was that he approached a student at a gas station on a weekend and asked the student for her cell phone number and gave her his cell phone number. Uh mom, the student reported to mom. Mom called the school. This went through the professional standards committee proce
uh process. At the end of that process, the committee determined there was just cause 70 and recommended a five-day suspension. uh we allowed the employee to do a stipulated agreement for a three-day in return of not appealing the corrective
action. So, as as I understand it, uh an employee of of Dillard High School is trying to pick up a student at a gas station on the weekend while not in school. An investigation by the Professional Standards Committee is
conducted and they find probable cause. 7 nothing. And the best that is being um sought out as far as punishment is a 3-day suspension. That is egregious. That is patently unfair. Um, in in my
opinion, if you have an employee of any of our schools that is engaging in this type of conduct with the student, I don't care what day of the week it is, and you're trying to pick up a child at a gas station and flirting with them and asking for cell phone numbers, that individual should be fired. Now, I know
we go through this um during board meetings from time to time, and I understand that there's a collective bargaining agreement with these employees, but uh a a 3-day uh suspension is is laughable in my mind. Uh especially when I've seen some of the the the punishments that have been told
out. So, I I would ask you this, chair, um what is the ramifications from this board deviating from this suggestion? and um s uh recommending that this particular individual be terminated. So I I can turn over to Miss Batista,
but as I mentioned, I have a motion exactly to that. Ah, love it. Um if you want an answer or you want I'd love for you to make the motion for me to be the person to second it. Great. Okay. I move that Moses Thomas be separated from the list of employees in
item H2 so that his discipline may be considered and acted upon separately. Do I hear a second? Second. It's been moved and seconded to separate Moses Thomas from item H2. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose say no.
No. Motion passes. Is there any or to to separate them? Is there any Did I do that wrong? No, that's fine. Okay. Is there any audience input? Okay. Any board discussion?
Okay. So, my next motion is Oh, well, do we vote on H2 first? If you Yes. Okay. Any other any other um issue? Any other board discussion on item H2 minus
the um Mr. Thomas? Okay. All those in favor of approving item H2 without Moses Thomas, say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The board will now take up the matter of
Moses Thomas separately. At this time, I move that the superintendent be directed to bring back to the board at the next regular schoolboard meeting a revised agenda item amending the discipline for Moses Thomas from suspension to termination. Do I hear a second?
Second. It's been moved and seconded for the superintendent to be directed to bring back at the next regular schoolboard meeting a revised agenda item amending the discipline for Moses Thomas from suspension to termination. Is there any public comment?
Any board discussion? Dr. Zean. Thank you so much, Chair. Um, it may very well be that um that the punishment brought by the professional
uh uh services council is not sufficient enough. I would ask our attorney though that given that this employee agreed to a stipulation agreement, what latitude does Ber County School Board has to undo something that we agreed to do and the employee agreed to do?
Miss Batista. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, because the employee is within the process of due process, um in other words, uh whatever happens here today, um he's able to appeal it,
to grieve it, and then to go, uh to an arbit ultimate uh arbitration. Um we have as well the board has the right to um have the superintendent bring it back and that's only in an abundance of caution because the employee was not um
notified that you know he thought he was going going to be receiving a three-day suspension and now it's it's a different outcome so that he has an opportunity if he wishes to to come u before the board and speak to that item. So that would be why you would, you know, the best course
of action is what the chair has proposed, which is to move forward and have the superintendent bring it back as a termination item. I just want to be clear though that that our professional services council uh voted for this 3-day. It's within the
standards of of uh of this. They know all the details of the investigation and we don't. Um, and this is the process that 30,000 people uh could be subject to for their behavior. And more importantly, in some sense, the employee and our staff uh reporting to the
superintendent have agreed to not have the five-day, which would have been appropriate in some regards uh to be three because uh us the Broward County School Board and our our staff and this employee agreed to three days uh and he
waves his rights for any further appeal. Right. And so, um, what this motion will do, I think, chair, is bring this item back with more information, not just with, you know, hey, I want to move the the the penalty from this to that, but that this
board then in essence takes the role of the PSC and we should have all the data and information that we could ahead of time so that we can figure this out. I what I'm worried about is not that I don't know what the answer is because I don't know have any enough information to make a decision whether it's 35 or
97,000 day suspension you know because I haven't read the case and so I just feel like that this um chair if if this motion passes will we be provided a full uh uh file on what happened and what we
know including transcripts of any meetings with this employee Dr. Heer? Yes, we can provide all allowable backup information so the board can make an informed decision. And it sounds to me general counsel like we are taking the role of the PSC who voted 7 nothing to uh who after read
reading the whole file um interviewing the people presumably or reading about interviews decided it was a 5-day suspension and and and then we agreed with the employee to under a stipulation agreement go to three. And now what we're saying with this motion is we want to play the role of the PSSE and and
make uh a decision about the punishment. Is that fair? So as with other um employees in different collective bargaining agreements um such as the teacher when you have when you um the superintendent brings to you an administrative
complaint that's something that is more flushed out because you have allegations stated um on that complaint. uh the role of the board is to take those allegations as true. Um so it's not to review evidence and to figure out
whether or not the um alleged conduct was um committed or not committed. That's when the when you know for um teachers they go to the division of administrative hearings before an ALJ for this particular gentleman he belongs to phobi for uh maintenance. So he would
goes through the grievance and the arbitration procedure. So the only uh role for the board would be to look at the alleged conduct which in this case is inappropriate conversation with a minor uh and um understanding that whether you
feel that a three-day suspension is too low and then you would ask the superintendent to change that. And so when this item comes back, we're under the same restrictions that we will accept um these things to be true and then we can say yes to the 3-day in which case there's no review by ALJ or
anyone else or we decide to meet out a different punishment in which case the employee can then through their collective bargaining agreement grieve. Roughly how long does that grieving process take? about six months between the grievance and then they have to choose uh an
arbitrator and then it goes to arbitration and they have to file the briefs and so on. Terrific. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Mrs. Leonardi. Thank you. Um I think I have multiple concerns here.
I have long held concerns about how the professional standards committee doss out discipline particularly when it comes to this kind of conduct. Um I am certainly uh not amanable to a three-day
suspension. Um and I I made that clear to staff in the conversation I had with them before this meeting. Um, I am a huge believer in due process and the rights of
employees and per this motion, this employee has that opportunity to engage in due process and appeal um whatever decision we make. But first and foremost, I think we have a moral obligation.
And often I said I said this in my conversation with staff again on this matter. When someone engages in this kind of conduct, it is not the first or the last time. And per my conversation with staff, again, this employee
made comments to the effect that he was aware what he was doing was wrong and still did it anyway. And so I think we have to ask ourselves if this is our child, would we want this
individual around your child, my child? And my answer is no. Um, so I I support this motion. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thompson. Thank you. Um, I echo what Miss Leonardi said regarding I think this is a very
big issue and I'm wondering what avenue the board has to make sure that inappropriate contact with our students is found to be more grave and not a three-day suspension. I guess I need clarification on what that process is
and what avenue we have so that this doesn't happen again and again and again. Dr. He miss Batista. Go ahead, Miss Batista. So, um I think the the avenue is exactly what you are um doing right now, which
is to make a policy statement to guide the superintendent and staff that there would be zero tolerance when it comes to this type of behavior. Um, additionally, if we were to um keep the person
employed and there were a future instance where this would happen, um the the district would be seeing potential liability because we were placed on notice that this happened before.
But just a a followup. So not just this particular individual like in general like any employee that might be asking for our students numbers or engaging that kind of activity like is there a process to change that? Is it just this
meeting to the superintendent? Is there a way to formalize that more? um as far as formalizing it more um um certainly you know you can have a a policy that you can adopt um but you
know your statement or you know the overall statement of the board um and on prior statements that you've made I think to the same effect that you have zero tolerance for this type of behavior uh would suffice to guide the
superintendent and staff and PSSE when they're making their decisions that this is what the board is is looking for. Sorry. So, it's not a part of the collective bargaining disciplinary. I'm just trying to understand because in
general I I feel strongly about staying out of this process, but I do think in this circumstance. So, we hear a lot about like, oh well, it's they get this amount of days punished whatever because of the algorithm or
progressive chart or whatever. So that's is do we change that? Okay. So that um algorithm that you're referring to is in the transportation unit. They have a very specific you know if they're absent a certain amount of
days you know this is they get you know a reprimand etc. And there there is a very specific uh penalty for the offenses. In this particular case, you could um add some language along these lines in policy 4.9, which is the
standards of um the district for um discipline and conduct and that's your right to do that as the employer. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, hold on. You're on the list, but I'm going to jump over Mr. Sea real
quick. Um, the reason that I brought the motion forward is I agree wholeheartedly um and had the same reaction as Mr. Sea and Mrs. Leonardi. And we have said over and over and over again, we have zero
tolerance for people that are hurting our students. And although this seems like a very minor conversation, it does give the impression that it was either done before or if there is not a
consequence, it will be done again. And again, the he knew he was doing the wrong thing, said he was doing the wrong thing. And if this student hadn't been strong enough to go tell her mother what happened, there could really have been a
different outcome to what what happened here. And so I think we have to put our we have to put into action what our words say. And if we say zero tolerance, we mean zero tolerance. and not just in these particular matters, but these are the quiet ones that happen that kids
don't normally tell someone about because they that whole power part of it. Um, but I I strongly believe that we should absolutely have zero tolerance when someone hurts our students because our ultimate goal is goal and job is to
keep our students safe. So that is why I brought this motion forward. Mr. See, thank you, Madam Chair, for those comments and and for for bringing the motion forward because I think it's an important one. I just want to reiterate uh something very quickly and then make a comment. Um the professional standards
committee voted 7 nothing to establish probable cause or just cause that this individual engage in improper conversations with the student. That was his due process. he went before this committee and they made a determination 7 nothing that he violated
this rule and engaged in improper conversation. I mean that to me is is is extremely telling. Uh I I I think this board has an obligation to ensure that proper penalties are levied in situations like this. But I I cannot stress enough that it's it's not like we're plucking this guy, you know, out
of work and, you know, um berating him in a public square. he's he's had his process and the the that committee voted unanimously that what he did um was wrong. And I also want to e echo Miss uh Batista's sentiments.
Imagine if this guy gets a three-day suspension, he goes back into the schools and god forbid a 100 times over he does something worse than just engage in a conversation. and that child victim will bring a lawsuit against this district and we will have to stand before a judge or
jury and explain to them why we allowed this this individual to come back to school on a 3-day suspension when we already knew sort of what his MO was. I don't want to be the lawyer. I don't want any anybody arguing that to to a judge or a jury because that's not going
to end well for us. And my last question is, while we have directed or while we hope to direct the superintendent to to to bring this back to us, what can we do to make sure that this individual is removed from any contact with any children or any schools while um this next stage of the process is being
played out? Thank you. Um send the superintendent, but I believe he's been reassigned um pending the in investigation. That's correct. That's correct, Madam Chair. And uh Mr. Sea, where where is he reassigned to? uh he will be reassigned where or he is
reassigned right now currently where he has no contact with students. Okay. Thank you sir. Dr. Holless. Thank you madam chair. So Dr. Heppern I remember in the past we had discussed a few months back um where there were concerns about uh consistency across the
board in terms of actions and discipline. Um and I believe we had some sort of a direction for a discipline type of uh procedural or standard um manual. Can you speak to us about that and and how this particular incident
would align with whatever um would be similar um and and whatever would align with the number of days of punishment or whatever the punishment should be. Uh is there any any update on on that? Dr. He
go ahead, Dr. Lozano. Good morning, Dr. Lozano, chief HR. Um, as per the board's directive at the beginning of the 24 2025 school year to look at the corrective action policy, I'm going to have Heather Pente come up
and talk about the work she did with our collective bargaining unit representatives in regards to addressing policy 4.9. Thank you, Heather Peree, director of professional practices. So during the year last year, beginning in February,
we started meeting with all the union leaders as well as the meet and confer groups to look at 4.9 and update that policy. We got excellent feedback from them about updating the consequences as well as the infractions. We had windows of minimum consequences and maximum
consequences. And just as we were ready to bring that back forward, the unions did step out of that process with us and ask for it to be brought back to the table to negotiate. Okay. And and Dr. Heburn, I I believe in addition to looking at the policy um and
I vaguely remember, but there were conversations about some sort of a um uniforms standardized manual for similar offenses um that would come back to us. Uh, are you able to speak to that?
Go ahead, Mr. Fente. Thank you. That is part of the 4.9 policy process. Okay. So, um, are we able to get some sort of a I know there's a delay, some sort of a timeline as to when that will be forthcoming.
Go ahead, Miss Pere. I know that's um has to do with our engagement with the unions. Um, and so we work at the pace of their availability and willingness to to engage in this process. Okay. Thank you. Appreciate it, Mrs. Bulman. Thanks, Chair. Um, thank you for
bringing this to motion. Um, so I have my question is in terms of for in particularly with these facts of the you know asking for the phone number and um having that kind of contact with the student.
Do we have a policy specifically that addresses that? There's obviously going to be different times when teachers and coaches and leaders um have to have contact with a student to be specific, but this is like a red flag when some guys trying to get your number at the
gas station and there's all kind I mean this is happening. This is always the telling first sign when some bad thing happens at you know the teacher or whoever gets the person's number and then they start having inappropriate contact. It's just like the leeway into it. So, do we have some kind of
guideline for our employees that delineates um acceptable contact electronic communication between an adult and a student and then we can kind of make a blanket statement that the rest of it is
not acceptable. Dr. Hipper, so that people know, you know, have a on notice. I know Miss Batis can share light if we have such a a policy, excuse me, that governs um communication u
between staff and students. So, we have um the professional standards of conduct which are I mean that's not a school board policy but it's a um it's a standard of conduct for um teachers and um and other personnel
at the school. Um, and of course we have the policy that the board is approving today which relates specifically to inappropriate conduct either whether it be electronic or verbal um you know against a student.
So the answer is yes. Okay. So it should be pretty straightforward if we I guess if in the collective bargaining or what have you if If we make a stricter um uh policy in terms of when you violate
that, that's what needs to happen. Then it just seems like this shouldn't I agree with my colleagues. I mean, there's just no reason why anyone's getting a three-day suspension when you're seeing the writing writing on the wall. Like,
we all know where this is going. Um and the liability to the district is we don't need to have that either. So it seems like we can just put the kibash on this up front. Thank you, Mrs. Alhuda.
Thank you. So I agree with the motion. My question is regarding the process of the motion, meaning that usually we direct the superintendent to bring back a harsher penalty and we can give our
feelings on what that should be. But this motion specifically said to terminate. Are we allowed as a school board to give that specific direction to the superintendent? Miss Batista. Uh yes. Yes, you are. You you based on
the facts, you can state um if you have a recommendation for specific penalty, you can do that or you can just ask the superintendent to bring a harsher penalty. Either way, you can give the superintendent leeway or if you are, you know, firmly believe
that it has to be a particular penalty, you're able to give that guidance to the superintendent. Okay? And we're not in any violation of any rules or um no, the employee will have an opportunity to have his due process
after the board uh votes on the item at the next school board meeting. Thank you, Mrs. Leonardi. Okay. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. Any oppose, say no.
Motion carries. Okay. The next item is J1. Can I have a motion in a second on item J1? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Thompson. Is there any public comment on J1? No registered speakers, madam chair.
Okay. Mrs. Bowman. Thank you, chair. Um, this is my favorite topic, Facilitron. Uh, I was just wondering if we had an update on how we were managing Facilitron. Dr.
Heburn as requested last week. Yes. So, we're working with um different constituents to understand their concern. I I can't say I've I've used Facilitron probably up to probably about 15 20 years ago. So, it's a great tool to for a large school district like ours
to understand um our facility use. So, we're working with constituents to find out what are the barriers for ease of use. Um I think when we bring back u policy 8022, it'll actually help correct some of the some of the issues that
we're that we're having. So, I I think we've been kind of getting that same answer for weeks or months at this point. I my understanding was that there was going to be some kind of a fix at least until we brought the policy back. Yes.
And that that was like an emergency. Yes, we situation. Did we we did that? We sent we did a a uh temporary fix um where we've sent memo to principal sent memo to PTSA and and
um also want to say we sent it to the advisory the um the regional advisories to send to PTO's um since we don't have a centralized email for those groups to let them know what the temporary fix is until we bring back 80 8020 so we can um
you know address many of the pain points of of facility use and rental fees. Um could you share those with Yes. So pretty much um PTO's uh PTSAs um um school at eye groups will not be
charged for facility rentals to to use the space. The only time they will be charged if they're doing an activity that incurs a cost such as custodial security things like that. So if a um like an afterchool program, would that be included in
Yes, that'll be that'll be included. Yes. During and after school. So that would be free of charge. Correct. So the only let's say you're a school at a group group, but you're having a fundraiser dance. Of course, you may need security. Um you may need
custodian um custodial services. Those are the services that you will be charged for. Okay. Yes. And the original memo to the principles has effectively been dismanded. It's revoked. Yeah, we revoked. Okay. So, would you mind sending us the
Yes, we can forward that to the board. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Holes. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, uh, thank you, board member Bulman, for leading the process on that. I have had similar concerns being expressed with uh
facilitron and um I did see here where it's supposed to um be uh user friendly and all these other uh things that are mentioned here and uh that's not what I'm hearing Dr. Heburn from those who
are using it. Um, so, uh, there are concerns with ease of use, with the costs. Um, and and I'm happy to hear that the, uh, PTO, PTSA, and certain groups will not have to pay. Um, but I think that it's, um, especially for
these small groups, um, uh, that this is sort of a deterrent to community participation and I think that's where the concern is. Um, uh, so Dr. Heburn before we had facilit facilitron
uh what did we have in place before Dr. Mr. Horn, I don't think we had anything in place. Um, but I want to be clear if if you notice in this item, Facilitron has been used since 2023. So, correct. I think the issue um is not Facilitron
itself. It's the updated policy 8020 on rental agreements because we haven't had any issues um uh that has been reported to myself or anybody on the team since since Facilitron's implementation in 2023. Okay. So for the updated policy, what do
you think um uh contributes to the emerging concerns? Is it is it now including more groups that weren't necessarily under Correctron before? Correct. I think um more groups we're we're increasing, excuse me, we're increasing accountability for more
groups to use our facilities cuz one thing uh for for some SAG groups um as a district we were unaware of how many what our facility use is for many of the the SAG groups. So now we're we're saying um we're requiring to put that
information in regardless if you're free or not so you can understand when the use of the facility is going on as a district because we're too big not to understand what's going on uh districtwide. Right? So I understand that but I I think there's a fine balance, right? Because we may put systems in place that
now leads to deterring people from uh the community from participating. It may be efficient for us but it is not workable for them. So you know we we remedy the problem on our end but then we reduce participation we increase
frustration of the community. Um so I think that's concerning. You know we we can't just uh implement a policy that we're now relaxed because we can capture data but it makes it so much difficult for the community. So there there has to be some sensitivity in how we approach
this. And I and I think that um not one size doesn't fit all, right? So maybe there is a different approach to uh groups that are not as consequential to the data you're trying to collect um where there's a a manual process or something else in place that is much
easier for them to use impromptu or for small groups to have very um inconsequential type meetings that are not costly to the district and so on. So, how can we go a step further and and and consider um something different for
the groups that may not have that significant impact because because I'm not comfortable with sitting back and we're getting these concerns cuz board members get them. um board member Bulman, I'm sure many others where we put a a system in place that was in
place since 2023, working fine, and then we start to make adjustments to the policy to put everyone under that umbrella, but then finding out that this is significantly in uh inconvenient for the community to the point that they may reduce their participation in different
things and seek other alternatives. I don't think that's what we want. No, I think um so let me frame it two ways. So I think for the smaller PTSA, PTO, SGAA meetings on campus, principles are dealing with those things. Uh for larger activities for a school such as a
dance put on by a SE group, a large activity, those things need to be in facilitron because you for a principal or a busy school, you will have you could possibly have conflict that you're unaware of. So, we're working with key constituents to find out what are their barriers to understanding how to use
Facilitron appropriately so that we can capture that information in there. This is it's to capture data for the district, but it's also for the schools to utilize to ensure they're not double booking or triple booking a facility that's been booked out six months uh uh
you know in the future and then somebody else comes along three months later say, "Hey, I need to use this facility." But you you may not know that it's already booked. So those are the the the things that we're working with those specific constituents so we can understand okay what are the barriers what or and um uh
we're working towards trying to educate people. So we probably can do what we did with uh register your ride also if we have a little video to show parents how to register uh their ride on the on the website. So we probably can also do that once we understand some of the the the gaps in
filling out the information for facilitron for larger events. But for smaller events on campus, the principles are dealing with those. You know, if you want to use room 123 for a PTSA meeting, that's a that's a school-based thing. Okay. So, for the for the sake of the
public with these kind of concerns, cuz my my thought or what I've been hearing is that everybody has to go through Facilitron. So you're now saying to the public that certain groups that are just using a classroom for a small number of people where there's no concern about double booking the auditorium or
whatever it may be that they don't have to go through facilitron. Is that what you're going to bring back? So let me clarify if you're using the auditorium the gym those big venue spaces facilitron but if you're using a classroom for a quick meeting things like that that that goes through the principal.
Okay. So I'm glad that we're clarifying that because I think when it came about in 2023, it was for the basis of those uh uh you know bigger uh like the auditorium and so on. Uh but it has sort of evolved into including all these
micro groups. Um that becomes really inconvenient. So I'm glad you're saying that publicly because that's a concern that not everyone has to go through facilitron. They can go through the principal if it's a small room that they need or a classroom that kind of a thing. And I hope when you bring it back to us, that's what we're seeing.
Yep. Correct. Correct. Miss Thompson. Thank you, chair. Um, is there a reason that this is coming to the board right now? Is there a timeline? Dr. Heer. Um, let me get back to that item of
we're renewing um the services, but I'll turn it over to Miss Paul also. This is a good morning board. Uh board chair uh Miss Hixon, Superintendent Heburn. This is a a contract renewal for
facilitron. So that's why it's coming back to the board. But is there like a deadline or a time like So let me explain why I'm asking. Consistently the last few meetings we have brought up that there are issues with facilron. There are issues with
this policy. We're told they're getting worked on, they're getting worked on, don't worry, don't worry, don't worry. And now we have this facilitron coming back even though I feel like several of us on the board have been raising an alarm that something's happening
and it feels a little disrespectful to the process if we're raising concerns and then all of a sudden it is getting put to us like you guys aren't listening to these concerns. So that is why I'm asking, is there a
reason it has to be done during this meeting? Is there a way we can push it off? Because I'm voting no on this if it is today. Dr. Hepper. Yes. Uh we typically try to bring items before agreements or contracts expire.
Um I just want to be clear with the board that we are bringing back 8020. We've already sent out uh notification to impacted groups to update 8020. Um Fatilitron has been in use by the district since 2023 without any issues
until recently with the update of 2020 um in the past u uh year. Um and I think uh picking back off of what Dr. Hol said, I think we have new groups that have been utilizing Facilitron but may not have the full understanding as the
other groups that have probably been using Facilitron. So, we're working with those specific constituent groups to identify what those gaps are so we can walk them through it, whatever media we need to create to to to assist them with the process so they understand how to utilize it better. Um, but I would
caution the board um for a system as large as Broward County Public Schools to not have a system like Facilitron to really understand and and and create a better system of how our facilities are used across the board in the district.
um be it a school, be it uh uh spaces around the district that may not be at a school, uh will be of detriment to the district. We will we will not have full understanding of what's going on in our buildings and and um some nefarious things that could possibly go on with folks using our um facilities without
permission um and creating greater liability for the district. But I I appreciate your opinion on that. Um, I also just wanted to clarify your statement that PTAs don't have to go
through Facilitron because our principles got a memo that they all do and it doesn't matter what kind of meeting, what kind of thing they're doing that every group. I've read the memo. I've had several meetings with
principles who want to follow our rules that don't want to get in trouble. and their understanding from this is that every group regardless of who you are has to go through it. You might not get a charge, but you still have to enter into the system. So, this is
new information that I'm hearing is that now PTA's can just ask the principal, oh, hey, can I borrow room 202 for this meeting? So I just I want to be abundantly clear on like what the action steps are for these
groups because we are frustrating the PTAs which are our parents that are extremely engaged in our schools and in many cases have all the options to leave our schools and I I understand
the benefits of Filtron but to say that it's helping it's enhancing our community engagement on the executive summary is just false. Um, and I think
I get that this is a very complex situation. I get that there are multiple groups engaged and for liability reasons we want to know for these big rooms. We want to know but when we are trying to win back community and we are trying to invite people into our schools the
barriers that they are coming across is unacceptable. Dr. Hepper. Yes. Um thanks for the comment. So if it's not clear um to both groups we will make that clearer. Um I know we sent out the information last week so I don't uh that memo I don't know if you're
referring to last week's memo and the No, the first memo. Yeah, that memo has been revoked. Um but if it's not clear enough from what we sent last week, we will make it definitely clear um at the uh adjournment of this meeting just to make sure um that we're talking about large
venue spaces, the little one-off classrooms for meeting spaces. That's a that's a schoolbased thing. Okay. And then sorry, I have two more questions. So you said that if it's um PTAs won't be charged unless
there's custodial services. Who's making that determination? That'll be a discussion between the principal and the PTSA or whatever SAG group. And also our security chimes in too because if there's a certain amount of expected people, our security uh
safety and security team is going to say absolutely you need security. So it's a combination of of uh groups that those decisions. So, I just wanted to make sure that there is a a possibility where like the PTA is hosting fifth grade dance if they're like all of our members will clean up afterwards, then they
probably correct there's a potential they wouldn't be charged. Correct. Um, and then just in the future, and I know we I brought this up at the end of last meeting, if the board could be looped in with some of these memos that are sent to everyone, um, it
would just be appreciated because now I feel like there was been a problem, but you guys corrected it last week and I got it forwarded to us, so that's great. But like we we need to be working as a team and we're all striving to make the
district better. And I feel like sometimes the board isn't looped in until, you know, once a week or once every other week when we're like, "Oh, what happened to that?" Um, just if we could be looped in a little bit more, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Thank you. And I um first I want to say thank you for hearing us at the workshop and and making the second memo and making sure that um we we do make things user friendly. But I also was reading
the um background history and had to giggle a little when I saw user friendly and community engagement because that's not really what I've been hearing from some of the um groups. So, I think it would be great if you could make a little video because it may be that the
the program is is great, but it's not easy for new users to use. So, I'm glad to hear that we could do that to to make it user friendly. So, um thank you for that, Miss and we'll Oh, Miss Well, Dr. Zean,
thanks so much, Chair. I'm um maybe spend too much time as an economist, but this item is brought to us and says it has no financial impact. But I think it collects 10% from everybody that uses it, which sounds to me like a pretty expensive financial
impact on our parents and and and community groups and things like that. So, I hope that we can think differently about what financial impact means. It's not just our money. It could be municipal money. It could be state money, federal money, it could be a loss of grant opportunity. Uh but clearly in
this case, um my guess chair, and I'd love to get what the number is. Last year, I think we had $4 million worth of fees collected. Uh could someone tell me the exact number collected and what 10% of that is, and could they confirm that that's the fee that goes to Facilitron?
Dr. Heer, I see Mr. Dabuso in the uh in the audience. I don't know if he has that specific data. Um if you have the total amount collected last year and the total amount
given to the the facilitron company. Good morning. Um Chris Hakabusu, director of facil planning real estate. Um in the executive summary we um on page two it talks about since we had Facilitron 20123 the district has
realized a growth of over $4 million um which has been the revenue collected via facilitron um facilitron I don't really have the specific number but the percentage is between 8% to 10 uh 8 to 12% of every
rental so the rental pays are Um, school board member Zean, the rental pays based on the total of their rental, right? So, 8 to 12% of the total cost. That's what
the rental pays. Um, just for clarification, I totally appreciate and staff is really listening. We used to have this thing called event management system before facilitron. That was a license based and the last time we paid it was license of about $16,000 a year.
That's what we pay for the license. Facility is zero cost to the organization because the I mean unfortunately I know you say in the community I understand but there's a cost. So the community pays the percentage the school district doesn't pay the you know we get the rental. So
I'm just trying to say when we had EMS we were paying 16,000 per year for the license. This is a feebased system. Thanks chair. Um I just want my colleagues to hear what our staff just said. This is free because our parents pay for it.
How can that be? It's not free. All we're doing is passing a tax to the people who want to come in and have a meeting at our schools. Many of whom, I think the majority in in my experience, Miss Thompson, our parents and volunteers and other people are trying to build a better school system. So, uh
I I I'd like to hear some discussion on this point because my int my view right now is we should table this. We should get some competitive uh pricing from other software things. I think there's a real great trick on whoever owns Facilitron, right? We can sell it to the district and we tell you it's free.
It ain't free, man. I mean, $400,000 a year on parents and volunteers doesn't make me feel good. Okay? So, this is definitely not free. I would much rather pay $16,000 of our own money and and and reward the parents and the volunteers and the other groups because we're
trying to manage their payment to us. like we we have as much responsibility to have a system that works as well. I'd love for our CIO to say whether or not he can make a system like this. I've looked at Facilitron one the user interface and the whole graphical user interface the front end of this software
is I don't want to be publicly critical. I guess I have to be now but it isn't that great. Like it looks like the 1990s called and they want their software front end back. So this doesn't impress me as software. It doesn't do anything that's particularly interesting
computationally. It takes a bunch of spaces and it assigns people to them at certain hours and assigns a fee. That's like a lookup table from a software engineer's perspective. Not that complicated. It collects money. Wow. Point of sales system and software that cost you like 4 cents per transaction.
So this system is not free. It is not good for our system. And uh uh I'm just going to make a motion, chair, that we table this till next month and we ask for some uh uh feedback about alternative ways to do this and that we
do not uh portray this system as being free simply because we pass a $400,000 bill off to our parents and volunteers. Is there a second? It's been moved and seconded. Um any public discussion, Mr. Agalusa?
Uh truly chair. Um, just to say the the the um contract, like Mrs. Paul said, is going to um expire in October. Um, I understand staff is going to follow your direction. Um, I just want to put on record is going to expire in October. So, if there's an alternative, we may
have to set up an alternative system. If just the time frame in terms of to have a system in place, Dr. Zean, do you want to um postpone to the next school board meeting? There has to be a time for post lake when you want it to come through. Yeah, Mr. Superintendent, would that be
enough to bring alternatives back? Yes, it'll be enough to bring alternatives back, but enough um like I think what Mr. Aabusa is alluding to is that the enough time to actually secure a new contract with a new company. Um but also just a reminder that for
parent and other alli groups, um it's free. We're not charging them for rental um fees for use of facilities. The only cost they would incur if they have a large activity moving forward starting last week and moving forward. Um that is
the going to be up uh updated in the policy coming back to the board is that they will be free. Um the only cost they would incur if they're usually having a large activity or event that would incur security or custodial services. I I appreciate that. And so yes, at the
next schedule meeting, what's the date for that year? September 16th. Yes. September 15th and 16th. 16th. Thank you. And it may very well be that we have an extension of this system. Um, and we just decide, hey, this is the last 6 months. We're going to use this. I'd also point out as part of this motion is that, you know,
whether we like it or not, facilitron has become a negative word to a lot of people. And um uh you know there's all kinds of things that we need to do to make sure that people understand that we're thinking about them. And um this is a tax that we applied on people that
do pay for our facilities and those are our residents of Broward County as well. And so um I would like to I'd like to see some alternatives before we move forward with this system. Any any other public comment board member discussion? I'm just going to
jump in real quick and say it's already in the policy. I mean, we went through it already says in the policy that the SAG groups do not have to pay. I don't know how it got all discombobulated, but when you read through the policy, it's very clear that SAG groups do not have
to pay. And if the money's going 100% to the school, they don't have to pay for fundraising. But somehow it I know you're going to tweak the policy, but I just want to be clear, it does. We we worked long and hard on this policy because we heard the concerns in the
beginning. So, it's it's frustrating as I mentioned last week to know that there's still concerns because it it is fairly clear in the policy that they aren't supposed to be charged. But, um just to be uh I just want to be make
sure you're correct, chair, that um for uh meetings and things like that. It's the um the larger activities and events that are not free. That was the because I went back after we talked to look at it because I already part that's causing a lot of angst for um many of our SAG organizations
especially PTSAs and PTSOs that have these huge fundraisers for their schools and we're charging them rental rental fees and that is what's in the policy right now. It's for the meetings that are not they don't have to pay for. Okay. I mean the way I read it it said as long as 100% fundraising went back
they didn't have to pay. So, I'm glad we're cleaning up the wording because we both read the same thing and read it differently. So, um Okay. Any other comments on the motion? Dr. Holmes. Um thank you, Madam Chair. So, my understanding is that in 2023,
Facilitron seems to have been working, right? um it it seems to evolve into including other smaller groups and increasing costs for these smaller groups and and and for groups that are fundraising like the
PTSA. So, Dr. Heepburn, can you tell us what Facilitron looked like in 2023 and what it is now? Because I didn't have any I came on this board in 2022. I didn't have any parents calling me about Facilitron or anybody in in 2023. I
didn't have it in 2024, but now I do. So, what has changed and and and why can't we simply go back to the way it was? Dr. He let Mr. Aabuso elaborate, but the policy changed um uh last summer or the beginning of the fall of last year.
And if I may, that is the issue. So, the policy triggers what happens in Facilitron. And as we touch the policy, Facilitron uh is automatically or is programmed to represent the policy. So every time we
touch the policy, it triggers a change in facilitron. And so that's the disconnect. Okay. So, so Dr. Heburn because we have we have a lot of small groups that are having concerns and I hear Miss Paul uh we had policy change
and policy change um triggers different things but why is there so much push back that we're having that we didn't have before you know be be specific yeah so um to be specific um if I am an organization a SAG organization I could
just go to the school and say hey I need to use your gym for this huge fundraiser event and they didn't have to put that information um into the system. Okay. So, they were doing that for many years before for Celitron and there was no problem, right?
Uh no problems that we're aware of on our end as a school or as a district for the organization. Of course, it's not a problem. I can just go directly to you as a princ if you're the principal of the school to say, "Hey, can I use your gym for this uh huge fundraiser dance that we're having to collect funds to
support whatever initiative uh for the school, but and I'll leave it at that. But wouldn't the principal know the schedule of when the auditorium or the playfield or whatever they need is being in use?" And you'll be surprised. We we we have uh
conflict issues um all the time. We're dealing with a conflict issue right now also that's um turned into a huge investigation. So we do have those issues because it's just a sheer volume of schools that we have. Uh we do have those issues where facilities um
especially large venue spaces are double booked. Um, and uh, I don't know if it's the school's fault or the whoever. Um, and you have two people showing up at the same time trying to use the facility. And it's double booked by groups like the PTSA doing a fundraiser.
PTSA could be a PTSA and could be a for-profit organization book the the large venue space at the same time. Okay. So, can can you tell the public what is it that you're bringing back as far as changes to the policy? We're bringing back that our school ally groups can use the facilities for free
during the school day and for large activities and events such as large fundraisers after the school day. The only cost they would incur is if they need security or custodial services. Okay. But they still have to go through Facilitron for large events. Yes. And how do you define large events?
Uh if you're having a dance with a couple hundred kids. If you I would say large venue. If you're utilizing a large venue space such as the auditorium or the gym, that's a large event. Okay, so here's here's what I would like to see, right? We need to have a better
structure because there seems to be no real guideline. It's all subjective because we can't define large. We don't know which groups, we can't define groups, we can't define impact, we can't define anything. So, it's all subjective.
So can we and I don't know um and I know Dr. Dr. Zan has a motion on the table, it appears. I don't know if a motion is needed, Madam Chair, but I think there needs to be some structure. Uh I think there needs to be structure as to who use or not use Facilitron, what's
considered a a significant group. Can I can I that all of that speaks to the policy and the policies coming back to us. So I think that discussion will be had when the policy comes in a workshop. This is just about the facilitron software. Understand? So, Dr.
Heburn, when the policy does come back, because I'm I'm speaking from what I'm hearing, and we're all getting this push back, you know, for a long time, for a few weeks now. So, when the policy comes back, I personally would like to see that we have some structured guideline as far as uh what's considered a large
group, uh what what's considered um who uses and who not use the the facilitron. All these things have to be included. It can't be vague and and left up to somebody to subjectively decide. It has to be definitive. It has to be objective. So, it's clearly stated. So, all these groups understand because a
group can go to a school and the principal says, "No, you have to go through facilitron." No, you don't have to. There's no real definition of it. And I understand what we're discussing, Madam Chair, but I'm just frustrated with those. I know, but I I think it's already been added. So, I don't think that there can You're
going to have to have the same conversation. You're going to have to have the same conversation at the workshop. Well, you know where I'm coming. I know where you're coming from and and it's actually next week's workshop so we can go over all those details. Mrs. Bowman, is it on the motion specifically cuz we're on the motion. So, we
Yeah, I I appreciate the motion. Um I understand where the district is coming from, but I just hope because we have been talking about this on many occasions and bringing our concerns. I just hope that we're being heard because
we're on the ground and getting calls and spending time during the week. I like, you know, when we left it last week, I thought we were going to get the solution because it was going and we never got the memo. So, I'm still getting calls like at the end of the week trying to deal with people's
complaints. We need to have the communication so we can help each other and know what's going on. And I, you know, to Dr. Holess's point. We can talk about it next week, but there's a lot more to this that's causing problems than what's
being uh presented here. And I also think that there's a opportunity to look at different things. If you're talking about high schools, that's a different thing than an elementary PTA. Remember, that's the policy though. So, we're going to have that discussion next week. Yeah. When it gets brought back, that that's what we're looking at next week.
