##VIDEO ID:mDdM_oA1bQo## >> THE BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2024, IS CALLED TO ORDER. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW LEAD US IN -- WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CALL IT? MEMBER MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW GIVE US A QUOTE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THIS QUOTE IS NOT ATTRIBUTED TO A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL. IT IS A REFLECTION ON THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF OUR WELL-BEING AND THE WORLD AROUND US. IT SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS FOR HARMONIOUS AND DRIVING COMMUNITY. TAKE CARE TAKE CARE OF YOUR TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY AND YOUR MIND WILL THANK YOU. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SOUL, THE UNIVERSE WILL THANK YOU. TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND WE WILL ALL THRIVE TOGETHER. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER PEREZ, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ WITH PRINCIPAL VALERIE NEWTON AND INSTRUCTOR CARMEN GRIFFITH. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> MY NAME IS WILLIAM. I PLAY THE DRUMS AND I'M IN THE 12th GRADE. >> HELLO. I'M MAXWELL I'M MAXWELL HAMMOND. I PLAY I GO TORE AND I'M IN -- GUITAR AND I'M IN THE 12th GRADE. >> I'M WADE >> I'M WADE RICHARDS. I PLAY VIBES. I'M IN 11th GRADE. >> MY NAME IS CALVIN. I PLAY TRUMPET. I'M IN THE 11th GRADE. >> MY NAME IS HALEY LOPEZ. I PLAY I PLAY ALTO SAX AND I AM IN THE 12th GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS AVA. I PLAY TRUMPET AND IN THE I PLAY TRUMPET AND IN THE 11th GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS LEON. I PLAY GUITAR. I'M IN THE 12th GRADE. >> HI. CALVIN WILLIAMS. I PLAY THE DRUMS. I'M IN 10th GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS LEWIS LOPEZ. I PLAY BASS. I'M IN THE 11th GRADE. >> HI. I'M DIRECTOR CARMEN GRIFFIN. MARCHING BAND DIRECTOR AND JAZZ BAND DIRECTOR AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THESE STUDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE AND INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO OUR PERFORMANCE ON JANUARY 8 AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. IT IS THE FLORIDA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION FOR WHICH WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO PERFORM FOR THE PRESIDENT'S CONCERT, WHICH IS QUITE THE HONOR. 7:30 P.M. I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO NOTE THIS LOVELY PICTURE ON THE WALL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE MARCHING YELLOW JACKETS POSTED IN THE ROOM. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM VALERIE NEWTON, THE PROUD PRINCIPAL FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SERVE THESE FINE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Jessica Vaughn: IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME TAKE A PICTURE. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Jessica Vaughn: FANTASTIC. SUCH AN AMAZING JOB. SO GOOD. PEOPLE WERE DANCING IN THEIR SEATS. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. IT I NEED A MOTION -- I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE THREE SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. OCTOBER OCTOBER 1st, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. NOVEMBER 11, 2024, SCHOOL BOARD REORGANIZATION MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA, STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Karen Perez: 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 THE BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEBCAST AND ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. AT 5:01, A PUBLIC HEARING AND 6 P.M., EMPLOYEE INPUT. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO RECOGNITIONS. A 01, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP ANNMARIE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS, ENGAGEMENT, PHILANTHROPY, AND OUTREACH. >> GOOD >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS, AND GUESTS. THE BUCS BEST KREWE PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY OUR AMAZING PARTNER, THE PARTNER, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, RECOGNIZES STAND BUCCANEERS, RECOGNIZES STAND OUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, OVERALL IMPACT ON OVERALL IMPACT ON STUDENTS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, HERE TONIGHT TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S RECIPIENTS. MR. FORD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WARM WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. HOPE EVERYBODY IS WELL, SUPERINTENDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF. AS WAS MENTIONED, I'M BRIAN FORD. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND CONTINUING IT. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKING IT WHAT IT AND MAKING IT WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE THREE UNBELIEVABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SO DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO TO RECOGNIZE HERE TODAY. I'M I'M HUMBLED TO BE HERE TO DO SO. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEACHER. WE'VE GOT THE WRONG BALL. GOT TO HAVE THE RIGHT BALL, RIGHT? TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS PROGRAM TO ANYBODY THAT'S NEW, WE HAVE A TRADITION THAT THE GLAZER FAMILY STARTED. ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE IN OUR ORGANIZATION GETS A GAME BALL. WHEN YOU HEAR THE STORIES THAT I'M ABOUT TO I'M ABOUT TO READ, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. BUT THEY GO OVER AND ABOVE EACH AND EVERY DAY AND MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR US TO OFFER THIS RECOGNITION. SO WITH THAT, WOULD ELIZABETH ALEXANDER COME ON OVER HERE? CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> OUR BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD FOR EDUCATOR THIS MONTH IS FOR SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS KNOWN FOR SURPASSING ALL STANDARDS TO SUPPORT EVERY SUPPORT EVERY STUDENT, NOT JUST THEIR OWN. THESE ARE COMMENTS THAT YOUR PEERS HAVE PEERS HAVE GIVEN. SHE'S CONSTANTLY ORGANIZING SCHOOLWIDE EVENTS SO STUDENTS CAN COME PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENCES THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO AT HOME. HALLOWEEN, SHE PROVIDED CANDY FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE TRICK OR TREATING. CHRISTMAS SHE PURCHASES AND ORGANIZES DONATIONS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS TO RECEIVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS IN DECEMBER. SHE EVEN PROVIDES FOOD FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO ARE HUNGRY. SHE ENSURES THAT THE CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL IS ALWAYS POSITIVE AND PROMOTES EXCELLENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY. MS. ELIZABETH ALEXANDER FROM PIZZO K-8 IS A PREMIER EDUCATOR IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM WHO SETS THE STANDARDS IN EDUCATION AND EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF THE TAMPA COMMUNITY. WE ARE HONORED TO GIVE THIS RECOGNITION SHE DESERVES WITH THIS BUCCANEER BEST KREWE AWARD. [ APPLAUSE ] THAT MAKES IT EVEN BETTER. GIVE ME A HUG. GET A PICTURE OVER HERE AND I HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AS WELL. SOMETHING TO HANG UP THERE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. THAT STORY IS REMARKABLE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT WE HAVE SERGEANT ERIC COLLINS DISTRICT, SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR SECOND AWARD IS FOR ESSENTIAL MEMBER OF THE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WHO IS ALWAYS SEEKING CREATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. HE HAS COORDINATED A COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS FOR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOL CAMPUSES PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS. EACH YEAR LEADING UP TO WINTER BREAK, HE ORGANIZATION THE DELIVERY OF CHRISTMAS TOYS TO 15 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON BEHALF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY AND EM, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. HIS EFFORTS HELP ENSURE OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS RECEIVE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. IN ADDITION, HE IS ALSO A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE SUPPORTER OF THE DISTRICT'S ANNUAL CEREAL FOR SUMMER CAMPAIGN WHICH PROVIDES BREAKFAST FOR CHILDREN OVER THE SUMMER WHO WOULD OTHERWISE FACE HUNGER WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT OF SESSION. REMARKABLE. HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND HIS CALL OF DUTY EVERY DAY. ON BEHALF OF THE BUCCANEERS, THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE SERGEANT ERIC COLLINS. [ APPLAUSE ] THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COME ON OVER HERE. ERIN, PRINCIPAL ERIN, PRINCIPAL IMPOE LETO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. EVEN WORE EVEN WORE BUC RED AND THE EARRINGS. OVER A DOZEN STAFF MEMBERS REQUESTED OUR LAST AWARD RECIPIENT. EXEMPLIFIES PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY AND EXCELLENCE. SHE'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE LEADER THAT PEOPLE WANT TO WORK FOR. APPROACHABLE, EMPATHETIC AND DETERMINED. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER IN EDUCATION SPANS DECADES. IT IS HER FIRST YEAR AS A PRINCIPAL AT THIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE'S ALSO SHE'S ALSO INSPIRED THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. OVER THE SUMMER SHE WORKED 12-HOUR DAYS OVER THE SUMMER TO GET THE SCHOOL READY, PHYSICALLY CLEANING, REARRANGING AND LANDSCAPING HERSELF. DURING HURRICANE MILTON SHE CHECKED IN ON ALL HER STAFF PERSONALLY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS OKAY. SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF FEEL CONNECTED AND HEARD FOR PROVIDING INVALUABLE GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP ALONG THE WAY. IN FACT, COUNTLESS TEACHERS SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE DRIVEN OR EFFECTIVE PRINCIPAL IN THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS MAKING HER ONE OF THE BEST ADMINISTRATORS THAT THEY EVER WORKED FOR. ON TOP OF THAT, SHE'S A ON TOP OF THAT, SHE'S A DIE-HARD BUCS FAN. [ APPLAUSE ] CONGRATULATIONS. COME ON OVER HERE. WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE. THIS MAKES MY JOB. THIS IS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB. YOU ARE YOU ARE A SEASON TICKET HOLDER. WE WANT TO INVITE EACH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES TO UPCOMING GAME, THIS SUNDAY, GAME ON THE 29th DECEMBER OR JANUARY 5. YOU'LL GET MY INFORMATION AND FOLLOW UP WITH ME PERSONALLY AND LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS OUR GUEST TO CHEER ON THE BUCS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Jessica Vaughn: ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU TO THE BUCCANEERS FOR THESE THESE RECOGNITIONS. THE BOARD WELCOMES -- >> THANK YOU ALL. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WHOO. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT 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 ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND A RED LIGHT WILL CHIME TO INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL NOW CALL UP OUR FIVE SPEAKERS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JASON MARLOWE. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION. WHILE I'M HERE AS ONE, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS BEFORE YOU AS MANY. I AM REPRESENTING AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS OF UNIVERSITY SCARE, LOWRY PARK CENTRAL, OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, AS WELL AS YBOR AND TAMPA HEIGHTS. ALL HAVE ALL HAVE GIVEN THEIR OFFICIAL BLESSING TO THIS EFFORT. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS WHO RESIDE WITHIN TAMPA'S URBAN CORE WHO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION WHO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF 275 AND OPPOSE THIS BOARD'S STANCE ON IT AS WELL. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. TAMPA'S URBAN CORE IS VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THIS OPPOSED TO THIS POTENTIAL $5 MILLION PROPOSAL THAT WOULD DIMINISH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. SCHOOL BOARD HAS A VOTING REPRESENTATIVE AT THE TPO, WE POLITELY ASK THIS BOARD TO REVISIT THEIR STANCE AND TAKE AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON THIS ISSUE AS A BOARD. TO THOSE UNAWARE, THE COMMUNITIES OF TAMPA SPENT WELL OVER A DECADE COMBATING BAD TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT. THIS ISSUE UNITES INDIVIDUALS ACROSS EVERY SPECTRUM, PARTISAN, RACIAL, SOCIOECONOMIC. THAT'S WHY ON OCTOBER 30th, NEARLY 100 OF US PACKED COUNTY CENTER IN OPPOSITION AND MAKING THAT OPPOSITION LOUD AND CLEAR, WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FROM THIS BOARD ABOUT THE WHO, THE WHAT, THE WHEN, THE WHERE, OR THE WHY AS TO WHY WE STAND LIKE THIS, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO EACH AND ALL OF OF YOU. AGAIN, FORMALLY REQUEST THIS BOARD REVIEW ITS OFFICIAL STANCE ON THE I-275 EXPANSION AND COME TO A CONCLUSION ON THIS PROPOSAL AS A BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW YOU A FEW HIGHLIGHTS. NUMBER ONE, THE SHERIFF AT THAT SCHOOL, HIS BEHAVIOR WAS SO ATROCIOUS TOWARDS THE PARENTS WHEN THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS WAS GIVING A CEREMONY FOR THE JUNIORS AND THE SENIORS FOR THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS. I WAS I WAS FLABBERGASTED THE WAY HE WAS TALKING TO WAS TALKING TO THE PARENTS. TWO WEEKS AGO, MY WIFE HAD VOLUNTEERED AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL TO FEED THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS BEFORE THEIR PLAYOFF GAME. SHE SAID SHE WALKED IN ON HIM TALKING DOWN TO A PARENT. I SPOKE WITH THE PRINCIPAL. HE BELIEVE IT OFF BECAUSE HIM AND THAT SHERIFF IS LIKE THIS. HE BELIEVE IT OFF. SECONDLY, MY WIFE IS IN SCHOOL GETTING HER GETTING HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION. SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, BUT SHE WENT UNDER HER MAIDEN NAME. BUT WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, THE PERSON HIGH SCHOOL, THE PERSON THAT SHE WAS TO MEET WITH TOLD THE FRONT STAFF TO TELL MY WIFE THAT SHE WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR TODAY, THAT DAY AND TOLD HER TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY. LATER ON THAT LATER ON THAT EVENING, MY WIFE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM THE PROFESSOR TELLING HER SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DO ALLOWED TO DO HER PRACTICUM AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS POLICY THAT SHE HAS STUDENTS THERE. NOW, I WANT TO ASK THIS:  WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE IS THIS TYPE OF MESSAGE IS THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT SENDING TO A PARENT THAT'S BETTERING THEMSELVES? AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THAT PARENT, WHAT MESSAGE ARE YOU SENDING TO THE CHILDREN OF THAT PARENT? WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE IS THAT? WHAT WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE IS THAT SENDING TO THOSE CHILDREN? WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY THINK? THERE WAS ALREADY THERE WAS ALREADY HEIGHTENED ISSUES AT THAT SCHOOL WITH MY DAUGHTER. SO YOU TELL ME. BEFORE I CAME HERE, I REACHED OUT TO NELSON. FOR SOME REASON, HE WANTED TO CALL ME 7:30 IN THE MORNING. I NEVER TOLD HIM THAT. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A MONTH AGO AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM HIM. I REACHED OUT TO RICK GRAVES. HE CALLED ME HE CALLED ME FROM AN ANONYMOUS NUMBER. I TOLD THE SECRETARY TO LET ME KNOW WHAT HOUR HE WAS GOING TO CALL SO I COULD RECEIVE THE CALL. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ELSE BACK FROM HIM. I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO A PARENT. ONCE AGAIN, WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE IS THAT SENDING IS THAT SENDING TO THESE CHILDREN? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HELLO. ARGENT MANOHEART. I'M A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL SCIENCE. I HAPPEN TO BE TAKING A COURSE RIGHT NOW WITH COMMISSIONER COHEN FOCUSING ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLICY WHERE WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESS. I'M HERE TODAY. I'M ALSO A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BORN AND RAISED, AS WELL AS A GRADUATE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY, SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH, CLASS OF 2022. I'M HERE TODAY TO SIMPLY EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND EMPHASIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS I KNOW ONE OF THE ITEMS BEING VOTED ON LATER TODAY VOTED ON LATER TODAY IS THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE BOARD AND SOMETHING BOARD AND SOMETHING IN THERE IS ASKING FOR AN ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ALLOCATION. I'M SIMPLY HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THIS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOLS. MENTAL HEALTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET BUT IN RECENT YEARS I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE IMPORTANCE PLACED ON THE ISSUE AND RIGHTFULLY SO. AS A FORMER STUDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I CAN ATTEST TO THE CONTINUE NEED CONTINUE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, STUDENTS ARE TASKED WITH NUMEROUS RESPONSIBILITIES AND OFTENTIMES STUDENTS WILL BECOME SO FOCUSED ON ALL THE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND END UP NOT PRIORITIZING THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. LIKEWISE, RESOURCES PROVIDED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY BE THE ONLY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT STUDENTS MAY HAVE ACCESS TO. AND THIS FURTHER AND THIS FURTHER EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE AND NEED FOR RESOURCES LIKE THE MENTAL HEALTH ALLOCATION THAT IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE STATE. I HOPE THE INCREASE, THAT IS SOMETHING INCLUDED IN THE PRIORITIES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WILL SUPPORT AND ALSO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AS THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS. LIKEWISE AS WELL, THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR SCHOOLS IN GENERAL. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS. I HOPE FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT EVERYBODY HAD A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING LAST WEEK AND ENJOYED THE TIME SPENT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. RATHER THAN JUST SEND YOU ANOTHER BORING E-MAIL ABOUT ALL THE PROGRESS I'VE MADE SINCE I FIRST ADDRESSED BUT THIS ISSUE BACK IN AUGUST, I THOUGHT I'D COME HERE AND TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. SO WE'VE HAD A TON OF TRACTION SINCE I STARTED IN MY SINCE I STARTED IN MY ROLE SINCE I STARTED IN MY ROLE AS THE BLOCK CHAIN LIAISON. AFTER SPEAKING HERE IN AUGUST, I HAD A FEW DIFFERENT MEETINGS AT THIS POINT WITH DIFFERENT STATE LEGISLATORS. IN FACT, LATER THIS WEEK I'LL BE MEETING WITH SENATOR BURGESS ON THURSDAY. I ALSO THE NEXT MONTH IN SEPTEMBER I WENT TO BOTH PASCO AND PINELLAS AND HAD ADDRESSED THOSE BOARDS AS WELL. PINELLAS HAD A REALLY GREAT MEETING WITH KEITH, THE MEETING WITH KEITH, THE CTO IS SOME OF THE SUPERINTENDENT STAFF. THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. HAD TO GO BACK TO MY TEACHER ROOTS AND GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SHORT LESSON ON WHAT BLOCK CHAIN IS. IT IS A WORD PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TO HEAR BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK IT IS. AFTER THAT, IN OCTOBER, I ACTUALLY WAS -- I DON'T ACTUALLY WAS -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW GOT TO THIS POSITION, BUT INVITED TO A PRIVATE DINNER WITH WITH KATHY WOOD AND SOME OF THE TEAM. KATHY HAS AN ARC EDUCATE AND COULDN'T GET OVER THE FACT THAT THERE IS A BLOCK CHAIN WITH THE SAME NAME. THAT LED TO A CONVERSATION WITH DR. MIKE GREGO WHO IS RETIRED BUT THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ARC EDUCATE. WE WILL BE COLLABORATING. THERE ARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS HAPPENING IN MANATEE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT US TAKING OVER SORT OF THE BLOCK CHAIN EDUCATION COMPONENT AND HELPING TO DO THAT. 2025 IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GREAT YEAR. I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK TO HILLSBOROUGH. THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY HOME BASE HAVING SPENT HOME BASE HAVING SPENT NEARLY 20 YEARS AS A TEACHER IN THIS COUNTY AND WANTED TO REINITIATE THE CONVERSATION, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK TOGETHER. AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS BEING DONE AS SCIC, EQUIVALENT OF A 501(C)(3). NOT LOOKING FOR FUNDING. LITERALLY A CHARITY TRYING TO GIVE AWAY RESOURCES. IN FACT, WE'RE GEARING UP FOR NEXT YEAR NEXT YEAR FIGURING OUT HOW MANY RESOURCES WE'LL PUT INTO THE PROGRAM. HOPEFULLY DEVELOPING SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS AND CURRICULA AND STUFF LIKE THAT DISSEMINATED TO TEACHERS, SEMINARS, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. REALLY WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU, SAY HELLO. CATCH YOU UP ON ALL THE PROGRESS BEING MADE AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND SERVE IN WHATEVER CAPACITY YOU MAY ASK OF US. OUTSIDE OF THAT, I HOPE THAT THE REST OF YOU ENJOY THE REST OF THE YEAR AND THE COMING HOLIDAY SEASON. YOU HAVE MY E-MAIL. LOOK FORWARD TO CHATTING WITH YOU AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE SOON. THANKS SO MUCH. TAKE CARE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND ATTENDEES. MY NAME IS VANESSA. I ALSO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. I GREW UP HERE IN HERNANDO COUNTY, SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE FLORIDA SCHOOL SYSTEM. I RECENTLY WATCHED SOME OF YOUR WORKSHOPS DISCUSSING BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT IN SCHOOLS AND I'D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. THE CHALLENGES OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR ARE COMPLEX AND I COMMEND THE BOARD FOR INTRODUCING THREE KEY INTRODUCING THREE KEY FOCUS AREAS. ONE THAT I HEARD WAS DIFFERENTIATING THE CODE OF CONDUCT BETWEEN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO REFLECT THE DIFFERENCE OF MATURITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDENTS. TWO IS CREATING A UNIFORM CODE OF CONDUCT BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS WITH THE SAME GRADE LEVELS. THREE IS PRIORITIZING KEEPING STUDENTS IN MONITORED ENVIRONMENTS RATHER THAN RESORTING TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS. FROM MY FROM MY EXPERIENCE, MANY BEHAVIORAL ISSUES STEM FROM HYPERACTIVITY, UNMANAGED ANGER OR DEEPER CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE MORE THAN REQUIRE MORE THAN DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS LIKE SUSPENSIONS. STUDENTS WITH THE STRUGGLES NEED PROACTIVE SUPPORT, CONSTRUCTIVE SUPERVISION DURING IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS. FOR INSTANCE, SOMEONE MENTIONED HOW DR. GORDON AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IMPLEMENTED INTERVENTION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TRANSITIONING INTO HIGH SCHOOL. WITH HISTORY OF MISBEHAVIOR. THIS PREPARES STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS BY ADDRESSING NEEDS EARLY AND EARLY AND EXPANDING PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTY COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFORTS. PREVENTIVE ACTION IS CRITICAL. MANY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STUDENTS MISBEHAVE BECAUSE THEY FEEL DISENGAGED OR DISINTERESTED IN SCHOOL. PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO ATOSS AS SOMEONE MENTIONED, ALTERNATIVE TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION SITES, OR INCREASING THEIR ACCESSIBILITY COULD KEEP STUDENTS IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY REMAIN SUPERVISED AND ENGAGED. WHILE CHALLENGES LIKE STAFFING AND TRANSPORTATION SHORTAGES MAKE THIS DIFFICULT, INVESTING IN THESE RESOURCES BENEFIT BOTH THE STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS LONG TERM. THE IMPACT OF THE IMPACT OF MISMANAGED STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXTENDS BEYOND STUDENTS. IT IS AFFECTING THE TEACHERS. I'VE HEARD FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF OVERWHELMED EDUCATORS DEALING WITH STUDENTS WHO CURSE AT WITH STUDENTS WHO CURSE AT THEM OR DISRUPT CLASS ONLY TO HAVE THEM RETURN AN HOUR LATER. THIS IS DEMORALIZING AND EXACERBATES THE ONGOING RETENTION OF TEACHERS CRISIS. COLLABORATE WITH TEACHERS TO IDENTIFY CAUSES OF MISBEHAVIOR AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT EDUCATORS WHILE HELPING STUDENTS STUDENTS GROW. THE THREE PROPOSED STRATEGIES FIRST DIFFERENTIATING CODE OF CONDUCT BY GRADE LEVEL, TWO, ENSURING THE UNIFORMITY WITHIN SCHOOLS IN THE SAME GRADE LEVEL. THREE, INVESTING IN ATOSS ARE STEPS TOWARD THIS BALANCED APPROACH AND BY ADDRESSING BEHAVIORAL ISSUES PROACTIVELY WE CAN FOSTER ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE CAN FEEL SUPPORTED AND EMPOWERED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO. NATALIA. ALSO A STUDENT AT USF. FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I GREW UP IN TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS CONSISTENTLY BROUGHT UP CONSISTENTLY BROUGHT UP AMAZING AND INTELLIGENT PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. DOES NOT GO DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. GROWING UP IN A BILINGUAL HOUSEHOLD, SOMETHING VERY DEAR TO MY HEART, I RECENTLY VISITED A SCHOOL IN WEST TAMPA IN WHICH VARIOUS KIDS DIDN'T SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. I COULD SEE THAT FRUSTRATION IN THEIR EYES BECAUSE I KNOW IT. I HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEARN BUT NOT IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE. BEING THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SO VASTLY DIVERSE AND SPECIFICALLY IN SPANISH AND IN THE WEST TAMPA CULTURE, I THINK THE EXPANSION TO ALL SCHOOLS SO THE KIDS CAN HAVE THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IS VERY IMPORTANT. I WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS TENACIA McCLOUD. I AM A MOTHER OF FOUR BOYS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE ATTENDED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE A MILITARY CONNECTED FAMILY. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM FOR THE SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, ON SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 23rd, MY SEPTEMBER 23rd, MY SON WAS ASSAULTED AND BULLIED IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA AT ROGERS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL. IT WAS VERY IT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING. STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO CROWD AROUND, CHANT FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, UNINTERRUPTED, UNSTOPPED. THE STUDENT THAT ACCOSTED MY SON WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW HIM INTO THE BOYS' LOCKER ROOM AND CONTINUED TO ASSAULT HIM, PUNCH HIM, SLAP HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND THREATEN HIM. IT WASN'T UNTIL HE REQUESTED FROM THE COACH TO BE SENT TO THE SCHOOL NURSE THAT HE GOT OUT OF HARM'S WAY. AS AN ADVOCATE, A PARENT, AS A FELLOW EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR BY TRADE, I UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENTAL AGES AND STAGES OF CHILDREN, SO I KNOW THAT INCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN. I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE BEHAVIOR. BUT THE REASON WHY I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TODAY IS BECAUSE OF HOW IT WAS BECAUSE OF HOW IT WAS HANDLED, THE BULLYING AND THE THE BULLYING AND THE HARASSMENT WAS HANDLED BY THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AT ROGERS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL. BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS, I CANNOT GO INTO DETAILS, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THEY SHOWED LITTLE TO NO CARE OR CONCERN FOR MY CHILD WHO LATER WAS, IN FACT, DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM FROM A CAT SCAN. THEY SHOWED NO THEY SHOWED NO FOLLOW-THROUGH TO ENFORCE THAT CONSEQUENCES TAKE PLACE WITH THE CHILD THAT ASSAULTED HIM. AND THEY AND THEY ALSO AND THEY ALSO SHOWED NO RESPECT FOR KEEPING THEIR WORD. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD TO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ALMOST BEG AND PLEAD FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO PLEASE ENFORCE THE SUSPENSION. THE CHILD CAME BACK BEFORE THE SUSPENSION WAS UP. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CHILD WOULD BE REMOVED FROM PROXIMITY TO MY CHILD. MY CHILD WAS CRYING AT NIGHT AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL. HE IS AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT. CURRENTLY STILL IS AT ROGERS AND THIS WAS HAPPENING. THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I'M A CHILD ADVOCATE. I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR MY I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR MY CHILD. WHAT I'M ASKING IS YOUR POLICY ON BULLYING AND ON BULLYING AND HARASSMENT BE ENFORCED. IT'S VERY WELL WRITTEN, BUT IT MEANS NOTHING IF THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE STUDENTS, THE STUDENTS, THE COACHES, THE ASSISTANTS DO NOT IMPLEMENT IT. I'M ASKING FOR A PUSH. REITERATE IT. TRAIN THOSE TEACHERS ON IT. MAKE SURE IT'S IMPLEMENTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THAT ENDS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAD THREE PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. WE'LL START OFF AND GET THE PowerPoint UP THERE. WE HAVE THREE. WE'LL START OFF WITH THE SCHOOL WE JUST NAMED A FEW MONTHS BACK. MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE A NEW PRINCIPAL AT MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. BRITTANY WILHELM IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE CENTER. THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITTANY. [ APPLAUSE ] I DIDN'T REALIZE YOUR HISTORY HERE. BRITTNEY, PRODUCT OF BRITTNEY, PRODUCT OF HCPS, BRITTNEY, PRODUCT OF HCPS, BEGAN IN 2006 AT SECRETARY AT SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL. BA UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. TEACHER AT SHIELDS IN TEACHER AT SHIELDS IN 2011. PROMOTED TO AP 1 AT LENNARD IN 2016 AND APC AT MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL IN 2020. YOU WERE THE PRINCIPAL AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL IN 2022, AND NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT MORGAN. CONGRATULATIONS. ANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE. I SEE YOUR HUSBAND BACK THERE. [ APPLAUSE ] CONGRATULATIONS, BRITTNEY. HEATHER, IF YOU CAN COME UP FRONT. YOU RECOGNIZE BOTH BRITTNEY AND HEATHER. HEATHER HOLLOWAY IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. YOU ALL KNOW HEATHER. CONGRATULATIONS, HEATHER! [ APPLAUSE ] HEATHER BEGAN HER CAREER IN PINELLAS COUNTY PINELLAS COUNTY IN 1997, ESE TEACHER AND LATER AS BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST. 2009 APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN PINELLAS. THEN IN 2010 JOINED THEN IN 2010 JOINED HCPS AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MIDDLETON HIGH. 2016 SHE TRANSITIONED TO APC AT WALKER MIDDLE MAGNET. 2018, APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT WALKER WHERE SHE REMAINS TODAY. NOW SHE IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR LAST PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT, CHRISTA WASHINGTON. NEW PRINCIPAL AT EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL. COME ON DOWN. [ APPLAUSE ] CHRISTA HAS OVER 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION, MORE SPECIFICALLY SPECIAL EDUCATION. SHE SERVED IN VIRGINIA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BEFORE RELOCATING TO FLORIDA. WHILE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SHE SERVED AS AN ESE TEACHER AT LOPEZ EXCEPTIONAL CENTER BEFORE MOVING INTO ADMINISTRATION AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENTLY SERVES AS AP CURRENTLY SERVES AS AP OF CURRICULUM FOR LAVOY EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. CONGRATULATIONS, CHRISTA, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE OUR THREE PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE APPOINTMENTS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 5.02, C 5.02, C 1.03, C 5.02, C 1.03, C 1.04, C 5.02, C 1.03, C 1.04, C 1.05, C C 2.02, C 2.02, 2.03, C 2.02, 2.03, 3.06, C 2.02, 2.03, 3.06, 6.01, 7.03. 7.05, 7.05, 7.14, 7.05, 7.14, 7.21, 7.05, 7.14, 7.21, 11.02, 7.05, 7.14, 7.21, 11.02, 11.04, 11.05. 5.02, 5.02, NAMING 5.02, NAMING OF THE MASCOT. >>Van Ayres: ALL OF OUR MASCOTS, ANY MASCOTS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY OUR SCHOOL BOARD. WE STARTED THAT A FEW YEARS AGO. THIS MASCOT WILL HAVE ANOTHER MASCOT DECEMBER 17 WITH THE NEW MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT AS WELL. THE NAMING OF MASCOT AT NORTH TAMPA SUCCESS CENTER. IT HAS NEVER HAD A IT HAS NEVER HAD A MASCOT. SCHOOL HOPES TO ACHIEVE SCHOOL HOPES TO ACHIEVE A SENSE OF SCHOOL SPIRIT, OF SCHOOL SPIRIT, UNIFIED IDENTITY AND INCREASED ENGAGEMENT. LIGHTNING WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE FLORIDA IS THE LIGHTNING CAPITAL OF THE UNITED OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE BOLT SIGNALS STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND CREATIVE. MASCOT ACKNOWLEDGES THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING HOCKEY TEAM. THAT IS THAT IS ITEM 5.02. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 5072. MOTION FROM MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. FIRST, I PULLED THE ITEM. I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUST AMAZING THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT NORTH TAMPA SUCCESS CENTER. SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, HOW YOU ADVOCATE FOR THE SCHOOL. I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU GUYS WILL HAVE A MASCOT AND SOMETHING TO RALLY AGAINST. I LOVE THE LIGHTNING. JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOPEFULLY THIS ON A NEW MARQUEE WITH A NEW MASCOT EMBLEM WITH THE CORRECT NAME ON IT. I'M VERY EXCITED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: DR. FLORES, YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN THERE, ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE, ALL THE THINGS YOU THINGS YOU BROUGHT, AND MAKING SURE THOSE STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL. I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LONG LIST OF THINGS WE WANT TO WORK ON. ONE OF THE THINGS IS HAVING MORE CERTIFIED TEACHERS THERE AS WELL AS, I DON'T KNOW IF THE LUNCH THING HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF YET. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE DOING. THOSE STUDENTS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL AND DO WELL IN LIFE AND YOU'RE LIFE AND YOU'RE GIVING THEM ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS THE SKILLS TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. DR. FLORES, YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT OUTSTANDING JOB. WHAT YOU'RE DOING REALLY IS NOT ONLY WORKING YOUR HEART AND YOUR HEAD OUT WITH THOSE CHILDREN, BECAUSE THEY CAN BE A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING, BUT YOU'RE GIVING THEM AN IDENTITY WITH THIS MASCOT AND YOU'RE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND LOOKING AT WAYS TO GIVE THEM MORE AFFINITY FOR WHERE THEY ARE AT AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO. WE ARE JUST SO PROUD WE ARE JUST SO PROUD OF YOU AND THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE A PART OF OUR TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: I WANT TO ADD ALL THE YEARS YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB, DR. FLORES. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO IT. YOU KNOW WHEN WE YOU KNOW WHEN WE -- YOU KNOW WHEN WE -- MEACHAM USED TO BE THE CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS YEARS AGO SCHOOLS YEARS AGO AND THEN THEY MOVED ALL THE STUDENTS FROM MEACHAM OVER TO NORTH TAMPA. NOW I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A MASCOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT A SCHOOL CENTER TO LOOK LIKE IT IS JUST A PRISON. YOU WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE IT IS A SCHOOL, YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM MOTIVATION. I THANK THEM FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO 1.03, FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WITH THE COLLEGE BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS AGREEMENT CONTINUES THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE COLLEGE BOARD THAT IMPACTS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE OPTIONS AND COLLEGE READINESS ASSESSMENTS. THIS AGREEMENT IS AN AMENDMENT TO COLLEGE BOARD COLLEGE READINESS AND SUCCESS CONTRACT DATED JULY DATED JULY OF 2023. UPDATES PROGRAM SCHEDULES UPDATES PROGRAM SCHEDULES FOR 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. JUST THE WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED IN ONE YEAR, GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OVER A THOUSAND MORE EXAMS GIVEN AN 8% INCREASE IN AP PASS RATE. GISELE, I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. COLLEEN, YOU LEADING THE WORK AS WELL. TRULY REMARKABLE. THIS IS THE AMENDMENT TO THAT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH COLLEGE BOARD. GISELE IS HERE, COLLEEN AS WELL, ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE AGREEMENT. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >>Nadia Combs: I DO. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, GISELE, YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AS WELL AS MS. FOSSETT, ALL MS. FOSSETT, ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING DONE AN AMAZING JOB. MAKING SURE THERE IS ACCESS, THE AP CLASSES, INCREDIBLE. I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO RECOGNIZE SOME THINGS AND SOME CHALLENGES THAT I FEEL ARE HAPPENING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SO FORTH. JUST THE OTHER DAY ON THE JUST THE OTHER DAY ON THE U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, FLORIDA IS RANKED 47th IN THE NATION FOR THE S.A.T. TESTING AND DROPPED 18 POINTS TO 948. NOW, SOMETIMES NOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY IN FLORIDA, EVERYONE TAKES A TEST, WHICH IS AMAZING, RIGHT. OTHER STATES NOT EVERYONE TAKES THE TEST. WHEN YOU PULL THE DATA AND LOOK AT THAT, WHEN THERE ARE STATES THAT ARE VERY HIGH WHO ARE THAT ARE VERY HIGH WHO ARE ALSO TAKING S.A.T.s, OUR SCORES ARE REALLY LOW. IT'S NOT TO DO WITH IT'S NOT TO DO WITH EFFORT. IT'S THE NUMBER OF TEACHER VACANCIES WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AT THE STATE LEVEL. LOOK AT 47th, IT RANKS RIGHT THERE WITH THE FUNDS -- WITH THE NATIONAL FUNDING BECAUSE WE'RE LOW WITH NATIONAL PLACEMENT FOR FUNDING. