DATA, BECAUSE THE GRADE KIND OF VARIES FROM NOT HAVING A GRADE DUE TO COVID. AND AND THEN HAVING AN A GRADE AND I AM ASSUMING THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SAME STANDARDS THAT WE DID BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW GROWTH BECAUSE A NEW TEST. IT IS JUST -- YOU KNOW, IF STUDENTS ARE ON LEVEL. BUT ONE THING I THINK THIS HIGHLIGHTS BECAUSE HIGHLIGHTS BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING OVER THE DEMOGRAPHICS IS WHAT AN IMPACT THAT PERFORMING ARTS CAN HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. AND I THINK THAT AS MUCH AND I THINK THAT AS MUCH AS WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE, THIS IS GOOD MOTIVATION AND GOOD DATA TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD EXPAND OUR PERFORMING ARTS. AND THAT OUR ARTS PROGRAM DO GO HAND IN HAND WITH STUDENTS SUCCESS. AGAIN, I WISH THERE WERE MORE DATA, BUT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAD AN A AND NOW A C, I THINK THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW IMPORTANT ARTS ARE IN OUR SCHOOL. AND, YOU KNOW, SO MANY KIDS THE CHANCE TO CHANCE TO PERFORM AND FOLLOW THEIR PASSION CONNECTS THEM TO SCHOOL AND GIVES THEM THE REASON TO SHOW UP AND DO TO SHOW UP AND DO WELL. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM C NEXT ITEM C 2.03, CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR RIVERVIEW RENEWAL FOR RIVERVIEW ACADEMY OF MATH AND SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHTS THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONCE AGAIN A SECOND CONTRACT RENEWAL. ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR RIVERVIEW MATH AND SCIENCE. RIVER VIEW ACADEMY OF MATH AND SCIENCE OPENED AND OFFERS A CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM SERVE CAN 1337 STUDENTS IN GRADES GRADES K-8. PRESENT CONTRACT EXPIRES JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR AND SCHOOL 9906 SILS ROAD IN SILS ROAD IN RIVERVIEW. THE SCHOOL EARNED A GRADE OF A B IN THE IN THE 2021-'22. IN MISS VAUGHN'S POINT EARLIER IN THE 2023, THEY RECEIVED AN A FOR THE FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT IS INCLUDED WHICH PROVIDES THE BOARD WITH RATINGS ON A ON A SET OF CRY TER CRY TERRY I CAN'T HAVE THE OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL AND GOVERNING OF THE SCHOOL. ALL RATINGS ARE SATISFACTORY WITH TWO RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE HIGHLIGHT OF 2.03. >>Karen Perez: I NEED >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A SECOND TO ITEM C ITEM C 2.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON, ANY QUELLS OR COMMENTS. >>Patti Rendon: YEAH. I JUST HAVE A CONTINUATION OF COMMENTS. EVERY COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY FAMILY IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT. RUN HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS. BOTH OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF A CHILD ESPECIALLY IN THEIR ESPECIALLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY. BOTH OF THESE BOTH OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOLS AND INTEGRATE THE COMMUNITY IN EVERYTHING THEY DO AS WELL AS PERFORMING HIGH ACADEMICALLY. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING OUT AND MEETING WITH RIVERVIEW ACADEMY AS I DID ACADEMY AS I DID WITH WALTON. AND THE TEACHERS ARE DEDICATED AS ALL OF OUR OTHER TEACHERS. THE STUDENTS ARE HAPPY. THEY ARE EXPLORING NEW THINGS. THEY ARE BUILDING BETTER GROUNDS. BUILDING BETTER RELATIONSHIPS. I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION OF RIVERVIEW ACADEMY FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME OUT AND VISIT AS DID WALTON ACADEMY. AND SO ITS, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO GIVE OPTIONS AND CHOICES TO STUDENTS ALL OVER THE DISTRICT AND EACH ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING THE CAMBRIDGE CURRICULUM, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: I KNOW WE ARE MOVING INTO DOING THAT IN SOME TEST MIDDLE SCHOOLS. I KNOW THAT LIBERTY IS DOING IT. I WAS AT I WAS AT BONITO TODAY AND THEY WERE TALKING OF. EXPANSION OF EXPANSION OF THAT. I WAS GLAD TO SEE I WAS GLAD TO SEE IMPLEMENTING CAMBRIDGE FROM A B TO AN A BECAUSE AN IMPORTANT CURE RICKS LULL ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING. MY QUESTION IS, IS THE ENTIRE CURRICULUM SUPPORTED BY THE CAMBRIDGE PROGRAM. ONE COURSE? BECAUSE I KNOW IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE ARE DOING THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE COURSE TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS FOR WRITING. FULL CAMBRIDGE PROGRAM IN HERE SIMILAR TO HIGH SCHOOLS OR HOW DOES IT WORK IN THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL. >> I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT THE PRINCIPAL IS HERE PRINCIPAL IS HERE TODAY. IF YOU PERMIT IF YOU PERMIT -- IF YOU PERMIT -- >>Jessica Vaughn: IS THAT OKAY FOR MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR HER TO ANSWER? OKAY. >> THIS THE PRINCIPAL MARCY RINGDAL. RINGDAL. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE. I AM I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ABOUT THE CAMBRIDGE PROGRAM AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE CURIOUS AS TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. WE DO WE DO OFFER A FULL COURSE WE DO OFFER A FULL COURSE OF CAMBIAN COURSES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH 8th GRADE. IT IS A TRACK FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO WILL EVENTUALLY GO ON TO THE ACE ACE DIPLOMA FOR CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL. OUR K-5 OUR K-5 ALSO FOCUSES ON OUR K-5 ALSO FOCUSES ON CAMBRIDGE STYLE TEACHING AND WE WERE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN THAT WE RUN -- WE RUN THOSE EVERY QUARTER, OR AS OFTEN AS A TEACHER WOULD LIKE TO DO THEM IN THE CLASSROOM. THOSE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ARE VERY STUDENT-CENTERED. TEACHER FACILITATED. PROBLEM SOLVING TYPE LESSONS THAT ARE VERY THAT ARE VERY ENGAGING AND CREATE A VERY CREATE A VERY INTELLECTUAL ANNALIZATION OF THE PROBLEM ANNALIZATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION. >>Jessica Vaughn: ONE MORE QUESTION. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO SPEAK TO THAT. ARE THERE -- YOU SAY YOU OFFER IN THE FULL RANGE, IS THERE A CHANCE IF THEY TRANSITION ON TO A HIGH SCHOOL THAT OFFERS IT, THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE CLASSES AGAIN? BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF OFFERING IT FULLY IN THE MIDDLE IT FULLY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. SOME OF THE SOME OF THE CLASSES YOU WOULD TAKE IN HIGH SCHOOL. IS THAT NOT THE CASE? >> >> I REALLY CAN'T THEN A SINCE IT IS A 8th GRADE IT IS A 8th GRADE TRANSITIONAL. I DO KNOW THAT I DO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE THE PROGRAM THAT GOES UP THROUGH AT BELL CREEK UP TO 12th GRADE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRANSFER LOOK LIKES. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. >> I WILL BE HAPPY TO GET THAT >> I WILL BE HAPPY TO GET THAT FOR YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM IS C NEXT ITEM IS C 3.01, SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE AND ADDENDUM PURCHASE AND ADDENDUM OF AGREEMENT OF FEEDING TAMPA BAY AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FLORIDA. STUDENT SUPPORT AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IN AMENDMENT IS TO CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT OUR FOOD PANTRIES TO OUR EIGHT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO TARGET FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN. BROWARD ELEMENTARY, McDONALD ELEMENTARY, POTTER, GRECO, GIBSON, FOSTER AND JENNINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL. OUR CURRENT FEEDING OUR CURRENT FEEDING TAMPA BAY SITES WILL EXPAND FOR ANOTHER YEAR. BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL, WILL RENEW THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY. ALL EIGHT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR C.E.P. A PROVISION THAT ALLOW ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO OFFER A NONPRICING MEAL SERVICE FOR ALL STUDENTS FOR NO CHARGE FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. SERVE SERVE LOW-INCOME CHILDREN FREE AND REDUCED NUTRITIOUS MEALS. THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY TAMPA BAY WILL GO BEYOND FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND HELP ALLEVIATE HUNGER THROUGH FOOD TARGETED TO FAMILY AND THEIR CHILDREN. THESE FOOD PANTRIES AT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WILL PROVIDE A MORE READILY ACCESSIBLE SOURCE OF FOOD AND ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. ITEM ITEM 3.01. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM C ITEM C 3.01. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Lynn Gray: YOU WANT ME TO START? >>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: YOU KNOW THIS IS -- THIS IS A LOVELY EVENING BECAUSE WE ARE THANKING A LOT OF AGENCIES AND A LOT OF FOLKS THAT NEED TO BE MENTIONED. SO HERE IS -- HERE IS SO HERE IS -- HERE IS MY BIG THANKS ALSO TO FEEDING TAMPA BAY. I MEAN THEY ARE EXPANDING A THEIR PANTRIES. THEY ARE SERVING NOW FRESH FOOD THEY ARE SERVING NOW FRESH FOOD VERSUS JUST CANNEDED INTO. AND I HAVE TO SAY INCREASING THOSE FOOD PANTRIES, ADDING MORE TO OUR FOOD PANTRIES IN AREAS KNOWN AS THE FOOD DESERTS. WHERE CHILDREN AND WHERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION NOT HAVE THE OPTION NECESSARILY TO OBTAIN FRESH LETTUCE AND TOMATOES AND ALL THOSE ITEM. SO I HAVE TO SAY THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD AND STAYING VERY RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF OUR RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, WHAT YOU SAID TO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBLE PROVISION, MEANING THAT NOW THE STUDENTS HAVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. SO THIS GOES A LONG WAY FOR THEIR FOOD SECURITY AND THEIR THEIR FOOD SECURITY AND THEIR NEEDS. THANK YOU FEEDING TAMPA THANK YOU FEEDING TAMPA BAY. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS? >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I ALSO RECENTLY -- ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY. ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS CLARA LAWHEAD LIVES NEAR ME AND I HAVE GONE MORE AND MORE INVOLVED IN EVENT. SCHOOLS IN TOWN AND COUNTRY HAVE REALLY BEEN SUPPORTED BY THEIR FOOD PANTRIES AND MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE. FOOD INSECURITY IS SO, SO REAL FOR SO FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. WE HAD A TEACHER COME IN HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO TALKING ABOUT THAT. FOOD INSECURITY IS A BIG ISSUE. MAKING SURE THAT DURING MAKING SURE THAT DURING HOLIDAYS AND DURING THE WEEKENDS THAT WE HAVE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I URGE THAT, PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO ALSO CONTACT OUR STATE. OUR STATE IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES WHO HAVE -- WHO REJECTED THE SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM. AND A LOT OF POUR STUDENTS WILL BE HUNGRY THIS SUMMER. AND I URGE PEOPLE GO OUT THERE AND TALK TO THEM. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, FOOD INSECURITY IS REAL. MAKE SURE OUR STATE DOES NOT REJECT THAT SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM. THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. THAT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO TOUCH ON AS WELL. THANK YOU TO FEEDING TAMPA BAY. WHAT -- HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY THAT ADDRESSES FOOD INSECURITY. WE CAN TALK OF THE STATISTICS OF FOOD FOOD INSECURITY AND HOW FAR MANY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T HAVE FOOD AND IT WILL BE ALARMING THE AMOUNT OF NUMBERS. TODAY I WAS IN ONE OF MY SCHOOLS TALKING TO THE SCHOOL AND NUTRITION STAFF AND WE WERE TALKING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOT TO HAVE STUDENTS HUNGRY OR TO BE IN A STATE TO LEARN ABOUT INFORMATION. WE TALK OF ACADEMICS AND INSTRUCTION AND DRIVING INSTRUCTION. IF THEIR STUDENT IS HUNGRY AND THEIR STOMACH IS GROWLING AND THEY ARE HUNGRY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE FOOD TO EAT, THEY WILL NOT BE BE IN A STATE OF LEARNING. WE HAVE TO BE REALISTICALLY WHEN TALKING OF THE WHOLE CHILD AND WHAT WE NEED FOR STUDENTS TO BE IN A STATE TO BE IN A STATE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I ALSO READ THREE STATES REJECTING POSSIBLE FREE LUNCH AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR URGING OUR CONSTITUENTS TO GET INVOLVED AND SAY AT THE VERY LEAST, WE SHOULD BE A COUNTY AND A STATE THAT WANT TO FEED OUR HUNGRY CHILDREN. BUT NOT TO TAKE BUT NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM FEEDING TAMPA BAY AND ALL THAT THEY DO NOT JUST TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS BUT SO MANY MEMBERS SCHOOLS BUT SO MANY MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. MY SUN AND I MY SUN AND I VOLUNTEERED HERE THE ONLY PLACE TO ALLOW CHILDREN UNDER 13 TO UNDER 13 TO VOLUNTEER. THEY HAVE FAMILY FOOD BANK NIGHT AND EVERYONE TO COME IN FROM THE FAMILY AND STOCK THE SHELVES AND A GREAT EVENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO ECHO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHEN THANKING FEEDING TAMPA BAY NOT ONLY IS TAMPA BAY NOT ONLY IS FEEDING TAMPA BAY NOT ONLY IS FEEDING TAMPA BAY AN OUTAGE FOR THOSE NEEDING FOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MEMBERS OF FOCUS ACADEMY HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE A WORK-LIKE EXPERIENCE AND BE ABLE EXPERIENCE AND BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT AS A PARTNER AS THEY BUILD THEIR OWN RESUME TO THEIR OWN RESUME TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY LATER. FEEDING TAMPA BAY IS NOT ONLY GIVING TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY BUT GIVING BACK TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR UNIQUE ABILITY OF STUDENTS AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR. THAT ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CHALLENGE OUR DISTRICT IS, ONE OF OUR ESSR GRANTS AND THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE AND ESSR WILL BE DONE AT THE ENDS OF THE YEAR AND I CHALLENGE OUR DISTRICT TO LOOK FOR FUTURE GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES WHETHER WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WORKING THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER GRANTS. BUT I ENCOURAGE OUR DISTRICT TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SO WE CAN CONTINUE THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I STARTED TEACHING -- A VERY LONG TIME AGO -- IN THE CLASSROOM. SCHOOLS -- IF SCHOOLS -- IF THEY WANT TO PROVIDE EXTRA FOOD FOR FAMILIES HAD TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. I REMEMBER IT GOING INTO MORE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. AND NOW SO WONDERFUL TO SEE FEEDING TAMPA BAY IN SO MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY FATHER USED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT. HE GREW UP VERY POOR. HE USED TO TALK WHAT IT WAS LIKE AS A CHILD TO GO HUNGRY. SO IT WAS A CAUSE SO IT WAS A CAUSE THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO HIS HEART. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP. SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN'T BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE UNLESS WE HAVE PARTNERS. SO FEEDING TAMPA BAY IS CERTAINLY A VALUABLE PART ANY CERTAINLY A VALUABLE PART ANYER. I AM SO EXCITED TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK FEEDING TAMPA BAY. I LOOK AT STUDENTS -- I LOOK ON THE LIST, I HAVE FOUR OR FIVE SCHOOLS IN MY AREA AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY DO. WE ALWAYS WE ALWAYS TALK OF PREPARING STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, BUT STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, BUT NOW WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS BY FEEDING THEM, KEEPING THEM HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. AGAIN, TAMPA AGAIN, TAMPA BAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. YOU KNOW THIS IS A GAME CHANGER FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I HAD THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE LINE WHEN THE CARS BE IN THE LINE WHEN THE CARS COME THROUGH TO PICK UP COME THROUGH TO PICK UP -- VOLUNTEERING AND PECKING UP THEIR FOOD DURING THE FOOD GIVEAWAY. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT NOT ONLY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH THE LEANINGS LEANINGS BUT ALLOTS OF FAMILIES WITH FOOD WITH FOOD INSECURITIES. YOU KNOW RECENT HOUSING INCREASES, THE HOUSING COSTS INCREASES, THE HOUSING COSTS THE UTILITY COSTS AND INFLATION THAT HIT OUR FAMILIES. MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN AFFECT AND. NOT JUST LOW-INCOME FAMILIES NOW THAT ARE FEELING THESE FOOD INSECURITIES, BUT FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. SO FEEDING TAMPA BAY HAS REALLY DONE AN DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB IN THIS COMMUNITY ALL THE WAY ACROSS. AND I WANT TO THANK FEEDING TAMPA BAY. YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO FOR -- FROM THEY DO FOR -- FROM OUR SCHOOLS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FEEDING TAMPA BAY FOR ALL YOU DO. NOW IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS C THE NEXT ITEM IS C 6.01, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023. FINANCE. OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER  ROE JOHNSON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS JOHNSON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS EYE. >>Roe Johnson: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT WILL GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE DECEMBER BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 31, 2023 BY SUSAN GARCIA WAS OUR GENERAL MANAGER OF MANAGER OF BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IS PRESENTED ABOVE. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN A, WHICH WE ALWAYS BRING UP IS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 7. AT THAT TIME, WE PREDICTED TO HAVE A $6.1 MILLION SURPLUS AND INCREASE OUR FUND BALANCE TO $336.2 MILLION. COLUMN B IS THE REVISED BUDGET FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. AND WE STILL -- STILL STAND AT THE SAME PLACE. COLUMN C IS DECEMBER'S BUDGET AMENDMENT. WE STILL ARE PREDICTING THE WE STILL ARE PREDICTING THE $6.1 MILLION SURPLUS AND ENDING. THE CHANGE IS $1.3 MILLION BECAUSE WE RECEIVED A SCHOOL MAPPING GRANT AND A YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH GRANT. IF YOU LOOK AT COLUMN D, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THE INCREASE OF THE BUDGET OF THE $1.3 MILLION. COLUMN E SHOWS ACTUALLY THE EXPENDITURES AND THE REVENUE WE RECEIVED. SO IF YOU LOOK AT COLUMN E, YOU CAN SEE WE RECEIVED CAN SEE WE RECEIVED $993.6 MILLION IN REVENUE. A BIG PORTION OF THAT IS OUR LOCAL REVENUE, $590 LOCAL REVENUE, $590 .6 MILLION. IN THE MONTH OF TEASE THE MAJORITY OF OUR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS AND THAT IS TAX DOLLARS AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS BUDGET. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ACTUAL YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES ARE EXPENDITURES ARE $804.9 MILLION. AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A SURPLUS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OF $188.7 $188.7 MILLION. FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF DECEMBER IS DECEMBER IS $518.8 MILLION. REMEMBER, THAT IS BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS, MAJORITY CAME IN. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE EXPENDITURES START CATCHING UP WITH REVENUE AS TIME GOES BY. BY THE END OF JUNE, IT WILL BY THE END OF JUNE, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LOCAL REVENUE -- WE HAVE RECEIVED IS 81% OF THAT REVENUE. WE HAVE RECEIVED 33% OF OUR FEDERAL REVENUE. AND WE RECEIVED 44% OF OUR STATE REVENUE THIS -- THIS CHART BREAKS OUT THE BREAKS OUT THE EXPENDITURES IN BREAKS OUT THE EXPENDITURES IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. HIGHLIGHT SALARIES AND BENEFITS. SO WE RECEIVED -- WE HAVE SPENT 49% OF OUR SALARIED BUDGET AND 44% OF OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFIT BUDGET. THE MAJORITY OF THE CATEGORIES ARE CLOSE TO 50% AND WE ARE ON TRACK WITH OUR BUDGET AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE 46% MORE TO -- AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT. OKAY. THIS -- THIS LAST CHART IS REALLY KIND OF ONE OF MY FAVORITES TO TALK ABOUT. THIS SHOWS THE CASH BALANCES THAT WE HAVE. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT AT THE END OF DECEMBER, WE HAVE $545 MILLION IN CASH. IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, THOSE ARE OUR LOW EPPS MONTHS. WE ONLY HAVE $242 MILLION AND $238 MILLION. THIS IS -- THIS IS AN A GOOD EXAMPLE WHY WE NEED A FUND BALANCE, BECAUSE IF WE HAD NOT HAD THAT FUND BALANCE IN THOSE MONTHS, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO OUT OF OUT FOR A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE LIKE WE HAVE DONE IN PRIOR YEARS. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BELL-SHAPED CURVE IS PROJECTED. SO WE ARE GOING TO START SO WE ARE GOING TO START DECREASING AS THE DECREASING AS THE EXPENDITURES CATCH UP WITH THE REVENUE. AND WE PROJECT TO HAVE A AND WE PROJECT TO HAVE A $331 MILLION ENDING CASH BALANCE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED OUR THIRD CALCULATION. SO THE BUDGET WILL BE CHANGING AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE IT. HOPEFULLY WE WILL RECEIVE IT THIS MONTH SO YOU WILL SEE IT IN FEBRUARY; HOWEVER, IF WE DON'T RECEIVE IT IN JANUARY, YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH. WE DO WE DO ANTICIPATE SOME CHANGES. WE ALSO HAVE -- WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE INVESTED SOME DOLLARS -- THANK YOU, ROE. INVESTED $20 INVESTED $20 MILLION IN APRIL IN TREASURY NOTES. AND INVESTED AN AND INVESTED AN ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION MILLION IN TREASURY NOTES ANTICIPATING A DECREASE IN INTEREST. WE ARE ABLE TO LOCK IN THE INTEREST 5.48%. WE HAVE RECEIVED CLOSE TO $1 MILLION IN INTEREST TO DATE JUST ON THESE DOLLARS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM C TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.01. MEMBER VAUGHN. I HAVE A MOTION FROM MEMBER VAUGHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND ACTUALLY IT WAS TAKEN RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH. I WANTED TO GIVE BIG I WANTED TO GIVE BIG KUDOS TO MISS JOHNSON, SUSIE GARCIA, WE INVESTED INVESTED $1/4 121 MILLION IN THE TREASURY PONDS AND GETTING $963,000 BACK LOCKING IN THE LOW INTEREST RATE. EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT REVENUES, IT BRINGS SMILES TO ALL OF OUR FACES AND RELIEF. I HAVE A QUESTION -- AND THIS MAY ENTAIL SUPERINTENDENT AYRES MAY ENTAIL SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, WE HAVE TO CAREFULLY ALWAYS SEE PLACES THAT WE WILL SAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY, MAKE ADDITIONAL MONEY, MAKE ADDITIONAL MONEY. AND -- WHEN WE LOOK AND -- WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SCHOOLS THAT SCHOOLS THAT WE CLOSED, SUPERINTENDENT VAN SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WHAT EXACTLY EXACTLY -- WHAT EXACTLY MONEY ARE WE SAVING WITH THE SCHOOL CLOSURES. >>Superintendent Ayres: YOU REMEMBER BACK TO THE AGENDA ITEM BACK MAY OF 2023, IT WAS -- THAT BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT THAT WAS MADE WAS A TOTAL MADE WAS A TOTAL OF $13 MILLION COST SAVINGS. $4 MILLION OF THAT WAS TRANSPORTATION COSTS. A TOTAL OF A TOTAL OF $13 MILLION THAT THE DISTRICT DISTRICT WILL SAVE INTO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. MISS JOHNSON, JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE I AM GOING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT 13 MILLION TOTAL, $4 MILLION TRANSPORTATION OF THAT 13 MILLION FOR THAT BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WAS MADE AND VOTED ON BY THE BOARD IN MAY OF 2023. AND THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT INSPECT INSPECT 2024-'25 SCHOOL YEAR. >>Lynn Gray: OKAY. AND THAT MAY NOT BE -- YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ASKED. SO IF WE ARE LOOKING AT $13 SO IF WE ARE LOOKING AT $13 MILLION AS A SAVINGS MILLION AS A SAVINGS AND TRANSPORTATION ALSO. WHEN WE LOOK DOWN THE ROAD, WILL WE GET WE GET CONSEQUENTIAL MORE SAVINGS WHEN THESE SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY CLOSED? OR IS THIS LOCKED IN. CERTAINLY NOT LOCKED IN. BUT A QUESTION BUT A QUESTION THAT IS COMING FROM THE SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT OPEN TO THIS BOARD. ARE WE ARE WE REALLY SAVING THE MONEY ARE WE REALLY SAVING THE MONEY THAT -- IS IT THAT -- IS IT -- IS THE VALUE ENOUGH ENOUGH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES? THAT IS AN OPEN QUESTION. >>Superintendent Ayres: YOU LOOK BACK. THE ENROLL. OF OUR SCHOOLS. ENROLLMENT OF ENROLLMENT OF 60% OR MORE. BEFORE THAT WAS 13. WITH THIS BOUNDARY I JUSTMENT DOWN TO ZERO. GOING INTO THE GOING INTO THE 2024-2025, ZERO SCHOOLS WITH 60% SCHOOLS WITH 60% FEWER ENROLLMENT. AGENDA ITEM WAS CLEAR, $13 COST SAVINGS. WHEN WE GO INTO THE '24-'25 SCHOOL YEAR, I AM SURE WE WILL SEE THE ACTUAL SAVINGS BUT THE BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT MADE PUTS US IN A MUCH BETTER FINANCIAL POSITION MOVING INTO POSITION MOVING INTO 2024-2025 TO HAVE SCHOOLS NOT UNDERENROLLED. >>Lynn Gray: APPRECIATE IT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THAT CONVERSATION AND QUESTION. BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF THE BOUNDARY WITH REGARDS TO ADDITIONAL COSTS. I THINK IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A DEEP ANALYSIS AS WE GO FORWARD OF COST SAVINGS VERSUS ALL OF THAT. MY MY COMMENTS ARE NOT ABOUT THAT AT THIS MEETING BECAUSE HE KNOW WE STILL HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE WE REALLY GET TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHERE OUR STUDENTS END UP. I WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR GETTING BACK TO ME OF THE LOSS OF THAT ONE WANT MONEY, THE SSER MONEY AND CLARIFYING THAT WAS CHARTER SCHOOLS AND NOT ANY MONEY THAT WE LEFT ON THE TABLE. UP WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WAS THE CASE BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR US NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA ESSER MONIES THAT WE EXTRA ESSER MONIES THAT WE GOT EXTRA ESSER MONIES THAT WE GOT SECONDLY, I NOI KNOW YOU WENT OVER IT, BUT I WANT TO SAY FOR THE PUBLIC THAT YOU ARE ANTICIPATING WHEN WE HAVE OUR COUNCIL -- OUR SPRING COUNTS, WE ARE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THIS NUMBER COULD CHANGE AND THERE COULD BE COULD BE -- OR THERE PROBABLY WILL BASED ON WHAT WE SAID HOPEFULLY NOT A HUGE IMPACT BUT A LOSS OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE. WHEN THAT COMES, I JUST WANT TO BE BE CLARIFY WHAT IS DRIVING THAT BE CLARIFY WHAT IS DRIVING THAT AND KIND OF THAT WHAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS CLEAR EVERYBODY IS CLEAR ABOUT EVERYBODY IS CLEAR ABOUT THAT. >> CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. I WANT TO I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MEMBER VAUGHN. AS YOU SAID WE ANTICIPATE A POSSIBLE LOSS. HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE WE LOOKING AT FOR THAT REVENUE, APPROXIMATELY? >> >> 200 AND SOME STUDENTS >> 200 AND SOME STUDENTS HAVE LOST. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THIS, YOU ARE ALL DOING A GREAT JOB. GIVE YOU GIVE YOU KUDOS WHERE CREDIT IS DESERVED. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. PLEASE PLEASE -- PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. C 7.01, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COACHING AND LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENT NUTRITION STUDENT NUTRITION CENTRALIZATION. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO THIS ITEM SO THIS ITEM IS AROUND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND OUR STUDENT NUTRITION STAFF. ON OCTOBER 4, 2023, PROCUREMENT SERVICES WITH SERVICES WITH STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES, ISSUED AN RFP SEEKING PROPOSALS FOR QUALIFIED PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP LEADERS AT THE THE LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISORY THE LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISORY LEVEL OF THE SUPERB WORK FORCE FOR STUDENT FOR STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES. ADVANTAGE GROUP IS THE VENDOR. ONE YEAR WITH FOUR ONE-YEAR RENEWALS. NEW SOLICITATION AND NO PREVIOUS OUTCOMES. A NEW ITEM. I WANT TO GIVE A I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SHANY HALL. WE TALK OF LEADERSHIP AND WE TALK OF LEADERSHIP AND PRINCIPALS. A SPECIAL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY. STUDENT NUTRITION STAFF, PRODUCTION COORDINATORS, NUTRITION MANAGERS THAT WORK IN OUR CAFETERIAS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO SHOUT OUT TO SHANY AS SHANY AS WELL. THINKING OUT OF THE BOX AND OFFERING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR HER NUTRITION MANAGERS. THAT IS THIS AGENDA ITEM. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. I HAVE A MOTION FROM MEMBER HAHN AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. MEMBER HAHN? >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. YES, JUST A COMMENT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK SHANY HALL FOR SPEARHEADING THE PD FOR STUDENT NUTRITION WHO ARE ALL LEADERS IN OUR DISTRICT. THE STATE ONLY FUNDS PD FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. AND SHANY WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO GO AFTER THIS GRANT. WAY TO GO, SHANY. I WANTED TO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, YES. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM. AS I AS I MENTIONED, I GET FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS NUTRITION, EVERYBODY IS MORE EXCITED ABOUT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUESTION -- WHO DOES THAT GO TO? OH, MR. OH, MR. FARKAS. I KNOW THAT OUR STUDENT NUTRITION MANAGERS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS. BUT I GUESS THERE IS ALSO LINE BUT I GUESS THERE IS ALSO LINE COORDINATORS, THE -- >>Christopher Farkas: PRODUCTION COORDINATORS, PCs. >>Jessica Vaughn: I KNOW THEY WORK CLOSELY AND THE REQUESTS I GOT NOT JUST FOR THE TRAINING FOR THE MANAGERS IF THE LINE COORDINATORS COULD BE PART OF THE TRAINING AND WILL BE HOPEFUL OPPOSED TO TAKING IT BACK. BECAUSE THEY WORK SO CLOSELY AS A TEAM. A POSSIBILITY FOR THIS ITEM. >>Christopher Farkas: 100%. A NEW RFP. PCs HAVE TO BE PART OF IT BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP IN THE KITCHEN. 