Well, but what's bringing being brought back is just facilitron. I mean the policy what we're talking about today is just facilitron. Next week will be the policy discussion which triggers yes facilitron and I'll just say I I personally don't think the problem is facilitron. I think
it's the policy. So um agreed. I just wanted to say that all all those Yes. I just want to make a comment. Um I don't know if my colleagues saw page 15 exhibit A company fees with the Okay. 10% of the total client
fee amount per attraction transaction. Well, to not to parents, it's we're not charging parents, but we're charging the organizations that rent the facilities. Yeah. Like when you buy the average um cost to rent the facility.
Um that could vary. Um Mr. Takabuso, I know that varies depending on what the facility, if it's cafeteria, gym, uh, media center, whatever the size of the facility and what they need it for. Go ahead, Mr.
Abuso. So in the policy um you have the fee schedule and the fee schedule goes from the different categories like you have the fee for nonprofit
um tied to some kind of nominal fee. So, you have a fee for auditorium. Um, approximately the auditorium fee if you have an event for rehearsal, you have to pay um $100 an hour for the for the rehearsal or the
setup. Uh, $700 per performance for a three-hour period and then $100 each additional hour. And that's auditorium. Then you have um you have a category for food and nutrition. Um it has a daily minimum of $313 and then $50 each
additional hour um including salary for the employees. Then you have classroom fees. So there's a bunch of categories. So they're structured based on the space and these fees. I just want to say when we brought the policy in last year and then it went up because the board voted
50% then went up this year um February the policy the cost was tagged against the large five or large six so our fees are comparable to the other school district like Miami date county palm beach orange county so that's how the fees you're done but it's based on
categories and it's in the policy is delineated okay okay all those in favor of the motion to postpone item J1 until the next regular schoolboard meeting which is September 16th. Say I. I. I.
All those opposed say no. No. Motion carries. We only have one dissenting vote. The chair. Miss Hixon. Is that correct? Yes. Miss Roupert, did you vote? I'm a yes. Okay. All righty. This is the time of
the ag Oh, no. Because motion replaces the right. Yeah, sometimes I get it right. This is the time of the agenda where we have split the general public speakers to incorporate a morning session. Each
registered speaker is reminded to present their agenda comments in accordance with policy 1020. The first speaker for this morning is Beverly Joseph. Next speaker is Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh. Good morning again, Dr. Natalie Lynch
Walsh, Plantation, Florida. Um, I appreciate you guys spending so much time on Facilitron. I hope you'll spend as much time on J3. Uh, when we get back to that, a few things to bring to your attention. Since I was sitting here on
H1, the board has already approved an audit. It's in the audit plan of the internal controls over HR. Up until December of 24, the board item making a recommendation on a candidate used to
say that this candidate has been found to be the most qualified based on education, experience, and interviews. However, since that's often not true, now staff just says that they meet now.
The board item just says that they meet minimum qualifications. So apparently, and I don't remember you guys voting on this, even though it would should be the intent of this school board to hire the most qualified employees you can
possibly hire, your staff changed it to say minimum qualifications. So just so you know, that would seem to be at odds with conventional wisdom. And a candidate does not put themselves on
the agenda by themsel. They need help of multiple people to get to an agenda. Everyone was acting like this person put themselves on there. No, no. They needed a lot of help to get there. Um, standards of ethical conduct is a policy that you have coming up later. I just
want to direct you to um section 3 A2. Maintain honesty and integrity to include but not limited to the following topics. And one of them is information submitted on behalf of the school board. I don't know what that means. Does that mean when they bring you something, it's
okay if they lie? And it just means that if you've told them to lie that they're that uh that's when they should have integrity. Not clear on that. It should be in all dealings, not just a list. I know it says not limited to, but they get confused around here. Oh, look.
We've used due process. This is in C4. to support the principles of due process to protect the civil and human rights of all students and individuals. Don't forget that that's in this policy. Um, I'm going to say it again. I would like to see your general counsel's evaluation
public. I sent you four emails. Um, those will all be in my rebuttal. Um, I had a complaint about the 1010 rule that seems to be taking this district by storm. um you have an attendance policy that disagrees with your code of conduct, a messy org chart related to
that whole area, and apparently they can use 10 or more counts from freshman all the way through your senior year to torture students. So if you were absent because you were sick 11 times in your freshman year, you can be denied a
parking spot or other senior privilege. Just wrong and is harmful to students. Thank you. Thank you, Johnny Rojos. Dr. Trudy Gervanovich. My name is Dr. Trudy Germanovich. Trudy Germanovich. See, I have trouble saying
it, too. And in August, I always check on my former high school. When I graduated in 1964, Shortidge High School celebrated its 100th year as the first free high school in Indiana. With that as my background, I'm proud of being a
public school advocate to my core. This year, several of the former high schools in Indianapolis were permanently closed because of dwindling students. Indiana, like Florida, instituted charter schools and vouchers, which have decimated
public schools. What can you do to help stop this pro process? My high school, Shortidge, was closed at one point, but reopened as a middle school and then was brought back as an international balorate school. This year it was declared the most beautiful high school
in the state because money was put in over the last 150 years to modernize a beautiful old building. It is very successful in a state which has also tried to degrade real public schools much as we've seen here in Florida. I
will now switch to some words from Marian Brandy Brady who highlighted another issue which makes people leave traditional public schools. What drives effective schooling isn't competition, but the need to understand, to make
sense of experience, to solve problems, to know how or why something works, to satisfy curiosity, to know oneself, to prepare the young for an unknown future. Traditional schooling fails prim
primarily because its disconnected subjects are isolated from reality which is systematically related and integrated. Proper schooling helps children lift into consciousness the easily understood sensemaking relating
process and put it to useful work doing in a couple of hours a day what the present curriculum can't do at all. create thinkers. The knowledge creating process requires them to hypothesize, infer, correlate, extrapolate, imagine,
predict, generalized, syn synthesize, and so on. To use the dozens of thought processes not taught because they're too complex to be evaluated by machine scored, standardized tests. As you plan
for this year, let's not emphasize and overemphasize the testing. Testing is not teaching. Make our schools like my high school last for over 150 years. Thank you. Thank you. And our last
public speaker is Mr. Delvin King. Okay. Doesn't look like he's here. Okay. Uh, next we'll have the superintendent's report. Good morning, board chair, uh, board
members, and our BCPS community. Thanks to the dedication of our outstanding BCPS team, we had a very successful opening to the new school year. Like all of you, I was out visiting schools on the first day, and it was truly uplifting to see our students back on campus, full of excitement, ready to
learn, and to thrive. Last week, I had the privilege of joining US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Florida Commissioner of Education and Associius Kamutas at Broward College, fondly known as uh Commissioner Stacey. Um, where nearly 1,000 families came
together to complete the new Beta FASA. This redesign application will significantly streamline the process for our families, making it more accessible and efficient. Ultimately, this means more of our students will be equipped to seize opportunities through financial aid and advance toward their educational
goals. Now, Beacon, roll the tape. All right. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Yes. Thank you again to the BCPS team, our community, also our board members for helping us start this school year
strong and on an inspiring note. That concludes my report. Chair, thank you. Next we'll have our um updates from some of our organizations and first is BEF. And although Mr. Knap could not come today, he wanted um me to share a
couple of things. First of all, they had uh backpack giveaways. It was a great success. I know that some of us participated in those backpacks and it was really nice to see the students and it was given out during their meet and greets with the teachers. So great
opportunity and the backpacks were actually filled with items. So um really great to be part of that. This adapter school program um this year brought in over $60,000 that was given out to local schools. And if you haven't heard, you
should have already gotten information, but there is the National Football Showcase starting on Thursday um going through Saturday this weekend where different major football high school football teams come to Broward County to play our
our our football teams in a in a national showcase. So, those are the exciting things happening at BEF for PTA. They sent us a nice um letter. They just mentioned that um the PTA started
off by greeting teachers with welcome back breakfasts. They also had a nationwide uh advocacy for the release of education dollars. So they were very instrumental in getting that money loosened, the the
purse strings loosened by the federal government for some of those title one grants that we were waiting for. They are very um appreciative of us looking back at policy 8020. There is a clothing bank at Lauderdale Manners in Apollo
Middle that are open to support students in need of uniforms and parents can make appointments with a reference from their school guidance counselor to receive uniforms for their children. And there's an annual training for PTAs by Broward County Council of PTA. September 20th,
they'll be offering classes and workshops on various PTA positions as well as legislative advocacy and community outreach. And right on perfect time, next we have our employee union groups. So BTU.
Oh wow. Good afternoon, Anna Fusco. I get five minutes, not three. Please change the time. Well, thank you very much. So, Anna Fusco teachers union. I'm going to start first with that commissioner's letter that came that the
union is holding up the negotiations. Now, we know that that's not true here in Broward Schools. That would be you guys. Last year, we said after we ratified and you guys approved it, the raises went through,
we're going to sit right back down and get rolling into the next school year. And here we start the new school year. As we appreciate, Governor, thank you for making sure there's some allocated funding. We know that it's half a percent.
Half a percent to turn over to just 13,000 teachers. It's your job to make sure that the budget is in line and that there's money. Well, we sure know that there has to be money in the budget. has certainly cut a ton of positions,
including some of our ESPs that make two nickels, 15 bucks an hour. You've got principles that move them from seven and a half hours to seven hours, and you guys are ignoring on that. Yes. Yes. So, that's one. Two, we know that there's over class
size and some schools and we know that there's some schools that are unenrolled. So, we know we're going to be doing some transitioning. the communication to all of those schools. The teachers need to know sooner than later. Our teachers have worked hard all summer to go out and buy tons of supplies for their students, supplies
for their own classrooms to make sure that when the students walked in, they went, "Oh my gosh, this is such an amazing classroom with an amazing teacher that made this district an A district that I sat with you at this at the press conference. Oh my gosh, we're so happy and so great." I
come back two weeks And I've got my teachers telling me the princes are telling we're going to treat our schools like F schools. C schools are going to be treated like F schools. Did you direct that? I want you to undirect it if you did. And if you didn't direct that, I want you to talk to the people that are doing it. And
yes, it's happening. One million% it's happening. I got teachers that are amazing teachers. They move students. They're being put on six week cycle plans. They got to do all this extra work with no extra pay. So when I'm done speaking, am I going to hear you guys talk about all the extra pay that you're
going to give to these schools that you guys have shunned and ashamed because you're a C school, which by the way, the school grade doesn't make what our schools are about. Our students and our teachers make our schools. Now, I tried to talk to you guys individually.
Nothing's changed in two weeks. So, I'm going to speak publicly. Let's turn it over to school choice. How many parents have come out to me to help them get into our schools? You talk about we're underenrolled. Go listen to the messaging when a parent calls to get in
school choice. And you see why it's so difficult. Change it up to make it where it's easier for our students to stay in our schools or come back into our schools. Stop saying that everything's great. We have lots of greatness. We do. And I
want to highlight all the greatness, but we cannot ignore when we've got people that are suffering. We've got students that want to come into our schools or get to other schools. Whatever reason, it doesn't matter. You promote school choice. Let's make it work. Then let's talk about our people that were hiring.
They think they're hired and we're going to start for the first day of school. You know how many schools have substitutes in their classrooms? You know how many of our inter intermittent teachers that are that are supposed to be working and making plans to help with PD in schools that are being deployed to go cover in classrooms that they're not
certified in one that they got to drive across town too because we're not getting the ones that we say you have a job and they think I'm going to be ready to get hired and start the first day of school. The process is too long. We want to sit here and act like that
we're great and all dandy. And then you got some admin that don't want to show that they're partners. I hear about the the PTA. That's a shame. Nobody. They should come into a school and be that support system that they've been when I was a parent and when I was a teacher in the classroom, part of the
PTA. Stop making like people that are that are not the partners, but you stand up there and say, "We got all these partners, but you don't treat them as partners." Stop saying it and the fake smiles and let's start showing it. Brower Teachers Union is a partner in
Brower County Public Schools. We're employees. We're visiting schools to help out. We've donated hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars to the schools that you guys don't fund to make sure that the students have resources. When we go
to a school and we're trying to figure out a training that people have questions on and we get turned away and not one of you did something about it, shame on you. Shame on you. You've got a new device out there that I want to promote. I know nothing about.
Thank you. Do we have any other employee union groups? 2016 goes back. Okay. Thank you so much. We are going to go back to our consent items and the
next item up is J2. Can I have a motion in a second on J2? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Is there any public comment on J2? No, ma'am. Okay, Dr. Zean.
Chair, thanks so much. Um, I'm going to be briefer than I normally am on this topic. Um, and this is a complicated topic. This is not a topic of um do we uh benefit from uh Gulfream and other
early learning centers that are dedicated facilities? But they are critical policy questions we have to think about. Uh, chair, how many um how much does it cost Broward County Public Schools with our staff and the overhead
assigned to them uh and the uh benefits, the fully burdened rate for salaries, how much does it cost for us to operate uh early learning center at Gulfream? Dr. Heburn, I don't have those details u with me. I
don't know if anybody on the team I know Dr. Canning's on her way down, but I I'm not sure we'll have that uh available at the moment, but she is walking in. You may proceed. Dr. Kenny, did you hear the question?
Good. Good morning, everyone. No, I did not hear the question. Please repeat. Uh how much does Broward County Public School pay for staff uh in a fully burdened rate and overhead to oversee them for Gulfream Early Learning Center? At Gfream Early Learning Center, we are
funded for an assistant principal, an office manager, an IMT, a head facility service person, and a facility service person. We also have ESSE specialist that is funded through the ESSE programs. So, we are funded for staff and I could get you that number. I do
not have that number readily available, but if you need that exact number, I can get you that number. I appreciate the what you've provided. If I'm correct, chair, that's five positions that we pay for Broward County Public Schools out of the general fund. Dr. Heer, Dr. Kenny,
that is correct. Yes. Terrific. Chair, whose mission is it to do social services for our community in Broward County? Dr. Heer, various organizations, um, including us. I I uh, that's been my issue all along.
Uh, social services are critical. Wraparound social services are brilliant. Uh, GFream does, you know, brilliant, awesome community building work. Um, and I have talked to multiple county commissioners about whether or not they want to, uh, come into some kind of agreement to provide the
services they provide in other other parts of the county, uh, like we do in Gulfream. Chair, do we pay for transportation for students that are within two miles of a school? Dr. Heburn. Yes, that's correct. I think the uh, I'm asking the opposite, Mr. Superintendent.
We pay for transportation for kids who live within two miles of a school if you're two miles or less. So, we do not get reimbured. We do not uh we don't get reimbured and we don't pay. I mean, in an exceptional basis, uh empty seats obviously cost us
no more uh and so we don't do it. Does getting kids to school uh chair contribute to public education? Well, I'd venture to say yes. Good. Do we pay chair for after school or before school programs with our general fund dollars? Dr. Heer,
most of it's paid through grants. Um I think we're by statute prohibited from paying for for students who can afford before or after school programs, but both of those contribute to education as well. In many cases, there's a consistent curriculum preschool uh before school, during
school, and after school. Um, but I keep pointing out that as money gets tight, and it's always tight in public education, uh, my belief is that we have to spend that money on K12 education. That is what we're funded to do. That's what our core mission is. We've now got two early learning centers in Broward
County. They're dedicated facilities to do that mission, which I believe is a responsibility of the county commission. And so when we step out and and fund things that are not in our purview, like a lot of things we just don't pay for, we don't pay for mental health for kids that need help outside of school uh
kinds of issues and things like all of those things contribute to education. Uh but every time an agency steps over their line, they run the risk of recisions of their budget by their by their budgetary authorities. Um and they confuse people like the county commission who don't know how much to
pay for different things that are within their purview. Uh so, um I just want to be on the record again saying I love early learning. If we did it at our schools where we have extra space, I would love to do that. Um I as a member of Brower County representing my
constituents think that we we don't have enough money to do everything we want to do. Um and we have to be very very clear about what we want to do versus what we have within our core mission. Thanks, Chair. Thank you. All those in favor of item J2
say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item up is item J3. Can I have a motion in a second? So move. Second. Been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs.
Leonardi. Any public comment on J3? Yes, ma'am. Dr. Natal Lynch Walsh. Good morning. Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh Plantation and still duly elected corresponding secretary for the facilities task force which is a group
that has talked about TSSC and the TSSC annex. One of the conversations we had as a group was you um using that to be the new KCW leveling it and seeing if we could get a partner. Apparently that's not going to be the plan. So, first
question, and I'm glad we're no longer trying to renovate these buildings because that would you might as well set fire to the money. Where do the employees go that are at the TSSC and TSSC annex? Because the last batch of
employees to be relocated, there was a sort of analysis that showed that you're paying half a million for Rock Island and that your new lease, which presumably is not in facilities that are similar to some of the schools we have children in, the lease for the new
building where the Rock Island people, except for before and after care, are going is also about half a million. So, how much does it cost for the people that aren't going to this lease building, the Handy Building? That would be another question. There's a larger conversation to be had here about
administrative versus school space instead of staff bringing you peacemeal siloed information. The last time we looked the district was still about 200,000 square feet over in administrative versus school space. And
that is something that the state looks at. I don't know if there are penalties. Apparently not. Or else we wouldn't stay this way. I don't know if you can reduce that through leasing. And so maybe this is what they're trying to do. But my first concern would be where are you
putting these people? You have empty schools. North Fork comes to mind. Plantation Middle, you already have safety and security there. You could have put the Rock Island people into a school where you renovated it and you
don't need the space. Think about how many schools that comment applies to. It's been renovated because of the smart program because of a lack of a long-term plan. We were slapping new roofs on facilities you don't need for students. There are building the building at
Northfor main building needs to be demolished. That's why they haven't touched it yet. Needs to be demolished, but there are newer buildings. So, where are you putting because you have it, you have procurement, I forget who I don't know if it's benefits that's in the annex. you have a bunch of employees
that you then have to put somewhere. And if these decrepit buildings are suitable for students, I would suggest that some of these decrepit or even renovated buildings in empty schools, but god forbid we do a boundary change because that's hard and people won't like us and
it requires a level of intestinal fortitude that certain people may not have. But that's what it's going to take are boundary changes that are in the best interest of students and not keep doing things that are in the best interest of adults and putting them into newer buildings. Thank you.
Thank you. Any other public comments? Okay. Um Dr. Hoes. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, um Dr. Hepern, uh upon the sale of this property, uh where will the funds go?
Dr. He burn capital and how will the funds be used as the board see deems fit with um the EFP projects and so forth. Okay. So, how does the district benefit short-term and long-term from this
action today? We're offloading the building that we don't need anymore. Okay. What challenges do you suppose the district face during this process of selling and staff moving
and after this action takes place? There is no challenge as the um speaker just mentioned we have plenty of space across our entire school district. Um and it's roughly correct me if I'm wrong Dr. Wans is probably about 300 plus employees. We've already done the analysis of how many employees are
housed in those buildings. um potential uh spaces that we can use to house those employees uh per division and per department. Um so all of most of that has already um been uh preliminarily uh strategized to and and also with the
addition of the journey of redefining phase two to even identify more space that it could possibly be housed in. Okay. So, can you speak to now that you you've mentioned um that there have been
plans as to where staff will relocate. Can you speak to to that as to where the staff will go? Yes. Um staff could possibly come into this building while relocating uh academic staff out to schools where they're probably a better fit versus the
admin staff at those buildings could be housed here. and also you utilizing potentially utilizing wings of um underenrolled schools also. Okay. So staff will be moving into existing buildings that we have and not into new lease correct buildings of any sort. That is correct.
So it will it will cost us less to to house th those staff that are at that location on Oakland Park. Correct. That is correct because we'll be using existing space that we already have. Okay. Are we intending on losing any staff as a result of this action?
Um, possibly. Um, all things are possible. Okay. Is that a part of the plan to shrink the staff of that location? It is a plan to shrink the staff of the entire school district as we continue redefining as we continue rightsizing
our our uh our footprint um and right sizing our employee base to to match our current needs based on student understand. But in terms of this specific action of selling that building, does that necessitate shrinking the staff of that building?
Um um surplus in that building is not going to trigger us to downsize staff in those departments. That downsizing staff is a right different um strategy. So that's a that's sort of a district-wide correct that you're speaking to.
Um okay. So my questions are based on this action and the impact of this action. Right. So, um, uh, when we sell this building and it goes back, you said where is it going to go? The capital funding. Okay. Um, and I believe it's what? $12
million roughly. Um, if you include the TSSC annex and the main building, I want to say, um, correct me if I'm wrong, Miss Paul. About $15 million probably
or 18. Yes. But it's basically, you know, appraisal the the appraisal on the highest bid that we Yeah. So that's appraisal value. So it could be higher than that. Okay. So um I appreciate the item and
Dr. And what I'll say is, and I and I understand what we're doing as a district in terms of looking at uh properties that we may not necessarily need, but I also would would caution that whatever properties that we sell that we um utilize those funds in a very
um efficient manner that would be um long-term positively impactful because um you know we are giving up properties and and money goes very quickly, Right. Um so I think over the long term we have
to consider the impact of what we do um in terms of especially selling properties and and where the funds go because when those funds are dried up quickly depending on what we use it for the properties are gone and so are the funds you know. So, I I think um it's important that that is
considered um because what I heard you say is that it's going to capital to be a part of that general capital budget, but we have we have no intended use of that money. It's just going to sort of um be part of capital and then spent however we normally spend it. The
building will be gone as well, right? We no longer own it. So, I I just would caution that as we move forward across the district in selling all these properties um that we look long term because we could eventually just like we've lost students, we could gain students where we need we need more
space, right? So, um, you know, I just think, uh, it should be done carefully, um, as we move forward and not just have a short-term vision, but a long-term vision of what we're trying to do because I know as a district, we're trying to grow the the traditional
student population, in all the initiatives that we're doing in customer service, in aesthetic appeal, and all these things. So while we're losing students today, uh I for one confidently believe that in the long term we will gain students and and as we do and we give up these properties, then what do
we do then? Then we go back to uh renting very expensive buildings in order to house um staff and so on and so forth. So it's just a word of caution. Thank you Dr. Zean. Thank you. I I I hope and agree that
there's there's the potential for winning back some students. Um, in reality, you know, the laws of economics are like the laws of gravity. And we have priced so many people out of Broward County to be able to live here that there actually are
fewer students here today than there were 20 years ago. Uh, and the and the demographic shifts seem to be immutable largely because of the way we treat mothers. You know, we're having 1.6 children per couple. Now, Jeff, it's it
these numbers are very difficult to undo and they're not a result of public school systems. They're a result of individuals decisions and the way we have policies particularly about about moms. And so, there's a whole bunch of new research um about, you know, people wanting folks to have more children
versus the reality of having more children. And I recommend it to the whole board. Um, this item is part of an inexorable kind of process of selling excess buildings and uh my concern isn't
that we do this because this is clearly a building we don't need and and for which there's a higher and best use either a city might come by it like uh up in Parkland we have a hospital expanding uh with some land that we bought or was given to us I forget. uh
but we didn't need it anymore and now we're about to get a major expansion of a hospital that will serve the residents of northwest uh Broward County, Coral Springs, Parkland, and other places. So, there's some goodness that comes out of this. My concern is um is the process. And I've gotten a lot of calls about
this, which is strange um because people who have called and written have said, "Why do you have a schoolboard item to get a survey or appraisal on a piece of property?" Um, and my answer is I don't know all those parts of this. I'm still learning a few things, but
chair, what are the big steps when we decide, and let's just use TSC and the NX as an example. We decided a year ago or so that we didn't uh need it and we started making some planning. Dr. Heepburn, senior staff worked on where the staff was going to go and I
appreciate all the work that went into that, but just say roughly a year ago, we decided we didn't need the land. What are the steps and how long does each step take to get till we finally uh sell it to someone that's going to put it to a higher and best use? Dr. Heburn,
Mr. Aabusu, if you may, if you can educate um us and also the public on all the steps uh for surplusing district property. Good morning again board members. Chris Akabusu, director of facility and real estate. Um so the steps we have to follow are
some of them are statemandated. Um the school board has a policy and those policy also have to align with the state uh law. When we get a directive to sub um to sell property
um the first step we do is pretty much to um do the sport survey which you have right here. Okay. Beyond some mundane we do we do the sport survey. The reason you do the sport survey because we have a plan survey which has all schoolboard
facilities both um all the buildings both administrative and schools right. So we have to change a sport we have to change that use into another action to say that this facility is no longer needed for educational purposes. Right?
So you must do this step. So once you do this step and this step has to be discussed publicly in a board workshop to show the intent of the board. So once we do this stuff, we bring the board item. Once you approve this today, we send it to Florida Department of Education who will then review it and
then determine to approve the sport survey. Meaning this is no longer needed for educational purposes. After that is done, I have to bring a second item which is then to surplus the property. Again, that's in statute. So if you look at the statue, it says that's been
recommended in an educational plan survey. So the recommendation is a sports survey to say no no no longer need it before you can then surplus right. So once we bring the board item to surplus then I can then go out and put it out
for sale as you see um Dr. Zman great question in the executive summary we sometimes do steps simultaneously we have to do an appraisal it's in school policy right so the NPC negotiation parameters committee in February of this year pretty much um took action and
established the minimum asking price which like the superintendent said is the minimum asking price you can get a higher price um because normally people bid and whatever so we've done the appraisal it's in your document to tell you how much so once we stoploss the next step is to advertise it for sale.
Chair, in general, are we in favor of um exchanging surplus property for cash? Dr. Heepern. Yes, in general. Yeah, I think probably even in specific. I mean, right, we have land. In fact, we're the largest land owner in Broward
County. Uh I hope Dr. Holes is right and we win back, you know, people have more children and eventually they decide to choose here and all that, but that's a long-term game. This year we lost uh 8,700 students from day one last year to day one this year. It's a huge dip. And by the way, just for the public and for
us to think about, that's equivalent to 14 elementary schools that we fell in one year. And so we have a lot of land that we thought we were going to expand, we don't need. We have land that we got through a variety of methods that that we have no need for. And it's not just about us getting cash.
It's about somebody building a hospital. It's about somebody building a new facility. We're about to take up this amazing South Florida Wildlife Center. You know, a way to use the land to meet a social need that's far greater than a piece of property with a fence around it that has uh you know, if you want to
know anything about this property, call Wanda Paul sign out front. You know, that does no social good. And we could really use the money. like if we want to win back students, we want to get that capital so we can upgrade facads, we can make our our buildings more attractive
so more people take tours and therefore um uh choose our schools. My concern, chair, is that this takes way too long and I appreciate our policy and I appreciate people think because we're a government agency, we can't be agile and quick, but we need the money. More
importantly to me, other people would like to use that land that we own to put it to a better use. Um, and I'm worried that um, right now, chair, if I'm right, a year ago, we decided to sell this property and we voted on that. And today we're taking first step, which is to go do a survey. Not even like a formal
survey that you could sell a piece of land with, but a spot survey. You know, kind of here's a post and here's some land and there's six trees back here and water runs through that way. And, uh, I'm interested in whether my colleagues think this is the case uh, or not. Um,
if if it is, it would be nice to bring this policy back and to think a little bit about it or just ask the superintendent to to think about the process that we use from the point where we decide that we don't need a piece of land to us turning it over to another owner to build housing, to use it as a wildlife center, to build it as a
hospital. Can we figure out a way to do that entire process in something like a year instead of something like three or four years? Um, that would be my goal. So, I wanted to see if other colleagues felt like there were some opportunities to do better than taking three to four years to sell property that we don't
need. I I would think all of us I mean, you can say not, but I think we'd all like to see a speedier process because then it releases us from the property and we get cash from that. So, Dr. Heepern, is
there a way to a path to that? Um, we can review the process. Um expediency um for us is also a priority too. I know we brought this um last September probably. Um so um it's about close to a year right now, but I I
understand the sentiment to get it on the street within a year is what I'm what I think um we're hearing. So we can look at that process, have Mr. Aabuso review it with us and see um you know what what can we do that's faster that still aligns with policy and law and um
and bring back the policy if need be. if that's um part of the barrier. I appreciate that. And chair, could we just put that on a workshop agenda in a couple months maybe? Would that be reasonable? Dr. Heer, sure. We can add that to probably discussion around redefining as we talk about surplusing other properties. Sure.
T terrific. And I'm totally in favor of doing a spot survey. It's great. I just want to do a spot survey and appraisal and a listing and a and and get it out and and let someone else who wants to take ownership of this property work with the city, potentially even work with us. I mean, one of the things I
loved about the the the hospital is that they came to us and said, "Look, this is what we got. We got adjacent property. Look what we could do with this." And so, it's more than just a transaction of, you know, we're going to sell the property for the value. That's great, but now we get this whole robust medical
capability we never would have had. We even thought about students going in there. We have a mental health facility going there that's so important uh in that area. And it was a beautiful, you know, thing to see that all come together. and Broward County and the hospital administration uh were in it
together to figure it out uh with the city being compliant. So, um I hope we can find things like that in the future, but I hope we do it total time uh in a year so that every everyone gets that benefit faster. Thanks, chair. Thank you, Mrs. Alada. Yes. I'd just like to make
one comment that there needs to be robust communication with the city in regards to any land selling. Thank you. All those in favor of item J3 say I. I.
Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. Um we're going to move on to item JJ3 because it has a time certain at 11 o'clock. So can I have a motion in a second on it? So moved. Woo. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by
Mrs. Leonardi. Is there any public comment on JJ3? Yes, ma'am. We got the mayor of uh Southwest Ranches here with us to speak on the item. And after him, Dr. Trudy Germanovich. Okay. Good morning, chair, board,
superintendent. I'm incredibly excited to be here this morning. Uh we have been working on this project. Uh I intently listening to the discussion that you all just had and how this folds right into it. Um these these opportunities that we
have to um use these properties for for greater good and and provide funding for the school board for our students. Uh it's exciting. So uh we're thankful for this. We're we're incredibly grateful to Chris and his staff and all the work they've done, the support that we've
received from the board the first time we were here. Um, we're excited. This is going to help um going to help certainly Southwest Ranches because South Florida Wildlife Center is so um in tuned and aligned with who we are. um helps the school board both from uh facilities,
personnel, programming, and of course funding and um also helps uh obviously uh South Florida Wildlife Center as they do their mission um protecting animals and restoring animals uh throughout the county and uh and frankly it helps uh
Broward County as a whole from the standpoint of the space and how they're moving things around. So, we are so thankful to be here. We're excited to be here and looking forward to seeing this project take off. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Next public speaker.
My name is Dr. Trudy Germanovich. Uh the South Florida Wildlife Center has been located near me since I moved to Florida in 1977. My most memorable patient was a pelican which had a broken wing. My husband and I found it hobbling in the street. I
picked it up and we drove to the southwest um the the wildlife center. And as you can imagine, we got lots of looks as I held the bird on my lap in the passenger seat of our car. We were very thankful that she didn't she wasn't scared and didn't relieve herself while
being transported. They let me know when she recovered and was released back into the wild. I'm also aware of the wonderful educational programs this organization provides as I used them for years with my students at uh Sunrise Middle School and with pre-ervice
teachers in the teacher education alliance. I'm glad the school board has found a good home for the wildlife center as they no longer can stay in Fort Lauderdale. They will continue to be an important resource for Broward County teachers and students. I love
Southwest Ranches, by the way. I kept my Arabian stallion there when I first moved here. I fully support the school board of Broward County, Florida, entering into a 50-year lease agreement with the South Florida Wildlife Center and to use the seven acres on the
property in exchange for the removal of the deed restriction. That's the, you know, what has to be said. But I really want to say I really think this will benefit everyone in this county. I will continue to donate to this worthwhile
organization and I look forward to raising fun help raising funds for their new beautiful home as it's shown in the the uh chart that they gave. Oh, and they sell great t-shirts and hats as you can see from my bird nerd shirt. Thank
you. Thank you so much. Is there any other public comment? Okay, we'll go to board comment and we'll go this way. Dr. Zean, thank you so much, Chair. Um, these things come together um often times
between South Florida Water, South Florida Wildlife Center through the city of Southwest, excuse me, the town of Southwest. It's hard for me. I'm sorry, mayor, but there 31 to keep track of. The town of Southwest Ranches. Uh, I think it would be a disservice if we
didn't recognize Allesandra Medri. She was uh someone who worked decades uh to build to fundra. who's there 19 hours a day it seems like seven days a week. Uh Carolina Montto is here. How are you? Thank you for taking over. Uh we already know Steve Brighthouse uh our mayor. But
uh the town administrator Russell Munos, can you say hi? Thank you for coming. And Keith, are you here? Polyf. Thank you. Our town attorney. This group has worked tirelessly. Uh which is really remarkable. You would imagine Southport Wildlife Center would be working hard looking for a home, right? uh they got displaced by my hometown by Fort
Lauderdale who said you got to get and uh didn't give really that much time to to get out or allow for them to pack up and move in a in a very sustainable way. But for a city to adopt this wildlife center to say that it's consistent with the culture and and to come to us and ask for this land is another beautiful
thing. And I just want to thank the four people that are here and Alisandre who is not. Uh she's taking care of a family member out of town. Uh but this is an amazing organization and uh like Dr. Germanovich said there's a thousand 10,000 stories about people who have
dragged uh a broken wing, a hurt turtle, uh even some crazy stories about fish and things like that they caught and they didn't know what to do with. Um so thank you all for for uh working so hard to bring this item to it and I can't wait to get out there when it's built. I understand you're still trying to raise
money. Is that true, Caroline? And you have like four million so far. How many how many million do you need? I'm sorry for breaking protocol chair. I apologize. No, you're good. Hi, I'm Carolina. I'm the current uh interim executive director for the South Florida Wildlife
Center. Um and yes, like Dr. Zean said, we do have money to start this process because our community loves us as you've heard. Um we're looking at maybe around $10 million in the end. Um so we're almost halfway there and I know that we're definitely going to be able to get there. Thank you. I I I should have asked you ahead of time and just made it part of
my remarks, but thank you for for sharing that. For anyone listening that has $6 million, uh there's a really great uh organization and uh you can call the mayor. The mayor will get you in touch with the right people in the right bank account to uh to to send that money. Um but I'm uh just so tickled to
have visited the the wildlife center in Fort Lauderdale dozens of times, but it's really going to be amazing out there where it belongs in Southwest Ranches where there is a entire community dedicated to horses and animals and living a very natural life. So, thank you very much, mayor and city
officials. and you, Miss Thompson. I'm just here to echo the excitement in welcoming them to District 2. Um, it's where it should have been all along, honestly. However, I just wanted to say my kids
are super excited about this. I live probably about like 8 to 10 minutes from Southwest Ranches and I truly believe it's the community that that will welcome this center. Um, I also think just the academic programs that we have
are going to benefit them benefit from the center. The West Broward High School already has the capacity. They have a fake horse that has like organs you can take apart and stuff for their veterinarian program. And just being able to then transition this learning to
real life experience is so exciting. It's something that can't be done in other counties. I think it's something that's going to bring people back to us. Um, and I just want to thank everyone's advocacy on this. I can't wait for it to open. I don't have $6 million, but if I
meet someone, I'll pass them your way. Um, and I'm just super excited. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Se. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I echo my my colleagues comments. Uh, I'm also excited that this is coming to the uh the town of South Ranches, which is our
our neighbors to the south in District 6. um South Florida wild uh South excuse me, South Florida Wildlife Center. Tremendous organization with all that they do with the rescue, the rehabilitation, the education for the kids. So, I'm very much looking forward to seeing this get off the ground and and I want to thank everybody who made
this uh this possible. I know it was a it was a long time coming, but uh certainly excited that we're able to get this uh get this across the finish line. Thank you, Mrs. Bulman. Thanks, Chair. I also echo my um colleagues, but uh in terms of a deal,
putting putting a deal together where everyone's a winner, this was an excellent uh deal. So, I admire that from a legal standpoint. I think it everyone did a great job with that. And while you'll be a little farther than I am from the current site when I take my
broken birds, um I'm happy to drive out there because it will be a new and beautiful location. So, thank you to everyone for participating in this and for finding such a fantastic resolution to this issue. Thank you. Yes. Exciting to have this
come in in stamp of approval and be able to move forward. So, all those in favor of JJ3 say I. I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries. I thank you. Motion carries unanimously. Great job. Thank you so much. Okay,
we're going back to consent items to finish up. The next item up is J5. Can I have a motion in a second? So move second. Been moved by Mrs. Leonardi, seconded by Dr. Zean. Any public comment on J5?