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WHEN I THINK OF OUR STUDENTS GRADUATING, I DON'T WANT THEM TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL. I WANT FOR THEM TO COMPETE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND I WANT THEM TO COMPETE AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL. WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE SCORES SO LOW, I THINK IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO IT. IN THE IN THE MEANTIME, BRIGHT FUTURES, TO GET BRIGHT FUTURES CONTINUES TO INCREASE. ALTHOUGH OUR S.A.T. SCORES CONTINUE TO DECREASE, THE IDEA OF HAVING TO RECEIVE THAT SCHOLARSHIP, THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR. I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MAKE THAT AND MAKE SURE. WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO ERODE OR LESSEN SCORES, LIKE BRINGING A BRINGING A CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST. WE TALK ABOUT FLORIDA WE TALK ABOUT FLORIDA BEING THE EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE TESTS AND WHY WE'RE INTRODUCING MORE AND MORE TESTING, CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST. WE'RE DOING THESE TESTS AND WE'RE ASKING KIDS TO HAVE MORE AND MORE TESTING AND THEN WE'RE BRINGING IN S.A.T., BRINGING IN S.A.T., A.C.T., CLASSICAL LEARNING, PM-1, PM-2, PM-3, TESTING THESE KIDS SO MUCH BUT WE'RE STILL NOT HAVING THE OUTCOME. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT S.A.T. WE ALSO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FUNDING SO THAT WAY -- I MEAN, JUST YESTERDAY I WAS AT A YESTERDAY I WAS AT A CAC YESTERDAY I WAS AT A CAC MEETING AND ONE OF THE PARENTS SAID, YOU KNOW, I LOST AT PLANT -- AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL WE LOST OUR AP PHYSICS TEACHER, AP TEACHER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BUT WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPLACE THAT. IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE PUSHING AND MAKING SURE THAT AS OUR SCORES INCREASE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMPETE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMPETE IN A GLOBAL AS WELL AS A NATIONAL LEVEL. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS ALSO INTERESTING, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN THE 11th GRADE YEAR TO TAKE THE THE S.A.T. AS WELL AS TAKING THE PSAT EVERY YEAR. BECAUSE OF THAT, OUR SCORES AS A GLOBAL STATE ARE GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN A SCHOOL IN A STATE WHERE THEY ONLY PAY TO TAKE THE S.A.T. IF THEY ARE GOING TO COLLEGE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SPAN OF STUDENTS. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WE OFFER THAT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY THE SAT, BUT NOT ONLY THE SAT, BUT ACT, WHATEVER IS NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR BEING DILIGENT GIVING OUR STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES. EVERY STUDENT LEARNS DIFFERENTLY. ALLOWING THAT TO BE SOMETHING WE BRING UP IN CLT IS ONE OF THOSE WHO GIVE STUDENTS WITH A DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLE TO SHOW WHAT THEY KNOW IN A DIFFERENT WAY THROUGH THAT SIMPLE TEST. THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. I THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT AS WELL. ALSO, I THINK BRIGHT FUTURES IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THINGS THAT WE WENT THROUGH WE WENT THROUGH IN 2020, AS I ALSO RECOGNIZE IN THE NEXT YEAR, THEY ARE GOING TO BE REDUCING THEIR SCORES FOR BRIGHT FUTURES, LOOKING AT THAT GAP OF KIDS THAT CAME OUT CAME OUT OF 2020 IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE THROUGH COVID AND HAVING TO ADJUST THAT BASED UPON WHERE SCORES ARE AT. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OUR STATE DOES LOOK AT THAT IN SOME SENSE. OVERALL FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Nadia Combs: I DID MENTION THERE ARE MANY STATES THAT TEST HIGHER PERCENTAGES LIKE CONNECTICUT. 93% OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE SCORED, BUT SCORING ABOUT A HUNDRED POINTS MORE. I COMPARED ALL I COMPARED ALL THE STATES WHERE ALL THE STUDENTS ARE BEING TESTED, 90% AND TESTED, 90% AND HIGHER AND WE ARE NOT THE BOTTOM, CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT. ALTHOUGH WE TEST EVERYONE, WHICH I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, GISELE, SEVERAL TIMES, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TEST ALL STUDENTS SO THAT WAY EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE MANY STATES THAT ARE TESTING AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE. WE'RE AT 90%, LIKE CONNECTICUT IS 93, ANOTHER STATE AT 95, BUT THEIR SCORES ARE STILL THEIR SCORES ARE STILL HIGHER. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THAT THAT WE KEEP THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS, FOR PULLING THIS. JUST TWO JUST TWO QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS GOING ON WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP IS SELF-FUNDING. YOU GENERATE YOUR OWN FUNDS. CAN YOU EMBELLISH THAT JUST A TAD? >> SO ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT COMES FROM OUR STUDENTS ACCELERATED COURSE OPPORTUNITIES GOES BACK TO THE DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE TESTING OPPORTUNITIES. SO WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE SITTING FOR THEIR AP ASSESSMENTS, ACE ASSESSMENTS AND IB DUAL ENROLLMENT, ALL OF THAT FUNDING GETS GENERATED, WEIGHTED. GENERATED FUNDS COMES BACK TO THE DISTRICT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES. THAT COULD BE SAT, SAT THAT COULD BE SAT, SAT SCHOOL DAY, THE ACT OPPORTUNITIES WE PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS AND STARTING FROM LAST YEAR, THE CLT. WE PROVIDE IT AT NO COST FOR THE STUDENTS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE EXPANSION OF HISPANIC BILINGUAL TESTING. CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT AS WELL? I HAVE MY NOTES HERE AND IT SAID ALSO YOUR HISPANIC ALSO YOUR HISPANIC POPULATION SCORES HAVE SCORES HAVE GONE UP. >> I DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SAT, BUT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE EXPANSION OF OUR ACE COURSES, OUR AP COURSES AS SUPERINTENDENT AYRES MENTIONED. WE DID SUBMIT OUR WE DID SUBMIT OUR AP EXAM ORDER FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE ARE UP BY A THOUSAND EXAMS. SO WE SO WE SUBMITTED ABOUT 29,000 EXAM ENTRIES FOR THIS MAY FOR OUR STUDENTS. THAT CONTINUES TO GROW AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ADDITIONAL COURSE OPTIONS. WE ARE RAISING WE ARE RAISING ABOUT 7,000 WORTH OF THE ACE EXAMS AS WELL FOR OUR STUDENTS. >>Lynn Gray: IT'S INTERESTING AS A FORMER AP TEACHER, I THINK ALWAYS LOOKING AT A STUDENT AND TRYING TO RAISE THE BAR, BECAUSE TO MEMBER COMBS' POINT, IF WE CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THE BAR ON ALL MINORITIES, ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER RATING THAN 47th. I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART IS. THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE WANT TO GO. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HISPANIC POPULATION, FOR POPULATION, FOR ALL THE PLETHORA OF FRENCH, GERMAN, OF FRENCH, GERMAN, ET CETERA, ALL THE NATIONALITIES, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RAISE THAT TOP TIER ON ALL COUNTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. WE DO APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE'LL GO ON TO 1.04, RENEWAL OF THE THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH 7 MINDSETS ACADEMY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE 7 MINDSETS CURRICULUM EMPOWERS STUDENTS BY FOSTERING ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS RESILIENCE, SELF-AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING HELPING THEM SUCCEED BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. SEVERAL SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTING THE 7 MINDSETS INCREASED ONE LETTER GRADE INCLUDING CHARLOTTE ELEMENTARY WHO WENT FROM SCHOOL GRADE OF F TO A C. THIS IS A THIS IS A RENEWAL OF OUR CURRENT THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT. I DO HAVE DEBBIE I DO HAVE DEBBIE PEPE, OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING AND TEACHING AND LEARNING AND JULIA, SUPERVISOR OF RESILIENCY, CHARACTER AND LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION ARE HERE AS WELL IF WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RENEWAL OF THE THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH 7 MINDSETS ACADEMY. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 1.04. MOTION BY GRAY AND SECOND BY PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. ANYONE WANT TO ANYONE WANT TO GET IN THE QUEUE? MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I TALKED ABOUT 7 MINDSETS. ALTHOUGH -- I GO TO SEE THE SCHOOLS AND THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO LOOK GLOBALLY AT ALL THE PROGRAMS WE'RE UTILIZING WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IF WE CONTINUE DOING THE SAME THING WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME RESULTS. SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT ALL DIFFERENT THINGS FROM A BROAD PERSPECTIVE. LAST YEAR I ASKED YOU GUYS TO BRING ME BACK DATA OF WHERE WE ARE AT FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. I THINK IT IS A LITTLE SHOCKING WHEN I SAW THE DATA WHEN I SAW THE DATA THAT I'M A LITTLE DISCONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WHEN I LOOK AT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT -- SORRY, STUDENT SKILLS CATEGORY, SKILLS CATEGORY, COLLECTIVELY, 53 53 PARTICIPATING, 7 MINDSETS SCHOOLS SAW A DECREASE SCHOOLS SAW A DECREASE IN SOCIAL AWARENESS. 9 OF THE 7 MINDSETS SAW AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL AWARENESS. NUMBER OF NUMBER OF SUSPENSIONS, 53 PARTICIPATING 7 MINDSETS SCHOOL DISPLAYED AN INCREASE IN DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSIONS BY AN AVERAGE OF 220 INCIDENTS. ONLY 8 OF ONLY 8 OF THE 7 MINDSETS SAW FEWER DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSIONS. THE NUMBER OF TOTAL THE NUMBER OF TOTAL REFERRALS, 53% 53% PARTICIPATING, 7 MINDSETS SCHOOLS DISPLAYED AN INCREASE IN DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS BY AN AVERAGE AVERAGE OF 366.4 INCIDENCES WHERE ONLY 8 REFERRED AN AVERAGE OF DECLINING INCIDENTS. ALTHOUGH I SEE ON THE SURFACE IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY ON AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING THE RESULTS ON. SO THE SO THE DATA IS NOT SHOWING THAT THIS IS DOING THE RESULT THAT WE WANTED IT TO DO AT THE END OF THE DAY. IT'S PART OF OUR PACKET ON THE DATA. AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM. BUT I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD DO DIFFERENTLY TO GET SOME BETTER RESULTS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT GLOBALLY AT WHAT WE'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY FROM A FINANCIAL SITUATION. WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT MEMBER COMBS BRINGS UP A VERY VALID POINT. WE WANT HIGHLY SKILLED, CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN EVERY ONE OF OUR CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE TO PAY TEACHERS MORE. THERE IS NOT A DOUBT, NOT A DISAGREEMENT AMONGST THIS BOARD ABOUT PAYING TEACHERS MORE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE THING WE DO IN THE DISTRICT AND HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. IF THESE ARE THE RESULTS WE'RE GETTING FROM A PROGRAM, I CAN'T SUPPORT THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR DISCIPLINE. WE WANT TO REDUCE OUR WE WANT TO REDUCE OUR REFERRALS. WE WANT TO HAVE MORE -- UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AS IT STANDS WITH THE DATA THAT'S COME COME BACK. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK MS. SARAH MENTO. YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. THIS PROGRAM, I WOULD SAY IT GIVES THE STUDENT, WHICH WE HAVE MANY, WHO MANY, WHO HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES NOT ONLY FROM THE RECENT PAST HURRICANES, BUT ALL OF THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH FOOD INSECURITY THAT THEY HAVE. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR CHILDREN ARE RIDDLED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. I SUPPOSE UNLESS YOU WENT TO THE SCHOOLS AND YOU WENT TO THESE CENTERS WHERE WE CENTERS WHERE WE OUTFITTED SO MANY MANY WITH 15,000 FOLKS, I SUPPOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT OUR CHILDREN AND WHAT OUR FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH. BUT YOU DO KNOW. SO THE SO THE SOUTH COUNTY CAREER CENTER AND SO DOES -- I CAN LIST -- I KNOW THAT YOU DO A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIST THEM. THERE ARE SO MANY SCHOOLS -- I AM A 7 MINDSET SCHOOL. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, JUST NOW, JUST, NOW, JUST, WHAT, AN HOUR AGO. THERE IS THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS. THIS WAS A USF STUDENT. HELP OUR STUDENTS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY DO NEED THE SUPPORTS. MAYBE THAT IS THE ONLY THING THEY GET. MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE AN INTACT FAMILY. MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE GOODS AND MANAGEABLE DEVICES THAT MANY OTHER STUDENTS MAY HAVE. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, A GOOD POINT WAS MADE, WHAT ABOUT ZERO TOLERANCE. I TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WHY DON'T WE PUT THE ZERO TOLERANCE PART IN? IN BETWEEN, WE HAVE WHAT IN BETWEEN, WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED PREVENTIVE CALLED PREVENTIVE CARE. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INCENTIVE SYSTEM. WE HAVE THAT IN ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL FULL SCHOOL FULL FIDELITY. WHEN WE HAVE PREVENTIVE CARE SUCH AS 7 MINDSETS, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO THE DISPROPORTIONALITY OF SUSPENSION. WE CAN HELP THE STUDENTS FIT INTO NOT ONLY THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT BUT INTO SOCIETY. WHEN YOU HAVE CERTAIN SCHOOLS -- AND THERE ARE MANY OF THEM -- MULRENNAN, ARMWOOD, KING, LEONARD, LETO, RIVERVIEW, SPOTO, SUMNER, SIMMONS, ALL THESE SCHOOLS HAVE SCHOOLS HAVE ADOPTED THIS. I WILL SAY WHEN WE GET INTO DATA, AND THAT'S VERY, DATA, AND THAT'S VERY, VERY STRONG POINT AND THE CONTEXT YOU GAVE WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, THE NUMBER OF NUMBER OF SUSPENSIONS, ON PAGE 2, 8 2, 8 OF THE 7 MINDSETS SCHOOLS SHOW FEWER DISCIPLINE SUSPENSIONS BY AN AVERAGE SUSPENSIONS BY AN AVERAGE OF 8.5 MINUS 8.5 INCIDENTS. I CAN GO TO I CAN GO TO A 7 MINDSETS SCHOOL AT ANY OF THESE SCHOOLS AND I'VE BEEN TO EVERY ONE OF THEM. I WILL TELL YOU THE CULTURE IS NOTHING BUT POSITIVE. THOSE CHILDREN ARE LOVED. THEY ARE FORGIVEN. THEY ARE HELPED. THEY THEY ARE NURTURED AND THEY SUCCEED. THEY SUCCEED WHEN ALL IS AGAINST THEM. WE CAN EITHER GO FOR ZERO TOLERANCE AND KICK THE CHILD OUT OR WE CAN SAY, HEY, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN INTERVENE, HELP THAT CHILD, SHOW THEM STRATEGIES TO KEEP IN SCHOOL AND BASICALLY HOLD THAT STUDENT. THAT'S WHERE MY HEART IS AS WELL. I'M LOOKING DIRECTLY AT I'M LOOKING DIRECTLY AT YOU. I KNOW DEB PEPE YOU ARE ON THE SAME TRAIN OF THOUGHT AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. STAY STRONG. WE BELIEVE IN THE PROGRAM AND YOU HAVE MY VOTE. THANK THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE OFTEN IN BUSINESS IS 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. IT'S USED ALL THE TIME IN BUSINESSES. I MEAN, MY HUSBAND JUST HAD IT JUST RECENTLY HE GOT A PROJECT WITH THAT. PEOPLE ARE USING THAT CONSTANTLY. THE 7 THE 7 MINDSETS THE 7 MINDSETS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT. YOU CAN'T LOOK AT ONE PIECE OF DATA, SOMEONE A LIFELONG TEACHER AND EDUCATOR, YOU CAN'T TAKE ONE SCHOOL AND SAY YOU HAD THESE MANY SUSPENSIONS OR HAD THIS, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED. IT COULD BE THE STORM. IT COULD BE POVERTY. IT COULD BE A TEACHER. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS, I DON'T THINK YOU SAY, HEY, THESE DATA POINTS AREN'T REALLY EFFECTIVE SO LET'S THROW EVERYTHING OUT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. I SAY THIS OFTEN. A CHILD CAN HAVE HIGH IQ AND JUST NEVER DO WELL BECAUSE THEIR EQ IS LOW. YOU CAN HAVE HIGH EQ AND STILL DO VERY WELL IN LIFE. EQ IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE'RE DEALING IN THIS COUNTRY, THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS DEALING EVERY DAY, I THINK ABOUT EVEN TODAY WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE KIDS WERE WORRIED ABOUT THINGS. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO TEACH THAT GRIT. TO TEACH ALL THAT MINDSET. TO THINK ABOUT POSITIVITY. THIS IS THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. UNTIL THERE IS SOMETHING NEW OR BETTER OR THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT STUDENTS MORE, THEN ABSOLUTELY YOU HAVE MY VOTE. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL, WHEN YOU GO TO THE PRINCIPALS AND TALK TO THE TEACHERS AND YOU WALK AROUND, YOU CAN TELL THAT SCHOOL HAS THE 7 MINDSETS. WHEN YOU TALK TO STUDENTS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT, THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN THE PROGRAM. WHEN WE WALK OUT, TALK ABOUT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ALSO ARE DOING WELL EMOTIONALLY AS THEY WALK OUT. SO THAT'S WHY THIS PROGRAM IS GREAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER PEREZ. >>Karen Perez: WE'RE TALKING >>Karen Perez: WE'RE TALKING MY WHEELHOUSE. WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE SUSPENDED, HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT YOUR 7 MINDSETS WITH THEM? >> EACH SCHOOL HAS A DIFFERENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THIS IS A PREVENTIVE. MTSS, YOU KNOW THIS IS TIER ONE. ALL KIDS AND ALL STUDENTS. YOU MOVE UP THE TIERS. IF THIS LESSON DOESN'T WORK FOR THAT STUDENT, THEN YOU TRY THE NEXT THING AND MIGHT TRY SMALL GROUP. IF YOU NEED TO MOVE UP THE TIERS ON THAT AGAIN, ONE ON ONE AT TIER 3 LEVEL OF SUPPORT WORKING WITH A COUNSELOR ONE ON ONE OR -- HIGH SCHOOLS OR MIDDLE SCHOOLS MAY BE HAVING SUCCESS COACH FOR STUDENTS THAT NEED THAT EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT TO CULTIVATE SOME OF THE SCHOOLS. WE USE MTSS THROUGH THAT PROCESS. >>Karen Perez: WITH THE HIGH RATE RATE OF RATE OF SUSPENSIONS RATE OF SUSPENSIONS IN SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS AND WITH THE PROGRAM PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOLS AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE LOOKING LIKE IT'S NOT WORKING, THE EFFECTIVENESS ARE THE EFFECTIVENESS ARE THE STUDENTS BEING SUSPENDED IN 7 MINDSETS OR IS THIS AN AFTERTHOUGHT? >> SO I THINK IT'S JUST -- IT'S LIKE GIVING A LESSON, LIKE HAVING A MORNING MEETING. AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, IT MIGHT BE THAT ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE IT ON MONDAY MORNING, LIKE THAT LESSON STARTS ON A MONDAY MORNING AND THEY REINFORCE THE SKILL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. IF A STUDENT IS SUSPENDED AT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE DATA POINTS, THERE IS SHOWING SOME GROWTH IN SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS WHERE IT IS WORKING FOR THEM. AND IT IS SUPPORTING. I'M NOT ISOLATING IT JUST TO USING 7 MINDSETS, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT EXACTLY THAT SCHOOL IS DOING, HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTING IT. AND THEN WHAT ARE THEY DOING FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT NEED THE EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT. EVERY SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL. THAT'S WHY YOU GIVE YOUR ADMINISTRATORS AND YOUR SCHOOL TEAM SOME AUTONOMY TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WANT TO LEAD THOSE HOW THEY WANT TO LEAD THOSE AND BE MORE PROACTIVE. JUST LIKE EVERY STUDENT, MATH SKILL OR SCIENCE SKILL, IT'S THE SAME THING. WE GIVE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THE SAME LESSON. BUT THROUGH THE MTSS PROCESS, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT. IT IS THE SAME WAY WE DO THIS. WITH THE SUSPENSIONS AT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH, EVERYTHING CAN LOOK DIFFERENT, SO IT'S JUST KIND OF WANTING TO ZONE IN ON WHAT EXACTLY THE SCHOOL IS DOING AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM. >>Karen Perez: WHEN DOES THE ALARM SOUND WHEN YOU SEE THAT A SCHOOL DOES HAVE THE 7 MINDSETS BUT THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SUSPENSIONS? WHEN DO YOU GO IN TO KIND OF PUT THAT SUPPORT FOR THEM TO HELP THEM SUPPORT THESE THEM SUPPORT THESE STUDENTS? BECAUSE THERE IS, WE DO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HERE. AND OUR STUDENTS REALLY NEED THESE SUPPORTS IN PLACE. SO IF WE HAVE THE SUPPORTS IN PLACE, HOW PLACE, HOW DO WE HELP OUR TEACHERS AND TEACHERS AND OUR SCHOOLS UTILIZE THESE SUPPORTS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS? >> IT'S A TEAM EFFORT, RIGHT? IF ONE STUDENT IS GETTING THE LESSON IN ONE CLASS, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HOLISTICALLY, JUST LIKE WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE STUDENT, THE WHOLE CHILD, WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE SCHOOL, WHAT IS THE PLAN? WHAT IS THEIR LEVEL OF SUPPORT AS THE STUDENT WE'RE IDENTIFYING AND WE KNOW THEY MIGHT NEED THAT EXTRA LAYER. ARE WE BRINGING IN AND WORKING WITH THE STUDENT SERVICES TEAM. BECAUSE I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH ANYTHING, WITH ANY PROGRAM, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS, ANY CURRICULUM, IT'S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL. WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS. IT'S REALLY LOOKING HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM TOGETHER AND LOOKING AT OUR RESOURCES, WHAT SUPPORTS DO WE HAVE AT TIER 2 FOR OUR STUDENTS? WHAT SUPPORTS DO WE HAVE FOR STUDENTS AT TIER 3? DO THEY NEED MORE ONE ON ONE? ARE WE NOTICING THAT BEFORE WE WANT TO SUSPEND A STUDENT, ARE WE DOING THE SMALL GROUP, THE SMALL TALKS WITH OUR STUDENTS. IT'S JUST LOOKING AT EACH STUDENT INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT SAYING THAT THIS ONE THING IS THE REASON WHY IT'S NOT WORKING. THERE ARE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO IT. BUT I THINK THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE REALLY DOING A GOOD JOB. I KNOW THEY HAVE A LOT TO HANDLE AND AND JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE A RESOURCE TO SUPPORT THEM AT THE TIER ONE LEVEL AND THEN MOVING UP I THINK IS JUST TRULY SPEAKING TO THE WORK THAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE DOING ON CAMPUSES EVERY DAY. >>Karen Perez: STEPHEN COVEY, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY STEPHEN COVEY HAS IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF WORK SPACES, BUT IT'S FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SUPERSEDING AND DOING WELL. MAYBE THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT DOING WELL AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EMBRACE OR UNDERSTAND THE 7 MINDSETS AND NEED MINDSETS AND NEED SOMETHING MORE FUNDAMENTAL AT A BASE ONE LEVEL. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. >> I LOVE THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT ALSO. BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR STATE IS FOCUSING ON. WE KNOW THAT NOT WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE -- IT IS A SKILL THAT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT. FLORIDA, BUILDING A STRONGER RESILIENCY FLORIDA AND FOCUSING ON PERSEVERANCE, GRIT, AND PUSHING THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE STANDARDS THAT ALIGN TO ALL OF THAT THAT WE CAN FOCUS AND LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AND FOCUS ON THOSE SKILLS THOSE SKILLS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT. I COMMEND NOT ONLY OUR DISTRICT, BUT OUR STATE FOR BUT OUR STATE FOR SEEING THE NEED FOR IT. >>Karen Perez: NOT EVERYBODY GOES TO WAR IN A SUIT OF ARMOR. SOME PEOPLE BRING A BROOMSTICK OR A TOOTHPICK BECAUSE NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THEY NEED TO COME IN A FULL SUIT OF COME IN A FULL SUIT OF ARMOR. WE NEED TO EDUCATE WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN AND PROVIDE THAT SUIT OF ARMOR FROM THE HOME BUT A LOT OF PARENTS ARE NOT EQUIPPED FOR THAT. WE CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO COME TO THE CLASSROOM AND UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO BE EQUIPPED. THAT'S THE ISSUE I'M HAVING AND PROBABLY WHY THE SUSPENSION RATE IS SO HIGH, BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THEY NEED THAT EQUIPMENT. I TOO AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THIS AND I'M SPEAKING THIS AND I'M SPEAKING FROM A PROFESSIONAL LICENSE LEVEL. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M SITTING HERE AND I'M THINKING, EVERY PRINCIPAL THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THE 7 MINDSETS, THEY LOVE MINDSETS, THEY LOVE IT. I THINK ONE I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITH THE 7 MINDSETS, IT'S NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED RIGHT BY PEOPLE. BECAUSE A BECAUSE A PARENT SAID IT EARLIER. WE HAVE GREAT POLICIES WE HAVE GREAT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE, BUT AS PEOPLE WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THEM IN IN THE PROPER WAY. THE SCHOOLS I'VE BEEN TO, THE PRINCIPALS AND THE TEACHERS HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING HARD BECAUSE THERE'S NO THERE'S NO PROGRAM 100%. THERE'S ALWAYS FLAWS NO MATTER WHAT. BUT AT THE END BUT AT THE END OF THE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CANNOT, BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS ARE NOT DOING WELL. SOME ARE DOING WELL. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK, BECAUSE DURING MY BECAUSE DURING MY YEARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE HAVE MADE SO MANY CHANGES. SOMETHING DON'T WORK, WE PANIC, WE THROW IT AWAY. WE SAY, NO, WE CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING. SO WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT AND CONTINUE DOING IT BECAUSE I LIKE THE 7 MINDSETS. I DO. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS. I'VE SEEN SOME FLAWS. I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES. I KNOW STUDENTS ARE BEING SUSPENDED, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT. LIKE KAREN SAID, IT COME FROM THE HOME TOO. PARENTS MUST HAVE PARENTS MUST HAVE INPUT IN IT TOO. I LIKE I LIKE IT. YOU GOT SHAKE'S VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. DR. HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS TONIGHT. I I AGREE WITH MR. WASHINGTON. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MAYBE THE FIDELITY OF FIDELITY OF THE USE OF THIS. WE FOUND THIS FOR WE FOUND THIS FOR PBIS WHEN IT WAS FIRST IMPLEMENTED AND WE HAD TO GO AND DO FIDELITY CHECKS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. LOOKING AT THIS DATA AND WE ONLY HAVE DATA FROM THIS YEAR ON THIS. WE DON'T HAVE IT FOR OTHER -- IS THIS THE ONLY YEAR? I SEE JUST THIS ONE I SEE JUST THIS ONE YEAR I SEE JUST THIS ONE YEAR OF DATA. >> FOR THIS YEAR. WE CAN GET THE PREVIOUS DATA. WITH THIS, TOO, JUST TO REMEMBER AND JULIA TOUCHED ON THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS ON OF THE THINGS ON THE FOREFRONT, THE STATE THE STATE LOOKED AT THE ACTUAL RESILIENCY LIFE SKILLS STANDARDS, WE HAD TO DO A SHIFT BASED ON THAT STATE. SO WE MET WITH 7 MINDSETS KNOWING THAT WE HAD ALREADY STARTED THIS -- THIS IMPLEMENTATION WAS PRIOR TO THAT SHIFT. WE MET WITH 7 MINDSETS TO WE MET WITH 7 MINDSETS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS FULL THAT THERE WAS FULL ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE AND THE STATE STANDARDS AND THE STATE VERBIAGE IN EVERYTHING. THAT WAS HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK. I KNOW THAT JULIA AND SHE PUT INTO THAT AND THEN WE MET WITH THEM BOTH TOGETHER TO ENSURE LIKE LOOKING AT THAT PIECE. THERE WERE SOME SHIFT IN VERBIAGE THAT ALSO HAD TO HAPPEN WITH SOME OF THE DATA PIECES IN THAT. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET WHAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS WERE IN THE PAST. MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME REALLY GOOD -- I KNOW SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD, MEMBER HAD, MEMBER RENDON, REALLY GOOD THINGS ON THINGS ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THE EVALUATION PIECES THAT I KNOW ARE CRITICAL WITHIN THAT, BUT NOT ONLY THE DATA PIECE, THE IMPLEMENTATION, WE HAVE PARTS AND PIECES OF THAT PIECE, GIVEN AGAIN THE SHIFT WITH WHAT THE STATE HAD. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO DO IS CONTINUE OBVIOUSLY WITH THE EVALUATION THING AND GET FEEDBACK ON THOSE PIECES EXACTLY WHAT WAS MENTIONED HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>Stacy Hahn: IN LOOKING AT THE EXPECTED SKILLS THAT THIS PROGRAM IS DEVELOPING, RESILIENCY, CHARACTER, LIFE SKILLS, THOSE CERTAINLY ARE THINGS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONTINUITY AROUND THAT BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME. FAMILY IS A HUGE PIECE FAMILY IS A HUGE PIECE AND THIS BEING SUCCESSFUL. ARE THERE ARE THERE TAKEAWAYS, ARE STUDENTS TAKING THINGS HOME TO IMPLEMENT AT HOME WITH THE PARENTS? CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? >> WE HAVE NEWSLETTERS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS THAT THEY CAN WORK ON AT HOME. ALSO IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PANORAMA DATA. WE LOOK AT WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN WORK ON, AND THERE ALSO ARE, ALMOST LIKE INDIVIDUALIZED TIPS AND TRICKS THAT YOU CAN SEND HOME WITH STUDENTS IF THEY NEED TO KIND OF WORK ON THAT SKILL AT HOME. SOMETHING AS SIMPLE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS LIKE WE HAVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION, BUT THEN GIVING THEM A QUICK TIP OF HOW THEY CAN KIND OF RESOLVE THAT CONFLICT AT HOME WITH BABY BROTHER, BABY SISTER. IT DOES HAVE ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS. THEY ALSO HAVE PARENT NIGHTS AS WELL WITH OUR STOP GRANT, WE ALSO HAVE THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. >>Stacy Hahn: ARE YOU GETTING A GOOD PARENT RESPONSE? >> FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WITH OUR STOP GRANT, WE'VE HAD PARTICIPATION FROM ALL SIX SCHOOLS AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT AS WELL WITH THAT. WE DO HAVE THAT HOLISTICALLY TOGETHER. JUST IN GENERAL, TAKING THE FEEDBACK FROM IMPLEMENTATION AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY TAKE EVERYTHING THAT THIS BOARD SAYS FROM LAST YEAR, TAKING IT AND WANTING TO NOT JUST DO BETTER FOR OUR PROGRAM OR FOR A PARTNERSHIP OR ANY OF THOSE PIECES, BUT TO TAKE THAT BACK AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR KIDS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING BECAUSE IT JUST HELPS MAKE OUR WORK BETTER TO WORK BETTER TO THRIVE AND TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE OVERSEEING. I JUST APPRECIATE IT. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. WE CHOSE TO USE WE CHOSE TO USE PANORAMA TO MEASURE SUCCESS? WE CHOSE THAT, NOT 7 MINDSETS, CORRECT? >> YES. THAT WAS ONE OF THE DATA POINTS BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING PRE- AND POST-DATA. THAT WAS FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF OUR PRINCIPALS TO USE TO MEASURE SOME OF THESE PIECES. THE THE TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS AND PEER TO PEER RELATIONSHIP. >>Stacy Hahn: HERE IS THE THING IN MEASURING SUSPENSIONS. THIS IS A TIER ONE, RIGHT, INTERVENTION. SUSPENSIONS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF TIER ONE TO GET SUSPENDED. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT -- SO THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE DATA IS MUDDY IS THAT YOU'RE USING SOMETHING TO MEASURE THIS THAT REALLY IT WAS NOT BUILT TO INTEND TO INTEND TO DO AS A TIER ONE INTERVENTION. SO YOU'RE SO YOU'RE SAYING, OH, SUSPENSIONS ARE UP, THIS WAS REALLY NEVER GOING TO GET TO SUSPENSIONS. THIS IS A TIER ONE. THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE DATA IS SUSPENSIONS, DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSIONS, REFERRALS. RELATIONSHIP WITH TEACHER, SURE, BUT THOSE OTHER THINGS, THE SUSPENSIONS, THE REFERRALS, FIGHTING, BULLYING, THOSE FIGHTING, BULLYING, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THIS IS NOT GOING OF THINGS, THIS IS NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. IT'S JUST NOT. I THINK YOU NEED TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO ALIGN IT WITH AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IMPACT IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MEASURE TO MEASURE THAT. I KNOW PANORAMA IS EASY, SEND IT OUT, GET THE OUT, GET THE QUANTITATIVE FEEDBACK BUT IT'S GOING TO TRAP YOU EVERY SINGLE TIME BECAUSE IT'S NEVER REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THOSE TIER THREE BEHAVIORS, MAYBE TIER TWO MAYBE IN SOME CASES. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN SOME OF THIS DATA THAT'S MAKING THIS LOOK UNEFFECTIVE IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO SOLVE. >> I AGREE WITH YOU. LAST YEAR, WE WANTED TO GIVE THE HOLISTIC PICTURE WITH ACADEMICS, BEHAVIOR, ALL OF THE BEHAVIOR, ALL OF THE PIECES THAT THE BOARD REQUESTED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD THAT COMPONENT. BUT, YES, I BUT, YES, I AGREE WITH YOU. >>Stacy Hahn: IF YOU USE PANORAMA, MAYBE THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN QUESTIONS YOU USE OUT OF IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE SUSPENSION AND REFERRAL DATA. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TIER ONE BEHAVIORS ARE AND IS THIS IMPACTING AND IMPROVING TIER ONE BEHAVIORS? BECAUSE TO SHOW IT UP AGAINST TIER 2 AND 3 BEHAVIORS AND SAY, OH, IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I'M ALSO UNEASY PULLING A RESOURCE AWAY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING TO SUBSTITUTE IN ITS PLACE, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE NOT BRINGING US SOMETHING ELSE, SAY, HEY, THIS IS BETTER. I THINK THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE AROUND THIS BEFORE WE PULL IT, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEASURE THIS. IF YOU'RE REALLY NOT SEEING IT IMPACTFUL, IF IT'S ONLY 7 SCHOOLS THAT ARE LIKE, YAY, AND I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO GO OUT AND VISIT THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SHOWING SOME OF THESE LOW SCORES TO SEE IF THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING IT WITH FIDELITY. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MS. SARAH MENTO, YOU ARE HEARING FROM THE BOARD AND I KNOW THAT YOU TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE RELATIONSHIP OR I SHOULD SAY THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIP OF PANORAMA, 7 MINDSETS, AND MINDSETS, AND PBIS, IT IS EXACTLY THAT. THEY WORK TOGETHER TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, HOW ARE WE QUESTION, HOW ARE WE PREVENTING DISPROPORTIONALITY. IT IS HONED TOGETHER. TIER ONE BEHAVIORS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. THAT IS AN ACTUAL MODEL. ONE BEGETS THE OTHER. HOWEVER, JUST AS THE SAME AS PBIS, SAME AS LEADER IN ME, SAME AS THOSE PROGRAMS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO NAME ALL OF THEM, THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS, BUT IF IT'S NOT DONE WITH FULL FIDELITY, IT BREAKS APART. I THINK THE LESSON, IF I WERE SITTING IN YOUR SEAT, THE LESSON THAT I'M HEARING FROM BOARD MEMBERS ALSO IS MEMBERS ALSO IS CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PRINCIPALS TAKE ON THIS TASK TO BE A 7 MINDSETS SCHOOL, THAT THEY ARE DOING IT WITH FULL FIDELITY AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO ARE GOING TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, THEY TRANSFER, THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH THING THAT HAPPENED WITH PBIS, THAT THAT THAT THAT NEXT PRINCIPAL IS TRAINED. THAT'S SOMETHING TO WRITE IN YOUR NOTES, THESE ARE ALL VERY VALID POINTS. OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT BOTTOM LINE IS WE WE WANT THE CHILDREN TO BE STAYING IN SCHOOL AND STAYING IN SCHOOL AND NOT GETTING INTO LATER TIER BEHAVIOR. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I AGREE. I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING SIMILAR TO DR. HAHN BUT PROBABLY NOT AS NOT AS ELOQUENTLY, BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I WISH THERE WAS A MAGIC PBIS THAT INSTANTANEOUSLY LOWERED SUSPENSIONS AND REFERRALS, ESPECIALLY IN THE DAY AND AGE WHERE WE SEE THEM ON THE RISE NOT ONLY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FLORIDA, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DUE TO POST-PANDEMIC AND OTHER ISSUES. I WISH THERE WAS ONE MAGIC THING WE COULD IMPLEMENT. AS OF YET, I DON'T KNOW OF ONE. SO WHILE I ALWAYS LOVE A CONVERSATION AROUND DATA AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAD TO ATTACH SOME TO IT, I DON'T THINK THAT THE DATA IS NECESSARILY REFLECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS WORKING IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND I AGREE WITH MEMBER GRAY. I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF MY SCHOOLS THAT IMPLEMENT THIS AND NOT JUST FROM THE PRINCIPALS, BUT FROM THE SOCIAL WORKERS, FROM THE COUNSELORS, FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY MANAGING THE MENTAL HEALTH FROM THE KIDS, THEY LOVE THIS PROGRAM. THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S SUCH ANOTHER RESOURCE TO PUT IN THEIR TOOLBOX. I'M ACTUALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS. I KNOW MEMBER GRAY MENTIONED THAT MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE PBIS, ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK ENOUGH OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE ENOUGH OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE PBIS. I FEEL LIKE AS A BOARD WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE HAVING A POLICY THAT WHILE IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE 7 MINDSETS BUT WE DO DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE PBIS IN OUR SCHOOLS, SO I ACTUALLY, WHILE I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE FIDELITY IN PROBABLY EVERYTHING THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING AND A BETTER SOURCE OF DATA, FROM EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN IN THE FIELD AND ON SEEN IN THE FIELD AND ON THE FLOOR, THE 7 MINDSETS IS A GREAT RESOURCE, EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. SOMETIMES THAT REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE WITH THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK IS MORE OF AN IMPACT THAN ACTUALLY THE DATA SOMETIMES. I APPRECIATE THIS PROGRAM. I'VE SEEN IT IN ACTION. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT. I STILL, OF COURSE, APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN BOARD MEMBERS. THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHER THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT OR WAYS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN IMPLEMENT EVERYTHING WITH FIDELITY OR PROVIDE MORE SUPERVISES. IF THERE IS ANOTHER PBIS AS DR. HAHN MENTIONED THAT IS MORE EFFECTIVE, WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT AND SWITCH TO THAT. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE THIS ONE. AGAIN, OUT OF ALL THE ONES WE IMPLEMENTED FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF GOING IN AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS, THIS IS THE ONE THAT PEOPLE REALLY RESPOND TO AND AND SAY THAT IT'S BEEN A GAME-CHANGER. EVEN IF WE'RE LOOKING AT TIER ONE CHANGES, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO IMPLEMENT ANY PBIS IN ONE YEAR AND EXPECT TO SEE IMMEDIATE RESULTS. WE KNOW THAT. HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK. TO CHANGE AN ENTIRE TO CHANGE AN ENTIRE SCHOOL CULTURE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN ONE YEAR IS REALLY CHALLENGING. WE HAVE TO GIVE GRACE AND TIME WHEN WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THINGS LIKE THIS IN OUR SCHOOLS. I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING IT BACK AND IT BACK AND CHAMPIONING IT AND MAKING SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO OUR EMPLOYEES. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: ONE LAST COMMENT, THANK YOU ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE COMMENTS. I REALLY AGREE WITH MEMBER HAHN. I DON'T THINK THE SUSPENSION AND EVERYTHING. I THINK THE TEACHER IN ME SAYS LET'S LOOK AT THE 7 MINDSETS AND MAYBE YOU DO A PRETEST ON WHAT KIDS THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, DOING A POST. I THINK THAT IS KIND OF MORE VALID TO SEE IF THEY HAVE MORE, FROM ONE -- HOW THAT FROM ONE -- HOW THAT IMPROVES. I THINK LOOKING AT THAT. WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE ANYTHING OUT WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING IN PLACE BECAUSE WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE TALK ABOUT IS ABSENCES, SUSPENSIONS, BAD BEHAVIOR. JUST ALL OF THAT. I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT USE IT, THEY REALLY LOVE THAT. I THINK A PRE- AND POST-IS MORE LIKE AN INTERNAL. PROBABLY MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. >>Jessica Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS COME ON. THE MOTION THE MOTION PASSES WITH EVERYONE EXCEPT MEMBER RENDON VOTING NO. EVERY OTHER BOARD MEMBER VOTING YES. NOW WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH TO THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE HAD A TIME CERTAIN AT TIME CERTAIN AT 5:01. WE'RE GOING TO PIVOT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED POLICIES. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] I WILL NOW OPEN I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE NEW AND REVISED POLICY ADOPTION PROCESS. REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND BOARD POLICY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AND PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE POLICIES WERE ADVERTISED AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. MR. PORTER, SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'LL RECALL THAT THESE WERE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN FULLY WHERE'D AND VETTED BY YOU. THEY ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD WITH THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD. IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. YOU SHOULD ASK, MADAM CHAIR, IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. AND THEN YOU CAN ENTERTAIN ANY BOARD QUESTIONS. OTHERWISE, THEY ARE READY FOR YOUR ADOPTION. >>Jessica Vaughn: DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE ADOPTION OF THE THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW HEARING AND AND REVISED POLICIES? OKAY. SEEING THAT NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD TO SPEAK, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE POLICIES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>Jim Porter: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. >>Jessica Vaughn: WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ON TO ITEM 1.05, THE 2024-2025 STUDENT STUDENT PROGRESSION PLAN. >>Van Ayres: THIS PROGRESSION PLAN IS REVIEWED AND REVISED ANNUALLY TO ALIGN WITH THE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND THE DISTRICT'S VISION AND DISTRICT'S VISION AND MISSION. JUST SOME OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME CHANGES TO OUR PLAN. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MONITORING PLAN FOR STUDENTS IDENTIFIED WITH A SUBSTANTIAL DEFICIENCY IN READING AND/OR MATH, INCLUSION OF VPK FOR EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS, THE ALLOWANCE ACCOUNTS, THE ALLOWANCE OF ONE HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT, CAREER AND TECHNICAL ORGANIZATIONS, ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF REGULAR CLASS TIME AND THE ADDITION OF THE FLORIDA SEAL OF FINE ARTS REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR GRADUATING SENIORS. AGAIN, SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT REQUIRED CHANGES TO OUR PROGRESSION PLAN. CHRISTIE RAY CHRISTIE RAY BURN, KAREN FRENCH ARE HERE. IT IS A BIG DOCUMENT. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING CHANGES TO THE PROGRESSION PLAN, WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 1.05. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER COMBS AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER COMBS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Nadia Combs: MS. GARCIA, MS. FRENCH AND MS. RAYBURN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AMAZING WORK. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS MEETING WITH ME, ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS AND JUST PUTTING ALL THE WORK IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS, YOU KNOW, GOES WITH THE LAW AND ABIDES BY THE LAW AND THE STRUCTURE AND MAKING ALL THOSE CHANGES. I KNOW WHEN WE HAD OUR ZOOM, I HAD ONE QUESTION. I SPOKE I SPOKE TO EMILY QUITE A BIT ABOUT THIS. MY BIGGEST CONCERN, I GUESS, AND I THINK IT'S GETTING BETTER, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS EARLY LEARNING. WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME AND VPK. WE ARE FUNDED ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE NATION WITH $2900 FOR VPK. THAT'S QUITE LOW. IT IT WAS VERY EXCITING FOR ME TO SEE THAT THE LEGISLATION WAS CREATING THE SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO CAPTURE THOSE KIDS. I KNOW THAT THIS LAW WAS PASSED IN THE SUMMER IN THE SUMMER OF 2024 REALLY LOOKING AT THE LOWEST PERCENTILE OF KIDS WHO DIDN'T TEST WELL GOING IN. SO THAT WOULD BE 1800 OF OUR STUDENTS AND 8,000 STUDENTS FROM THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION. THE GUISE IS THE GUISE IS THAT THOSE STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE LEARNING THIS COMING SUMMER AND THE RATIO WOULD BE 1 TO 12 WITH A CERTIFIED TEACHER. SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHERE IS THIS MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? AND IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HERE WE ARE DECEMBER AND I KNOW WE'RE STARTING TO GET AN IDEA OF THAT AND WHAT THAT TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IT'S GREAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THINGS AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU JUST PUT WHAT THEY PUT INTO LAW AND LAW AND CREATED THAT INTO OUR PROGRESSION PLAN. BUT MY CONCERN IS, WHEN WE'RE FUNDED SO LOW FOR FUNDED SO LOW FOR VPK AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO FIND CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN THE SUMMER WITH ONE TO 12, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU CONCERNED? ARE THERE CONCERNS? WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND OF GET AHEAD OF THIS? >> THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS AND THE THE BOARD. EMILY CIMINO WITH EARLY LEARNING. I THINK THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGISLATION IS APPROPRIATE, PUTTING OUR FINEST TEACHERS AND OUR RESOURCES AND OUR EARLIEST LEARNERS I THINK IS IMPERATIVE TO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL THIRD GRADERS AND BEYOND. THIS LEGISLATION I THINK IS ON THE RIGHT COURSE, THE RIGHT COURSE, HOWEVER, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE RATIO IS TIGHT 1:12 WITH A HUNDRED HOURS. SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO PLAN FOR. IT'S SUMMERTIME. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STAFF WORKING OVER THE SUMMER. SO I APPRECIATE SO I APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING BASICALLY THE INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THE DECISIONS. I HOPE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO COME, BUT SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE JUST WANT ANSWERED ARE WHAT TYPE OF INSTRUCTION WILL THE STUDENTS BE RECEIVING? WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF GIVING THIS INSTRUCTION TO THE STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER SO THAT THEY CAN BE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND HIGHLIGHTING EARLY LEARNING AND ITS NECESSITY TO HAVE IT APPROPRIATELY FUNDED. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT, I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE LEGISLATION. I THINK THIS IS I THINK THIS IS AMAZING LEGISLATION, BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? 1 TO 12 GETTING CERTIFIED. ARE WE GOING TO NEED 400 TEACHERS, 800 TEACHERS? HOW MANY CLASSROOMS DO WE NEED? WHILE WE'RE PLANNING ALL THIS. THIS IS ONCE AGAIN WHERE I FEEL LAWS ARE BEING MADE AND NOT A LOT OF INPUT AND REALLY NOT FOLLOWING UP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THE FUNDING ISN'T THERE. BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T FUND IN THE BEGINNING AND NOW YOU'LL CREATE A LAW AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT VERY CLEAR AND THEN WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED AND HOW DO WE PREPARE HOW MANY TEACHERS? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HIRE THE TEACHERS? THE CLASSROOMS, SO MUCH INVOLVED. THE CURRICULUM. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, SO, THIS, SO, SUPERINTENDENT, IF WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND MAKE SURE THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE AND MAYBE GIVE US REGULAR UPDATES BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AS FAR AS ALL THE DISTRICTS AND THE SUPERINTENDENTS COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING A CLEAR PICTURE BECAUSE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE FUNDING TIED TO THAT AND IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE CLEAR AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIMELINE BECAUSE THIS IS PUTTING MORE BECAUSE THIS IS PUTTING MORE AND MORE PRESSURE ON THE DISTRICTS AND MORE AND MORE WHERE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE MONEY ANYWAY. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT STOOD OUT TO ME WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE STUDENT PROGRESSION PLAN. I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING ALL MY QUESTIONS ALL THESE DAYS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND JUST YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I THANK YOU FOR STAYING SO LATE FOR MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I ALSO PULLED THIS ITEM. I APPRECIATE MEMBER COMBS ALWAYS KIND OF LOOKING AT IT FROM THE LEVEL OF WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT ARE WE GETTING ON MANDATES WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION. FOR ME, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE AS ALWAYS, YOUR TEAM DOES A FANTASTIC JOB OF GETTING IN FRONT OF THIS, MAKING SURE YOU GIVE ME RED-LINED VERSIONS. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S CHANGING FROM EACH ONE. YOU GUYS DO A REALLY THOROUGH JOB IN EVERYTHING YOU PRESENT. I APPRECIATE THAT. MY COMMENTS REALLY FALL MORE IN THE LINE THE LINE OF HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THIS FOR OUR FAMILIES. IT'S VERY CONFUSING NOW WHO NEEDS WHAT TO GRADUATE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS AND ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES -- OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES COMING. HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO FIND THIS? HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO FOLLOW THIS? IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE I'M ASSUMING AND DO WE SEND OUT A LINK TO FAMILIES LETTING THEM KNOW THE PROGRESSION PLAN IS UPDATED AND WHERE TO FIND IT? ESSENTIALLY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR THAT OUR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THIS. >> YES, MA'AM. IT IS ON THE WEBSITE. WE HAVE HAD IT TRANSLATED AS WELL. I LOVE THE SUGGESTION OF SENDING OUT A LINK TO PARENTS SO THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT AND AREN'T SEARCHING ON THE WEBSITE. THANK YOU FOR THAT IDEA. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW WE'LL NOW GO ON TO -- I HAVE TO TURN THE PAGE -- TURN THE PAGE -- ITEM 2.05, PIGGYBACK BOOKS, SEARLE'S, DATABASES, AND LIBRARY DATABASES, AND LIBRARY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: BOOKS AND MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS ARE PURCHASED DISTRICTWIDE FOR SCHOOL AND DISTRICT SITES THROUGH THE USE OF GENERAL AND GRANT FUNDS. STATE OF NEW YORK PROCURED THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES ADOPTED FOR USE ACROSS THE STATE. THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES MAXIMUM DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR MULTIPLE VENDORS. THAT IS THE THAT IS THE PIGGYBACK FOR LIBRARY RESOURCE LIBRARY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. WE DO HAVE JOHN MILBURN AND KIM HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND THAT. COREY MURPHY IS HERE ON ANYTHING ABOUT THE PIGGYBACK OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. EITHER ONE OF YOU WANT TO GET IN THE THE QUEUE? THAT'S WHAT I'M TOLD WE'RE DOING GOING FORWARD. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BOOKS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO READ. AT THE END OF THE DAY, BOOKS ARE MEANT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN, TO EXPLORE, TO GET IDEAS, TO CREATE WHO THEY WANT TO BE AND BOOKS ARE ABSOLUTELY ARE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO, ALL THAT OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS DO. AND MY COMMENTS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. WE WANT TO SUPPLY OUR BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARIES. WE WANT TO GIVE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I PULLED BOTH OF THESE ITEMS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HIGHLIGHT AND THIS IS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE HAVE YET TO PUT A SYSTEM IN PLACE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT GIVES PARENTS THEIR ABILITY TO SAY A BOOK CANNOT BE CHECKED OUT BY THEIR CHILD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THOSE CHECKS AND HAVE THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. BECAUSE I THINK IT IS UP TO THE PARENTS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON WHAT THEIR CHILDREN DO AND DO NOT READ. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MINOR CHILDREN, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY CAN DO THAT. I DON'T WANT TO GET THIS IN A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER BOOKS ARE GOOD OR BAD FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE THAT IS NOT MY ROLE. BUT MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I PULLED BOTH OF THESE. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON THE NEXT ONE, BUT IT IS TO MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT THAT ONCE AGAIN WE AS A DISTRICT DO NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF MECHANISMS KIND OF MECHANISMS FOR PARENTS TO CHOOSE WHETHER CERTAIN BOOKS COULD BE CHECKED OUT BY THEIR STUDENT OR NOT. AND THERE ARE BOOKS THAT HAVE EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE OR EXCESSIVE SEXUALITY. SOME PARENTS MAY BE OKAY WITH THAT AND SOME PARENTS MAY NOT. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE AS A DISTRICT NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME KIND OF SYSTEM IN PLACE TO GIVE THOSE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEIR CHILD. I THINK WE DO A PHENOMENAL JOB MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR ACADEMIC BOOKS AND ANYTHING THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO FOR CLASSES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF PARENTS VIA CANVAS, THAT PARENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ THE BOOKS THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO KNOW THAT IT'S COMING UP IN THE CURRICULUM FOR THAT YEAR. WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF THAT AND PARENTS CAN MAKE THE DECISION IF THAT BOOK IS NOT GOING TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILD AND THEY CAN EITHER CHOOSE ANOTHER CLASS OR THE TEACHER HAS BEEN ACCOMMODATING IN CHOOSING OTHER BOOKS. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MASSIVE LIBRARY SYSTEM, WE HAVE NOT DONE THE SAME THE SAME FIDELITY. ALLOWING PARENTS THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NOW, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. SO THAT'S WHY I PULLED THIS ITEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU. I PULLED THESE TWO ITEMS FOR SIMILAR REASONS. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, INTERESTING, YESTERDAY, I WAS I WAS AT MY I WAS AT MY CAC MEETING YESTERDAY WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE. ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS LITERACY. WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT READING BOOKS ANYMORE. WHY ARE KIDS NOT READING BOOKS? ONE OF THE PARENTS SAID, LIKE, KIDS READING SO MANY NOVELS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT READING THEM, WHY ARE THEY NOT READING SO MUCH? ONE OF MY RESPONSES WAS BECAUSE OF THE TESTING, BECAUSE KIDS ARE BEING TESTED BEING TESTED SO OFTEN THAT THE TEACHERS ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE, SO THEY ARE TEACHING EXCERPTS OF BOOKS OR PARTS OF BOOKS AND MEANWHILE S.A.T. SCORES ARE SO LOW. MEANWHILE WE HAVE THE MOST BANNED BOOKS IN THE WHOLE NATION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I FEEL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IT'S LIKE OUR COUNTY IT'S LIKE OUR LIBRARIANS HAVE MASTER HAVE MASTER DEGREASE. COUNTIES LIBRARIES ARE NOT CERTIFIED, NOT TEACHERS OR MIGHT BE ASSISTANT. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALL OF OUR LIBRARIANS ARE MASTER DEGREE TEACHERS. THEY GO THROUGH BOOKS. THEY GO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKING BOOKS OUT THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE. NOBODY WANTS THE INAPPROPRIATE BOOK IN FRONT OF A CHILD. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH LITERACY, BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. I SAID TO SOMEONE YEARS AGO YOU COULD BE GOOD AT MATH AND YOU WEREN'T A GREAT READER AND YOU COULD STILL EXCEL. NOWADAYS, MATH IS SO HEAVY ON WORD WORD PROBLEMS. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY FOR LITERACY, THEN YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO DO WELL IN MATH. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF BOOKS, THE ACCESS OF BOOKS. I THINK BEING NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR BANNED BOOKS IS NOT SOMETHING WE NEED TO JUMP UP AND DOWN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE 47th IN THE NATION FOR S.A.T. SO I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING LITERACY. KIDS HAD GREAT IDEAS. I TOLD THEM TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER FOR THE CAC. I SEE MICHAEL I SEE MICHAEL OWEN YOUNG KIND OF NODDING BECAUSE THE KIDS HAD SO MANY GREAT IDEAS OF HOW TO PROMOTE LITERACY. HOW TO PROMOTE HAVING KIDS READ, HOW TO PROMOTE COMPETITION WITH STUDENTS BECAUSE KIDS ARE NOT READING. THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAMINA TO READ A LONG BOOK READ A LONG BOOK AND THEN ALSO WE'RE TEACHING SO MUCH TO THE TEST THAT KIDS AREN'T LOVING THE BOOKS AND THEY ARE SO IN TUNE WITH PHONES THAT A BOOK IS NOT ENJOYABLE FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF BOOKS WE HAVE, THE NUMBER OF ACCESS, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE PUSHING THAT BECAUSE IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS AND THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO READ BOOKS AND THAT WE JUST DON'T GET KIDS WHO ARE SCARED ABOUT READING, RIGHT? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT LIBRARIANS AREN'T SCARED, TO HAVE KIDS ENTER THEIR ROOM, TO ENTER THAT, SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE PUSHING IT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: YOU KNOW, I HEAR A LOT ABOUT LITERACY AND WE SHOULD. EXPANDING THE CHOICE OF BOOKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS IS CRITICAL. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MENTION EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AND SOME MATH TEACHERS MAY SAY MORE, NUMERACY. EXPOSING OUR CHILDREN TO THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF NUMBERS. NUMERACY I HOPE THAT IS ALSO ON YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO PURCHASE. BOOKS ON MAKING MATH AVAILABLE, FUN. HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE IT. I CAN, OF COURSE, -- I TALKED TO MATH COACHES YESTERDAY, BUT IN MY MIND AND I'LL ADD THIS TO MEMBER COMBS' LITERACY COMMITTEE, IN MY MIND, COMMITTEE, IN MY MIND, NUMERACY IS ALSO IS ALSO CRITICAL. AND THIS IS AN EXPLORATION OF THE INTERCONNECTIVITY OF OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY HAS TO BE GLOBAL COMMUNITY HAS TO BE BASED ON NUMBER FAMILIARITY. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE LOVE OF LEARNING ABOUT NUMBERS, LEARNING ABOUT NUMBERS, ALGEBRA, TRIGONOMETRY AND ALL OF THOSE HIGHER LEVEL. I'M THROWING THAT OUT THERE SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF BOOKS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT MEMBER RENDON IS SAYING, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE CLARITY ON OUR POLICIES AS THEY STAND RIGHT NOW AND OUR PROCEDURES. I THINK WHAT MEMBER RENDON MEANS IS SOME OTHER KIND OF SYSTEM THAT FLAGS CERTAIN BOOKS UNDER A CERTAIN TITLE. BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT RIGHT NOW PARENTS CAN LOOK, ALL OF OUR LIBRARY BOOKS THAT ARE IN EVERY SINGLE EVERY SINGLE LIBRARY ARE ONLINE. PARENTS CAN SEARCH FOR ANY SINGLE TITLE THAT WE HAVE. THEY CAN SEE IF IT'S IN THEIR CHILD'S LIBRARY AT THEIR SCHOOL, AND THEY CAN SAY TO THE MEDIA SPECIALIST, MY CHILD DOES NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO CHECK THIS OUT AND THE CHILD DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE BOOK. AM I UNDERSTANDING OUR PROCEDURES AND POLICIES CORRECT? YES. THAT'S A YES, EVERYONE I'M ASKING IS GIVING ME A YES. OKAY. >> [INAUDIBLE] >>Jessica Vaughn: SURE. WHAT I THINK, AND I COULD BE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS, WHILE THAT PUTS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY ON PARENTS TO BE PARENTS TO BE VERY ENGAGED AND SEARCHING FOR CERTAIN TITLES AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE'S COMING FROM ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF TAKING LESS RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PARENT, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT THAT IS -- PARENTS CAN AT ANY TIME, THEY DO HAVE THE SAY, THEY DO THEY DO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO EVERY BOOK THEIR CHILD HAS ACCESS TO AND THEY CAN IF THEY PUT THE WORK INTO IT MAKE SURE AND PUT CONTROLS ON WHAT THEIR CHILD IS ABLE TO BRING HOME FROM THE LIBRARY. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY, OKAY. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE E-MAILING ME, NOT THAT I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF E-MAILS ABOUT IT, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW, BEING LIKE I HAVE NO SAY OVER WHAT MY CHILD WANTS. MEMBER RENDON HAS MORE COMMENTS ON THAT. I WANT TO CLARIFY. >>Patti Rendon: WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT THERE ARE SYSTEMS OUT THERE WHERE I CAN GO IN AND I COULD SAY I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO READ THAT BOOK AND I FLAG IT. IF MY CHILD GOES TO CHECK IT OUT, IT'S FLAGGED. RIGHT NOW THE SYSTEM IS, I CALL THE MEDIA CENTER SPECIALIST. I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YES, WE SHOULD HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IT IS FLAGGED. WE DO THE SAME THING FOR WE DO THE SAME THING FOR CANVAS, WHERE WE HAVE COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH. I THINK THAT IS A MUCH MORE RELIABLE SYSTEM THAT NO MATTER WHO IS CHECKING OUT THE BOOKS, WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO CHECK OUT BOOKS. YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LIST OF JOHNNY CAN ONLY READ THESE BOOKS. WE SHOULD HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IT IS FLAGGED SOMEWHERE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF SYSTEM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BELIEVE ME, MEDIA BELIEVE ME, MEDIA SPECIALISTS DO PHENOMENAL THINGS IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE FACT THAT THE BOOKS WE HAVE ACCESS TO, I AM NOT CRITICIZING ANY ANY OF THAT. BUT AS A DISTRICT, WE LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE. WE SHOULD HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IT'S FLAGGED, RIGHT? WE GO INTO AN ELECTRONIC STUDENT RECORD. THERE ARE THINGS THERE ARE THINGS FLAGGED. KIDS CAN'T BE PICKED UP. THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS WELL. >>Jessica Vaughn: LET ME HELP TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. IF I WAS TO CALL MY CHILD'S SCHOOL AND SAY I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE ACCESS FOR A BOOK, IS THERE A PHYSICAL LIST THAT THE LIBRARIAN KEEPS? DOES THAT GO INTO A COMPUTER SYSTEM WHERE WHEN THE STUDENT CHECKS IT OUT WITH THEIR NUMBER, WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF A PARENT HAS IDENTIFIED BOOKS THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILD TO CHECK OUT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. THERE ARE AUTOMATED WAYS THAT THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS CAN USE TO MAKE NOTES WITHIN THE MAKE NOTES WITHIN THE STUDENT'S ACCOUNT ON WHAT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY. IT ISN'T LIKE A PRINTOUT OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD PHYSICALLY BE VISIBLE BECAUSE ALSO THAT IS LIKE A STUDENT RECORD. SO IT WOULDN'T BE SO IT WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE TO JUST ANYONE THAT WAS JUST ANYONE THAT WAS SITTING AT THE CIRCULATION DESK BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE PRIVATE STUDENT INFORMATION THAT A PARENT HAS COMMUNICATED ABOUT A STUDENT. BUT THERE IS THE OPTION INSIDE OUR CIRCULATION SYSTEM THAT THE MEDIA SPECIALIST CAN MAKE A NOTE ON THE STUDENT'S ACT, SPECIFIC FOR THAT. >>Jessica Vaughn: BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PUT IN THEIR STUDENT NUMBER, ALL ATTACHED TO THINGS. THAT'S HOW WE KEEP TRACK AND RECORD OF WHAT BOOKS COME IN AND COME OUT. SO THERE ARE NOTATIONS. IT DOES COME UP, WHETHER IT WAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, WHETHER IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE IN THE MEDIA, WHEN THEY GO TO CHECK OUT THAT BOOK, THE STUDENT'S FILE COME UP -- I SUBBED IN -- I SUBBED IN THE LIBRARY -- COMES UP AND THERE ARE NOTES AND IT DOES HIGHLIGHT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PARENT REQUEST NOT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT BOOK. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO CLARIFY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS 2.03, THE NEXT ITEM IS 2.03, PIGGYBACK BOOKS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL CATALOG BID. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THIS IS ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP FROM 2.02. 2.03, BOOKS IN LIBRARY ARE PURCHASED DISTRICTWIDE THROUGH THE USE OF GENERAL AND GRANT FUNDS. SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY ISSUED THE ORIGINAL SOLICITATION AND IT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE MAXIMUM DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR MULTIPLE VENDORS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS 2.03. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 2.03. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. AGAIN, MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER COMBS. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Nadia Combs: I JUST HAD A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU, BUT ALSO, I WANT TO THANK OUR LIBRARIANS BECAUSE I THINK OFTEN PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH LIBRARIANS DO, LIKE THE AMOUNT OF TESTING THAT THEY DO IN THEIR LIBRARY. THE AMOUNT OF TECH WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING. NOT ONLY ARE THEY -- WHEN WE LOOK AT A SYSTEM, IT'S LIKE THE NUMBER OF BOOKS THAT ARE COMING IN AND OUT, LIKE, MOST LIBRARIANS ARE WORKING COUNTLESS HOURS DOING THAT. SO I THINK IF THERE WAS A SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM THE STATE BECAUSE HOW MUCH MORE TIME CAN WE SPEND BECAUSE I BECAUSE I KNOW LIBRARIANS ARE SPENDING COUNTLESS, SPENDING COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS HOURS DOING SO MUCH MORE THAN GETTING THE BOOKS IN, GETTING THE BOOKS OUT, THEY ARE DOING ALL TYPES OF LITERACY. I KNOW THEY DO OFTEN. LIKE, IN HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY DO A LOT OF CAREER FAIRS. THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON THAT THE LIBRARIAN IS SUCH THE CENTER PART OF THE SCHOOLS. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE HAVING INNOVATIVE HAVING INNOVATIVE IDEAS. I REMEMBER THE ACCELA READER, EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM WAS KIND OF LOW-LORD THINKING AS THE -- LOW-ORDER THINKING AS THE QUESTIONS THAT KIND OF COMPETITION REALLY PUSHED KIDS TO READ MORE. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE THINKING OF IDEAS. I KNOW MEMBER HAHN IS VERY INVOLVED WITH INVOLVED WITH i-READY -- myON, WE'RE DOING myON, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT HAVING A TANGIBLE BOOK IN A CHILD'S HANDS. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROMOTING THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH BOOKS. A LOT OF THE DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE HAVE COME TO US AND SAID YOU'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD PROCESS IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A BOOK OUT OF THE LIBRARY AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT AND HAVING SUCH A GOOD PROCESS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE. THANK THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN THE LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM THE NEXT ITEM IS 3.06, APPROVE ALL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT -- OH, WE DIDN'T DIDN'T VOTE? I DIDN'T VOTE? SORRY. LET'S DO THAT AGAIN. I WAS SO EXCITED TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THIS TIME IT ACTUALLY PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM 3.06, APPROVE ALL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL COMPOSITION FORMS AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT WAIVERS FOR 2024-25. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS. YOU APPROVED THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, SAC COMPOSITION FORMS. THE BOARD SHALL ANNUALLY APPROVE AND REQUIRE IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL IMMATERIAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR EACH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. FURTHER PROVIDES THAT EACH SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL SAC SHALL BE COMPOSED OF PRINCIPAL AND APPROPRIATELY BALANCED NUMBER OF TEACHERS, EDUCATION SUPPORT EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY CITIZENS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ETHNIC, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC COMMUNITY SERVED BY THE SCHOOL. THAT IS THAT IS ITEM 3.06. AGAIN, THIS IS DONE ANNUALLY. CHERYL MARSO, SUPERVISOR OF OUR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT OFFICE IS HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND THE SCHOOL AROUND THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 3.06. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I PULLED THIS ITEM. HONESTLY, IT IS JUST AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM. LAST FEW MONTHS A LOT OF PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO ME, CONSTITUENTS AND PARENTS, JUST TO ASK ABOUT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS. THEY KIND OF WANT TO LOOK AT IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT ABOUT IT, LET THEM KNOW THAT THE NEW ONE FOR THIS YEAR IS UP. IF PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK AT THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS. WHERE IS IT ACCESSIBLE ON THE WEBSITE IF A PARENT WANTED TO FIND THIS? IT. >> IT'S AVAILABLE ON ALL SCHOOLS' SCHOOLS' WEBSITES. >>Jessica Vaughn: YOU WOULD SEARCH YOUR CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL, GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND SOMEWHERE ON THE FIRST PAGE IT WOULD BE THEIR IMPROVEMENT PLAN. >> OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS HELPED TO MAKE IT CONSISTENT. WHEN YOU GO ON THERE, THEY CAN LOOK AND IF THEY HAVE STUDENTS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS, IT SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND AND THEY CAN SEE IT THERE. >>Jessica Vaughn: IF THEY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THEY WOULD CONTACT THE WOULD CONTACT THE PRINCIPAL? >> YES, THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST PLACE TO GO. >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE 6.01, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2024, ENDING JULY 1, 2024, ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2024. SUSAN GARCIA, GENERAL MANAGER OF BUDGET, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. THE PowerPoint THAT YOU SEE ABOVE IS FOR THE PERIOD ABOVE IS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING OCTOBER 2024. THE FIRST SLIDE IS THE ADOPTED BUDGET ADOPTED BY THE BOARD SEPTEMBER 5th. WE PROJECTED TO WE PROJECTED TO RECEIVE $1.8 BILLION IN REVENUE, AND WE PROJECTED $1.9 BILLION IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH WOULD EXPENDITURES, WHICH WOULD CAUSE $111 MILLION DEFICIT. ENDING FUND BALANCE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $283.9 MILLION. THAT WAS THE APPROVED BUDGET. THE NEXT THE NEXT SLIDE, COLUMN A, YOU CAN SEE IT IS CAN SEE IT IS THE CAN SEE IT IS THE ADOPTED BUDGET -- COLUMN A IS THE ADOPTED BUDGET THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH. COLUMN B IS THE BUDGET FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. THE ONLY CHANGE TO THAT BUDGET WAS AN INCREASE WAS AN INCREASE OF $7.7 MILLION DUE TO A WORKFORCE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED. DID NOT CHANGE THE PROJECTED ENDING FUND BALANCE. THE COLUMN C IS THE BUDGET ENDING OCTOBER 31st. AND THAT BUDGET DID NOT CHANGE FROM SEPTEMBER. SO IT'S STILL PROJECTING SO IT'S STILL PROJECTING THE 283.9 MILLION ENDING FUND BALANCE. COLUMN C IS ENDING OCTOBER WE JUST LOOKED AT ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE. AND COLUMN D SHOWS THAT THERE WERE NO -- THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER THAT CHANGED IT FROM THE SEPTEMBER AMENDMENT. COLUMN E IS THE YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES AS OF THE END OF OCTOBER. IN OCTOBER, WE IN OCTOBER, WE RECEIVED $373.8 MILLION BUT $373.8 MILLION BUT EXPENDED 511.4. SO THAT WAS A SO THAT WAS A DEFICIT SO THAT WAS A DEFICIT OF $137 MILLION. THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR FUND BALANCE. COLUMN D -- NO, COLUMN E, COLUMN F, I'M SORRY. COLUMN F SHOWS THE ACTUAL BALANCES LEFT TO BE SPENT OR TO BE RECEIVED. WE WE HAVE $1.5 BILLION ADDITIONAL PROJECTED REVENUE TO BE RECEIVED AND 1.5 PROJECTED EXPENDITURES. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE USED TO SEEING THIS AND PROBABLY SICK OF LOOKING AT LOOKING AT IT. THE ACTUAL CASH BALANCE AS OF OCTOBER WAS $187 MILLION. YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S THE LOWEST THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE IN A YEAR, AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT STARTED TO RECEIVE OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUES. YOU CAN SEE IT STARTS INCREASING WITH DECEMBER ALWAYS SHOWING WITH DECEMBER ALWAYS SHOWING THE MOST REVENUE. AND BY THE END OF JUNE, WE PROJECT TO HAVE $211 MILLION IN CASH. ON THIS ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE ORIGINAL BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED SEPTEMBER THE 5th, AND IT SHOWS THE ENDING FUND BALANCE PROJECTED TO BALANCE PROJECTED TO BE $283.9 MILLION. THE ONE NEXT TO IT THE ONE NEXT TO IT IS THE ONE NEXT TO IT IS THE ACTUAL OF OCTOBER. AT THE END OF OCTOBER, AT THE END OF OCTOBER, WE AT THE END OF OCTOBER, WE HAD $258.5 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE. AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF LOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ALL OUR PROPERTY TAX OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. WE DID START RECEIVING A LITTLE BIT IN NOVEMBER AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE MAJORITY IN DECEMBER BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THE DATES FOR THE PROPERTY TAXES. ANY QUESTIONS? >>Jessica Vaughn: ARE YOU CONCLUDING YOUR PRESENTATION? >> YES. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND A MOTION AND A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY QUESTIONS ARE A GOOD VARIETY. SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD CAME FROM SOME OF THE CAME FROM SOME OF THE STATEMENTS I I HEARD, FRUSTRATING STATEMENTS ABOUT WHY WE HAVE ABOUT WHY WE HAVE A HIGH FUND BALANCE AND WHY CAN'T WE USE THAT FUND BALANCE TO PAY OUR TEACHERS THE RAISES. >> THE FUND BALANCE IS NONRECURRING REVENUE. THE RAISES ARE RECURRING REVENUE. THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND BALANCE IS TO HAVE DOLLARS FOR A RAINY DAY. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE JUST HAD TWO HURRICANES BACK TO BACK. IF WE WERE TO USE THE NONRECURRING FUND BALANCE WITH RECURRING EXPENDITURES, WE WOULD RUN OUT OF FUND BALANCE REALLY QUICKLY. IT'S NOT FOR RECURRING EXPENSES AND THAT'S WHAT YOUR RAISES WOULD BE. >>Lynn Gray: ON THE SAME >>Lynn Gray: ON THE SAME CUSP OF THAT SUBJECT, HOW WILL OUR ADDITIONAL MILLAGE, ADDITIONAL MILLAGE, WHICH I THINK IS 6,000 MORE FOR TEACHERS AND 3,000 MORE FOR THE EMPLOYEES, HOW WILL THOSE SUMS AFFECT THE FUND BALANCE? THIS IS GOING BACK INTO THE NEXT YEAR, 2026. DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA? >> IT WON'T AFFECT IT BECAUSE WE'LL BE GETTING THE REVENUE AND EXPENDING THE REVENUE IN THE SAME YEAR. >>Lynn Gray: WILL WE HAVE -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TO PREEMPTIVE TO ASK, BUT WILL WE HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT MIRRORS THE SAME THAT WE HAVE A REFERENDUM RIGHT NOW, TO MAKE SURE THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS AND OTHERS WILL BE ANSWERED? >>Van Ayres: IT WILL BE VERY TRANSPARENT. MOU ACTUALLY COMING. IF WE CAN HOLD THAT CONVERSATION UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON THE 17th. MOU AROUND THE MILLAGE AND HOW MONIES SPENT. DETAILED PLAN. CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. IT IS A SEPARATE ACCOUNT WHERE THOSE MONIES GO. VERY TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR THAT THE MILLAGE MONEY THAT COMES IN AND SPENT APPROPRIATELY AS WE SAID FROM THE VERY SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE 17th BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE THAT MOU. IT WILL COME FORWARD ON HOW THE MILLAGE MONIES WILL BE SPENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION. THANK YOU, MS. GARCIA. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I ALWAYS LIKE TO PULL IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED ANYWAY BUT WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT IN ALL OF OUR BUDGETING. I APPRECIATE THE WORK. WE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET DURING OUR MEETING. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF CHANGES OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND. I HAD QUESTIONS ADDITIONALLY ABOUT THE MILLAGE AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE AS FAR AS TIMELINE BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. I'M GLAD THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY HEARING THE DETAILS AND GETTING SOME TIMELINES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES ON THE 17th. SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION -- OH, DISCUSSION -- OH, NO, WAIT. SEEING THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. . >>Jessica Vaughn: WE WILL MOVE ON TOP ON TOP 7.03, ON TOP 7.03, GUARANTEED ON TOP 7.03, GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE ELECTRIC BUS LOCATION AT KING HIGH SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT AIRS WILL HIGHLIGHTS IN ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: WITH THEA WARD OF THE GRANT FOR ELECTRIC BUSES TO THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT HAD TO PROVIDE CHARGING CAPABILITIES FOR THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES. PHASE ONE PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED RECONFIGURING THE SITE FOR A CHARGING AREA NOR 18 BUSES. PHASES TWO AND THREE THE PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHARGING FACILITY ITSELF, THE ORDER OF THE BALANCE OF ORDER OF THE BALANCE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND CREATION OF THE ADDITIONAL 93 PARKING SPACE ALONG THE PARKING SPACE ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF THE SCHOOL. THESE SPACES ARE NECESSARY OF THOSE DISPLACE BY THE CHARGE FACILITY. THIS ITEM IS THE NECESSARY WORK FOR A ELECTRIC CHARGE FACILITY FOR 18 ELECTRIC BUSES ON THE EXISTING PARKING LOT AREA OF KING HIGH SCHOOL AND RECONFIGURING THE SCHOOL'S PARKING AREA. OF COURSE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT GRANT. WE OPEN 80% OF THE CHARGING STATIONS TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF THAT GRANT. SO THAT IS ITEM SO THAT IS ITEM 7.03. MR. MR. FARKAS IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF THE CHARGING STATIONS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. UP NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND UP NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C APPROVE C 7.03. A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER REFRESHESENDON? OKAY. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER COMBS, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST? >>Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU. SO YOU SAID THAT 80% WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE GRANT PAID FOR BY THE GRANT AND THE REST WILL COME FROM THE -- THE 20% WILL COME FROM CLARIFYING -- >>Christopher Farkas: 80% OF THE CHARGING STATION. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES PUT IT IN THERE. IN KING, NOT JUST THE CHARGING STATION. 2.2 MILLION ARE YOUS ARE WE MOVED THEIR PARKING. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO KING, THE BACK PARKING LOT IS CONVOLUTED. FENCING UPON FENCING. AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THAT DRIVERS UP TO SLIGH AND STUDENT PARKING IN THE FRONT WITH REST OF THE PARKING. YOU ARE PAYING FOR MORE THAN JUST THE CHARGES STATIONS. WE OPEN -- PAUSE WE HAVE NOT FINALIZED PAYING FOR ALL THE FINALIZED PAYING FOR ALL THE BUSES, ANTICIPATE 1 TO 1.5 MILLION COMING BACK FROM THE GRANT ANDY OTHER $3 MILLION IS IMPROVING THE SITE AT KING HIGH SCHOOL. A GREAT QUESTION. >>Nadia Combs: OBVIOUSLY WE WENT WITH TWO DIFFERENCE COMPANIES. THAT TWO DIFFERENT BATTERIES OR WHATEVER, CHARGING STATIONS, I SHOULD SAY. >>Christopher Farkas: HAD THE ENGINEERS COMING IN. THE CHARGING STATIONS HAVE BOTH BATTERIES. WE UPGRADED THE CHARGING STATIONS BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM THE BOARD VERY LOUD THE BOARD VERY LOUD AND CLEAR THEY WANTED DATA TO SUPPORT WHICH CHARGING STATIONS ARE DOING IT. AND TO TELL US HOW MUCH MANY MILES, HOW MUCH THE CHARGE, KILOWATTS TO CHARGE THE BUS AND HOW MANY MILES THE BUS WENT. WE CAN GET NOT FROM A PIECE OF PAPER BUT FROM OUR ACTUAL DATA DRIVING IN FLORIDA HEAT WITH ACs ON. STOPPING AND GOING. HOW MANY MILES TO THE CHARGE AND WE CAN COME BACK TO THE BOARD BECAUSE WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE BOARD FROM THE BOARD SPECIFIC DATA. WHICH BUS WORKS BEST AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE SAVE. WE UPGRADED CHARGER. ONE CHARGING -- DUAL ONE CHARGING -- DUAL CHARGERS. ONE BUS -- ME PLUG INTO THE SAME ONE AND GIVE THAT DATA BACK TO THE BOARD. >>Nadia Combs: OKAY, GREAT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS -- FUNNY BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF STATE DURING THANKSGIVING AND ONE OF THE ELECTRIC BUSES IN FRONT OF US AND I WONDERED HOW IT WAS DOING. PULLING THAT DATA WHICH ONE IS MOST EFFECTIVE, COST EFFECTIVE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WHEN DO YOU THINK OUR FIRST ELECTRIC BUS WILL BE ON THE ROAD? >>Christopher Farkas: GREAT QUESTION. WE BELIEVE THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY WILL BE READY WITH THE CHARGING STATIONS AND BUS ABOUT THAT TIME TOO. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A DATE FROM BLUE BIRD ON THOMAS WHEN THEY WILL GET THERE, ILL BE THERE. >>Nadia Combs: BOTH OR ONE OF THEM. >>Christopher Farkas: I WON'T ANSWER THAT ONE. MAKE SURE THE CHARGING STATIONS ARE READY BEN THE BUS -- WE HEARD HORROR STORIES WHERE HEARD HORROR STORIES WHERE BUSES SAT THERE FOR MONTHS WHILE WE SAT THERE FOR MONTHS WHILE WE WAITED FOR CHARGING SEASONS. OUR INTENT TOP GIVE QUARTERLY UPDATES. DATA SET THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THIS QUARTER. IT WILL BE GREAT FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH. NOT A LOT OF AIR CONDITIONING. APRIL, MAY AND JUNE. WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. WE OPEN GIVING THE BOARD QUARTERLY UPDATES AND HERE IS THE BUSES WE HAVE. HERE IS THE BRAND. HERE IS WHAT THEY DID. MILES CHARGED AND ALL THAT STUFF. THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO TRACK WITH THE WITH THE BOARD. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER WARRANTY, HOW LONG THEY GOT OUT OF SERVICE AND HOW LONG THEY WENT BACK TO US. ANY OTHER ISSUES WE HAVE IN HERE. UNDER WARRANTY IS ONE THING BUT UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE SHOP. HOW WE TURN THAT AROUND. WE OPEN GIVING ALL THAT TO THE BOARD AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT. QUARTERLY IS A FAIR UPDATE. FIRST QUARTER, SPARSE ON DATA BECAUSE WE JUST STARTED. BUT ANTICIPATE EVERY THREE MONTHS COMING BACK TO THE BOARD AND GIVING YOU ANY INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS, YOU ASKED SOME OF MY SAME QUESTIONS. THE WAY THIS ITEM IS WRITTEN UP AND HOW WE ARE JUSTIFYING WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, EVERYTHING SAYS RIGHT NOW COMING OUT OF SALES TAX; HOWEVER, IN DISCUSSIONS, WE KNOW IT IS POSSIBLY COMING OUT OF GRANT. BUT IT IS NOT ING IS THE DOCUMENT IN PLACE. UNLESS THIS IS CORRECT OF WHERE THE MONEY THE MONEY WILL BE COMING FROM UP CAN'T APPROVE IT. NOT THAT I DON'T APPROVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WE ALREADY AGREED TO HAVE ELECTRIC BUSES. WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM CHARGED.WHAT WE ARE DOCUMENTS ON RECORD IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC. AND I NEED MO MAKE SURE THIS GETS APPROVED CORRECTLY AND I AM NOT GOING TO APPROVE IT UNTIL THIS ITEM SHOWS WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND HOW THE MONEY IS GETTING TO US AS WELL AS THE DETAIL -- LIKE YOU SAID DIFFERENT PHASES. NEEDS TO BE MORE EXPLAINED IN HERE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR AND VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC. >>Christopher Farkas: I APPRECIATE YOU PUSHING BACK ON THAT. JUST SO YOU ALL -- OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS MEMBER MEMBERS AS MEMBER REFRESHESENDON AND HE TALKED ABOUT, WE ALWAYS AIR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. WE WILL BRING BACK TO THE BOARD HOW MUCH WE GET REIMBURSED -- I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY WE WOULD GET EXACTLY $1.5 MILLION. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FINAL NUMBERS. WE ANTICIPATE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATURAL ITEM CONTINGENCY AND THINGS. MAXIMUM SPEND OF $ . I NEVER WANT TO MISREPRESENT TO THE BOARD AND SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO GET BACK WHEN WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. THAT IS WHY THIS SAYS CAPITAL DOLLARS AND SALES TAXES OUT THERE. WE APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER PEREZ. >>Karen Perez: ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS IS OUR LATINO COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I AM GOING TO SAY THAT. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU AND I HAD I KNOW YOU AND I HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ELECTRIC BUSES FOR -- WHAT, SEVEN YEARS NOW? SEVEN YEARS. YEAH, THIS IS A STEP FOR ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. DO YOU KNOW WITH THE CHARGING STATIONS, WHAT -- WHEN THE BUSES MAKE THEIR ROUNDS -- BECAUSE I KNOW WITH THE BATTERIES, YOU CAN'T LET THEM RUN DOWN ALL THE WAY BEFORE THEY CHARGE. DO YOU KNOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MILEAGE IS BEFORE IT COMES BACK BEFORE IT COMES BACK AROUND? OR -- >>Christopher Farkas: I KNOW I SAYS IT A GOOD SAYS IT A GOOD QUESTION, BUT IT IS. WE ASKED THAT TOO. WE ONLY HAVE THE WE ONLY HAVE THE DATA THAT THE COMPANIES GAVE US TO, THE SAME DATA THAT THEY GAVE TO YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS. IN MY STAFF IN MY STAFF MEETINGS, I SAY TRUST BUT VERIFY. WE TRUST WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THE TRUTH BUT WE WILL THE TRUTH BUT WE WILL VERIFY IT. CAUTIOUS IN THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS AND THE ABILITY TO SWAP OUT. LAST THING WE WANT AN LAST THING WE WANT AN ELECTRIC BUS THAT LOST A CHARGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A DIESEL BUS BUSY TO IT. WE CAN RUN FULL AIR CONDITIONING -- WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE ON PAPER AND VERIFY IT FOR YOU ALL. THEY SAID WENT 270 OR IT WENT 290 OR 240. WE WILL BE CAUTIOUS. THAT'S WHY WE SPENT A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY ON THOSE CHARGING STATIONS AND WILL TELL US HOW MUCH IS THE CHARGE AND HOW MANY MILES IT WILL GO. >>Karen Perez: BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE WHERE KING HIGH SCHOOL IS OPPOSED TO WHERE SOME OF THOSE LATINO COMMUNITY ARE AND WHERE THAT ELECTRIC BUSES ARE REQUIRED, YOU KNOW. >>Christopher Farkas: YOU WILL SEE AS THIS BOARD KNOWS, A SECOND GRANT APPROVED THAT YOU APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF. THE GRANT WILL HAD BEEN IN TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS. IN THE LOIS AREA AS WELL. SO ANOTHER AREA COMING FOR CHARGING AS WELL. THAT IS A LITTLE MORE SPREAD OUT. INITIAL GRANT, WE DID KING BECAUSE PROXIMITY OF MILEAGE THE CLOSEST ROUTES. SOME FROM SOME FROM LOIS AND SOME FROM BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL. >>Karen Perez: PERFECT. THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER PEREZ. DR. HAHN? >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. SO SO THE -- YOU ARE PAYING FOR THIS -- I GUESS WE CAN'T TO AN THIS -- I GUESS WE CAN'T TO AN AMENDMENT TO THIS TO SAY YOU WILL BE REIMBURSED. DID WE LOOK INTO ANY TYPE OF POSSIBILITY OF SHARED -- IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIP AND SHARED CHARGING STATIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST THAT COULD HAVE PIGGYBACKED ON OR USED INSTEAD OF USING OUR OWN. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAD IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAD -- HAD A LARGE ENOUGH CHARGING STATION? . >>Christopher Farkas: THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH OF THEM. THEY WANT THEM TO BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE AND THAT IS OUR CHALLENGE. SHARE THE STATION SO THE PUBLIC CAN USE THE STATIONS AS WELL FOR TESLAS, THINGS -- FOR ELECTRIC CARS. WE TALKED OF THEIR WE TALKED OF THEIR MECHANICAL FLEET. >>Stacy Hahn: SAME KIND OF CHARGING STATION? >>Christopher Farkas: THAT'S WHERE HE IS GETTING. IT MIGHT BLOW IT UP. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ELECTRIC BUSES THAT WE DO. PUBLIC TRANSIT DOESN'T. LONG ANSWER TO THE SHORT QUESTION, NO THEY DON'T SHARE THE SAME CHARGING STATIONS SO WE CAN'T SHARE THE FACILITY. CONVERSATIONS OF SHARING IT FOR STAGING. BUT THEY ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. >>STACY HAHN: >>STACY HAHN: THEIR BUSES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OURS. >>Christopher Farkas: YES. >>Stacy Hahn: TO INCLUDE MIXED IN PUBLIC USE STATIONS. >>Christopher Farkas: CORRECT. >>Christopher Farkas: CORRECT. >>Stacy Hahn: I MEAN I AM JUST -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY -- THIS IS WHAT I TALKED ABOUT EVERY TIME A CONVERSATION ABOUT ELECTRIC BUSES CAME UP. YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE ONCE AGAIN, WE PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, RIGHT. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING OF SHARED STATION BEFORE WE WENT INTO PURCHASING. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE GRANTS INVOLVED, BUT YOU KNOW, NOW IT IS COSTING ALMOST $3 MILLION TO DO A CHARGING STATION WITH SALES TAX DOLLARS THAT IS REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS AND MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOLS. AND NOW WE ARE USING ON THIS. AND, YES, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AT A SCHOOL, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SALES TAX MONEY GOES TOWARD -- YOU KNOW, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO AND MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO OUR SCHOOLS. OUR SCHOOLS. SO I AM REALLY OUR SCHOOLS. SO I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT IS THE MONEY WE ARE USING FOR THIS AND NOT HOW WE PROMISED THE TAXPAYERS WE WERE GOING TO USE IT. MAKES ME UNEASY. I WISH WE WOULD HAVE LOOKED FOR MAYBE A GRANT TO COVER MORE OF THIS COST. I'M SURE IF THERE ARE GRANTS OUT THERE TO BUY THE BUSES, THERE MUST BE GRANTS OUT THERE TO BUILD CHARGING BUILD CHARGING STATIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF SITTING HERE THINKING HOW MANY SCHOOL PROJECTS AREN'T GOING TO GET DONE NOW BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING THIS MONEY ON A CHARGING STATION FOR BUSES THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WILL SAVE US MONEY. YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE EXPENSIVE CHECK OFF A WISH LIST PILOT PROJECT. SO, YOU KNOW, I AM UP IN AIR WHETHER I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. >>Christopher Farkas: LET ME RESPOND A LITTLE BIT IF YOU DON'T MIND TO THAT PART TOO. REASON WE CHOSE TAX, PART IS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR KING. THEIR PARKING LOT IS NOT STRONG, I WILL SAY THAT. >>Stacy Hahn: THAT NORMALLY WOULDN'T COST US THIS MUCH MONEY. >>Christopher Farkas: WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS NOT INCORRECT. PART OF THAT MONEY TO MAKE KING BETTER AND TO DO SOME OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND EXACTLY RIGHT. >>Stacy Hahn: I AM NOT HAPPY TO USE THE SALES TAX MONEY TO DO IT. I KNOW WE NEED THE CHARGING STATION, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHT POT OF MONEY IT SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. THANKS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CLEAR. MR. FARKAS, CAN YOU REMIND ME, THE ACTUAL CHARGING STATION, OBVIOUSLY IT IS PRAGMATIC. YOU HAVE TO GET IT CHARGED, BUT DOES IT INCLUDE THE DOES IT INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY AS WELL TO MAINTAIN THESE BUSES? >> NO, A WARRANTY ON THE ABOUT USES BUT THE USES BUT THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF BRAKES AND TIRES IS SOMETHING WE COVER AND A WARNING ON THE BATTERY AND THE ABOUT US, YES, MA'AM. >>Lynn Gray: IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE BUS BREAKS DOWN, WHERE DO THE BUS BREAKS DOWN, WHERE DO WE SEND IT TOO. >> TO THE LOCAL FTS AND TO THE LOCAL LOCAL THOMAS STATION IF IT IS A THOMAS BUS. THEY FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS ALLUDED TO. THEY WILL FIX IT AND PAY FOR IT AS LONG AS IT IS NOT TIRES OR BRAKES, THINGS LIKE THAT. HOW LONG WILL WE FIX IT, WHAT WE WILL MONITOR TO PUSH IT. OUT OF SERVICE, WE WILL USE THE DIESEL BUS. THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT WORK. THE SAME THING IN THE CAR, I WILL DOUBLE CHECK -- I DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME BUT A FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY AND I WILL GET THAT BOARD THE EXACT WARRANTY WHEN YOU PURCHASED IT WHAT THAT IS. YES, THEY PAID FOR IT. IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, THE ADVANTAGE OF THE BLUE BIRD IS THE MORE LOCAL MAINTENANCE AND THE THOMAS WAS THE ONE IN ORLANDO. AND IT MIGHT BE REVERSED. >> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE HOW LONG FROM WHEN WE CALL EITHER COMPANY AND SAY, HEY, THIS BUS BROKE DOWN. WE NEED IT TO GET TOWED TO WHEN WE GET IT WE GET IT BACK. TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD HOW QUICKLY -- HERE IN TAMPA OR LAKELAND AND ORLANDO HOW QUICKLY WHEN WE GET IT AND WHEN THEY GET IT BACK TO US. IT WILL NOBODY THE SAME AS DIESEL. MOST OF THE REPAIR IS DIFFERENT FOR ELECTRIC THAN DIESEL. >> I AM SURE. THEY HAVE TO BE VERY WELL TRAINED. I WANT TO JUST COMMEND YOU I WANT TO JUST COMMEND YOU AND YOUR OPERATIONS FOLKS FOR GOING OUTSIDE THE ENVELOPE, SO TO SPEAK. THIS HAS BEEN USED IN MANY, MANY COUNTIES. ELECTRIC BUSES. BUT WE NEED TO HEAD TOWARD ENERGY CONSERVATION, ETC. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT IS BEHIND THE SCENES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER MEMBER REFRESHESENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. QUICK QUESTION. I FORGOT TO ASK EARLIER AND DIDN'T MENTION IT WHEN WE TALKED EARLIER, WAS THIS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. >>Christopher Farkas: THEY GET TO WHERE WE SPEND THE MONEY. >>Patti Rendon: THEY GOT THERE. I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE LAST MEETING FOR THE LIST. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY VOTED ON APPROVING THAT? >>Christopher Farkas: FLOSS VOTE FOR APPROVAL. THE BOARD IS THE ONLY AUTHORITY FIGURE. >>Jim Porter: I NEED TO STEP IN HERE BECAUSE THAT IS A LEGAL POINT. THIS BOARD ONLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE SPENDING. THAT COMMITTEE LOOKS AT IT, AND THEY CAN COMMENT ABOUT IT, BUT THEY CAN COMMENT ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT LEGAL DISTINCTION THAT THEY DON'T VOTE ON APPROVAL. ONLY YOU SEVEN VOTE ON APPROVAL OF THE SPENDING OF THE MONEY. >>Patti Rendon: I JUST NOT SEEN THAT AS PART OF WHAT -- BECAUSE I -- I DON'T THINK -- I DIDN'T KNOW THEY MET THE LAST TWO MONTHS? >>Christopher Farkas: THEY DIDN'T. IT WASN'T. WE E-MAILED THEM AND MISS DAVIS IS VERY GOOD SHARING INFORMATION. WHEN WE MISS A MEETING, WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO TO SEND IT BACK TO US. TO SEND IT BACK TO US. BUT THIS CHARGING STATION IS ON THEIRS LIST AS A PROJECT AND I KNOW IT HAS BEEN THERE OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS. >>Patti Rendon: I DON'T REMEMBER ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. >>Christopher Farkas: THERE WASN'T, I DON'T BELIEVE. >>Patti Rendon: I DON'T BELIEVE ANY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER NDON. I APPRECIATE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND MEMBER PEREZ SAID IS THIS GOING TO BE THE ONLY ONE. WE WILL EXPAND IT AND GO TO ANOTHER ANOTHER ONE. I APPRECIATE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC BUSES AS BOARD BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE IMPACT IT HAS NOT JUST HEALTH WISE BUT ENVIRONMENTALLY. IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STATION, STATES ARE MANDATING MORE AND MORE -- I DON'T KNOW IF FLORIDA IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM, MANDATING THAT ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS MOVE IT TOWARD ELECTRIC BUSING AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND THE HEARTBURN AROUND LOOKING AT PROJECTS WE ARE SPENDING OUR SALES TAX ON AND NOT NECESSARILY AND NOT NECESSARILY AGREEING WITH WITH IT. BUT MAKING BUT MAKING BUT MAKING ODUM IS A GREEN SCHOOL. ODUM ODUM K-8. SUPER EX SCYTHE SIGHTED SUPER EX SCYTHE SIGHTED -- EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE FOREFRONT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. I THINK CARBON FOOTPRINT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I'M EXCITED OF THE ELECTRIC BUSES. I REMEMBER MEMBER I REMEMBER MEMBER PEREZ CHAMPIONING THIS BEFORE WE WENT ON THE BOARD. I WAS GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO FIX KING AT THE SAME TIME OF THIS. NOT ONLY IS IT PROBABLY INCONVENIENT FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL BUT AN EYESORE WHEN YOU DRIVE BY IT JUST TO BEGIN WITH. TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT MOVEMENT AT THE SAME TIME, I APPRECIATE THE FORETHOUGHT INTO FIXING KING WHEEL WE MOVE THIS. I I APPRECIATE THAT. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER MEMBER RENDON AND DR. HAHN VOTING AGAINST THE MOTION. WE WILL MOVE ON TO EMPLOYEE COMMENT. SORRY WE RAN A LITTLE BIT LATE ON THAT. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PATIENCE. TAKE EMPLOYEE COMMENT EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE TO ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. THIS -- WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TO YOU SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR WITH THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND I WILL NOW CALL OUR ONLY SPEAKER. PLEASE COME UP. AND YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, REGINA REGINA GAMBREL. I WAS HIRED SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8 AS A LIASION AND DATA PROCESSOR. I INTRODUCE MYSELF AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH TEACHERS CLASSROOM ASSOCIATION. I ADVOCATE FOR A LOT AND IN THIS ROLE I ADVOCATE FOR ALL EDUCATORS. TODAY I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO MY FELLOW ESPs. I WALKED IN THEIR SHOES FROM PARAPROFESSIONAL TO CLERICAL, AND I KNOW HOW HARD WE WORK EVERY DAY ON THE FRONT LINES AND BEHIND THE SCENES AND DEFINITELY AFTER AFTER HOURS.ESPs ARE ESSENTIAL. WE WANT TO BE SEEN, HEARD AND WE WANT TO BE SEEN, HEARD AND OBVIOUSLY RECEIVE A OBVIOUSLY RECEIVE A LIVING WAGE. OUR ON NATIONAL EPS DAY, OUR UNION WAS ABLE TO UNION WAS ABLE TO CELEBRATE THEM. AND WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THEM. WITH SO WITH SO MUCH GOING ON BEYOND OUR CONTROL FROM THE HURRICANES TO THE THE MUCH-NEEDED THANKSGIVING BREAK BREAK, OUR BOARD UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OUR ESP. IF I MAY ASK MADAM -- MADAM CHAIR, HAVE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM TO PLEASE STAND AND GIVE OUR FELLOW ESPs A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THAT WILL BE GREATLY THAT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. [ APPLAUSE ] [CHEERING] THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WE LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR ESPs. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SEEING NO FURTHER EMPLOYEE COMMENT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO 7.05, APPROVE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE CAMPUS TO REBUILD PROJECT AT TINKER K-8 AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT IN >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRS. A CELEBRATORY ITEM. TRYING TO GET THIS TINKER K-8 BUILDING DONE. THE THE MOU THAT MEMBER HAHN, MEMBER PEREZ WHEN COLONEL JOHN AND JEFF AIKEN SO WE WOULD PICK UP THE EXTRA 20% WHEN WE EVENTUALLY GOT THE GRANT FROM THE D.O.D. A LONG PROCESS AND LET CHRIS OUTLINE WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IN A SECOND AND A LONG ROAD TO GET TO THIS POINT AND A BEAUTIFUL NEW BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING AT MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE. THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED DURING A THREE-PHASE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE TO ALLOW STUDENTS AND STAFF TO UTILIZE EXISTING FACILITIES UNTIL EACH PHASE IS TURNED OVER TO THE SCHOOL BY COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION OF THIS APPROACH. PORTABLES WILL NOT BE NEEDED TO HOUSE STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING CONSTRUCTION. FUNDING OF 80% OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AS THE PSMI GRANT. ADDITIONAL 20% PROVIDED BY FUNDS COLLECTED COLLECTED THROUGH THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM. ITEM ITEM 7.05. PURCHASE U WANT TO ADD. >>Christopher Farkas: THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR THE SUPPORT FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN HENRY "SHAKE" WASHINGTON IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF THE HOOPS WE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH, AND THE END PROCESS IS WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY WHICH IS EXCITING TO BE IN THIS PART. WHY ARE YOU USING -- BACK TO DR. HAHN'S QUESTION, WHY ARE WE USING SALES TAX? GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE EAR MARK WHAT WE WOULD SPEND AT TINKER, AIR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND THINGS AT TINKER. THAT MONEY SENT ASIDE WHICH MEANT NO COST TO US. BECAUSE MONEY WE WERE GOING TO PUT INTO THAT SCHOOL ANYWAY. WE ARE EXCITE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND TWO PRINCIPALS ARE GOING THROUGH THAT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD THE NEW BUILDING. AND KIDS WILL WATCH THE DESTRUCTION AND WHAT WE LEARN IN THE K-8. NEW BUILDING WILL BE THERE AND WE WILL MOVE IN AND HAVE THAT SPACE AND TAKE DOWN THE OLD BUILDING AND REBUILD THAT ELEMENTARY WING AS WELL. A REALLY NEAT PROJECT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEND YOU WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEND YOU OUT TO DO THE GROUNDBREAKING. A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH. WE ARE STILL DOING THAT. WE TALKED TO WE TALKED TO TALLAHASSEE TODAY TO GO THROUGH STUFF. WASHINGTON, D.C. AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AND TALLAHASSEE, THANK LAUREN TALLAHASSEE, THANK LAUREN OTERO AND HER TEAM BECAUSE DOING A LOT OF WORK. KIM SUCASH OUR LIAISON WITH MacDILL TO TRY TO HELP OUT AND SMOOTHES THAT OUT. MacDILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD, ON THEIR BASE. THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. HAVING A SCHOOL DO IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE WANT TO THANK THEM AND KNOW THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT, CONSTRUCTION CREWS AND I WILL HAVE TO HAVE A BASE ACCESS AND GET CLEARED OVER A TWO TO THREE-YEAR PERIOD AND HOW THAT CHANGES IS A HUGE CHALLENGE. A LOT OF STRINGS WITH A LOT OF STRINGS WITH THIS GRANT. AMERICAN AND WE WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK. FOR THE NEXT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS. WE GOT THE INVITATION TO GET IT FUNDED AND THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN GETTING THAT DONE. >>Superintendent Ayres: WE HAVE THE MCE THAT DR. HAHN SITS ON. AND MR. AND MR. MUR RILL ON /- /- MURILLO IS ON IT TOO. ALL THE TALK AND CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE THIS AS END POINT AS AN AGENDA ITEM IS VERY EXCITING. THANK YOU, DR. HAHN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND MR. SUPPORT AND MR. MURILLO FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >>Christopher Farkas: ALSO A NET ZERO BUILDING ON THAT PART OF IT TOO. ALSO AN EXAMPLE ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF REDUCING OUR ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF REDUCING OUR CARBON CARBON FOOTPRINT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. A MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION TO APPROVE 7..05. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. SECOND BY SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? FREEWAY GRAY THANK YOU, >>Lynn Gray: ONLY COMMENT I HAVE THAT 85% WAS BY THE FEDERAL GRANT. THE THE DODEA THE DODEA GRANT. THEY CEASED HAVING THAT. WE ARE THE END OF IT. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GRANT. >>Lynn Gray: THAT IS >>Lynn Gray: THAT IS FANTASTIC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE FINALIZATION OF THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS? NO? THAT WAS JUST FROM THE THING? OKAY, THANK YOU. DR. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. IT IS VERY EXCITING INDEED. WATCHING THIS PLAY OUT. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS. PRESENTING IN FRONT OF THE GROUP THAT CAME FROM D.C. YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW, I LEARNED A LOT, ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AND HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS. AND THEY WERE JUST SO AND THEY WERE JUST SO LOVELY. AND THEY WERE ALSO AND THEY WERE ALSO SO EXCITED IN INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I LOVE THE BUY AMERICAN MOTTO AND A GREAT THING. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GENERAL CHIP DIEHL FOR ALL OF HIS SUPPORT FROM DAY ONE HERE IN D.C., JUST D.C., JUST GETTING THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. HE IS A CONSTANT ADVOCATE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH. ALL OF HIS TIME COMES OUT OF JUST, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT HE IS RETIRED. THIS IS WHAT HE DOES. HE STAYS VERY ENGAGED AT HE STAYS VERY ENGAGED AT MacDILL AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY I CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH. CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR UP IN D.C. ADVOCATING FOR US TO BE ON THE LIST. MOVING UP ON THE LIST. COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HER SUPPORT AS WELL. AND MR. FARKAS AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS SINCE DAY ONE AS WELL. MR. MR. MURILLO HAS COME ON BOARD. KIM KIM SUCHEK. JUST A REAL BIG TEAM EFFORT BOTH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WITH OUTSIDE SUPPORT. IT IS GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH THE SCHOOL GO UP. IT IS 100% -- WHERE IT IS 100% -- WHERE ADOM I THINK IS A LEAD SCHOOL. THIS IS A TRUE, LIKE, ZERO FOOTPRINT. WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUILD A SCHOOL LIKE BUILD A SCHOOL LIKE THIS. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT COSTS TO BUILD A ZERO FOOTPRINT SCHOOL. PAUSE Y ARE PAYING 80%. SOMETHING THEY WANTED AND SOMETHING THEY WANTED AND INSISTED ON. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT SOME DATA AND SEE WHERE WE ARE SAVING SAVING MONEY. [LAUGHTER] BUT -- NO, IT WILL BE EXCITING, AND, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF COOL THINGS I AM SURE THAT THE TEACHERS CAN USE IN THAT SCHOOL TO HELP TEACH ABOUT -- ABOUT ZERO FOOTPRINT AND, YOU KNOW, BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBILITY AND ALL THOSE THINGS. I AM EXCITED. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS AS MUCH AS I HAVE BEEN. IT IS A GREAT IT IS A GREAT HONOR. IT IS A GREAT HONOR. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND CHRISTOPHER FARKAS FOR LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS. OUR MILITARY FAMILIES WHAT IT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES WHAT IT MEANS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SIX BRANCHES OF SERVICE COMING OUT OF MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, OUT OF MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, TO HAVE A SCHOOL THAT REALLY SUPPORTS WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEIR FAMILY DO AND THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE FOR US EVERY EVERY SINGLE DAY IS JUST EVERY SINGLE DAY IS JUST BEYOND IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY. AND TO OUR COUNTY. AND SO I THINK IT IS A HUGE AND SO I THINK IT IS A HUGE TESTAMENT TO OUR BOARD MEMBER TESTAMENT TO OUR BOARD MEMBER MEMBER HAHN MEMBER HAHN AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE HAVE PRIORITIZED THE TREASURE AT MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE AND FAMILY THAT SUPPORT NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY BUT OUR COUNTRY AS A WHOLE. SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN OUT OF MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR NATION. TO DO A LITTLE PART TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS IS JUST AN HONOR FOR US AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF HOW HAVE SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF HOW HAVE CHAMPIONED THIS FROM THE BEGINNING. AND IT IS AN HONOR FOR THIS BOARD TO DO BOARD TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR OUR MILITARY FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: VERY EXCITING. THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO -- OH, SORRY, JUST KIDDING. JUST KIDDING. FIRST TIME. WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT IS A LONG AGENDA. AND THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, AGAIN. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM MOVE ON TO ITEM 7.14, APPROVE 2024-2025 FINAL DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES PLANS AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT IN ITEM TSUNAMI SUPERINTENDENT THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUAL FIVE-YEAR WORK PLANS OF REPAIRS, CONSTRUCTION, NEWLY DESEEPED PROMS, CLASS SIZE AND PORTABLE CLASSROOMS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. EVERY JULY, YOU APPROVE A TENTATIVE PLAN. THIS COMES BACK TO YOU AFTER DISTRICT STAFF GETS REVIEW OF THE TENTATIVE PLAN PER THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHICH IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. PLANNING COMMISSION, CITIES OF TAMPA, PLANT CITY, TEMPLE TERRACE. ONCE WE GET THE COMMENTS BACK, COMES BACK AS A FINAL PLAN TO YOU. COMES AS A TENTATIVE AND A FINAL AND THAT IS >>Jessica Vaughn: A MOTION AND A SECOND. A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS, SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS, GRAY AND I ALL PULLED THIS ITEM. EVERYBODY IN THE QUEUE? MEMBER MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY ALSO WITH THIS FIVE-YEAR PLAN, FIVE-YEAR PLAN, I AM RECOGNIZE SIZING AND COMMENDING AS WE ALL DO THE DO THE REFERENDUM, THE DO THE REFERENDUM, THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR DOING ONE HECK OF A JOB. DELAYED MAINTENANCE DOESN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO STOP. WE WILL HAVE IT FOR THE REST OF OUR OUR TIME. I THINK THE I THINK THE QUESTION MAY BE CLEARED UP, MR. FARKAS, CLEARED UP, MR. FARKAS, IF WE INCLUDE THAT THE REFERENDUM GOES NOT ONLY FOR ONLY FOR OLD ONLY FOR OLD BUT NEW CONSTRUCTION. >>Christopher Farkas: THAT IS ALLOWED. MR. PORTER SAID NEW CONSTRUCTION IS ALLOWED AND AS MR. PORTER SAID THE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE TO SAY WHERE THE FUNDING. THIS ENDS THIS ENDS IN THIS ENDS IN 2028, THE SALES TAX AND WE WILL TALK TO THAT GOING FORWARD AS WELL. >>Lynn Gray: I WILL SKIP BACK TO THAT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THE YEAR WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH AND THE YEAR PREVIOUS -- EVERY YEAR THERE IS ALWAYS THERE IS ALWAYS SIGNIFICANT INCREASE BECAUSE OF LABOR INCREASES. AND PERHAPS -- IS THERE STILL A WORK -- WORK FORCE SHORTAGE WORK -- WORK FORCE SHORTAGE THAT IS ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE? OR ARE WE -- BASICALLY ARE WE FILLING THE VOID OF FILLING THE VOID OF KEEPING UP WITH WITH DELAYED MAINTENANCE. >> THE WORKFORCE HAS STARTED TO COME BACK. STILL AN ISSUE ON LEAD TIME FOR ELECTRIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE RANDOMLY A YEAR -- A YEAR OUT ON LEAD TIMES. SO WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH CONSTRUCTION. WHAT WE FOUND IS FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, CONSTRUCTION FOUR YEARS, CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY. THEY START TAD PLATEAU OUT. WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING UP, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY PLATEAUED SO WE CAN BUDGET. OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE THE LAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS THE COSTS WERE GOING UP SO QUICKLY AND PEOPLE WERE STILL BUILDING AND WE HAVE THESE PROMISES TO OUR COMMUNITIES. A HUGE CHALLENGE TO DO THAT, BUT WE HAVE HOPEFULLY PLATEAUED OUT. SALES TAX WENT OUT WELL AND NOT AS MUCH AS THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION WENT UP. >>Lynn Gray: PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES TO KEEP UP WITH OUR NEW BUILDING AND DELAYED DELAYED MAINTENANCE. HE WANT TO TALK OF THE REBUILD AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND MR. FARKAS. WHEN WE HAVE REBUILDS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND THAT RATIONALE. I'M NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH STEWART OR TINKER, OR OTHER REBUILDINGS THAT WE PLANNED. THERE ARE QUESTIONS THERE ARE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS. THERE ARE QUESTIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. PAUL I I WROTE ET THIS IN A 345I8 TO YOU. I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, TO HAVE PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM TO HAVELY TO HAVELY -- TO HAVE A LIAISON TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITIES IT EFFECTS. PLANT CITY CAREER CENTER IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. WE NEED THE COMMUNITIES TO KNOW AND TO HEAR NOT JUST FROM HERE, THE BOARD, BUT BEFORE THAT. AND I THINK IF WE HAVE THAT TYPE OF BETTER OF BETTER COMMUNICATION, MORE EFFECTIVE, THEN A LOT OF THE QUESTION MARKS THAT HAVE SURROUNDED OR COULD SURROUND FUTURE PROJECTS WILL BE ELIMINATED. THAT IS MY SUGGESTION. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT PRIVATELY, BUT I DID PUT IT IN YOUR E-MAIL, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS NOW THE TIME WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO REBUILDS POSSIBLY. AND IT IS IN YOUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND WE ARE GOES TO GET INTO NEW CONSTRUCTION. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY FROM EVERYTHING. AND IT I ALSO ENJOY, APPRECIATE THE FULL THE FULL TRANSPARENCY THAT WE HAVE AMONG OUR -- NOT ONLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT THE -- THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE AGENCIES, THE AGENCIES, THE BOCC, THE TEMPLE TERRACE MAYOR, THE PLANT CITY MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THAT IS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE -- YOU YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY BE ON WITH US -- WITH THE SAME WAVELENGTH AND HELP US PARTNER WITH ALL THIS. YOU HAVE GOT A LOT OF WOULD,ING TO DO IN YOUR OPERATIONS. AND IT IS GETTING TO BE MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING. I AM USING THE WORD "CHALLENGING." THE WORKFORCE IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH ALL THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL. WE JUST CAN'T WE JUST CAN'T -- TAMPA IS GROWING LIKE CRAZY, AND SO IS GROWING LIKE CRAZY, AND SO IS ST. PETE BY THE ST. PETE BY THE BAY FRONT. THE TAMPA BAY REGION IS GROWING. APPEAR AND ALL IS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT BEING A DISTRICT WIDE BOARD DISTRICT WIDE BOARD TO SPEAK. THAT IS THAT IS ALL, THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU PUT FORWARD, YOU AND THE OPERATIONS TEAM. IT IS IMPORTANT IN NORTHWEST TAMPA WHEN YOU SEE SO MUCH GROWTH OF GROWTH OF ALONSO AND STEINBRENNER, THOSE SCHOOLS ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR THOSE STUDENTS AND THEY CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN THAT AREA. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS WITH THE C. I.T. THAT BARELY PASSED AND GOING FROM 25% TO 5%, YOU AND GOING FROM 25% TO 5%, YOU KNOW, I WORRY KNOW, I WORRY LIKE WHERE IS ALL -- I LOOK AT SOUTH COUNTY AND I WORRY ABOUT THE GROWTH IN SOUTH COUNTY AND HOW DO WE KEEP UP WITH IT. ONE LAST COMMENT TO LET YOU COMMENT ON IT. I THINK THE HURRICANES I THINK THE HURRICANES AND THE SHELTERS. I THOUGHT TO I THOUGHT TO MYSELF I THOUGHT TO MYSELF AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, COUNTY. WHAT HAPPENS WITH A HURRICANE AND NOT ENOUGH BUILDINGS AND SHELTERS IN SOUTH COUNTY AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WHEN WE HAVE GONE FROM 25 TO 5%. AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT US? >>Christopher Farkas: STRAUSS >>Christopher Farkas: STRAUSS I DID -- DRASTIC CHEE. NOT JUST THE CIT BUT OTHER THINGS NOT KEEPING UP WITH CONSTRUCTION COST. A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS. MISS MISS RENDON HAMMER IT HOME ON A FEW DIFFERENT LOCATION WHAT IS TO TO DO. HE TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OVER THE LAST WEEK AND OVER THE BREAK BOTHERING HIM. A SIT DOWN. A ONE ON ONE AND A WORKSHOP BECAUSE WE ARE AT A POINT THAT WE NODE TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT FUNDING STREAM. ALONSO AND STEINBRENNER. SO IS STRAWBERRY CREST AND PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL. OTHERS OUT THERE TOO. STRAWBERRY CREST AND STRAWBERRY CREST AND PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL NEED RELIEF AS WELL. WE WILL BE APPROACHING THE BOARD WHAT ARE OPTIONS, WHAT IS THE SMART OPTIONS WITH OUR DEBT COUNSEL AND WITH THE NEW COUNSEL AND WITH THE NEW CFO TO GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT -- WE HAVE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. TOUGH DECISIONS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO FOR BUILDS GOING FORWARD. BECAUSE WE NEED BECAUSE WE NEED TO START NOW AGGRESSIVELY AGGRESSIVELY AND THE GROWTH HAPPENING IN PLANT CITY AND SOUTH COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH COUNTY IS IMPRESSIVE. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GO PRETTY QUICK AND GOING QUICKER THAN THOUGHT IT WAS. HOMES BOUGHT NORTH OF I- THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN TAMPA FOR AT THAT WHILE, 10, 15 YEARS AGO COMPARED TO WHERE IT IS NOW AND TEN YEARS FROM NOW, IT IS AMAZING THE FARMS THAT WERE OUT THERE NOW COMPARED TO ONE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER THE OTHER. LONG ANSWER TO YOUR SHORT QUESTION, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVE ONE ON ONE HAVE ONE ON ONE WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND WORKSHOP OF OPTION BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS. WE FUNDED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHOOL IN FRONT OF MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. LEGITIMATE NEEDS IN OUR FORECAST. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND THE CAN ITS ARE COMING. A GREAT THING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SOME WE LOOK FORWARD TO PRESENTING THAT TO ALL THE GOOD AND WE WILL DO ONE ON ONES AND A WORKSHOP AFTER THAT IF THAT IS WHAT THE BOARD'S WILL IS. >> JUST WORKING -- JUST OURSELVES ISOLATED. WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WITH THE MAY I DON'T REMEMBER, WITH THE BOCC AND LOOKING AT THESE CHALLENGES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ARE GOING TO BUY A HOME OUT THERE THERE AND EXPECT TO HAVE A COOL. IF THERE IS NO AT SCHOOL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN AND HOW WILL THAT IMPACT. WITH THE DEVELOPERS AS WELL GETTING IN THAT. AND I THINK SHARING THAT INFORMATION, THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT, HEY, YOU ARE BUYING OUT THERE, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD TO GO TO IS VERY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE I THINK WHATEVER PRESSURE WE NEED TO PUT IN, WHOEVER WE NEED TO PUT THAT PRESSURE IN, BECAUSE HOW -- WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? NOT GOING TO COME FROM THE SKY, RIGHT? AND SO -- SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM PLAN. I AGREE WE NEED I AGREE WE NEED ONE-ON-ONES, NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS ON THIS. NOT JUST A FIVE-YEAR PLAN BUT A FIVE AND TEN-YEAR PLAN AS WELL WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT GROWTH. AREAS AREAS IN TAMPA THAT ARE SHRINK, RIGHT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL. >>Christopher Farkas: YOU ALREADY APPROVED THE LONG-RANGE PLANNING STUDY IN PLANNING STUDY IN THE MIDDLE OF PART TWO THAT WILL HELP US GUIDE US ON US ON THAT. WHAT IS THE OPTIONS TO GO FORWARD FORWARD ON A FUNDING STANDPOINT. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON? >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK IF WE HAD TO LOOK AND ADDRESS ADDRESS THIS. PART OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE, WE LOOKED AT A LOOKED AT A FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND NEED TO LOOK WHERE WE ARE TEN YEARS. WE ARE SHORT. WE HAVE PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL AT AT 110%. WE HAVE STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL AT 110, SCHOOL AT 110, 115%. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. YOU GOT SOME EVEN IN MEMBER COMBS AREA THAT IS STARTING TO GET OVERCROWDED BECAUSE OF THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION COMING IN WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS AND OTHER PEOPLE AND SOME OF THE BUILDS ON THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY. SO OUR COUNTY IS CHANGING AND SMITHING. WE HAVE OVER 80,000 HOMES STILL READY TO BUILD IN THE WIMAUMA AREA AND THE WIMAUMA AREA AND THE WIMAUMA CAC IS ASKING FOR A ASKING FOR A MORATORIUM. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COMING TO. ROADS NEED TO BE FIXED. ABOVE THE CAPACITY OF OUR SKILLS AND WE DON'T HAVE A BILL AND WE DON'T HAVE A BILL ON THE DOCKET FORTIFY FIVE YEARS. OUR SCHOOLS CAN CANNOT SUSTAIN THEM. IT IS AN EMERGENCY AND A CRITICAL THEY THINK. I THINK WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE. I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS. I THINK THAT WE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CERTAIN PRIORITIES, RIGHT. WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE SCHOOLS. WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE TEACHERS. WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES THAT. WE HAVE TO BE WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE WHAT WE LOOK FOR FOR OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT. WE WANT TO BE A WHOLE PROGRAM, BUT WE HAVE TO FOCUS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS BE KAEJ N EDUCATION SYSTEM. WE NEED FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THE PRIOR TO GO FORWARD AND GIVE THEM OTHER RESOURCES. I LOOK AT THIS FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH IT. I DON'T HAVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR WIMAUMA THAT I AM WELL OVERDUE FOR. ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL FOR PLANT CITY. I KNOW I HAVE PROPERTY OUT THERE. LISTEN, I AM OUT THERE 24 HOURS CHECKING OUT FLOODING AND THANK GOODNESS WE ARE THE ONLY PROPERTY ON CHARLIE TAYLOR ROAD WITH NO WATER. SO I'M TAKING IT AT THE SO I'M TAKING IT AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE . SOME THINGS ARE GOOD AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT. WE GOT TO DO BETTER AND HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR GOVERNMENT TO HAVELY AJOHN IN OF BEING ABLE TO WORK FOR LOCAL AFFAIRS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ABOUT OUR TO ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION BETTER AND START HAVING THESE GOOD -- GET THESE CONVERSATION SO AS THEY UNDERSTAND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET FAMILIES BUYING HOMES IF WE CAN'T HAVE A SCHOOL FOR THEM TO GO TO. IF YOU WANT TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESSES AND BUILD THE BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE GOT TO DO THAT. SO WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BECOMING BETTER JOB OF BECOMING BETTER PARTNERS SO WE BUILD BETTER PARTNERSHIPS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING A PRIMARY WITH THAT. AND SO I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY I AM NOT HAPPY SEEING ANY PLANT CITY HOMES -- I MEAN SCHOOLS MEAN SCHOOLS AND NOT SEEING ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR WIMAUMA, IT IS -- THESE ARE -- FIVE YEARS IS TOO LATE. THE HOUSES ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW. AND WE HAVE OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS. AS WE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR, OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS DO NOT SUPPORT STUDENTS. AND THEY DO NOT SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS. SOME WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER BY OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND GOT TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, REMEMBER >> THANK YOU, REMEMBER RENDON. HE PULLED THIS FOR TRANSPARENCY, I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY ASKING WHAT OUR FACILITIES PLANS LOOK LIKE. TRYING TO SEE IF THEIR SCHOOL WILL BE ON THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN. I AGREE WITH MEMBER I AGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON. I APPRECIATE THE STEINBRENNER ADDITION. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, MANY SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT NOT SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT NOT ANYWHERE ON THIS PLAN THAT NEED UPGRADES AND OVERCAPACITY THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH. I AGREE WITH MY I AGREE WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONFINES, RIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUR FINANCES AND I GUESS WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHY ARE OUR WHY ARE OUR IMPACT FEES NOT WHY ARE OUR IMPACT FEES NOT PAYING FOR THIS? WHY ARE WE IN A DEFICIT? THE CONCEPT BEHIND THE IMPACT FEES. MEMBER GRAY WORKED HARD WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSION AT THAT FEW YEARS AGO TO RAISE THAT. IS IT STILL NOT HIGH ENOUGH? WHY WE ARE STRUGGLING? THE PROCESS FOR LATER THE PROCESS FOR LATER HELP ME THE PROCESS FOR LATER HELP ME UNDERSTAND UNDERSTAND IMPACT OF IMPACT FEES. >>Christopher Farkas: THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS PART OF RAISING THE IMPACT FEE. AS PART OF SEVEN SMART BOARD AS PART OF SEVEN SMART BOARD MEMBERS, PART OF YOUR MEMBERS, PART OF YOUR STUDIES ARE A IMPACT TV STUDY. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, IMPACT FEE HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH COST OF COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND GROWTH DOESN'T PEA FOR ITSELF. IT IS VERY SIMPLE, $8,000 PER HOME DOES NOT EQUAL A $76 MILLION MILLION HIGH SCHOOL. >>Jessica Vaughn: I HEAR MEMBER >>Jessica Vaughn: I HEAR MEMBER RENDON THAT WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED OF IMPACT FEES. NEED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL GROWTH NOT SPEAK FOR ITSELF? SOMETHING ELSE WE NEED TO DO TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP TO 450I89 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE SCHOOL FOR OUR STUDENTS. >>Jim Porter: >>Jim Porter: IF I CAN JUMP IN BECAUSE YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO. MR. FARKAS INTRODUCE A STUDY AND IN THE PAST WHEN IMPACTED FEES, IT WAS BASED ON WHAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION RELIES ON. WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THROUGH DATA AND A STUDY DATA AND A STUDY THAT IT IS NOT PAYING FOR ITSELF. THEN THEN GOES TO RELATIONSHIPS. UNTIL WE HAVE A UNTIL WE HAVE A STUDY THIS IS WHAT SCHOOLS COST AND IMPACT FEE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO FEE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT IS HELPFUL. >>Christopher Farkas: CIP FOR DEBT SERVICE. COMING TO THE END OF THE 30-YEAR BARROW -- IN THE MIDDLE OF THE '90s, BUILDING EIGHT TO TEN SCHOOLS A YEAR AND IN THE SAME EXACT SITUATION. GROWTH WAS HAPPENING. WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR NEW SCHOOLS. WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT IT. DO WE WANT TO TAKE ON DEBT? A LOT OF OPTIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU ONE ON ONE. AT THE END OF THE I SOMEDAY, THE SEVEN OF YOU WILL MAKE THAT DECISION AND WE DECISION AND WE HEARD NUMEROUS TIMES, SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO QUICKLY TO TALK OF THAT PATH GOING FORWARD. IT TAKES TIME TO IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD A SCHOOL. >>Jim Porter: HOW THAT THE PAST >>Jim Porter: HOW THAT THE PAST OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS WHEN IMPACT FEES HAVE BEEN RAZED, MOST SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE PARTNER WITH THE BUILDERS AND THE BUILDERS AND REALTORS AND GO TOGETHER WITH THE INFORMATION AND WHY IT IS GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYONE WHY WE DO THIS. THAT HAS GOT TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS STRATEGY AS YOU GO FORWARD ONCE WE HAVE THE FORWARD ONCE WE HAVE THE STUDY TO PARTNER WITH THE DEVELOPERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WILL PAY IT AND BIGGEST PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE IT IF THEY ARE NOT ON OUR TEAM AND WE DON'T EMPOWER THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NEEDED. >>Jessica Vaughn: >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE ALL THIS DISCUSSION. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. >>Superintendent Ayres: I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH MR. FARKAS. I WOULD HIKE TO WORK WITH THE CHAIR FOR AT THAT WORKSHOP DATE. IN IS AN ACCIDENT -- I NEED DIRECTION WHICH WAY WE ARE GOING TO GO. BECAUSE PLEASE FARKAS MENTIONED DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THIS ACCELERATED TO BUILD SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS AND TO TALK THROUGH ALL OF THAT OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR A DATE TO GET TO THE BOARD AND HAVE IT IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY. AND MR. FARKAS, YOU WORK WITH YOU TO HAVE YOUR TEAM READY TO DO THAT AND HAVE THE BOARD DO THAT AND HAVE THE BOARD PROVIDE DIRECTION TO ME ON WHICH DIRECTION TO GO. >>Jessica Vaughn: I'M HEARING IT IS A PRIORITY FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND SOMETHING WE CAN GET ON THE CALENDAR PRETTY QUICKLY. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE ITEM PASSES AND THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE GO ON TO NOW WE GO ON TO 7.21, ADDENDUM NOW WE GO ON TO 7.21, ADDENDUM AGREEMENT FOR INSURANCE AGREEMENT FOR INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FROM BROADSPIRE SERVICES, INC. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM YOU, MADAM CHAIR, BROADSPIRE SERVICES HAS BEEN SERVICES HAS BEEN GIVING INFORMATION OF INFORMATION OF INSURANCE AUTO AND AND GENERAL LIABILITY SINCE 2013. BROADSPIRE ONLY TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BILLING, COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BILLING, AUDITING, ACTIVE WORK PROGRAMS AND LITIGATION MANAGEMENT. WEB-BASED REPORTING FOR CLAIMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THIS HOURS A DAY. BROADSPIRE SERVICES CAN ASSESS EACH CLAIM INDIVIDUALLY AND PROVIDE THE PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE AVENUE OF CARE. SOME THAT IS ITEM 7.21 WITH BROADSPIRE SERVICES. AGAIN, MR. FARKAS HAS MORE INFORMATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING BROADSPIRE. >> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO SAY PROVE C SAY PROVE C 7.21. A MOTION BY A MOTION BY MEMBER A MOTION BY MEMBER KOMEN AND A MOTION BY MEMBER KOMEN AND SECONDED BY REN SECONDED BY REN RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOTHER ME OF THIS IS REQUEST WE HAVE NOT GONE OUT TO A A RFP. INSURANCE COSTS HAVE COME UP. THEY CONTINUOUSLY GONE UP. BUT WE ARE ALL SHOPPING AROUND FOR EVERYTHING, WHETHER IT IS OUR OUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. CAR INSURANCE, LIABILITY INSURANCE. ALL INSURANCES GONE UP. YET WE HAVE NOT GONE AFTER AN RFP TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE INSURANCE AT ALL SINCE 2013. I GET WE HAVE CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN THE COMPANY WE ARE WORKING WITH, BUT I THINK WE WILL BE REMISS BY NOT DOING THAT. THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T GONE AFTER THAT AND WE LOOKED AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES AND LOOK AT THESE CONTRACTS, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT UNLESS WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE EVERY SINGLE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. APPEAR. >> MEMBER >> MEMBER GRAY. DR. HAHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: MOTION PASSES WITH EVERYBODY VOTING YES EXCEPT FOR MEMBER FOR MEMBER RENDON AND DR. HAHN. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TOP ITEM 11.02, APPROVE THE 2025 H CPS STATE AND FEDERAL ONLY I HAVE IT MROORMS KRISTEN DAVIS SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS WILL AFFAIRS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU. WITH THIS AGENDA THIS AGENDA ITEM, FOUR ATTACHMENTS. YOUR 2025 STATE PLATFORM. THE STATE SESSION TIMELINE. THE 2025 FEDERAL PLATFORM. AND THE ACCOMPANYING AND THE ACCOMPANYING TIMELINE FOR THE FIRST 119th CONGRESS FIRST SESSION. SO I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO REMIND YOU MOMENT TO REMIND YOU AND ALSO SHARE WITH OUR SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE WATCHING ALL YOU HAVE GONE INTO TO PREPARE FOR THIS -- FOR THESE DOCUMENTS. SESSION LAST YEAR, THE 2024 SESSION ENDED IN SESSION ENDED IN MARCH. MANY BILLS WERE SIGNED UP UNTIL JULY. IN AUGUST, YOU STARTED DRAFTING YOUR PRIORITIES. MANY OF YOU WENT OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU BROUGHT IDEAS FROM SCHOOLS. WE DID ONE-ON-ONE MEET WITH EACH OF YOU AND OUR LOBBYISTS. FROM THIS, WE PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT PLATFORM OF SUGGESTIONS. WE CAME BACK TO YOU. YOU REVIEWED THEM. YOU MADE EDITS. WE BROUGHT IT FORWARD TO YOU TO RANK AND WE DID THE CHOICE RANKING WHICH WORKED WELL OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. FROM THERE, WE DEVELOPED THE PLATFORM THAT IS BEFORE YOU. AND THAT -- THAT MOSTLY WAS FOR THE STATE PROCESS. THE FEDERAL. THIS IS KINDS OF OUR FIRST ROBUST YEAR WITH GRAY ROBUST YEAR WITH GRAY ROBINSON THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY SURPRISES ON HERE. WE TRY TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR INPUT FROM BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL MEET WITH OUR LOBBYISTS AND PUT THIS TOGETHER. AND NOW REALLY, IT IS TIME TO GET TO WORK ONCE THESE ARE APPROVED. WE WILL MAKE THE PRETTY VERSIONS THAT WE ALWAYS DO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNICATION TEAM THAT WILL BE FOR THE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION AND OUR LOBBYISTS AND THEY ARE WAITING. SO THAT IS A SO THAT IS A QUICK SUMMARY. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C APPROVE C 11.02. A MOTION BY MEMBER A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, I TOOK APART THE ACADEMIC YEAH, I TOOK APART THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PART OF THE 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM -- AND BY THE WAY, KRISTEN DAVIS, YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB GETTING THE GETTING THE PROCESS DONE, GETTING WITH THE GETTING WITH THE LOBBYISTS AND THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL OF THE INTEGRAL WORK. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HAD A LITTLE THOUGHT THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS AND IN PUBLIC AND WITH YOU ABOUT CIVICS EDUCATION. AND THE REASON I AM SAYING THAT ABOUT THE MENTION OF ABOUT THE MENTION OF INCREASING CIVIC GOVERNMENT EDUCATION CIVIC GOVERNMENT EDUCATION BECAUSE WHEN WE GO AROUND TO BECAUSE WHEN WE GO AROUND TO CONSTITUENTS AND SO MANY REMARKS THAT STUDENTS KNOW IT THAT STUDENTS KNOW IT WENT TO VOTE. AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND RESPONSIBILITIES. AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS. AND GOES ON AND ON. IT MAY BE THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THAT BEEN A -- A GOVERNMENT THAT BEEN A -- A GOVERNMENT TEACH ARE FOR TEACH ARE FOR 30 SOMETHING YEARS IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND I AM SPEAKING TO BOARD MEMBERS RIGHT NOW -- THAT MEMBERS RIGHT NOW -- THAT WE NEED TO UP CREASE CIVICS EDUCATION TO THE POINT WHERE -- COLLEEN FAUCET, THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME MANY SENDING ME MANY ATTACHMENTS. YOU HAVE SAID. WE HAVE CIVICS -- CIVICS EDUCATION. AND WE HAVE U.S. AND WE HAVE U.S. GOVERNMENT. ALSO THAT IS ALSO THAT IS MANDATORY IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHAT GRADE IS THAT? AND IS IT FOR A HALF AND IS IT FOR A HALF SEMESTER OR A FULL SEMESTER? >> YES, MA'AM, U.S. GOVERNMENT IS A SEMESTER IS A SEMESTER COURSE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. >> THEN THIS WILL >> THEN THIS WILL BE THE ASK. CONSIDERATION I AM JUST FLOATING BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HOW IT WORKS AND ALL THE OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS. ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE CHANGING ADMINISTRATIONS AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CHANGES THEREOF. A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT AWARE AWARE OF CIVIC EDUCATION OF GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONALITY. AND -- AND I THINK IT IS VERY SERIOUSLY A SHAME. AND IN -- IN RESPONSE, YOUR -- FROM FROM YOUR END, YOU ARE SAYING WE ARE DOING THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I APPRECIATE IT IS BLENDED IN THE ELEMENTARY. AND BLENDEDED INTO SOME PARTS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION AND I HAVE THE I HAVE THE CURRICULUM AT HOME. BUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE HAVE TEST SCORES AND THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO NEED TO SEE. DO WE HAVE STATE ASSESSMENT TEST SCORES THAT WILL REVEAL THAT OUR CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS HAVE -- I AM SORRY. WE HAVE A TV SHOW GOING? SORRY? >>Jessica Vaughn: THEY ARE HAVING A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY OVER THERE. >>Lynn Gray: OKAY, SORRY. LET'S JUST DELETE WHATEVER WE ARE HEARING. SO -- SO DO WE HAVE ACCESS AND CAN YOU DO CAN YOU DO THIS, SHOW THE SCORE AS SOON AS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE LEARNING CURVE. BUT IF WE ARE NOT, THEN THAT IS ANOTHER -- THAT IS PART ANOTHER -- THAT IS PART OF THAT REQUEST THAT WE REQUEST THAT WE INCREASE CIVIC REQUEST THAT WE INCREASE CIVIC EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT EDUCATION, HIGH SCHOOL AND CIVIC BLENDED PERHAPS EVEN IN THE ELEMENTARY. CAN WE GET A HOLD OF THAT, MISS FAUCET? >> ABSOLUTELY. I REACHED OUT TO MARIA TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT SCHEDULED AS YOUR CALENDAR WILL ALLOW YOUR CALENDAR WILL ALLOW THAT. SO THE SO THE SUPERVISORS CAN MEET AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND TALK OF INTENDED, UNINTENDED INTENDED, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCESS OF OF OUR DECISION AND LOOK AT OUR DATA, CIVICS DATA LOOKS GOOD COMPARED TO THE STATE. AND I AND I ASKED OUR ASSESSMENT TODAY BASED ON OUR COMMUNICATION TO LOOK AT OUR U.S. GOVERNMENT LOOK AT OUR U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENTS AND OUR U.S. HISTORY AND, OF COURSE, EXAM AND, OF COURSE, EXAM TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION THAT INFORMATION. >>Lynn Gray: HOLD ON TO >>Lynn Gray: HOLD ON TO THAT THOUGHT. IF WE CAN BE REMINDED THAT MEMBER COMBS SAID THAT OUR S.A.T.s. 47th IN THE NATION. SOMEHOW THAT IS NOT CONFERENCE SOMEHOW THAT IS NOT CONFERENCE -- CONGRUENT THAT WE ARE RAISING THE BAR WHEN OUR SCORES ARE LOW. NOT TO ARGUE WITH YOU AT ALL. BUT SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT -- DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. ANYWAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT APART. I WANT TO SEE THAT AND I WANT TO SEE THAT AND -- THANK YOU, KRISTEN FOR BEING SO PATIENT -- WILL GIVE ME COMFORT WE ARE GETTING CIVIC EDUCATION FULL FIDELITY INTO OUR STUDENTS' BEANS. -- STUDENTS' BRAINS. THAT IS ALL I NEED TO SAY. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, WE HAD CHANGES THROUGH THE ELECTION PROCESS AND PROCESS AND DISCUSSIONS OF SEVERAL CHANGES WHETHER FEDERAL AND STATE. SOME OF THOSE CHANGES OCCUR, COULD WE BRING THE PLATFORM BACK TO THE BOARD IF THERE ARE TO THE BOARD IF THERE ARE -- THINGS THAT COULD CHANGE OUR PLATFORM ESPECIALLY IN THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND A LOT AND A LOT OF RUMORS AND AND A LOT OF RUMORS AND INNUENDOS AND WE DON'T KNOW THINGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT GO AND AND DECISIONS WITH OUR FUNDING AND DECISIONS WITH OUR FUNDING AND THE 1009 FUNDING AND IMMIGRATION FUNDING. IS THIS FLEXIBLE THAT WE CAN BRING A NEW PLATFORM BACK IF SOMETHING CHANGES SOMETHING CHANGES AND OUR PRIORITIES MAY BE DIFFERENT? >> >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY. >>Lynn Gray: THAT IS >>Lynn Gray: THAT IS IMPORTANT. >> LOOK AT THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS THE PLATFORMS. LEATHERS. LETTERS OF SUPPORT. LETTERS OF NONSUPPORT. WE CAN DO AS MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES AS WE NEED TO. >>Patti Rendon: AGAIN FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL I THINK IS LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE STATE LEVEL WHERE SOME CHANGES CAN BE MADE THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF OR WHERE WE ARE EXPECTING TODAY. AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE A LITTLE FLEXIBLE ON THAT TO BE A LITTLE FLEXIBLE ON THAT OTHERWISE, OTHERWISE, WORKING WITH SEVEN OF US COHESIVELY TO COME UP WITH ONE DOCUMENT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO TRULY BRING TO LIGHT THE PRIORITIES OF THIS BOARD AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD THAT DOESN'T PRIORITIZE STUDENT EDUCATION AS PRIORITY AND OUR TEACHERS. I THINK THIS PLATFORM REFLECTS STUDENT EDUCATION AND STUDENT EDUCATION AND TEACHERS AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. THAT A GREAT QUESTION. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IT LIKE THAT, BUT AS FAR AS IT BEING LIVING. TIMELINES IN COMMITTEE WEEK AND IF SOMETHING MOVED AND THERE IS A CHANGE, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION KNOWING THAT WE CAN KIND OF BE KIND OF BE FLEXIBLE WITH IT JUST TO REFLECT NIPPING THAT TO TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR OUR PLATFORM. I AGREE THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT TAKES AND HOW MUCH ATTENTION TO DETAIL WE PUT INTO IT. AND HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAPTURE EVERYBODY'S VIEW AND MAKE SURE THEIR PERSPECTIVE IS IN THERE. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON IS NOT WRONG WITH SEVEN OPINIONATED STRONG-WILLED PEOPLE THAT WANT TO REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENCY COMING UP WITH ONE DOCUMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS A CHALLENGE AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PULL THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT PART OF BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND WHAT YOU HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE FOCUSED ON IS TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING HOLISTICALLY. AND BEING AND BEING IN AND BEING IN TALLAHASSEE AND HAVING ACCESS TO MAKE THE HAVING ACCESS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND THE DECISIONS AND THE PERSPECTIVE AND TALKING TO INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS AND HAVING THAT ACCESS A LOT OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, THEY THINK WE MAKE DECISIONS AND DON'T REALIZE THE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT. AND THE WORK WE ALL PUT IN WHEN WE IF TO WE IF TO TALLAHASSEE AND WE IF TO TALLAHASSEE AND BUILD THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION. YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PLATFORM TO SHOW THE WORK, TO SHOW THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE. BUT ALSO TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING ON A STATE LEVEL, IN CASE THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM OUR FROM OUR CONSTITUENCY AND WANT TO GIVE MORE FEEDBACK TO GIVE MORE FEEDBACK AND HERE IS WHAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR GOING TO TALLAHASSEE, AND SOMETIMES TO TALLAHASSEE, AND SOMETIMES THE ONLY VOICE TO GET FEEDBACK AND THE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU AND HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. WITH MORE -- MEMBER WASHINGTON? >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, KRISTEN, ALL THE HARD WORK YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD. YOU HAVE BEEN -- WE HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THE THINGS WE WANT FROM THE STATE WE WANT FROM THE STATE AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOU. YOU GAVE US THE THINGS AND EXPLAINING EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO. I REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU ARE THE YOU ARE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE HERE. HERE. [LAUGHTER] >>Jessica Vaughn: MY GOODNESS. WITH NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. IS NOW ON TO 11.04, IS NOW ON TO 11.04, AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES MGT IMPACT SOLUTIONS LCC. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS 11.0 THIS 11.0 4 AND THIS 11.0 4 AND 11.05, HAVE CONVERSATION GOING BACK AND FORTH. START WITH 11.0 START WITH 11.0. A LOT OF CONSERVATION OF THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYNERGY SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES BEHIND THAT DIFFICULTIES BEHIND THAT IMPLEMENTATION. OCTOBER 4 BOARD MEETING,  MGT OF THE STATUS OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION. PART OF THE PLAN TO BRING IT FOR NECESSARY SUPPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING OUR TIMELY NEXT TIMELY NEXT STEPS. SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SYNERGY, LACK OF PRIORITIZATION, TRACKING FOR TICKET ISSUES AND ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES IN ACCURATE SYSTEM REPORTING. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE DEDICATED MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES ARE OVERLOADED WITH DAILY JOB REQUIREMENTS. ALL KEY DELIVERABLES IN THE SCOPE OF WORK, STABILIZING THE CURRENT STATE WITH REMEDIATION PLANS FOR DATA AND PLANS FOR DATA AND TRAINING NEAR TERM TERM ISSUES, PMO SUPPORT SYSTEM. VENDOR MANAGEMENT FOR CURRENT AND AND FUTURE VENDORS AND AND FUTURE VENDORS AND AND NEXT AGENDA AGENDA ITEM. AGENDA ITEM. PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RISK MANAGEMENT, CHANGE MANAGEMENT, VENDOR MANAGEMENT AND MORE TO ENSURE THIS PROJECT'S SUCCESS. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL FOR DISTRICT CAPACITY TO CARRY OUT FUNCTION FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. MGT STAFF MGT STAFF WORKING WITH EDU POINT A FOR THE PAST A FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS BECAUSE CANNOT LOSE CRITICAL TIME THAT WAS SPOKEN WAS SPOKEN ABOUT AT OUR OCTOBER BOARD MEETING. YOU TASK ME WITH MAKING NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS AND TO OUR SUCCESS AND DATA REPORTING. THANK HOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTMENT AS WE WORK TO IMPROVE OUR PROJECTS. 11:04. AND THAT WILL INCLUDE CURRENT STUDENT INFORMATION CENTER WITH EDU POINT SYNERGY AND THE NIX AGENDA ITEM THAT IS LISTED. THAT IS 11.04. START WITH THAT AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU SOUP SUPERINTENDENT. A MOTION AND A. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER MEMBER WASHINGTON AND I PULLED THIS. MEMBER GRAY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >>Lynn Gray: JUST A FEW COMMENTS AND ONE REQUEST. AND ONE REQUEST. FIRST, LET ME UNDERSTAND AND I WANT TO GET THE RIGHT VOCABULARY WORD. WE HAVE SYNERGY AND WE ARE WE HAVE SYNERGY AND WE ARE GOING TO CONVERGE -- IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS THERE WILL BE A CONVERSION TO THE CONVERSION TO THE MGT? >>Superintendent Ayres: NO, MGT IS THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO HELP WITH US THE NEW STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH IS THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM AND UTILIZING SYNERGY THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2025 2025. >>Lynn Gray: I SEE ON THE >>Lynn Gray: I SEE ON THE 11.05 FOCUS THAT YOU JUST SPOKE ON HAS TIME LINE. IS THE NAME -- A TIME LINE FOR THIS -- FOR THIS LINE FOR THIS -- FOR THIS ACCELERATED STEP THAT WE ARE TAKING AND THIS IS TAKING AND THIS IS 11:04. RESPONSE -- I DON'T SEE A TIMELINE. >> IT IS AN EIGHT-MONTH TIMELINE THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH WITH MGT. THAT IS ON THEIR PARTICULAR CONTRACT THAT IS BEFORE YOU NOW FOR THE 11.04 ITEM AND WE WILL BE COMING TOGETHER ON DECEMBER 5 AND DECEMBER 6 AS WELL TALKING BEING THAT -- CORRECT. ALL THAT IS THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT IS ON THE AGENDA ITEM BEFORE YOU. BECAUSE BECAUSE WE WILL BE CREATING THOSE TIMELINES AND WORKING ON THOSE DRAFTS WITH OUR CRITICAL TEAM MEMBERS THAT ALREADY ARE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ALREADY ARE PARTICIPATING ON THAN DECEMBER PARTICIPATING ON THAN DECEMBER FIFTH AND SIX. >> VALUE IDENTIFY TO SAY THAT YOU WILL GIVE US A TIMELINE. >> YES, MA'AM. >> KIND OF LIKE A ASK AND YOU ARE ALREADY ON IT. THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS FINANCE. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT. AND WE ALWAYS NEED TO REMEMBER. I KNOW WE ALL THINK ABOUT I KNOW WE ALL THINK ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE BEING VERY FUND BALANCE BEING VERY HEALTHY, BUT EXPENDITURES IN BUT EXPENDITURES IN BOTH OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS. HOW IT YOU THIS HOW IT YOU THIS EFFECT OUR FUND BALANCE BALANCE WORRY SOME 25% DOWN BALANCE WORRY SOME 25% DOWN TO 5%. WE ARE IN A TIME OF FINANCIAL WE ARE IN A TIME OF FINANCIAL CRUNCH AND WE WILL BE MORE SO SOONER IS RATHER THAN SOONER IS RATHER THAN LATER. HOW WILL THIS -- HOW WILL HOW WILL THIS -- HOW WILL THIS AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL WELL BEING OR FUND BALANCE. >> REGARDLESS HAVE TO HAVE A STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. THAT COST WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, THIS IS SOMETHING -- MONEY WE PUT TOWARD THIS THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES USE ON A DAILY BASIS AND FELT THE THE FRUSTRATIONS BEHIND THAT THE FRUSTRATIONS BEHIND THAT THE SYSTEMS THAT DIDN'T MEET OUR NEEDS THE REASON NEEDS THE REASON FOR THE TIME LINE SO WE ARE READY TO GO AND THE NEXT TIME LINE WITH THE THE NEXT TIME LINE WITH THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. >>Lynn Gray: BUT >>Lynn Gray: BUT STILL -- >>SPEAKER: >>SPEAKER: OUREST REPORTING. >>Lynn Gray: AND THESE ARE MAJOR COST IMPLICATIONS. WHAT I AM TRYING TO WHAT I AM TRYING TO EMBRACE. WE ARE GOING FROM SYNERGY TO ANOTHER SYSTEM. ISN'T THERE AN EXTRA ISN'T THERE AN EXTRA COST? WE PAID A LOT TOWARD WE PAID A LOT TOWARD SINNER GEE. SOMEWHERE WE ARE SOMEWHERE WE ARE SPENDING MORE MONEY. I HAVE A FIGURE HERE I HAVE A FIGURE HERE. >> WE ARE REVIEWING >> WE ARE REVIEWING ALL THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE. ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM -- THEY ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM -- THEY WAIVED CERTAIN FEES -- WAIVED CERTAIN FEES -- WHEN WAIVED CERTAIN FEES -- WHEN WE GET TO 11.0 GET TO 11.0 AS WELL. COST CONSCIOUS AROUND THAT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN APPROPRIATE SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT IS INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT IS FUNCTIONING FOR OUR VOLUME FUNCTIONING FOR OUR VOLUME AND MEET ALL MEET ALL. >>Lynn Gray: THE DIFFERENT REN SHALL IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM ASKING? THERE IS AN EXTRA COST. I WANT TO MAKE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE SYNERGY, WE HAVE PAID A LOT MORE AND NOW WE GO AND NOW WE GO TO ANOTHER SYSTEM. MORE MORE MONEY. >> >> >> $750 FOR THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS FOR DOING THAT. THIS IS WHAT THIS MGT ITEM IS FOR THEIR SUPPORT THROUGH THAT. ONE-TIME COSTS WHICH WE HEARD IN OUR PREVIOUS FROM MISS GARCIA ON THE AMOUNTS THE AMOUNTS ONE-TIME COSTS THAT WE ARE INVESTING ON GETTING A NEW SYSTEM NEW SYSTEM UP AND FULLY FUNCTIONING FOR US. >>Lynn Gray: PLEASE APPRECIATE THE BOARD A'S -- WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE FAILURE -- LET'S JUST SAY THE CHALLENGE OF SYNERGY. THAT IS WHY I AM BEING -- WE ARE ALL BEING -- WE ARE GOING TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. BECAUSE NOW WE ARE GOING TO A NEW NEW SITUATION. AND THERE IS A COST AND THERE IS A COST AND NOT TO BE BEATING A DEAD HORSE, BUT I THINK THAT SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, WE DEFINITELY NEED THAT HIGHLIGHTED .WHAT IS THE EXTRA COST COST WHAT IS A MORE INVOLVED WITH TEACHER TRAINING. THOSE THINGS EXTRA. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YES, MA'AM. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GLAD I AM MAKING SENSE THIS TIME OF NIGHT. ANYWAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS ENOUGH FOR NOW. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER MEMBER RENDOM. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBER GRAY, YOU ARE SPOT ON. $250,000. PLUS REASONABLE IMPROVEDICS PLUS REASONABLE IMPROVEDICS PENCES INVOICED MONTHLY. LISTEN, WE ARE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WE GET THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE CONTROL. HE EXTEND DOING OUR MONTHLY -- GETTING OUR REPORTING FOR GETTING OUR REPORTING FOR FTE. WE HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE WORKABLE FOR OUR STAFF AND IT IS A PROBLEM. I AM NOT I AM NOT DOUBTING THAT, BUT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS. I WILL APPROVE YOU YOU A CONSULTANT ONE TIME. $15 MILLION LATER AND A YEAR $15 MILLION LATER AND A YEAR LATER, HE IMPLEMENTS LATER, HE IMPLEMENTS N-4 AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL WORKING SYSTEM. WHEN I HAVE A CONTRACT THAT DELINEATES -- THERE IS GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL COSTS. HOW DO I IMPROVE THAT AT $750,000 WHEN I DON'T REALLY KNOW OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME. QUITE QUITE FRANKLY, I NEVER SEEN FOR THIS LARGE OF A THIS LARGE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT A CONSULTANT FOR $750,000 FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. THAT IS AN UNHEARD OF THAT IS AN UNHEARD OF LOW COST. YOU CAME TO ME WITH $3 MILLION. A LITTLE MORE REASONABLE. $750,000, IT IS TELLING ME IT IS GOING TO BE A BEGINNING AND DON'T KNOW WHAT IS NEXT. THE FIRST CONCERN. SECOND CONCERN AT NO SECOND CONCERN AT NO POINT IN TIME HAS THIS TIME HAS THIS CABINET SUPERINTENDENT. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE 277 MEMBERS OF MEMBERS OF OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT. WHY WE WHY WE HAVING TO ASK FOR A CONSULTANT FOR THAT LARGE OF A DEPARTMENT WE ARE ALREADY PAYING SALARIES FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIRING WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIRING PEOPLE TO DO WHAT WE ARE HIRING CONSULTANTS TO CONSULTANTS TO DO. HE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE BRING THIS AS AN AGENDA ITEM BEFORE WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE WITHIN OUR OWN WITHIN OUR OWN DEPARTMENTS. UP DON'T HEAR ANYBODY UP DON'T HEAR ANYBODY FROM THE I.T. DEPARTMENT. IN FACT THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP WITH A MEETING FOR ME TODAY. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT AT THIS ASKED FOR THE SALARIES OF WHAT WE ARE WE ARE PAYING OUT FOR THE 277 STAFF IN THE I.T. DEPARTMENT FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET THAT. I DON'T HAVE THE SALARIES THAT WE ARE PAYING OUT. BUT I WILL PAY A CONSULTANT NOW TO BE TO BE TRANSFERRING A NEW PROGRAM. WHAT DOES OUR IT DEPARTMENT DO? THIS LARGE OF A DISTRICT WITH THE CALIBER WE SHOULD HIRE SHOULD MANAGE FROM SYSTEM A TO SYSTEM B. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE NEW SYSTEM COMES IN? ARE THEY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE AND TROUBLESHOOT? BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IS TELLING ME. SO I HAVE A HUGE CONCERN OF MINE. I DON'T ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT WE BRING AGENDA ITEMS WITH THE FEAR FACTOR TO A BOARD. THAT IF WE DON'T APPROVE THEM, WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THIS DISTRICT. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A RELIABLE AND A REASONABLE REQUEST THAT THE THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY AND HAVE A PLAN BEFORE WE ASK HAVE A PLAN BEFORE WE ASK FOR ADDITION SUPPORT. WE HEARD NOTHING FROM YOU WHAT WE ARE DOING INTERNALLY WE ARE DOING INTERNALLY WITH THE 200 -- 200 -- AGAIN, 200 -- AGAIN, 277-MEMBER I.T. DEPARTMENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WHAT ARE THEY DOING THAT WITHER GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY. I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND. IF PUCK ENLIGHTEN ME ON THAT, THAT WILL BE GREAT. >> PART OF THE TALKING POINTS AND WHAT WE DID TALK ABOUT WAS WORKING ON THAT KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TRANSFER FOR OUR DISTRICT PERSONNEL AND OUR DISTRICT PERSONNEL AND OUR DISTRICT SAFF. AND I AM LOOKING AT AND OBVIOUSLY WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL WE GET ALL THE INFORMATION. ALL TIMELY UPDATES GOING FOR FOR THE PROCESS THE ENTIRE TIME WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS -- >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN BY -- WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR OUR FOR OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT? ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE COMPANY WILL TRAIN OUR WILL TRAIN OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT? OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT IS NOT CAPABLE OF CAPABLE OF IMPLEMENTING A NEW SYSTEM? >> THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY DEDICATED. I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN VERY DEDICATED TO THE PROJECT AND TO THE PROJECT AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SITES. WANT TO ARE HE CAN NICE THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS AND ITS THAT NOT BEEN EASY FOR ANYONE. WHAT PART OF THIS IS WHAT PART OF THIS IS AND WHAT MGT SAID TO SUPPORT US TO HELP WITH US THAT, TO HELP WITH US THAT, TO WHERE WE HAVE THE GAPS AND MAKE HAVE THE GAPS AND MAKE SURE WE DO NOT HAVE THESE CONTINUED MISSTEPS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE WITH THE SYNERGY WITH THE SYNERGY IMPLEMENTATION. >>Patti Rendon: LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. I KNOW THAT THE MEMBERS OF OUR CURRENT I.T. DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING BEEN WORKING VERY BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY. I ALSO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOT GOT THE PROPER GOT THE PROPER PREPARATION OR WE HAVE NOT ARMED THEM WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THEREFORE, I AM BACK TO MY ORIGINAL REQUEST, WHY ARE WE NOT LOOKING INTERNALLY BEFORE WE ASK FOR FOR CONSULTANTS OUTSIDE AND BECAUSE OF THE ADDED THINGS YOU ARE NOW SAYING. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE $507,000. IT IS GOING TO COST US MORE. UNTIL I UNTIL I REALLY SEE A REASONABLE COSTS OF WHAT THIS WILL BE, I WILL NOT SUPPORT IT YET. WILL NOT SUPPORT IT YET. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDOM. MEMBER COMBS WAS MEMBER COMBS WAS NEXT. MEMBER PEREZ? >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD QUESTION IS A GOOD QUESTION IS A LITTLE BIT, I GUESS. HAVE WE LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAVE WE LOOKED TO SEE WHAT RAMIFICATIONS WE CAN TAKE AGAINST AGAINST SYNERGY AGAINST SYNERGY FINANCIALLY? TSUNAMI SUPERINTENDENT YES, MR. GIBSON, IF YOU WANT -- >>SPEAKER: YES, WE ARE IN THE I.T. TEAM AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT. WE ARE IN AN INTERESTING PLACE NOW AS WE DO NEED THEM TO -- AS WE FINISH OUT THE PROJECT. AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY ON THAT, BUT, YES, WE ARE IN -- WE ALL ARE, AS A CABINET LEVEL AND I.T. DEPARTMENT, LOOKING AT WHAT TO OPTIONS WE MAY HAVE AND OPTIONS WE MAY HAVE AND WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EXERT THOSE OPTIONS MIGHT BE. >>Nadia Combs: WE ARE STILL PAYING THEM HOW MUCH UNTIL THE END OF NEXT END OF NEXT END OF NEXT YEAR? >> WE CAN STILL BE USING THE PLATFORM UNTIL DECEMBER 2025 TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PLATFORM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP IT IN THE ENTIRE YEAR'S REPORTING FOR THE STATE REQUIREMENT. BUT IT WILL BE A MULTIFAMILY REDUCED RATE OBVIOUSLY FOR WHAT WE WOULD BE USING WITH THEM. I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT FIGURE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. YOU ALREADY APPROVED THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR SYNERGY. >>Karen Perez: OKAY. BUT ARE WE ACTUALLY USING IT? OR ARE WE STILL IN A BIG PROBLEMATIC ISSUE WITH THEM? >>Superintendent Ayres: THERE IS NO OPTION -- I MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THIS OCTOBER 1, FOR NOW AND OUR EMPLOYEES KNOW UNTIL THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR STILL UTILIZING SYNERGY THROUGH
- 2025 IS SOME OF THE REPORTING THAT STILL HAS TO TAKE PLACE. AND JULY, AND JULY, SIMULTANEOUS AN SYNERGY THAT IS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES AND OUR EMPLOYEES -- AND THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. >> AGAIN, THE REASON -- TO GET THIS MOVING IS WE WANT TO -- OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT -- SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THE STUDENT INFORMATION. IT IS CALLED STRESS TO EMPLOYEES FROM THE TIME IT TAKES TO DO THINGS. AND I CANNOT SIT AND SETTLE AND I WANT FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF SYNERGY. WE WOULD ALL HEAR FROM IT. THAT IS NOT THE PLACE I WAS AT. WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEW STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. >>Karen Perez: THAT IS MY >>Karen Perez: THAT IS MY QUESTION. IS IT FUNCTIONAL OR STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. >> YES, IT IS FUNCTIONAL. AND WE ARE STILL DAILY WORKING THROUGH ANY CHALLENGES. THEY HAVE WORKED WITH THEY HAVE WORKED WITH US CLOSELY. MGT HAS BEEN HELPING US WITH THAT, THE PARTICULAR VENDOR AS WELL AND ASSISTING US WITH THE PRIORITIZATIONS ITEMS ON THE REPORTING. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ALL HANDS ON DECK RELATED TO ALL OF THE DECK RELATED TO ALL OF THE FTE REPORTING THAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE, OBVIOUSLY THROUGH OUR TIME PERIOD TIME PERIOD. >>Karen Perez: I AM WITH MEMBER MEMBER REFRESHESENDON AND MEMBER GRAY. WE PURCHASED THE PROGRAMS AND NOW WE HAVE TOP ALSO PAY OUT NOW WE HAVE TOP ALSO PAY OUT OTHER AREAS FOR SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL FOR US. SO WE HAVE -- SO WE HAVE -- LET'S SAY WE PAY SO WE HAVE -- LET'S SAY WE PAY -- I DON'T KNOW, A MILLION DOLLARS. AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY EVEN AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY EVEN MORE IN EXCESS FOR IN EXCESS FOR OTHER SUPPORT FOR IN EXCESS FOR OTHER SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT THE THIS PROGRAM, BUT THE OWNERS THIS WAS PROGRAM ARE NOT REIMBURSING US WITH THE SUPPORTS WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS NONFUNCTIONING NONFUNCTIONING PROGRAM. AM I CORRECT? >> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENTS. WE -- THE -- THE FUNCTIONALITIES ARE THERE OF WHAT WE ARE CARE RECENTLY USING FOR SYNERGY. BUT WE HAVE BUT WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT OUR CAPACITY IS NOT ABLE TO BE SUPPORTED WITH THE PARTICULAR PLATFORM. AND SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE BRINGING THE NEXT ONE AS THE NEXT ITEM NEXT ITEM FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO NEXT ITEM FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM FOR US WHICH IS A SYSTEM THAT WE PREVIOUSLY USE. SO -- SO -- THE COMMITTEE WENT THROUGH THE DUE DILIGENCE BACK IN 2018. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A PATH FORWARD AND WE NEED THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SUCCESSFUL PATH FORWARD. THAT'S WHY WE ARE BRINGING IT TO YOU YOU ALL. >>Karen Perez: WE ARE NOT THE ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT SAYS SYNERGY IS NOT WORKING. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE CAPACITY, BUT ABOUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF, AM I CORRECT? >> I THINK IT IS PROBABLY A SITUATION OF BOTH -- OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS AS WELL. >> BECAUSE THE >> BECAUSE THE OTHER DISTRICTS -- >>Superintendent Ayres: THEY ARE ONLY IN ONE OTHER SCHOOL. THEY ARE NOT -- THEY ARE ONE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BESIDES HILLSBOROUGH. >> IN THE >> IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >>Superintendent Ayres: STATE OF FLORIDA. >>Karen Perez: OTHER STATES ARE HAVING HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS AS WELL. FROM RESEARCH. >> OTHER STATES USE THIS PROGRAM -- BE THIS IS SERENA WITH -- BE THIS IS SERENA WITH MGT. >>Karen Perez: ALL RIGHT, I AM JUST -- I AM JUST -- I AM JUST HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT WE THAT WE PAID FOR A PROGRAM AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR SUPPORTS TO HELP US THIS PROGRAM. AND WE ARE OUT EVEN MORE MONEY THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING REIMBURSED FOR. AND -- YOU KNOW, NORMALLY THERE IS A WARRANTY THAT HE WITH TALKED -- A WARRANTY WITH A PROGRAM. DO WE HAVE A DO WE HAVE A WARRANTY WITH THIS PROGRAM? OR IT'S OR IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL, OR IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL, PROGRAM. I AM JUST ASKING. >>Superintendent Ayres: I DON'T. SYNERGY WAS PURCHASED IN 2019. WE HAD IT WE HAD IT -- FULL YEAR WAS THIS YEAR AND NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. >>Karen Perez: OKAY. >> LET ME JUST SAY THAT >> LET ME JUST SAY THAT WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR IS YOUR ARE PAYING FOR IS YOUR STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. IT'S WORKING. IS IT IDEAL? MAYBE NOT. WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR IN OCTOBER. THERE WERE A LOT OF CHALLENGES. SO WHAT WE ARE SO WHAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD IS A PATH FORWARD IS A PATH FORWARD SO THAT THE NEXT SYSTEM NEXT SYSTEM IS NEXT SYSTEM IS WORKABLE NEXT SYSTEM IS WORKABLE AND IMPLEMENTED WELL WITH IMPLEMENTED WELL WITH FIDELITY. SO I HEARD MEMBER SO I HEARD MEMBER RENDON'S TALK OF OTHER PROJECTS, AND WE WANT TO HELP BUILD THAT CAPACITY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT YOU ARE YOU ARE NOT YOU ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON YOU ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON CONSULTANTS. WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL PROJECTS WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL PROJECTS AND ALL OF THE AND ALL OF THE PMO, CHANGE MANAGEMENT, VENDOR MANAGEMENT.COMMUNICATIONS. >>Karen Perez: I THINK -- I CAN SAY THIS. I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS THAT SENDS A MESSAGE MEMBERS THAT SENDS A MESSAGE TO ANYONE COMING HERE TRYING TO SELL US A PROGRAM TO SAY THAT WE WILL NOT BE MILKED. THIS THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT THAT WILL NOT BE MILKED OUT OF MONEY. WE ARE NOT A BANK. AND WE WILL NOT -- YOU WILL NOT SELL US A SELL US A PROGRAM THAT WILL NOT WORK AND TAKE OUR MONEY WITHOUT SOME SOME RAMIFICATIONS. THIS IS NOT THE DISTRICT TO DO THIS. AND IF WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW SYNERGY OR WHOEVER TO COME IN HERE AND CONTINUE TO HERE AND CONTINUE TO SELL US A PROGRAM THAT PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT US WITHOUT US FIGHTING BACK. THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT WE SENT. IT IS OKAY TO THIS. AND IT IS NOT OKAY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NOT COUNTY IS NOT OKAY TO DO THIS. AND THEN WE CAN JUST CUSHION IT WITH MORE MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IN A DISTRICT THIS LARGE WITH IN A DISTRICT THIS LARGE WITH 220,000 STUDENTS THAT THEIR PROGRAM WOULD NOT WORK OR SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. BUT THEY TOLD US AND BOUGHT US ON -- IN A PROGRAMMING THAT THEY KNEW WOULD NOT SUPPORT THIS KNEW WOULD NOT SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT. AND THAT'S WHAT I AM ASKING. I AM SIMPLY ASKING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO THEY DOING TO REIMBURSE US OR HELP US FIX THIS PROBLEM. WITH NO COSTS TO US WITH NO COSTS TO US AT THIS POINT. I AM ASKING. AND I NEED AN AND I NEED AN ANSWER. SOMEONE. >>Superintendent Ayres: ANYBODY ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT? >> I GUESS I AM NOT ABLE TO GIVE YOU SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REACHED. WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE NEED THIS PROGRAM IN THE SHORT TERM. >>Karen Perez: BUT THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING IT UNTIL WE GET A -- UNTIL WE REACH A PLACE WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSITION SAFELY. YOU KNOW YOU KNOW IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT THEY ARE HOLDING THEY ARE HOLDING US HOSTAGE. I AM I AM JUST -- I AM JUST SAYING. THEIR PROGRAM DOESN'T WORK FOR US. SO THEY SHOULDN'T PULL THE RUG FROM UP UNDER OUR FEET BECAUSE THEIR PROGRAM DOESN'T WORK. SO. >> SO I HAD A CONVERSATION ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE WE LEFT FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK TO MAKE THEIR TEAM AWARE OF OUR SHIFT AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE -- BECAUSE OUR AGENDA ITEM WAS GOING TO BE RELEASED THAT TUESDAY, PUBLICLY ON -- THIS IS SYNERGY I AM REFERRING REFERRING TO. AND THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED, BUT I FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH AN E-MAIL AROUND THE E-MAIL AROUND THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE ARE STILL GOING TO THAT WE ARE STILL GOING TO SLP TO BE A PARTNER WITH THEM THROUGH OUR THROUGH OUR REGULATORY REPORTING THROUGH DECEMBER 2025. THEY WERE VERY AWARE OF THAT. AND APPRECIATE ED THEM THAT INFORMATION IN ADVANCE OF ONLY ITEMS PUBLICLY AND STILL GOING TO BE THERE IN JANUARY. THEY ARE COMING IN JANUARY BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE STILL THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT PROCESS THAT PROCESS REMEMBER DOING THESE PROGRAMS IN PARALLEL BECAUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THE MIGRATION PIECES OF THAT. >> WE ARE STILL PAYING THEM. >> YES, WE STILL HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM AS WELL. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: I GOT TO >>Stacy Hahn: I GOT TO TALK SLOW. WE HAVE A JOB TONIGHT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. SOLVE A PROBLEM FOR OUR SCHOOLS, STAFF AND TEACHERS AND A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED WHETHER IT IS ADDRESSED WHETHER IT IS INTERNALLY WITH STAFF KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY AND CAPACITY OR THE CONTRACT WITH SYNERGY. WE ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT A WE ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT A FEW WEEKS AGO TO FEW WEEKS AGO TO BRING US A SOLUTION. NOBODY WANTS TO SPEND OVER IN DIME, BUT WE HAVE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IN THE END, IT IS GOING TO COST US POTENTIALLY A FTE IF THERE ARE MISTAKES. AND IT MAY COST US IN STAFF AS THEY ARE LIKE -- I AM DONE. I AM WORKING IN ANOTHER DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO -- ENOUGH IS STUFF KIND OF FEELING. AND AND SO WE ARE CHARGED WITH SOLVING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WE APPROVED ALL OF THIS LEADING UP TO THIS. AND IT STARTED SEVEN AND IT STARTED SEVEN YEARS AGO. THIS STARTED WITH THE APPROVAL -- IT DIDN'T GET IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF VARIOUS BECAUSE OF VARIOUS BARRIERS, WHETHER IT WAS COVID, NEW SUPERINTENDENT. THEN ANOTHER NEW THEN ANOTHER NEW SUPERINTENDENT. BUT BUT IRREGARDLESS OF ALL THOSE EXTRA VARIABLES, TONIGHT, WE HAVE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. HAVE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND HELP US WITH -- BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE INTERNALLY WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE. SO WE NEED TO SOLVE OF THIS TONIGHT. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING FOR US. IT SICK S ME, YES, JUST LIKE MEMBER PEREZ AND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE TO KEEP CUTTING THIS CHECK EVERY MONTH. AS SOON AS WE PIVOT AND IT IS VERY HARD IN A LARGE VERY HARD IN A LARGE DISTRICT TO PIVOT PIVOT A BIG SHIFT SHIFT. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE HERE. MGT WITH OTHER HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH US. I DON'T DOUBT THEY CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN THIS AREA. IT IS NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT IS AS COST UNDER WHAT IT IS AS COST UNDER WHAT NORMALLY USED TO SEEING FOR NORMALLY USED TO SEEING FOR CONSULTATION SERVICES. AND I AM ALSO AND I AM ALSO -- EXTRA AND I AM ALSO -- EXTRA EXPENSES AND I EXPECT THE BOARD SO WE ARE NOT PAID A DIME UNTIL WE APPROVE THE EXTRA THE EXTRA EXPENSES. >>Superintendent Ayres: WE WILL CONFIRM THAT. >>Stacy Hahn: RIGHT NOW THIS IS WHAT WE ARE WHAT WE ARE APPROVING. WE ARE APPROVING $750,000. SO, YOU KNOW, BLEEDING INTO THE SO, YOU KNOW, BLEEDING INTO THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM SECOND AGENDA ITEM HERE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SYSTEM THE FOCUS -- HOW MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- HOW MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE 40 IN THE STATE. >>Superintendent Ayres: 39 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE TWO OTHER LARGEST DISTRICTS UTILIZE AS THAT. >>Stacy Hahn: IT WAS WHEN WE PUT THIS ON THE STREET SEVEN YEARS AGO, FOCUS WAS, THEY CAME IN SECOND WITH THE BID. YOU KNOW YOU GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FIRST BID YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FIRST BID OR YOU THROW IT OUT. YOU KNOW, AND -- AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE THE SECOND BID OR ELSE SECOND BID OR ELSE WE WANT BE IN THIS POSITION RIGHT NOW IF THEY CAME IN THE FIRST BID. WE KNOW -- I AM SURE YOU SPEAKING WITH 38 OTHER DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS THAT IT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS WORKING FOR SYSTEM THAT IS WORKING FOR THEM. WE NEED TO WE NEED TO PIVOT, YOU KNOW. WE CAN'T -- WE NEED TO SOLVE THESE OTHER THESE OTHER PROBLEMS. I AGREE, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD AND THERE IS A BIGGER LOSS THAN DOLLARS HERE. TEACHERS AND TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AND DISTRICT STAFF WHO ARE GOING TO LEAVE. GUILT TO ANOTHER DISTRICT, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SYSTEM. AND GET BLAMED FOR MISTAKES THAT AREN'T THEIR MISTAKES. SO, YOU KNOW, I -- I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT. I HAVE TO KIND OF SWALLOW HERE AND HIT THE BUTTON AND HIT THE BUTTON BECAUSE IT IS MORE MONEY. BUT WE ARE CHARGED TONIGHT WITH SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. AND I DON'T -- I DON'T SEE ANOTHER SOLUTION. I FEEL BETTER THEIR I FEEL BETTER THEIR -- HIGH PRESSURE THAT THE SYSTEM WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO HAS BEEN USED BY SO MANY OTHER DISTRICTS. AND GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF A GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF A COMFORT AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS OF TWO IN THE STATE IS OF TWO IN THE STATE AND OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN POOR. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SOMEBODY'S LESSEN RIGHT NOW. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT -- WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. AND SO, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE IN THAT PLACE. BUT I DO FEEL STRONGLY WE HAVE TO SOLVE THIS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAPP. MEMBER COMBS? >>Nadia Combs: I MEAN, I THINK OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THIS YEAR, THE SCHOOL SCHOOL GRADES. MAKING SURE WITH THE EPICENTER. PEOPLE KNOW ALL THE SHELTERS. THE LEADERSHIP. EVERYTHING THAT IS GREAT AND GUESS WHAT, GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER THAT WHAT THEY REMEMBER DAY TO DAY IS THEIR FRUSTRATION TO SYNERGY. I HAVE TO HAVE KEEP MY PHONE AWAY BECAUSE SO MANY AWAY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T KEEP SYNERGY. IT IS RUINING US. YOU ARE LOSING YOUR ESE STAFF. CONSISTENT TELL YOU HOW MANY MEALS AND TEXTS THAT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I CAN'T TEACH ANYMORE. REALLY WANT TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL REALLY WANT TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I AM LOOKING FOR THE OTHER JOB. HOURS TO DO ALL THEIR ESE HOURS TO DO ALL THEIR ESE PAPERWORK WOULD HAVE TAKEN 200 HOURS TO DO TEN OF THE ESE HOURS TO DO TEN OF THE ESE 504 PLANS. WE ARE LOSING -- I WE ARE LOSING -- I GUARANTEE YOU WE LOST TEACHERS, WE LOST PRINCIPALS, WE ALSO LOST THE PRINCIPALS, WE ALSO LOST THE CULTURE, POSITIVE CULTURE WHEN WE GO IN EVERY DAY. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS. THE TRANSCRIPTS. SOMEONE TOLD ME THEY HAD TO SEND A TRANSCRIPT TO WEST POINT IN TWO PIECES. RUINS OUR REPUTATION AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO MANY SO MANY FACTOR HOW YOU THIS HAS GONE WRONG. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT LITIGATION. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK EVERYONE FEELS THAT WAY THAT WE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. THE OTHER THING IS, OTHER DISTRICTS JUST DISTRICTS JUST USING FOCUS OR A COMBINATION OF THINGS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND REALLY GOES INTO THE LARGE DISTRICTS AND KIND OF DIGS DEEP AS WE TRANSITION, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKES AGAIN. AND I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO PLACE THIS ON A SUSPENDED AGENDA, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WE ARE ARE LOOKING AT THAT ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND AS FAR AS THE I.T. AS THE I.T. DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A COUPLE -- I GET AN E-MAIL FROM THIS GENTLEMAN ALL THE TIME WHO SAYS, I AM SO UNDERPAID IN OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT. I WORK SO HARD. I MEAN, PEOPLE CAN GO ANYWHERE AND LEAVE OUR DISTRICT AND MAKE SO MUCH MORE MONEY. IT IS JUST SO HARD, BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO HARD, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UNDERPAID AND OERWORKED AND WE ARE DEALING WITH COMPUTERS WITH THE SCHOOL BY 3,000 STUDENTS. ONE PERSON IN THE IT DEPARTMENT TRYING TO FIX COMPUTERS. PUT THEM BACK. YOU GOT ALL THESE NEW GREAT YOU GOT ALL THESE NEW GREAT COMPUTER SCREENS AND ALL THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY COMING INTO OUR SCHOOLS ARE AMAZING BUT GUESS WHAT, WE DON'T WHAT, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. INFRASTRUCTURE. WE LEGAL -- OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT IS KIND OF A GREAT DEPARTMENT. AND HARD TO MAINTAIN THE NEEDS WITH THE NUMBER WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT. A LOT OF OUR A LOT OF OUR LIBRARIANS LIKE I.T. TECH PEOPLE. THEY ARE DOING SO MUCH. IT IS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT -- A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN BECAUSE YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO CAN LEAVE AN I.T. DEPARTMENT TODAY AND GO SOMEWHERE AND MAKE DOUBLE, TRIPLE WHAT THEY COULD MAKE WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I THINK OF THIS ONE GUY, GENTLEMAN ALL THE TIME SENDS ME AN E-MAIL AND SAYS HOW LITTLE AN E-MAIL AND SAYS HOW LITTLE -- JESSICA IS NODDING HER HEAD. HOW LITTLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WORKING EXTRA JOBS. HE LOVES WORKING FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE ON THAT LIVABLE LIVE ON THAT LIVABLE WAGE. SO I THINK AS MUCH AS -- I JUST THINK WE THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I THINK IN THE PAST WE HAVE SEEN THAT MGT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN OUR SCHOOLS AND HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER. SO I THINK MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE ROLL THIS OUT, WE DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO ROLL IT OUT WRONG. THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE. IF YOU ARE A TEACHER AND YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SUCH A HARD YEAR, YOU CAN NOT GIVE ME -- EXPECT ME TO LEARN A BRAND-NEW PROGRAM AS I AM LEARNING PROGRAM AS I AM LEARNING THE OLD PROGRAM AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROGRAM AS WELL. SO I THINK THAT THE -- THAT NOT ONLY THE PROGRAM THAT WE USE BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HOW IT LOOKS AS IT IS ROLLED OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE I.T. DEPARTMENT AND ALSO MGT WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS WORKING REALLY CLOSELY TOGETHER TO HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE THE SUMMER FOR THE TRAINING. TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE TRAINING IS INCLUDED IN THE TRAINING IS INCLUDED IN THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE IF WE HAVE TO PAY A STIPEND THAT EVERYONE IS TRAINED AND KNOW THE SYSTEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SOME AS I SAID, I AM GOING TO SUPPORT BOTH OF THESE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATION THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING. AND WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN, SYSTEMS SOMETIMES DON'T WORK AND WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT UP IMPORTANT POINTS AND I WANT TO ADDRESS A FEW. NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO PULL THE ITEM FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING BUT I AM CHANGING MY MIND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE TO NEED A SOLUTION. AND I AND I AGREE WITH MEMBER HAHN AND I AGREE WITH MEMBER HAHN. THIS IS A SOLUTION. WHAT I DON'T AGREE WITH, WE DON'T HAVE A CFO. WE DON'T HAVE A CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AND I FEEL LIKE OFFICER AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED -- YES, WE NEED TO MAKE A TECHNICAL DECISION BUT WE DON'T HAVE -- AS MEMBER COMBS SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. DR. WAYLAND DOING THE BEST YOU CAN. PATTY, YOU ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN. I DON'T HAVE YOUR LAST NAME. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN. BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING ANOTHER FINANCIAL DECISION AND WE WANT THE TEACHERS, OF COURSE, AND THE STAFF -- ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUSIVE, MEMBERS, INCLUSIVE, WE WANT THEM TO NOT FACE TO NOT FACE THIS WORLD WAR OF TECHNOLOGY THAT IS SO TECHNOLOGY THAT IS SO ADVERSE. WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE THE FLORIDA STATUTES HAVE RULES AND HAVE RULES AND LAWS ON D TRANSCRIPTS SCRIPTS. WE COULD BE SUED -- NOT A QUESTION OF "IF" BUT A QUESTION THAT REALLY WE THAT REALLY WE "MUST." JOHN -- ATTORNEY GIBSON, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE COSTS ARE HE SLATED FOR US GETTING SUED, BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO LAWSUITS AS A BOARD AND AS AND AS -- AS THE DISTRICT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO YOU COMPLY WITH THE ESE AND THOSE REPORTS ARE ESSENTIAL ARE ESSENTIAL SO BACK TO THE POSITION STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE. WE ARE HERE TO DO A SOLUTION. I WISH IT WASN'T JUST US. I WISH WE HAD A I WISH WE HAD A PROFESSIONAL CT -- CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER LIKE OTHER DISTRICTS OTHER DISTRICTS DO. ARE YOU -- >>Superintendent Ayres: THIS IS OUR CHIEF FROM MGT. SERENA FROM SERENA FROM MGT AND HAS SERENA FROM MGT AND HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AS A EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AS A CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER. MISS GRAY, WE HAVE A MISS GRAY, WE HAVE A CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, DR. WEEKS. >>Lynn Gray: DON'T GO THERE BECAUSE THAT WILL NOT HAVE VALUE IN THIS CONVERSATION. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING AGAIN IS TAKING A RISK. AND I AM A PAST ENTREPRENEUR. AND SO IS MEMBERS AND SO IS MEMBERS COMBS. WE DO TAKE WE DO TAKE RISKS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS AND THE STAFF MEMBERS ARE RELIEVED. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE AGENDA ITEM. AND I.T. DEPARTMENT, I HAVE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY YEARS. THIS HAS TO BE ALSO EXPLAINED THIS HAS TO BE ALSO EXPLAINED WHY THEY WHY THEY THEY CAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DECISION. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON HAS POINT. WE NEED WE NEED THOSE ANSWERS. AND SO AT ANY RATE. ENOUGH ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID. EVERYBODY HAS SPOKE THEIR PEACE. I AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS. MGT PROVEN TO BE A GREAT PARTNER, PARTNER, TA-DA-DA-DA. TOO MUCH IS UNKNOWN. WE ARE TAKING A CHANCE AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE MAKING THE DECISION AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS THE KIDS SAY, WE ARE IN DEEP DEEP DOO-DOO, AND I MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. IT MAY SOUND FUNNY -- IT MAY SOUND FUNNY, BUT WE ARE. BECAUSE WE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT BEFORE WE FINISH, WE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION. A CRUCIAL A CRUCIAL DECISION. WE SPENT -- WE HAVE SPENT WE SPENT -- WE HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY A LOT OF MONEY WE SPENT, BUT SOMETIMES YOU WIN. SOMETIMES YOU LOSE. SOMETIMES YOU LOSE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO COME OUT SOME OTHER WAY TO SOLVE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO GO WITH MGT AGAIN AND THE NEXT ONE COMING THE NEXT ONE COMING UP, THE FOCUS GROUP BECAUSE EVERYBODY I GO. I CAN'T BARELY WALK I CAN'T BARELY WALK IN THE SCHOOL. IT IS ABOUT IT IS ABOUT SYNERGY. IT WEARS IT IS ABOUT SYNERGY. IT WEARS ME OUT. WE HAVE GOT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM TONIGHT. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AS A BOARD. SO WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND QUESTION GOT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. I AM GOING WITH MGT NOW. THAT IS THE ONLY THAT IS THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO DO. THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO AS OF NOW, BUT WE ALSO -- WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK TO WORK ON THAT DEPARTMENT. 277 PEOPLE IS A LOT OF 277 PEOPLE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE CAN'T GET SOMEBODY TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THAT IS KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IS KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE IN THIS TIME AND AGE. THAT IS HARD TO BELIEVE. SO -- WE ARE GOING -- I AM GOING TO SUPPORT IT, THE TO SUPPORT IT, THE MGT. I DON'T -- -- I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY OUT. OTHER WAY OUT. >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AGREE WITH DR. HAHN. WE ARE IN A POSITION AND I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THE SEVERE TEE WHERE WE ARE AT. IT APPEARS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY I.T. PEOPLE HERE. I APPRECIATE MGT BEING HERE, BUT YOU ARE NOT OUR STAFF. AND I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT 277 STAFF ARE ADEQUATE FOR A DISTRICT THIS SIZE, IT IS ONLY ADEQUATE IF THEY ARE PRESENT AND HERE AND HERE AND DOING THE JOB. SO I HERE AND DOING THE JOB. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE, BUT APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE, BUT YOU ARE THE ONLY YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE HERE. AND THE ONLY OTHER PERSON HERE MISS WAYLAND IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF. WE ARE NOT HEARING FROM THE EXPERTS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. SO THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IS BECAUSE OF THAT. AND HAVE IS BECAUSE OF THAT. AND SO I THINK THAT IS TELLING. AND SO I WOULD AND SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE REMOVE THE LINES FROM 1.3 OF THE CONTRACT WHERE IT SAYS PLUS REASONABLE AND APPROVED EXPENSES OR ON A MONTHLY INVOICE. AT LEAST SOMETHING OF THAT CONTRACT SO IT LIMITS WHEN THEY CAN SPEND MORE MONEY BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU ARE GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY. THERE IS NO WAY FOR A YEAR CONTRACT FOR CONTRACT FOR $750,000. WE SPENT MORE MONEY ON THE CONSULTANT BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED SINNER GEE. TO TO DO TO DO IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR. >> MEMBER >> MEMBER RENDON, SORRY WE DIDN'T CHARGE MORE. CONSULTING CHARGES AND THE EXPENSES ARE FOR TRAVEL AND HARD TO ANTICIPATE FLIGHTS AND WHO HE TELL. WE CAN CA.IT AND GIVE YOU FIXED PRICE ITSES FOR THE EXPENSES. >>Patti Rendon: NOT EXPENSES. MORE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BEFORE THAT IT IS A ONE AND DONE ONE AND DONE FROM OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT AND COME BACK -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS NOT COMING BACK. I HEAR YOU, BUT THAT IS A CONCERN. >> FOR THIS PROJECT TO DO THE PMO. WE SCOPED IT TO THE PMO FOR THIS PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT THAT IS THAT'S WHAT THAT IS FOR. IT IS NOT FIXING IT IS NOT FIXING WHATEVER ELSE NEEDS TO BE FIXED, NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BUT IT IS STABILIZING SYNERGY AS WE CONTINUE TO DO AND MAKING SURE THAT FOCUS IS IMPLEMENTED WITH THAT FOCUS IS IMPLEMENTED WITH FIDELITY AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT FIDELITY AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT EDUCATION, CHANGE MANAGEMENT, VENDOR MANAGEMENT, ALL OF THESE THINGS IN PLACE SO WE REPORT THINGS IN PLACE SO WE REPORT TO DR. WAYLAND SO SHE CAN REPORT TO THE BOARD ON THE SCHEDULE, THE COST, AND THE COST, AND THE MILESTONES. >>Patti Rendon: OKAY -- >> I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. >>Patti Rendon: AGAIN, WHERE IS OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT? SUPERINTENDENT, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS BOARD NEXT MONTH OR THE NEXT MEETING AND GIVE US AN UPDATE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT. BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS WITHOUT A SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT PRESENT. THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT I FIND THAT DISHEARTENING. WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE WORK HERE AND GIVING ANY INPUT. SO -- I MEAN, I AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS MOVE FORWARD. WE CAN'T -- WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED YOU GUYS ONCE TO HELP WITH THIS TRANSITION. ALREADY ONE IN OCTOBER UTILIZE YOUR SERVICES FOR THE TROUBLESHOOTING. APPRECIATE THAT. WE KNOW YOU MADE GREAT IDE. WE APPRECIATE THAT. YOU HAVE TO COME BACK WITH WHAT YOUR PLAN IS. WE ARE ADDING DOLLAR ON TOP OF DOLLAR. TWO BIRDS AT ONCE AT THE SAME TIME. I WILL APPROVE THIS, BUT I AM VERY HESITANT WITHOUT YOU COMING BACK AND TELLING US YOUR LONG-TERM PLAN ON THIS. LIKE I SIDE, WE ARE PAYING TWICE ON TOP OF ON TOP OF WHAT ON TOP OF WHAT -- WE PAID FOR A CONSULTANT TO IMPLEMENT CONSULTANT TO IMPLEMENT SYNERGY. AND BEEN PAYING CONSULTANTS AND BEEN PAYING CONSULTANTS FOR TWO YEARS, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED AGAIN. AND OUR FEET ARE TO THE FIRE. AND WE WANT TO REPRESENT OUR STAFF AND WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR STAFF. BUT YOU HAVE TO HEAR -- YOU GO THE TO HEAR FROM ME. I AM NOT HAPPY THAT WE ARE DOING THIS. AND WE ARE DOING THIS AND WE ARE DOING THIS WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ANY I.T. DEPARTMENT AT ALL. THAT IS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO ME. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER RENDON. WHEW, OKAY. SO -- LET'S START WITH THE 277 I.T. MEMBERS. IS THAT INCLUDING THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS SUPPORTING ALL WHAT HAPPENS AS FAR AS I.T. IS CONCERNED? WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DISTRICT. TALKING OF I.T. MEMBERS, WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT AND IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE YOU HEAR THAT NUMBER AND YOU GET THAT NUMBER AND YOU GET STICKER SHOCK WHAT IT WHAT'S HAPPENING SYNERGY. IF PEOPLE ARE NOT IN OUR SCHOOLS, THAT A DIFFERENT STORY. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT NUMBER. >>Christopher Farkas: HALF OF THEM IF NOT HALF OF THEM IN-SCHOOL SITES DISTRICT RESPONSE TEAM 40 PEOPLE THAT GO TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS. MAJORITY OF THEM ARE STILL IN SCHOOLS. STILL A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, NO QUESTION. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. HOW MANY PEOPLE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, GIVE OR TAKE ARE IN CHARGE OF CHARGE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAM LIKE THIS? >>Christopher Farkas: THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES ARE, NO ONE IS DEDICATED TO THAT. WE DIDN'T DO A FTE FOR THAT PERSON. NOT THE PERSON THAT RUNS THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE THAT OUR CONSULTANT TOLD US CLEARLY YOU NEED TO YOU NEED TO HAVE. AND OTHER COUNTIES ORANGE COUNTY AND SOFTWARE AND SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION, EITHER THEY HIRE AN OUTSIDE PERSON TO DO IT OR CREATE ONE INSIDE. ONE THING THAT ONE THING THAT THAT MGT TOLD US, WE WILL CREATE A PROJECT MANAGEMENT -- >>Superintendent Ayres: JUST TO GIVE HISTORY THERE, PRIOR TO 2020 ROAR A BPI TEAM, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT TEAM, IMPROVEMENT TEAM, BPI. A PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM. THAT THAT DIVISION BACK IN 2019 WAS -- WITH CUTTING COSTS SUBMITTED THAT DIVISION IS NOT LONGER -- THERE IS A NEED. IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND PROJECT AS A MATTER OF FACT. TAKE A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND PUSH IT TO THE FINISH LINE AND MAKE SURE ALL THE COMMUNICATION IS HAPPENING. FOR THIS DISTRICT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS A HUGE ISSUE AND WE SAW IT WITH SYNERGY. >>Jessica Vaughn: I THINK PART OF THE QUESTION IS, IS ONCE WE GET PAST THIS HURDLE AND UTILIZE THE SUPPORT OF MGT WHICH I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT, ARE WE THEN LOOKING AT INTERNALLY HIRING HIRING A PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THIS DEFICIT. AND HIRE WHO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ONCE WE JUMP THIS HURDLE, WE HAVE WHAT WE WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED. >> WE WILL LOOK AT >> WE WILL LOOK AT -- >>Christopher Farkas: YES, PART OF WHAT WE ASKED MGT TO DO, YOU HAVE BEEN IN OTHER DISTRICTS. CLARK COUNTY IN CLARK COUNTY IN VEGAS AND OTHER PLACES WITH LARGE -- TELL PLACES WITH LARGE -- TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ALLOCATE AND AND HELP US THAT WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATIONAL STANDPOINT FOR A RE ORG. AS YOU HEARD AT THIS DAIS BEFORE, NUMEROUS PEOPLE. NO NO REDUNDANCY. NO ONE PERSON THAT DOES ONE PROGRAM. WE HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING. THESE POSSIBLE TO A CHANGE TO WHAT THIS BOARD SAYS. 100% THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE OF HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR I.T. OF HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT. >>Jessica Vaughn: I COULD BE WRONG AND WHAT I AM HEARING CONSISTENTLY FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE WANT SOMETHING INTERNALLY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY OUTSOURCE CONSTANTLY OUTSOURCE CONSULTANTS TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT WITH FIDELITY, AND THE PRIORITY OF THE BOARD TO THE PRIORITY OF THE BOARD TO ORGANIZE THE I.T. DEPARTMENT. I COULD BE WRONG BUT OUT OF THE COMMENTS. >>Christopher Farkas: LET ME RESPOND REAL QUICK, IN INTERNAL TO DO THAT. MOST LARGE DISTRICTS AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. HYBRID, INTERNAL PEOPLE THERE. AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS THEY RESOURCE OUT BECAUSE NOT AN ABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE DO EVERYTHING INTERNALLY. DEVICE MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO. SECURITY. OTHER THINGS THEY OUTSOURCE PART OF IT TOO. A PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE IS 100% INTERNALLY TO BE A PART OF THAT TOO. I DON'T WANT TO TELL THE BOARD, HEY, NO OUTSOURCING. THERE ARE PARTS OF I.T. THAT IS BEST PRACTICE OUTSOURCED AFTER THAT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT HELPS ME UNDER UNDER UNDERSTAND. SOME QUESTIONS. LOOKING AT THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE AGREEMENT WITH THE MGT. WHAT I AM UNDERSTANDING FOR THE $750,000, THE FLAT FEE, IT IS HELPING RIGHT NOW WITH OUR ISSUES WITH SYNERGY ISSUES WITH SYNERGY AND THE COMMUNICATION, AS WELL AS THE TRANSITION TO FOCUS TRANSITION TO FOCUS IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. AM I AM I RIGHT IN WHAT WE ARE APPROVING IN THIS APPROVING IN THIS CONTRACT? >> CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: >>Jessica Vaughn: I HEARD ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS. THE PRICE OF THE CONSULTING IS MORE THAN THE PROGRAM WE ARE PURCHASING IN PURCHASING IN LIEU OF SYNERGY? OR MORE MONEY COMING FOR FOCUS. NEXT AGENDA ITEM FOR FOCUS $600,000. YOU SAID SOMETHING NEXT MEETING A DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEM. IS THAT GOING TO BE -- IS THAT FOR THE PRICE OF THE PROGRAM ITSELF? >> NO, I AM SORRY. MY REFERENCE WAS RELATED TO SYNERGY. THE FOCUS IS THE THE FOCUS IS THE $600,000. THAT IS THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. >>Jessica Vaughn: I AM HAVING A HONEST CONVERSATION HERE. MORE FOR THE CONSULTING FEE TO IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT -- TO HELP WITH IMPLEMENT -- TO HELP WITH SYNERGY AND IMPLEMENT THE NEW PROGRAM THAN WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THE ENTIRE NEW PROGRAMMING. >> THAT IS FOR >> THAT IS FOR THE -- FOR THE FIRST YEAR FOR FOCUS. AND THEY WAIVED SOME OF THE FEES THAT ARE NOTED ON THE THAT ARE NOTED ON THE -- THE LICENSING THEY WAIVED FOR US. >>Jessica Vaughn: WELK LOOKING AT EACH YEAR THAT AMOUNT COMING -- THAT WE ARE USING THAT PROGRAM. A YEARLY AMOUNT? >> THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE LICENSING, YES. >>Jessica Vaughn: HELPS ME UNDERSTAND SOME OF THAT. I GUESS WHAT WHICH FEEL LIKE -- THE MULTIPLE FRUSTRATION IS TRUST FACT TRUST FACT REMEMBER, RIGHT. HOW -- FACTOR, RIGHT. HOW DO WE TRUST -- WHEN WE WORRY OF THE OUTROLE OF IT, ASKED THE QUESTIONS AND HIRED CONSULTING QUESTIONS. AT THIS POINT PIVOTING SO QUICKLY WITHOUT A THOROUGH DISCUSSION -- I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO AND I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN'T, BASED ON THE EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK, ABSOLUTELY. WHERE IS THE CONFIDENCE FROM THIS BOARD THAT THIS NEW PROGRAM IS THE ONE THAT WORKS. THAT RESPECTFULLY TO MGT, THEY WILL BE THE CONSULTING COMPANY THAT CAN MAGICALLY DO WHAT THE OTHERS ONES DIDN'T WHEN TALKED OF ROLLING IT OUT. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR THE BOARD THAT THIS PLAN IS NOT GOING TO PUT NEWS THE SAME POSITION POSITION WE HAVE BEEN IN BECAUSE ULTIMATELY ONCE AGAIN AND I WILL REMIND YOU AS MANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE, WE ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, PERIOD. THE FORWARD-FACING PEOPLE THAT ARE HELD RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH SYNERGY RIGHT NOW. WHAT IS THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT WILL GIVE US THE CONFIDENCE THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK GOING TO WORK FOR OUR DISTRICT? >> OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE ARE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THIS. AND WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THOSE REGULAR UPDATES. IT IS AS WHOLE TEAM. WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SPONSORSHIP THAT IS HAPPENING AT THIS LEVEL WITH THIS PROJECT. AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE IT IS SURE IT IS SUCCESSFUL. AND MGT ALSO HELPED US TO GET SYNERGY STABILIZEDED FROM WORKING WITH US JUST IN THE PAST SIX WEEKS. SIX WEEKS. >>Christopher Farkas: DOCTOR, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE POSITIVE THAT THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND. FOCUS IS ALREADY IN LARGE DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA. THEY HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. NOT HAVING TO NOT HAVING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL NOT LIKE WHAT WE DID WITH NOT LIKE WHAT WE DID WITH SYNERGY. >>Jessica Vaughn: WHICH DISTRICTS. WHICH COMPARED TO WHICH COMPARED TO OURS? >>Superintendent Ayres: TWO LARGEST UTILIZE FOCUS. >>Jessica Vaughn: BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE. >>Christopher Farkas: FOCUS HAS ALREADY BEEN USED. OUR SCHEDULING SYSTEM BEFORE. OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE USED TO USING THAT FOCUS FOCUS SCHEDULE. NOT SOMETHING BRAND-NEW LIKE SYNERGY. CAREER, TECHNICAL AND ADULT SCHOOLS HAVE A FOCUS -- THEY ARE SPECIALIZED IN THAT SPECIALIZED IN THAT ARENA. THAT CONVERSATION CAME TO MR. BROOKS AND HIS TEAM, FOR USING ADULT AND CAREER EDUCATION. THEY SPECIALIZED IN THAT AND USE IT BEFORE. A FAMILIARITY. NOT BRAND-NEW TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE BUT THE FACT IT IS USED IN FLORIDA DISTRICTS AND NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL AGAIN ARE TWO HUGE FACTORS OF BEING SUCCESSFUL. >>Superintendent Ayres: THE MOST STABLE SOLUTION AND PATH MOVING FORWARD. >>Jessica Vaughn: COUPLE MORE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE WATCHING AND PANICKING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO USE THIS UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. I WANT TO CLARIFY WHILE WE ARE KEEPING THEM AND A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION OF LITIGATION AND WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR, WHILE WE ARE KEEPING THEM FOR REPORTING PERIOD FOR DECEMBER OF 2025, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ONLY LOOKING AT USING THEM UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE PEOPLE MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE PEOPLE LISTENING. >>Superintendent Ayres: YES, MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: FINALLY ONE OF MY QUESTIONS -- LAST QUESTION OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT SYNERGY WAS TRAINING AND WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. I ASKED THAT EVERY SINGLE THING WE ROLL OUT. ONE THING I I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY -- PUSH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY ON SINNER GEE BUT TRAINING WITH OUR STAFF WITH THIS ROLLOUT. LACK OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER CONCERNS WE HAVE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GUARANTEE ONCE WE PIVOT TO ANOTHER PLATFORM, WE ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES WITH THE TRAINING AND FOUNDATIONS THEY NEED TO YET LEARN ANOTHER PROGRAM IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME? >> SO THE RAIN THISSING WAS CLEARLY HIGHLIGHTED WHEN WE DID OUR OUR ANALYSIS IN OCTOBER -- OUR ANALYSIS IN OCTOBER -- IN SEPTEMBER. AND AND THERE WASN'T A DEDICATED TRAINING TEAM FROM THE DISTRICT TO PICK THIS UP THAT WERE PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS. SO WE HAD FLAGGED THAT. AND WE ASKED -- WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR PEOPLE FROM THE DISTRICT TO BE DISTRICT TO BE DEDICATED TO THIS. AND WE NEED -- AND THAT IS LIKE AND WE NEED -- AND THAT IS LIKE -- THAT IS A HUGE -- HUGE PART OF OUR PLATFORM IS THAT THE OF OUR PLATFORM IS THAT THE TRAINING HAS TO BE TRAINING HAS TO BE VERY GOOD AND TIMELY. IT HAS TO BE EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY. THE OTHER ISSUE. NOT THAT THE SYSTEMS DON'T MATCH BUT MONTHS AND MONTHS LATER BEFORE THEY HAVE TO USE IT. WE ARE CORRECTING ALL OF THAT. AND WE WILL HAVE PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS. AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEDICATED AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE START USING THIS SYSTEM UNTIL THEY ARE COMFORTABLE. >>Jessica Vaughn: WHEN YOU SAY "WE." SORRY I AM RUNNING OVER TIME. I WANT TO I WANT TO CLARIFY THIS. YOU MEAN YOU ARE TAKING YOU MEAN YOU ARE TAKING OWNERSHIP AS CONSULTING OR THE DISTRICT. >> ALWAYS THE DISTRICT. THIS THIS A DISTRICT PROJECT. NOT A MGT PROJECT. WE SUPPORT THE DISTRICT. WE SUPPORT MR. FARKAS -- >>Jessica Vaughn: WHO WILL PHYSICALLY HAVE THE TRAINING SINCE WE IS IT NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE TO DO IT LAST TIME. >> WE WILL WORK >> WE WILL WORK WITH OUR RESOURCES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT IF WE NEED TO DEDICATE MORE RESOURCES TO THAT. THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE DEVELOPING WITH MGT AS WELL. >>Jessica Vaughn: SO ANSWERS LIKE THAT -- I KNOW YOU ARE GIVING TO THE BEST OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THIS BOARD TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE USING THE STAFF THAT WE HAD STAFF THAT WE HAD LAST TIME THAT WASN'T SUFFICIENT AND WE ARE LOOKING WHETHER WE NEED MORE. THAT IS WHAT IS MAKING THIS A CHALLENGE. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT. >> I -- I -- >>Jessica Vaughn: >>Henry "Shake" Washington: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TRAINING FOR FOCUS AND SYNERGY AGAIN. PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH SYNERGY? >> THE PLAN IS NOT TO CONTINUE TRAINING ON TRAINING ON SYNERGY. WE WERE STABILIZING SYNERGY. THE TRAINING WILL BE MOVING FORWARD FOR FORWARD FOR FOCUS. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT CLEAR AGAIN, PLEASE. >>Van Ayres: WE HAVE TO UTILIZE SYNERGY THROUGH THE END OF 2025 FOR REPORTING PURPOSES. WE HAVE WE HAVE SYNERGY THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE'LL START WITH THE FOCUS SCHEDULING SYSTEM. LIKE MR. FARKAS MENTIONED ALL THE SECONDARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, UTILIZE THE FOCUS SCHEDULE BEFORE. THAT TRANSITION WILL BE EASIER FOR EMPLOYEES. WE MOVE INTO THE FOCUS THE TRAINING FOR FOCUS WHICH WILL START THEN JULY 1 WITH NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FOCUS THAT TRAINING, THAT'S WHY THE URGENCY BEHIND GETTING THIS DONE TO GIVE US LEAD TIME TO WHERE WE ARE READY TO ROLL JULY 1. WE CANNOT GET THIS WRONG. YOU HOLD THEY PERSONALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. I CANNOT GET THIS WRONG. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: MY QUESTION IS THIS. WE STARTING FOCUS IN WHEN, JULY? >>Van Ayres: YES, START OF >>Van Ayres: YES, START OF 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR WITH SYNERGY. >>Van Ayres: ABSOLUTELY. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: WE HAVING PROBLEM WITH SYNERGY. WE EXPECT TO YOU COME IN AND HELP US. >> WE ARE DOING BOTH. THE FOCUS PROJECT HAS TO START RIGHT AWAY SO IT CAN GO LIVE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. IT IS AN EIGHT-MONTH PROJECT. WE HAVE TO START RIGHT AWAY. DO THE SCHEDULING IN JANUARY. AS YOU HEARD, THE STAFF IS USED TO DOING SCHEDULING IN FOCUS SO THAT WILL NOT BE A THAT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SYNERGY TO MAKE SURE IT IS FUNCTIONAL. BUT THE FOCUS IS ON FOCUS TO MAKE A MAKE A PUN. WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON ON THE NEW SYSTEM. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: SOUND CONFUSED TO ME. IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORK. SOMEBODY GOT THEIR HAND UP. >> [INAUDIBLE] >>Henry "Shake" Washington: OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE RAISING YOUR HAND. >>Jessica Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTES WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE ITEM PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, 11.05, UPDATED STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THIS IS 11.05, WHICH WOULD BE OUR UPDATED STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. WE JUST HAD CONVERSATION AROUND IT. IT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FOCUS STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. AS WE MENTIONED THIS IS USED IN 39 FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING THE TWO LARGEST IN THE STATE. FOCUS IDENTIFIED AN ACCELERATED TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION TO ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT IS ON ITS NEW PLATFORM FOR THE START OF THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. THAT WAS FOR ME FROM THE BEGINNING MAKE SURE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD THAT IN 25-26 WE WERE NOT REPEATING THE SAME THING WE WERE FOR THE YEAR WE'RE IN NOW AND MOVE 25-26 THAT WE ARE ON THAT THAT NEW PLATFORM. DISTRICT PERSONALITY HAS FAMILIARITY WITH FOCUS HAVING UTILIZED THE SOFTWARE UP TO LAST YEAR. REQUIRES ONLY REFRESHER TRAINING FOR MANY OF THE DISTRICT'S PERSONNEL TO USE THE PRODUCT. 11.05, STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOCUS. FOCUS IS HERE AS WELL IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO FOCUS. >> BETHANY WITH FOCUS IS ALSO HERE. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 11.05. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: WE ARE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND WE HAVE TO GO WITH AN EVENT, GO WITH A NEW PRODUCT. THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND WE HAVE TO DO THAT. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS WE ARE STARTING THIS OFF IN A NEGATIVE FOOT ALREADY. IT IS THE STAFF. IT IS THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. IT IS THE CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS. IT IS THE IT IS THE APCs, ESE SPECIALISTS, OUR TEACHERS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE UTILIZING AND ARE RESPONSIBLE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THIS SYSTEM AND DAY FOR THIS SYSTEM AND NOT ONE TIME DID THIS DISTRICT MANAGEMENT TAKE TIME TO PULL TOGETHER A COMMITTEE OF THOSE STAFF THAT ARE UTILIZING THIS SYSTEM TO HAVE INPUT ON THE NEW SYSTEM WE USED. FOCUS COULD BE THE BEST SYSTEM IN THE STATE. THEY COULD BE THE BEST SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT THE FACT THAT WE DISRESPECTED OUR STAFF BY NOT EVEN GETTING THEIR INPUT AND I GET THERE WAS A VICE PRINCIPAL HERE OR SOMEONE THERE BECAUSE THEY CAME IN, YOU HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO GET A COMMITTEE, A DIVERSE COMMITTEE FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT OF USERS TO GIVE USERS TO GIVE INPUT. THEY SHOULD HAVE TESTED THE SYSTEM, PLAYED WITH THE SYSTEM, SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THE CAPABILITIES. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AS A REASON WE DIDN'T WAS TIME. NO ONE CARED ABOUT THEIR TIME WHEN THEY WERE WORKING ON SATURDAYS. NO ONE CARED ABOUT THEIR TIME WHEN THEY WERE WORKING OVERTIME OR REDOING SCHEDULES TWO AND THREE TIMES OR REDOING IEPs THROW, FOUR TIMES OR LEARNING FROM THEIR FAILURES AND TALKING WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE DISTRICT. BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO ASK THEM THEIR OPINION. AND I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THAT, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE UTILIZING THIS SYSTEM AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED BASED UPON OUR DECISIONS AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THE FACT WE GOT ZERO INPUT FROM THEIR USERS WAS FROM THEIR USERS WAS UTTERLY DISRESPECTFUL AND I'M PERSONALLY OFFENDED THAT OUR DISTRICT HANDLED IT IN THIS CAPACITY. I AM SO UPSET THAT WE DID NOT TAKE THE TIME. I GUARANTEE IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED A GROUP OF THEM, THEY WOULD BE HERE ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. THEY FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS YEAR WITH THIS SYSTEM THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN ANY TIME TO LOOK AT A NEW SYSTEM TO HAVE INPUT, TO GIVE FEEDBACK. BUT WE DID NOT ONE TIME ASK THEM FOR THAT AND I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT. THAT'S MY FIRST PART. THE SECOND PART IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO -- AND I HEAR YOU GUYS SAY, WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT OKAY BECAUSE WE'VE USED IT IN THE PAST. WE JUST DISCUSSED THE TURNOVER OF STAFF. 3,000 OPENINGS IN 2021. SO WE'VE REPLACED THESE STAFF A LOT. WE'VE MOVED OUR APs AROUND, APCs IN ALMOST EVERY HIGH SCHOOL ARE ALMOST DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO. THEY ARE NOT ALL GOING TO KNOW THE SCHEDULING. NOT EVERY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR IS STILL AT THE SAME HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. MY KIDS HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ALL KNOW THE FOCUS SYSTEM. ARE YOU TELLING ME THEY'LL HAVE TO CREATE SCHEDULES IN SYNERGY AND THEN COME BACK IN JULY AND RE-CREATE SYSTEMS IN FOCUS? OR ARE WE GOING TO TRAIN THEM AND THEY CAN CREATE THEM IN FOCUS FIRST? >>Van Ayres: THAT IS CORRECT. PART OF THIS PURCHASE -- PLEASE JUMP IN JUMP IN BETHANY -- UTILIZATION OF THE FOCUS SCHEDULER. THAT WOULD START NOW. WE'RE NOT UTILIZING DUPLICATE SYSTEMS IF YOU WANTED TO SYSTEMS IF YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT. >> YES. BEST PRACTICE IS TO START THE NEW YEAR SCHEDULING. 25-26 SCHEDULING WE HAVE TARGETED TO BEGIN BY THE END OF JANUARY SO THAT THE NEW YEAR SCHEDULES, WHAT THEY WILL GO LIVE WITH TO START THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR, THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR SCHEDULING IN THE FOCUS SYSTEM. >>Patti Rendon: WE'VE ONLY GOT THREE WEEKS BEFORE WE GO TO CHRISTMAS BREAK. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE TRAINED? >> SO OUR PLAN, WE HAVE A PROJECT PLAN. WE HAVE WE HAVE THAT OUTLINED. WE HAVE THAT TARGETED FOR THE JANUARY TIME FRAME AND THAT IS WHY IT IS SO CRITICAL TO RESTAND UP THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAD ARE A KIND OF ALREADY THAT WE WERE USING SO WE ALREADY HAVE THE SYSTEM WE CAN STAND UP. WE JUST HAVE TO SET UP AND MIGRATE DATA FOR THE CURRENT STUDENT POPULATION AND ROLL THAT INTO THE NEW YEAR. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO GET MEETING WITH THOSE PROCESS OWNERS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR SECONDARY SECONDARY SCHEDULING SO THAT WE ARE READY TO SCHEDULE STARTING IN THAT JANUARY TIME FRAME. >>Patti Rendon: LET'S PUT THIS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS. I'VE GOT A SENIOR FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND I'VE GOT TO CREATE A SCHEDULE AND MAKE SURE I FINISH ALL OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS MOVING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MIGRATE THEIR PREVIOUS INFORMATION IN WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO TOOK TWO YEARS TO MIGRATE THESE SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO USE SYNERGY. YOU'RE TELLING ME WE'LL DO THAT OVERNIGHT? >> NOT GOING TO DO IT OVERNIGHT BUT WHEN WE WERE THE SCHEDULING SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR FIVE YEARS WE WORKED WITH THE I.T. DEPARTMENT AND WE PROVIDED LAYOUTS TO THEM AND THEY PROVIDED DATA BACK TO US SO WE COULD BE LOADING THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO RUN THE SCHEDULES. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISTRICT HAS OVER A HUNDRED ACRs, AUTOMATED COURSE REQUESTS THEY USE FOR SCHEDULING. WE STILL HAVE ALL OF THE AUTOMATED COURSE REQUESTS AND PREPARED TO REBUILD ANY THAT ARE NEW. THAT IS THE BULK OF HOW YOU GET THE REQUEST IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE SCHEDULING PURPOSES. WE ARE ALREADY PREPARED AND ALREADY STILL HAVE THE EXISTING ONES FROM BEFORE. >>Patti Rendon: >>Patti Rendon: YOU SAID YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR TRAINING? >> WE HAVE UP TO FIVE TRAINERS WHO WILL COME IN AND RUN AS MANY SESSIONS AS WE NEED FOR TRAINING. WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON PRETRAINING FOR SCHEDULING, INTRODUCTION TO THE SYSTEM. WE START WITH THE OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM. WE MOVE INTO THE AUTOMATED COURSE REQUEST BECAUSE THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR YOUR DISTRICT AND HOW YOU ENTER YOUR REQUESTS. AND THEN WE GO INTO THE OTHER OPTIONS FOR MASSING REQUESTS AND INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS. SCHEDULING IS NOT A ONE AND DONE TRAINING. IT CAN BE UP TO FIVE DIFFERENT TRAINING DAYS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET REQUESTS IN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRAIN YOU ON HOW TO BUILD YOUR MASTER UNTIL YOU HAVE REQUEST AT SECONDARY LEVEL BUT REQUESTS DRIVE THE MASTER SCHEDULE. WE'LL START IN JANUARY WITH THE NAVIGATION AND REQUEST TRAINING. COMING BACK IN THE DETERMINED TIME, FEBRUARY-MARCH TIME FRAME, OPEN LABS. WE HAVE STAFF THAT WORKING ON THE PROJECT LIVES IN HILLSBOROUGH OR PINELLAS COUNTY. THEY ARE 30 MINUTES AWAY. THEY WILL BE HERE FOR THOSE OPEN LABS AND WE'LL BE RUNNING THOSE TO ENSURE COURSE REQUESTS ARE IN AND SUCCESSFUL. THEN WE WILL GO ON TO BUILDING THE MASTER SCHEDULE, WORKING ON HOW DO YOU BUILD THE MASTER SCHEDULE AND WHAT METHODS YOU HAVE FOR THAT AND THEN COME FOR OPEN LABS ON BUILDING THE MASTER SCHEDULE. THEN WE WILL BE BACK WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT I CALL WALK-IN SCHEDULING, RESOLVING CONFLICTS AND WE'LL HAVE OPEN LABS FOR THAT. WE HAVE BUDGETED FROM THE FOCUS SIDE TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM SIDE TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 75 DAYS OF TRAINING. IN ADDITION TO THE DISTRICT DOING TRAINING, WE ARE PROVIDING A MINIMUM OF 75 DAYS OF TRAINING TO THE TEAM AND A LARGE PART OF THAT GOES TO SCHEDULING AND ENROLLMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ENROLL STUDENTS AND GET THEM SCHEDULED BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. NO DISRESPECT, MY QUESTION WAS MORE TO THE DISTRICT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THE TRAINING? THAT'S GREAT THAT THEY HAVE ALL THAT TIME, BUT OUR THAT TIME, BUT OUR STAFF ARE IN SCHOOL. >> WE WILL BUILD IN THOSE DAYS AT THE LAB DAYS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME IN ABLE TO COME IN AND DO THOSE TRAININGS. >>Patti Rendon: NO OFFENSE, THAT DOES NOT DOES NOT -- WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN. DO WE HAVE A PLAN ON WHEN THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR? >> YES, WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR CURRENT APC MEETING SO WE ALREADY MEET AS APCs. ALSO ALREADY MEET AS GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. IN THE PAST, WE'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE DAYS ALREADY TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT IS THE CURRENT WORK THEY ARE WORKING ON. THAT IS SOMETHING, WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE DAYS SET UP AND PLANNED FOR WORKING ON OUR SCHEDULE WITH OUR APC AND OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. >>Patti Rendon: IT IS A LITTLE DISHEARTENING THAT YOU GUYS ARE COMING TOGETHER WITH IT NOW WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY RESPONSE, ALREADY LINED UP. WE'VE GOT TO GET BETTER AT THIS. WE HAVE TO GET WE HAVE TO GET BETTER. WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT'S NEXT. HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? WHAT IS THE MIGRATION PLAN? I HEAR YOU THAT THERE WAS A SYSTEM, WE COULD ADD TO A SYSTEM, SYSTEM, BUT THAT'S NOT -- OUR STAFF AREN'T HERE AT THE TABLE. AND THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN OF MINE. THE STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE WORK HERE ARE NOT HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE HERE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. WE'LL HAVE TO APPROVE THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, START PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN FOR THIS BOARD OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE I.T. DEPARTMENT, WHAT THE ROLE IS OF STAFF, WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT, WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT TRAINING, HOW THE TRAINING WILL BE DONE. NOT JUST ON A LINE AND IT'S DONE IN A VIDEO SENSE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND THEN AGAIN AND THEN CALL COLLEAGUES TO TROUBLESHOOT. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER BY OUR STAFF. I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT THE ANSWERS TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO BETTER BY OUR STAFF. BUT MY FEET IS TO THE BUT MY FEET IS TO THE FIRE. THEY CAN'T USE THEY CAN'T USE SYNERGY. I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT'S NEXT. I LOOK AT THIS CABINET TO BE HAVING THAT FIDELITY, TO HAVE A PLAN AND YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN AND THAT CONCERNS ME. I HAVE TO APPROVE THIS FOR NO OTHER REASON BUT OUR STAFF. BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE IN MY NOTES. WHAT DOES THIS EXACTLY ALL LOOK LIKE? THAT'S WHAT I WROTE DOWN. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH MGT AND FOCUS? HAVE YOU WORKED WITH THEM? FINALLY, 600,000 TO GET US ON BOARD, WHAT WOULD BE THE ANNUAL COST MOVING FORWARD? >> LET ME FIND THE PAGE. I BELIEVE THE LICENSING FOR YEAR ONE IN 2026 IS ONE IN 2026 IS APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION. >>Nadia Combs: AFTER THE 600,000, IT IS AN ANNUAL 1.3. >> CORRECT, FOR THE LICENSING. IT'S ON PAGE -- IT DOESN'T HAVE A PAGE NUMBER. ON THE TOTAL FIRST YEAR COSTS THAT SHOWS WHAT IS WAIVED AND THEN THEN YEAR TWO IS 700 -- EXCUSE ME, $7 ME, $7 PER STUDENT AND IT WAS APPROXIMATE $1.3 MILLION. AND THEN YOU SEE THE PRICING THAT GOES EACH YEAR. >>Nadia Combs: FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OTHER DISTRICTS WHEN THEY USE FOCUS, THEY USE OTHER PROGRAMS ALONGSIDE WITH THAT. >> SO OUR LARGE DISTRICTS, FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL USE BROWARD COUNTY, PALM BEACH COUNTY, DUVAL COUNTY, POLK COUNTY, PINELLAS COUNTY, THEY USE FOCUS FOR EVERYTHING EVERYTHING SIS EVERYTHING SIS RELATED. TEACHER GRADE BOOK, ATTENDANCE, DISCIPLINE, SCHEDULING, ENROLLMENT. MANY OF THEM USE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE. AND FOR ALL STATE AND FOR ALL STATE REPORTING. NOW, THERE ARE AUXILIARY SYSTEMS. THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT USE SCHOOLOLOGY. CANVAS FOR LMS SYSTEM SO THAT IS SOMETHING OUTSIDE. MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS USE PEER. STATE APPROVED IEP SYSTEM STATE APPROVED IEP SYSTEM AND FROM AN ACCOUNTABILITY STANDPOINT, MAKES IT EASIER ON THAT SIDE. BUT FOR EVERYTHING BUT FOR EVERYTHING CORE, PRE-ID, YOUR ASSESSMENTS, AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, ALL OF THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, ALL OF THAT IS DONE THROUGH FOCUS. >>Nadia Combs: THAT WAS MY >>Nadia Combs: THAT WAS MY BIG THOUGHT, THE THOUGHT, THE ESE THOUGHT, THE ESE PEER. MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, ARE THEY USING PEER ALONGSIDE WITH FOCUS. >> YES. NOW, PIER, THERE IS NO COST. WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN INTEGRATION WITH PEER. WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH PEER. WE PULL DATA BACK FROM PEER. WE MAKE IT EASIER ON THE WE MAKE IT EASIER ON THE ESE STAFFING SPECIALISTS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO DOUBLE ENTRY. WHAT THEY PUT INTO PIER THEY HAVE TO BRING BACK INTO FOCUS. WE HAVE AN INTEGRATION THAT WE WORK WITH PIER TO PULL THE DATA OUT FOR STATE REPORTING OUT FOR STATE REPORTING PURPOSES INTO FOCUS. >>Nadia Combs: HAVE YOU HAD A SITUATION SUCH AS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING, WHERE WE'RE IN A SYSTEM, TRYING TO MIGRATE INTO ANOTHER SYSTEM AT THE SAME TIME, HAS THIS OCCURRED AND WHAT'S THE OUTCOME? >> YES. I HAD ONE WORSE SITUATION THAN YOURS ACTUALLY. IN 2020 IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND HAD A RANSOMWARE ATTACK. THEY LOST THEIR ENTIRE SYSTEM. WE WERE THE ONLY THING LEFT STANDING BECAUSE WE WERE THE ONLY THING IN THE CLOUD. THEY THEY ARE 110,000. MUCH SMALLER. STOOD UP IN SIS IN SIX WEEKS. WE WERE ABLE TO -- THEY HAD THE RAN SOME WARE ATTACK DURING THE FIRST REPORT CARD PERIOD, DIDN'T GET REPORT CARDS OUT. END OF JANUARY, ALL REPORT CARDS OUT, TRANSCRIPTS OUT AND FIRST ROUND OF STATE ROUND OF STATE REPORTING. ONLY THING USED BEFOREHAND WAS SECONDARY SCHEDULING. WE KNOW TIGHT TIMELINES. I DON'T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT TIMELINE AGAIN, BUT WE HAVE DONE TIGHT TIMELINES BEFORE. WE HAVE DONE IMPLEMENTATIONS ANYWHERE FROM 27 MONTHS WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS TO OTHER DISTRICTS OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT HAVE GONE IN 8 MONTHS. WE ARE PREPARED FOR THAT. I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE SPONSOR FOR THIS PROJECT IF IT PASSES. WE WILL BE HERE. WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE. WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES. WE UNDERSTAND FLORIDA AND WE UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RELATED TO EDUCATION. WE'RE READY FOR THE CHALLENGE. >>Nadia Combs: YOU SOUND FULLY CONFIDENT. ONE COMMENT I WOULD MAKE, AGREE WITH MR. RENDON, IT SOUNDS LIKE FOCUS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, HOWEVER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AFTER EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH FOR A YEAR FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE'S INPUT SO THAT WAY THEY COULD BE ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAT THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M ASKING YOU REGARDING THIS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE SIMPLE TO GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATED, LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT TO COME IN, ASK THE QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, MAYBE FOCUS, BRING PEER HERE, MAYBE SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, TALK TO MGT. I THINK SOMETIMES AS A TEACHER YOU SOMETIMES KNOW WHAT THE DECISION IS DECISION IS GOING TO BE BUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IF IT IS THE RIGHT DECISION, THERE ARE IDEAS AND THOUGHTS PEOPLE HAVE OR QUESTIONS. JUST ASKING ABOUT PEER, LIKE WHO WOULD BE DISCUSSING THAT. ARE YOU GOING TO BE DECIDING THAT ALONGSIDE WITH OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT OR ARE YOU GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MGT TO MAKE THAT DECISION IF WE'RE GOING TO USE PEER OR NOT USE PEER. >> WE'LL BE WORKING ALONGSIDE MGT. ALREADY HAD PRELIMINARY MEETINGS ABOUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT STYLE, MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT. WE ALSO HAVE -- THEY ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR STAKEHOLDERS. WE WILL NOT ROLL OUT A SINGLE MODULE UNTIL WE'VE TALKED TO A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BECAUSE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PROCESSES. I'M GOING TO USE AN OLD MATH TERM FROM MATH DAYS 20 PLUS YEARS AGO, I TAUGHT MATHEMATICS. I ROLLED OUT THE I ROLLED OUT THE TI 81 I ROLLED OUT THE TI 81 GRAPH AND CALCULATOR. THAT CALCULATOR I DIDN'T USE THAT CALCULATOR I DIDN'T USE TO CHANGE AND REVOLUTIONIZE MATH. I TAUGHT MATH USING A TOOL. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH DISTRICTS TO LEARN THEIR PROCESSES AND ROLL OUT YOUR PROCESSES USING A NEW TOOL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TRAINING -- WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO THROW FOCUS AT YOU AND SAY HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE. WE'RE GOING TO TEACH YOUR TEAMS HOW TO DO THEIR PROCESSES INSIDE OF THE FOCUS SYSTEM. WE HAVE ALREADY IN THE PROJECT PLAN WE PROPOSED LAID OUT MEETING WITH EVERY SINGLE SPECIALTY GROUP, PROCESS OWNERS. PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF ATTENDANCE, DISCIPLINE, ENROLLMENT. WE UNDERSTAND FLORIDA SO WE CAN TALK WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE WITH REGARD TO FLORIDA. WE KNOW THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. WE CAN TALK FEDERAL. WE JUST NEED TO GATHER WHAT ARE YOUR DISTRICT POLICIES AND PROCESSES SO WE CAN ASSURE THAT FOCUS DOES FOCUS DOES WORK FOR YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: I'LL BE BRIEF. THANK YOU, MADAM THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY SUGGESTION WOULD MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE, FIRST, SUPERINTENDENT VAN SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, MEMBER COMBS MENTIONED THIS TO BE ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA. WOULD IT BE CALLED THE FOCUS STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM? >>Van Ayres: FOCUS STUDENT INFORMATION INFORMATION SYSTEM. PERFECT. IMPLEMENTATION. >>Lynn Gray: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLARIFIED. MY SUGGESTION FROM HERE ON IN THAT THERE WILL BE A HEAD OF THE I.T. DEPARTMENT TO COMPLEMENT THE SERVICE OF FOCUS AND TO COMPLEMENT MGT VERSUS COMPLEMENT MGT VERSUS HAVING THE VENDOR BE THE SPOKESPERSON. RIGHT NOW, THE UNIFORMITY IN MY MIND HAS TO MIND HAS TO BE THROUGH ONE VESSEL AND VESSEL AND COMPLEMENTED AGAIN BY THE ADJUNCTS WE SEE. MY THIRD MY THIRD SUGGESTION, DR. WHELAN, YOU'VE DONE THE BEST THAT YOU COULD IN EMBRACING ALL THE ANSWERS ANSWERS TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND I RESPECT THAT. HOWEVER, I DO THINK IT'S BEHOLDEN THAT WE ASK YOU THAT, WHETHER IT BE YOU OR THE NEW PERSON IN CHARGE OF I.T. OR BOTH TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE WITH BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE MEMBERS TO HAVE AN AVENUE TO COMMUNICATE THE ANSWERS TO OUR CONCERNS AND OUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE ONCE WE ARE GIVEN BECAUSE ONCE WE ARE GIVEN THE CORRECT COMMUNICATION, THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO REACT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION. YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF THAT. SO THAT'S MY SO THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION SO THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION AND A ONE-ON-ONE. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: I JUST HAD ONE OTHER COMMENT. YOU KNOW, YOU SAID THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MGT, HAVE YOU HAD HAD SOMEBODY FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALONG WITH THAT FROM THE I.T. DEPARTMENT? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THREE. ARE ALL THREE OF YOU WORKING TOGETHER? >> OUR PLAN, IF THIS IS APPROVED, WE WILL BE BACK HERE ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK TO MEET WITH THE I.T. TEAM, MEET WITH THE CORE TEAM, WORK ON THE PLAN, FINALIZE THE PLAN, FINALIZE PLANNING DOCUMENTATION AND OUR STEPS FORWARD. >>Nadia Combs: I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WITH FOCUS COMING ALONG, HAS THE I.T. DEPARTMENT REALLY BEEN ENGAGED ON REALLY BEEN ENGAGED ON WHAT FOCUS LOOKS LIKE? I DON'T WANT TO HERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERNAL HAVE NOT HAD ANY INPUT? >> WE'VE HAD CALLS WITH DR. WEEKS. >>Nadia Combs: I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE HAD INPUT AND INPUT FROM INTERNAL, THANK YOU. >>Van Ayres: I WANTED TO ADD, AS WE FINALIZED THESE TWO AGENDA ITEMS, NO ONE EXPECTED TO BE HERE NOW. WHEN WE STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR IN AUGUST, WE DID NOT EXPECT THE IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES WITH SYNERGY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE EXPECTED. IN THE MEANTIME, AS WE TRIED TO FIX THE SYSTEM OF SYNERGY AND GET THIS IMPLEMENTED WHERE IT WAS GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR HCPS, WE REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE FOUND WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT SYSTEM. IN THE MEANTIME, WE MISSED 11 DAYS OF SCHOOL. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THINGS HAPPEN IN BETWEEN. IT WAS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR ME TO COME UP WITH A PLAN SO WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE IN THE SAME SITUATION IN 25-26. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN THIS YEAR AND WE'RE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A PLAN MOVING FORWARD. I HEAR WHAT THE BOARD SAYS. I ASSURE YOU IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN OUR COMMUNICATION. I WANT TO SET A PERSPECTIVE. THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION I EXPECTED TO HAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL THAT WE WOULD HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH OUR STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. I HAD TO REACT TO IT. I HAD TO TAKE THE TEAM TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET US OUT OF IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AT LEAST LEAST ON 11.04. I HOPE WE CAN I HOPE WE CAN GET 11.05 THROUGH AS WELL. THIS IS THE BEST OPTION FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I HAVE A QUESTION. I SEE THAT ON THE APPOINTMENTS TODAY THAT WE'VE GOT A NEW APPOINTMENT TO OUR GENERAL MANAGER OF I.T. -- NO, SORRY. GENERAL MANAGER OF GENERAL MANAGER OF I.T. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- WHO IS THE LEADER OF OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT THAT SHOULD BE THAT SHOULD BE HERE? THAT ARE GOING TO THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE FACE AND THE TEAM MOVING FORWARD? >> SO THE PROJECT LEADS, I'LL GET ALL OF THOSE NAMES. WE HAVE ALL OF THE PROJECT LEADS IDENTIFIED THAT WILL BE AT THESE MEETINGS WITH US ON THE MEETINGS WITH US ON THE 5th AND THE AND THE 6th. THAT POSITION WILL BE ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE HIGHLY ENGAGED AROUND THIS FOR GETTING OUR FOCUS IMPLEMENTATION. >>Patti Rendon: YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING WHO IS LEADING OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT. THAT'S FINE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HIRING AND HIRING AND PAYING FOR TWO SYSTEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY? BOTH SYNERGY AND FOCUS. $600,000 FOR SYNERGY. HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING FOR FOCUS? HOW MUCH ARE WE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR SYNERGY? >> I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT FOR YOU. >>Van Ayres: SYNERGY CLOSES IN DECEMBER OF 2025. >>Patti Rendon: FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE ARE PAYING FOR TWO SYSTEMS, HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING FOR SYNERGY? WE'RE STILL PAYING THEM MONTHLY FOR THEIR SERVICES. WE STILL HAVE A PAYMENT THAT WE HAVE TO PAY. WE'RE PAYING FOR THE TWO SERVICES. >> THE CONTRACT HAS ALREADY -- YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE SYNERGY -- >>Patti Rendon: THE CONTRACT WAS APPROVED FIVE YEARS AGO AND WE HAVE CONTINUED THAT. HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING? ARE WE ARE WE PAYING 1.2 MILLION? 1.3 1.3 MILLION? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR TOTAL WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING. IS IT OVER 2 IS IT OVER 2 MILLION? IS IT 2.5? DO WE HAVE AN IDEA? >>Van Ayres: I WOULD ASSUME THAT ANYTIME YOU MOVE TO A NEW STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM THERE HAS TO BE AN OVERLAP, CORRECT? BY MOVING TO THIS NEW SYSTEM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TURN OFF ONE AND TURN ON THE OTHER. THERE HAS TO BE SOME POINT WHERE YOU HAVE BOTH STILL OCCURRING. SAME THING HAPPENING HERE. WHENEVER WE MOVE TO A NEW SYSTEM, THAT WOULD OCCUR. AM I CORRECT? >>Patti Rendon: WE WILL DEFINITELY BE DEFINITELY BE PAYING FOR TWO SYSTEMS. WE'RE GOING TO GET REPORTS REGULARLY ON WHERE THE STATUS OF EACH OF THESE ARE FROM OUR STAFF THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING IT. RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE JUST CONSULTANTS. WE HAVE NOT GONE TO MOVING TO AN OUTSOURCE OF ANYTHING. THESE ARE CONSULTANTS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THAT FROM OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. >>Van Ayres: SEEN THROUGH THIS SCHOOL YEAR, MEMBER COMBS, YOU MENTIONED ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING LEADING UP, ALL WE HEARD ABOUT THIS YEAR IS SYNERGY. I CAN ASSURE YOU FOR ME THAT IS OUR TOP PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THIS SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IS FLAWLESS. IT'S ALL I CAN DO. >>Patti Rendon: I APPRECIATE THAT BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY THAT ACTION WILL BE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. WE CANNOT CONTINUE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE ACTIONS THAT MEET THE NEEDS. AND OUR STAFF FEEL THE SAME AND OUR STAFF FEEL THE SAME WAY. THEY APPRECIATE THEY APPRECIATE IT, BUT WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH. THEY WANT TO SEE THAT THEY ARE RESPECTED, HEARD AND A SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS. IF FOCUS CAN'T DO EVERYTHING WE NEED, THEN WE NEED A DETAIL OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE MEMBER COMBS IS RIGHT, MOST OF OUR OTHER DISTRICTS DON'T JUST HAVE ONE SYSTEM. SO YOU'RE NOT SO YOU'RE NOT BRINGING US A PLAN. YOU'RE NOT BRINGING US A FULL PLAN ON WHAT WE NEED. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S THE DISTRUST. YOU'RE ONLY BRINGING US FOCUS BUT WE'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW THAT FOCUS ISN'T DOING EVERYTHING WE NEED. IT'S NOT FULLY IT'S NOT FULLY REPLACING SYNERGY. THERE ARE HOLES. HOLES WITH ESE. HOLES HERE. WE'RE EXPECTING FROM YOU, I'M EXPECTING NEXT BOARD MEETING YOU'LL HAVE A PLAN, SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT THAT'S LOOKING LIKE AND WHO IS DOING WHAT SO STAFF HAS A RELIABILITY OF WHAT THE PLAN IS. ALL THEY KNOW IS THEY HAVE NEW TRAINING TO ADD A NEW SYSTEM. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS. WHAT I HEAR IS THE CONFLICT AND I AGREE WITH HAVING TO MOVE TO THIS QUICKLY AND NOT GIVING -- GETTING, SOLICITING INPUT FROM STAFF AS WE WOULD IN A NORMAL ACQUISITION PROCESS. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE NOT MANY OPTIONS. MY QUESTION IS ALTHOUGH I HEAR YOU SAY LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE KEY PARTNERS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO KIND OF HAVE THOSE MEETINGS WITH TO GET THAT WITH TO GET THAT FEEDBACK, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN IT UP FOR VIRTUAL Q & A WITH OUR STAFF WHO WOULD NORMALLY HAVE QUESTIONS TO KIND OF EASE QUESTIONS TO KIND OF EASE OR -- I UNDERSTAND KEY MEMBERS, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE USING IT EVERY DAY. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LIKE A VIRTUAL Q & A FROM THE COMPANY WITH ANY STAFF MEMBERS OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS WHO WHO HAVE QUESTIONS WHO ARE GOING TO BE USING IT THAT CAN ASK THE QUESTIONS, WILL WE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE? >> [INAUDIBLE] >>Jessica Vaughn: IT STILL MATTERS. WON'T CHANGE OUR DECISION. AS YOU ROLL THIS OUT, LOOKING AT THINGS WE WANT TO IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, GIVE THEM THE ACCESS WHERE IT WON'T CHANGE WON'T CHANGE THE DECISION BUT WILL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT? YES. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I AGREE THAT I'M CONFUSED AS -- I HEAR YOU SAY YOU HAVE FIVE TRAINERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, IS THAT TO TRAIN DISTRICT STAFF WHO THEN WE'RE IN CHARGE OF DOING THE TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES? FIVE STAFF MEMBERS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE 20,000 EMPLOYEES WE HAVE OR HOWEVER MANY ARE GOING TO BE USING USING THIS. WHAT DOES THAT MODEL LOOK LIKE? >> TO MAKE A COMPARISON, BROWARD COUNTY WE PROVIDED 230 DAYS -- WE HAD FIVE TO SEVEN TRAINERS AND WE TRAINED A TOTAL AND WE TRAINED A TOTAL OF 237 DAYS OVER THE LAST -- DAYS OVER THE LAST -- WELL, FROM JANUARY TO JULY OF LAST SUMMER TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING LAST SUMMER. BUT WHAT IT LOOKS BUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHEN WE'RE MEETING WITH THE DIFFERENT PROCESS AREA GROUPS, WHERE DO WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO THE TRAINING? WHERE DO WE NEED TO LEAD THE EXPERTISE TRAINING AND HAVE DISTRICT STAFF WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE ON AND BE SUPPORTS MOVING FORWARD COTRAIN WITH US OR BE IN THE ROOM TO LEARN? AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SCHEDULING AND ENROLLMENT, WE TYPICALLY DO ALL OF THAT TRAINING. WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS, WE'LL MEET WITH THE GROUPS. DOES THE ATTENDANCE PROCESS OWNER HAVE A STRONG TEAM AND DO THEY WANT US TO TRAIN THEIR TEAM AND THEN THEIR TEAM BE THE TRAIN THE TRAINERS. WE'VE TALKED THROUGH THAT AS PART OF THE SPECIALTY MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHICH DEPARTMENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY CAN DO A TRAIN THE TRAINER MODEL VERSUS, OKAY, BETHANY, WE NEED FOCUS TO DO THIS TRAINING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE COMFORT LEVEL INSIDE OF THAT TEAM. BENEFITS OF A TRAIN THE TRAINER MODEL IS THAT DEPARTMENT REALLY LEARNS THE SYSTEM AND OWNS IT AND ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT LONG TERM. BUT WE KNOW IN REALITY IT'S HARD TO FIND THE TEAMS THAT CAN DO THAT. I'LL USE SOMETIMES THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AS AN EXAMPLE. THEY TYPICALLY AND A LOT OF DISTRICTS HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS. BY US PROVIDING THE TRAINING TO THE LEADS, THEY THEN GIVE A LITTLE BIT EACH MONTH IN THEIR MEETINGS TO BRING THE TEAM ON AND THEY DON'T TRY AND DO A FOUR-HOUR TRAINING ALL AT ONCE. THIS MONTH WE'LL THIS MONTH WE'LL SHOW THIS MONTH WE'LL SHOW YOU THE BENEFITS THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU. TALK TO YOU ABOUT TALK TO YOU ABOUT TRANSCRIPTS. TALK ABOUT PRINTING DIFFERENT LETTERS FOR FAILURES OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. SO IF THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT LEVERAGE MONTHLY MEETINGS OR REGULAR MEETINGS, WE'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE MEETINGS AND WE'LL OFFER THE TRAINING AND DO SOME TRAIN THE TRAINER. JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, OUR TRAIN THE TRAINER ISN'T A ONE AND DONE. IT IS A THREE-PART TRAIN THE TRAINER. WE TRAIN YOU ON THE CONTENT OF FOCUS. THEN THEY CAN GO BACK AND PRACTICE. WE TRAIN ON THE BEST METHODOLOGIES IN TRAINING THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THAT METHOD. THEN WE COME BACK A THIRD TIME WITH THE TRAIN THE TRAINER GROUP AND NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD TIME TO GET IN AND PLAY, LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE WE TAILOR ALL THE DOCUMENTATION CUSTOM TO PROCESSES. WON'T GET GENERIC FROM US WON'T GET GENERIC FROM US ON ANYTHING. THE THIRD TRAIN THE TRAINER SESSION IS ARE YOU NOW COMFORTABLE TO GO AND MEET WITH YOUR MEMBERS AT YOUR CAMPUSES TO DO THE DO THE TRAINING? IF WE DO TRAIN THE TRAINER IN DIFFERENT AREAS, THAT IS THE METHODOLOGY WE FOLLOW FOR TRAIN THE TRAINER. >>Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. KIND OF WHAT I'M KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING, THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS CHUNKING DOWN THE TRAINER. MY CONTINUED CONCERN IS WHO THE TRAINERS WILL BE AND WHERE THE WORKLOAD IS. NO MATTER HOW WE HAVE ASKED IT, WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER. WHAT I'M CONFUSED ABOUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS WHERE MGT WOULD COME IN. YOU HAVE A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRAINING PROCESS. WHAT I'M WHAT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IS WHERE IS MGT THAT WE'RE WHERE IS MGT THAT WE'RE PAYING $750,000 IN THIS PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THAT TRAIN THE TRAINING MODEL IS FEASIBLE. I'M NOT LOOKING AT I'M NOT LOOKING AT PUTTING ANY ADDITIONAL WORK ON OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS. IF YOU UNDERSTAND OUR DISTRICT, THAT'S NOT EVEN A VIABLE ANSWER. WHERE IS THE BANDWIDTH AND THE RESOURCE? AGAIN, WE CAN BLAME A LOT OF THINGS ON SYNERGY, BUT WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IS WHERE THE TRAINING COMES FROM. NO MATTER HOW IT IS ASKED, EVEN THOUGH I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER AND WHAT YOU CAN OFFER, I'M NOT HEARING, I UNDERSTAND, WE'RE ROLLING THIS OUT QUICKLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH MGT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT PIECE COME IN FOR OUR BANDWIDTH OF THE TRAINING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER NOW, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. OVER AND OVER OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT IS A CONCERN WE HEAR COMING FROM BOARD MEMBERS AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HEAR COMING. I HEAR THE CONFIDENCE FROM YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. THAT'S THE ANSWERS WE NEED. THAT'S MY THOUGHT PROCESS. ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE IN CLOSING ON THIS IS I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT AT ONE POINT MGT DID SAY THAT PART OF THIS CHALLENGE OF ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MUCH CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP OVER AND OVER AGAIN, RIGHT? I JUST WANT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT CONTINUALLY CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, WHETHER BOARD MEMBERS, CABINET, SUPERINTENDENT, IS NOT HEALTHY FOR ROLLOUTS AND THE STABILITY OF OUR DISTRICT. YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED THAT PERFECTLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS. THE LAST THING REALLY THAT I WANT TO TALK WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS ONE OF THE FRUSTRATION PIECES THAT I ALSO HEAR IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE WITH SYNERGY. WHO WAS THE ACCOUNTABLE PERSON? WAS IT I.T. PROFESSIONAL? SYNERGY IS NOT TAKING ENOUGH ACCOUNTABILITY. SURE, THEY ARE OFFERING SERVICES BUT SHOULD HAVE HAD THE FORETHOUGHT TO SEE THE SYSTEM WOULDN'T BE COMPATIBLE WITH OUR NEEDS. I'M ASKING YOU WITH YOUR FULL CONFIDENCE, SAYING YOU ARE THE FACE OF IT, YOU ARE THE PERSON WE CAN HOLD AND ARE TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY TO GIVE US THE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO WORK FOR OUR NEEDS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS I HAVE. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WHOO! THAT COMES TO THE END OF A VERY LONG AGENDA. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THIS EVENING, FIRST SCHOOL CHOICE MAGNET MAGNET APPLICATION WINDOW FOR 25 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN. RUN THROUGH TUESDAY, RUN THROUGH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31 AT 11:59 P.M. CHOICE WINDOW, FIRST WINDOW OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 31. FAMILIES CAN CHOOSE OVER FAMILIES CAN CHOOSE OVER 100 K-12 TUITION PROGRAMS BASED ON CURRICULUM, STUDENT INTEREST OR WAY OF LEARNING. TO APPLY OR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG/CHOICE. SPECIAL CONGRATS TO 2024 COLLEGE BOARD AP SCHOOL HONOR ROLL RECIPIENTS. THIS RECOGNITION ACKNOWLEDGES SCHOOLS THAT DEMONSTRATE HIGH PERFORMANCE WHILE INCREASING ADVANCE PLACEMENT COURSE. PLATINUM, GOLD, SILVER BRONZE. MANY SCHOOLS EARN AP ACCESS AWARD WHICH HONOR SCHOOL COMMITTED TO EQUITY BY ENSURING AP COURSES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SCHOOLS LISTED. ALSO SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO STUDENTS NAMED WINNERS OF 2024 FLORIDA SPACE ART CONTEST FOR K-5 STUDENTS. GABRIELLE, A SECOND GRADE STUDENT AT LOWRY AND SHARON, A THIRD GRADE STUDENT AT THIRD GRADE STUDENT AT MITCHELL. GABRIEL WAS NOT ONLY A FINALIST BUT ALSO NAMED ONE OF THE TWO GRAND PRIZEWINNERS. HIS ORIGINAL ART PIECE WILL BE FLOWN INTO SPACE ON AN UPCOMING SpaceX MISSION TARGETED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. IT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AND HONOR OUR STATE'S RICH HISTORY IN SPACE EXPLORATION. IT WAS IT WAS A BUSY DAY YESTERDAY, AND PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD OUR PRINCIPAL AND APs OF THE YEAR. SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY TORE RELLY TORE RELLY AND DR. TORE RELLY AND DR. JENNIFER. A LOT OF BOARD MEMBERS WERE THERE AS WELL TO CELEBRATE OUR PRINCIPAL AND AP OF THE PRINCIPAL AND AP OF THE YEAR. FINALISTS, EDUCATION EXCELLENCE FINALIST. WE WE WERE ON SURPRISE PATROL. WAS WAS THAT YESTERDAY? OUR EDUCATION IN EXCELLENCE FINALIST. YESTERDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURPRISE AND CELEBRATE THE 2025 EXCELLENT EDUCATION AWARD FINALIST. HIGHLIGHT THESE. HENRY BRYSON, TEACHER AT HENRY BRYSON, TEACHER AT LETO. ROXANNE CORIELLI. ADAM AT PRIDE. BRANDI, SCIENCE RESOURCE TEACHER AT SPRINGHEAD. AND MONTINE, ENGLISH TEACHER AT NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. THOSE ARE OUR THOSE ARE OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS. IDA S. BAKER EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR FINALIST, SHERRY ANN JOHNSON, SCHOOL NURSE AT GIBSONTON AND TONYA COACH AT FREEDOM. FINALLY, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FINALIST, BONNIE WALTERS, SECRETARY AT SECRETARY AT TAMPA PALMS. NORMA GARCIA, BILINGUAL AIDE AT MORT. HOLLY AT CLAYWELL ELEMENTARY. SUSAN, OAK PARK. WE LOOK FORWARD, MARK YOUR CALENDARS. RECOGNIZE THE STELLAR EMPLOYEES AND REVEALING WINNERS FOR EACH CATEGORY. THAT IS JANUARY 23rd. AGAIN, WE'LL DO IT AT THE EDUCATION AWARDS CEREMONY AT THE STRAZ CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS, AGAIN ON JANUARY THE 23rd. I'LL THROW THIS ONE OVER TO MR. FARKAS, BUT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE. WE HAD SOME PLANNING COMMISSION AWARDS AND A LOT OF OUR DISCUSSION AROUND PLANNING, MR. FARKAS, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS. I KNOW I MISSED A COUPLE. >>Christopher Farkas: FIRST TIME EVER, THREE CATEGORIES FOR THE 42nd ANNUAL PLANNING COMMISSION. DOROTHY THOMAS WAS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY. ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL REBUILD WAS AN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE. ADUM WAS AWARD OF ADUM WAS AWARD OF MERIT. DESIGN TEAMS AND CONSTRUCTION TEAMS FOR ALL THOSE INTERNALLY. >>Van Ayres: GREAT JOB YOU AND YOUR TEAM, MR. YOUR TEAM, MR. FARKAS. THAT IS MY SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. THE FIRST ONE UP IS MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT FEELS LIKE WE HAD A REORG MEETING BUT HAVEN'T HAD A BOARD MEETING SINCE THE HURRICANE. I HAVE A LOT OF THANK YOUS TO SAY. FIRST OF ALL, OPERATION BARBEQUE. THEY FED THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY WITH WITH OVER 2,000 MEALS FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. FED PLANT CITY COMMUNITY AT TURKEY CREEK, TURKEY CREEK, BERNIE AND AT BURNETT -- BURNETT -- NOT BURNETT -- NOT BURNETT. ANYWAYS SEVERAL OF ANYWAYS SEVERAL OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. PERSONALLY THANK THEM FOR THE SUPPORT THEY GAVE. ALSO TO THE PLANT CITY COMMUNITY, THE FISHHAWK COMMUNITY, BLOOMINGDALE COMMUNITY, ALL COMING OUT FOR FLOODING VICTIMS IN BOTH PLANT CITY AND THE ALAFIA. WE HAD MANY SCHOOLS THAT WERE FLOODED AND MANY RESIDENTS FLOODED AND EVERYONE FLOODED AND EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER. IT WAS A COMPLETE GROUP EFFORT FROM THE COUNTY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE EFFORT TIME AND EFFORT PUT IN FROM CUSTODIAL STAFF TO STAFF FOR SHELTER, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO IT. STAFF LITERALLY WORKING BEFORE OUR SHELTER STAFF EVEN GOT THERE PREPARING OUR SCHOOLS. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT GREETED FAMILIES WHEN THEY GOT THERE HOURS BEFORE THE STORMS HIT. SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTERS WENT DAYS AFTER THE SHELTERS, THE STORM WAS PASSED. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF. OUR FOOD SERVICE STAFF THAT WORKED OVERTIME, TRIPLE TIME THROUGH THROUGH MULTIPLE SCHOOLS COMING TO THE AID OF EACH OTHER AND WORKING TO FEED THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WE HAD IN OUR SHELTERS EVERY SINGLE EVERY SINGLE DAY. I CANNOT -- I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK ALL OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAFF THAT WERE IN OUR WERE IN OUR SHELTERS, THAT WERE AIDING AND WORKING OUR SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE TIME THE STORM HIT, MAKING SURE FAMILIES HAD HOUSING THAT THEY HAD SHELTER, THAT THEY HAD FOOD. THE FEEDING TAMPA BAY, ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL ORGANIZATION THAT WERE THERE. THEY WERE ON THE GROUND FROM THE MOMENT THE STORM HIT TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES WORKING OUR FAMILIES WORKING TO DO THAT SENATOR RUBIO'S OFFICE WAS IN. CONGRESSMAN LEE. CONGRESSMAN CASTOR, MANY OF OUR LEGISLATORS, YES, SENATOR COLLINS, SENATOR BURGESS, ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS FROM REPRESENTATIVE ALVAREZ, REPRESENTATIVE OWEN, REPRESENTATIVE McCLURE, REPRESENTATIVE VALDES, REPRESENTATIVE HART, EVERY REPRESENTATIVE HART, EVERY ONE OF OUR LEGISLATORS FROM OUR FEDERAL TO OUR STATE WERE ON THE GROUND WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, REALLY TAKING NOTICE OF ALL THE WORK OUR STAFF DO ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR HURRICANE AND SHELTERS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PERSONALLY THANK THEM ALL FOR ALL THE EFFORTS THEY PUT INTO THE TIME DURING THE STORM AND AFTER. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS -- SORRY, ALL OF OUR FINALISTS FOR ALL OF OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, IDA S. OF THE YEAR, IDA S. BAKER AND SUPPORT STAFF. CONGRATULATIONS TO PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. PHENOMENAL CATEGORIES AND PHENOMENAL STAFF THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT. WE'RE WE'RE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HONOR A COUPLE BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY OUT THERE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HONOR. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE OF OUR TIME FRAMES. TAKE A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT AFTER THE TIME THAT WE WERE OUT FOR THE HURRICANE AND THEN OUT FOR BREAK AND ALL THE CHANGES AND ALL THE TRANSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE. YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YOUR STUDENTS. YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR EACH OTHER. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU DOING THIS JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH THE TRIAL AND TRIBULATIONS YOU'VE HAD THIS YEAR, JUST THANK YOU. IT'S THE ONLY THING WE CAN SAY. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. BUT THANK YOU. WE RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION, THE HARD WORK, THE EXTRA TIME YOU PUT IN, THE CARE YOU PUT IN GOING OUT TO SEE YOUR STUDENTS DURING THE TIME MAKING SURE THEY WERE SAFE, MAKING SURE THEY HAD SHELTER. EVEN AFTER THE STORM WHEN YOU KNEW YOU YOURSELF WERE LOOKING FOR SHELTER AND LOOKING FOR YOUR OWN NEEDS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TODAY AND HAVE DONE BEFORE AND WILL DO TOMORROW. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: MY MESSAGE IS WITH GRATITUDE. I WANT TO THANK THE MANY GROUPS, ENTITIES WHO TOOK CARE OF OVER 654 FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR A FOR A TOTAL OF 15,000 FOLKS THAT WE HOUSED AND MADE SURE THEY WERE SAFE. SPECIFICALLY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WE THANK YOU. APs. IN ADDITION, THESE PRINCIPALS AND APs ALSO TOOK PART IN THE HURRICANE MILTON HURRICANE MILTON RELIEF SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION. THEY WORKED VERY, VERY HARD AS WE ALL KNOW. OUR CUSTODIANS WHO KEPT THOSE SCHOOLS PRISTINE AND CLEAN, OUR SCHOOL NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND, YES, STUDENT NUTRITION TOOK UPON HER RESPONSIBILITIES MAKING SURE EVERYONE WAS FED AT THOSE SHELTERS AND FEEDING TAMPA BAY WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL PARTNER IN THAT EFFORT. I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. THE ESE STAFF, THE ESE STAFF, SHE, VERY HARD -- VERY, VERY HARD JOB. CITY OF TAMPA. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, HILLSBOROUGH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND, OF COURSE, ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES DURING THESE TWO HURRICANES THAT HIT US HARD. ANOTHER GRATITUDE ANOTHER GRATITUDE CALL-OUT. PUBLIC EDUCATION WON IN TAMPA FLORIDA. 67 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS SAID YES TO THE YES TO THE MILLAGE. I WANT TO THANK SPECIFICALLY SUPERINTENDENT VAN SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES FOR ALL OF THESE TALKS YOU DID THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DISTRICT. OUR CTA, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR CTA, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR TAMPA CHAMBER, HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION, OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PTA, AND THE MANY, MANY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS WHO SPREAD THE NEED FOR SPREAD THE NEED FOR HARDWORKING TEACHERS AND STAFF TO TEACHERS AND STAFF TO RECEIVE EQUITY AND PAY AND A SALARY WHICH MOTIVATES THEM TO WHICH MOTIVATES THEM TO STAY IN OUR DISTRICT. NEWS FROM OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE, THE TASK FORCE, THE ANNUAL HAPPENSY PRELIMINARY COMPETITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE JANUARY 28 AT TAKE PLACE JANUARY 28 AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, JANUARY 29 AT BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL, AND JANUARY 30 AT 30 AT LETO. THE BIG COMPETITION AND LAST YEAR WE YEAR WE HAD 189 SCHOOLS, BIG COMPETITION WILL BE ON COMPETITION WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 22 AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL -- EXCUSE ME, LAST EXCUSE ME, LAST YEAR 169 SCHOOLS. I WANT TO THANK PUBLICLY I WANT TO THANK PUBLICLY DR. ANDREA BEVERLY, CHRIS, AND OUR WONDERFUL SOCIAL STUDIES STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS WHO TOOK PART LAST YEAR AS WELL. HOW COME SO MANY STUDENTS COMPETE? FRED HEARNS HAD BEGUN THE IDEA OF A THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUB. FROM TWO YEARS AGO, FROM TWO YEARS AGO, ALLISON EDGECOMB TOOK UPON THIS ORGANIZATION AND HAS NOW 46 CLUBS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT IN ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. NEWS FROM OUR HISPANIC FORUM. BIG THANK YOU TO KELLY SERVICES FOR HIRING NOW BILINGUAL SUBSTITUTES TO HELP FILL THE VOID OF BILINGUAL INSTRUCTION VOID OF BILINGUAL INSTRUCTION TO OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS. AND THANK YOU ALSO AND THANK YOU ALSO TO JULIA SARAH MENTO FOR TRAINING LATINOS IN ACTION TO ALSO IN ACTION TO ALSO DO BILINGUAL TUTORING. PRINCIPAL DEANNA FISHER WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU HOW LATINAS IN ACTION ARE DOING THE MENTORING AND TUTORING TO THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS. NEWS FROM OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY COMMITTEE. NEXT ONLINE SAFETY FORUM WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY HELD ON JANUARY 22 AT ADUM HIGH SCHOOL, SCHOOL, K-8. ALSO, IN THE SPIRIT OF CONGRATULATING OUR CONGRATULATING OUR FINALISTS, EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF EVERY ONE OF THEM. I ALSO WANT TO I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR SPONSORING AND HOLDING THIS EVENT AND HOLDING THIS EVENT AND BIG-TIME APPRECIATION TO ANN MARIE COURTNEY WHO COORDINATES ALL THIS. I'M ALMOST DONE. FOR RIGHT NOW THAT'S ENOUGH. THANKS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS TO THANK THE VOTERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I CAN'T TELL YOU I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT I FELT THE MILLAGE FELT THE MILLAGE PASSING. I FELT IT WAS LIKE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT WAS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME BEING REELECTED. IT WAS JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR TEACHERS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR CUSTODIANS TO FEEL NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING TO FINANCIALLY BENEFIT, BUT THE RESOUNDING VOTE RESOUNDING VOTE THAT 67% OF PEOPLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY REALLY EVEN AFTER HURRICANES AND I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING, PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY EVERY DAY TO PAY THE BILLS. THE IDEA THAT THEY WOULD REALLY GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR THAT AND MAKE SURE TO PRIORITIZE. I REMEMBER THE NIGHT PRIOR, I SAID, MY GOODNESS, I HOPE IT PASSES. I KNOW SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND I WERE TALKING. I HOPE IT PASSES BY 53, 54 PERCENT. BUT TO SEE A 67 PERCENT, I THINK IT REALLY SENDS A MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT REALLY WE VALUE EDUCATION. WE VALUE WE VALUE TEACHERS. WE VALUE OUR WE VALUE OUR CUSTODIANS, WE VALUE EVERYONE. I CAN'T THANK THE VOTERS ENOUGH. I ALSO WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY TRANSPARENT GROUP THAT IS GOING TO OVERSEE IT, AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED WE DELIVER IN OUR PROMISES AND THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT'S SUSTAINABLE. I WOULD TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, IF YOU TIME, IF YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY VALUE OR PAYING MORE TAXES, THE FIRST THING PEOPLE ASK WHEN THEY MOVE INTO A HOME, WHAT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LIKE? WHAT ARE THE SCHOOLS SURROUNDING ME? REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OR NOT, THAT REALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH YOUR PROPERTY VALUE WILL GO UP. AS SCHOOLS ARE AS SCHOOLS ARE STRENGTHENED AND WE HAVE TEACHERS IN FRONT OF STUDENTS, GUESS WHAT, YOUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING TO INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY. MORE IMPORTANT, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A CITIZENS AND YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY FOCUSES REALLY FOCUSES ON EDUCATION. HERE AS A REELECTED OFFICIAL, DO NOT THINK I'M NOT GOING TO CONTINUE FIGHTING AT THE STATE LEVEL EVERY SINGLE TIME I CAN TO ASK FOR MORE AND CONTINUE SAYING THAT WE ARE TRULY THAT WE ARE TRULY UNDERFUNDED REGARDLESS, EVEN IF YOU ARE RECEIVING THAT VOUCHER AND YOU'RE GOING TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, GUESS WHAT, THE INCREASE HAD OF THE TUITION HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY. IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CHOICE, YOU'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ASK FOR MORE. ALTHOUGH ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM WE TALK ABOUT AN INCREASE, IT STILL NEEDS TO BE FAR MORE THAN WE'RE ASKING. THE COST OF LIVING IS COSTING SO MUCH AND EDUCATING A CHILD WHEN YOU LOOK AT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY TO THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS SO EXPENSIVE BUT WE DO A GREAT JOB BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I LOOK AT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR AGING TEACHERS WHO ARE RETIRING, PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING SO MUCH LONGER, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT YOUNG ATTRACT YOUNG TEACHERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT WHEN EVENTUALLY WE ALL MOVE ON OR RETIRE. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TEACHERS. YOU SEE IT EVERY COLLEGE, USF, UT, THERE IS A VERY LOW NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING INTO EDUCATION. THAT IS A FACT AND THAT IS REALLY TIED TO -- AND ALSO THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS. EXPECTATIONS ARE SO HIGH, NEEDS ARE SO HIGH FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT THE SALARY REALLY DOESN'T EQUAL THAT, SO THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. I KNOW THE OTHER MEMBERS, THANK EVERYONE FOR WHAT WE DID WITH THE HURRICANE. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE SHELTER AND IT WAS PRETTY LIFE CHANGING FOR ME TO SEE THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND WHO COMES AND WHO NEEDED HELP AND WHEN IT ENDED, WHO STAYED THERE, WHO CONTINUED TO NEED HELP. THE POVERTY THAT WE HAVE THE POVERTY THAT WE HAVE IN THIS DISTRICT WAS REALLY EYE DISTRICT WAS REALLY EYE OPENING. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HELPED, PRINCIPAL HELPED, PRINCIPAL LIEULOFF HELPED, PRINCIPAL LIEULOFF WHO HAD HER DAUGHTER WHO WAS THERE HELPING ALL THE HELPING ALL THE TIME. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING SO HARD BEYOND THE HOURS BECAUSE THEY CARE AND THEY LOVE THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED. ALL THE EMERGENCY WORKERS. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPERATIONS TEAM AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THE CAFETERIA WORKERS WHO WORK SO HARD. FINALLY, THANK YOU TO THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COUNCIL. WE HAD SUCH A GREAT MEETING YESTERDAY AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST PARTS WAS REALLY ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENTS ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENTS AND SEEING HOW MUCH THEY CARE. THIS GENERATION REALLY CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP INSTILLING ALL THE VALUES WE'RE PROVIDING. SO THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY WELCOME BACK. WELCOME BACK TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, TO DISTRICT STAFF. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A RESTFUL BREAK, THAT YOU KIND OF REFILLED YOUR BUCKETS. I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME CLEANING OUT MY KITCHEN CABINETS. HEY, THEY NEEDED TO GET DONE. WELCOME BACK. I ECHO SENTIMENTS AROUND HURRICANE. FEELS LIKE FOREVER AGO. I APPRECIATE MY BOARD MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT THAT. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO CAME COMMUNITY WHO CAME TOGETHER, HOW OUR STAFF CAME TOGETHER. SO MANY SO MANY PRINCIPALS CHECKED ON EMPLOYEES. OFFERED GRACE TO EMPLOYEES WHO LOST HOMES AND HAD TO LOST HOMES AND HAD TO REBUILD, EVEN UP UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO, I KNOW BUCHANAN KNOW BUCHANAN WAS HAVING ANOTHER FUND-RAISER FOR FAMILIES DISPLACED. USF AND FOREST HILLS WERE HIT ESPECIALLY HARD. TO SEE MY COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AROUND THAT, IT PUTS A LOT OF LOT OF NEW MEANING INTO HILLSBOROUGH STRONG. WE TALK ABOUT IT AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT IT EXTENDS MORE TO THAT, IT THAT, IT EXTENDS TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S BEEN SOME TRAGEDIES UNFORTUNATELY. THONOTOSASSA UNEXPECTEDLY ELEMENTARY LOST THEIR MEDIA SPECIALIST, ALICIA GISELE. I KNOW THAT WAS HEARTBREAKING FOR THEM. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SEE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT SHE DID FOR THONOTOSASSA. SHE WAS A REAL ASSET AND SEND MY REGARDS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT I KNOW IS KNOW IS HURTING. MANISCALCO ALSO HAD A TRAGEDY. SEND OUT MY LOVE AND SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY NEEDS IT. TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS, HOUSEKEEPING BECAUSE WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TRAINING TONIGHT, I KNOW WHEN WE ROLLED OUT OUR FANTASTIC IN-LINE BOARDS AS THEY ARE CALLED, SAID WE DID A LOT OF TRAINING, NEW LINE     -- THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE TRAINING AND IT WAS ROLLED OUT QUICKLY. IF WE COULD DO AN INVENTORY OF WHO HAS GOTTEN TRAINING AND WHO DOESN'T AND MAKE SURE WE'RE OFFERING THE TRAINING TO UTILIZE THAT TO THE BEST I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD. MY SON IS FINALLY GOING TO GET TO COMPETE IN THE BLACK BRAIN BOWL. VERY EXCITED. FINALLY AT A SCHOOL PARTICIPATING. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I'M HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE HE'LL MAKE IT TO ONE OF THE MAKE IT TO ONE OF THE FINALS. YESTERDAY WAS FANTASTIC. I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH ABOUT THE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS. JUST GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS AND SEEING HOW -- ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON WAS MOVED BEYOND TEARS AND TEARS AND JUST SO THRILLED TO BE NOMINATED AND SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEES NOMINATING THEM. I'M NOT GOING TO BRAG THAT DISTRICT THREE HAD THE MOST OVER IN EVERY CATEGORY, NOT THAT IT'S A COMPETITION. I REALLY APPRECIATE BECAUSE I WAS CHAIR I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO ALL MY SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS STEPPED UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GOING TO THE SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE REPRESENTED. PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE JUST SEEING A BOARD MEMBER OR THE SUPERINTENDENT REALLY ADDS MEANING TO THOSE EXPERIENCES. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE AWARDS. I WOULD LOVE TO USE STUDENT ART WHO JUST WON FOR THE SPACE EXPLORATION AND INTERMINGLE IT INTO THE THEME SINCE IT IS A SPACE THEME AND MAYBE SPACE THEME AND MAYBE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THAT WORK BECAUSE MIRACULOUS THAT THEY GO HAND IN HAND. SMALL PERSONAL NOTE, MY SONS AT TAMPA PALMS TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY, THE SECRETARY WON SECRETARY WON ONE OF THE SUPPORT STAFF STAFF NOMINATIONS. SHOUT-OUT TO MS. BONNIE. YOU'RE AMAZING. WE LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. JUST AFTER THAT, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN CHAIRING MY FIRST MEETING. IT WAS A CHALLENGING ONE BECAUSE IT WAS VERY LONG. I THINK ONE OF THE LONGEST ONES WE'VE HAD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER. LET ME GET TO THIS PAGE, SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS FINALLY ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]