100% PCs WILL BE PART OF THIS TRAINING. >>Jessica Vaughn: WILL TRAINING BE DONE -- DOING IT OVER SUMMER BEFORE EVERYONE COMES BACK IS HELPFUL, BUT THE PERIOD OF TAKING THIS INFORMATION AND TRAINING THEIR STAFF BEFOREHAND. WILL IT BE DONE EARLY ENOUGH IN THE SEASON SO THAT TRAINING CAN THEN FILTER DOWN TO THE STAFF BEFORE BEFORE THEY START SERVING STUDENTS? >>Christopher Farkas: EXACTLY, PREPLANNING. NOT THE SAME NUMBER OF DAYS BUT A FEW DAYS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. THE ONLY TIME THEY HAVE TO DO IT SO SO THEY WILL COMPLETE THAT. >>Jessica Vaughn: AN OPTION TO VIDEO RECORD THE TRAINING SO WHEN THEY GO BACK TO THEIR STAFF, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SHARE NOTES, THAT THEY CAN SHOW THESE VIDEOS TO THEIR STAFF AS WELL THAT IT IS AN EASIER PIECE OF NOT JUST BEING THE ONE TO TAKE THIS TRAINING AND IMPLEMENT IT, BUT ALSO SHARE WHAT THEY IT, BUT ALSO SHARE WHAT THEY LEARNED. >>Christopher Farkas: I WILL MOST ASSUREDLY CHECK WITH THE VENDOR AND I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER FOR THEM, BUT A GREAT WAY TO REPLICATE THAT AND MAKE SURE THEY ALL GET THE SAME INFORMATION. >>Jessica Vaughn: ONE MORE THING I WANT TO SNEAK I WANT TO SNEAK IN ON THIS ITEM SINCE SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT. PCs, PCs, THEY PCs, THEY WORK A SMALLER SCHEDULE BY THE MANAGERS AND THEY SAID IF THEY CAN ADJUST IT TO THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY IF THEY HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE THEY COORDINATE SO CLOSELY WILL BE A GAME CHANGER OF SERVING OUR STUDENTS. I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE SO GETTING THE FEEDBACK FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM, I GOT THAT AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO SHARE IT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: WELL, I WAS GOING TO PULL THE ITEM, AND I DIDN'T, TO PULL THE ITEM, AND I DIDN'T, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW VERBALLY I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SHANY HALL FOR EVERYTHING SHE DOES. ALSO MR. ALSO MR. FARKAS OR SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WE HAD THE GIBSON REPORT THAT REALLY DWELLED ON CENTRALIZATION. ARE WE USING THAT REPORT AS A -- LET'S JUST SAY A MODEL FOR HER LET'S JUST SAY A MODEL FOR HER TO GO FORWARD? BECAUSE EVERYONE IS USED TO A SEPARATE THIEFDOMS AND NOW HAVE TO GO INWARD. >>Christopher Farkas: DEFINITELY PART OF IT. SHANY WOULD BE HERE BUT IN SHANY WOULD BE HERE BUT IN TALLAHASSEE MEETING WITH ALL THE OTHER MANAGERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. YES, THAT IS PART OF YES, THAT IS PART OF IT. PART OF THE PART OF THE GIBSON REPORT THAT WE FORGET MAINTENANCE, STUDENTS AND TRANSPORTATION, A RECOMMENDATION TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST THRESHOLD. WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT PART OF IT, BUT CENTRALIZATION IS SOMETHING WITH STUDENT NUTRITION BECAUSE THEY REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE RULES HAVE SO SPECIFIC ON THAT PART. GIBSON REPORT IS ONE OF THE MANY OF THE GREAT COUNCIL OF CITY OF EXCUSE THAT WE HAVE CENTRALIZE EXCUSE THAT WE HAVE CENTRALIZE CUSTODIAL AND CUSTODIAL AND STUDENT NUTRITION. CUSTODIAL AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET IT. STUDENT NUTRITION WAS FIRST AND GIBSON REPORT IS ONE THAT RECOMMENDED THAT. YES, MA'AM. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION, THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHILE YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM IS C 7.02, APPROVE THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE, TO AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE, TO LEASE NUMBER NUMBER USAF-AMC-NVZR-17-1-0155 NUMBER USAF-AMC-NVZR-17-1-0155 WITH MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE BETWEEN SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM TSUNAMI SUPERINTENDENT THE CIVIC THE AIR FORCE BASE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEK TO AMEND THE TERMS FROM 25 YEARS TO 33 YEARS BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2024 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2057. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, THE SCHOOL AGREEMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL RECEIVE A 80/20 GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $64 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SCHOOL KNOWN AS TINKER K. I KNOW DR. HAHN, YOU AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, YEARS, AND MR. MR. MERILLO ON THE BASE WORK ON THIS GRANT. AND GOOD TO SEE THIS COMING TO FRUITION, HOPEFULLY HERE IN THE NEAR NEAR FUTURE. BUT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO RECEIVE THAT AMOUNT OF $64 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SCHOOL. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY AROUND TINKER. IF YOU GIVE ME ONE SECOND. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE QUITCLAIMED ALL SCHOOL BUILDINGS ON MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE TO SCHOOL PURPOSES TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS IN 1963 FLORIDA THE ORIGINAL WELCOME PERMIT THAT WAS APPROVED IN 1951. THE LEASE AGREEMENT OF 1977 WAS APPROVED FOR 25 YEARS APPROVED FOR 25 YEARS AND EXPIRED IN EXPIRED IN 2001. A SUPPLEMENTAL A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL 15 YEARS AND IN 2017, NEW LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR 25 YEARS. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE AGREEMENT AMEND THE 2027 LEASE AGREEMENT BEGINNING IN 2024 AND ENDING IN 2057 FOR A TOTAL OF 53 YEARS AND ALL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WITH THE APPROVAL OF IN AGREEMENT WILL RECEIVE THE 80/20 GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $64 MILLION. WE SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS AT WE SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS AT MacDILL WITH MacDILL WITH MacDILL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AS WE STRIVE TO -- WHEN TINKER WENT TO K, TO IMPROVE THE FACILITY AT TINKER. A LONG TIME COMING. MR. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING ELSE? NO? THANK YOU, SIR. >>Karen Perez: A MOTION AND A SECOND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.02. A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER HAHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Stacy Hahn: YES, THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. RESPIRATORY S IS A BIG NIGHT. WE ARE AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. I WANT TO THANK FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED. YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER MULTIYEAR STEP IN THE PROCESS THAT IS GETTING US CLOSE THAT IS GETTING US CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE FOR TINKER K-8. I WANT TO THANK FLORIDA I WANT TO THANK FLORIDA FARKAS AND HIS TEAM FOR INITIATIVES AND INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DEFENSE I ALSO WANT TO THANK DEFENSE DEFINITELY THANK SUPERINTENDENT VAN VAN AYRES WE WORKED TONIGHT WHEN YOU WERE IN OTHER POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT ON THIS. I KNOW IT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MARCUS AND CAM AND THE PRINCIPAL OF TINKER, PRINCIPAL WALTERS, FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT AND TIME AND EFFORT AND DEDICATION TO MILITARY FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND MAKES A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY. SCHOOL DISTRICT COULDN'T HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS WITHOUT WONDERFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE BOARD. FIRST I WANT TO THANK OUR MacDILL PARTNERS CARL BINGHAM MacDILL PARTNERS CARL BINGHAM AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR DOY AND THEIR TEAMS WORKING CLOSELY WITH US ON THIS PROJECT. THEY HAVE MADE THIS PROJECT A PRIORITY. AND I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND THEIR TEAMS. I I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY THE SOUTH TAMPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE TAMPA BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHO ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING OF THIS SCHOOL OVER THE YEARS. AND THEIR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS ACROSS SO MANY INITIATIVES OVER THE YEARS IS TRULY COMMENDABLE AND VITAL FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PROGRESS. LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO GRATITUDE TO CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR CASTOR FOR THE LETTER SHE CASTOR FOR THE LETTER SHE SHARED AND AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT AND DEDICATION TO MILITARY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OVER THE YEARS. THE PROJECT TO BUILD THIS NEW SCHOOL AT TINKER IS OF AN UPMOST IMPORTANCE TO OUR STUDENTS AND CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR'S ADVOCACY RESULTED IN THE D.O.D. TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PSMI GRANT. THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR FOR A STRONG FOR A STRONG POSITIVE CHANGE AND SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS. TODAY I WILL ASK MY BOARD MEMBERS TO JOAN ME SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION OF THE LEASE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OF THE AIR FORCE BASE FROM 25 TO 33 YEARS WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF TINKER K-8 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE U.S. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GUIDELINES. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAD YOUR HANDS IN THIS THIS I AM BEYOND THRILLED. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: WELL DONE, MEMBER VAUGHN -- I MEAN MEMBER HAHN. I AM LOOKING AT MEMBER VAUGHN. I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF OUR PUBLIC UNDER STANDS THAT WE ARE SO HONORED TO HAVE MacDILL IN OUR COMMUNITY. EACH AND EVERY BRANCH OF OUR MILITARY HAVE PEOPLE REPRESENTED AT MacDILL, FOR THIS DISTRICT TO HAVE THE ON ANOTHER PROVIDE THEM WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION, A QUALITY SCHOOL. TO PARTICIPANTER IN WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF BOTH THE SOUTH TAMPA SOUTH TAMPA CHAMBER, THE CHAMBER AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALONG WITH OUR MILITARY BASE IS JUST A JUST A TRUE HONOR. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, MEMBER HAHN, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE IT IS STRICT, OF THE BASE, THE BASE, AND THE MEMBER OF THE AIR FORCE THAT WORKED SO DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY MILITARY A STABLE PLACE THEY KNOW THEIR CHILDREN WILL GET A GOOD QUALITY EDUCATION BY OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAFF. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR HAVE DONE ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR OTHER STAFF. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MEMBER >> THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: BIG TIME THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. YOUR WORK IS FINALLY REVEALING GREAT INCOME AND K-8 TO GREAT INCOME AND K-8 TO BOOT, WHICH IS A VERY STABLE EDUCATIONAL PATH FOR THE CHILDREN. MacDILL CERTAINLY AND OTHER LOCATIONS. I WANT TO THANK ALSO DIGGING DEEP, MARCOS. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND TAKES TAKES A LOT OF DETAIL AND TAKES A LOT OF DETAIL AND ENDURANCE. MR. MR. FARKAS AS WELL, CONGRESSMAN CASTER AND CASTER AND MacDILL FOR BEING CASTER AND MacDILL FOR BEING THERE FOR OUR DISTRICT AND THERE FOR OUR DISTRICT AND OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU AGAIN MEMBER HAHN. A GREAT EDITION AND HELPS ALL OF US FEEL COME PART BE. WITH ANOTHER K-8 WHICH IS GREAT NEWS. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AS WELL. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. I AM A MILITARY PERSON AND THE IMPORTANT OF HAVING EDUCATION. MILITARY PEOPLE MOVE SO MUCH DURING THAT TIME IN THE SERVICE. AND IT IS JUST GREAT TO HAVE A SCHOOL FOR THE MILITARY, FOR THE FAMILY TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WANTED BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALWAYS THROUGH YOUR THROUGH YOUR ALWAYS MADE THE FAMILIES OF THE MILITARY MAKE SURE THEY ARE WANTED BECAUSE SURE THEY ARE WANTED BECAUSE THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO ALL WAS INVOLVED BUT THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY A GREAT DAY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN, YOU DID SUFFICIENT A GREAT JOB TO A GREAT JOB TO THANK EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MARCOS. MR. MR. FARKAS FOR MR. FARKAS FOR OPERATIONS. YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB. SOMETHING WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, THE PRINCIPAL OF MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I WANT TO THANK THE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR PROPERLY REPRESENTATIVES FOR PROPERLY ASSESSING AND FUNDING TO GET US HERE. KATHY KATHY CASTOR FOR THE BILL TO ENSURE THAT TINKER WAS ENSURE THAT TINKER WAS PROPERLY ASSESSED AND MOVED UP TO THE SCHOOLS OF MILITARY SCHOOLS OF MILITARY INSTALLS. THANK TO CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR AND CHARLIE CRIST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RECEIVED A ROBUST FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT SPEARHEADING $300 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM IN 2022. ALLOWING THE ALLOWING THE D.O.D. TO SWIFTLY MOVE THROUGH THE PRIORITY LIST OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND REF PAIRS. MEMBER HAHN, SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, YOU ADVOCATED FOR THIS AND SO GLAD TO SEE THIS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS VERY HARD TO BE A MILITARY CHILD AND TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AND STABLE SCHOOL FOR OUR STABLE SCHOOL FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR MILITARY FORCES IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I ECHO SO MUCH WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BY MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WITH REGARD TO THIS. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS SPECIFIC SCHOOL. BUT THANK YOU, DR. HAHN, FOG BEING SUCH A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES IN GENERAL. WE WILL ALL HAVE SPELLINGS THINGS WE ADVOCATE ON THE BOARD AND FIGHT FOR, YOU HAVE RELENTLESSLY BE A VOICE FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO ECHOING THANKING CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR. SHE IS ALSO A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR OUR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I AM SURE KRISTIN DAVIS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THIS TOO. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE INVOLVED. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR FAMILIES, IT DR. HAHN. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. TSUNAMI SUPERINTENDENT I JUST -- -- VENICIA WATERS IS OUR PROGRAM MANAGER OVER IN MacDILL. STAND UP, PLEASE. I WORKED WITH I WORKED WITH VENICIA PROBABLY THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE MILITARY FAMILY FAMILY VENICIA OVER AT MacDILL AND KIM HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. VENICIA HEADS THE MacDILL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE THAT DR.MAN EXCELLENCE THAT DR.MAN AND MR. MR. MURILLO ATTENDS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MEMBER HAHN, I KNOW THIS IS A PASSION OF YOURS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FROM YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE AND FAMILY AND SUPPORT ING SUPPORTING OUR FILTH FAMILIES, COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS SPEAK TROOPS SPEAK VOLUMES TO THEM BECAUSE AABILITY IS VALUABLE BECAUSE AABILITY IS VALUABLE TO OUR FILTH FAMILIES OUR FILTH FAMILIES GRAND OUR BOARD MEMBERS, DR. HAHN, AND OUR DISTRICT DISTRICT LEADERS AND TO KATHY DISTRICT LEADERS AND TO KATHY CASTOR. CONGRESSWOMAN KATHY CASTOR FOR ALL WE DO FOR OUR MELT FAMILIES. BEING BLESSED TO HAVE THEM THERE. NOW IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. [APPLAUSE] >>Karen Perez: THE NEXT ITEM C 7.03. APPROVE APPROVE ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRMS FOR CONTINUING CONTRACTS. PROJECT NUMBER -- NONE AVAILABLE. THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU. 9 LAST 9 LAST VOTED ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM IS INFORMATIONAL ITEM FLORIDA STATUTES AUTHORIZE CONTINUING CONTRACTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR PROJECTS WHICH SERVICES FOR PROJECTS WHICH CONSTRUCTION COST DO NOT EXCEED $4 MILLION AND STUDY ACTIVITIES WHEN THE FEE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DOES NOT EXCEED $400,000. THE BOARD THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CONTINUING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN 2021 FOR A MAXIMUM THREE-YEAR TERM, DUE TO THE VOLUME OF THE WORK GENERATED BY THE REFERENDUM. ADDITIONAL CONTINUING CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE REQUIRED AS PERMIT BY FLORIDA STATUTE TO BY FLORIDA STATUTE TO EXPEDITIOUSLY OF A VALUE OF LESS THAN 4 MILLION. THE PRAYING HAS DETERMINED THAT THE USE OF CONTINUING SERVICE CONTRACT SR. A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE DISTRICT. RENEWAL OF RENEWAL OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTINUING SERVICES CONTRACTS FOR A MAXIMUM TIM OF THREE YEARS FROM JANUARY 12, 2024 TO JANUARY 11, 2027. ITEM ITEM 7.03. >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM C TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.03. A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS. AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Lynn Gray: YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS WILL BE GIVEN TO MR. THIS WILL BE GIVEN TO MR. FARKAS OR SUPERINTENDENT VAN OR SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES. YOU KNOW, I -- I ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH JUST SAYING OKAY TO THESE LARGE THESE LARGE EXPENDITURES WITHOUT FULLY HAVING IT ON FULLY HAVING IT ON THE -- THE CONSENT OR PERHAPS THE DISCUSSION. SO MR. SO MR. FARKAS, WE ARE READY -- WE ARE ON AUTOMATIC AND SAYING, YES, THESE FIRMS. I HAVE TWO QUELLS. ONE THAT YOU SHOULD SHARE WITH THE THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS BEEN VETTED. WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT. CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND EXPAND ON THAT, AND THEN I WILL ASK YOU A QUESTION BESIDES THAT. THANK YOU. >>Christopher Farkas: IS THROUGH THE BOARD POLICY APPROVING FIRMS. NO WORK OR MONEY NO WORK OR MONEY TIED TO IT. WHEN WHEN THEY ARE SELECTED. CONSTRUCTION TEAM SELECTS THE FIRMS, IT WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITHOUT ANY WORKING TAKING PLACE WITH A SPECIFIC FIRM TIED TO IT. IF ONE OF THOSE ARE IF ONE OF THOSE ARE APPOINTED TO THE WORK. YOU WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPROVE IT. THIS IS UNDER $4 MILLION. ALLOW US TO CHOOSE THROUGH FLORIDA STATUTE AND COMES BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. OVER $4 OVER $4 MILLION WE GO THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS EVERY SINGLE TIME. YES, MA'AM, NO MONEY TIED TO THIS WORK. NO WORK NO WORK GUARANTEED. THESE FIRMS PASSED AND THESE FIRMS PASSED AND HAVE BEEN VETTED FOR FIRMS THAT CAN DO WORK FOR US. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION PLA NATION. MY QUESTION, TOO, AND THIS MAY BE GUIDED BY THE FLORIDA STATUTE UNIT. HAVE ANY OF THESE FIRMS REPRESENT OUR DIVERSE REPRESENT OUR DIVERSE POPULATIONS? IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE OUR IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE OUR HISPANIC, OUR BLACK BUSINESSES. DO WE -- DOES THIS SUGGEST WE HAVE DIVERSITY? AND I HAVE FOUR -- -- FIVE OF THEM RIGHT HERE. >> SO, YES, MA'AM, A SECOND GROUP THAT HAS GONE THROUGH. ONE OF THESE IS A MINORITY-OWNED FIRM IN OUR OSD, AAA. ONE OF OUR ALREADY APPROVED. PERFECT EXAMPLE. YOU APPROVED PROJECTS FOR THEM. MANY OF YOU COMMENTED ON FACELIFT. BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL. ALL THE NEW SCHOOLS. AAA IS THE FIRM THAT AAA IS THE FIRM THAT DID THAT UNDER CONTINUING SERVICES AND UP FOR RENEWAL, THERE WILL BE APPROVAL FOR THAT. ON THIS ONE, ONE OF THE FIVE IS ON THERE. THE PREVIOUS LIST OF 24 FIRMS, I THINK IT WAS, SEVEN OR EIGHT MORE PART OF THAT PROCESS. WE HAVE NUMEROUS WE HAVE NUMEROUS OSD AND WMBE FIRMS PART OF WHAT WE DO. ON THIS ONE, ONE IS A MINORITY FIRM AND THE OTHER ARE FIRM AND THE OTHER ARE TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION FIRMS. >>Lynn Gray: I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IS THE RIGHT ANSWER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SHOWING SHOWING OF OUTREACH FOR OUR DIVERSE BUSINESSES AND OUR PARTNERS. BUT WE HAVE ONE NOW AT -- THIS TIME. ONE OUT OF FIVE. AAA. OKAY. WELL, PERHAPS DWOEK A LITTLE MORE ON THE NEXT ROUND. THANK YOU MR. THANK YOU MR. FARKAS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION REGARDING THE OFFICE OF SUPPLY AND AND DIVERSITY. REGARDING THE -- REGARDING THE -- AND IF ANY OF THESE -- BUT YOU ANSWERED OF AAA. HOW HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE SUBCONTRACTORS ARE ALSO UNDER THE OFFICE OF SUPPLY AND DIVERSITY? >>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT ONE. BECAUSE THE BIG BECAUSE THE BIG FIRMS, IT IS HARDER THIS THEY HAVE TO BOND WITH THE LARGER PAYROLLS. WAIT TO GET MONEY INTO THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGH SUBCONTRACTORS -- EXCUSE ME. THOSE ARE ALL TRACKED THROUGH OUR DATABASE. ALL THE BIDS GO OUT BY OUR CONTRACTORS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE PROJECT MANAGER. SUPPLY DIVERSITY IS 20% AS A MINIMUM ON THAT. WE TRACK THAT TO MAKE SURE WE TRACK THEM. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND HOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND HOW DO WE PUT TEETH? THAT? THE THE WAY WE DO BY SELECTION. THEY GET A SCORE OF. HOW WELL THEY HOW WELL THEY PICK THE CONTRACTORS. AAR IF APPLY GET A 170. OTHERS OTHERS .6 ALMOST HALF THE SCORE. WE TRACK AND ENCOURAGE THAT AND SCORE IT ON ITS NEXT SELECTION THAT THEY USE SUPPLIER THAT THEY USE SUPPLIER OSD FIRMS. OUR DIVERSITY OFFICE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF SUPPORTING ON THAT. SHE IS IN MY STAFF MEETING AND SITS WITH MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION ON A DAILY BASIS. A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO FOR PRIORITY FOR OUR DIVISION. >>Karen Perez: I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. THANK THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER -- NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOU VOTE WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. STAND PASSES STAND PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. -- AND IT PASSES -- AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. C C 11.02, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORT, INNOVATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. SUPERINTENDENT VAN SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRE/HEAL THE THIS ITEM TSUNAMI SUPERINTENDENT THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM. WE PROVIDED THIS REPORT FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TEN YEARS OR MORE. THIS IS A DOCUMENT. THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT IT IS BEST PRACTICE BASED ON THE FLORIDA PRINCIPLES AND FLORIDA PRINCIPLES AND FLORIDA STANDARDS OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING. APS HAS DECIDED TO FOLLOW THIS BEST PRACTICE SO THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE INFORMATIVE SNAPSHOTS OF OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM THE PORTFOLIO. THE ANNUAL REPORT IS PUBLISHED ON THE DISTRICT WEB SITE EVERY YEAR. AGAIN, THIS NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT WE PROVIDED THIS ANNUAL REPORT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATION ITEM FOR THE PUBLIC AND ALSO TO THE THE BOARD. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL -- I KNOW IT IS BEFORE BEFORE 6:00. WE WILL HAVE WE WILL HAVE -- LET'S WE WILL HAVE -- LET'S SEE, TIME CERTAIN. YES. WE HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. A QUESTION OR COMMENT? >> I HAVE A >> I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN I -- >> CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION. IS THIS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE FOR PARENTS WHO ARE CURIOUS AND AND WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS. IS THIS AVAILABLE? >> YES, MA'AM, AS SOON AS TONIGHT IS OVER, WE POST IT ON OUR WEB SITE. WE DO THIS EVERY WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR. IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT BY THE D.O.E. THE D.O.E. BUT IT IS BEST PRACTICE TO DO THIS FOR ALL PRACTICE TO DO THIS FOR ALL AUTHORIZERS AND HCPS HAS DONE THIS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND IT IS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FOR FOR THE PUBLIC. >>Jessica Vaughn: WHERE WILL PARENTS OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS FIND THAT DOCUMENT IF THEY ARE LOOK FOR IT ON OUR WEB SITE? >> THE DISTRICT WEB SITE HAS A PAGE JUST FOR CHARTER AND IT WILL BE ON THAT PAGE. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. IT AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, SPECIFICALLY SPANISH? IS IT IS IT -- >> NO, IT IS JUST >> NO, IT IS JUST WHAT YOU SEE AS -- IS WHAT WE HAVE. >>Jessica Vaughn: AT LEAST IN A FILE OR FORMAT WHERE THE GOOGLE OR WHATEVER WILL TRANSLATE FOR OUR FAMILIES? >> NO. >>Jessica Vaughn: DO WE MAKE IT AVAILABLE IN SPANISH? IS IT REALLY IS IT REALLY CHALLENGING TO DO THAT? >> IT'S >> IT'S -- >>Superintendent Ayres: WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE HOW THE DOCUMENT IS FORMATTED AND WHAT WE CAN TO DO WORK ON THAT, MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: NOW WE WILL TAKE EMPLOYEE COMMENT. MEMBER HAHN? >>Stacy Hahn: ARE WE GOING TO GO OVER THE CHARTER REPORT AFTER EMPLOYEE COMMENTS OR IS EMPLOYEE COMMENTS OR IS THIS. >>Superintendent Ayres: WELL, JUST PROVIDED AS AN INFORMATION ITEM APPROXIMATELY FEEL FREE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT. ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE LISTED IN THERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. WE CAN SPEND THE TIME TO DO THAT, YES, MA'AM. >>Jim Porter: IF YOU WERE INTERESTED, YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR NAME IN THE QUEUE. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, FOR PROVIDING THIS AND I ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION EARLIER TODAY. SO I SO I APPRECIATE THAT. SORRY. MY MY TABS ARE -- I NEED TO GET TO THE RIGHT TAB. I WAS JUST -- SOME OF THE INFORMATION WAS INFORMATION WAS INTERESTING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT PAGE FIVE WHEN YOU LOOK AT PAGE FIVE WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 4, YOU CAN SEE THE UPTICK REALLY BEGAN IN -- IN 2010 AND '11 OF CHARTERS, AND JUST CONTINUED TO GO UP. AND I AM SURE THAT IT IS PRETTY EQUAL AND MIRRORS THE GROWTH WE ARE SEEING AROUND OUR COUNTRY WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD GET OR WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE. YOU KNOW, THEN IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE PAGE 5, I KNOW THAT YOU PAGE 5, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THERE IS A PROCESS THERE IS A PROCESS THAT YOU ALL TO DO WORK WITH THE CHARTERS AND THE ACTION ARE COMING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. AND, YOU KNOW, I AM HAPPY TO SEE WE HAVE 38% OF THE CHARTERS IN OUR DISTRICT ARE EITHER HIGH PERFORMING OR SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THOSE WORKING WITH THOSE SCHOOLS AND THE CHARTERS AND, YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK -- THOSE NUMBERS HOPEFULLY WILL GO UP BECAUSE I WANT ALL SCHOOLS THAT OUR CHILDREN GO OUR CHILDREN GO TO IN THIS DISTRICT WHETHER CHARTER OR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS TO BE GREAT SCHOOLS FOR THOSE KIDS. I WAS GLAD I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT. I THOUGHT THE INFORMATION ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS WAS INTERESTING. THE COMPARISON AND HOW THE CHARTERS KIND OF CHARTERS KIND OF MIRROR THE DISTRICT IN DISTRICT IN DEMOGRAPHICS. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING AS WELL. BUT, YOU BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VALUABLE INFORMATION. DO WE HAVE IT ON OUR WEB SITE SOMEWHERE? IF PEOPLE WANT IF PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THIS INFORMATION? INFORMATION? >>. >> YES, WE HAVE IT ON THE WEB SITE EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE TO TAKE DOWN THE OLD ONE AND PUT THE NEW ONE AND PUT THE NEW ONE ON. YEAH. >>Stacy Hahn: I MEAN, I AM GOING TO PUT TO PUT IT OUT THERE. BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HEAR US TALK OF DISTRICT-RUN CHARTERS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT. I KNOW THAT, ONE, WE PROBABLY COULD PAY OURSELVES THE ADMINISTRATION FEE OF 5%. WE CAN ALSO COLLECT ON THOSE THOSE PICO DOLLARS THAT WE NO LONGER GET AND CHARTERS TO. ALLOW FOR WORK FORCE AND PROGRAMMING AND, YOU KNOW, JUST -- I THINK -- YOU KNOW, -- I THINK -- YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WANTING ARE TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO, YOU KNOW, SAVE MONEY AND BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBILITY, I THINK WE NEED WE NEED TO LOOK AT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS IN OUR PORTFOLIO, AND I JUST DON'T WANT -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY HERE. >>Superintendent Ayres: I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, CHAIR PEREZ. PERHAPS IN ONE OF PERHAPS IN ONE OF THE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS. I DON'T THINK WE NEED A FULL TWO HOURS BUT WOULD LIKE A DISCUSSION AND HAVE GUIDANCE ON THE BOARD AROUND THAT AND DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TAKE WITH THE DISTRICT ONE CHARTER AND WILLING TO ENTERTAIN AND I THINK IT IS POSS POSITIVE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I WOULD -- I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT. AND -- CHAIR PEREZ, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT TAGGING THAT ON TO A WORKSHOP. >>Stacy Hahn: I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE THE PROS AND CONS. LOOK AROUND THE STATE. WHAT ARE THE OTHER DISTRICTS DOING AROUND DISTRICT CHARTERS AND GET DATA AROUND AND GET DATA AROUND THAT, TO HAVE AN INFORMED DISCUSSION AND NOT JUST, YOU NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, OUR OPINIONS. WHICH ARE IMPORTANT, DON'T GET ME PRONG, BUT YOU NEED A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF DATA. OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT DATA IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. >> YES, WE HAVE MIAMI -- MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD THAT HAVE DISTRICT-RUN CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND DEFINITELY I WILL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT -- >>Stacy Hahn: THAT IS GREAT. BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO VERY LARGE DISTRICTS. IT WOULD BE -- I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT THEIR DISTRICT-RUN CHARTERS ARE DOING OR HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE, BUT I THINK IT IS A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED AND DISCUSSED IF WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC AND SAY WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING YOUR TAX DOLLARS IN THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY POSSIBLE. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. SOMETHING AS WE BUILD THIS WORKSHOP JUST FOR EDUCATION BECAUSE 10 TO 15 MINUTES AROUND BECAUSE 10 TO 15 MINUTES AROUND WHAT DISTRICT -- WHAT DISTRICT -- DISTRICT-RUN CHARTER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL LOOK LIKE AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. >>Stacy Hahn: PROBABLY WILL NEED MORE THAN 15 TO 20 MINUTES BECAUSE I DO WANT TO GET INTO WHAT OTHER FOLKS ARE DOING AND HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION TO GET EVERYBODY ELSE'S INPUT. THANK YOU BUFFER% THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: OKAY. DITTO WITH THE WORKSHOP. I AGREE. WE NEED TO BE VERY WE NEED TO BE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE THE DISTRICT-RUN THE DISTRICT-RUN CHARTERS. WE ARE IN COMPETITION MODE. ALSO, I AGREE WITH MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS IN SOME TYPE OF VERSION IN SPANISH, BECAUSE ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND MANY OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS -- AND I WILL JUST THROW OUT FOCUS I WILL JUST THROW OUT FOCUS, YOU ARE TALKING HALF OF THE STUDENT POPULATION ARE HISPANIC. THEY COME FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE HISPANIC. I THINK WE I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. DR. DR. DELANG, YOU ARE DOING A FABULOUS JOB. BUT I AM CONCURRING WITH THE REALITY. THIS IS MY QUESTION THOUGH. AND I KNOW THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM, SO PLEASE GIVE US INFORMATION. WE WE USED TO HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS INSPECTED FOR -- LACK OF BETTER WOUNDS WOUNDS WORDS FOR OPERATION, FIDUCIARY RECORDS, ETC., FOUR TIMES A YEAR. ARE WE NOW -- HAS -- IS THAT STILL A WAY OF WORK FROM YOUR OFFICE? OFFICE? >> SO I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING -- THE FOUR TIMES A YEAR SITE VISIT WAS FOR THOSE SCHOOLS THAT WERE NOT PERFORMING WELL ACADEMICALLY. AND WE STILL DO THAT. WE MEET WITH THEM WE MEET WITH THEM QUARTERLY TO DISCUSS THEIR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. FOR ALL OF THEM, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL SITE VISIT AND VERY COMPREHENSIVE. IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR HOURS IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR HOURS OF -- OF THE VISIT BECAUSE IT IS SO OF THE VISIT BECAUSE IT IS SO COMPREHENSIVE. AND IT INVOLVES AND IT INVOLVES DESKTOP REVIEW AND IT INVOLVES DESKTOP REVIEW AND GOING AND GOING OUT TO THE ACTUAL SITE AND INVOLVES VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, STUDENT SERVICES AND OTHERS. SO WHAT WE DO IS GO OUT, REVIEW THEM, GIVE THEM A REPORT WITH THEM, GIVE THEM A REPORT WITH INDICATORS THAT SUGGEST THAT THEY NEED IMPROVEMENT AND THEY NEED WORKING ON. AND THEY HAVE UNTIL THE ENDS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AROUND ABOUT MAY. WE -- WE COLLECT THE WE -- WE COLLECT THE MISSING INFORMATION OR WE INFORMATION OR WE VERIFY THAT THEY HAVE IMPROVED THEIR PRACTICES OR PRACTICES OR SYSTEMS. AND THEN WE FINALIZE THE ACTUAL REPORTS. SO IN MAY, WE ACTUALLY FINALIZE ALL 56 REPORTS. AND WE SEND IT OUT TO THEIR GOVERNING BOARD GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS. >>Lynn Gray: I >>Lynn Gray: I THANK YOU >>Lynn Gray: I THANK YOU FOR THAT. DENA HODGES WENT TO THE SCHOOLS TO CHECK THE OPERATIONAL DETAILS AND THE AUDITS AND SOMETIMES I WAS WITH HER. SO THAT WAS THE WAY OF WORK BEFORE YOUR TIME. AND NOW I KNOW IT IS MORE EXCLUSIVE. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO ASK BUT WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHAT YOU JUST SAID. 90% OF THESE SCHOOLS 90% OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE SCORE ED -- LET ME GET IT RIGHT. 90% OF THE 90% OF THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SCHOOLS ARE SCORING SCHOOLS ARE SCORING COMPLIANT WITH AN WITH AN A OR B COMPLIANCE; HOWEVER, WE HAVE -- HOWEVER, WE HAVE -- I WON'T NAME THEM THEM ALOUD, WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN OF THEM WHO ARE D AND OF THEM WHO ARE D AND F, C, OF THEM WHO ARE D AND F, C, THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY RATED COMPLIANT. HOW CAN THEY BE COMPLIANT YET HAVE A GRADE HAVE A GRADE RECORD OF Ds AND Fs. THIS IS NOT A QUESTION THAT YOU CAN ANSWER, BUT THIS IS WHAT I -- I LOOK THROUGH THE WHOLE ENTIRE REPORT. AND IF YOU GO THROUGH IT AND IF YOU GO THROUGH IT CAREFULLY, YOU WILL CAREFULLY, YOU WILL SEE THERE IS AN AN INCONGRUENT DATA POINT. SO THEY ARE SO THEY ARE GETTING AN A OR B SO THEY ARE GETTING AN A OR B FOR BEING COMPLIANT, BUT THEIR SCHOOL GRADE SHOWS BELOW AVERAGE. AVERAGE. >> SO I WANT TO >> SO I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY CLARIFY THAT THE CLARIFY THAT THE COMPLIANCE WITH -- WE LOOK AT OPERATIONS. WE LOOK AT FACILITIES. WE LOOK AT THE EDUCATIONAL PLAN. AND WE LOOK AT THE FINANCES. SO IT'S SO IT'S COMPREHENSIVE AND EACH ITEM WITHIN THOSE SESSIONS RERATE COMPLIANT, PARTIALLY OR NONCOMPLIANT. THE SCHOOL GRADE IS THE SCHOOL GRADE IS SPECIFICALLY BASED ON BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE STATE -- THE STATE TEST. SO IF WE -- IF WE RATE SO IF WE -- IF WE RATE A SCHOOL SO IF WE -- IF WE RATE A SCHOOL COMPLIANT IN OPERATIONS BUT RECEIVES A D ACADEMICALLY, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. >>Lynn Gray: WELL, ARGUE ARGUMENTATIVELY, SCHOOLS ARE NOT COMPLIANT OPERATIONALLY, FISCALLY, AND PD, THAT AFFECTS THE SCHOOL'S THE SCHOOL'S GRADES. ANYWAY, I AM BRIDGE THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT IN THE MINDS OF NOT RIGHT IN THE MINDS OF -- AT LEAST FOR ME. YOU ARE GETTING A D AND F, BUT GETTING AN A, AND B WITH COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THOSE INGREDIENTS. A SUBJECT THAT YOU AND I CAN TALK ABOUT, BUT TALK ABOUT, BUT DEFINITELY IS -- HAS HAS BOTHERED ME LOOKING THE HAS BOTHERED ME LOOKING THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS. I THANK YOU FOR THIS ANNUAL REPORT. YOU DO IT EVERY YEAR. MY REMARKS ARE HELD ABOUT THE MY REMARKS ARE HELD ABOUT THE DISTRICT-RUN DISTRICT-RUN CHARTERS. THE REALITY THE REALITY IS, THE REALITY IS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, D AYRES, D AND F SCHOOLS AND LOWER FTE FROM THE GROWTH OF LOWER FTE FROM THE GROWTH OF CHARTERS. THAT IS THE VARIETY REALITY. AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING CHOICES AS WE SPEAK AND THEY ARE GETTING MONEY. WE HAVE TO START THINKING HOW WILL THIS AFFECT OUR FUND BALANCE IF WE ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE ALL THESE CHARTERS. AND I -- I AM JUST BRINGING THAT OUT ALSO BECAUSE THE REAL OUT ALSO BECAUSE THE REAL WORLD IS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY WITHER GOING TO HAVE TO GO INSIDE AND SAY WE NEED TO DARN WELL GET OUR OWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ORDER. AND SO SHOULD THE CHARTER SCHOOLS. SAME -- SAME IDEA. SO ANYWAY, THAT IS JUST A SO ANYWAY, THAT IS JUST A PUBLIC BROADCAST. THANK YOU. >>Superintendent Ayres: I WILL JUST ADD THAT SCHOOL GRADES ARE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. PEOPLE -- OUR PARENTS LOOK AT THAT. THAT IS WHY MOVING FORWARD -- I MEAN THAT IS OUR GOAL -- MY TEAM'S GOAL, I DON'T WANT ANY Ds OR Fs, ANY AT ALL. THAT SOURCE GOAL AND WE WILL BE LASER-FOCUSED ON BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT -- PEOPLE LOOK THERE AND IDENTIFY SCHOOLS AS BEING POOR OR FAILING JUST BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT THE SCHOOL GRADES AND LASER-FOCUSED TO MAKE SURE NO Ds OR Fs GOING FORWARD. YES, MA'AM. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST I FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU DR. DELANG. DO YOU AN AMAZING JOB. YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO A WONDERFUL JOB. WHEN WE WHEN WE LOOK THAT THE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE COMPETING WITH ACE CAMBRIDGE AND PERFORMING ARTS AND EACH OF US LOOKING AT THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE AND SEEING WHAT ARE THE AREAS WE CAN IMPROVE ON TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE DRIVING OUR STUDENTS TO THE SCHOOL. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. NOT ALLOT OF WORDS IN THIS THAT IT IS TRANSLATED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION, EASTERN HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM LIKE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE ASKING AS PARENTS GO TO SCHOOLS LIKE -- ARE YOUR -- WHAT ARE THE CLASS SIZE? ARE YOUR TEACHERS ARE YOUR TEACHERS CERTIFIED? PROGRAMS WHERE THERE ARE PROGRAMS WHERE THERE ARE CERTIFIED TEACHERS? IS THERE PROFIT? ASKING QUESTIONS. IS THERE TRANSPORTATION? QUESTIONS THAT WILL DRIVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO MAKE BETTER DECISION. THE PARENT WILL MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THEIR SHIELD. SOMETIMES THEY SEE A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL AND MAY NOT BE ASKING THE QUESTION LIKE, ARE YOUR TEACHERS CERTIFIED? DO YOU HAVE DO YOU HAVE DO YOU HAVE   P.E.? DO YOU HAVE A P.E. FIELD IN THE BACK YARD? DO YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR ARTS? THERE IS ART, MUSIC, SCIENCE AND STEM? VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE MORE AND MORE STUDENTS COMING FROM OVERSEAS TO ASK THE SPECIFICS QUESTIONS, DO YOU OFFER SPANISH. WHAT IS YOUR FEEDER PROGRAM WHAT IS YOUR FEEDER PROGRAM TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THEIR CHILD. I TALKED ABOUT A MONTHS AGO, TO HAVE DISTRICT-RUN CHARTER SCHOOLS I BROUGHT THIS UP IS A GOOD IDEA BUT NOT A FREE FOR ALL. IT HAS TO BE IT HAS TO BE A NICHE. SOMETHING LIKE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT OR MONTESSORI. WE DON'T WANT TO START POPPING THESE UP EVERYWHERE SO PARENTS ARE CONFUSED. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS? I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A VERY EASY ONE TO DO. YOU GET THAT HALF A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT. YOU ALSO WILL GET THE PECO DOLLARS. WE HAVE AMAZING PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO KEEP DRIVING OUR STUDENTS TO THE PROGRAM. OUR SENIORS WALK OUT AND GO TO OTHER PROXIMATE OTHER PROXIMATE PROGRAMS. OTHER COLLEGES. A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T KNOW WE OFFER THE SAME PROGRAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE THE STUDENTS SITTING IN OUR DESKS ALL DAY LONG AS SENIORS, AND THEY WALK OUT AND THEY GO TO A VERY EXPENSIVE STATE COLLEGE TO BECOME A FIRE FIGHTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE HAVE THE SAME PROGRAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ONLY, THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AT ADVERTISING AND MARKETING THOSE PROGRAMS TO OUR SENIORS THAT ARE SITTING THERE. I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO I WAS AT A HIGH SCHOOL. AND THERE WAS A PROGRAM AND THERE WAS A PROGRAM THERE. AND IT WAS ADVERTISING ANOTHER PROGRAM. AND THE CHILD WAS SO EXCITED. I TURNED AROUND TO THEM AND I SAID DO YOU KNOW WE HAVE THE SAME PROGRAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEY HAD NO IDEA. SO WE REALLY NEED TO DO A SO WE REALLY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB DRIVING OUR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL AND KEEPING THEM IN THE SCHOOLS. WE WANT CHOICE AND WE WANT KIDS TO WALK OUT WITHOUT HUGE DEBT. RIGHT. IF THEY CAN DO A PROGRAM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SAVE MONEY AND HAVE AN EDUCATION AND TEENAGE TO KNOW WHAT -- WHAT WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT REALLY NEEDS TO GO THROUGH OUR SENIORS AND OUR COUNSELORS. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT NOT EVERY CHILD IS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND I REMEMBER WHEN MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED LAST YEAR, SHE HAD A TON OF PAPERS ABOUT COLLEGES. BUT VERY LITTLE ABOUT OUR TECHNICAL, VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GO INTO THOSE PROGRAMS, BOWER WHITLEY AND ALL THOSE PROXIMATE ARE STILL NOT PROXIMATE ARE STILL NOT COMPLETELY FULL AND DOING EN GO NEWT AND THINGS LIKE NEWT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB. IF WE CAN DO DISTRICT-RUN CHARTERS WE CAN PROVIDE STRONGER EDUCATION, MORE TEACHERS, MORE PROGRAMS, MORE HANDS-ON WORK LIKE WE LIKE WE PROVIDED THAT AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO A WORKSHOP, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE THE VALUE IN A DISTRICT-RUN CHARTER SCHOOL. WOULD OF I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE ADVANTAGES AND THE DISADVANTAGES ARE. I WILL SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE FEEDBACK SINCE WE HAD THE EXPANSION OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAM WHERE NOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HOME SCHOOLS. DO WE SEE THE GROWTH IN CHARTERS THE WAY WE DID THE WAY WE DID BEFORE THE EXPANSION OF VOUCHERS? >>Roe Johnson: WHAT I'M SEEING AND KEEPING TRACK OF AND KEEPING TRACK OF ARE THE WITHDRAWALS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS -- GOING TO HOME EDUCATION. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST -- I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I HAVE AN APPROXIMATE. WE HAVE ABOUT 130 THAT HAVE -- THAT HAVE THAT HAVE THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A LITTLE LATE IN THE GAME IN THE CONVERSATION TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS BECAUSE A MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE NOT JUST COMPETING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH THE CHARTER SYSTEMS COMPETITIVE ON DIFFERENT LIVES. I AM INTERESTED TO SEE THE INFORMATION THAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THAT I DO NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN ANY WORKSHOP THAT WE DO ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WHEN WE TALK OF THE SUCCESS OF CHARTERS, ALTHOUGH I POINTED OUT TODAY THAT I THINK CAMBRIDGE IS GREAT OR PERFORMING ARTS. YOU KNOW, DO THEY SERVICE YOU KNOW, DO THEY SERVICE RESC KIDS THE SAME WAY? WHEN I LOOK AT DEMOGRAPHICS AND I SEE THE DIFFERENCE. WHAT I SEE IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS WITH A LOW ESC POPULATION AND THATS THAT TO BE A PIECE OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE TALK OF THE SUCCESS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND OUR OWN SCHOOLS, THE REPRESENTATION TO REFERENCE THE WAY OUR WAY OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO. AND A LOT OF TIMES KIDS ENROLLING IN SCHOOL AND NOT GETTING THE SERVICES AND BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T BE SERVICED THERE AND BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T THERE AND BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T COME TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NOT ONLY NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY FAIR, BUT AN ADVANTAGE WITH THE TEST AMBASSADORS AND GRADES AND HOLISTICALLY NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ABOUT IT IN THE WORKSHOP. I KNOW WE ARE ABUTTING EMPLOYEE COMMENT SO I YIELD MY TIME. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU KNOW I TRULY BELIEVE WE ARE NOT -- WE ARE NOT COMMUNICATE CAN GOOD WITH THE GOOD WITH THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WE HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT PROGRAMS. DO WE KNOW ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE ARE DOING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM? WE ARE NOT COMMUNICATING. A LOT OF A LOT OF PARENTS. A LOT OF PARENTS A LOT OF PARENTS DON'T KNOW OF THE GREAT PROGRAMS WE HAVE HERE THE GREAT PROGRAMS WE HAVE HERE. NOT EVEN COMPETITION OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CHARTER SCHOOL. BALLS THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAN CHARTER SCHOOLS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER WAY OF COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC. THAT IS THE KEY, SUPERINTENDENT. WHEN I MEET PEOPLE, THEY DON'T KNOW THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO COMMUNICATE. ONCE WE DO THAT, WE -- WE WILL BE ON TOP. SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE COMING BACK TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON AND THINK ABOUT IS OUR COMMUNICATION, HOW WELL WE COMMUNICATE THE PARENTS WE COMMUNICATE THE PARENTS FOR THE GREAT PROGRAMS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON -- MEMBER WASHINGTON, FOR SAYING THAT. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT. SPENDING MORE MONEY ON MARKETING. YOU CAN SEE THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE SPENDING MAILERS, FLYERS, THINGS LIKE THAT. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST. I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT TO THE FORMER TSUNAMI AND A LITTLE BIT TO YOU OF SPENDING BIT TO YOU OF SPENDING MORE MONEY ON MARKETING AND ADVERTISING ADVERTISING AND DOING THAT, BECAUSE REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO SHOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AND NOT ALWAYS THROUGH LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU SEE YOU SEE DISTRICT CHARTERS MARKETING TO STUDENTS. WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING. WE NEED TO WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON MARKETING OUR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE WILL GO INTO A TIME CERTAIN. EMPLOYEE COMMENT. >> FOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ROB ROB CRETE, CTA. GUYS BRING UP GREAT PAINTS. YOU REALLY ARE MEASURING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE DO NOT TURN ANY FAMILIES OR CHILDREN AWAY. WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. WE DO GREAT THINGS WITH THEM, EVEN WITH SOME OF THE EVEN WITH SOME OF THE OBSTACLES THAT WE HAVE. DR. HAHN BRINGS UP DR. HAHN BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT. POINT. LOOKING LOOKING AT A LOOKING AT A DISTRICT-WIDE CHARTER SCOOP. MEMBER GRAY, DID YOU A GOOD JOB OF POINTING OUT THE IRONY AND OF POINTING OUT THE IRONY AND CRAZINESS OF SCHOOL GRADES. NOT INDICATIVE OF THE HARD WORK WE ARE DOING WE ARE DOING AND HOW WE ARE MOVING KIDS. ALL ABOUT A FINAL ANSWER ON ONE EXAM WHICH IS SILLY. I HATE TO CHALLENGE MR. I HATE TO CHALLENGE MR. SHOOP FROM THE '80s MOVIE "SUMMER SCHOOL." SOMETIMES IT IS MOVING A KID FORWARD. IF HE IS 25% AND IF HE IS 25% AND 50%. WE ARE WE ARE DOUBLING HIM WHERE HE WAS AT. MAY NOT BE A PASSING GRADE, BUT WE KNOW WE ARE HELPING THAT WE KNOW WE ARE HELPING THAT KID. THIS IS IMPORTANT THIS IS IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE INEQUITIES THERE. NOT EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT CAN ACCESS THE CHARTER SCHOOLS. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. AMAZING THINGS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN DIFFERENT SPOTS. I HAVE SEEN DIFFERENT THINGS. A GREAT CONVERSATION TO GET GOING ON THE DISTRICT. TONIGHT, I HEARD A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON AND I WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE STUDENTS. EVERY STUDENT THAT NEEDS A BUS RIDE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A BUS RIDE TO AND FROM SCHOOL. EVERY CHILD IN THIS DISTRICT DESERVES A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC DESERVES A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM A QUALIFIED EDUCATION FROM A QUALIFIED TEACHER AND HAD THEIR NEEDS MET WITH SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND HAVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS MET. TOO MANY VACANCIES TO SAY WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR THESE KIDS. WE ARE DOING AMAZING STUFF WITH THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE NEED TO FEIGNED A WAY TO GET VACANCIES AND PROFESSIONALS IN FRONT OF THESE KIDS AND WHERE WE BLOW IT OUT OF THE WATER. AND WHERE WE DON'T NO LONGER FROM D& F SCHOOLS. AND WE HAVE TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS OUT THERE AND I AM WILLING TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND WE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU AGAIN. HAPPY 2024. LET'S MOVE THIS LET'S MOVE THIS DISTRICT. LET'S GO! >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT EMPLOYEE. >> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS MERRILL CONNOR, AND I AM A CAREER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IN OUR DISTRICT. I'M HERE TO SHARE I'M HERE TO SHARE A FRONT-LINE REPORT AND TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. TO SUMMARIZE TO SUMMARIZE SEMESTER ONE, MOST 9th GRADERS IN MY THREE 9th GRADERS IN MY THREE CLASSES OF ENGLISH 1 FAILED FOR TWO REASONS, MISSING CLASS REGULARLY AND NOT DOING AND NOT DOING ASSIGNMENTS, EVEN WITH LATE OPPORTUNITIES. IN MOST CASES, THESE IN MOST CASES, THESE BEHAVIORS STARTED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CONTINUED THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ARE STILL HAPPENING IN 9th GRADE. I AM AWARE OF ANY ADULTS THAT HAVE DONE INTERVENTION BECAUSE WE, TEACHERS, CANNOT SEE THEIR POSTS IN STUDENT NOTES. FEW PARENTS OF MY 9th GRADERS CAME TO EITHER CAME TO EITHER CONFERENCE NIGHT. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THEIR FIRST HIGH SCHOOL REPORT CARDS THIS FRIDAY WILL CHANGE ANY BEHAVIORS. IN THE CASE OF MY SCHOOL, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HOME AND DISTANCE BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL IS A IS A BARRIER. AND AN AND AN ONGOING ISSUE I ADDRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD A FEW YEARS AGO. THE QUESTION REMANS STUDENTS SENT STUDENTS SENT MILES AWAY TO MY STUDENTS SENT MILES AWAY TO MY SCHOOL WHEN MULTIPLE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSER TO HOME CLOSER TO HOME WITH PLENTY OF STUDENT STUDENT SPACE. MY NEXT SHARE RELATES TO THE PRINTED DOCUMENT NOW IN PRINTED DOCUMENT NOW IN YOUR POSSESSION. ON DECEMBER 7, ON DECEMBER 7, AN ALMOST 16-YEAR-OLD ONCE 16-YEAR-OLD ONCE RETAINED NINTH GRADE STUDENT DREW THESE WORDS AND PICTURE ON HIS DESK, MOST LIKELY PROMPTED BY MY TELLING HIM TWICE TO TURN AROUND AND STOP TALKING TO HIS GIRL/FRIEND. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE WORDS ARE PROFANE AND ABOUT ME BY NAME. I TEXTED AND E-MAILED HIS PARENTS. NO RESPONSE AS OF TODAY. AFTER CONSULTING AFTER CONSULTING THE AFTER CONSULTING THE HPCS BEHAVIOR MATRIX, I WROTE A REFERRAL STATING PROFANITY TOWARD AND ABOUT THIS TEACHER, VISUAL SENT BY VISUAL SENT BY E-MAIL TO VISUAL SENT BY E-MAIL TO  A.P. ON 12/13. WHERE A CONFERENCE FOR ALL. FOLLOW DISTRICT MATRIX. THE MATRIX RECOMMENDS A PARENT CONFERENCE, REFERRAL TO STUDENT SERVICES, LETTER OF SERVICES, LETTER OF APOLOGY, AND/OR CLASS AND/OR CLASS DETENTION FOR THIS LEVEL 4 MISBEHAVIOR OF PROFANITY. INSTEAD IT WAS PROS IS THEY SEED AS A LEVEL 2 MAJOR AS A LEVEL 2 MAJOR ACT OF MISCONDUCT FOR VANDALISM RENAMED "CRIMINAL "CRIMINAL MISCHIEF." THE MATRIX RECOMMENDS A MEETING WITH THE OFFICE OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT TEN DAYS ENGAGEMENT TEN DAYS OSS. AFTER CONSULTATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, ONE DAY OF OSS ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE WINTER BREAK. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. AS THE AS THE EXPRESSION GOES "I'LL BE BACK." >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO 11.02. -- -- NOW WE WILL GO ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS THIS EVENING. FIRST OFF, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE CHAIR PEREZ, GIVE YOU A COMMENDATION. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH WITH NUESTRA, AMERICAN FOUNDATION TO OPEN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ART AND MUSEUM OF ART AND EDUCATION AT JEFFERSON JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. MULTIPLE FACTS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD AND LEGACY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE CULTURAL DISPLAYS AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. CAREER PEREZ, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU OF GETTING THAT MUSEUM AND A LOT OF YOUR WORK BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO GET THAT GOING. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE A VIDEO TO SHOW SOME OF THAT LATER ON DURING YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT. SO JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH. THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS THAT NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH. WE LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE COUNTLESS SUPPORTIVE AND MEANINGFUL MENTORS, MENTORING ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY. HELD THE FIRST HPCS COLAB A TESTIFY BREAKFAST ON JANUARY 13. THE COLLABORATIVE THE VISION AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. OWEN YOUNG, THE CHIEF OF STUDENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. FOSTER A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND PARTICIPANTERS IN TO PROVIDE MENTORING SERVICES TO THE DISTRICT. THE DISTRICT'S GOAL WITH THIS COLLABORATIVE TO COLLABORATIVE TO GENERATE OF THE MENTORING SYSTEM MENTORING SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNER ACE LINED WITH THE DISTRICT'S STRATEGIC PLANS AND STRATEGIC PLANS AND KPI AND STRATEGIC PLANS AND KPI AND CRITERIA. WE HAD SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS THERE AT THE ISC BUILDING. MR. YOUNG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THAT. AROUND SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. BEEN PARADE SEASON. I KNOW WE SPENT MONDAY, CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER AN REMEMBER AN EXTRAORDINARY LEADER DURING THE DURING THE CITY OF TAMPA ANNUAL MLK DAY PARADE. MR. WASHINGTON AND MISS VAUGHN, WE JUST MISSED THE WE JUST MISSED THE RAIN. THE RAIN CAME EARLY AND THE PARADE -- WE HAD A GREAT PARADE -- WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THEN THE FOLLOWING -- JUST THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE KICKED OFF THE CITY'S PIRATE INVASION THIS WEEKEND WITH WEEKEND WITH OUR CHILDREN'S GASPARILLA PARADE AND SO MANY JOINED THE PARADE ALONG JOINED THE PARADE ALONG BAYSHORE. THANK THEM FOR COMING OUT AN THANK THEM FOR COMING OUT AN SAFELY CELEBRATING THIS SAFELY CELEBRATING THIS TRADITION. DEEJAY WASHINGTON GOING AND SOMETHING NEW WITH THE BELL -- REMEMBER THAT BELL. MILLS PEREZ. YOU WERE THERE AS WELL. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. IT WAS INTERESTING. A TON OF OUR STUDENTS WERE OUT THERE AT THAT CHILDREN'S PARADE. GREAT TO SEE THEM. YOU WOULD SEE THEM. AND TO GET -- THEY WOULD AND TO GET -- THEY WOULD SAY TO GET THE BEADS, WE LOVE SCHOOL. SO WE WOULD THROW THEM MORE BEADS. YOU HAD TO GET THE BEADS. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TOURISM ACADEMY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT WITH VISIT TAMPA BAY. WANT TO GIVE SANTIAGO WANT TO GIVE SANTIAGO CORRATO A SHOUTS OUT. TOURISM ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL. IT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO LEARN THE INs AND OUTs OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND A INTERNSHIP POSSIBLE WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNER. AND JUST OUT TODAY, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DID RECEIVE AN E-MAIL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND JUST RELEASED BY THE D. OFD.O.E. JUST TODAY AND HOT OFF THE PRESS YOUR GRAVENLG SITUATION RATES. WE ARE JUST NOW ANALYZING THEM. I DO I DO HAVE -- YOU HAVE ALL OF IT ON YOUR E-MAIL. ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL RESULTS. I WOULD SHOUT OUT SOME SCHOOLS HERE THAT HAVE HELD 95% AND MADE GAINS. BUT JUST -- YOU KNOW, TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS. HERE WE ARE HERE WE ARE FOR HERE WE ARE FOR 202-2023 AND THE OVERALL GRADUATION OVERALL GRADUATION YELLOW LINE. HCPS. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ENDED THIS 2022-2023 YEAR WITH A 86.2% GRADUATION RATE. SO THE STATE IS AT 88%. OUR DISTRICT AT 86.2%. IT IS WHAT IT IT IS WHAT IT IS. AS WE HAVE WITH OUR STANDARDS, WITH OUR SCHOOL GRADES. WE TALKED ABOUT AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS. A METRIC I AM NOT HAPPY WITH. WE HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS WORK TO IMPROVE OUR GRADUATION RATES AND A NUMBER OF 86.2% AND A NUMBER OF 86.2% THAT WE GOT TO SEE MOVEMENT ON. OUR GOAL -- WE WILL TALK MORE AT OUR RETREAT ON FEBRUARY 6, IS TO GET OUR -- GET OUR -- OUR NUMBER HAS TO BE IN THE 90s AND CONSISTENTLY IN THE 90% AS WE CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND GET OUR GRADUATION RATES WHERE THEY WERE. YOU LOOK BACK AT 1920 -- 2022-'23. THIS GROUP OF SENIORS THAT GRADUATED, REMEMBER, THESE WERE THE THE NINTH-GRADER THAT WERE -- ENDURED COVID. REMEMBER BACK IN MARCH WHEN WE SHUT SCHOOL DOWN, THESE WERE THE NINTH-GRADERS THAT DID NOT HAVE SCHOOL FROM -- WE CLOSED DOWN MARCH THROUGH THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR THEY WERE NOT IN SCHOOL. THIS THIS 2022-'23, THIS IS SOURCE COVID STUDENTS THAT -- THAT COVID STUDENTS THAT -- THAT MISSED SCHOOL FOR THE '19-'20 SCHOOL YEAR. WE WILL SPEND MORE TIME. AGAIN, WE JUST GOT THIS IN TODAY. AND WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME. YOU CAN SEE OUR DECREASES. NO -- AS I MENTIONED WITH SCHOOL GRADES AND OUR GRADUATION RATES NOW. 90% IS OUR NUMBER. WE GOT TO BE THERE AND CONSISTENTLY BE THERE. I WILL ADD WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR US. FOR FOR 2022-'23. EXCUSE ME 2023-2024, SOME OF OUR REQUIREMENTS -- I WILL GIVE YOU ONE AROUND 480 S.A.T. A REQUIREMENT THAT CURRENTLY SITS FOR OUR CURRENT SENIORS. IF THEY HAVEN'T MET IF THEY HAVEN'T MET THE E. L.A. IF THEY HAVEN'T MET THE E. L.A. BENCHMARKS, CURRENTLY SITTING AT THE 480 IN THE LEGISLATION THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED. YOU LOOK BACK TO YOU LOOK BACK TO 2022-'23, 480 AND DROPPED IT DOWN TO 430 AROUND -- AROUND APRIL. SO IT IS SOMETHING WE SO IT IS SOMETHING WE CURRENTLY SIT FOR SIT FOR 2023-2024. ACCORDING SCORE FOR ACCORDING SCORE FOR READING HIGH NUMBER NUMBER 480. WE HAVEN'T HAD TO MEET THAT NUMBER, THAT METRIC YET. YOUR CHALLENGES ARE AHEAD OF US AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO GRADUATE STUDENTS COLLEGE AND CAREER READY, BUT YOU CAN CAREER READY, BUT YOU CAN SEE THIS IS WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE GOING TO OWN IT AND MOVE FORWARD TO GET THAT NUMBER TO 90% AND ABOVE. AGAIN, JUST CAME OUT AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THAT. I WANT TO GIVE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT WENT UP -- SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT BENT UP. SUMNER. THEIR GRADUATE RATE WENT UP 2.7%. SHOUT OUT TO BRANDON, WENT UP 1.1%. EAST BAY WENT UP EAST BAY WENT UP 2.8%. HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, 4.4. OUR SOUTH COUNTY CAREER CENTER UP 2.2. BOWERS WHITNEY, BOWERS WHITNEY, 1.9. ARE BRANDON EPIC ARE BRANDON EPIC 1.62%. SHOUTOUTS AS WELL TO OUR SCHOOLS THAT MAINTAIN ABOVE 95% THAT MAINTAIN ABOVE 95% GRADUATION RATE. HIGH SCHOOLS WITH 95% HIGHER STEINBRENNER SITS AT STEINBRENNER SITS AT 96.37. STRAWBERRY CREST 95.1. ALONG ZO 96.1. NEWSOM, 98.9% GRADUATION. HIGHEST IN THE DISTRICT. RIVERVIEW, 96%. PLANT 97.2. SINGLES, SINGLES, 96.1%. TAMPA BAY TECH HIGH SCHOOL, 95.7%. THOSE ARE OUR GRADUATION RATES. AND, AGAIN, AGAIN, IT JUST CAME OUT THIS MORNING. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE. REMEMBER WITH THE REMEMBER WITH THE GRADUATION RATES, IT IS THE DAY YOU ENTER NINTH GRADE, FOUR YEARS TO FINISH. THE COHORT THAT ENTERED IN 20 THAT HAD FOUR YEARS TO THAT HAD FOUR YEARS TO FINISH, 86.2% OF THOSE STUDENTS GRADUATE ON ON TIME. SO WE'LL SPEND SOME MORE TIME DIGGING INTO THIS AS WELL, BUT, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS AS THIS JUST DID COME OUT EARLIER THIS MORNING. >>Stacy Hahn: WHAT ARE THE DATES AT THE VERY BOTTOM? GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO '18-'19? IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A DASH. CRYSTAL BALL CRYSTAL BALL FOR 22-23. >>Van Ayres: I DID WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT AS WELL. HAD ACTUALLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE FLORIDA MUSIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. WE DID HAVE SOME AWARDS THAT WERE WERE GIVEN. BRIAN DEL, WHO IS THE BAND DIRECTOR AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, RECEIVED THE RECEIVED THE '24-25 EDUCATION SERVICE AWARD. JAMES HARRIS, THE PRINCIPAL OF ALONSO WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE '24-25 ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO JAMES. AND BOARD MEMBER COMBS, FELLOW BOARD MEMBER, TO YOU ALL, WAS PRESENTED WITH PRESENTED WITH '24-25 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD. APPRECIATE ALL THREE OF YOU AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THREE. COMING UP AGAIN IS OUR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS. SO THAT IS ON FEBRUARY 1st. I HOPE ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE THERE WHEN WE ANNOUNCE OUR NEW IDA S. BAKER TEACHER OF THE YEAR, THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR 2024 AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. SO THAT WILL BE AT LET'S BAND TOGETHER ON FEBRUARY 1st. THE EVENT ONCE AGAIN WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE STRAZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. WELCOME RECEPTION WILL START AT 4:30 AND AWARDS CEREMONY AT 6 P.M. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ATTEND, PLEASE VISIT THE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION WEBSITE FOR TICKET INFORMATION. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, OUR IDA S. BAKER DIVERSITY EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AND OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. ALWAYS A GREAT EVENING TO SEE ALL OF OUR FINALISTS FOR EACH OF THOSE. THAT IS A BIG NIGHT AS WE ANNOUNCE OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, IDA S. AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. HOPE TO HOPE TO SEE ALL HOPE TO SEE ALL OUR BOARD MEMBERS THERE. WE HAVE A SUSPENDED AGENDA UPDATE AROUND LITERACY, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COLLEEN FIRST. >> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. BOARD MEMBERS THIS WEEK ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA SCHOOLS ARE CELEBRATING CELEBRATE LITERACY WEEK WITH THE THEME BELIEVE IN YOUR SHELF, BUILDING RESILIENCY THROUGH READING. OUR LITERACY DEPARTMENT LED BY TRACIEE BERGMAN PUT TOGETHER A SKELETON OF ACTIVITIES TO IMPLEMENT WITH KIDS K-12 IF THEY DESIRED. THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN IN CUSTOMIZING LESSONS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY WAS OUR RESILIENCY CONNECTION WAS IN BUILDING CHARACTER. SO STUDENTS COULD HAVE DRESSED LIKE A TWIN TO THEIR FAVORITE BOOK CHARACTER. A TEXT CONNECTION THROUGH myON IN OUR UPPER ELEMENTARY GRADES WAS READING THE STORY WHEN AMELIA EARHART BUILT A ROLLER COASTER. CROSS CONTENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WAS LEARNING ABOUT THE CUBAN IMMIGRANT CUBAN IMMIGRANT ALEJANDRO BRICE THROUGH OUR PORTRAITS IN PATRIOTISM SERIES. ALL PARENTS RECEIVED AN E-MAIL YESTERDAY WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WITH STRATEGIES ON HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD BECOME A BETTER READER. FINALLY, INFORMATION ABOUT CELEBRATE LITERACY WEEK IS AVAILABLE ON THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEBSITE. BOARD MEMBERS, ON A SEPARATE NOTE, OUR STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY FINISHING PARTICIPATING IN THE FAST PM-2 ASSESSMENT WINDOW. THAT WINDOW ENDS ON FRIDAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE RESULTS AT THE FEBRUARY 6th BOARD MEETING DURING THE LITERACY UPDATE PORTION OF THE AGENDA. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MS. FAUCET. WE'LL HAVE AN EXTENSIVE UPDATE AS WE LOOK AT AS WE LOOK AT PM-2 DATA AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND GET INTO CONVERSATION DURING MY NEXT SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS ON FEBRUARY 6th. MY LAST SLIDE THIS EVENING, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY YESTERDAY TO PRESENT GABE PRESENT GABE PASAN, WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, GABE HAS TERMINAL LEUKEMIA AND WAS SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY ON THIS SPECIAL DAY. I DO HAVE A VIDEO THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, BUT CHAIR PEREZ, MYSELF, ROB MYSELF, ROB NELSON, THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT AND, OF COURSE, MIKE ROWAN, ALL THE FAMILY WAS THERE. I'LL PLAY THE VIDEO IN A MINUTE. IT WAS REALLY A SPECIAL DAY FOR HIS FAMILY. WE'LL HAVE -- HOPEFULLY IF WE CAN GET THE SOUND WORKED OUT, I'LL PLAY THE VIDEO, CHAIR PEREZ, IF YOU'LL ALLOW, LATER THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT OVER AT WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL AT WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL AT THE VERY END WHEN WE ASKED HIM JUST IF HE HAD ANYTHING HE HAD ANYTHING HE WANTED TO ADD IN COMMENTS ABOUT THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CULTURE OVER AT WHARTON. WE'LL TRY TO GET THAT FIXED SO WE CAN GIVE IT ITS DUE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS WILL BE FAST AND FURIOUS. FIRST, PABLO, WE'RE INTO THE -- AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE DOING ASTOUNDINGLY GREAT JOB. MEMBER PEREZ THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE WHEN THIS CHILD WAS MUCH NEEDED FOR NEEDED FOR COMFORT. AND THANK AND THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN, FOR THIS GREAT MONETARY GIFT. BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK TONIGHT, AND I HOPE I DON'T HAVE A SCREEN HERE, DO WE HAVE IT ON THE THE VIDEO? >> HI. MY NAME IS NADIA COMBS. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I AM SO EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THIS BE RECOGNIZED FOR THIS AWARD. MUSIC EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO VITAL FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, NOT EVEN FOR PRE-K BUT FROM BIRTH. IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO LISTEN TO MUSIC AND BE A PART OF MUSIC BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES, IT INSPIRES KIDS AND OPENS UP MINDS AND IDEAS AND THOUGHTS, AND WE CAN SEE ALL AROUND US WHEN CHILDREN HAVE MUSIC AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO SING, TO PLAY AN SING, TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, THEY DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY BUT THEY ALSO DO BETTER THEY ALSO DO BETTER SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY. MUSIC BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER. BRINGS CHILDREN TOGETHER, AND BRINGS OUR SCHOOLS TOGETHER. >> MRS. COMBS CONTACTED ME ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND WANTED TO START BACK UP THE PERFORMANCES ON THE PLAZA, WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO COME AND TO BRING THEIR ENSEMBLES AND PERFORM BEFORE EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. IT IS AN AWESOME WAY TO START EACH MEETING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE SAYS THAT EVERY TIME SHE WALKS OUT ONTO THE PLAZA, SHE LOOKS AT ME AND IS LIKE, THANK YOU, THIS IS WHAT WE WHAT WE NEEDED. >> WE SOMETIMES HAVE LONG -- WALK UP RIGHT BEFORE A MEETING AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE AN ELEMENTARY OR A MIDDLE SCHOOL OR A HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, IT REALLY ENERGIZES ME. I HAVE NOT MISSED A PERFORMANCE SINCE I WAS ELECTED ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO. >> I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE KEEP PLAYING MUSIC. >> EVERY TIME BEFORE MEETING, I ALWAYS MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO GO OUT THERE, TO SEE OUR STUDENTS, TO THANK OUR MUSIC TEACHERS BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THEY COMING THERE, BUT THEY ARE ENRICHING OUR ENTIRE BOARD OUR ENTIRE BOARD AND OUR ENTIRE BOARD AND ALL THE VISITORS AND ANY KIND OF PUBLIC SPEAKER THAT COMES IN. >> NO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES WON'T BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THE LEADERS, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS. THAT'S WHAT BOARD MEMBER COMBS IS, SHE IS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SHE SHOWS HER SUPPORT BY SHOWING UP. I HAD A MUSIC TEACHER TELL ME ONE TIME THAT HALF THE GIG IS SHOWING UP. THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES. SHOWS UP FOR MUSIC TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY. >> NOW MORE THAN EVER, SOME OF OUR ARTS HAVE BEEN CUT AND THE PROGRAMS ARE LARGER THAN EVER. BUT YOU SEE OUR TEACHERS. THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK HARDER TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS HAVE THAT LOVE AND THAT APPRECIATION FOR MUSIC BECAUSE THERE'S NO -- >>Lynn Gray: WELL, THIS IS ONE OF OUR OWN. AND LET'S GIVE MEMBER COMBS A BIG HAND FOR BEING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR FOR MUSIC, ARTS, AND ARTS AND EDUCATION IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER. THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS FOR, GOLLY, FOR JUST BEING A WONDERFUL BOARD MEMBER WONDERFUL BOARD MEMBER AND STANDING OUT FOR THIS HONOR THAT REPRESENTS THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA. NEXT, I'VE GOT TO NEXT, I'VE GOT TO BE QUICK. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT IS OUR STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY. AND WE HAVE THE DATES COMING UP. SO WE HAVE -- I BELIEVE PABLO IS GOING TO PUT IT UP. SO JANUARY 25th IS COMING RIGHT AROUND THE BEND. THIS WILL BE AT WHARTON THIS WILL BE AT WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL. I CAN NEVER PRONOUNCE THE FIRST NAME RIGHT. NEW YORK ACCENT. WE'LL HAVE PERHAPS FIVE OR SIX SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF PARENTS FOR LEARNING THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE GOING THROUGH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MAINLY THROUGH THE PHONE. FOLLOWING THAT, FOLLOWING THAT, MABRY ELEMENTARY AND AND MIDDLETON AND PLANT CITY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ALL-OUT AWARENESS FOR OUR AWARENESS FOR OUR PARENTS. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE SUPPORTING THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. MY NEXT VIDEO OR PICTURES, WE HAD A WELLNESS WEEK. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES HAS BEEN ON THE HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS SCHOOLS COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK VAN AYRES, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES FOR TAKING THE LEAD AND ACTUALLY WALKING THE WALK, NOT JUST TALKING THE TALK. KEN HART ORGANIZED IT. THANK YOU, KEN, WHEREVER THANK YOU, KEN, WHEREVER YOU ARE. WE WERE ESPECIALLY JUST WE WERE ESPECIALLY JUST THRILLED TO HAVE THE FIRE CHIEF OF TAMPA, BARBARA TRIPP, WHO GAVE A HEARTFELT TESTIMONIAL ABOUT EXERCISE NO EXERCISE NO MATTER WHAT, HOW STRESSFUL YOUR LIFE IS, AND WE WERE TALKING TO PRINCIPALS. AND THEN WE WANTED TO THANK HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CAPTAIN OFFICE, CAPTAIN ROBIN ANDERSON ALSO. AND ALSO DR. PATEN WHO CAME AND GAVE US A TESTIMONIAL. LAST, REAL QUICK, IF WE HAVE TIME, KIMBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, GREAT AGRISCIENCE DEPARTMENT, SHOULDN'T SAY DEPARTMENT, HUGE PROJECT PROJECT OF GARDENING AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE -- WELL, THEY ARE GROWING SWEET POTATOES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT WHAT A FANTASTIC MODEL FOR FANTASTIC MODEL FOR AGRISCIENCE AND THANK YOU JEANETTE BRADLEY. MY TIME IS UP. I THINK I DID PRETTY GOOD WITH ALL THIS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE ATTENDED SOME REALLY EXCITING EVENTS RECENTLY AND I HAVE SOME PHOTOS WHICH THANK YOU, PABLO DIDN'T GET MY PowerPoint BUT HE TOOK MY PHOTOS AND THREW THEM TOGETHER. DO WE HAVE THE FIRST PowerPoint? ON SUNDAY -- MY VOICE JUST WENT OUT -- ON SUNDAY WE WENT TO THE TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART. EACH YEAR THE TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART INVITES HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ART TEACHERS TO SUBMIT A STUDENT'S ARTWORK FOR THE YOUNG ART STUDENT EXHIBITION. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. WE HAD SO MANY BEAUTIFUL STUDENT ARTWORK THERE AND THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED AND A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE MUSEUM. THEY DO SUCH AMAZING THINGS. THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE FIELD TRIPS THEY ARE GIVING, ESPECIALLY TO OUR STUDENTS WHO MIGHT NEVER GET DOWNTOWN OR GET TO GO TO THE MUSEUM. THERE WERE SO MANY TEACHERS THERE AND SO MANY STUDENTS AND IT WAS REALLY EXCITING. MEMBER RENDON WAS THERE. THANK YOU TO THE TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART FOR THAT. I KNOW DR. HAHN USUALLY GOES I KNOW DR. HAHN USUALLY GOES TO THAT. WOW, MY VOICE JUST WENT OUT. THE SUPERINTENDENT TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT OR QUITE A BIT WHEN WE CELEBRATED THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. HERE WE ARE AT HERE WE ARE AT TOBA'S ANNUAL BREAKFAST QUITE EARLY IN THE MORNING, FOR THOSE OF US WHO GO. WE HAVE TO BE THERE AT 6:30 DOWNTOWN. IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT, JUST LIKE IT ALWAYS IS, TALKING TO THE FIGHT THAT CONTINUES FOR EQUITY AND EQUALITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION. THEY ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB OF HIGHLIGHTING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS IN EDUCATION. THEN WE WENT ON TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY LUTHER KING DAY PARADE, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC. WE HAD SO MANY ADMINISTRATORS THERE. WE HAD BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING. OUR SECURITY DID A GREAT JOB. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN ON THE FLOAT. THANK YOU TO MEMBER WASHINGTON WHO HAS UPPED OUR PLAY LIST. AS WE PASSED BY, WE HAD PEOPLE YELLING, YOU'RE THE ONLY FLOAT THAT'S PLAYED MUSIC AND JUST SO EXCITED AND DANCING. IT'S ALWAYS REALLY EXCITING WHEN YOU'RE ON A FLOAT PLAYING AMAZING MUSIC AND SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE EXCITED. LET ME NOT SAY MEMBER WASHINGTON IS A CELEBRITY NONSTOP WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE. EVERY SINGLE PERSON CALLING TO GET HIS ATTENTION. THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND EVERYONE FOR AND EVERYONE FOR GETTING US THROUGH THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY PARADE, WHICH IS ALWAYS A LOT OF ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN. AND THEN FINALLY, BACK A FEW WEEKS AGO, CONGRESS WOMAN LAURA LEE HOSTED A CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE THAT CHALLENGES OUR STUDENTS TO BUILD AN APP TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ACTUALLY HAD THREE WINNERS. THE NUMBER ONE WINNER WHO CREATED AN APP TO BASICALLY TRANSLATE SIGN LANGUAGE WAS SARJA GUPTA. HE WON THE CHALLENGE AND ATTENDS STRAWBERRY CREST. SECOND PLACE WAS PATEL. SHE CREATED AN APP THAT WILL SCAN YOUR SKIN PRODUCTS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING DANGEROUS TO OUR CORAL REEFS BECAUSE SHE LOVES OUR ENVIRONMENT. SHE ATTENDS CARROLLWOOD. NAVINE WON AN AWARD FOR THIRD PLACE AND HE CREATED AN APP THAT WOULD CONNECT PEOPLE TO FOOD BANKS SO THEY COULD DONATE FOOD DURING EMERGENCIES AND ALSO DO INVENTORY ON THEM. HE ATTENDS MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND USING THEIR KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOLS TO REALLY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY WITH APPS. I APPRECIATE CONGRESS WOMAN LAURA LEE HOSTING THAT APP CHALLENGE AND GIVING OUR STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHINE AND SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT. SPEAKING ABOUT THE SPEAKING ABOUT THE FOOD BANK AND THE FOOD INSECURITY, ONE THING THAT I DID TALK TO ONE OF THE STUDENTS BECAUSE I AM SPONSORING THE POLICY, THE STUDENT DRIVEN POLICY. ONE OF THE STUDENTS, SWARMA ACTUALLY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH WASTE WE HAVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD AND MAYBE DEVELOPING A POLICY THAT COULD CONNECT ANY STUDENT WHO DOESN'T WANT BECAUSE THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO TAKE A FRUIT OR VEGETABLE THROUGHOUT THE FOOD LINE IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, PUT IT IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN CONNECT STUDENTS WHO ARE STILL HUNGRY AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT FOOD. IF STUDENTS GO THROUGH OUR LINE A SECOND TIME, THEY DON'T GET THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. THEY HAVE TO PAY. IT WOULD PROVIDE STUDENTS STILL HUNGRY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THE OPTIONS THEY HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE FOOD LINE. OH, 42 SECONDS. THEN I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY GO BACK AND WHEN WE BACK AND WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT RUN CHARTER SCHOOL, ANOTHER PIECE I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN THE WORKSHOP IS HOW THE CHARTER BILL CONVERSION LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS PARENTS NOW TO CONVERT A CHARTER SCHOOL, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON A DISTRICT RUN CHARTER SCHOOL. I WANTED TO THROW THAT BACK IN THE CONVERSATION SO WE EXPLORE EVERYTHING AS WE TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING AS WE TALK ABOUT IT. AND JUST AS I GO INTO MY SCHOOLS, THE THING WE HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS NOT JUST TEACHER PAY BUT CLASS SIZE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND TALK ABOUT OUR HIRING CHALLENGE AND OUR VACANCIES, IT REALLY REVOLVES AROUND CLASS SIZE AND TEACHER BURNOUT. I HOPE WE TALK ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER >>Karen Perez: MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: I WANTED TO THANK THE FLORIDA MUSIC ASSOCIATION AND ESPECIALLY OUR MUSIC LEADERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. TRACY LESSEE, OUR TRACY LESSEE, OUR K-5 SUPERVISOR, JOHN SUPERVISOR, JOHN SEAVER, 6-12 SUPERVISOR WHO ACTUALLY ENDED UP BEING A BAND DIRECTOR FOR HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. LISA, OUR 6-12 DRT AND SOME LEADERS LIKE JONATHAN FROM LANIER ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATE BRIAN DELL, MUSIC EDUCATION BAND DIRECTOR FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO OUR SECONDARY ADMINISTRATOR PRINCIPAL HARRIS. THAT PROGRAM AT ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL NOW HAS THE LARGEST MARCHING BAND. THE MUSIC PROGRAM THERE IS AMAZING AT AMAZING AT ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL FOR MUSICALS, TO THE CHORUS. JUST AMAZING. THERE WERE A FEW SCHOOLS, HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT HAD HUGE ENROLLMENTS IN MUSIC. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR OWN. BENITO MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD 59% OF ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS IN MUSIC IN THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THAT'S FROM PRINCIPAL BRENT WILLIAMS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS BRANDY DEAN, ELISE BRANDY DEAN, ELISE PRATER, ERIC AND MARTINEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL, 63% OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN MUSIC. THAT IS THAT IS AMAZING. AND THAT'S THE LEADERSHIP OF TOBY JOHNSON. AS I SAW HIM IN THE MEETING, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A MUSIC GUY. HE GOES I AM. 63%. AND THAT'S THE LEADERSHIP OF ROBERT ROBERT DELOCATE, ROBERT DELOCATE, RENEE, CHRISTOPHER JOHNS KLEIN, ALL THOSE MUSIC EDUCATORS JUST DOING GREAT GREAT JOBS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF OWEN YOUNG FOR THE MENTORING COLLABORATIVE. I WAS REALLY BLOWN AWAY WHEN WE WENT TO THAT EVENT. I THINK MEMBER PEREZ I THINK MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER GRAY WAS GRAY WAS THERE. MEMBER WASHINGTON. IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO GET ALL THOSE DIFFERENT MENTORING GROUPS TOGETHER AND YOUR TEAM TO LOOK AT ONE VISION. I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. I COULD SEE PEOPLE WRITING IDEAS DOWN AND THINKING ABOUT THAT. MENTORING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OUR YOUTH NEED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CLASS SIZES AND ALL THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES WE HAVE. KIDS HAVING MENTORS AND HAVING SOMEBODY IN FRONT OF THEM WHO CARES ABOUT THEM, WHO CHECKS ON THEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT. TO GET ALL THOSE DIFFERENT GROUPS TOGETHER IN ONE AND TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT IS ABOUT THAT, THAT IS AMAZING. I KNOW RO JOHNSON WAS THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND YOUR TEAM. I THINK IT'S GREAT. FINALLY, TODAY, I GO OUT TO SCHOOLS ALL THE TIME, BUT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SUPERINTENDENT AYRES COMING OUT TO THE SCHOOL, CANNELLA ELEMENTARY THIS MORNING WITH US. AND WE WERE ABLE TO READ TO A BUNCH OF FIRST GRADE STUDENTS AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT I THINK IT WAS THE CONNECTION THINK IT WAS THE CONNECTION THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAD TO EVERY PERSON FROM THE PRINCIPAL TO THE TEACHERS TO THE CAFETERIA WORKERS. I RECEIVED SEVERAL E-MAILS FROM TEACHERS SAYING, WOW, LIKE, YOU CAN TELL THAT HE REALLY CARES AND ALSO YOUR KNOWLEDGE WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE SCHOOL IS, WHERE THEY ARE MOVING, THEIR ARE MOVING, THEIR PM-1 AND THE KNOWLEDGE, I WAS REALLY, REALLY PROUD TO STAND BY YOU TODAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. SOMETHING DURING PUBLIC COMMENT KIND OF PUT A QUESTION IN MY MIND. I ASK THIS I ASK THIS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR BOOK CHALLENGE COMMITTEES ARE OPERATING IN AN OPERATING IN AN UNBIASED OPERATING IN AN UNBIASED WAY. AND THE AND THE CONCERN FOR ME IS THAT THE PERSON WHO IS CHOOSING THE VERY BOOK THAT'S BEING CHALLENGED IS THE SAME PERSON CHOOSING THE COMMITTEE. AND SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW -- AND MAYBE YOU CAN'T PROVIDE IT TONIGHT. MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET FOR ME. IS THERE A IS THERE A PROCESS THAT OUR LIBRARIANS HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT IS CONSISTENT ACROSS EVERY SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE CHOOSING THESE COMMITTEES? AND HOW AND HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE UNBIASED, THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING OBJECTIVE WHEN THEY MAKE THESE DECISIONS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT TO ME AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE MEMBERS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A CONCERN. I THOUGHT OF IT. I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT OF IT. SEEMS KIND OF ODD THAT THE PERSON WHO PICKED THE BOOK IS CHOOSING THE COMMITTEE. >>Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. I'LL GET ALL THAT INFORMATION AND GET IT OUT TO YOU AND ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS TOMORROW. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. ALSO, I WANT TO SHARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. MONEY IS A BIG FACTOR WHEN YOU'RE SENDING KIDS TO COLLEGE. I HAVE TWO GETTING READY TO GO TO TO COLLEGE. IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. BUT OUR HILLSBOROUGH ED FOUNDATION HAS SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT TONIGHT. IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS LISTENING OR GOES BACK TO LISTEN, THERE'S OVER $600,000 THIS YEAR AVAILABLE AVAILABLE IN SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THROUGH HEF. AND THEY EVEN PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WHO NEED HELP WITH THE HELP WITH THE APPLICATIONS OR JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, SIFTING THROUGH EVERYTHING. YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE TO GET THAT HELP. I SIT ON THEIR BORED AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK ANA CORPSMAN IS DOING AS THE INTERIM CEO. THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY, MANY GREAT PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDES FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO I HOPE STUDENTS WILL CHECK THAT OUT BECAUSE WE THAT OUT BECAUSE WE HAD STUDENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, KATIE HEINE RECEIVED RECEIVED $12,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM HEF AND SHE SAID IT MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON HER COLLEGE. SOME OF US HAVE KIDS HEADING THAT WAY TO COLLEGE. BIG EXPENSE. EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS. THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS HOW MUCH I ENJOYED ATTENDING THE ANNUAL myON PARTNERSHIP LUNCH WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT LAST WEEK. IT WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE TO BE IN THAT ROOM WITH SO MANY DEDICATED COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT SUPPORT LITERACY. I'M VERY I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING MINDS THROUGH EDUCATION AND LITERACY. I WANT TO SHARE SOME AMAZING NUMBERS WITH YOU FROM myON. THIS YEAR THIS YEAR ALONE, CLOSE TO 5 MILLION BOOKS WERE ACCESSED THROUGH THROUGH myON, WHICH IS AMAZING. AND OVER A HALF A AND OVER A HALF A MILLION AND OVER A HALF A MILLION HOURS OF READ THROUGH myON. THEY TRACK ALL OF THIS. SINCE 2012, OVER 83 MILLION BOOKS HAVE BEEN ACCESSED. I THINK THESE ARE JUST AMAZING NUMBERS AND I'M NUMBERS AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT, THE PARTNERS THAT SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE. WE PAY INTO WE PAY INTO IT, BUT THERE'S CHILDREN'S BOARD AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND UNITED WAY. ALL THESE OTHER ALL THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION THAT ALSO SUPPORT THIS THROUGH DOLLARS, HARD DOLLARS, HARD DOLLARS. AND SO AND SO I AND SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKING LITERACY A PRIORITY. I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND ACCESS, JUST PROVIDING THIS PROVIDING THIS TYPE OF ACCESS TO STUDENTS WHO DON'T OWN A BOOK OF THEIR VERY OWN. THAT'S WHY AT CHRISTMASTIME I GIFT ALL OF MY PRE-K STUDENTS IN DISTRICT TWO WITH DISTRICT TWO WITH A BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS. I WANT A CHILD TO HAVE A BOOK TO CALL THEIR VERY OWN. AND SO AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT AND MANY OF THE BOOKS ARE BILINGUAL. SO THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING. THEY ALSO HAVE A BLACK HISTORY MONTH DIGITAL READ-IN STARTING FEBRUARY 1st ON myON. GO TO THEIR WEBSITE. THEY ALWAYS GIVE OUT GREAT PRIZES, SO CHECK IT OUT. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LET ME START OFF, I JUST WANT LET ME START OFF, I JUST WANT TO START OFF WITH MR. YOUNG, THAT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATING BREAKFAST YOU HAD. BECAUSE I'M A MENTOR, I BELIEVE IN MENTORING, I THINK THAT'S WHAT MADE ME SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE BECAUSE I HAD MANY MENTORS DURING MY LIFETIME. BUT WHAT I LIKE THE MOST ABOUT IT, YOU BRING IT INTO CONTEXT NOW BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING TO MY ATTENTION AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF MENTORING GOING ON IN SCHOOLS. I MEAN, A GREAT DEAL. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY. NOW YOU'RE BRINGING IT BACK INTO CONTEXT SO WE COULD CONCENTRATE ON SOMETHING LIKE MATH AND IF THE KID NEED THE KID NEED MATH OR YOU WANT SOCIAL. IT'S PHENOMENAL. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THAT TO HELP KIDS OUT TODAY IN SOCIETY. MENTORING IS A GREAT TOOL FOR SUCCESS. BUT THE ONE THING I REALIZE ABOUT MENTORING AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A GREAT DEAL, YOU GOT TO SET A GOAL. AND WHEN YOU SET THAT GOAL, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH BECAUSE MANY TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE MENTORING, THE KID MAY BE IN FOURTH GRADE AND AFTER YOU GET TO FIFTH OR SIXTH YOU DON'T FOLLOW THEM ANYMORE. WE DON'T KNOW THE SUCCESS OF MENTORING. WE NEED A MEASURING TOOL. I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB. THAT'S ONE OF MY BABIES THEY ARE MENTORING NOW. AND MOVING ALONG, TOBA, WE HAD A GREAT BREAKFAST. GREAT TIME AT GREAT TIME AT TOBA. I WAS UP EARLY. HAD TO BE THERE AT 5:00. AT THE DAIS, HALFWAY ASLEEP. BUT IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM AND I WANT TO THANK JAMES RAMSON FOR ALWAYS DOING OUTSTANDING JOB WITH TOBA. THAT WAS THE 44th ONE WE HAD. WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING SPEAKER AND SHE WAS A TEACHER, PHENOMENAL. AND THEN WE MOVED ON. WE HAD TO GO DOWN TO THE MLK PARADE. WE LEFT THERE AND WENT TO THE MLK PARADE. IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING AT THE MLK PARADE. YOU SEE IN EAST TAMPA, THEY DON'T HAVE A DON'T HAVE A LOT GOING ON. WE JUST DON'T. SO WHEN WE HAVE A PARADE OR SOMETHING OVER THERE, PEOPLE COMES OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAD. WE HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. I KEPT SAYING ONCE WE GET AROUND THAT CORNER, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN NOBODY. WHEN YOU TURN THAT CORNER ON 22nd AND YOU LOOK DOWN AND LOOKED LIKE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. SO IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. THEN THEN WE MOVED ON TO THEN WE MOVED ON TO THE CHILDREN GASPARILLA PARADE. IT WAS ALARMING HOW MANY IT WAS ALARMING HOW MANY KIDS WAS OUT THERE. I MEAN, IT WAS I MEAN, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE, SMALL, BIG, AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT IT, THEY ALL CHEERED WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF THE SCHOOL. THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS RINGING THE BELL. HE WAS RINGING THE BELL SAYING, ALL RIGHT. TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL NOW. AND THROWING BEADS. IT WAS REALLY GOOD, BUT IT WAS REALLY GOOD SEEING THE KIDS OUT THERE ENJOYING THEMSELVES IN A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT AND TRULY ENJOYING AND NOT NO RAUCOUS GOING ON. THEY WERE REALLY MILD MANNERED AND VERY RESPECTFUL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. KEEP IN MIND, MY LAST THING I WANT TO WANT TO SAY, WE HAVE TO HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE GOOD THINGS WE'RE DOING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE GOT TO DO IT. WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF WAY WITH COMMUNICATION SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB THAN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. I THINK WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE REAL SMART PEOPLE SITTING ON THAT FRONT LINE, ON THAT FRONT LINE, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. APPRECIATE IT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SO THE SO THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU GOT TO TELL YOU WE HAVE MENTORS IN THIS DISTRICT THAT HAVE BEEN MENTORS FOR MANY YEARS. WHEN I WALKED INTO THAT MENTORSHIP BREAKFAST, MENTORSHIP BREAKFAST, I RAN INTO SOMEONE WHO SOMEONE WHO MENTORED MY DAUGHTERS. AND THE AND THE MENTORSHIP WAS AND THE MENTORSHIP WAS IN 1999. AND WE'RE AND WE'RE IN 2023. AND IT SHOWS THE STAY, THE STAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE. AND IT WAS MR. RAY AND IT WAS MR. RAY ROBINSON. HE HE MENTORED MY -- I WOULD GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING TO TAKE MY TWO DAUGHTERS FOR TRACK OUT AT USF AND HE WOULD MENTOR THEM. THEY WOULD THEY WOULD DO TRACK MEETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND AND HE TRAINED THEM. HE TRAINED MY TWO DAUGHTERS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO RAY ROBINSON, HE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FASTEST THE FASTEST MEN IN THE WORLD, AND HE IS HERE AND WORKING AS A MENTOR HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BUT HE BUT HE MENTORED MY DAUGHTER IN TRACK. AND WHEN I WALKED IN THERE, I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, I KNOW YOU. AND HE LOOKED AT ME, HE SAYS I KNOW YOU TOO BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE. I TOLD HIM, I GAVE HIM MY DAUGHTER'S DAUGHTER'S NAME. BUT THE BUT THE MENTORS THAT WE HAVE, WE NEED TO NEED TO CHERISH AND REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR THEIR STAY AND THEIR WANTING TO LIFT OUR STUDENTS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. OUR OUR VIDEO IS READY FOR THE STUDENT YESTERDAY. NO, THAT'S NOT NO, THAT'S NOT IT. [ CHEERING ] >> FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS, MY NAME IS MIKE. I AM THE PROUD PRINCIPAL AT WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL AND GABE'S PROUD PRINCIPAL FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. GABE COMPLETED ALL HIS CREDITS, ALL 24 PLUS CREDITS TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL WITH 4.7 GPA. THAT IS NOT AN EASY FEAT FOR ANYBODY. AND AT THIS TIME, WHAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU, GABE, IF I CAN GET MS. COLLINS, I HAVE FOR YOU DIPLOMA COVER AND YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. SO CONGRATULATIONS, GABE. WE'RE VERY PROUD FOR GABRIEL. HE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD OVER THE YEARS. MADE IT A POINT TO SPEND AT LEAST TWO HOURS A NIGHT TO DO HOMEWORK. VERY VERY DEDICATED. LOVES LEARNING. PERSEVERED THROUGH THE ILLNESS AND STILL AND STILL PERSEVERING. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM AND HAPPY. >> FEELS GREAT, ACHIEVED A MILESTONE THAT WILL MAKE WAY FOR A GREAT A GREAT FUTURE. I FEEL I FEEL VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL IS SUCH A GREAT SCHOOL TO GO TO. IT'S SO FRIENDLY. >> HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS A HUGE DISTRICT, SO FOR THEM TO TAKE THE TIME TO COME OUT HERE AND TO CELEBRATE GABRIEL'S HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS VERY BIG AND THAT MEANT A LOT. >>Karen Perez: I HAD THE HONOR TO CONFER, TO CONFER, ACTUALLY, HIS DIPLOMA. I HAD IT IN MY PHONE. I HAD THE WORDS. I WAS LOOKING FOR IT REAL QUICK, BUT I HAD THE HONOR TO CONFER HIS DIPLOMA ON HIM YESTERDAY. SUPERINTENDENT, WE SUPERINTENDENT, WE TALKED ABOUT GRADUATION RATES, AND GRADUATION RATES, AND THEY COINCIDE WITH SUSPENSION RATES. WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS AND MAKE A PLAN. A PLAN NEEDS TO A PLAN NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE IN ORDER TO UPRIGHT OUR GRADUATION. RATE. NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS OUR SENIORS, BUT ALSO TO START FROM K TO THIRD GRADE AND MAKE THIRD GRADE AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SUSPENSION RATES ARE DIMINISHED AND KEEP OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS SO THAT WHEN THEY GET TO THE SENIOR YEAR, THAT THEY ARE WALKING ACROSS THAT STAGE. THANK YOU. AND SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]