Uh yes. Uh Mr. Michael Oel. Good morning, y'all. Okay. Good morning. Good morning. All right. I know it's been a while, but look, I'm Michael Bell. I'm the president and CEO of Community Based Connection. I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for your
partnership. Thank you for your leadership, Madam Chair, and thank you, Superintendent, for all that you have continued to do to work with the community. Um, you all continue to hold these positions that's so powerful and influential in so many ways, but it's
also difference makers. It's how we expand those options that change the odds for children and families. So, we're looking forward to September 3rd being a great day for Broward County Public Schools, a a disr. most importantly ourselves on behalf of
our board uh here at community based connection as well as uh some of our partners that's in the building BCOM have their representative here and some of the other partners that's lining up to better serve our community and give them more quality access to these health resource hub clinics that we're looking to be a great pillar in our community at
both high school and William Dan Middle School. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Any other public comment? No ma'am. Okay. Oh. No more registered speakers, but we do have Miss So
you'll hear from me. Of course, Broward Teachers Union has to make a comment and support with our one of our groups that we support tremendously with Michael Bell. So, what are you guys going to do?
You're gonna you're going to hear everything that he has proposed and offer and we're going to run with it. Can we make it faster than other things? Can it be more of a priority than selling off our properties? Can we make it as an equal property of working on
having our students in schools? This is when something like this comes around with a great organization that has been a tremendous support to our schools in Brower County Public Schools. and you guys know what schools that they work with and they're going to continue to
work with them. So, Broward Teachers Union is here in support with Michael Bell. Thank you. Any other public speakers? Okay, thank you. Um, so I I pulled this
just because I wanted to say thank you so much. We actually have already approved the item. This is an amendment. And um I just wanted to point out that when barriers happen, sometimes people just say no, we can't do it. And in this instance, there was some issues with
getting the medical doctors and the the nurses. And so community based connections found a way to go around that barrier and find a way to be able to provide them in a different manner than what we originally had agreed upon. And I appreciate and thank you for doing
that because these wellness centers, as you know, I've been pushing them for them since I got here. So very excited about having them open and looking forward to the reb ribbon cutting September 3rd. I hope my colleagues will join at Blanchely in the morning and
William Dandy in the afternoon. but it is for both medical and mental health of our students in the communities in places that really have um demonstrated that they need the assistance. So, thank you so much for your partnership and we
look forward to to great things. So, Madam Chair, can you add Miss Rupert to the list, please, for this item? Yes, go ahead, Mrs. Rupert. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and hey, Michael. Good to see you. and and of course we've been you know in
partnership with you since goodness I believe 2020. So uh it's something that we've worked towards and I I have to just give you all the credit for having that um kind of that gumption and that passion to keep moving forward when doors were
closed to you. And u look look what you've done. Look what you're going to do. And um I'm just I'm incredibly proud of you. I I guess um and I think Miss Hixon probably would know this better than me, but we did have a clinic at
Blanchely decades ago. So, it's um it's wonderful that now it's kind of come full circle with also the mental health wraparounds. So, um I think we've got something that's going to truly be a positive for not only district 7, but
for this entire dis district district. we could possibly use it for a a prototype of helping and truly wrapping around all services for our students. So, thank you so much. Michael, I wish you every bit of luck and support. Can't wait to come and see it. Um, thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. And Mrs. Rupert is right. We there was a partnership about 20 years ago with Memorial Health and those clinic buildings were all um community places for for health services. All those in favor of J5 say I. I. I. Any
oppose? Say I. Motion carries unanimously. Yay. Next item up is J6. Can I have a motion in a second? So moved. Been moved by Dr. Zean, second. Seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on J6.
We got one registered speaker, Dr. N Lynch Walsh. Still good morning. Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh, Plantation, Florida. um member of the facilities task force since 2011. This Mary and Bthoon
in the spirit of collaboration. It was a staff person who alerted us to what was happening at Bthun a few years ago. So we went there and visited and there were buildings that were slated in the smart bond to be re-roofed but that are actually hopefully now demolished. We'll
have to go double check. Um, this is one where it needs to be expedited. The admin staff were sitting in fire hazards. They had no AC the year we went there and they had things strung every which way. I used to hope and pray that
they wouldn't uh be burned to death in the conditions they were subjected to for years. The abandoned building, building five, was aband was not used for 10 years. I think this school might actually be in next week's workshop, but understand this has a performing arts
magnet. And all of the buildings that might attract parents were hiding behind these hideous 1950s60s buildings that nobody would leave their small child that they carried around for 9 months in because they can't get past
the scary admin building. So this is one where we must measure twice if not three times to get this right. You need the master plan so you can see where this building goes. The scope calls for a partial replacement of building three. Understand that building three is the
old cafeteria that should have already been demolished, but also the FPL vault. And I just looked at the the picture again on Google Earth. The FPL vault will be this little thing left in the middle of nowhere if you demolish everything around it. That can't be what
an architect would recommend for a master plan of the campus. The same campus we repeatedly advocated it is missing the two to five playgrounds. Other things that parents love to have for their kids, play space. They have
not had playgrounds since they took them out to put the portables that haven't been there forever. And then I hope all the buildings are demolished. So, please make sure that you see the master plan and that it
addresses all of the deficiencies. They were also counting the the buildings that haven't been demolished were being counted in the capacity. So, the school look looked even more underenrolled than it actually is. It is right next to a middle school that does
not have a performing arts magnet. So again, redefining but thinking strategically, connecting dots and looking holistically at things, not just with blinders on is what's going to benefit the school. And this school should not be left at the end of these
projects with no two to five playground. That would be a travesty. But I'm happy to see that this building is finally happening. And since I won't be here, oh, I'm not staying for JJ10. That's a hard no. Thank you so much, Miss uh Mrs. Bulman.
Oh, sorry. Sorry. Thank you, chair. Um, so I um the I echo I know that this that the condition was very deplorable. I mean, I know and and I agree with the
speaker when you walk into the office that is currently there, it is not a shining beacon of entry into a school. I mean, when you walk into the rest of the school, it looks great. I believe my predecessor, Mr. Fogen Holley, um was uh
helpful in getting some of these other buildings demolished. So, my understanding right now is that the buildings have been demolished um and that we're the only thing that we have to do is build this admin building. So, I want to thank um Miss Paul because I brought this to her and she has been
very um responsive and they have uh you know been working on this going forward. So, I really appreciate that. I think no one should be working in those conditions. We all agree to that. This is a pre-existing to anybody that's here right now situation. Uh, so I am very
grateful that the um staff, the principles, the admin will be working in a new building um pretty soon because they certainly do not need to be sitting in the current conditions and it's a great school. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Zean.
Thanks, Chair. Um, I brought this up because eight months ago we demolished the buildings at Bthoon. Um, and now we're here to kind of move it forward another step uh at a time. Um, and I'm curious, chair, why has eight months
gone by between the demolition of the buildings that we had planned to get rid of and the step that we're taking today, which is simply to advertise that we need somebody to bid on a construction project. Dr. Hepper. I have Miss Paul shed some light on
that. See Ashley Carpenter back there also. Morning. I think the major Good morning again. The major issue was uh just uh acquiring funding to support uh the project. I
believe there was design money in there and of course uh as stated previously, this kind of predated me. Um but uh Ashley Carpenter who uh is with Atkins, she can speak further to that. This is one of those projects that kind of
stalled over the years and so she has more of a historical perspective. Thank you. Ashley Carpenter with Atkins Realis. Um this project is still under design. It's getting permitted right now. Um the idea was to get this
authorization to advertise. So, as soon as it's um received the letter of recommendation to permit, it can be put on the street to hire the contractor. I I just want to set some expectations. I don't understand what a stall means.
And I'm I'm not done. My constituents don't understand what a stall means. We have $500 million in our DEFP account. We have $50 million unallocated today in our DFP account. When we tell a community like Bthoon's
community, we're going to build you a building and then we demolish four or five buildings and wait uh eight months, why couldn't we design why we were demolishing? Why can't we line up this process to actually get things done? I I I'm just saying that the
expectations of the community is when you tell them you're going to build something, it gets done. It might take a couple years. you know, the superintendent's talking about this wonderful idea of, you know, uh, identifying a school and schools around it and demolishing and rebuilding in 12
months. When I talk to my constituents about that, which I think I mean, one, districts do that all over the United States. It's not an impossible thing to do, but when I talk to the people in Broward County about that, and I'm I legitimately trying to kind of get their support, um, I don't get very far in the conversation.
So, I I'm just continuously frustrated that we have new leadership. We have great leadership here in Broward County. Something isn't working in the process to get things done. And stall is not a word that people in Broward County want to hear much about. If there's something
we need to allocate money on, bring it. We'll allocate the money. If there's an ability to design why we're demolishing, which is pretty standard in the construction space, why don't we do it? Why isn't there someone assigned to every construction project in Broward County making sure nothing gets falls
between the crack? How does a building fall between a crack? Like you can't I mean like physically a building cannot fall between the crack, right? A paperclip can, but a building can. So
I'm I'm I just can't explain it to people anymore. uh that that we can't figure out how to get things done because we have new leadership and things are not getting done. And so hopefully uh this will encourage
people to uh align processes to execute contracts to evaluate contracts to hire people to get the permits approved to do the inspections and actually get things done because it's really really getting old to tell them, "Hey, we got new leadership. it's trust me it's going to
get better and then we bring something back and there's this eight-month gap at the end of demolition because during demolition we knew the buildings were going down right and so at that point there were a whole bunch of things that we could have done along the way I maybe we need to do fewer projects so that we can make sure we get them done I don't
know what it is but it really I I want to think through our expectations about what it means when we tell the community we're going to bring you a new library or a new auditorium we're building a new auditorium at Coral Glades High School is that correct Yes. When is that going to be done
chair? When will the auditorium at Coral Glades High School be finished? Dr. Heburn, Miss Carpenter, do you have that date? I do not have the date. I can look it up for you, Dr. Zean. But that project is also um still under design. And great. Under design is actually an
action, right? Um when will Bethun Elementary School have a new administration building? Dr. Hepper. Miss Carpenter. Um, so upon approval of this item today,
um, as soon as the project, um, receives the letter of recommendation, which should be very shortly within one or two months. Um, it will be advertised for construction and we can get you the timeline for the construction period
itself. I don't have that in front of me. Um, but that contractor will be hired and that contract will be brought to you. So, you'll know exactly when the contractor is being hired. Okay. I'm just I'm I'm at the end of my rope and my community is at the end of the rope and I can't talk to them
anymore intelligently about why it takes so long to build things here and I can't sell this new concept of maybe we put a few schools together and build a brand new one for a community which gets people really excited until you tell them you're a school board member with Ber County Public Schools.
Okay. So, we have a long history going backwards to this. I hope we're at a new day, but the evidence to the community is not being felt. And so, uh, chair, I'm just going to share that. Uh, later, uh, I'll think about some items that we might work on, uh, that can help, uh,
superintendent and staff figure out how to do this different pace. I do want to comment, Dr. Zean, all due respect Dr. Zean, um, the last part of your comments about new leadership. New leadership is getting things done. Um, this is not the first thought project that we've encountered or discovered
since we've gotten here. And Miss Paul with her leadership um and her leadership of her team has identified these thought projects and doing the active steps necessary to get them back up um and implemented as soon as
possible. So, just want to just want to speak to her leadership, her team's leadership since she's been here, since I've been here, that we've discovered a lot of stall projects over the years, uh, that's been stalled for three or four, five years, many of them. I mean, we're getting those projects up and running and completing them as fast as possible.
And that's been my observation as well. I'm just telling you that when I try and talk to people about accelerated construction in Broward County, the residents of Broward County, they haven't seen that yet. I have seen the new leadership team rapidly respond to things and help get things done. It's
just not getting out there though that when we go to a community and say we're going to go to Penrook Pines and you know do something different and we're going to build a brand new school as part of that different thing. Um I can't get people in Perrook Pines or in Coral Springs or in Deerfield Beach to say oh
great go get that. Um and so we're we're just at the point where we haven't won them over yet and it takes a long time. Uh but my observation is consistent with yours. I've seen uh this leadership team rally around things to get things done, but there are still projects that that
um the community sees like this one where there's a long gap between demolition and the next step and that confuses them. So part of that is a communication problem. Um part of it is uh you know making sure that the community understands construction doesn't get
done in in weeks. I I agree with their with the public sentiment with their lived experience. I would be frustrated too. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Leonardi. I don't believe I pulled this. I was pointing to myself. Oh, I'm sorry. All right. All those in
favor of item J5 say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion passes unanimously without Miss Thompson on the days. Next item is J. Oh, sorry. L1. Chair. I think that was J6 if you want
to correct. That was J6. Oh. Yes. The next item up is L1. Can I have a motion in a second on L1? Been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Any public comment on L1?
No, ma'am. Okay, Mrs. Bowman. Thanks, chair. Um I just appreciate the partnership with Feeding South Florida and um appreciated your question about whether we um you know we were limited to the pantries
that are listed on this item. So my question is are we working to expand this program or do we have any opportunity to expl expand it how the funding works for this? Dr. Hepper go ahead Miss Silva.
I know Dr. Canning's back there, too, so she can uh come up to Mike if she needs to uh compliment my response. Uh we're always looking for that possibility. Um if they're willing to uh expand it, we're ready. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. We were going to say the same exact thing and Nadia,
would you like to respond? I Good morning, Nadia Brian Clark, assistant director of family and community engagement. Yes, we are definitely looking for opportunities to expand. Feeding South Florida has been fundraising and will continue to fund raise for this specific initiative. So,
as they as funds grow, our sites will grow as well. Thank you. All those in favor of item L1 say I. I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is O2. Can I have a motion in a
second? So move. Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on No, ma'am. Uh Dr. Holes, Madam Chair, we're on O2, correct? Okay.
So, um I have a few questions. Um how are prime biders eligible for affirmative procurement credit? Dr. Pepper, Miss Paul or Miss Andreo?
Oh, there she is. Go ahead, Miss Andrea. Good morning, Jennifer Andreu, executive director. The question was about prime biders. Yes. How are prime biders eligible for affirmative procurement credit?
So those affirmative procurement initiatives are decided by the goal setting committee and once that goal is set, prime biders then um are able to submit a proposal and they get points
depending on the goal that was set. Okay. So, um, Miss Andreo, um, how do you believe this process based on the goal setting committee
support the fair involvement of SWMBBE firms? Again, by assigning those goals, they are helping all of our certified firms um, do business with the school board.
So the assignment of those goals ensures that they are going to get an opportunity to work with the school board of Broward County. Okay. So the goal setting committee has the latitude to to change the goals if it's not
meeting what would be considered um the goal of fair involvement of MWBE firms. Do they have that latitude to change what the goal is? The goal is set on a project bypro basis. So it's not um
anything across the board. So we look at a number of data points to set those goals on project specific basis and but yes they have that latitude. Okay. and and for my knowledge and the knowledge of the public, what are
usually the factors that determine since it varies based upon project to project uh how these how these goals are set and I and what is the can you reiterate again the the intent of setting these
goals? So, let me start with the latter. The intent is to eliminate disparities in our county. uh some of the points the data points that we look at as a team would be the scope of services that are
needed for that specific project and then we look at the market. So how many vendors are in the market that can do that scope of work. Okay. And would you say in your own um
professional judgment that the goals that you've seen being set on a continual basis is effective in eliminating disparity? Yes, I would. We're working towards that. It obviously will not happen overnight, but we're absolutely making
gains and working towards eliminating disparity. Okay. Has there been companies that won bids and chose not to take advantage of the the option for affirmative procurement initiative credit?
If there is a goal on a project and a vendor submits a proposal um and receives points because of the commitment they made, they must honor that commitment or they would be in breach of that contract.
I understand. So I guess I'll rephrase the question. So there are points being awarded to companies who would select to um be eligible for affirmative procurement initiative credit? Correct.
Correct. And do companies have the option of saying I'm not going to participate in that? Are you referring to the subcontractors? No. Um, I'm referring to the prime bidders.
Do they have the option of not participating in the points that they can receive as far as being eligible for affirmative procurement initiative credit? If a goal is mandatory, then they must meet the minimum mandatory requirement.
Okay? If the goal is not mandatory and they're given incentives for using certified subcontractors, then they can or cannot uh use those subcontractors and they would be evaluated based on their participation.
Okay. So um has there been cases and and and in your best opinion where the goals were not mandatory um but companies won a bid and not chose to exercise
um the objective of the goal setting committee in eliminating disparity by not participating in whatever points are to be awarded based upon affirmative procurement initiative credit. So that has happened but it's rare because again we want to increase
competition in our district and the way you do that is through the evaluation of the points and firms know that the district is making this a priority and they want to obtain the most points um
that they can to be competitive. So it happens but it is rare. Okay. And why do you suppose a company would would choose not to participate in that? Um I would not have that answer. That would be a business decision on behalf
of the owner of the company. Okay. So how can we strengthen the process to ensure that companies are incentivized to include SWMBBE firms uh in this process? I think the current process and policy
we have in place is um is working and so through again through the goal setting committee we are doing that. Do you think it it's beneficial to to to seek to see if there could possibly be improvement to that so that we can
continue to eliminate disparity? We will continue to evaluate every single project on a project by project basis to ensure that we are eliminating those disparities. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. All those in favor of item O2 say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously without Mrs. Alf on the deis. Then okay. This will be the part of the meeting where we will consider all the open
agenda items. The following open items have been identified for discussion. HH1, HH2, AA2, BB2 with with a s time certain of 300 p.m. FF1, JJ1, JJ2, JJ5,
JJ9, JJ 111, DL1, O2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20,
22, and double P3 7 8R 1, double T 1 2 and Four. At this time, may the chair have a motion in a second to pass the open items that have not been pulled for discussion. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs.
Leonardi. Are there any registered speakers on the items that have not been pulled for discussion? There's only one, but I believe she left. Dr. Nyl signed up for JJ10. Okay. Okay. Thank you. All in favor of approving the open agenda items that
have not been pulled for discussion, say I. I I those opposed say no. Motion carries. All of those items are approved unanimously. Yes. At this time, may the chair have a motion and a second on item HH1. So moved.
Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? Yes. One. Uh, President Fusco. But you can speak. He's the boss of the person I'm going to speak about that's on the Broward Teachers Union contract.
Got to follow the contract. There's a pay grade in there. Not only does that person do the job title, but she does multiple jobs. You guys are very good at certain district level management. When they get
assigned multiple jobs, you make sure that you compensate them. What we clearly are starting to see is that groups that have contracts, we have two attorneys up there, Mara and Adam.
You, it's important, right? Follow the contract. So tell your people down here, follow the contract. Pass it on to other management, follow the contract. It's not hard.
I'm not sure what buzzes in your ears all the time, but we know that happens every one of you. When it's a very simple concept, go and check, go verify, go ask questions to the powers that be that actually will
come back with fruitful, sincere, respectful, and the right answer because they know you guys don't go fact checked and you don't go verify. You get handed stuff. But this one's easy.
There's a pay grade that they need to be put on and paid. There's not a typo. I don't want to hear about this typo junk. And by the way, if there was a typo, still going to have to follow through with it. So, I'm asking you guys to pay this
person that's under our TSP contract. What is that? Are you okay? All right. making sure what rightfully she should be paid or I promise you we'll follow back up with legal action and this time if I'm
saying it publicly it's going to happen. Thank you. And just a reminder if um the audience could put their cell phones on silent. Thank you. Um any other public comments? Now on to this item. Ma'am, Dr. Holes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, my question is um in relevance to the actual um position and I have no idea who's the individual in this position per se, but I I know the changes we're making is is permanent as far as the um
changing the the pace pay grade. So, um just wanted to ask a few questions. Uh, how long has the the previous job description uh been in place? Dr. Heeper. Go ahead, Mr. Henry.
Uh, good morning. Aston Henry, director of risk management. Uh, that position has been in place, I'd say probably over 25 years. Okay. So, um, what now? Correction. Correction. 2006. You said,
Ernie. 2006. Okay. and the the the new um role that uh the that the individual or anyone in this position is now taking on. How has that changed over time? Well, there's been um additional duties
assigned to this position. Fit for duty has been added along with biomedical waste removal. Those are the two items that have been added to this position. And when were those two items added? Um well, the person has been doing the
work. I'd say probably the past six, seven years. Okay. So when you say this item has been added, can you differentiate between are what you've said and when this person start to do the work? When this person
started doing the work, was was the job assignment added at that time or the person started to do the work and then we decide to add the new uh job assignments to the job description. the person had been doing the work for a while. I'd say probably the last five
years. We did a hang on. We did a job study two years ago and it's just coming forward now. Um so we've been asking for a number of years to revise the job
description to compensate the person for the additional duties that they've been doing. Okay. So we're compensating the position, right? because no person owns a position. That person is now in the position. Right. So we're the position
uh based upon the job additional job duties necessitate an increase. Correct. Correct. According to the compensation department, they did the study to determine whether or not the increase was warranted. Okay. So when when the position started
in being in involved in other duties five or six years ago um you mentioned that you've been trying to get this job description. This is first uh change this first time I'm seeing it. Has it appeared before us in the past? No it has not.
So when the person took on these roles or the position had these roles five six years ago why wasn't it brought forth then? I couldn't answer that question because I've I've spoken to management about it a number of times and it was never brought forward. Recently, I spoke to management and we were able to push
it through in my conversations with the uh new CFO. Okay. So, um there is there is no new individual being hired for this current role, right? Whoever is in this role has been there for quite some time. That's correct. Okay. Okay. And the intent to change
this position is not based on the person but based on the scope of this job and not an individual. Is that correct? That's correct. It's based on the additional job duties that have been assigned to this this position. Okay. And the the pay grade is moving from 21 to 23 which is two steps
forward. Right. That's correct. Is there a reason a 21,000 increase? And and you mentioned two additional job duties. 21,000 seems um significant. No, it's not. It's not 21,000 if I'm not
mistaken. I think it's$7,000 and some change. It's definitely not 21,000. So, the increase is a 7,000 increase going from 21 pay grade to 23. Correct. Okay. So, I must have misunderstood. I thought I read 21,000 somewhere.
Yeah. Dr. Holden, I think you um there's a range. Okay. So, the at the top of the range u would be 21,000. Okay. So, there's an increase of 7,000. Correct. Okay. Got it. All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor of item
HH1 say I. I. I.................... Any opposed say no. Motion carries. The next item is HH2. Can I have a motion in a second? Second. It's been moved by Mrs. Lee and seconded by Dr. Zean. Any public comment on HH2? No ma'am.
Dr. Zean. Chair. What's the legal weight of a handbook for a meet and confer group? Dr. Heer. Go ahead. U Dr. Lozano or even uh Miss Batista if you want to help out. Miss Batista.
Can you please repeat that question? It's asking what the legal weight of a handbook for meet and confer groups are. I can be more specific, chair. Um is this equivalent to a collective bargaining agreement? No, sir.
So, what's the legal weight of a handbook? Are we required to do the things that are listed in here, Miss Batista? Yes. Um, this will be the equivalent of a policy. Okay. And this is a policy that we've had in place since 2017.
And um over those eight years, a lot of things have happened. And we're now updating this policy. By my count, there's four kind of very small updates. Is that correct? That's what he looks like. Yes. Dr. Heburn, can you confirm that?
No. Lozano. David Azero. Good afternoon. David Azaro, can you repeat the question? Sorry. Uh that let me just be a full question. You know, there's a lot of time and energy that goes into putting together a schoolboard item. uh reviewing a 20page or so handbook, three meeting confer
groups, uh meeting with them, going through everything. It would seem to me that with four changes coming back to us that there's really and none of them substantive changes that through all those meetings, nobody came up with any issues that uh got in the handbook to make a real change to this this uh this
particular policy. Well, in addition to just changing some name changes, department changes, title changes, there were a couple of changes working with um the three meet and confers collaboratively in a group. Could you point to any substantive changes in this handbook?
Sure. Going off memory, Heather Pente, director of professional practices. going from memory and working with the book in the red line. There was one when it spoke to a probationary period served for the first time someone's appointed to ESMAB that it was determined that an assistant principal would be
probationary but once they were promoted to the principal position they would not be probationary again. There was information added here for COPA when we spoke about bringing back COPA employees.
Sorry, we're going to the book. Bear with us. You'll also see that the book took a um was done very differently to organize it better because before you had defined sections, but now it's divided by the unit. Her employees definitions were
clarified that were confusing and overlapping in the past. Items taken out. There were items that were removed because they were outdated or no longer relevant. And again, there was confusion for the
parties between job um doing job studies when a job study is conducted as well as the difference between task assigned as well as acting. I I appreciate that. Thank you. Um here's what the public saw, though. The
public saw a document that's a handbook for a large number of people with four changes in it. and the summary did not kind of highlight the things that you just brought up that are like significant differences, right? And yet the material that came with it didn't
really point out to the public, you know, kind of what's changing with this large group. Um I've gone through it uh and I can't um I didn't see anything that would like be alarming or anything. It seems like pretty straightforward good things to do. Um chair, also given
that this is like equivalent to policy, does this have to go through rulemaking? Dr. Hepper, Miss Batisa, I believe um this has been advertised as rule making. I got to verify.
Okay. It was at the workshop June 24th is when it went through the workshop. And so we had to wait 28 days after that to bring it to a board for a vote. Correct. Terrific. So, it did follow rulemaking. I I believe so. Yes.
Terrific. I um I just like the the the constituents that we represent to understand kind of these substantive changes. They care about kind of how our meet and confer groups uh and us set policy together and and and and things like that. So, uh thank you, chair.
Thank you. All those in favor of item HH2 say I. I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion passes unanimously without Mrs. Mrs. Bulman on the deis. The next item is double A2. Can I have a motion in a
second? So move. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Is there No, ma'am. Okay. Uh Mr. Sea. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um big fan of this and the mental health
services uh that this will provide uh to our students. uh but is often the situation when we have these multi-year contracts. I I love to ask the question as to why we are we are signing a a three-year deal as opposed to a a a one or two-year deal uh for an extended
period of time with Broward Behavioral Health. Is there is there a benefit to the district? Are we locking in a better rate? Uh are we locking in guaranteed services? Why three years as opposed to one? Dr. Heburn. Yes. Um all of what you just mentioned um Mr. Sea um locking in rate just to
ensure that we can take advantage of the rates of today um and also locking in the level of service um as you'll find many of our contracts moving forward um especially when service and products are increasing in price um steadily year after year. Thank you. And I'll just say I'm very
glad to see the item come forward. Um it's um anyway I'll leave it at that. Anybody have any um other comments on AA2? All those in favor of the item say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. We are now
going to go to a time certain item of B1. So can I have a motion in a second to bring item B1? Dr. Z uh motion by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Is there any public comment on B1? I'm pretty sure there is
one registered speaker. There should be two at least, I think. Uh, Greg uh Rossman and also Lisa Maxwell. Great. Go ahead, Mr. Rossman. I was going to defer to the lady, but I um at this point I appreciate very much
the opportunity to speak. Um, good afternoon. It's an honor to be here on behalf of the Rocks officers. My name is Greg Rossman. I am a little private attorney here in town um and born and raised. We're live in Hollywood. Uh, I was going to start with the stuff about the program and the value of it, but I'd
like to start with um a letter I received just this morning. Um, so I have not spoken to her. I'm not I'll leave out the last name, but Latoya W sent me this letter. Um, she is a parent of children in public the public school. I'm writing this letter as a parent of children in Broward County Public
Schools. I want to express my support for continuing the Rock program and urge you to reconsider any decision to remove officers and their families from our school campuses. The presence of police officers provides an invaluable sense of safety, stability, and trust for our children, staff, and families. At a time
when concerns about school safety are at a forefront of every parent's mind, having officers integrated into our school communities sends a powerful message of reassurance and protection. These officers are not just law enforcement figures. They become neighbors, mentors, role models to our
students. I respectfully ask you maintain the support of the rock program as it benefits the entire community. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you will stand with parents, teachers, and students in supporting this vital program. Um that that's one of many um letters that we've
that I've received representing the 27 Rocks officers that you have. Um it is typically a three-year contract. The contract was due to expire in February. And I'm here because the officers all received notice um from the school board that there was an intent not to have a
new contract, not to enter a new contract. I understand why the letter was sent because of timing um that there had to be a six-month notice. So, they were given notice that way. There was an option not to continue the contract. I can tell you that um representing the the 27 Rocks officers, the Broward
County Chiefs of Police Association believes it's a valuable program. The Florida Police Chiefs Association believes it's a valuable program. The FOP and the PBA, I guess obviously they're they're members and they stand behind them as well. But we've received letters from um school board um parents
of children that that go to the to power county public schools like Latoya that I just read. Um I think it offers a value. I'm here only because it's hard for 27 individuals to speak. So they need somebody as a central speaker and that's what I'm here to offer. But I want to make sure the schoolboard members
realize there is a value to the program because the feedback I got when in talking to uh staff was literally I was told that that it offers zero value to the to the school to the school board and to the schools and to the families and I I don't think that's accurate. So I want to make sure that there's a voice letting you know that there is a value
and by value it costs nothing. There's no there's no fee to having them h having the officers that are already there in their existing homes. Um, so I would ask that when this comes back around, you give that consideration and um, you give me consideration in the future if there's a decision to be made.
Thank you. Thank you so much. Next is Miss Lisa Maxwell. Thank you. I'm I'm Lisa Maxwell and I'm here today on behalf of the Broward Principles and Assistance Association. Madam Chair, thank you for bringing
forward this item. Uh I I this is a 40-year-old program and these officers are phenomenal. Every single principal in this district, especially those that have them, support them. Those that don't typically want
them. Uh we would like to see the program expanded, but we understand the 27 families, 27 sworn police officers serve these
schools in a way that nobody else can. And they have their families there uh with them. and they provide the kind of safety and security that you just you just can't get uh any other way. Um and
so we are very supportive of having them there. Many of them serve as mentors to students. They support existing law enforcement that's on site. They serve as extra eyes, ears, and hands during hurricanes and other critical events on
campus. uh and we just can't imagine the district not having the program. So, we very much hope that you will vote in favor of extending their contract and continuing this program for however many
more decades there are to have. So, thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Any other public speakers? No, ma'am. There's one coming to the no more registered speakers, ma'am.
Well, Anna Fusco, Broward teacher union president. Come on now. So, as a Brower County Public School employee also and my schools that I taught in were in Hollywood and knowing the mayor well and knowing a lot of
residents and friends and colleagues and um they take care of our schools and it's not an impact. This is a no-brainer. Anything that helps to preserve safety and security.
Why do we need to keep coming and fighting for it? Personally, I think six months is a joke of a time to give anybody notice, especially when we know that they it's their residents and their families and so forth. Um, we need to do better next time when a contract comes
up to give a lot. When you're possibly having to leave your residence and however many years they've been there, it's very uncomfortable. And then knowing that the community that you're in that you serve that can impact all around gosh, you make some really unbelievable decisions.
Really have to do better. I'm not sure why it needed to come to the board to extend the contract. But if it is up to you, I'm not sure what other questions you guys may have or who you're asking or who you've already asked before and what answers
you've already gotten. I think that um it really is something that should stay and make sure that when it comes up in the next round that it's it's done with a lot more um heart professionalism, more
conversation, rationalization of why you would even want to discontinue a a program that is serving the community for decades and isn't broke. And I'm at a loss right now, but then again, I'm not.
Thank you. Any other public comments? Someone's coming. Oh, none registered. Okay. Thank you. I just want to give a little context to why I brought the item forward and then we'll go with other
board members that pulled the item. So, we had a discussion about this particular item, 2022. I guess that's when it was and the board spent a lot of time having this discussion as to whether to continue with the rock
officers, not continue. And where we landed was we would keep the rock officers that were there already, which were the 27 of them. and when until the contract ended, which was three years, which is where we are right now and why we're having this discussion because we
as a board agreed that we would um look at it again when that contract was over like we do every other contract that comes before us that can be renewed. So, that's really why I brought the item forward is to have a discussion. It's a
whole new board. We spent a long time, there's a few of us here that were on the board at that time. Um, and I I think it's valuable. It's important to me. I still remember and still talk to the rock officer that was at South Broward when I was there, Officer Dean.
So, um, I I appreciate where they bring community into a school because I lived it. So, I'm very honored and happy to be able to bring the item forward. Uh, Mrs. Alhadef, thank you. So, I'm a little perplexed on
the timing and cadence of I appreciate you bringing this forward, but why were the rocks officers given their sixmonth notice? Because I feel that this conversation, this item
should have came to us first before sending out something to the rocks officers. I think it's was inappropriate. It causes frustration. Um, it causes families to be upset. And
this board is making the decision on whether to keep the rocks program or or not. And and so it's perplexing to me why that letter, that communication went out before we got to make that decision on it. Dr. Heer,
thanks for the question. Made um just uh to answer simply answer the question. um we were not aware that this came to the board um as a discussion point. We had to do some research once we find out after the letter was sent u with the help of Miss Hixon letting us know that
it was a discussion at the board and the board decided to uh move forward for an additional 3 years. Uh we were executing just like we do with other agreements if we're if we're not going to utilize the services anymore to to send out the letters of due diligence. Of course, we have a heart. We understand this
involves people. we're not going to just put people out on the streets in 6 months. We're going to work with families um you know just to make sure they transition appropriately. But uh just to be honest, we were unaware of that discussion in 2022 about when the board had that discussion about how
they're going to move forward, if they're going to decide um to to do an additional three years and all the tangibles in that discussion. So, we're we're here today. Yeah. And I appreciate that. and you weren't here, but there was plenty of staff that knew the historical
uh cadence of of this. So, I'm disappointed. I I apologize to the families, to the Rocks officers that were affected by this because I think it's causing anguish and stress that's that's not needed. As one board member,
I I value what you bring to our schools and protecting our schools. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Bowman. Thanks, chair. Um, thank you for bringing this item because it I know that it has been causing distress in the
community. Um, I echo your sentiments. I I when I'm visiting schools, I have had principles telling me how much they appreciate their rock officers. I'm not even asking them. That's just something that I'm getting unsolicited um at a lot of the schools in my
district one. So, I really appreciate the service that you're providing and you know I I think we need to look even if we have some a legal right to do something and that is before I you know learned today that we were supposed to
bring it back to the board. I think we really need to think about how we're interfacing with the people that protect our children and who are our community partners. Uh this is a long-standing program. These are people's homes and
just getting even into the weeds of having a mobile home on a property. After a mobile home is a certain age, no one's removing that from the property and setting up a residence somewhere else. It becomes impossible to move it. And so you're essentially depriving someone of their property and their
home. So we really have to think about what the repercussions are to to anybody, but particularly to our first responders that are protecting our kids. So, I um I'll be supporting extending this. You know, if we if we wanted to
eventually ease out of this program, I would suggest that we just don't allow the leases to be assigned moving forward. I mean, if you already agreed that it was going to be, you know, but let people
remain until the their service is over. Thank you. Thank you. I I think that's what not to jump in front of people. I think that's what we believed we were doing essentially as a board was saying till the leases run out. Not really thinking
that the leases ran out in three years. Just thinking that they would stay until they didn't want to stay anymore. Um but that's not how the contract read and that's how we landed here. So Mr. Sea,
thank you Madam Chair. Uh first and foremost, I do want to recognize and acknowledge our law enforcement professionals who are in the uh in the crowd today. I want to thank uh each and every one of you for all that you do for keeping not only our kids safe, but keeping our community safe. Um I can't
speak how we how we got to this point. Um, I've only been on the on the board for a handful of months, but certainly it sounds like we've gotten to a point where there's been a lot of unnecessary confusion uh and perhaps um some concern. Uh I can assure each and every
one of you have my full support on this. If it were up to me, I would let you guys stay there as long as you wanted. Uh as long as you were willing to continue to serve our communities and protect our kids. Uh to me, this is a no-brainer. Um, that being said, I'm in full support uh of what's uh before this
board today as far as these these contract extensions. I I just Madam Chair, if I can get one point of clarification, are we actually voting to extend for another three-year term or are we voting to direct the superintendent to do something which will could ultimately result in that vote? The motion is to
direct the superintendent because I think they needed some time to be able to get the contracts in place. Okay. And um with that direction under the assumption that it passes today, what kind of time frame are we looking at to alleviate some of these conform
some of these concerns that our great law enforcement officials may have in with this uncertainty? How fast can this be brought back? Dr. Heburn. Um I can't give you a timeline. We'll bring it back as quick as possible because we have to work with um general counsel and um no general counsel has to
work with their lawyer also to craft what that agreement looks like. But I mean it's just it's a standard addendum to a contract that's done right. I mean this can be done in a matter of months I would assume. Yeah. I I know the board's understanding right now is that from what I can gather
from consensus that we're extending it. So if it takes longer than that, we wouldn't be putting anybody out on the street. I I just want to make sure that that all of our law enforcement professionals have that um feather under their cap so they know what's going on. Uh you are appreciated. Not sure exactly
how we got to this point, but um you have my full support in everything you do and I thank each and every one of you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thompson. Thank you, chair. Um, I'm also supportive of this item, but I wanted to clarify because there's been some comments that there's no cost to the
district, but I assume if they're living on our property, there has to be some cost. Um, so can I just Dr. Thank you. Um, yeah. So, I can't give you specifics right now, Miss Thompson. The team and I um work with Miss Hixon to really understand what possible costs there are
in the past and in the future. We'll put that in the memo. We're still collecting information. We'll put it in the memo, send it to the board as soon as we get all that information. I appreciate it. And I bring it up because I'm assuming that this staff made this decision because we've been telling them to cut costs and find find
ways to save. Um, obviously, this was not the right direction as we are hearing. However, I don't think it came from a place of malice or a place of not thinking the program was worthwhile. Um,
so I just wanted to put that out that I think staff appreciates what you guys are doing just like the board appreciates what you are doing because there was a comment saying, you know, that there was some misunderstanding that the program wasn't worthwhile and I don't think that's what was communicated
or meant to be communicated. Um, but that being said, I am in support of letting these officers stay there. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Zean. Thanks, chair. Um, like Miss Alade, I'm curious a little
bit about the process here. Um, and I I guess what I I need to understand is why didn't the superintendent uh what does the superintendent think about the value of the rocks program? Dr. Heer.
Um, I'm uh, uh, to be honest with you, I've been in school districts that have utilized rock programs and they are not in existence anymore. I value all of our officers who support our communities and our and our kids. Um, that, you know, and as well as my staff um, there right
now they're based on our preliminary information there is cost and we're going to provide that information to the board so you guys can make the most informed decision possible as we move forward. Um, I know some of our principles definitely value rock officers on their campuses. You know, they they provide some assets and value
to those campuses, too. So, we just want to make sure that we provide the right information to the board so you can make the best decision possible as we move forward. I appreciate that. And I was on the board with Miss Hixon when we talked about this and uh a previous leader of our school system brought this to us.
And if I remember correctly, chair, this is with a recommendation to let the three years go and that would be the end, right? Is that correct? I believe that was how the contract was written. Um, but I mean the vote of the
school board in 2022, I think that the vote and again I've got to go back and watch it now um before this comes back. But I think the vote was uh recommendation by the superintendent to let this program expire and the vote was let's not do it now given all the evidence that there is. There was a huge
audit in 2015 that talked about uh some of the challenges with the program. Uh they seem to be relatively minor compared to you know the overall value that could be added. But in 2022, the board decision, I think, was to was to terminate the program, but not do it
until the three-year contract run. Is that fair? Yes. Okay. So, um I know this is going to come back, so we all can take some time to go back and and look at that. Um chair, are you aware of our new uh chief of police's opinion about the rocks program?
I am not personally. I haven't had a conversation with them. I wonder if we could ask the new chief of police. That was that was uh Robert's rules of order for would you please ask the uh chief of police what his opinion was.
So come on Dr. Dr. um Heer. Yep. Go ahead. Hi Kevin Naz chief of police. So my opinion, listen, in the this program started in the 80s, um obviously when we didn't have any of the the technology or or safety and security things that are
in place currently, different fencing, camera systems, the upgraded alarm systems. Um, I looked at the last two years of of stats as far as like prevention of burglaries, trespassing, vandalism, and for each year minor maybe
a handful of incidents. Um, obviously the all the officers that provide us those um stats say they're walking the campuses. I actually happen to know um a few of these officers. I've worked with I've known some of the Myiramar guys for over 20 years. Um, listen, they they provide a service there and I understand
that, you know, the the teachers and the principles, you know, feel comfortable and and they are, you know, that representation of those municipalities and things like that, but the overall benefits, I don't necessarily see them in in the stats, right, for the prevention end of it. Does that make sense?
Yeah. And in the discussion in 2022, it had a whole bunch of robust discussion about the enhancements of security and um just the perimeter fencing that's so much different than it is now. the cameras on all the other things I don't want really want to go into the details of but we've made a huge investment appropriate investment on security um
and so you know there's a commensurate shift in the benefit that's provided of somebody uh on site um so I look forward to this uh coming back but I want to go back to the 2022 presentation and you know this is different because this is not being brought by the superintendent to the school board with a
superintendent recommendation to extend it uh the superintendent I think uh allowed for the notice to go out. Uh even though you didn't think it needed to come to the board, you still let the notice go out for a six-month notice. Um so there's something to think about there as well. Um and I look forward to
learning more before this comes back. Chair, when would this come back if we direct the superintendent to bring it back to us with the recommended change in direction. Dr. Heburn, when can you So the as uh we were mentioning when Mr. Sea is asking a question. Um it's going
to be collaboration between my staff um the general counselor's um staff and also um the rock uh officers representation. So would it be okay within a couple months to bring it back? I'm assuming a couple of months. Think that'd be wonderful. And again to Mr. Sever's point uh I could have said the
exact same thing with with to expose my feelings about law enforcement people. Uh there is a deep deep connection between the community and what you provide uh to the community that is um a wonderful relationship uh across the
board and the appreciation from all of Broward County to what you all do as a profession is profound. Um that's separate though really from uh the program and the value that that adds to the program and we have to go through that and um I just need to do a little bit more research about what was in the
audit what was brought up last time because a previous and I think it was a superintendent chair brought this to us and said uh we we ought to think hard about this with the idea of not having this program anymore and I just need to go back and do some more research. Thanks chair. Thank you Mrs. Rupert.
Thank you. Um, Madam Chair, um, first I would love to thank all our our rocks people in the audience. Um, every single one of you gives your hard work and your um, your caring for our students and community
first and foremost to everything. And um, I just wanted to let you know about that. the miscommunication that caused so much strife and anxiety to our families. Um it's there was really no way to uh you know put it out. Obviously I'm not going
to be the dead horse. Um everybody said that part about it. Um, but I do want to say I fully support keeping our rocks program extending it and um I did hear chief say that there were a handful of
incidents that um that you could actually tie to data points. Well, for me, you know how like when you maybe you're speeding down the road and you see a police car on the side of the road, right? You're going to slow down.
I think it's the same mentality as when you have a rocks officer and their family on campus. I don't actually think it's the number of incidents that they make that makes a difference. It's a number that they're
being on our campus. They don't have the incidents. So, I look at it a little bit more differently. Um, and I think we really have trouble with communication. Um, I'm just going to say this one thing. It's a little off
tangent here. Um, the miscommunication and finding out from u our constituents, people that work for us that something went out and we didn't know about it is the same thing that happened over the weekend. The reimagining of schools part two,
the list of schools that we're going to discuss next week came up and I was informed by looking at it. So I think sometimes in an error to to get things done in a in a quick manner but we have to remember that the governing of the
board is the board's responsibility. Um so once again just to close up 100% I don't I'd rather it didn't take two months. I' I'd love if we could do it today, but I understand. And thank you for being a part of our community,
um, our school family from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Hoest. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I'd like to thank the Rocks officers. I do appreciate your work and and by the way, my brother is also a retired police
officer, retired a couple years ago. Um so I understand what your duties and service and the challenges you encounter. So I am going to support the item. I do have um a couple of comments and some questions. Um if if there is a
minimal cost to doing this um uh because the officers live on school grounds uh then why would we want to get rid of it? And even though we have improved technology and we have fencing and all these other things, I don't think that there I don't think we can sit back and
and be confident that we've done everything in terms of security. And if this is not uh um costly uh to continue even beyond I I just don't understand why we would even
entertain now and in the future to get rid of it. I think any additional layer of security is beneficial and we all know this until one thing happened. If they help prevent one incident, one incident that is enough because all of
this uh is impactful when it hits home, right? Because if it happens to you, you appreciate you appreciate that the the the benefit of having these officers. So I I am in support, but I do have some questions.
who decide which schools because I I am not fully knowledgeable of this. Who decide which schools? Um and how and I know it's been there since the 1980s and how how were how was this done? Dr. Heer, I'm not familiar with the original
process, Dr. wholeness. But um in 2022 um when it was recommended by whoever the superintendent at the time to to dissolve the program, the board made the decision to keep the program and not add anymore. So it's been the same um
schools since then. It was a decision to keep it for the next three years and not add anymore. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. So I I have a question on that. Right. Um it appears that the cost is minimal to have the officers on the school grounds. Is that a fair statement?
I can't fully answer that question until we're done doing our research and we'll provide all that information to the board in in the memo shortly. Okay. So when that information comes back and if the cost is minimal, I I actually have um probably an opposing view to to maybe some board members is
that we look to increase the number of rocks officers across the district. Um uh and we evaluate additional schools that may benefit from this depending on the data that we have for school incidents and after school incidents and
so on. So I for one would like to see it increase if the cost is minimal as opposed to reducing it. Um because like I said until it hit home one incident is too much and I think that having this additional layer would be beneficial. So I'm looking forward to the data uh Dr.
Hepern um and if it's very minimal cost then I would actually love to see more schools have this especially the schools that um is driven by certain data as far as it being beneficial to those schools. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Alhida.
Thank you. And um I'm going to make a motion in regards to increasing the 3 years to 5 years because I think if you know as we're doing these contracts, if the board would like to do that, at least we could establish that now. And
so my motion is to keep Miss Hixson's recommended action and then have the Rox lease agreements are for a five-year term with an option to renew for an additional five years. Second. Okay, it's been moved. Um, it's been
moved and seconded. All those in favor of or do I have to do public comment first? I have to do public comment. Any public comment on the recommendation, the motion? I'll Greg Rossman, once again on behalf of the RX officers, thank you for the
opportunity to speak. Thank you for that motion. That's one of the one of the issues, one of the problems. Some of these officers, I don't know if the schoolboard members realize some of them have to had to purchase new homes, new mobile homes to be be put on the campus. Three $400,000.
You're asking an officer, some of them have sold their homes, bought a mobile home to move on campus to provide that security with the risk of having the rug pulled out for them in three years. And that's what caused a lot of the distress that that member Alhadef is talking
about. So the five years is is certainly a benefit. um to member Holes's question to try to expand it. It would have to be five years because it's difficult for the chiefs to go to their officers and say, "Would you like to be on campus, go buy a spend $300,000, but realize in
three years you may be gone and you have to pay the expense of moving that mobile home if it can even be moved." So, I would say that that's a um very very helpful spot. One last thing, I see my time running out. Just want to say in reference to member Rupert's point, how do you prove a negative? And that's what
she was talking about. The cars that drove by to possibly do a burglary that moved on and went somewhere else because there was a rocks officer with their family there. There's no stat for that. With all due respect to the chief, there's there's no stat for that. You cannot account for that. And I can tell you every one of these officers walking
the campus every day have locked gates that were left unlocked. Talking about the technology, um they've responded to water breaks that a camera saw but didn't respond to. So there's other value. The technology is one thing. technology can't go lockate. It can't stop a leak. It can't do the things that
they do. So, I appreciate that and I would tell you the members be very much in support. Last thing is I am their council. I negotiated their contract six years ago. They didn't need me. I don't want to take any money from them because it was re-uped three years ago. Um but I'm in for for all of that for now. So, we can get that done as soon as the
school board um attorney staff can get it done. I'm here and ready. We can turn it around in whatever time is necessary. Thank you so much. Okay. Oh, we only get one minute. Oh, okay. Real quick. We had Lori, we had Sarah,
we had Debbie, we had Jeff, we had Nora, we had Zean, we had six board members that were here back then that had these conversations and we I'm not quite sure, but I think I proved my point that you get certain people that sit right up here, buzz in your ears, and give you
selective information. Are you still okay with that? because I'm in 10 years of my presidency and I'm still talking the same talk that you guys are the school board members
that were elected to be in charge and yet you got people that keep feeding you but you don't I don't know you don't verify and I'm not trying to to to come at a rude point but I I had to prove a point again
and nor did hit the nail on the head Uh preventative is the key. We don't want to have data saying all these crimes happened and that they were there to to come forward. Pay attention. Do something. Thank you.
Uh my name is Dr. Trudy Germanovich. Um my only point is that uh I I do believe that this was done when there was a lot of upheaval in this school board. I put it that way. And I think that
we don't need this at LPville anymore. So, what I think you should do is definitely expand these. I was thinking about um people that go on a lot of our campuses in order to play sports and so on. I mean, you've got so many things
that could be taken care of by a police officer living on a campus. I definitely think every middle school should have one. I really do. I think Sunrise Middle School for a time had one. I remember I stayed late at night working and I
always felt safe leaving. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next public speaker. Thank you. Um, thank you, school board member Alhadaf. I definitely support extending the contract to five years. It
gives the school school administration some additional um tenure to be able to think about and plan around. But I also want to again encourage the board to consider expanding this to other campuses. We
have a recent survey with parents and despite all of the bells and whistles that we continue to provide, safety and security remains a very serious concern. And so I think having these officers present and the community knowing that
for the next five years at least they can count on seeing um security police presence on the campus is very very valuable indeed for the district. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment?
Mrs. Bowman. Thank you. Thank you Miss Olaf for bringing this uh motion. I just I wanted to point out because I do have a copy of what I believe is the current lease um which was a three-year term that went from 2023 and ends in February 26 and
then it has a three-year option but that's at the um sole discretion of the school district. So my question I guess to the board is if we expand for five years as Miss Aldef has suggested do we
want to um I don't know if we want to get into the weeds with it right now but if we if we keep the option for five years do we want to keep it at the discretion of it says actually um yeah I guess the school
board of Brower County so that do we want to keep it as an option that they have to bring it back every five years or is it something that they could exercise as long as they're not in default so they have some stability instead of us having to re
play this movie every five years. Well, and I have a question to that because there's the school board which is right and I don't know who that is either. Who district but people called and then there's school board members and it
seems to me the school board district staff made that decision. It didn't come to the school board to ask us. So, whatever the wording ends up being, I think it needs to be clear that it comes to the school board members. And I think if we
worded it that way, it'd be really clear that it isn't a district staff decision. It is a school board member decision because I think maybe that's some of the disconnect of what happened in this particular case. Miss Batista,
what do you think? So the leases um for the 27 officers have come to the board uh because they have to come to the board for approval. Um I think right now it's every three
years. If the board wishes to do it, you know, every five years, I would recommend that they just change the term and not necessarily um the other provisions in the lease at this time. So the leases that they have could come
back to us exactly the same but with a change of five years instead of three. But my recommendation would be that it needs to be cleared. Schoolboard members that have to because there was a decision made that didn't come to us first. If I hadn't brought this item, we
wouldn't be talking about it. They'd be they'd be gone. Right. But that has nothing to do with the lease itself. I mean the leases are very clear. They do have to come to the school board. The this the staff cannot they can allow them to lapse but they
were voted upon by the board but the contract says with a three-year extension and they received a letter that told them they had to leave by February which would have been the end of the first first not the extension the first three year never came back to us
to talk about the extension. Right. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. She's I mean because the way it's reading so someone determined that school board was district staff not school board members at the very least it should become come back to us for the exercise of the
second option right okay then we'll make that um change or make it clear in the lease when when we um when we receive it from the real estate department the leases all 27 of them
if we pass um Mrs. Al-Hadf's amendment, I guess, to my motion, then really there's no the time should be short because all we're really doing is changing what already exists from three years to five years. Is that accurate?
Right. So, that from what my understanding is is that the leases do not expire until next year. Um the process would be as with any other contract is that the user department of the school board would um gather the
documents, you know, get the contracts um and present or or change whatever um items they need to be changed within the body of that contract. And then those get sent to u the general counsel's office for approval. So we have to
receive the 27 leases from the real estate department. in this case to be able to uh approve them and then they would be placed on the agenda for approval by the board. Okay. And that should not it should not take uh you know a huge amount of time. Okay. Does that answer your question,
Mrs. Bulman? Yeah. I mean I just I think we want might want to consider if we if we make the option always contingent on our approval, which is fine. And that's just I just want everyone to know that then that comes
back every five years. If there's a the other way that we could do it is that the option can be exercised by the officer as long as they're not in default and then you know then they're in there for 10 years and then we come back to you know in 10 years from now we come back and look at the lease again.
So those are the two Mr. ways to do it. Just just a quick piggyback on that. Um, generally that is how you will see it in a residential or commercial real estate contract. If there's an option to renew, as long as someone's not in default, if
the if the right to renew is exercised, that's just part of the contract. So I I I guess ma my question, Madame Chair, is can we position and draft this addendum that includes the um
the right to renew for the additional fiveyear term period should the officers decide to do that. And when we vote on the contract, vote on that approval right so it's not coming back after 5 years. So essentially, we're voting on a potential 10-year term, or is it
necessary that if the right of first or not right of first refusal, the the the automatic renewal provision has to come back if we're starting a new term? Miss Batista, I would have to research that specifically whether we can make it, you
know, change the provision to read um the way you you have described or if there is a particular reason why it would continue to have to read the way it does now. Well, I I mean we're amending the contract. So, I mean, we can put whatever we want in it. What I what I
guess my my inquiry is more so is there some sort of policy of the school board or something that that perhaps I'm not thinking of as a as a real estate lawyer, right, that would prevent an automatic renewal period from just going through without the board's approval.
Correct. And that's what I'm thinking about as well that I I'm not aware of anything as I sit here, but I would hate to say that we are able to do it without actually researching that. Can we have that when this comes back? Yes, absolutely. Thank you. Yes. I mean, it would be either part of
the contract at that point or if he's not, then it would be definitely I would share the reason why he's not there. Dr. Holmes. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I do appreciate board member Alhidev's motion. Also, I just wanted to get some clarity on I did hear you mention that
um we had some sort of agreement that we would not um you know expand the amount of schools uh that could have the rocks program. Is that correct? And and and where was that written? So what we had a workshop in 2022 and that was the
direction that the board gave the superintendent at the time was that we wouldn't because the superintendent's recommendation was to get to stop the rocks program altogether. So the compromise was to keep the ones that
were there, not expand it and go into the three-year contract. Okay. So that was during a workshop, correct? I believe it was just Okay. So, um, in regards to board member Alhidev's motion, um, should that be approved or not approved? Um, hopefully
it's approved. Um, how can we undo what we did in the workshop? So, um, I'll ask Dr. Motion afterwards to do it. I I just want to know the process and probably you would have to bring back I think it would make sense for principles. I think they're they're
they're surveying principles right now to get their feel for do they want rock officers, do they not? They can maybe expand it and see if it wants to be expanded, but I think it's two separate items, right? Because we're just talking about rock officers in general. I didn't
say I didn't give a specific number on here. I just said to bring the contract back. No, I understand. But but my my comments prior to board member Ahadv is that it's a separate item. Okay. So I can do you agree? So um anything that you um may have
decided um at a at a board workshop or any direction you would have given to the superintendent at that time. First of all my my recollection of that day are a little different. Um I believe there were four options that were presented on that day and um after
discussion the um the board the board said that the you were going to maintain the rocks program and that's why the the leases came back for a three-year renewal at that time. So that there isn't anything that actually you said at any workshop as a board uh body
corporate to um that is different from what is happening now. Okay. So, is there anything that was said in a workshop that would limit the number of um rocks officers across the district so they could um try to provide
even service to other schools? There's nothing that was discussed that would prevent them from doing that. Um I believe that one of the things that was discussed at the November 2022 workshop was also the expansion of the
program um to other sites. And I don't have a clear recollection as to what um I mean you that was not the option that was um selected. The option that was selected was just to continue the program uh under option one and bring bring back
the leases for another three years. Okay. So continuing the program does not prevent say an officer wants to in in collaboration with the school district u be on a particular school campus that we don't already have one. They um there
there's no um nothing in place that would prevent that. Uh there's nothing in place that would prevent that. No, you you would obviously the district would have to agree to that arrangement. Understand? So after this motion um um
chair, I would like to provide a direction to the superintendent if that's okay. Okay. Okay. Anybody else? All those in favor of the amended motion say I. I. I. Any oppose say no.
I. Okay. Back to the original item as amended. All those in favor of item B1 as amended say I. I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Madam chair. I wanted to provide a
direction to the superintendent. I don't. It's now a good time. Okay. Go ahead. Okay. Um, I'd like to direct the superintendent to explore the expansion of the rocks program across the district based upon um data as far as schools that could benefit from the program in
collaboration with um the police departments. Second. So, it's been moved and seconded to um direct the superintendent to explore expanding the rocks um officer program. Any public comment? I think we had some public comment. Any
board member comment? Okay. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you all so much for coming out today for uh and for all that you do for our district. Thank you. Thank you for
Okay. All righty. On to the next item. The next item is FF1. Can I have a motion and a second? Move. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Is there any public comment on FF1? No registered speakers.
Okay. So, I pulled the item as I like to do often. I just want to say thank you to our grants department. We had over $20 million come into the district for Head Start, 30,000 for Broward Estates, 7500 for the P3 Eco Challenge, which is
one of my personal favorites. um 20 a little over 200 for Home Depot and another 1500. So, thank you to our grants department for all your hard work and for all of our partners that um support the programs that we have. All those in favor of FF1 say I. I. Any
opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is JJ1. Can I have a motion in a second? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Any public speakers on JJ1? No, ma'am. Okay, I have Mr. Sea.
Mr. Sea, chair, would it make sense to have a recess? Um, yes. Let's take a five minute. Good. Thank you, ma'am. We'll take a fivem minute recess. in g in Hey,
Hey, hey, hey. What happened? That's Heat. Hey, Heat. Back down. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Down.
Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. I see. I see. Wo. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
ready to get started. Thank you and welcome back to the regular school board meeting. We are going to table JJ1 and um for a later time in the meeting. Chair, can I make a motion to postpone JJ1 until uh uh we have the appropriate members here?
I can just table it. Mr. Cooney said I could just table it. So that's what I did. It certainly wouldn't hurt if you wanted to make a motion. Okay. Duplicate, but it would work. All right. Go ahead. I second the motion.
Great. All those in favor of tableabling JJ1 until later in the meeting say I. I. And I. Oppos say no. Great. Okay. Next item is JJ2. Can I have a motion in a second? So move. No. Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss
Thompson. Any public comment on JJ2? No, ma'am. Okay. Mrs. Leonardi. Thank you. Um, I pulled this item because I've been flagging the issues with fire
protection and permitting for a while now and depending on when I ask I get different responses. Um, one is that there aren't any issues and the other is that we are working through those issues. So, for instance,
um when I asked about this at the bond oversight committee workshop, I got a followup that said, "Our office of the chief fire official engages with local uh fire officials through the monthly fire chief
subcommittee and coordinates joint annual inspections while maintaining the staffing expertise and process processes to handle all responsibilities internally. This approach ensures efficiency, consistency, and accountability, avoids delays often seen when multiple jurisdictions are
involved, and keeps our schools safe, compliant, and ready to serve students and staff. I would argue that the the situation with our fire protection and permitting um is not efficient and does not avoid delays. And I think this is an
example of that. Um, another response I got uh when I inquired about this item is that uh to ensure that these issues do not happen again, early coordination with the authorities having jurisdiction AHJ's throughout design and construction
phases will be strengthened to ensure that code requirements remain consistent. Um, what are AHJ's authorities having jurisdiction? Dr. He miss Paul.
I'll call on Miss Kohley to answer that question. Good morning, Sonia Coley. Um that would be the fire department and our building department. Okay. And then what are we specifically doing uh to coordinate with those uh
throughout the design and construction phases? Um and how will that specifically be strengthened to ensure that code requirements remain consistent? So moving forward, we are meeting on a weekly basis and that will be done for new projects coming forward that we meet
with the building official, the fire official to review drawings to ensure that they're uh collaborating and making sure that there are no issues when they're doing the design review. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you. And I pulled this item for a number of reasons. First of all, it was very disconcerting to read that first the fire marshall said no, they didn't need it and then someone else came back and then said yes, they did need it and
then there was a delay. Um, so I echo Mrs. Leonard's concerns. Um, and I I understand that that fire marshall doesn't work here anymore and I guess glad for that because there just seems to be a lot of disconnect. So, um, I
hope that we are now in a cadence that won't allow this to happen again. And you know, I like to always tell you about um, consultant omission and errors. And I'm happy to announce that the first time ever since I've been sitting here, there are no consultant errors or
omissions. So, great job. There's a couple of change orders here for um unforeseen conditions and owner requests, but um none for omissions or errors. So, very happy for that. Thank you so much. Yes, Mrs. Alhad.
So, I don't remember exactly when, but I asked for all of the previous determinations of whether or not a fire protection was needed in the sites that that was said it was not required.
So, it's and I was I I thought we got a board member follow-up saying that those were all correct and now I see that this one is noted and should be required to be installed. Dr. Heer, Miss Paul,
so I would have to go back and look at that response uh to make sure, but I know that what Mr. Side was doing was going back and looking at the previous determination. So, I would have to see if that was the school was included in that.
Okay. And I I agree with doing that and and going back and and double-checking that whether it's required or not required. So, thank you. All those in favor of item JJ2 say I. I. Any oppose say no.
Motion carries unanimously and we will come back to item JJ1. Can I have a motion in a second to bring item JJ1 back to the floor? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? I don't believe there was Mr. Se.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I just wanted to confirm on this change order for Tropical Elementary that um, we're not actually seeking any additional monies uh, for this project that we're extending the substantial completion uh,
indoor completion deadlines by roughly I think it was 362 days. Um, if I'm not mistaken, was that the sole purpose? Dr. Heer, Miss Paul, I'll have Mr. McIntyre answer that
question. Good afternoon. Mike McIntyre, AECOM through the chair. Yes, we are extending the substantial completion date for 362 days uh due to two issues. One, asbestous was found that delayed the contractor's availability to do the
work. And second, they terminated their their fire alarm company subcontractor for failure to perform. They have a new sub on board and the work is underway in buildings four, five and six. So the project is moving forward. Uh has the asbesus been fully remediated?
Yes. How long did that take? I do not have the duration of that, but I can get that for the board. And is there any exposure to the district by any subcontractors or the like by extending this deadline to 362 days? No. All that's doing is moving the
contract term out to meet the actual durations that are taking place. Thank you for the clarification. 2021. Thank you. All those in favor of item JJ1 say I. I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next
item is JJ5. Can I have a motion in a second? Move. Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on JJ5? There are no registered speakers. Thank you. Uh Dr. Zean, I want to join you, Miss Hixon, in uh celebrating something. Today, there are
seven projects for which we're moving to final acceptance and that is means that uh often many of these things are already in use. They're they're a facility that has been going on and this is the paperwork and the close out and all that, which is wonderful, but it is a closeout and that to me is terribly
exciting. Last month we had six. This one we have seven. So, superintendent, if we have eight next month, I will be the happiest school board member in Florida. Thanks, chair. Thank you. All those in favor of item JJ5 say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries
unanimously. The next item is JJ9. Can I have a motion in a second? Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? There are no registered speakers. Dr. Zean. Chair. I'm going to keep asking this until I find an answer. But by God,
somebody is slowing down our construction project because this board needs to see about a $16,000 change order. We have passed changes in policy. We have asked about it every month. My uh friends that are in the construction business laugh at me at poker night
because I can't figure out how to get something done. All right. Why does this item come back to us when it's far less than the authority that we granted to superintendent for his staff to approve on their own? Dr. Heburn. Miss Paul,
this is taking money from the capital reserves because we've ex uh exceeded our uh contingency amount. So, this is going into another pot of money, the capital reserves, and that's why we have to bring it to the board. Chair, does our policy al um that sets limits, you
know, $250,000, $500,000 limits, does it specify that those funds can only be pulled from current DEFP budgets? Dr. Hipper, go ahead, Miss Carpenter. Thank you. Ashley Carpenter with Atkins
Realis. So, this particular change order item is here for two reasons. Number one, as Miss Paul stated, uh it's requesting additional funding. And number two, the project is actually over the cumulative limit. So policy 8000, the most recent version of policy 8000, which as you mentioned has been changed
several times, has the cumulative limit as 10% of the original construction contract value. This project is now at over 18% because of a very large change order early on in the project. Um the policy 8000 does not state where the
funding is coming from. Um but our our understanding from it was that if the project requires additional funding that would need to come to the board and chair um I understand that I mean that makes sense. this board's job is to allocate and appropriate funds. And so
if there's a new appropriation, uh is that consistent with your understanding of the law, uh chair, that if if there's a budget of $2 million for a project that's been appropriate for it and um and there's a contingency of, you
know, 10% or so set aside for unforeseen and and other changes for them to go into the contingency. Do they need to bring an item back to us to spend more money or is that something the superintendent could do if it's within the limits specified in policy 8000?
Mr. Cooney. Uh Dr. Zman, I don't believe that the policy is specific to that. But with respect to funding and so forth, uh typically the contingency amount built into the project itself does not require board approval to tap into if there's an unforeseen condition or what have you
that arises. in this particular instance as I understand it from Miss Carpenter is that we've exhausted all funding within the project funding and that's why they're coming back to the board to seek their approval for additional funding. Yeah. And I I think maybe when we were reviewing policy 8000, we weren't clear
enough about that. And it may be that the board would like to give the superintendent the authorities that we have an 8,000 uh including dipping into a DEFP account assuming it has a certain um uh fund balance and things like that. So um I'll go back and do some research
and I'll come back next month and I'll talk about policy 8000. We clearly every time this happens to the board members that are here this is a significant delay. I would uh I guess I should ask this question. Chair, for any change order, what is the average delay in
actually being able to do work when you have to bring a change order before this board? What's the real delay at a work site? If you've had Northeast High School, which you just talked about, and all of a sudden you need a change order with schoolboard approval, what is the time that it takes to prepare an item,
get it on an agenda, and get it approved and get back to work? I'll pass it to Dr. Dr. Hepper, but I will say and what I've noticed is the work is already done and the change orders come to us afterwards. But Dr. Hepper, Miss Paul, I will say in general, we've gotten a
lot better with processing and change orders, but I'll have Mr. uh McIntyre speak to that and Miss Carpenter speak to that. Uh Miss Carpenter's been here on the project a long time, so uh she can give us some historical perspective on it. Mike McIntyre AE come through the chair.
Uh generally we would see a plus or minus 45 days from submission or a change order ready to come to the board to go through process to get signed and then everything move forward. Um we've
done it faster, but I would say on average it's probably close to 45. That's fine. And I appreciate the input. I don't want to be responsible for slowing down construction and that's why we did policy 8,000 revisions to give more authority to the superintendent to get uh more things done. I'm always
ecstatic when a contractor on site will work at risk. You know, they see a change order, we agree that we're going to submit it to the board, but they are working at risk when they do that. And I don't want uh as a board necessarily, I wouldn't want to be on a board that asks that uh routinely. Um, so I'll go back
and do some research on 8,000 and u meet with the CFO and maybe we can figure out um, you know, a way in which we can give the superintendent the authority I thought we had already given him. Thanks, chair. Thank you. All those in favor of item JJ9 say I. I. I.
Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. Next item is JJ11. Can I have a motion and a second? So move. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? There are no registered speakers. Mr. Se.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I just had a question when I when I was going through this and I was looking at the ADFP for Metobrook. Um, there are multiple
items, multiple projects that have been um done at this school since 2016. everything from, I guess, providing additional computers and setting up wireless networks to fishing fixing the Hback components uh and the roof and and
the windows. Um my question is and and and maybe I missed it in the executive uh summary of the executive agreement, this particular company that we're approving the 125,000 for, is this the same company that has engaged in all of this other work at Metobrook over the
years since 2016? or is this just for some reason an overall summary of everything that has happened at this middle school? The first the answer to the first question is no. Um second question is overall summary of all the work. It's an overall summary. Okay. So this particular this particular company that
we are approving the 125k for. They were not responsible for any of these previous tasks at uh Metobrook Elementary. That's correct. Okay. Is there a reason that this was included in the package? Just as an FYI, go ahead, Miss Carpenter, if you wanna
want to add. Ashley Carpenter with Atkins Realis. Um, yes. So, in the case when we have um what we term as a carveout, so basically um a part of the scope that could not be done with the primary project with the
primary contractor and is now being given to another contractor to complete the work. Um we do include the whole summary of the project only because uh the funding that makes up the project was partially what was already done and then partially what's um moving forward
with the new contractor. Does that answer your question? It it it does and and I and I guess sort of the root of the question is this is this project that we're asking is for a a switch gear replacement. Is that a a Wi-Fi thing? What is a switch gear
replacement? No, it's the electrical power, the guts, the electrical guts of the school. The electrical guts of the school. Okay. And the previous companies who complet who completed the electrical improvements back in 2018 at this
particular elementary school. We're not using those folks. We're bringing on this new contractor for looks like about half the price. We are bringing on what you're approving today is $125,000 of additional funding. The contract is actually for about
$395,000. Um so no, it's it's not for half the price. It's for um Well, okay. Yeah, it is about half the price of what the original contractor did the other work for. Yes. Okay. So the original contractor who provide all this electrical improvements
at this work at this excuse me at this school for a price of 300 I think 33,000 if I'm not mistaken. That contractor has nothing to do with this project. No. Okay. And this particular project I think we're at a total of uh 1.1 to date
if we approve this 125. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor of item JJ11 say I. I. I and I opposed say no. Motion passes unanimously. Next item is
LL1. Can I have a motion in a second? Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? There are no registered speakers. Okay. Dr. Hoess. Madam Chair, could you repeat the item, please? LL1 student meal debt.
Okay. Sorry about that. you you can you can take me after because I'm bringing it up. Thank you. Okay. U Miss Thompson. Uh thank you, chair. So, I just highlighted this. I know um staff found out after it was approved by the board
um that it actually can't come out of the funding uh the original funding and it has to come out of general funds. Um, my only comment is, and I hope everyone approves it. Again, my only comment is that it
was changed to write that either the district would pay 500 or the superintendent would find um a donor for that specific amount. My I would like staff to explain how that would work because I would like
this the idea when it was passed was that on you know 30 days once um the the free lunch is is done that there would be this pocket of money that the principles could access. So how are we going to ensure that that happens if
potentially a donor could come potentially a donor couldn't come. So I would like to be walked through that process. Dr. Pepper. Yeah. Yeah. So, um with the donor um pot of money, we work with um BEF just to have a good source to provide the funds
and and um get it to the school just so we have a centralized um partner to help us out with that part. Um as they do with a lot of other things that go through bef and then then to the school. Okay. So, I understood that part. It's
more that are these donors already found like I just want like Silver Palms Elementary School 30 days after there's no longer free lunch that they know they have access to that $500. Yes. They will have access from the $500
from our general fund from the get-go. Correct. And then the donor money would just come in if someone calls you and says, "Hey, I want to sponsor Yes. X Elementary School." Okay. I just wanted to make sure we weren't including a loophole or anything like that into
the policy and that it was going to be enacted as correct. Cool. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Dr. Holmes, are you ready? Yes. I'd just like to mention that I I I am going to continue to support the
item. Um and um I wish there was actually more that we could do, but I I'm very supportive of it. Thank you. Thank you. And I pulled it because I asked this question um and it didn't come unfortunately until after we had the discussion. But based on before we
um had free lunch for everyone, what was the district-wide school debt um that you know for students who couldn't pay for the meals? And so, um, before in 20 I guess it
would have been 2018 2019, the total meal debt for the district was $7,339, which was an average of $37 per school. So, of course, we realize that things are a little different now, but I just
wanted to kind of put what that the issue is into context for all of us and also for the community. So, I don't think that it is as rampant of a problem um as we have perceived that it is. And and I wanted to also ask the
superintendent or the CFO. We approved it thinking it was going to not affect our general fund. um the $500 and I'm not saying I don't don't support it still, but now that it is going to affect our general fund, where will we find that since we know we don't have
any additional money sitting in our general fund? Yes. Um as um Miss Johnson and I do weekly, we will review the general fund and see what we can find identify cost savings to support this. Okay, great. and and the response that I
got before said this low student meal debt amount resulted food and nutrition services soliciting debt relief from several sources which included RA Shark Radio which I remember going to Beacon and they had a big check that they gave
for the debt relief um BEF and individual and um business resources. So to piggy back off of what Dr. Heepern said be uh Broward Education Foundation has now added it's called sponsor place and every single school has some is you
can go to sponsor place and every school is on there and you can say I want to donate $500 for school debt or I want to donate this. So there is a place um now to be able to do what you were asking. So I just wanted to make sure that we
shared that um out loud. So thank you all those in Yes ma'am. This is Alhunda. Um so if possible uh Dr. Hepern if we could at the end of the school year get data as far as how many meals were
charged, how much money was spent at each school and how many courtesy meals were given out so we can make a more educated decision for next year. Thank you. Yes. Thank you, Miss Thompson. Just to clarify, the the point that it comes
back in January is still in the item. Yeah. So, we'll be able to re-evaluate it even sooner than that. Thank you. All those in favor of item LL1 say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next
item is 002. I have a motion and a second. So, move. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Alheda. Any public comment on O2? No, ma'am. Mr. Sea.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, again, one of my favorite things to see with these multi-year deals that we keep signing. Um, it looks like the original agreement that was in place uh for 36 months was
at approximately $300,000 for the for the three-year term. Uh, on my math, that's 100,000 a year. The latest proposal that is being proposed to this board is for $200,000 for a one-year term. I'm wondering why this price has
doubled annually. Dr. Heer, yes. The amount of students that we have participating in CTE coursework that garners industry certification has significantly increased. So, acceleration um is part of one of our
focuses and priorities. So, in light of that, is this one of these contracts where maybe it would benefit the district if we can lock in a specific rate over a 24 or 36-month term as opposed to doing the one-year thing
in which we're now paying double than we were last year. Um, this is this is one that probably could, but it the price doesn't significantly shift in um the testing for industry certification. is is pretty stable per person.
Yeah. Per person. The per person shift. Yeah. Oh, okay. So, the per person shift is not significant. Okay. At all. So, it's just unfortunate that it's just happened to double this year. Well, it's doubled because we're testing more. It's a good thing. So, instead of testing, hypothetically testing 100 kids this year, we're
testing 200 kids. So, which is a great thing for the district. So, a one-year term you believe is adequate and and appropriate in this case at this moment in time. Yes. But um next go around we could possibly do a three or four. Thank you.
Thank you. All those in favor of item say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. Next item is item 04. Can I have a motion in a second?
It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Thompson. Any public comment? No ma'am. Mr. See, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, for the record, I I am a big proponent
of soap. I tend to use it um in all opportunities. So, I'm not anti- soap. At least once a week. Uh, at least once a week. Right. Yeah. Sometimes two if if my wife lets me. Um, that being said, I I am in all seriousness confused as to exactly um
what uh we're approving here. It looks like to me that the second renewal for the um 37,000 was approved back on or I'm sorry for the for the 245 was approved back on May
13th and now we're back here on the 19th of of August approving zero amount. Are we ratifying the optional second renewal? I was I was confused in reading the executive
summary as to what exactly we were doing if the board has already approved this back in in May for the 245 uh under the optional second renewal. What what specifically are we being asked to consider here? Yes, that's correct. I have uh Miss Andrea or
Miss Dorset um come on up to to answer whoever has the the detailed information. Good afternoon, Jennifer Andreo, executive director of procurement and logistic operations. Yes. Um, you are correct. Board member SA, you are
approving the second amendment of this piggyback agreement that would become effective today. So, we're approving the 245 I'm sorry, September 15th, we're approving the 245760. I'm trying to just quantify in my head what the the dollars to dollars what
what what exactly are we we approving? Because I'm looking at this chart and it looks like the second this the optional second renewal for 12 months according to the executive summary was approved on May 13th of this year for the 245760. And now we have another line item which
is called second renewal. So I I'm not sure what the difference between the optional second renewal and the second renewal is. But then the second renewal that's before this board today for 12 months has an allotment of zero dollars. So are we approving the 245?
This you are not approving a dollar amount today only the second amendment to the piggyback agreement. I would have to go back in the record to see what was approved May 13th, but today's is the
agreement to uh piggyback beginning September 15th. So, we're not voting on the expenditure of any additional funds today. That is correct. Okay. Thank you for the clarification. Thank you. All those in favor of 004 say I. I.
I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is 005. Can I have a motion in a second? Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Any public comment? No, ma'am.
Mrs. Leonardi, thank you. Um, so I I requested followup on this and I appreciated um the uh exploration of having more organizations come in and do swimming
lessons. Um, swim safety is obviously very important in our community. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among our youth. Um, and I think in Broward, we all live within like a two mile radius of a body of water. So, I definitely support that. Um, but what
I continue to hear from our community is that we have these beautiful pools and we're spending all this money to maintain these pools. Um, and they're not really being used to their full capacity. So, two questions. What are we going what what can we do or what are we
doing to expand swim teams at schools? Dr. Heer. Yes. Um great question. Um I think the challenge with swim teams at school is that from from discussion with some of the schools is that the pools aren't regulation size. Um so it doesn't help
them with the uh possibilities of building a swim team. Some of them just aren't the size to garner the level of practice to support the competition. But we do have I know uh Blanchil is one that actually created a swim team for
this actual current school year. So we do have some schools exploring swim teams, but I know some of the feedback we received is that the pools that they have are not regulation size. Okay. I'd be curious to know like what the size of some of our pools like. It
would be surprising to me that we built pools that were not 25 mters uh long. So I I'd love a followup on which of our pools are not regulation size. Um and then my second question is how can we incorporate swimming into our PE classes?
So we are exploring that right now. I know we had the discussion. Um so found out from the team that a PE teacher does not need a um loss for words lifeguard certification. Um, so we're exploring that right now just to see how that
would work. I know we're in an era where kids don't like to dress out for for PE. So we're trying to figure out how we can make that work. Um, and work with PE teachers to see how we can incorporate that. I know some elementary schools do incorporate it for the young ones. They'll even go walk to the nearest um
if it's a school or even a community pool. So we're exploring that. Well, when I was in high school 20 years ago, um, we didn't like dressing up for PE either, but we did it and it was good for all of us. um uh take it online now. So that's what that's how they avoid it. They take it online.
What I I I cannot advocate enough for incorporating swimming into our PE classes. So anyway we can do that um I support that. Thank you. Thank you. I'll just before I go to Mr. Severa say there are some like at South Broward we actually had a swimming class
and the um teacher would do lifeguarding because then schools that have pools they can hire the lifeguards in the summer for their swim program. So if that's something that we but obviously the teacher has to be um certified and
and able to to teach swimming but maybe we could also look at those Mr. Sea. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, have any additional swimming pools been built in any of our schools since September 10th of 2024?
No. Uh, I'm curious when this I guess when this original ask came before um the board back in September of last year, which was almost a year ago for a 36 36-month term, the the aotment was $700,000, which on on my math, which is
probably wrong, is is probably about $233,000 a year. Um, we're now being asked less than a year later for an additional $1.5 million for these pool chemicals and for the ability to repair. My question is, what has changed in the
last 11 months that's now justifying the need for an additional $1.5 million when we initially thought that 700,000 over three years was adequate and sufficient? Dr. Heepburn. Yes. Um, great question. Um first part of that question is that pool chemicals
and services have significantly increased over the past couple years. The second question is the second part of the uh uh answer to your question is that uh we've done a better job of evaluating situations at pools. We have pools with leaks. We have pools that um
have that are damaged and they need to be repaired. So that's why the the cost is higher than in the past. But what what kind of evaluations were done in 2024 when you when this was put before the board in which somebody thought 700,000 was was adequate over three
years? I mean, the per the the perception on this um I think is a little disconcerning because, you know, you're you're more than doubling this at this point uh less than a year later. Yes. Um I'll get some Miss Paul or u Mr.
Dorset can assist with that answer, but I do know probably one of the bulk uh of that cost is probably one of our high schools. Um, MacArthur High School, I think it is. Yes. Good afternoon. Mark Dorset, executive director, physical plant operations.
You're right. Uh, board members here, the um cost to repair, we didn't look at in in some cases the actual repair to a lot of these pools. the $750,000 address a lot of like the chemicals and
the the routine maintenance for the pools. It didn't really address some of the repairs, the patchwork and that kind of thing that needs to happen. So, when we had some evaluation done, we noticed some significant repairs that's needed to some of the pools that's being used
right now. So, is it is it fair to say that the $ 1.5 million ask now is more towards making repairs and replacements and the like of the pools as opposed to just we underestimated the cost of pool chemicals. Yes, it's it's the repairs for the
pools, not necessarily replacement, but repairs to the pools, uh structural cracks and and the like. Are all of these uh 16 swimming pools operational right now? I know that uh Cooper City is
not and MacArthur is not. MacArthur is not. So So you have some pools that are not operational right now. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor of item 005 say I.
I. Any opposed say no. No. Motion carries with one descending vote. Mr. Sea. Next item is 007. Can I have a motion in a second? So move. Been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs.
Leonardi. Um, Miss Bowman. Oh, any public comment on 007? No, ma'am. Mrs. Bowman. Thanks, chair. And I apologize because this is something I should have done before. Um, but I was
just wondering how we decided which um, schools were on this list. And the only reason I say that is because we were at South Broward checking out the new turf field last week and when I looked at the bleachers, the concrete's eroding and you can see the rebar, but they're not
on the list. So, I was just wondering how to get them on the list. Dr. Heer, Mr. Dorset, good afternoon again. Thank you for the question. We're actually out there repairing those uh the bleachers to South Broward as we speak. We needed
some some evaluation done. We had a structural engineer go out there and take a look at it. He prescribed a repair uh to make the the the bleachers usable. You're talking about the concrete bleachers to make them usable. So, we're actually out there repairing those right now.
Beautiful. Thank you so much. Bless you. Bless you, Dr. Hullman. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, just a question on the um vendors who were chosen. Um, I was looking at the uh the financial analysis worksheet. Are any of
these three vendors um uh women, black, Hispanic firms? No, they're they're not owners. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any other board members on
O2? All those in favor of 007 say I. I. I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. I'm gonna jump here to 222. Can I have a motion and a second on 222? So moved. Second.
Been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? Yes. Lori Salo. Good afternoon. Lori Salarillo, CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. Um I have waited patiently because I just wanted to say thank you to all of you.
Um I think you know that we don't consider ourselves vendors. We consider ourselves partners walking alongside making sure our kids are ready for life and for work, right? Especially and that's our focus. Uh I want to say thank you for your investment over the years
uh and continued investment uh hopefully when you vote on this. Um, I think it shows our community, our parents, uh, your understanding, your commitment to experential learning. We know our students want it. They want more of it,
right? It's what engages them. So, we're thrilled about that. It also sends a strong message to the other partners that we work with, which are about another 11 something million dollars of investments. It shows them your
commitment to this as well. So, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you. And I also want to say that you have an open invitation to JWorld at any time to come and see our kids in action. So, thank you for that. And also, thank you for uh considering. And it it sounds
like um that's something you're looking for uh a multi-year contract so that each year uh we can just continue to do the great work we do together. So, and I want to say a ve very special thank you to the entire district team for working to get this to you today. So, thanks so
much. Thank you. Any other public comment, Mrs. Bowman? Uh, thanks, Jar. Thank you for the partnership. I can't express them enough how much I enjoy going to JA Bistown and
the way that it unites a lot of different aspects of the community. I mean, there's always volunteers there that are just spending some time helping the kids. They're not parents. They're not grandparents. They're just there because they support the program. I think that speaks volumes. The local
businesses that invest in it. And then just the curriculum and the engagement that the kids have being um exposed to, you know, real life day-to-day operations on how to kind of um navigate the world. So, this is a great
partnership and I think it's amazing that what you offer to the kids in such a short period of time and how much they learn. So, thank you very much and continue to partner with Thank you. And I'll echo what Miss Mrs. Bowman said. Every time I go, the
students are so engaged. I've been I love the stock exchange activity. Um, also just when there's different field trips there. So, thank you. um very much for the partnership. All those in favor of item 022 say I. I. Any opposed say
no. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you so much. The next item is 010. Can I have a motion and a second? Move. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on 10?
There are no registered speakers. Okay. Miss Dr. Holes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh again, Dr. Heburn, we have five companies here who are vendors. Are any of these companies womanowned, blackowned, or Hispanic owned?
He Yes, they are. Okay. Which ones? Um Mr. Andrea, if you can provide some detail, please. I don't want to mispronounce it. Suano or Kuano Builders Corporation is a
Hispanic American company. Okay. So on on the financial analysis worksheet where we have awarded vendors, there are three of them that are considered awarded vendors. I don't see the MWBE status of these three vendors
that were actually awarded. Are any of these three vendors womanowned, black, or Hispanic owned? I'm sorry, Dr. Holes. I'm So that's two different things. Today the recommended action is to approve
five vendors. So one of the five 20% is a certified vendor. The financial analysis is just uh demonstrating to the board uh the three vendors in the past and what they have earned.
Okay. So those are the three past vendors. So from the five, you said one of these are Hispanic, correct? Okay. Thank you. Dr. Zean, thank you so much, Chair. Um, chair, uh, five companies to come in and do some
war roofing work. That's great given the carveouts that we're doing for roofing. They're going to be in, uh, great demand. Are any of these, uh, vendors, I took a a chance just to look up the HVAC significant contractors in Broward County. There's 240 of them. Uh usually
when we talk about local firms, it's a triar county area because we appreciate Palm Beach and Miami Dade. Both think of Broward firms as local in those counties as well. So if I extrapolated Broward to three counties, there's north of 750 800
HVAC significant consulting firms. Uh are these five firms located in the tri county area? Dr. Heeper. Yes, that's correct. Dr. Z. All five. Yes. That's terrific. Thank you very much for um trying to find uh folks that are
close by that understand Broward schools and are able to do great work uh because they happen to be right here. Thank you uh Mr. Se. I'm satisfied. Thank you. All those in favor of 10 say
I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is 111. Can I have a motion in a second? No move. Second. Been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? There are no registered speakers.
Mrs. Bowman. Thanks, chair. Um, I pulled this because uh I'm currently sitting on the solid waste authority um as representing the school board and
they're working to approve a solid waste master plan as we speak and that it's um represented. We have representatives from every municipality except for three I think in the county. So
we as a very large waste producer um have a very important role to play and um very happy with Dr. Heburn and how receptive he is to thinking outside the box and moving forward that way. So um
we when I was speaking to the executive director, he had uh suggest he had suggested incorporating a recycling curriculum and I know that he had uh stated there was a state approved recycling curriculum that we could be
utilizing because it you know the educating the children is going to be what moves us forward. So, I was just wondering um and I've been working and talking quite a bit with Allison uh Washinsky who's been fantastic
uh but just what kind of support we can do and how we could possibly um start uh incorporating that curriculum and kind of upping our game with lowhanging fruit with recycling um in
addition to the other things that we're working on. Dr. Heer. Yeah. Um, great question, great suggestion to get um, Miss Swedinsky and um, Dr. Fulton to collaborate. Um, I know starting with the elementary school ones, you know, they definitely hold parents accountable um, to do certain
things when they learn it at school. I know we've all been there if you have uh, elementary school age kids once upon a time. Um, and also work with um, Landon so we can address how we do that with the secondary students um, especially when it goes to doing things in the cafeteria. Uh so we can
definitely start initiating that that process of how we educate our young students and then work with Landon so we can u work with our uh secondary students. Landon, thank you through the chair Landon Spelberg, student adviser to the school board. Uh, I think everyone was reading
my emails today because there's a ongoing email chain right now with the solid waste authority of Bard County about their authorities ambassadors program um that we are in collaboration uh with them to spread to our high school students. So, um there's some
some good work already being done and wanted to wanted to highlight that. Thank you. And I I I'll say Dr. Heep's not going to be surprised. We have to model what we want to see happen and we as a district are not very modeling
recycling very well. And no, we we're getting better on here. But I will have to say it's great to have a refillable water bottle, but not to pour a bottle of water into the refillable water bottle, which happens on the day it's here sometimes.
So confused. But beyond that, and Dr. Dr. Heepern did say that we're doing better. But in this building, I have watched where they've put recycling and garbage in the same big container. That's what's the point of having a recycling bin. Then I take
it home. He Dr. Heeper gives me all his papers. I take them home so I know they're recycled. Um, so I think we have to do a better job. There is some lowhanging fruit and there are some partners that do a good job. the Lion's Club, they collect the plastic wrapping
and then they make benches out of them. Takes 200 and some pounds of the plastic wrap. But anyway, I just think that as a district, I'm I'm appreciative that we're doing this, but we need to do a better job of holding people accountable
and modeling what we want our students to do. They're better than than we are at this. Most of them have a refillable water bottle. It's just the generation that they live in. Um, and I appreciate the efforts we've made since I've gotten here, but we still have to do a better
job of modeling. So, thank you. All those in favor of item 111 say I. I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is 12. Can I have a motion in a second? Second. Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs.
Leonardi. Any public comment? No, ma'am. Mr. Sea. Thank you, Madam Chair. Initially, when we had contracted for our spend authority for a 36month term, for a three-year
term, we had uh agreed on an amount of $165,000, which is roughly $55,000 a year. Why do we now need to pay $465,000 for a period of
12 months? I think. Yeah, there. Go ahead, Miss Wedinsky. Uh Allison Washinsky, director of environmental health and safety. So, included in the uh DEFP is an ask for um new equipment as well as replacement
equipment due to the warranty issues. So, that is the reason for the increase in the spend. That goes exactly into my next question. Um Madame Chair, the um the legislature I believe passed House Bill 1607
um at the last session which I believe became effective uh on July one of this year which set a July 1st, 2027 deadline for all schools to have at least one automated external defibrillator at every public school. Uh
is part of the ask that this board um is now being requested to consider for this 465. Are those monies going to be used to help get the ball rolling to put our schools in compliance with House Bill uh6007?
Dr. Heburn, are we already in compliance? I believe yes, we're already in compliance. Fully compliance. We've already met the deadline. Okay. Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you. Um and and to that point, I I was at a meeting. I went to Joe Deaggio
yesterday and they um they did indicate because one of my questions when we had the DFP was could we look at our partners to help and they are all in for that. They also I believe that's the contract Miss Batista they there's a contract for them to come into the
schools that um we're still working on to teach CPR. So in that instance, which is also a state law for us to be able to do so hopefully that contract moves through expeditiously. Mrs. Alhida.
Yes. So that was kind of my question in regards to if these AED units also come with training in how to train our staff on how to use them because we just have AEDs in the school but nobody knows how to use them. It's useless.
Dr. Heer. Yeah. I know the purchase does not come with training. That's a another um supplemental thing that we do. It's part of and we're in the process of getting the training with additional contract. Go ahead, Miss Wachinsky if you want to
add more detail to that. Um Allison Washinsky, director of environmental health and safety. So, as part of board policy, we have two individuals per location that are CPR certified. Um the the new um HB16007
requires the the pulse training. Um and that is what Joe Deaggio is looking to help us do. It is not a certification, but it is like an awareness level of how to use the AED and and you know calling 911 and things like that.
Okay. So Dr. Herman, I would just say that we need to expedite that as quickly as possible and Joe Deaggio is willing to come in and train our schools and maybe we also look to Broward Health and other uh hospitals to help us because
we're a huge district and there's a lot of schools and people that need to be trained. Yes, that's noted. We'll work with the American Heart Association also who are great partners of ours. Yes. And it's the contracts in legal so it's moving through there. All those in favor
of item 12 say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is 14. Can I have a motion and a second? So move. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment?
No, ma'am. Okay, let's see. Um, Mrs. Bowman, I just I pulled this because of the math. Um, but I think I've figured it out. So, thank you. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sea.
Ditto. I actually had to go back and do some calculations again, but I got to the 11 million. Okay, Mrs. Leonardi. Um, yeah, I I requested followup on this item. Um, and I didn't feel like the
response really uh was satisfying. Um, you know, a conversation about outsourcing the building department has been brought up for several years now. Um, and in my followup, I pointed out
that that uh I believe it was Mrs. Alhadaf had requested a follow-up about how much that would cost. Um, and I think that was sent to us last year and it was about $6 million. Um, and I understand that we're going out for this
this um item and it would be about a little over $2 million per year um in addition to what we're spending on our building department. I just have a I struggle with um
the response that we got a year ago, which is like that we don't need to to outsource the services um and that it would not be costefficient, but now we're looking to spend $11 million, except in the follow-up it said that we wouldn't be spending the full
$11 million. So, I'm not sure why then we're asking for $11 million. Um, so I'm just I'm wondering if someone can uh make the case for why we need to do this for this amount of money.
Dr. Heer. Go ahead, Miss Paul. Okay. Um, the the conversation I think we had a little bit over a year ago was about reference whether the building department need to exist. Uh, that's
kind of how I came into the district. Um, and I was asked to uh evaluate and and see if we still needed a a building department. Most of the work that we do in the building department is
outsourced. Uh, and this is a reflection of what that cost looks like. uh we're we're challenged as in many of the areas to actually have people on staff to do the work, qualified people to recruit people uh to do this work. So
the question is uh not um it's been asked a couple of different ways. Um but the reality is this contract represents outsourcing a lot of the work that we have in the
building department. Okay. So I think that perhaps someone could understand how that does not um reconcile with the responses we've been given about this question for the last year though that
we because when when the board had inquired about this in in the over the the past year we were told we can't outsource we're not going to be a priority it's going to be more expensive but now we are
no I I I I think um in my recollection the the question was if we outsource ource to um the county the not not private people but to the county um because I remember that discussion and kind of the discussion from us is that
if we outsource and to the county we wouldn't be a priority for them but go ahead miss Paul if there's anything else so I think first me as you're talking um I I think uh Miss Leonardi is correct in the sense that the question has come
u several different ways regarding the building department and uh during my tenure, a little bit over a year, it's been should we have the building department? Um should we look at uh working with municipalities to see if they can help
with some of the work? Uh this is a reflection what we're bringing before you is reflection of the current uh way we do business with this company um that supports and augments our building department. We have a very
small building department and so this is a representation of the work being outsourced. The next question I think we we we recently had was can we look into uh working with the municipalities counties to see if they can help not
only on the building code side but on the fire official side. So it the the question has come uh regarding u this particular department uh different ways. So, it's a combination of all of those
questions. This is how we do business right now. Uh, we outsource the majority of the work uh because it's very difficult to recruit in-house staff to do this work for what we pay. Okay. I'll just read from the follow-up
that we received on July 24th, 2024. When the private provider comes on board, control of deadlines, time constraints, and accelerated schedules may be lost, as well as quality control and institutional knowledge. So, help help me reconcile
that statement with what we're now doing. So to my knowledge, we've always had uh an out or outside entity like CAP helping us with um um the building code
services uh side of the house. Uh we have tried and we'll continue to try to recruit in-house staff to do the work. So does that answer your question? I mean our our goal is to have a you know
kind of a core staff inside uh with the expertise and then when we have periods of we have increased work we have the capability of exercising this uh contract with CAP. right now we're trying to close out um the smart program
and so with that uh that's why we're bringing this to you to have those additional resources that we don't have internally. Okay. I I don't I cannot support this item. I don't we have not get gotten consistent
answers uh in my time on the board about these issues. Um, I don't I guess my my hypothetical question would be, do we feel like what what we've been doing is working? I
think my answer is no. Um, I'll leave it at that. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Zean. Thanks. I also did the math and I um I can't figure out um whether or not what we agreed to do
which was if I'm right chair did we agree to do a hybrid model for the building department there'd be some government employees and some outsourced employees to my recollection yes but Dr. Heburn, is that your I'm going to defer to Miss Paul. I know we've talked about this um several
times, but I know we brought back information to convey that we are doing a hybrid model, that we've been doing a hybrid model because we just don't have enough staff in house to do all the work. So again, this is the process that has
been followed uh uh prior to me coming on board. Uh I don't know if I would call it a hybrid model uh but it's no different than us contracting on the maintenance side. One of the reasons that you see the close out of projects
uh is the building department has worked with this company to accelerate where we can inspections and so forth. So that's a result of this contract and our
internal staff working together. I appreciate that. But I just, you know, publicly want to do the math out loud. Am I wrong to take the $11 million that's being acted for in this item over spread it over three years and the item
that we have and all the background says we're getting 10 full-time people for that money. Is that are those the three right numbers? Dr. He miss Paul. Yes. So the 11 million again is spend authority and the people that we're
getting uh we schedule them based on the work that we have to do. So uh this is basically what we think we will spend is spending authority. But if we don't spend it, you know, we it it stays in our in our uh coffers. But
let let me say it another way then. This 11 millions is taking 10 people working full-time for three years. Their total cost to us through this contract would be 11 million. Is that right? Roughly speaking, yes. And I'm glad you said roughly speaking because that's what we pay the
superintendent a year. So, just let that sink in. No, I don't think we gave him a raise this year. So, he he uh it's very close to what we paid the superintendent. I apologize uh Dr. Dr. Heeper for bringing you into this, but but that's $366,000 a year. And when
we've been talking about hybrid models, it wasn't clear that we were paying that much for contracted support. Um, it's also true that municipalities in Broward County that I'm familiar with in terms of getting permits personally and getting inspections done and and friends
I know that have done it, the people they interact with are all government employees. So, the big municipalities of Broward County have figured out how to hire the people and they're not paying them $366,000 a year. So, uh it may be that we need to do this during a
transition, but I'd be persuaded by this math to say we can probably recruit people to work in the building department for less than $366,000 a year. Um uh so that's that's kind of where I see this. I'd be curious um if
my colleagues would like to discuss bringing this back in another month with maybe a different option so that we can look at um using contractors as required but also opening up positions as soon as possible. That idea would be we would
move out and start to try and hire some people. And I know it's hard but you know it's hard to hire teachers too. It's hard to hard to hire nurses. It's hard to hire school psychologists. It's hard to hire superintendent. Uh all those things are hard but I personally just as in my
responsibilities with the budget would rather try to do this with government people to the extent possible and almost like we did with SLPs two years ago chair remember we we came in here it was like really short and we said well here's a contract use this to hire SLPs
but keep trying to get them inhouse and we jacked up their pay we jacked up their pay considerably and um I don't have the current numbers but at the end of the first year We only needed half as many contractors as we thought we would because with the extra pay, not surprisingly, we got people who wanted
to come work with us. So, if I had a chance to work with Miss Paul and Dr. Heepburn as a building department official, I'd apply. Why would I work for Oakland Park or, you know, the city of Myiramar when I could come build schools and do really cool work uh for this team? So, I'm just curious if my
colleagues would be interested in uh discussing this for a few minutes. And if so, then chair, I'd like to make a motion. Okay. Anybody have on specifically on Dr. Zean's suggestion, Mrs. Ala?
Yes. So, if my memory serves me right, the last grand jury report spoke to getting rid of the building department and outsourcing all the work that the building department would do. So
I I'm wondering because I heard that we are mostly already outsourcing the work. Has that just been going on since Miss Paul since you've gotten here or how many years has that been going on for? So I would have to get the historical
perspective on that. But I know since I've been here uh one of the charges we got from the board uh uh through the superintendent is to accelerate the work. Uh we've we've recruited uh vigorously
uh for these positions. Uh but we don't pay enough. Um and so we we hired a person um and then they left and went back to where they came from from another their other school district. So,
we've had that challenge. Um, so this is in the in the board followup as 10 to 12 employees. It's based on how we use them um and how often we use them. But again, the charge is to accelerate close out this program. And
that's what we're trying to do. And I there I think there's more to the conversation, too. Besides the the costs, there's also the the person overseeing permits and the building department and
making sure that they're not approving, I guess, like the same work and there's oversight and accountability. So, I think there's there's more to this conversation than finding people that we hire to create a
BCPS building department. Anybody else? All right, I'm going to move forward with the motion then. Uh, excuse me. I'm sorry, Miss Rupert. Was it specifically to Mr. um Dr. Zean's question because that's why I have you on, but Okay, go ahead.
Yes. Um, thank you Dr. Zaman for um speaking out and I'll also um you know thinking that we need to talk about this a little bit more and I want to just um put an idea out there um for your consideration which would be we have
another possibility of actually it's going to be coming to us in September and it would be um about warehousing and that's going to be um a big contract as well. So, um I don't I don't know if we wouldn't have to have this conversation
for for both both things at once. It might be it might be better to to actually have them then or at least get some information for the board that knows um what's going to be for our warehousing people. So, um that was my
only part for about um Dr. Zean if he'd consider that or the board would. Okay, Dr. Zean, go ahead. Thank you very much. I'd like to move that um that we postpone this item and that we
ask the superintendent to um consider an idea akin to what we did with the SLPs which is let's raise the salary for the people we need to recruit. Let's make sure we have professional
recruiters trying to do it. I acknowledge Okay. So that um so my motion is to postpone uh this vote and ask the superintendent to come back and give us a graduated program where we try to hire government
employees to the building department at an enhanced compensation package to reduce the need for contract support. Is there a second? Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded to
postpone the item. Any public comment on the postponement board member comment? I have a question to the superintendent. If we postpone this, does it in any way slow down the work that's happening in construction?
U Miss Paul or Miss Andre, when is this contract sunset? The current contract we're under. the contract before you is uh not going into effect until October 12th. Okay. So, we have roughly about um two
months. I would say yes because hiring to fill positions take time takes time. Uh and I certainly don't want to slow down any work that we have in front of us um right now and in in the next couple of months. Um so, I don't know.
Um I'll defer to Miss Paul. I don't know if we can come to um some type of agreement of how we move forward um today so we make to make sure we don't slow down work but also do what we did with the SLPs I think it was um about
how we continue to recruit hire we would have to um um like you say Dr. Zean also raise the pay to be able to attract um employees that were willing to work for us and stay with us and Dr. Dr. Seman, did you want to postpone it until the next regular
schoolboard meeting? I do. Just just to the next one. And again, um I don't believe this could slow us down because um the idea isn't to not execute this contract at the next meeting. It would be to say yes, we'll
execute it. But now that we've seen uh enhanced pay package, we can see that other municipalities in Broward do this with government people by and large, not with contractor support. There's obviously 31 municipalities that are hiring people. If we knew their pay package, why wouldn't they come work for
us and um uh so so yes, there would be to come back to the next schoolboard meeting and make a decision. But again, it's a graduated program. Like here's yeah, go ahead do the contract. I just can't in good conscious pay $366,000 for a year of a building inspector or
someone to review other people's plans. That's more than double. It's almost triple what the municipalities play pay. And I don't I don't think any of us would like to stand before the voters and think that that was a reasonable salary to pay somebody. So would would you also
want to when when it comes back have a lower spend authority? I mean that seems like what ultimately we're looking to do what your motion is looking to do. Yes. Okay. Mrs. Alhida. Um, so I think that we approve this
today and taking Dr. Zean's recommendation or his motion and maybe look into that for the possible future. But what I'm concerned about is like how many people would we be hiring? How long does that take? Like because in my mind this is all just delay, delay, delay,
delay ultimately. And then also I am concerned about um the accountability measures that are putting in place. Now we have our own building department and who's who's um
in charge of who and who's making those decisions and the reference to the grand jury report. So I'm I have all those concerns to prevent this from moving forward today. I also have some questions. So, the
amount is are they considered a full-time position and we pay them a salary or are they working as needed on on building permits? Dr. He, they work as we need them. So, we're not paying benefits. We're not
paying health insurance. No ma'am. So, is there a way to negotiate the amount that we pay for them? This is it. This is the contract we negotiated before.
Okay. Well, I think I would I also think we should move forward. I don't think it makes sense to postpone it, especially since kind of in your you know, you said you would be okay with it, but maybe look at reducing the spend authority so we can pass it today with a lower spend
authority and then they can still come back with all of that stuff. And if it works out, we need to increase it later. But, you know, I also have a huge issue with locking money into a spend authority when we don't know that we need exactly that much money because
then it doesn't allow us to have that money somewhere else. So, like to make a substitute motion um to to reduce the spend authority to let's say eight million.
Second. Any public comment on the motion? Board member comments on the or discussion on the motion? Mrs. Leonardi? Yeah. Um, I guess I'm I'm just wondering uh the 8 million
number um like where that's coming from or if staff has any input on on that. I was doing not quite half was my thought process which would also allow us to um look at hiring more people and
supplementing it as we went along in the year because it's as needed. It's not necessarily like we know we need a hundred permits and that's how that's not how they came to this number. So I was looking at it a little more than
half for me personally but Dr. He the um our staff you pre the question I think it was directed to the chair about her $8 million but the as far as the Okay. Go ahead. Um Miss Paul.
So we have a negotiated rate for each level of work that we need. So we have a rate for civil engineer. We have a rate for electronic plan review coordinator. we have, you know, so we have various um positions that we have a negotiated
rate for and as we need them in a particular area, that's how we use them. So, does um reducing the spend to $8 million cause any severe impact? Um I I think we have to reduce the terms of the agreement, too.
So, this is for 36 months for $11 million. So, if we're going to reduce the amount, uh, you know, we may need to I I suggest we reduce the term of months, but that that's a that's part of the
contract. This the spend authority isn't, is it? So the spend authority is based on the 10 to 12 uh people that we may use or will use and their negotiated rate,
but we use them as needed. Yes. But again, you know, I don't suspect over the next two years that we would use them less than we're using them now as we close out projects and go into other capital projects.
Dr. Zean, I just the substitute motion is doesn't have the effect of what I proposed. What I proposed is what exactly what we did to SLP. We went out and gave them a fair market wage. We set up a contract where if that doesn't work, you still have the room to hire people. They're just
tremendously expensive. I mean, an average of $366,000. I I'm challenging my school board colleagues here to stand before people and say, "You want to pay people that?" That is a tremendous amount of money to do inspections and to review drawings. I
know what the grand jury said. What the grand jury said is our building department was failing and they thought of a solution, which is outsourced the whole thing. And that's fine, but I don't need a grand jury to tell me how to fix a problem. I need a grand jury to tell me what the problem is. And if they looked at SLPs, they
would have told us to outsource those, too. I mean, that's fine, but again, it's our job to find the solution. It's their problem to their challenge at that time was to find problems. And I accept that our building department wasn't functional back then by because they they found that and they substantiated it. But my motion is different than the
8 million chair because I really want to establish more government positions and try to hire them. And if we can't then uh we still have this outlet where we pay a lot of money for people and that can help us with surges that can help us if it doesn't recruit. But I believe
there are people out there working for municipalities who would rather work for us particularly if we set our wages slightly higher than what they're making. So that that I'm just pointing out that the changing the the the total amount of money available for the contract isn't going to get where I want
to go, which is I want more government people. I want us to go aggressively recruit them and I want to pay them well just like we did with our speech language pathologists. Right. And I made them and I have to do something because we have to vote on your motion because I seconded it before
I can make a different motion. Um, but I would just say I wasn't trying to circumvent what you wanted to do. It just isn't necessarily tied to the contract. And I think we were looking at how we can get to where we would all agree on voting on it. Postponing it
doesn't it won't change what the contract looks like coming back. They can still do what you asked for even if we passed this contract. I think that's maybe a motion directed at the superintendent to bring something else back to us as opposed to postponing the
contract. So, we have to vote on Dr. Zean's um initial motion. So, all those in favor of postponing the item say I. I. All those opposed say no. No. No. Can you take a roll call?
Roll call on the motion to uh table the item to September 16th meeting. Board members Bowman. Um, yes. Sea, I'm sorry. Was that yes? Hixon, no. Holus,
yes. Leonardi, yes. Rupert, yes. Thompson, yes. Zean, yes. Alhadev, no. No. No. That's three nos, so count them up. John,
motion passes. 72. Okay. Um, so well this motion passes so um we're going to postpone the item until the next till the next school board meeting.
I just wanted to make a comment. I hope that um well so the problem for me with this item was that we were being asked to approve $11 million. we were not given enough information or AC we've been given inconsistent
information about this. So I hope that before this comes back to us next month that we are given um very clear accurate information about this item. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Yeah, I agree because I um obviously
wasn't here last year when the original things were being said. So we didn't have any context some of us of you know what was being said last year. I I appreciate the chair's motion as well. Um I think we need to maybe meet in the
middle where we have an incentive to be hiring our own people and you know having a cushion so that we can still outsource but not having so much money available that there's no reason to pursue hiring in house. So if we can find a balance there I think that would
be a great solution for both sides of that. Thank you. The next item is uh 0015. I have a motion and a second. So moved. Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? No, ma'am. Dr. Holes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, um this item is in regards to um inground lift machine. And according to the item, there are currently two functional lifts that we have um as far as uh bus
repairs. Um so I do have um a few questions um uh Dr. Heburn how many based upon need and it indicates here there are currently 312 buses uh functioning is
this the for all this is for the north area the central area Dr. Um I forget what area I think it was Miss Paul if you can I I'll bring Dr. Clers up to speak. Yep. Go ahead Dr. Claus.
Hello everybody. It's for the North area. I'm Dr. Clers. Sorry the executive director for transportation is for North area. Thank you Dr. Clower. So um am I to assume then that the the concern as far
as inground lift machines um the concerns are only in the north area? Is that is that the only place there are lift machines or do we have lift machines across the district and the north area has a deficiency? So we have lift machines across the district and north area currently is the
one with the deficiency. Okay. So uh currently there are it indicates there are two inground lift machines that are functional. Does this mean there are lift machines that are there that are not functional? Yes sir. And how many are those?
There's one lift machine that's not functional and the other one is a request for an additional lift machine because of the 322 buses that are serviced out of the north area facility. Okay. So, is there intent to repair the nonfunctional
lift machine? That's the request is for two. One to replace and then one for an additional. Okay. So, the the amount that's being requested here, which is 650,000, it's to repair the nonfunctional lift machine and to purchase another one. Absolutely.
Okay. Understood. Now, um I know Dr. He burner that in the past we talk about um making bus routes more efficient because we do have uh some buses with maybe a few students on them um because of the kind of programs that we're offering. Um
can you speak to how that is going and secondly when we what is the anticipated reduction in the number of buses when the initiative to improve efficiency as far as the use of the buses is complete? Um the planning is going great. There was there was initial planning over the
summer. Um but of course we can't implement that strategy in the middle of the school year. You know that caused an undue burden to to families. So for the 26 27 school year, we'll be implementing um new transportation strategies to expand hub concepts and different modes
of transportation and working with um local partners such as Broward County Government Transit. Understand. So, um, when that is actually completed, uh, um, would you say there would be a reduction in the amount of buses that would be needed? Yes, there'll be a reduction, but it
wouldn't be a severe not to warrant a lift. Okay. Um, and how how long has the current um lift been out of use? The one that needs repair. I don't know if Dr. Clers has that
specific information. So originally we put the request in about 3 years ago. So we've been using um a portable lift since then. Okay. So um Dr. Heepburn, ha has there been an increase in the number of buses that would warrant in addition to the
one that needs repairing warrant an additional lift over a time period because it appears that there were three lift stations or lift machines uh that were being used all along. But um the request is to have another lift which
would make it four in addition to the one that needs repair. So what necessitates the additional lift? Has there been increase in the number of buses or um what what has changed? I have Dr. Claus add. I know there hasn't been an increase in the number of buses but we still have to maintain them
and change tires, change fluids repeatedly. Dr. Claus, if you got anything else to add. Okay, so there are still three lifts there. Um, but we've always had the need for the additional lift. We actually put
in the request about three years ago, but it was placed on hold. So, there has that 322 that exists. Well, there's always been a need for the additional lift. Okay. So, and you said there was a request placed for an additional lift in the past. Did I hear that or
correct? Okay. And and that was that was brought to to the board and it was denied or hold. May I bring up Mr. Harold real quick? He was here for historical perspective. Is that okay with you, Miss
Paul? Thank you. Vincent Harrow, manager of operations for transportation. In line with Dr. Clower's uh response, there are still three lifts at the location. The one lift is inoperable and is being
supplemented by the portable lift that was mentioned. Uh that lift was a cost of $50,000 was approved in a prior DFP plan as a contingency for that lift. Right. The request today is to replace two of
the existing lifts that are over 30 years old. Okay. So there are three existing lifts. Correct. Correct. So the request is not to get an additional fourth lift machine. It's to replace two of the existing ones. Correct. Okay. Okay. So, there's not going to be
an additional number four lift. Correct. Okay. Now, I understand it better. Okay. All right. Uh, Madame Chair, thank you so much. Thank you. All those in favor of item 15 say I. I. I. Any opposed say no. No.
Motion carries with one descending vote. Next item is 18. I have a motion in a second. So, move second. Been moved by Mrs. Leonardi, seconded by Dr. Zean. Any public comment? No, ma'am. Okay, Mrs. Bowman.
Thanks, Sher. I just I pulled this. I wanted to um point out that we're using this program which uh focuses on saving energy, which I think is a fantastic initiative that we're doing. Um, so I
was just wondering if uh the superintendent could explain briefly how this works and how it's helping us to reduce our energy usage and save money. Dr. Heer, Miss Washinski,
Allison Wesinsky, director of environmental health and safety. Um what you have before you is the um project development agreement uh for the next five years. Uh as this time we had previously done it under um one years
one year at a time. This time it's in the DEFP. So we're bringing all five years to you at one time. This is the part where um the vendor evaluates each school and identifies um the the changes
that need to be made like the number of fixtures um and um we're we're doing compactors this time. So looks u gets the pricing and then you'll have another um item that will come to you with the actual um amount of money to make the
changes uh and identifies the loan term um and ultimately the savings that is calculated um at the end of each phase or at the end of each year actually um you know it's it's a cost avoidance but
it pays for the change the modifications Thank you. I'm really appreciative that we're using this program, Mr. Se. I'm satisfied. Thank you, Dr. Zean.
Well, um, thank you to Miss Whitesensky and the team for putting this together. Um, I don't want to wait five years to get the savings. So, what I'm curious about, and I know there's a spend authority and there's a
plan being put together to being come back to us to do the final approval, but I would challenge the board. Um, we get more back in annual savings than this cost us. So, why don't I start with that, chair? Um, if we spend a million dollars on
this project, and I know it's it's two million right now as the spend authority, let's just say we spend a million dollars, are we reducing our annual costs uh by over a million dollars through that expenditure? Dr. He missed. Um, so I'd like to This is just the project development agreement. So this
is the amount that is being uh presented to you is what uh the effort that it would take for them to do the evaluation. The actual cost to do the u modifications is is much more. But roughly uh we're seeing about $50 to
$60,000 a school in savings. So depending on how many schools we do in a year, we could roughly see, you know, $400,000 or a million dollars in savings. I I appreciate that. What I'm interested in though is is the actual ROI. So, I
love hiring a company that comes in and does the assessment work for us. And then we go and replace the lights, for example, and any other recommendations that reduce our our need for electricity, and that generates a significant offset. I think the truth of
the matter is is that the assessment costs less than the annual savings. Is that fair? Assessment cost less than the annual savings. Um, potentially, yes. and and there's still a price in the middle of actually replacing uh the devices, which I appreciate. What I'd be interested in
seeing when this comes back though is like a real business ROI, like all costs in and all annual savings out. And then we can say, look, if we can spend the money faster than five years because we want to for
environmental reasons and for for budget reasons, we would like to reduce our cost per school by 50 or $60,000 per year. Uh that would be great if that in fact bears out. Um I hope that the board would join me in doing it faster than five and a half years. Uh because
wherever there is something there you can go out and do an assessment, spend the money to change the lights and we got a flow going on that we can do more. You know, we do 20 assessments per year roughly for each school for the school district. If we could do 50 and get to that cost savings faster, uh that should
be something that we should think about as a board. Um and so I'd be curious when this comes back. Uh, chair, could could we uh ask for that to have like um a business style ROA? Again, this is not educating students. I'm not talking
about educating students under a business model. I'm talking about not paying electricity and having different lights that are actually lighter. I mean, you actually get more light out of the system for less money. And I'd like to get to that system, whatever, depending on what the ROI says.
Um, how can we ask this item to come back and have a calculated empirical ROI? Dr. Heer, Miss Wterinsky, um, if if I'm understanding you correctly, we could bring that back to
you when we bring the item for the total cost for the replacement for the phase five, which would be the coming year. Yeah, I'd appreciate that. And then the the second request would be what would a two-year plan look like instead of five and a half? If it is does have a substantial ROI if we can spend the
money in two years instead of five and a half and get to that reduced cost, we're going to realize that reduced cost forever, right? I mean, we we have new lights. And so with the LED lights instead of the old incandescent lights and getting better lighting which helps our students learn and do their labs and
get back and forth between classes and have meetings and all that um this could be something for which the ROI is so great that we decide to do it in two years instead of five. So could I also ask uh that an option come back that has a two-year plan instead of a five-year plan? Miss Miss So Dr. pepper. Just to clarify, Mr. Fchinsky, this this
item um wouldn't the phases need to the later phases would need to be moved up for analysis. Correct. Right. Um and and we are willing to do whatever uh plan is uh directed by the board. I will say
that there is some amount of um constriction or ability for staff to actually produce the the documents and make make sure that the things are happening so that the work can be done in the time. So we did 30 projects um
for we're doing 30 projects in phase four right now and it's roughly about a year and a half to get those accomplished. um we did 20 20 projects I think in phase three and it was roughly a year. So it it takes that amount of time to to get the necessary permits and
and do do the work. And so if um is that just BCPS staff or any additional contracted staff? So the um the contracted staff JCI provides the the documentation, the the plans, but we do um support that effort um in getting
the permit with the building department um and and moving moving the projects along. So and go ahead, Miss Paul. And you know, I would also add to that, you know, scheduling around uh when the uh children are in the building. So we
don't, you know, other than summer and maybe occas the holidays, we don't really have full access to the building. So we definitely have to work with the principal at the school to uh accommodate the the repairs, replacements, and so forth. So I tell you what, Dr. Zean, um when we
bring this back, um we can detail the potential barriers, um and because I think there's some potential barriers and then as we're finding out what those potential barriers are, we can figure out if we can work around them, over them, through them, and and bring back something
that's substantive that's kind of meet the request. Yeah. To to Mrs. is Leonard's earlier points about packages and things like that. I think this board has been very clear that we'd love to see options and the staff builds the options. The staff says, "Nice idea, Eman, you want this
done in 12 months, we can't do it, right?" Um, but if you bring us feasible options rather than just one solution, it empowers us to do our job better. And so, if it's not feasible to do it in a year or two years or if the ROI doesn't really support that, we should just go slow and get to it. But whenever there's
something like this, whether it's using up empty seats on a school bus, like I don't know how a human being could argue against that, like a student getting on a school bus for which there's no other student registered to use that bus. That seems like an easy thing. But this is
like a really great business model where when we spend money on this assessment and then the the the actual change out of the lights happens, the reduction in electrical footprint is huge. And so that's great. we should celebrate that we have this thing going, but if it's
really a huge ROI when we look at the numbers and it's feasible to do it in less than five years, the board may choose to do that. And I'd appreciate those options. So, thank you, Mr. Superintendent. Thank you. And to Dr. Zean's point, there is only one vendor on this. Is there not other companies? Like maybe
one way to do that is to have more than one company partnering with us in this and not just the one would double you know increase the workload or the amount of work getting done. Okay. All those in
favor of item O8 say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is 020. Can I have a motion in a second? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Any public
comment? No, ma'am. Mr. Sea. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, the last meeting we had, uh, I think this board was asked to approve something along the lines of like $85 million for buses, if
I'm not mistaken. I think the item was either um taken off or I think there was an a proposal to split it in half, but I I don't overall I I don't believe it passed. My question is in regards to O20 for this vehicle maintenance. Does this
proposal negate any of the need for the district to buy any new school buses and instead use this money to repair some of the current uh buses we have in our fleet? Dr. Heer. Um, correct me if I'm wrong. This is for our existing um fleet. This
wouldn't address um the contract. I think it was like $31 million um for new acquiring a new buses and white fleet. But what I what I'm what I'm trying to to get to the bottom of is um the the
proposal for the new buses um somebody correct me. I believe it it was either taken off or it failed at the last item. at the last um it was reduced. It was reduced by half. Um does this passage of this aotment that's being
asked, is any of this money going to be used to address maybe some of those buses that we were going to replace altogether and now we're going to fix these or are these two separate buckets of of um of dollars that have nothing to do with one another? Yep. Two separate issues. This is to
keep our current fleet on the road. Okay. Yes. So there is a um actually shut down. Thank you Dr. Superintendent Dr. Hol. Thank you Madam Chair. So for this item um there were I believe 16 vendors
mentioned um and I just wanted to find out from these 16 vendors again uh how many of these are Hispanics um blacks or women? Dr. Dr. Heburn. Miss Andrea.
Thank you, Dr. Heburn. This is a ITB from 2023. There are none. This is not a new solicitation. You're as being asked to approve the additional spend authority. So, um I'm not sure if there was an API
as we discussed earlier on this particular solicitation. It was before my tenure. I understand. So, um the point that I'm trying to make because we have in this item we have 16 vendors and none of these vendors are womenowned,
Hispanicowned or blackowned. And I've brought up two other items. And from the 23 vendors, uh and I could have brought up more. Um we have uh that I brought up 23 vendors. Only one out of the 23
uh belong to an MWBE firm. Uh which was one Hispanic. Um you know Broward County population is 32% whites, 31% Hispanics, and 28% blacks. Dr. Heepburn, what is the demographics of Broward schools in terms of race and
gender? Dr. Heburn. Um go ahead Dr. Fulton just pulling it up right now, but it's uh very similar. Give you exact numbers. Dr. Honus, can you repeat that question again? Uh what is the demographics of Broward
County schools in terms of gender and race? So, gender, we can look that up right now, but I can tell you race 51% white, 40.8 black, 3.9 Asian, and multi-racial
3.7. Okay. And Hispanics would be included in what? In what part of that those numbers? So, we have that broken down. Hispanic 39%. Okay. And when you break it down, we have 39% Hispanics. And can you give us the other numbers?
So I think what he's asking um in the demographics I know sometimes it's Hispanic white and Hispanic non-white or because some it the way they collect data understand. So 39% came out of the 51%. Is that correct?
So we we have it here as Hispanic 39% non-Hispanic 61. So it's okay got it. That's how we collect it. Okay. I understand. So um the concern that I have is that you know as a board we and as a district rather it's important and we talked about
eliminating disparity before um I think it's important that we do everything we can to ensure that we are attracting a wide variety of vendors that would uh at least to uh some degree mirror our broad county population as well as our student
population. Um, like I said, I've mentioned 23 vendors and from the 23, um, there were no women, absolutely no woman owned in in there and we had one Hispanic and no blacks. So, I think Dr.
Hburn, we can do a better job so that the things that we're doing is reflective of the population that we're serving. Uh, because, you know, the the uh, schools are funded locally by local residents. And I think that would be important that we recognize disparity in
terms of womenowned business, Hispanic owned and blackowned doing business with the district. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor of item 20 say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion passes unanimously. The next item is
double P3. Can I have a motion in a second? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on double P3? Madam chair, you do have one speaker, Mrs. Leco, Miss Con. Um, is this on?
Okay. Thank you. Um, good afternoon everybody. Um, you probably have all well, you have all got a um one pager explainer from me about what I'm about to explain. So, um, hopefully everybody's clear what the problem is here. But sometime at some point between
your June the 10th workshop and this um red line um being advertised and um publicized and put on the agenda for today um some wording has been added that was not um advised or discussed or
directed by you folks at the um uh board workshop and it does make a very significant change to or would if you passed it make a very significant change to um what JOTC's even are that word is in the first paragraph. It's extracurricular.
Um uh JOTC is not an extracurricular program. It is an elective defined by the Department of Defense. Um students can receive high school credit towards graduation. It's built into the school day. It has required curriculum and instruction and optional but strongly
encouraged extracurricular activity. Removing that status would pose an existential existential threat to your 31 JOTC's districtwide. And while clearly erroneous, you have now advertised a policy that was going to remove JOTC's current status as a
structured academic program. That would be a major unsustainable change. But now removing the word extracurricular to correct that would therefore also be a major change. Albe it the right and only thing to do. The process by which this
now moves forward, however, matters. Regardless of whether this was an error, it came about through staff unilaterally uh going into a draft. And the consequences, were I not now pointing it out, could have been serious. Um
while one could say, well, schools know it's not extracurricular, no problem. This does this could and would potentially have resulted in something negative. um it had potential to do so because um of some of these reasons
currently of It would be lovely if folks were listening. Can we stop the clock? I'm sorry, but I think this is important and the superintendent and chair I would love if we could if I could have my time back. I know it's still running, but the
people I'm speaking to are engaged in another conversation. I've given up half a day's work to be here. You just have to put up with me for three minutes. I'd like my time back. Regardless of whether this was an error, it came about through somebody going into a document that they shouldn't have. um mislabeling it as
extracurricular would have stripped JOTC of its rightful place in the academic framework, jeopardized student ability to earn credit towards graduation, would have placed the district out of compliance with federal agreements and military regulations and so on. We need to have a process that we can trust of
rulemaking and recently there have been lapses and inconsistencies. We need to see a learning curve and have corrections so we can have confidence in process. this has not instilled that and the solution th there has been there will be substantive change if you just
remove this one word but it does need removing. Thank you. Thank you so much. Any other public comment? No ma'am. Mrs. Alhad. Thank you. So JOTC is an elective in school course with an academic
curriculum. So in the the first paragraph of policy number 6230, I would like to remove the word extra. So it would say the Broward County School Board supports the implementation of the Junior Reserve
Officers Training Corpse JOTC at District High Schools as a leadership development and character building curricular program. Second. It's been moved and second. It's been moved and seconded to
remove the word extra from extracurricular. Any public comment on the motion? Yes. And thank you, Mrs. Alhidev. It's not just curricular. It is curricular and extracurricular. It doesn't need either in there, but the effect of
changing it is arguably now substantive change. I'd also like to point out there's another paragraph that was also added in subsequent to the workshop that wasn't directed or discussed. Um there's language that's been added in at point C3. It's non uh non-detrimental but I
think there's a um principle at stake here of how do you do rule making anymore. Thank you. But it can't be extra motion. Then I will carry on speaking about that. It it is as I just stated a curricular program and it cannot exist without being
curricular but it also has then optional extracurricular programs and activities added on to. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? Board member comment. Miss Batista I have a question because the speaker
mentioned that changing this would make it a substantial change. So can you speak to that and does that mean that we would have to go through rule making again? Okay. So you wouldn't have to go through the entire process of rule making again.
Uh you would have to advertise a notice of change for 21 days. Then the policy would come back to the board for approval and final adoption. Okay. I mean, any other board comment?
Miss Bulman? Mrs. Bulman? I Is there a way to quickly pull up whatever we looked at that originally? Um, well, what's being alleged is that the red line that we have before us is not the same red line that we had at the
workshop. I know Dr. Heerone had it quick. So, I didn't Dr. Wanza. Thank you, Dr. Heburn. Valerie Wanza, chief strategy and innovation officer. So, it is true that on um June 10th when we did rulemaking, the preamble of the
policy did not have the word extracurricular in it at all. It it didn't um in fact the board at that convers at that rule making the board um did not ask for any changes to the policy at all. So when it
was received back in our office from legal it it what what I took it was that the formatting was corrected right to ensure that it didn't it um complied with the current formatting processes and I proceeded to upload it and then the word extracurricular and Mrs.
Hoffsetter is here um she can speak to because she was the final legal reviewer of the policy before it was uploaded for um today's school board meeting. Miss Hoffsteader, can you Yes, I inserted the word extracurricular
by accident. So, can we So, Miss Batista, obviously, we need to remove the word extra from there. Did it So, it said curricular to begin with. It just said program. It said, it just said programs. So,
program encompasses everything. Yes. Can we see like that's not a substantial change it out? No, but I so it it would be a chain. This is this is what was advertised for this meeting today with the unfortunately with that
word in it. And therefore um if you remove it, it would con it would constitute a substantive change that would need to be advertised for 21 days and then come back for final adoption to the board. Doesn't have to go through the whole workshop or any of that.
I'd like to make a substitute motion and just move to to take out the entire word extracurricular and just leave it as programs. Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Any public comment on the motion, which is
to just leave it the way it was originally. Right. But I Jackie Los I think what Miss Batista is rightly telling you is that that makes substantive change. Yes, that's and it'll have to come back for another vote in 20 days.
Okay, you didn't say that bit. Okay, so you're proposing shelving it. No, we're asking them to make a change and it'll have to come back in 21 days for us to actually vote, but not making a change here now and then putting it through. Gotcha. Okay.
And and I do feel I I'm sorry, but I do feel if there's a process and it was flouted um some accountability over it would matter. the effect of this. I nearly brought cadetses with me to protest and say, "Please don't downgrade our JOTC's." And I figured, well, it must be
an an accident, but I don't know how a word accidentally comes out of your fingertips. Um, there is also a very minor, but being pedantic, um, a a um a punctuation issue that I sent to all of you as well. It's officers plural. Um, just to get the name of the program and
the policy correct. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment on the substitute motion? Any board comment on the substitute motion, Miss Bulman? I support the motion and I it does not appear that there was any
nefarious intent here. I've many many many times type something well I my mind wandered and then you know you or you used the wrong draft or whatever. So um I accept that this was a mistake and that we just have to go through 21 days
to fix it. I don't think there's any terrible things are going to happen in the next 21 days on this. Thank you. Any other board comment? All those in favor of the substitute motion say I. I. I. Any oppose say no.
Um so the item So the item passes as Oh no. Now we're voting on the Yes. So now we're voting on double P3 as amended. All those in favor say I.
I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries with the idea that we understand it'll come back in 21 days for an actual vote. Right. Because this this was not the final adoption. This is not the final adoption. It is we all recommended changing it. It'll come
back in 21 days for a final vote and the policy will then be in place. Right. Everybody's good with that? Perfect. Okay. Okay, I'm going to take one more item for our next um double P7. Can I have a motion in a second? So moved. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by
Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on double P7? Uh no, ma'am. Dr. Holes. Thank you, Madam Chair. So for the the red line changes to policy 6400 in terms of uh reassignment priority uh
just wanted to confirm for the sake of the public that this will be effective the year 25 year 26 27 is that correct Dr. Heer Dr. Wanza. Okay. So, um, as soon as the board
approves the policy, it's effective, right? Then, correct, Miss Batista? So, going forward, any reassignments that we would get for this year, it would be in effect. If the if the board approves it today, it becomes effective today. Okay. So, um, assignment priority areas.
Um if you do have students who want to choose a particular school and they're within that that uh priority assignment area they can if this is approved today for example the C4
yes but but remember and I just want to make it clear reassignments are predicated on seats available at the schools seats available then yes understand so contingent on availability of seats if seats are available then for example the seat C4 part of Coral Springs would have priority to go to
Stoman Douglas or Coral Coral Glades um height. Well, right now C4 is assigned to Coral Glades. So if they put in a reassignment for MS for Marjorie Stoman Douglas is where they would fall within the um priority. Correct. So So they have a choice if
they so choose if this item pass. So it's not that they have a choice because their assigned school right now today is Coral Glades High School. If they put in for a reassignment and there was space available and there was not a lottery and they were then yes then they would be awarded a seat because there's
space available and they have priority before you know students who right anyone else so they have priority in the reassignment process. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome Mrs. Bowman. Thanks chair. Um I have a little motion here just to
streamline the language and I already talked to Dr. Wanza about it. We worked on it together yesterday. Um just to kind of uh because in this is starts on page 17 and uh
I think it's uh section Roman numeral 4 number five regarding reassignments. So if you look in the second paragraph of A, it says reassignment seats will be allocated at schools that have available seats. That's kind of like a blanket
statement. And then when you go into um letter C, there's a couple of the numbered uh areas where you can have qualify for a reassignment which says where seats have become available have become available or on a space available
basis. So my motion that I that was passed out just removes those um that language so that we just go back to the beginning of number five and it's a blanket where seats are available
so there's no confusion later. Do you want to do all the motions at once? You want to do one at a time? I don't we do all of them all at once. Okay. If if they're going to be passed as one
item, then you can do them all at once. If you think there's going to be some discussion and some items may not be supported, then one at a time is safer. They're just word changes. Yeah. So, I think all at once is Yes. Okay. So, so Reed, you have
Okay. So um like to amend pol the proposed policy 64 language um as follows. To change section Roman Roman numeral 4 five number five letter C number one to read children already
attending a district school on a one-year assignment. change um section uh Roman numeral 4 number five C3 to read, "A full-time permanent SBBC employee assigned to a
work location within an innovation zone who is the parent legal guardian of a student may apply for the student to be placed in a district school within the innovation zone. The employee must meet the application deadline and change Roman numeral five uh four number five
C4 to read a part-time permanent SBBC employee who is the parent legal guardian of a student assigned a part-time work schedule at the requested school. The employee must meet the application deadline. Okay, I second the motion.
Uh any any public comment on the motion? Okay. Board member comment on the motion. Um just a point of order. I'm sorry. Oh, excuse me. After you, sir. Mr. Sea. Kudos for writing this out in a nice neat and orderly fashion. Very easy to
read. Thank you for doing that. Dr. Seaman. And my question just to the person you I imagine that was a motion, right? Yep. To making the motion. These three things are whole uh section replacements, right? So 5C1 is the within the quotes you have for number
one. Yeah. And uh 5C3 is again the whole replacement there. Yes. Thank you. This is wonderful. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Alida. I appreciate it being written now. Good job.
Um, I do have issue with number one because I think the way it's written currently now where it says children already attending a district school in a one-year reassignment where seats have become available uh because the whole where seats are available is left out in your motion.
So, I don't agree with that. Okay. Any other board member comment? All those in favor of the Sure. I'm sorry. Um, I wonder if we could ask the maker the motion to um, separate the motions that she's made. I
just don't, you know, originally this looked like um, just improved language, but if there's a subnive change that one member is doesn't agree with, I would hate for the whole set of changes to be voted on. Okay. So, I have a question. Miss
Batista care. Is is there a distinction with with what Miss Alv's um bringing up in C1 on page 18? The original language in the policy has an extra clause that says where seats
have become available. That well that's what we're trying to that's what I'm trying to remove from the three to because it says it at the beginning of the reassignment section that all reassignment seats will be allocated at
schools that have seats available. So is there a so a distinguishable reason why that wouldn't be removed to accomplish that in number one like because I'm reading it as children
are already attending a district school on a one-year reassignment so they would be eligible if their seats available based on what It says at the beginning of the right and I I you know it can be read the way that you're amending it now.
Um obviously it can also be done the way that it was done before. So what's the scrier's intent? Who who wrote it? Dr. Dr. Wanza, do you have anything to add to this? Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. So, um the but
for your just for Mr. Vnola is the attorney that worked on this policy and he um when it came for um uh the June 10th workshop, he did state that he had no changes to add. However, um this to everyone's questioning. So, what happens
is a a student is reassigned, you know, for one year to finish the school year. something happened and and now they're going to apply to remain at the school because they've been at the school. So this would give them a real this would
give them a priority because they already they are already there at the school. So it would not be based on the seats that have become available that person that student would actually be allowed to stay at the school provided there is room for the student
to stay. Right? So, so if you look at the beginning of the policy, I'm sorry, of this section of the policy, reassignments are first and foremost, are there seats available for students who reside outside of the attendance
area to now make application to apply to the school to attend the school? So my recommendation would be to keep that language there um only for the fact that it may become
confusing that you know that there is a privilege to stay at the school even with even if seats are not available and I understand that it says it at the beginning of the section as well but I don't think there's any harm in keeping
it in the place where he currently resides. I guess I would I'm just looking at it. I think there's a better way to say it though, so that that's clear. I don't know if it's like where seats subsequently become available or
it's hard to kind of tell by the way it's written what it what it means. Maybe you could it could just to jump in there just say as long as seats are available. Or as long as seats remain available to add.
Is that a substitute motion? So I mean so I'll make a substitute motion to number one to to read children already attending a district school on a one-year assignment as long as seats remain available. Isn't that what's in the current policy
chair? This is what I'm like if you vote down the motion to make number one, that's what's going to stay, I think. Right. Uh, yes. It's just worded differently because it says where seats have become available. And I think Miss Mrs. Bowman's point is saying they're already
there. They should be able to stay. And the point is they could stay as long as a seat remains available for them. So, the wording is a little different. And I miss Bulman just wanted to be more
yeah precise it sounded like but if you go back to a reassignment seats will so this is all under reassignment so they're still looking for a reassignment even though they already had a one-year reassignment. So they're looking for a reassignment and it has to be at a
school that has available seats. So Madam Chair, yes. Uh, I recommend we table this item, go to the time certain and me, Dr. Wanza can work with Miss Bowman to refine her motion. Okay. Thanks. So, so you're gonna make a motion.
Make a motion to um postpone this until later in the meeting. Chair. Okay. Second. Okay. All those in favor of postponing until later in the meeting say I. I. And post say no. Motion carries. Next, we will go to item
double B3. Time certain for 3:00. We're close. Um, can I have a motion in a second on Dr. Zean? Uh, it's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on the motion
on the item on the item? I'm sorry. We have about 20 registered speakers. Um, Madame Chair, I recommend reducing the time. So we'll make it two minutes per per speaker and we'll start with So if you can go on
each so we make it move a little faster if someone will go on each microphone and you know just be ready to go. If you're sitting on the right hand side go to that microphone. If you're on the left go to that and we'll call you up. I'm going to try to call the students
first who identify students. Uh the first three speakers or three students who wanted to come together, Chelsea, uh Lily, and Elsa, if you can make yourself to the mic. Okay. Good afternoon. My name is Lily Zean and I'm eighth
grader at Sunrise Middle School. I'm here this afternoon with two of my Sunrise classmates, Chelsea and Alisa, to speak in support of the item to match the funding provided by the city of Fort Lauderdale for our school in the enhancements of our sports facilities.
This funding will help thousands of students in years to come. And this isn't just about one school. It's about an entire community. By doubling the funding, we're not just improving sports facilities. We're sending a message to our schools matters. That our community in Broward County deserves a safe, inspiring place to learn, grow, and
play. The current the current conditions in our current athletic facilities are in a state of disrepair, broken, and neglected. This this is not even mentioning the students that get hurt on our outdated sports field indoor and out
indoor and outdoor. Our school has plenty of land, but just no investment or maintainment of the athletic facilities. The lack of attention directed to extracurriculars and student safety is implying that those aren't
priorities and that needs to change. In the long term, this investment can boost student enrollment by making our school more attractive to families looking for well-rounded schools. It also promotes equality by including people to make sure all students, regardless of background or ability,
have safe, accessible places to participate. We know that as eighth graders, we won't be here to enjoy the new facilities once they're finished. But we still care. We care because we've grown up here. We've played on those fields, practiced in those gyms, and cheered on our school
teams. And we want future students like our younger siblings to have better, safer places to play in. We're asking you to make a smart investment in the future of our schools. Scarlet McKeen. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the board. My name is Scarlett Mchuan
and I'm a student at Sunrise Middle School. I believe that giving this money to upgrade our fields and facilities is an excellent way to put it to use. It will benefit and support the well-being of the students and faculty members at Sunrise Middle. To explain, exercise
reduces stress and makes you fit. This means that upgrading the fields and facilities will make the students want to exercise more. This keeps the students minds and body healthy, awake, and ready to learn, benefiting the whole school. It also benefits the faculty
members in helping them teach. Now that the students are relaxed and have all their jitters out, they are ready to learn and have a great time. Also, when teaching sports, it's easier in a clean, safe, and organized environment. So, this upgrade will help them give the
students a great experience to the advantage of the students and staff at the school. I hope you'll support this investment. As you can see, it's a win-win. Thank you. Hi, my name is Josephine Rosetti. I'm a
sixth grader in Sunrise Middle School. Sunrise is a great school with a good principal and great teachers. It has all the best programs and provides many opportunities for kids to grow and excel. But there is some stuff that can
improve. For example, when you drive down 13th Street, you see the field. Let's be honest, the field is not the most beautiful thing you see. So that's why it needs a fixing. Yesterday, me and my sister tried out for the school
soccer team. It was hard because the grass was uneven and it was easy to trip on. The locker room was a very uncomfortable exper experience and we need to make this better. Additional
funding can make all these things better. This will not only help the kids in the school, but also the community and Broward County. More people will want to go to this school and see all the amazing programs it has to offer.
Thank you. Are there any more students in the audience who want to speak on this before I go to the adults? Oh, there we go. Just go to the mic and say your name. Thank you. Sabrina. Hi, my name is Sabrina Saold and I'm a
fourth grader at VSY and I'm I also live in Victoria Park. When I heard that you're doing upgrades for the school facility, I was excited. And then my mom told me that you, the school board, have to vote on it. And I'm here to say vote yes.
Please match the city funds to make Sunrise a school where me and my friends can transition to. Also, I nominate my mom to run for coach as the tracking as the um track and field club for running for girls.
Up next, we're going to have Aaron Gold and James Lee. It's really hard to follow them. Um, good afternoon. My name is Aaron Gaul and I am the very proud PTSA president at Sunrise Middle and a longtime member of the Fort Lauderdale Education
Advisory Board. It feels really great to be standing here today speaking enthusiastically for something. What you're going to hear from me and from so many others and you already have in this room is gratitude, hope, and genuine excitement. Those are feelings that can
sometimes feel in short supply. So they are worth celebrating. By approving these matching funds, you are modeling the very best of what partnerships in support of public education can look like. School districts working handinand with cities,
neighborhoods, and families. This is a community absolutely invested in the success of this school and program. And you can see we keep showing up. We are here. Um, doing this now means these additional projects and upgrades can be done in a coordinated and efficient
approach alongside the city's upgrades. It also advances key board priorities, boosting mental health, attracting and retaining families, creating a pipeline from our elementary schools to Sunrise, and showing how creative partnerships
amplify success. The financial return on this investment will come through increased enrollment. I am certain. But the value is so much more than monetary. This is an extraordinary opportunity that can model the future of the
district to make BCPS the choice for students throughout Broward. Thank you, Superintendent, Madame Chair, and members of the Broward County School Board. My name is James Lerie and I am a resident, homeowner, taxpayer, and voter
in Broward County for nearly 23 years. I live in Fort Lauderdale in the Poinsettia Heights neighborhood where Bennett Elementary and Sunrise Middle School are located. I currently serve as the vice president of the Poinsedia Heights Civic Association. I've come to this meeting today representing the
Points ID Height Civic Association in support of the sports academy initiative that includes Bennett Elementary, Sunrise Middle and Fort Lauderdale high schools. The civic association firmly believes that physical activity helps not only to support physical health but
also to support mental and emotional health. Additionally, we believe there is value in the sports academy initiative as it would attract and retain students and their families who may be considering a private school as an alternative to a public school. I
cannot speak to the benefits of coupling academic achievement with athletics. I leave that discussion to those more knowledgeable than I such as the people sitting at the deis. However, I can speak to the following from my own personal experience. when is open to public swimming. I'm a
regular swimmer at the Sunrise Middle School where you may or may not know was built in the late 1990s with generous donations from the residents of Poinsettia Heights working with the uh City of Fort Lauderdale Parks Department and the Broward County School System. I
ask you to envision with me this valuable resource used to create the following four scenarios that would support the sports academy initiative. First, an accessible site for Bennett Elementary students to learn basic swimming and water safety skills. Not
only would it encourage physical activity at a young age, but it would also help reduce one of the major causes of childhood death in Florida, which is drowning. Second, at Sunrise Middle School, the students will begin to develop stronger swimming skills, learn about competitive swimming, and start to
understand the concepts of individuals role within the team structure. I'm almost done. Third, continuing to the swimming pool at Fort Lauderdale High School, students would refine their swimming skills even more, perhaps specialing in one of the four strokes, at the same time learning the rewards of
discipline and commitment as they successfully compete against other Broward County high schools. Thank you so much. Up next, we have Michael Owen, Heather Brinkworth. Just want you to know that the Poinsettia Height Civic Association strongly supports the initiative. Thank you.
Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Mike Owen. I'm a Sunrise Middle alum and now I'm also a Sunrise parent. Uh my daughter just started sixth grade there this year. Uh I know firsthand just how much this school means to its students and families and I want to share my
approving the $ 1.7 million in matching funds as being a very important step. Uh the city of Fort Lauderdale has already made an incredible investment through its parks bond program. By matching these funds, the school board can double that impact, providing safe, modern athletic facilities, not only for
Sunrise, but for the entire Fort Lauderdale High feeder pattern. These upgrades are more than new fields or gyms. They give students a place to play, to train, to compete, and to grow together. They improve health, boost engagement, and build the foundation for
the new sports academy that will connect Bennett Elementary, Sunrise Middle, and Fort Lauderdale High. Approving this funding isn't just about facilities. It's about investing in our kids, our families, and our community. I respectfully urge you to vote yes. Thank you.
Good afternoon. Maybe. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. It should be working. Good afternoon. There we go. Is it working? Okay. Good afternoon board members and superintendent Heburn. My name is Heather Brinkworth and I am here
speaking in support of item BB2. This opportunity for school board the school board of Broward County to provide capital dollars to directly support improvements as a match to the city of Fort Lauderdale's allocation to make capital improvements to the sports fields pool and other benefits to the school and neighboring community is the
right decision. The synergies between the projects will be cost-effective and make the greatest impact. This allocation also supports the future implementation of a sports academy at Bennett Elementary as well as academic and extracurricular sports programs that extend through the Fort Lauderdale High
School feeder pattern. This investment will pay a multitude of future dividend dividends and I encourage you to vote yes. Thank you. Who are the next two speakers? The next two speakers are Julia Overurf
and Denise Calder. Good afternoon everyone. I'm Julia Overturf. I am the proud VSSY PTA president. And as Miss Gold pointed out, you can see we're all back in our blue shirts again because we do like to show up when
cool things are happening here at the board. Um, the students already told you how this kids will benefit. We know the children will benefit from this, right? Let's talk about how the school board, how the county benefits from this. We've been talking for years now about how to get kids back into public schools, not lose them through the vouchers to the
private system. So, a program like this would take kids that are leaving a school like VSY and encourage their parents to leave them in the public school system instead of using vouchers to go private because they think they're getting something better. So, let's vote yes on this. Let's not leave money on
the table. Let's do the best we can to provide a great um great school for our children to go into. Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Denise Calder, the current magnet coordinator at Sunrise Middle School. I'm in my 18th year of service there. It's my first and
will be my last school. I'm also the proud parent of four children who have attended Broward County Public Schools. I'm here tonight to respectfully urge the board to please match the city of Fort Lauderdale's $ 1.7 million investment in our schools athletic facilities. The funding is more is about
more than infrastructure. It's about building a better, brighter Broward. Sunrise Middle was promised vital upgrades. These enhancements are essential to launching the proposed sports academy theater program that connects Bennett, Sunrise, and Fort Lauderdale High School. Our mascot at um
Sunrise is a falcon. It's a symbol of speed, precision, vision, and fierce determination. These are the traits of our student athletes. Despite our gym not being in the condition of a top performing athletic school, our dedicated coaches led our boys basketball team to an undefeated
championship season last year. Our school community is known for doing a lot with the little. Our parents and teachers have volunteered over the years as staff sponsors um to expand the athletic offerings. We started a baseball club uh years ago that is still
ongoing. Um we will be adding pickle ball very soon. My son has uh decided he wants to be team captain. Fort Lauderdale High is the final destination in this theater pattern. It stands as a lighthouse in our district, a beacon that attracts high performing athletes
and high achieving scholars. It's an emblem, the flying L. It's a logo of strength, pride, and excellence. We know that schools like SDA, Gibbons, and American Heritage have nationally recognized athletic programs. It produced college scholarship athletes. A lot of those athletes come from Sunrise
Middle. Yeah. Okay. So, um, we're asking for this matching in investment. The Falcon has wings. The flying L has a wing, but the board today, you're the wind beneath those wings. Help us fly.
Thank you. The next two speakers, the next two speakers, Walter Hunaman and Nicole Blik. Chair, chair, uh, superintendent, board members. As I came up, I heard better, brighter Broward. And so, I'm here today
to speak on behalf of all those students whose parents don't have the employment that gives them the accommodations to be able to show up in the middle of an afternoon on a weekday. this feeder school. The feeder schools include many historic
neighborhood elementary schools in our poor neighborhoods. And those students deserve to be part of those wings, part of the wing, the wind that you're going to give them, part of the better, brighter Broward. Don't leave this money on the table, the matching dollars.
embrace the opportunity to embrace the students, especially those students who do not have a voice today, but absolutely deserve that voice because they will be the future voices. But we need to embrace them. We need to support
them today. Please vote justice. Please vote education. Please vote our common human values and accept this money. Match the money. Maybe even outdo the match. and let's go forward. Thank you.
Hi, I'm Nicole Blick, uh, Fort Lauderdale business owner and resident. Um, I'm here to in support of the full match uh, for Sunrise Middle. Um, I'm a VSY parent and as you see our blue shirts are here. Um, we want to channel
all of our energy, all of our funding, all of, you know, just everything into Sunrise as we, um, as our kids get older. And I just, uh, I can't see a better investment than our kids. So, thank you.
Thank you. Next two speakers. And just a reminder, everyone has to be sitting down in a seat unless you're with media. Thank you. Um, next speaker is Joe P. and Juliet Sirla.
Thank you for the discipline. Mr. Superintendent, school board members, I have spoken in front of the Broward County School Board many, many, many times dating back to the old Florinata. I have served on numerous schoolboard
committees, including the oversight committee on the schoolboard bond. I'm a follower of the Mary Ferdig School of Accountability and my daughter was honored to serve on this school board until her husband's
job moved them to California. All that being said, I read, I listen, I'm active in the community. I know what is going on and I don't like it. The have and the have not of the east
and west has been going on for 40 years that I'm aware of. 40 years. The west talks about school courts, food courts. Oh my god. Every school has to have food court, don't we? No. The east
is suffering for basic essentials like exercise for our children, extracurricular activities. You are losing students. You are losing students to charter schools because of perceived inadequacies.
And that is going to continue until you shift and get aggressive. What I want to say is this. My entire family votes. I vote. I had five grandchildren attend
VSSY. I currently have one in Sunrise Middle and two in Fort Lauderdale High. We believe in the program. I am an educated voter and I will stay an educated voter. Please do what's
right. Allocate the necessary money and consider the building of an asset to help the school board and the Broward County Schools. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next public speaker. Good afternoon. My name is Juliet Sterland. I live in Victoria Park and my
daughter is Sabrina Sauerwald. Apparently, I will be coaching Run Like the Girl Club. So, let's make that happen. Injecting funds into Sunrise Middle School for severely needed upgrades makes sense. It should be a common sense solution. It should be a
yes. It makes the school more competitive with those private and religious schools. Getting the certain tax breaks that have reduced enrollment in Broward County. It gives the campus a muchneeded upgrade and it would make more children come back into the school system. I mean when my kids started
school it was like all right you can go to VSY and then where are you going after that? Which which private charter school are you going to because you're not going to Sunrise or the other ones. And that tide is turning and I think we have been turning the tide. So, let's
turn it together and make this change for all of our students, for all of the kids that come from all of the schools. Thank you. Thank you. The next two speakers, Michelle H and Johnston Hobbs.
Good afternoon. My name is Michelle Hearn. I'm a parent, a resident, taxpayer, and a PTA board member for Virginia Schuman Young. First, I want to thank you for your time and thank you for paying attention to all of us today. Um, I can't echo how important this is
for the future of our students. My kids are in kindergarten, first grade, and preschool. They will not be in middle school for many years, but I am thinking about what is that next step. I'm thinking private school to be honest with you. But when I see these type of
investments, when I see the board truly taking in consideration what the community believes in, I want to stay here. So I ask that you approve of the funding and move forward with the decision. Thank you. Thank you. Next public speaker.
Good afternoon. I'm Johnston Hobbs. I'm the head baseball coach at Fort Lauderdale High School. Thank you for the opportunity to speak again with you today in double the time. Last time we only had a minute. Um I would like to stress to you how important programs are. As probably the only person in this
crowd that actually works on one of these fields every single day, I need to tell you how important it is to have resources um that you will be voting on. um the extent of our resources to improve our facilities over the past year that have been Fort Lauderdale High
School has been the person that you're looking at right now. I'm out there every day whether it's in season or out of season. Um my business partner and I have dumped my entire stipen into the field. Um it's not a huge stipen as I'm sure you know, but it's the the thought,
the principle. Um we've started a nonprofit to help raise money to keep our field up so our kids can have a safe place to play. Now, I can only speak for baseball because I don't maintain the soccer fields or baseball fields or anything like that. Um, but I can tell you I've got a couple pounds of that red
clay in my lungs from dragging the field every day. Um, we are slowly starting over the past year to see an increase in numbers in young athletes that want to participate in our program. That's with the limited resources that we've invested in it. Imagine
exponentially what would happen if you were able to to vote yes on this, match these funds and start improving these fields, making them safer, providing opportunities for kids to experience things like teamwork, leadership, discipline, accountability, all those
things that we teach in our program. And for the record, our JV went undefeated last year, whoever was over here talking about. So, we're looking forward to big things and it would just make it so much easier and such a better experience, not just for the kids, but for the parents and
for the coaches. I would like to take a day where I don't have to maintain the field. So, if you would please vote yes on this, I would appreciate it personally. Thank you. The next two speakers, uh, last two speakers, Alex Collazo and Troy Legget. Thank you,
Captain. Good afternoon, esteemed members of the board. Uh I am coming to you in two directions. Um I myself am also alumni from Sunrise Middle School and Fort Lauderdale High School. I grew up in the neighborhood and uh
also the president of the Ponet Heights Civic Association and we have been working handinand with the city of Fort Lauderdale to get the original funding from the joint parks bond. I don't think I could say anything more eloquently than most of the people I've already spoken. So, I'll
tell you a small anecdote. I um originally came from New York, moved down here and went to St. Anony's uh halfway through sixth grade. Uh I guess moved into Sunrise for financial reasons and it was one of the
best things that ever happened to me. From then on, I had made lifelong friends and have been advocating for the public schools, which I see are being overrun by charter schools and private schools.
I'm hoping, you know, after getting the first amount of money through joint joint youth program for the school was pretty amazing. But for you guys to have the opportunity to double down on that would
really really be something special. So I hope that you understand that how many other elementary schools besides Bennett feed into Sunrise Middle and and then into Fort Lauderdale High. And hopefully
um like some of our other people have mentioned uh that you know they will have the facilities that we should come to expect from our public schools in Broward County. Thank you.
Thank you. And I we have one more speaker. Oh, we have one and then someone after them. I guess they didn't get on the list. Go ahead, Mr. Superintendent, members of the board, my name is Troy Liot. I'm the president of the Middle River Terrace
Neighborhood Association. Um, and we are the proud hosts of the Fort Lauderdale High School in our neighborhood. Um, Principal Aaron Brown is a great partner uh with our neighborhood. Our residents want to support the program. I personally am a volunteer in the legal
magnet at the school. It's a great place and my home overlooks all the fields out there. Um, I'm just here on behalf of the residents of our neighborhood in support of this program and we appreciate your support. Thank you. Thank you. I believe we have one more
speaker. Hi. Oh, is that should I go on the other side? You're fine. I was speaking to Dr. Travanovich. Okay. Thank you. Um, good afternoon. My name is Dr. Valerie Rosetti. I currently have two sixth grade students attending
Sunrise Middle. one of my daughters spoke earlier. I am an active participant in the PTSA for Sunrise and a public school advocate. I appreciate the school board listening to our comments today regarding the 1.7 million
match to Sunrise Middle. Deciding where to send your child to school is a huge decision. Even in these early years, it feels just as competitive as a as college. We chose Sunrise Middle over private school options for many reasons.
The strong academic monastery program, Cambridge Material, accelerated learning program such as GEM math, which both of my girls are currently enrolled. We want to continue having students in the Brower County School System. With that
being said, all the magic that's being done inside Sunrise Middle becomes hidden by the exterior facilities. These can definitely be attended to to make the school stand out, not an eyesore with undesirable amenities that are not
conducive to productive learning. With enrollment declining in Broward County schools, this is a perfect time to enhance the schools that are working with positive attention. This year, Sunrise Middle had an overwhelming number of incoming sixth grade students that had top percentage
FAST scores pulling from many feeder elementary schools. The principal and administrators worked diligently to make sure classes were able to accommodate this incoming group of students, adding additional accelerated math classes and elective options. Now, it's time to make
sure the building and amenities of the school reflect the good work of what's happening inside. The track and exterior amenities need attending to. City of Fort Lauderdale has committed funding with the park and city bond that was granted two years ago. What a wonderful
opportunity for Broward County school systems to match the funds. Thank you. Thank you. And our last speaker, uh, my name is Dr. Trudy Germanovich, a former Sunrise teacher. I envision these schools having a sports related
curricula encompassing geography, history, science, technology, engineering, art, music, math, language, and global citizenship. activities which are carefully developed and related to sports can increase students enthusiasm
for school. Sunrise also has a rare con connection through former principal Nick Gonatano's daughter, Linda. This week she's in Seattle celebrating with others for the first annual Queens match, recognizing the 1985 US women's national
soccer team and celebrating 40 years since they first took the field. The squad featured a roster of 17 women who made history and changed women's soccer forever. Linda Gansitano is also an excellent Broward teacher, so she might
be of help in creating a few activities for us. Even at a preschool level, there are programs that foster athletic development and prioritize in introducing fundamental movement skills. A successful preschool can help keep students in the feeder pattern
throughout their career. Now, wouldn't it be a perfect time to partner with Broward County to help fund an early learning center as proposed earlier by Dr. Zean? Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comments
before we move to board discussion? Okay, Mrs. Leonardi. Thank you. Um, and I want to thank the students, the parents, educators, community members, um, who came out today, took time out of your day to speak in support of this and advocate
for your community. So, thank you. Um, I've been reflecting on what we've been able to do as a board over the last few years and months, and I think we're at a really pivotal moment in Broward schools. We see a lot of headlines about
enrollment declines and I think we have a real opportunity to do things differently and figure out better ways to support students and attract families back into our schools. The work we do is often played out in slow incremental change and that's just
a fact of government work, right? The enrollment declines we are experiencing are the result of a series of incremental poor planning and poor decisions along with some factors that are out of our control. But I know that with this board we've turned a corner
and we have made a series of good decisions that will have result in long-term positive change. I think about the $5.9 million we allocated to Broward Estates's Early Learning Center, MLK Elementary, and Plantation Elementary,
making good on promises to a community that is so used to broken promises. I think about the $1.1 million increase to athletic supplements, e executing a vision this board has talked about for half a decade. I think about the $36
million to the Coral Glades Auditorium delivering life-changing opportunities for students to engage with the arts. And I think about the $1.3 million to Dana Elementary in funding for additional scope and investment to an old east side school that needs it.
In a recent Suns Sentinel article on our declining enrollment, one of my colleagues said, "We've got to get our act together and do a better job of fixing the things that are wrong." And I wholeheartedly agree. These projects that I outlined represent us fixing the things that are wrong with
our schools. And I'm so proud of the advocacy and the priorities of my colleagues on these issues. We've repeatedly heard from parents and students that we are doing facilities wrong and we are slowly trying to write that wrong. Something else this district has done
wrong for many years is slapping a new label or program on a school and not providing the sufficient funding or support for that programming. During a recent workshop on re redefining, we heard overwhelming public support for a a community proposal for a
sports academy magnet program at Bennett Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale. And here we have an opportunity to do right by that community and the school and appropriately support that programming. In that Suns Sentinel article, my colleague also said we have to do a better job of communing what we
communicating what we are doing. Right. Here's what's going right. The paper noted increased enrollment at Northeast High School due to improving facilities and programming. What else is going right? Our partnership with the city of Fort
Lauderdale, who has invested over $12 million in improving our school facilities, and we should try to replicate that over and over again throughout the district. We've been asked to match those funds and make facilities improvements in coordination with the work they're
doing, which is why I brought this item at with such immediacy. So, I just want everyone to take a moment and imagine what this item could do with our shared vision of a sports academy. Students could be could be engaging in holistic curriculum that
gets them off screens and into a shiny practicing updated shiny updated gymnasium, racing on a newly resurfaced track, playing on updated tennis courts and pickleball courts, running on safe turf fields, and
swimming in a pristine pool. And all while learning a whole lot. They get to do so while engaging with local sports champions, with hometown town leaders. That is what this item has the potential of accomplishing. And I hope my colleagues will join me in
moving in a positive incremental change forward school by school. And I wanted to end because uh I received a video from some students and I respectfully requested um staff play the video. I think it's it really brings the point
home and the students can always say it a whole lot better than us. So, I was wondering if we could play that video. Presenting why our facilities need your help. Here at Sunrise, our sports facilities inside and outside are falling apart.
Weeds on the grass and people getting hurt every day. This is just a portion of our field. This track has many uses such as in the gym elective, team sports, and many other reasons. This is why we need it
wellmaintained. Our gym lacks the most resources. It lacks student engagement in the curriculum with kids not participating. Let's take a look what we're working with. Even the limited resources we do have are in the best position.
Thank you for watching and we hope you double the funds for our school. So, thank you again to the community that showed up, especially to our students. Um, and I look forward to hearing from my colleagues. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thompson.
Well, so I've reached out to several parent advocates um for this item and as well as the city manager and I'm still honestly conflicted on how to vote and I'm interested in the conversation we're about to have. The
reason I'm conflicted is because we are about to go through our second edition of redefining and I very much believe that it needs to be a holistic approach. And to me, the
first time I heard about the sports academy was at our workshop where we were able to express our opinion for a minute. Um, so for me, this seems a little rushed. I reached out to the city manager on if
there was a deadline or potential for loss of funds if this was not proposed, if this was not passed um today, if it could wait until we finish having what I feel like is a very important conversation to take
holistically in December. And there's not a risk that they will not continue this project. It's just that our additional funding would have to wait. Um
I think there is a lot of community support and I think that is important when we're thinking about winning back students. I'm concerned about the precedent that this sends where there's one step in our
redefining and then that gets rushed and then by the end of it the schools that we were potentially closing those communities feel like they were not given the same consideration or the same um enthusiasm for change.
And so I have a couple questions and because I don't think we can separate this matching funds from the redefining conversation, it's going to kind of be combined. Um, so in regards to sports academy feeder pattern,
does Fort Lauderdale High School have the facilities to support that since they don't have a stadium? Dr. have. Yes, they have the ability to to support that. And as you know, as far as football stadiums, they've been using um
what is it called again? Lockhart stadium. Okay. And then if we were to approve the $1.7 million, who's the who determines how that funding is spent? because a lot of our speakers brought up locker rooms and
some other things that actually aren't in Fort Lauderdale Park's scope. So, is that something we would decide to add on? Is are we just giving the city this money? Like, what does that look like? That'll be a collaboration between us and the city so it wouldn't be a a
one-sided decision about what specific needs um for the school as far as um making sure we build a robust um sports academy. Okay. And then, superintendent, in your opinion, how does this fall in line with taking a
holistic approach to what we're doing with our schools? Um, so, as I said, uh, probably in the spring or early summer about redefining, we're going to bring certain items in chunks. Um you already approved a chunk
today which was surplus in the TSSC annex and main building. Um this is another chunk. Um the largest and most difficult chunk is going to be the last part where we bring recommendations for closures or consolidation of schools. Um as we go through this fall, there may be
an additional things that we bring to the board. Um because uh don't want to bring it all at one time if we don't have to. if there's certain things that are supported by municipalities, community, and it um sees fit that the board can get behind that, we'll bring we'll bring those items um throughout
the fall and in the winter. But the largest chunk, of course, we'll save for last because there was some difficult decisions and difficult conversations along the way. So, I think my my issue with that is that then you definitely still have communities who are going to feel like,
oh, you rushed with enthusiasm for all these other things and now you get to us and you're just talking about which one you can salvage or which one we're going to close. I'm guessing I I'm wondering if there's anything you can say to make me less
concerned about that. I would say uh for areas with um perennial underenrolled schools um that data has not changed for quite some time for for years. Um and so we're going back out to have those tough
conversations with those communities and also having those tough conversations with the city or municipality officials and that takes time. the things that have momentum from support for municipalities or communities um that doesn't involve closure closing a school
or consolidating students. We can bring those things earlier in the journey of redefining. we don't have to wait till winter u when like we're going to do with the consolidations and the closures because we have tons of things we're P3s is one um I I don't I can't remember
that may be uh the next board meeting regular school board meeting where we're talking about um for the Dave Thomas facility. So we're bringing these things in chunks along the along the uh fall I think that's today. Is that was that today? That's today, right? Yeah. We have we have three
chunks we're bringing you today. Uh TSSC annex which was just approved for the spot survey to start that surplus pro process. Dave Thomas facility for the P3 um and also um this item um today. So there's a lot of things going on and redefining
um not just about closure and consolidation that we certainly can't just bring it all at one time later on in the winter um because of the timing. Also some things need to start earlier just to make sure they come to fruition. Okay. Um, so I also just want to say thank you for
the community for coming out. Um, it is something that we are looking forward to for community support. Um, and then I will I look forward to listening to my colleagues. Thank you, Dr. Zean.
Thank you. um like Mrs. Leonardi, there's a lot of people who take some time and think a little bit about the big movements of things and um sometimes, you know, there's
uh city managers, mayors, city commissioners, uh PTSA presidents and board members and al like that have an outside influence. The idea of a sports academy started uh
with two people that are just luminary in the history of Broward County Schools, Mary Ferdig and Heather Brinkworth who have both like sat, thought, appreciated the long term and then worked with the community because it really came from the community really
through VSY. remember we were going to close VSY and all of a sudden there were t-shirts in every one of our schoolboard meetings and uh you know um one of my colleagues is worried about the president. Well, here's a precedent for you. We were going to close your school and you rose up as a community and now
you're building a great school. So, I like that precedent. I like the president of Olsen Middle School last year. Also on our list of schools we were going to close until the city manager Dana Beach said, "I don't want to close. Here's $6 million for a park
next door. And oh, by the way, we'd want your school, part of your school, to be our emergency operation management center to the tune of a million dollar lease per year. So, I like that precedent, too. The precedent is where cities and communities work hard together to build great public
education, Broward County Public School will be there with you. Few other people made a big difference. Alex and James, thank you uh for coming. Troy, thank you for taking time out. I know you got the HOA with the school in it. It's a beautiful house you have across the
street. Mike Albetta, uh these are deep deep uh uh thoughtful people who don't just come and and supports academy ideas because uh it was an okay idea. They're doing it because it makes their community better and it makes our
schools better. And if that's a precedent, I'm all in favor of of perpetuating that. I want to thank the mayor of Fort Lauderdale. Dean Trantalis sent us a letter and said, "Wow, uh things have gotten a lot more expensive. We've operated slow um and and now
things are more expensive, but we'd really like to support the sports academy. It's pretty exciting to have something akin to an IMG Academy in a public school in Fort Lauderdale, a city that's absolutely nuts about its sports teams.
So, I do think this is part of redefining. I think it's part of the whole system of redefining. We listen to the community. We listen to homeowners associations. We listen to people who have been caring about public education like Trudy Jamanovich for four decades. Those people influence how I think about
these things. But this is the best of all ideas. I love the fact that Mr. Leonard already had these great things that have been going forward. She missed one. We put aside $60 million for educators for the first time in the history of Broward County Schools ahead of the budget. We
did it. Thank you. You're right. But this is really what we ask you to do. We ask the community to come give us ideas. What are you excited about? and $1.7 million in an allocation where every year we get $500 million of capital
expenditures. I hope that's a precedent, too, because you asked for a small amount of money. You matched it, so we're really getting 3.4 to the city of Fort Lauderdale, which I'm I'm still perpetually grateful for. $12 million plus on our property. They took their
city money and they're building all over the 27 schools in Fort Lauderdale. I'm just I I'm I'm overwhelmed with that dangerous $6 million different mayors coming to us and saying, "What can we do to help make your schools better?" Where that happens? Yes, that's where I would
like to keep schools open. That's where I'd like to fight to get better programs. It's where I know because the community told us that that is exactly uh what you want done. So, uh I am obviously a big fan of this. Uh I want to thank Miss Leonardi for bringing this
item. Um, yes, it's in her district, but I think if this had been in Mars, Miss Leonardi would have brought this item. Uh, because this is what public education does best. We listen to our community. We listen to the people that can build better programs because they're the people whether it's VSY or
Florida or Harbordale or Bayiew or Southside, North Fork, any of the feeder schools that go into Sunrise Middle School. What is their thinking going on right now? We're about, if we vote one way, to invest a significant amount of money in in invent this brand new
exciting program. We, as a board, last year, last week, decided to spend almost $5 million giving VR glasses to every middle school student, including everyone at Sunrise. It's starting to get exciting in Fort Lauderdale education. And that's where they have great charter schools and great private schools where Dr. Rosetti can look at
everybody in the eye and say, "Yeah, I can afford private schools. I went to Sunrise." And when more and more people do that and more and more people stand up with Aaron Go and others and say this is what we want. We want this to be different, I'm signing up all day long. So, thank
you uh for bringing this, Miss Leonardi. Uh thanks to the other people that I mentioned. Uh this is exciting and this is exactly what we need to be doing for redefining. Not just picking which schools we can't afford anymore, but how do we build up the school so enrollment comes back particularly in places like
Fort Lauderdale that has been a huge huge advocate of traditional public schools since Mary Ferdig was in first grade with with me by the way Erin. So that's that's how old Mary and I are sometimes. But uh thank you all for coming. Thanks particularly for the students. I know one of them pretty
well. She blows me away. I tell you what, she really is amazing. Thank you, sweetheart, for coming. Um, and uh, I look forward to uh, moving forward, creating creating something creating a sports academy program for these schools, which I hope, Alex, we do
expand to all the elementary schools that feed into this pattern. What a dream that would be. We only have a few more schools and they can all come and participate in these things after school and uh, I hope that we make that a reality as well. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Alha.
Thank you. So, um, agree with the sports academy program. I think that's amazing. My first question is in regards to how many students are currently at Sunrise Middle School today. Dr. Heburn 1,200. Dr. Zean says 1,200, but we're going to
fact check you, Dr. Zean. Uh, go ahead, Dr. W, as she's looking up right now. And then my next question is, do we have the results from the facilities impact study for Sunrise Middle School? Um, no, not uh the complete everything's
still considered draft. And so we're bringing that to the board in October. I don't know if Dr. WA can not Dr. ones, but uh Miss Paul can speak to if we have anything um substantive that before. Yes, I'd be happy to speak to that. We
uh have still raw data. We're still communicating with Brew Veritus, which is the uh the vendor that's doing that for us. So, we we're still going back and forth with information verifying and so forth. Uh, so I do agree with Miss Thompson in
the sense of, you know, us as a board to be able to make better decisions with that report. Um, but with $1.7 million uh being given from the city of Fort
Lauderdale, I don't see how you turn that away. Uh, that is a lot of money. And um but I do have a question in regards to where that money is coming from with us matching it in our capital funds. Is that money that is already
allocated for certain projects for schools or is it just in reserve? Dr. Hepper. Um it's not currently allocated. It will be in an amendment to the DEFP. So it's in the reserves. Correct. Okay. And then um as far as if we decide
to do this and match the 1.7 million uh is it I don't know if it makes sense but if we can do it over like a three-year period of time instead of having to do it all at one time does that help us in any way? Dr. Pepper,
can you repeat the question? Trying to So one, so the 1.7 million and you know, instead of us giving that today to match it, can we do it over three years? Uh, so our intentions was to try and get that work done this year, but it
wouldn't be just handing over $1.7 million. It be um incrementally as certain portions of the projects are are complete. Okay. Okay. And you foresee the project being done in one year possibly. Yes. Yes. Okay. One year.
Let's go. Um Okay. So, I I support this. I I greatly appreciate the city of Fort Lauderdale. This is um really incredible to to come to Broward County Public Schools and look to to help our schools
and to to fund these programs and to make Sunrise Middle School stronger. Thank you. Dr. Heeper, do you have the answer? Yes. Uh Dr. Zema is very close. As of today, it is 1,14 students, but as we know, um during our first 10 days, we have students continuing to um enroll.
Thank you, Mrs. Bowman. Thank you, chair. Um thank you for everyone who came out today. Um, I've been in the chair before advocating for something, so I know that it's exciting and um, also scary to come in and speak
to the board. So, I appreciate you guys coming out. Uh, I I have a question, just a general overarching question because I think when I was reading this item, I was confused about what exactly we're voting on.
The sports academy is state like kind of alluded to in here, but um it's not part of the recommended action. We're just asking for $1.7 million to match the funds by the city of Fort Lauderdale.
Dr. Are we doing are we doing both or is this a So, um like Miss Leonardi, we're about to I don't want to step on your Okay. No, it's um so conceptually right the sports academy is a concept um
that's something we can carry out as staff. Now the the board is approving 1.7 million so we can actually um build the the upgrade the the fields and facilities to be able to implement that
sports academy beyond being a concept. Well, I would think if we were going to put the money, if we're going to allocate the money for the sports academy, then we should do it together. So, maybe we need to amend this.
No, it's a it's an operational thing is what he's trying to say because I just asked that. So, staff can decide that it will become a sports academy. The board doesn't need to decision. It's operational. They're just funding. Do we know for sure that they're going to do that? I mean, I guess yes,
they have decided. Yes. Well, I would like to see it in writing if we're gonna Can I can I just add something? Yeah, I mean it was my understanding based on the last workshop that there was consensus to move forward with that.
Um, so I wanted to make sure that we were making the investments both from a community perspective like we heard from the audience. Um, and I hear this all the time in my community that uh the physical appearance of Sunrise does not
match the academic happenings in the school. Um, so I I think even just on its own, if we weren't doing a sports academy, I think it would be important to do these these upgrades as the city of Fort Lauderdale has also committed to doing so and investing that. But I feel
very strongly that um in our decision to support a sports academy as we did in the last workshop um that we provide the appropriate infrastructure for that program as well. Um because I think we've seen over and over again with some of our schools, we've said we're opening
this new program, we haven't provided the the appropriate infrastructure and support. Um and then the program fails No, I I agree. I just I would like a I mean we'll put it on the record that if that if that's what the will is that
we're doing the sports academy that we're definitely doing it and this money is going to be used to do it. So the ne the next thing is um when the 1.7 million it there's kind of a general
little list of things that we're doing. So do we know exactly what the scope of this project is and how did we come to this number? So that is the initial investment that the city of Fort Lauderdale has already
um implemented for current work that they've already done. Um remind me um Dr. Zemer, Mr. Nardi, you guys know specifically the the school. Um and so we're matching the funds to complete
or complement what they've already done at um the feeder pattern school. Can I add something? Yeah. So um they've you know they've allocated money to provide new fencing, a pool chiller, synthetic turf field, pavilion, benches,
picnic tables, sports lighting upgrades, a resurfaced running track. Um the the gymnasium also need is in desperate need of a re replacement the floor of it. Um I think it's like third I think we heard 30 years old um and hasn't been
replaced. Um so again my vision with this item was that we would be supporting the investment that Fort Lauderdale is making and also provide for additional improvements that the city of Fort Lauderdale has not um been able to make. Okay.
Um, so I first of all I really appreciate the city of Fort Lauderdale's um investing in our schools. I think it's an amazing partnership and something that hopefully will be replicated throughout the county because um to have this opportunity where
they've already invested so much money I think is fantastic. I just um I just I have to say this based on being an eastsider myself and representing an east side district that um you know many
of my school well I would say probably all of my schools almost look exactly the same way and um there's a lot of issues with enrollment and closing schools and things of that nature. So, I hope that um we can bring the same
enthusiasm when we're addressing other schools because all of our schools could use a facelift. I think it's an absolutely going to do a great thing for Sunrise Middle, but I know that I'm in all of our districts,
we would all benefit from this. So, our generosity to Sunrise Middle, um I hope that we will be exercising the same kind of uh care and attitude when we're looking at some of these other items that are come going to come back because they're going to be very difficult. And
there's a lot of communities that don't have the um ability to come out in droves like this and really advocate and they still deserve to have good schools. And so I hope that we will be keeping that in mind every second that we're
making decisions moving forward. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. See. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I uh I love parks. I loved them as a kid. I love them as a child. I love as as an adult taking my children there. Uh I learned
how to tackle someone at Mullins Park in Coral Springs when I started playing tackle football. Uh, I learned how to hit a baseball in in in Cypress Park when I when I played little league. I'm a big advocate for parks and um I would like nothing more than for our students and our members of the community at
large to have access to to top-notch facilities and top-notch parks. That being said, um I do have some questions and some concerns about what's being asked of this board and what specifically has happened to date with this project. Um, I did my homework on
this and it's my understanding that in 2018, uh, the residents of the city of Fort Lauderdale approved a $200 million bond for park improvements. And what was pitched to them in that bond project was that 90 parks would be
updated. Um, I pulled the project specs for the Sunrise Middle School project that uh is being I guess in the development stages at this point. I looked at the specs and
the total budget of the project that's being proposed currently by the city is $1.725 million. The city is now asking this district the the school district to essentially match that and chip in another 1.7 million for
a total of $3.4 million. Um, Madam Chair, to date, I I would like to know since 2018, what work has been done at Sunrise Middle School Park to date other than some plans and some drawings? Dr. Heburn,
I'm not equipped with that information. Um, but look like Dr. Zean may be able to assist with the answer. Just was there yesterday for my son's soccer track try out. though only because I happen to be there um and I'm a resident of Fort Lauderdale and was on their exe education advisory board when
we did this original work. Um in the last 5 years they have not broken ground on anything related to that. There's been significant effort working with the two homeowners associations in the area and the principal to make sure that they scope it out exactly right. So while they have some things in their original
plan that went before the voters, um there were changes and modifications have been done since then. Um there has been one playground built across the street at Bennett Elementary School out of that funds. Um and there's been a handful of other small projects that would augment the facilities, but they I
think by all u judgment they've been going slow at executing uh their park bond across the board. Not just the 12 million for the schools, but the the 200 million itself is not generated very many shovels moving dirt around. Yeah. And and and I think Dr. There's
even the the Suns Sentinel articles that I've read sort of mirror that um especially the most uh recent ones that were coming out towards the beginning of this year and into this year in which they've indicated that uh basically nothing's happened um with a lot of these these bonds and these promised
monies. Um Madam Chair, I would like some very very direct and and specific clarification as to what exactly this $3.4 million is is intended. Um, board member Bowman I I think was sort of scratching the surface with this, but
I'm looking at the project specs and according to the city of Fort Lauderdale for project P12777 at Sunrise Middle School, which is allotted $ 1.725 million total budget. The only thing within the specs of this
project is a security fence, a pool chiller, a synthetic turf field replacing the soccer field, uh a resurfacing of the track, a uh pavilion that's going to be put up in an old raetball court, some
lighting upgrades on the tennis, pickle ball courts, and the pool, and a chilled water fountain. Those are the specs according to the uh project directives that are listed specifically on the city of Fort Lauderdale's um website. If this
board is to approve this this match of this 1.7, is this $3.4 million that the city of Fort Lauderdale will ultimately have access to only going to be used for those seven items that I just read into the record? I'm hearing a lot of these
fine folks and a lot of these students coming up to the mic and and telling me that they're looking forward to improved locker rooms and basketball courts and gym improvements, but I'm looking at the actual specs of the project and none of that is in there. So, what specifically
is this $3.4 million going to be used for? Dr. Heer. Yeah. U great question, Mr. Sea. So, we won't be handing over money to the city of Fort Lauderdale. be working collaboratively um to ensure that the money that we're investing is focused on
the right things. So, I know it'll it'll um contribute to many of the things that they have in their scope to date. Um which I'm sure for them the cost just like with our construction costs have significantly increased over time. Um, and also in addition to having
discussions with the city about whatever other uh aspects of supporting a sports academy or improving facilities or the grounds as we move forward. I'm just very concerned that that these kids are thinking that they're getting all these great things with new locker
rooms and basketball courts and and and things of that nature and I'm looking at the specs and it's just it's not there in in in the project. Are are we going to have some sort of oversight in how this is going to be how is that going to be regulated? What what guarantees am I
going to get from the city of Fort Lauderdale who's who sat on this since 2018 and has done apparently nothing from at least according to the sunnel. I I don't have the benefit of of you know having a child going there like some of my colleagues. I wasn't there uh recently, but it it doesn't appear that
a lot, if anything, has been done in the what, seven years since this bond has been passed. What guarantees are we going to get from the city of Fort Lauderdale about how this money is going to be spent, the timeliness of it? Um are we putting some time restrictions?
Are we putting certain contingencies on this? Uh I'm I'm very I love the idea of collaborating with cities. I think it's a fantastic idea. It's beneficial to the residents. It's beneficial to to to the citizens. It's beneficial to students
when done in the right way. I just have a lot of concerns when a city passes a bond for $200 million. And I think the school board knows a little bit of something about bonds, but I'm very concerned when you have a city that passes a bond for hundreds of millions
of dollars and promises its citizens that they are going to get, you know, 90 park upgrades, 12 million for this and and and how much else for that? And in 2018 and and we're sitting here in the second half of 2025 and nothing has been
done and now they want more money from us. There has to be some guard rails. There has to be some protections in place. I don't know why they've been experiencing all these delays. I have no idea. I I'd like to get clarification on that. Where are the shovels? What's What's been going on? I mean, is is it
really been six, seven years of red tape for the city of Fort Lauderdale to help these kids at the school? I've got some concerns with how this has been how how this has been operating since it passed and and and I need some
assurances that if we get involved in this and we're going to commit this type of money that we're going to have a lot of oversight that we're going to have um a lot of control over this creative control and if they're going to sit on their hands for another seven years and you know these kids are going to be in
college at this rate by the time that this middle school gets gets in any type of work Dr. Hepper. Yep. Um, again, we're not just handing over our wallet. We are going to be stewards of our own funds and and we just we don't operate like that. We just
don't hand over money. Um, there there'll be oversight by us and our team of in providing the funds necessary in an incremental basis so we're not wasting money. Mr. Superintendent, how difficult would it be to get a line item list about
exactly what is going to be done so everyone has a a clear picture and a clear understanding as to how exactly this 3.4 is going to be done because I'm I'm hearing that, you know, we're setting a foundation. You know, we're we're opening the doors for this and opening the doors for that, but all I see is seven things on this project
list, which should not cost $3.4 million for what's being projected. Um, that's not difficult. Miss Paul and her team can work with the city's team to to uh create a itemized list. Um right, I think right now what's before the board is this is a commitment of
funds to allocate for these improvements and it's not we're just won't be releasing money to after this vote to say, "Hey, here's 1.7 here's a $1.7 million check." We just don't operate like that. What what guard rails can you assure the public and this and this
board as to what type of creative control we're going to have over this project with this with the city of Fort Lauderdale? Our our team has oversight over facilities projects. Um so they do a great job in ensuring that we're spending taxpayers monies wisely um and also informing the board uh along the
way of certain projects and in progress. I would like to see that on paper. I I would also like to see a list of specifically what we're going to actually deliver to these kids. Uh if we're going to repair the gym, let's update these project specs. Let's get
some new specs on the books that outline specifically what we're doing so everybody has the transparency. Everybody has the knowhow. Everybody knows exactly what is going on. Because, you know, I I'm I I'm a little taken aback about how long this
has taken from the city of Fort Lauderdale when they when they pitch this to the voters in in in 2018. You know, I don't think I had gray hair in 2018. And as I sit here now, I've got a lot of gray hair and these kids still don't have the park that they were promised. and more importantly, the park
that their parents voted on who participated in this bond when they were sold this this prospective bill of goods that if you pass this as a resident of Fort Lauderdale, we're going to do these your government is going to do all these great things for you. And as we sit here
in 2025, there's nothing to show for it, at least in regards to these kids and Sunrise Middle School. So, I would really like to have um some better clarity. Make a motion. Yes, it's coming.
It's coming right now. Right now. I'm getting We have till 5:00 and then we have to extend the meeting. Okay. So, um I would make I would make a motion to the superintendent to come back to us with specific project specs which include these items that
apparently these kids want in the gym, locker rooms, things of that nature that we heard from all these kids specifically outlining where these monies are going to go. And I'd also like some sort of um bullet points or
anou or something outlining the creative control that we're going to have with the city of Fort Lauderdale to make sure that this project doesn't take another eight years. Second. Any public comment on the on the motion? Come on up.
I would just like to uh express that I understand your frustration with how long it took but um we uh in Ponetta Heights have been dealing with this issue and uh the city of Fort Lauderdale and the project manager ACOM for quite some time. The reason it has taken so
long is because initially uh when Sunrise Middle School was awarded the $1.75 million um like they wanted to spread the wealth around and unfortunately they stripped a good portion almost half of that portion away
from Sunrise Middle School. the people of the students, neighborhoods that were going to get uh affected by the joint use park uh all stood up and this said that wasn't fair. We voted for this. This is what was promised to us. But meanwhile, there
were other schools, Broward County schools that were not getting funded. And the city took a long time to do it, but they managed to figure out how to include at least five more public schools to get funding for their parks. Thank you. And we were able to continue
to get 1.75. Thank you. That 1.75 million for that park is going to that h is happening. That is phase one. Phase two is what you guys should be focusing on. Next public speaker. Uh yeah, I just want to clarify one
thing. First of all, the vote for that $200 million bond with which the 12 million was for the schools occurred in 2019 and uh the money wasn't allocated until much later. So nothing could be done until the money was allocated. And also it did take a long time to make some
decisions about how much money Sunrise was going to get because the program did go through some changes, but ultimately the city of Fort Lauderdale agreed to uh go along with what was in the bond and that the full amount 1.725 would go to Sunrise Middle. Um also um the things
that are listed uh the chiller, the lighting, etc. All that has been worked out. We've been working with AECOM and the parks department. It's taken a long time um to get to that point. I'm I don't you know people drag their heels. AECOM is also doing Lockheart Park and
some of those other places in the city. So, you know, there's not a lot of uh help, but we're finally getting there. We expect to be great breaking ground at Sunrise very soon. Thank you. Thank you so much. Next B. Thank you, Erin G. Um yeah, I just wanted to bring some clarity to some of the delays. Um, and it has been
frustrating, but we've also heard from the city that things are about to begin imminently. And so that's what's really exciting. So, we want to make sure that the the the additional projects are able to be coordinated, and that is where some of the timing comes in. I absolutely respect wanting to know
exactly how your money will be spent. My hope is that we leave today with the commitment and with the stipulation that the board would then approve the specifics of that. But I I I hope we can get this going. you have a community here that is excited to partner with you, the city neighborhoods. Um, and I I
hope that's the decision we we end on today. Thank you. Thank you, public speaker. Next public speaker Denise Calder again from Sunrise Middle. So, we can't fly half a plane and we can't drive half a car. We can't live
with half a heart. So essentially what we're asking for is that the city has already committed to the 1.7. The specs are there for what they are going to deliver with that project. We've been given a timeline of approximately a year to complete that phase of the project.
Um as it has been reiterated, we're asking for a commitment of the 1.7 million. If we get the commitment for the 1.7, then we can deliver the specs for that phase two of the project. But the de if we're delaying and we're only going to do half a job when we have an
opportunity to do it with, you know, integrity, then we won't have this this kind of like guessing as to when something will be completed. And yes, I'm hoping that my seventh grader, you know, before he gets to Fort Lauderdale High School that we will have a pipeline
for this sports academy. But we absolutely need the commitment of the 1.7 and I'm sure post taste we will deliver the specs for that phase. Thank you. Any other public comment? Board member discussion. Dr. Zean.
Thanks so much, Chair. Um uh I love the idea of putting a time limit on this uh to school board member Sever's point. And I'll also point out that this is Broward County Public Schools layin. So they will approve the permits and they will inspect the
facilities. We have standards for what we're going to build because it's our land. So it's really the city that's giving money that they're coming to build it, but all those plans have to be reviewed by us, inspected by us, and so that'll happen for the whole 3.4 should this item uh pass. Um, I would uh take
Miss Gol up on on her thoughts and say uh we're happy to contribute, assuming the board would like to do that uh up to the point of day one of next year's school year. So, you have 12 months minus a week or so uh since we've already been back to school to get this
done. AECOM is managing our bonds program and theirs. What the AECOM program managers have said in tandem is that this should be a six to sevenmonth project. And so if they think they can get it done in six to seven and they've got a contracting strategy where they're
going out and hiring a contractor per area of across the three fields, which is their their latest way to accelerate this, I'd love to take them up on it as well and say, "Great, you got 12 months. Um, let's get this done." Why is that important? It's important because of those people sitting out right there and
Mr. Sea mentioned it. The kids deserve to have a sports academy. A sports academy needs an investment on us, not just an investment from the city. The city's incentive in all this is to build a park that can be used after school. Our incentive is we want kids to become
great at soccer and at football and at basketball and archery and yoga and and anything else that that they really get excited about doing. And so if we can't match these funds and the city just comes in and builds according to the HOAs the parks that they're going to use
after school, that's what the cities do all the time and it's wonderful. But I believe we can put 101 together and make 11 because they're building some things that would be very helpful for athletes. We can round out that thing. Uh the program managers did uh a kind of initial list of things. The reason that
wasn't published is it hasn't been blessed by Broward County schools and Broward County schools. The principles in particular meeting with the PTSAs, meeting with the kids need to figure out what that extra money is really going for because they know what sports people are going to take. They know what coaches want to come on those fields.
Sunrise has beautiful tennis courts. They're not good enough to do private lessons, though. And so, if we're going to have, you know, Chris Ever come back, by the way, who attended Fort Lauderdale High School, but if we want the next Chris Ever to come, if we want the next uh Messi to come out of our uh our
schools, we have to have decent enough facilities. the facilities we have right now are just literally substandard for for young kids uh to play on and will continue to lose. So, I don't want to snatch uh defeat from the jaws of victory. There is a tremendous uh push
by the community uh to do this. Uh I love riding the community wave because that wave goes on forever. When the community says they want a sports academy and we have an opportunity to do a small investment like this with matching funds, I think it's a tremendous opportunity and the controls
that you've asked for, Mr. Sea, are there. We will be uh approving the permits for everything they want to build, everything including the stuff that they want to put in the parks. We will be approving everything we want to build for the sports academy part and we'll make sure that we inspect it.
That's our job as well. If in fact the board joins me in a vote later after this either fails or passes, there will be another vote about 12 months. You have 12 months to get this done. I'm told by ecom they can do it in six. That's great. So I'm doubling it. So don't don't whine that you can't get it
done. But if they don't get it done by next year day one of next year uh under my motion that money would be withdrawn and brought back. So I will we we're kind of on a on a time constraint. So, I appreciate that
you're very excited, but we don't typically clap at board meetings. So, um, yes. Anyway, I I have a a question or a thought and remember we're on the motion specifically. So, let's again we're we have a half hour to finish the rest of
the schoolboard meeting. So, um I think it's important for what Mr. Sea asked for. I mean, just in general, if the if staff has decided or the district together that there's going to be a sports academy at um Sunrise, just like
we changed Coral Cove to a K8, there are pieces of that that the district looks at to say, "What do we need?" And then the district gave money to that, right? Same thing with Hollywood Central. They got funds. They fixed up their art room
and stuff because they're going to focus on that. So I think it's important that there's a upfront and I think what we'll probably find is that 1.7 is not enough money to do that and and just to the point of turf we put turfs in and they
were a million dollars a piece just for the turf for the school. So I think we may find that that we've committed and we may need to put some more in. So I just kind of wanted to say I think it makes sense what you're asking for. We
need a list. We need to know what the money goes for. And I think at the end of the day, Fort Lauderdale would say what parts they're covering. The district would say what parts they're covering. And I'm I would be pretty sure that we're going to have to put in more
than 1.7. Anybody else specific on the motion that was made? Mrs. Ruperts. Can you repeat the motion, Mr. Seot? Yes. to uh instruct the superintendent to
provide a detailed list of project specs that the proposed $3.4 million would cover. Again, I'm I'm I'm hearing things from from all of our our students and our and our public speakers here. Um they're including items that were just
not on the original uh plans that the city had uploaded on their website. So, I I would like a a detailed breakdown if if the 3.4 for is going to include new locker rooms or uh new basketball courts or gym improvements. I I' I'd like to
see where where that money is going to. And I'd also uh respectfully like some sort of breakdown as to what type of creative control we have over this. Uh I'm glad that we're approving plans. That's that's good. But I I'd also like
to know how else involved we're going to be uh with with this new apparently expansive project because I think it's going to go outside the four corners of of what is on on the current uh plan specs. So, um, again, detailed breakdown
of what exactly is going to be done for these kids, um, and what, uh, what type of creative control the district is going to have with the implementation of this sports academy that we're inching closer to, I guess. Thank you,
Shar. Just a point order. Um, I'm not sure that's a motion necessarily as much as it might be a request to the superintendent to directing the superintendent. It's a motion to direct the superintendent because we have to vote on it as a board to ask for that to come back. U Mrs.
Rupert on on the motion. Yep, you got me. I didn't actually get a chance to speak on the item itself. However, we'll come back. Um what? We'll come back to that. It's just he made a motion in the middle. Still on
the list. I'm on I will speak on the on the U motion. Okay. Yes. Yes. Okay. Great. Um, having a punch list with deadlines delineated will help us move this push forward. So, um, I agree
with that, but I'm also wholeheartedly uh, want to support the item itself, but that on the actual, uh, motion, you just heard me. So, thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Bowman. on the motion. I just I need clarity again because it's
kind of going around it. The district the staff have agreed that we're having the sports academy for Lauderdale. The city of Fort Lauderdale is putting in $1.7 million to that end probably for the outside part
that'll be used for the sports academy. We're supplementing 1.7, but we don't know exactly what that's going to look like yet because we haven't programmed our sports academy yet. So, while I originally thought that it would be a good idea to have the list and
everything because so we're financially responsible about it, it seems like we're going to need some flexibility to be able to go forward with the programming. Um, so I don't support bringing it back to get a punch
list because I don't know that that's going to be feasible right now. But I would I think we need to be given that at some point in the future. That's what I would say rather than I just to clarify, I don't think Mr. Sea's motion is to hold up voting today, though. I think he's directing the
superintendent in a followup to bring us the rest of that information. I don't think he's asking to postpone it, right? As as far as the vote is concerned, yeah, I I would like to see these items before I vote. Okay. I wasn't clear on that. My apologies.
So, do you want to amend your motion because it wasn't to postpone anything? My motion is as followed. uh postpone the vote, direct the superintendent to get a specific line item breakdown of everything that we are promising these kids within this park. Uh along with a
projected timeline. I think we heard um some talk about 12 months or whatever it may be. Uh and I'd also like a breakdown of what creative control the district is going to have over this project in light of the delays that we've experienced with the city of Fort Lauderdale from
the time that this bond was passed. So, since there wasn't a postponement in the first motion, do we we need to have a second? Second. Okay. Okay. Anybody else specifically to the motion?
Dr. Zena. Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Holes. Thank you, Madam Chair, um for acknowledging me raising my hand earlier. But um in any case, the current motion um now that we know that it
involves postponing, which I didn't know until it was restated, um the content of the motion, Dr. Heepburn, outside of the postponement, um do um how will how will the current
motion, the content of it, create challenges, if any, with working with the city of Fort Lauderdale, not the postponement, but what he's asking for. Dr. Heepern, how would it um cause challenges with working with the city of Fort Lauderdale? Right. So, the city of Fort Lauderdale
is putting in $1.7 million contingent on us matching those funds. Um it appears the concern is um to provide a thorough or detailed as to how funds will be spent
um and how we'll achieve the goal of the sports academy. Um, so how will a board member Seiraa's motion create challenges in in accomplishing what what's being asked
and if and um just to refer back to what you said referring to um absent of the postponement. Correct. Wouldn't cause any challenge. would collaborate with um AECOM city manager to map out what that scope and specs look like for what the total amount
combined between the city and in Ber County public schools. Okay. So, do you have any concern with um with the motion itself um as far as working collaboratively with the CFO Lauale in determining what
goes to Sunrise Middle? No, we don't. Okay. Thank you. And before I go to Dr. Zean, I forgot to take public comment on because the motion was adjusted. So any public comment on the motion?
I'll be fast, but I'm just going to reiterate I what I think the community asks is that there is a commitment today and that the vote come with the stipulation that the the board come back to approve the specifics of it. And just to be clear, the the city is is doing
the 1.7 million for the most part of the projects there. This to our understanding would add these additional components that the school district would have entire control over. So that's all. Thank you. Next public speaker. Yes. I am also very concerned that we
would just be kicking the can down the road and continuing on the problem. I agree with the concern of getting the details and the timeline, but what we're asking the community is asking of you guys is to approve the funds and then to
your point add the additional components to it because we do deserve those details and that information as well. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to just uh offer one quick suggestion for an amendment to the
motion. Uh, this $1.75 million is literally in motion as we speak. It It's happening. I I would like to possibly recommend that you could consider that what is already happening, what you already have plans for, what's already
paid for, what's already been approved as phase one. And you guys can continue with a motion for a phase two project to enhance for all the things that got chopped off of the uh original chopping block. And a lot of it was curb appeal
stuff that is going to, you know, want to bring families and and students to a public school in central Fort Lauderdale. Thank you. Next public speaker, Trudy Germanovich. Um, I've watched this
board before uh fiddle around and lose things and I don't want you to lose this one. You really need to go ahead. You You already know what's going to generally be done by the city of Fort Lauderdale, even if
it wasn't done during CO. But you now have the chance to expand this, to make it a really kind of a a sports academy that can be shown for other schools all around the
county. And I'll bet you if you get this one through, you're going to get a lot of other cities to also join you. So please don't pass up this opportunity. Don't postpone it. You're you're good at postponing, but you're not good at carrying it out. So, carry it out. Thank
you. Thank you. Next public speakers. Hi. Um, as students of Sunrise Middle, we really want this to start happening now and not postpone it. We won't even
benefit from this. But this is for my siblings and they we need to do this as fast as possible. We don't need the specifics right now. We can you guys can figure that all out later, but this you guys have the opportunity to make this
like really cool and um yeah. Okay, that's it. Thank you. Thank you. We hope you really like Thank you. Think about it. Next public speaker. Thank you. Um I agree. You do have the
opportunity to make this really cool. Now, I have uh reviewed those plans from the park and city bond several times. is my understanding that is a city commitment to the park. What we're asking for is to have the amenities in the school ride that wave. So, you know,
like my children were saying, we we need we need the money to then figure out how we can allocate that. So, I think that it makes complete sense to go ahead and vote yes for the commitment of the funds and then have a timeline of where that money needs to be distributed. Um, the
kids do need to be able to have uh locker rooms that the doors lock, the toilets flush, and that is a school board requirement. It's not a city of Fort Lauderdale. It's a school board needs to to pay up those funds. So, thank you. Thank you. Next public speaker. Hi, my name is Emily Owen. I just wanted
to point out that right now admission season is gearing up for private schools. And so for these families um who are looking between Sunrise and a potential private school, by the time you come back to this, you might have lost a lot of those families already. So make the decision today and let's
attract those students. Thank you. Next public speaker, please no clapping. Hi, my name is Ron McCauley. I live in Point Seattle Heights. I also have two children that just finished Sunrise and did not get any chance to use these
funds. I have one in eighth grade and I actually have a fourth grader who will be coming into Sunrise. So, I have a bit of a history. I think the point is we just want to know that we can start planning for it. We don't want to plan for something that we don't know how we're going to use it, but it does need
to be done. I agree. My my kids, they missed out on it. My eighth grader will be missing out on it. I'm hoping that by the time that my fourth grader finally arrives, they'll be able to use it. As well as, like I said, I live in the neighborhood and we love going there. And it really is just an awful situation
that's happening in that park. And it could be great if we had the commitment so that we could actually plan accordingly and try to stay within budget, which is, as you guys know, very difficult. Thank you so much. Next public speaker. Hi. Um, I really don't do a lot of
public speaking, but I figured I must come up here and speak for I know if it wasn't pickup time, there would probably be another 50 to 100 people in this room. The community Thank you. the community is really behind this. I have one at VSY Y, one at Sunrise. And please
do not delay this. Delay is danger. Let's get this done. Don't wait till later. Um, I urge you to make a vote today and to match the funds and get this started. Um, our kids deserve it. Um, and I hope that you will vote accordingly. Thank you.
Next public speaker. Thank you. Uh, Denise Ceran from Sunrise Middle School. So, we have been waiting. Um, our children run from Sunrise to Fort Lauderdale to run on that track. They run across the train tracks for training. They run they go to Carter
Park. They go We go everywhere. We've been waiting. We've been waiting. We've been waiting and there have been delays and we've been waiting for the school board to upgrade our facilities. We've been waiting. The city has stepped up and is ready to do their part. When I saw the portables coming down last week,
I was like, here we go. And that's why I'm here because I actually believe that the school board is ready to do their part. So, we're asking you today to please press go on the commitment and we will deliver the list of items that we are requesting.
The same way I write a grant, I ask for X amount of dollars to do X. We don't get the money until we've put that forth, but you guys commit and say, "Hey, we're going to give you capital funds for magnet programs, whatever the case is." Same thing. Just push go. Yes. Yes. Yes. And we'll give you the list.
Thank you. Thank you so much. So, we're on the the motion still. Dr. Zean, you want to speak to the motion? I do very much. Yeah. Um, I'm just kind of wondering what I'm missing. You know, at the last meeting when we
talked about this, we had 37 people come. We haven't had 37 people come from a community meeting in years. Today, we have a whole room full of people. What else are we missing? We're missing that the allocation of the funds then
triggers the scope definition. So the three principles, the athletic directors, the parents, the PTSAs, they all get together and they make some selections about having what do you need to really have a legitimate sports academy. The reason that's not done yet is there's no money to worry about. So
when you allocate the money, then people get their attention and they get very specific about it. I don't like a delay tactic like this. This doesn't have anything to do with the scope of work. The scope of work that's been referenced here today was for the first 1.7 The reason there's no scope of work for the
next 1.7 is there's no 1.7 yet. So, we have to allocate the funds. That work can get done. Mr. Superintendent, how long would it take your staff to put together a list of items that would be on a second list, a phase two of 1.7 to establish a sports academy at these schools? Dr. Heer,
I'm assuming no more than a few weeks. Which is great because if we vote this motion down and we pass this as we should, we can start to get that scope done. we can set a 12-month deadline for this money and we can have a brand new sports academy by next year, which is
exactly what they've asked for. So, what are we missing? Thank you, Chair. Thank you, uh, Mrs. Leonardi. Thank you. Um, I did want to fact check my colleague about a few things, so I wish he was here on the day to to hear
it. Um, but I I do I think it's important that we recognize um how much turf fields cost and as as Sher Hixon mentioned. Um you know they cost around a million dollar sometimes more. We
resurface tracks for around $300,000 a track. So all of these additional improvements easily make up $1.7 million. And I think we can sit here and chastise the city of Fort Lauderdale about moving slowly on their bond, which to me feels a little bit like the pot
calling the kettle black. Um, and it also doesn't seem like a great way to build community partnerships, but we know that these things take time and postponing this is us getting in our own way. Um, of course, the superintendent will give us a detailed list. There's no
shortage of red tape and detail when it comes to executing construction projects here in Broward County Public Schools. And again, I just want everyone to reflect on how often we get students, parents, community members here for
something positive. And this is what I was talking about before. We are at a crossroads. We can listen to our community, move forward, and deliver good things for kids. or we can put our community off, kick the can down the road and keep doing things the
same way. And I for one am ready to move forward. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. All those opposed say no. No. No. The motion fails. Okay. So, back to the original item. Dr. Holes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, um I will be as quick as I can. I know time is of the essence. So, board member Leonardi, thank you so much for bringing this item and you did mention uh and I appreciate what you said cuz I was listening to you earlier um where you said um school by
school over time, we can make this district a great district and we can win back students. Um now, if we plant the seeds of growth today, I believe we will see a beautiful forest tomorrow. This is one of the ways in which we can do that
is supporting this item. So, um I appreciate the item. Um and I appreciate the city of Fort Lauderdale providing support uh to our schools in Fort Lauderdale and um contingent on matching
funds from the school district. I do hope other cities are listening and that they will step up and do the same because the students in B County, it's great to see a concerted effort with our municipalities and the school board to make sure that we have better schools
and this in my opinion will contribute over time as board member Leonardi mentioned to increase in enrollment and although we have possibility of lower birth rate and so on, there are factors that we can control and this is one of them where we better our schools to increase enrollment over time. So, I am
supportive of the item. Thank you, Mrs. Rupert on the item. Um, thank you. I support it. Thank you. Um, I also want to thank the city of Fort Lauderdale and agree with Dr. Holess and others that hopefully
this is a model for other cities moving forward. It is a little different because it came to us as a matching piece for money that the city did and if I'm not mistaken, Dr. Zean had challenged us when we were talking about
budgets to put aside a bucket of money to match um maybe not just municipalities but nonprofits. And so, you know, again, this is stuff we do all the time. I think the only difference of this is that it came to us as matching
funds, but when the district decides on a new program, we have to fund it. And at the end of the day, we're going to have to fund this one way or the other. and it's going to cost us more than $1.7 million um especially for sports. So um
I'm also appreciative of the item. All those in favor of item BB2 say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries with one descending vote. Thank you so much. Okay. All right.
We're going to go back to item double P. Yes. I'm sorry. Want to thank you all for coming. We have It's an there's a companion item for this that is not related to the item the item
allocated funds to Matt. I'm sorry. Let me just get one. Do you mind? I'd just rather wait for them to clear the room. Okay. If you guys don't mind um exiting and and having the hug session outside. Thank you. Um there's a there's a housekeeping
matter really because the the item that just passed really was um about the allocation of funds. I did not get a chance to make the motion about the 12 months. I'll make that in a separate item because I really want to take Adam Sea up, school board member up on on the
principle of holding them accountable to get this done. This is a cool thing, but we need this done for the kids. And so I'll bring that back next week. Right now though, I need to bring up an item about the uh recreational uh license agreement. There are pieces in the Fort Lauderdale recreational
license agreement that Miss Leonard's uh uh item mentioned that needs to be cleaned up. For example, it says in our RLA with Fort Lauderdale, we're providing all the money. Well, or that they're providing all the money. Well, now we are too. Um there are things in
here about um uh uh um who will do the permanent maintenance of it and we have to talk about that. I think for the sports academy stuff we'll probably take the maintenance of it but I don't know. It's a staff uh staff issue. What I'd like to do right now is just to make a motion that uh directs
the superintendent. Um I'm sorry. Can I direct the general counsel to do something? I think they work for us as well, right? Yes, sir. I I don't do this very often. Um, I want to make a motion that we direct the general counsel to bring back an RLA uh with the city of Fort Lauderdale that makes uh changes that allows for the
management of the funds to be provided from two sources. Um, and I don't want to get in the details of that. That's sufficient, I think, direction to the general counsel. General counsel, is that enough or do you want more details? I is that is that to you or because I think it originates out of with the
superintendent and they just check it for legal sufficiency. So, I think it would still be Let's direct the superintendent. I'm much more comfortable directing the super. I've done that a thousand times. I think much to his uh sugarin, I'm sure. I apologize for that for at least 900 of those. A hundred of them were
legit. 900 maybe was over the top. But I'd like to make a motion to direct the superintendent to draft a new RLA that's reviewed by the general counsel that would allow for uh the allocation that we just approved uh to be managed within the uh a revised uh recre recreational
license agreement. and I'd like it brought back to the next school board meeting. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Any public comment on the motion? School board discussion. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose say no. Motion carries.
Thank you. And I'm sorry I was inefficient in my wording. And we have to take a vote to extend the meeting. So I'd like to um Madam Chair, before we do that, one one final housekeeping thing on the item. We really have to do make a motion to extend. I have to finish the motion to
extend. So all those in favor of extending the meeting no longer because I don't want to have to do it more than once more than an hour uh till six o'clock. No longer than six o'clock hopefully before that. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed say no.
No. Motion. Motion carries with one descending vote. Okay. Mr. Sea. A housekeeping matter and the last item. Can I get my list from the superintendent still? I think we're we're still gonna get that list. We want along with the with the with the
breakdowns that I asked for and the creative control that we're supposedly supposed to have over this project. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Before you go to the next item, is it possible for me to make that motion now about the 12-month uh extension of our funds? Go right ahead. I'm I mean, is it within the rules of
our body? Yes. Terrific. I just we talked about it and it's fresh in our minds. I love this idea because one, the kids need it by the start of the next year. Two, a com says it's a six-month project, so if we give them 12, it's kind of easy to hold them accountable to get the whole thing
done in 12 months. Uh, but my motion is to um uh withdraw any fund balance that hasn't been executed by day one of 2026 school year.
Is there a second? Second. Okay. Any public comment on the motion? Board member comment on the motion. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. Any oppose say no. No. Roll call. Madam Chair,
can he repeat the motion? Dr. Zean, the motion is to withdraw any fund balance that isn't hasn't been executed. So whatever money is left over and hadn't been spent or obligated from our funds on the first day of the school
year 2026, Mr. Se. So I I guess this is an incentive for them to work quickly. I I I guess this doesn't address my concern of what if they just spend it and the and then the projects are not done, which goes into my creative control uh contingency
request from before. So I I I guess this is is a good start, but if they just blow through that dough and these wonderful things and and I guess what has been described as phase two, uh we heard from everybody if if that stuff's
not done, I I still think we need contingencies on what these folks are what the city is doing with this project and only be to pay them when they hit certain contingencies. But I I think it's I think you're still confused. We're not paying the city anything. The city's doing we we would
work in conjunction with the city to come up with a list of projects. The city would agree to do this many projects and the district would do this many. So there's nothing that's going to happen that doesn't come before us. So whose money? We're taking the 1.7
back from our people if the project's not done in 12 months. We're taking our own 1.7. We would, let's say, I'm sorry to jump in and explain, but let's say they only got to to so far as to spending a million dollars by the first day of the school
year. That's all they would get. They wouldn't get the seven. So, the pool is halfway done and we yank their money. Yes, sir. And then we have a half done pool. That's the motion. Okay. All those in favor of the We Roll call. We're on roll call.
Roll call on the motion. School board member Sea. Yes. Hixon. No. Honus. Yes. Leonardi. No. Rupert. Yes. Thompson.
Zean. Yes. Aladev. No. Bowman. Yes. Passes 53. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, chair. All righty.
Yeah. No, Mrs. Rupert said yes. It was 53. Oh, so I mean, I'm sorry. It was 63, not 53. Okay. Sorry. Yes. So, all righty. Uh, back to So, we're
going to bring back double P7. So, I have a motion and a second to bring back. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Bowman. and we'll go back to the So, I think we have an updated motion
paper from Ms. Mrs. Bowman and we were in the process of voting. Um, but does anybody have any comments? Oh, well, I guess any public comment on the updated motion, which is just rewarding of
number one. Okay, board member discussion on the updated motion. Okay. All those in favor of Mrs. Bowman's motion to amend policy 6400 language as followed on the paper there
say I. I. I. Oh, sorry. We've had the only changes in number one. Thank you, Dr. Wansa, for making this change that fixed the problem.
So, it would now read children already attending the requested school on a one-year assignment. That would be the number one priority on reassignment. Anybody have any comments? Yeah, Madam Chair, Miss Dr.
um with the updated language um am I are we able to get Miss Batista's input if that is considered a substantive change or if that is Miss Batista? Yes, it would be considered substantive change. So the policy will come back to us.
Come back to us. Okay, Mrs. Alha. I just don't understand why this is necessary. The way it reads now is the same way it reads in the paragraph above. I don't know why we're trying to change something that is already
perfect in my mind, at least on number one. Mrs. Bowman, what is a what's a sub substantive change? Um the statute defines it as anything
that is not um just a mere uh change in tense or uh grammar or something along those lines. So duplicative language would not is a subsidive change. So
I mean arguably if if the right so if if the change doesn't change the meaning at all um it would not be substantive but since you are trying to change I'm not trying to change the meeting at
all. I'm trying to uh remove duplicative language so that when because when we come back and there's an issue just by virtue of our experience here on the board, then we get caught in the weeds and we're going to be redoing the policy in the future. Just if
Yeah, it doesn't change the meaning. I don't think well I I would think it's a substantive change if he's clarifying the meaning. So it's more than just you know a u grammatical or technical change.
So on number two and three are those substantive changes as well. Well it doesn't matter whether it's one or or all of them come back anyway. It it may change the way people want to vote or or if we put them separately as
opposed to all three of them together. If I may, Chair, Dr. Wanza, is there any impact if we bring this back to the next board meeting if there are substantial changes? So, there is no impact and that there's no impact.
Okay. Do you still want to keep all three of them together? Yes. Okay. All those in favor of the motion to amend policy 6400 changes one, two, and three say I. I. Any oppose say no. Now
motion carries with one descending vote and it will come back to us at a future meeting for actual adoption. Yes. at the next board meeting because I believe it's 21 days and we have 28 days and that would be policy Mr. Sullivan is
it okay? That would be policy P3 today as well as policy double P7 both of them. Okay, great. Next item up is double P8. Uh can I have a motion in a second? It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs.
Leonardi. Any public comment on double P8? No, ma'am. Dr. Zean. 10 more seconds. Chair, my apologies. I just have one question, chair. Um what's the difference between uh standards uh the ethical standards that
we have uh for employees and the ethical standards we have for volunteers. Miss Batista. So the volunteers um would fall under chapter 112 because they're considered to be public officers as well. And um so
that's that would be the main difference. But what's the literal difference? Here's a list of ethical standards we have for our employees, including schoolboard members as employees. And here's a list of ethical standards we have for volunteers. What's the difference between those two lists?
So because it's under chapter 112 and that chapter 112 also applies to employees and to board members, is the same the same list. So the list of ethical standards for volunteers is the same as the list of ethical standards for employees.
Yes. If the volunteers are um you know for committee members that type of volunteer if it's you know if it's somebody that is just reading something at a school or you know volunteering at a classroom or something.
No. But yes, if he's a committee member, uh those those volunteers are considered to be public officials as well. Chair, how do we educate our volunteers who are on advisory committees about the standards that they have for ethical behavior?
Um they have to Mr. Sullivan. Sure. So we we sent out the reminders that they have to complete this training just like us because it's it's mandatory for them. So, it's part of their um reminders that
we send out to them. Um, I just want to ask the acting superintendent if um if he could just in a followup uh maybe give us some enhancements to that uh program so that uh our volunteers are
not just you know uh pointed to a link to do ethics training every year but in fact u um what what other things could we do to ensure that um that they understand the standards to which they'll be held. Sure. Thank you. Okay.
Um, all those in favor of item double P8 say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously. The next item is doubleR1. Can I have a motion in a second? No. No. We passed that because he didn't
need it anymore. It was passed in the consent. Again, uh, double R1. Second. Been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment on R1? No, ma'am.
Um, let's see. Miss Thompson. Thank you, chair. Um, so my comment was, um, so I have to pull up the item, but it says that all the housing will be for Broward County staff. And I rewatched the meeting yesterday, and I don't
believe that that was the conclusion. Mr. that we came to. I don't see Miss Paul, but Mr. Akabuso, can you add to that? Chris Akabusu, director of facility plan real estate. Um, please can you repeat a
question? I don't understand. It wasn't really a question. Um so in it it says that we are going to adopt a resolution to send um that's stipulates the school board will
support the development of residential workforce housing which 100% of the housing units available will be for qualified Broward County public school employees. I I rewatched the meeting. We had conversations about helping to
subsidize and like 50% that way. But my understanding from our conversation is it wouldn't only be for Broward County staff because I feel like if I'm a city commissioner,
I would want this housing to be accessible to all people that might qualify for a workforce. And and I just don't remember and I didn't hear it last night that it would be 100%. I heard like 50% or we would
subsidize. So I'm just confused where this 100% came from. Okay, I can clarify. So if you remember, we presented two options. Mhm. The first option was the employee assistant program which was because of
the city's um regulation there's a radius where you can develop affordable housing. So 50% market rate 50% affordable. So the two options that was the first option. The second option was if the school board wanted to use the ground
lease amount to then subsidize the remainder market rate. the board during the workshop supported doing that to make and the resolution said to make available 100% of the units. So the the board the preference from the workshop was to the
automatic 50% then to use the ground lease to hopefully subsidize the additional. So that was the board directive, but my understanding is it wouldn't have been just for Broward County staff.
I guess with housing law, how do you make it just for one subsect of group? And two, if again, if I was a city commissioner, I would be more agreeable to this proposal. It's only for our staff. as a
commissioner that's not as appetizing. Not Yeah. So where specifically did it you saying that because I watched it last night and maybe I misunderstood
I don't believe I did but that we were voting to subsidize for our employees but not necessarily that if you work as a police officer you can't live in this housing. To clarify again the workshop the presentation specifically said qualified
Brack County Public School employees. We did not have any um anything in the presentation saying it should be made available to outside. It was specifically qualified Bracken public school employees
and then that's why the board was aminable on option two to hopefully use the ground list to subside the 50% but it was always 100% B County public school employees as what was in the presentation. Okay. Um so what happens if the city
doesn't want this? What's our next steps? Because we haven't talked to the city. We just decided we're going to give them this piece of paper. So, what's what are we doing, Dr. Heer? Mr. Aabosa. Um, so this resolution, it's after the
workshop. The workshop, the board directive was to appear before the city commission. There was additional meeting and the direction was to do the resolution. and then the resolution will present to the city and we have actually communicated with the city staff. Um the
city hasn't indicated any. The goal is to work with the city you know cooperatively hopefully to come up with a appropriate density. Um, the city hasn't given us any indication they're interested and I'm
not going to put any language out there regarding the employees because this is a schoolboard site. It's next to city hall. Um, it fits within the city's uh development of that area. Um, so we haven't really had any discussion
regarding city's employees um wanting to stay there. I mean, if that's the case, again, we're going to be cooperatively discussing with the city, but again, the presentation was specifically qualified Brow County Public School employees. Okay. So, for clarification, who told
you to make the resolution? The city staff. There was a meeting and our meeting. I just Who what meeting took place? Our workshop. And that's where And I'm not trying to be snippy. our workshop where we discussed this or
you had a separate meeting and then city staff would say said like hey it would be really helpful if you did this resolution. There was separate meeting um where I attended a meeting with my boss and we there was discussions there was a
meeting with city staff and from that meeting there was a consensus that we should do the resolution so it was aligning with appearing before the city commission so um I think Mrs. Paul wants to help answer the question. I mean, yeah. Um, the intent was to be
able to bring something that our board agreed to and is in um favor of to the city commission to have that collaboration and say, "Hey, this is what we're trying to do. Uh, we want to work collaboratively with you and
provide and get your input." And so that's why this resolution was done. Okay. I just it was a it's a document that we can take to the commission to say, "Hey, this is what we're doing that's really cool and helpful uh great for our employees. Uh we need your collaboration
to help us uh get this done and what are your thoughts and please provide your input to it. So that's the only point of having this resolution." No, that I was trying to understand because it seemed in the backup that perhaps staff decided
instead of meeting that you were going to do the resolution, but it's helpful to know that you met with city staff and that's who proposed this. Um, so my other question is to general counsel. Is there any like fair housing laws or
anything that would prevent us from saying only certain groups are allowed to live on this property? That's a great question and that can be a followup because I know you're not. But I I do that's
and again maybe I I misunderstood this conversation, but I don't feel like you can have housing that's only for one specific group of people. I know we there's senior housing, but I believe
from my limited affordable housing policy knowledge that that's kind of segueed in a different way. So, I just think it's imperative that we have like the legal support for doing something like this.
So, employment in the district is um sort of a neutral category. It's not a um you know, it's not race or gender or anything that would normally be prohibited, but I'd be happy to do a follow-up specifically as to that question. Thank you.
Let's see, Mrs. Rupert. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and I'm very happy to support this item today. Um, it's extra special for me because, um, I was at the beginning of these conversations and it's nice to see
things brought to fruition. So, um, I'm very excited, but also I did want to say that we really have to make sure that our grammar and spelling is really good on our websites and also our resolutions because um, education, the Dave Thomas
East Education Center, education was misspelled and I did send that in my my um, questions for today's meeting. So, we can have that fixed. Um, but I'm very happy to to support this. Thanks.
Thank you. Next is I'm gonna go this direction. Mrs. Bowman. Thanks, chair. Um, I also support it. I do I'm looking back at the item the presentation from before from uh June 10th and it was confusing
um because we were presented two options. one doesn't mention anything about uh schoolboard employees and then this the second option says that market rate units would be set
aside and rented to qualify BCPS workforce. So there's two um character like two set two different classes of units. one is um it says 50% of units occupied by
households making up 120% of the AMI and then 50% of units to be market rate. So when I'm just reading this it appear like the understanding would be that and and this option two my understanding is that we won't be charging the developer
the ground lease and instead the money that we would be spending on the ground lease is going to be used to subsidize our employees occupying the units. So based on how it was presented to us, it looks like we would have 50%
of the units going to the employees. I'm not necessarily saying that that's what we want, but that's what it was that's what was presented to us. And I agree with Miss Thompson about, you know, the afford the the question
that I had before that wasn't really answered is, you know, when we're affordable housing is kind of a term of art. So, there's many different ways that you're having affordable housing. Is it because we're making it affordable? Is it because we're using some kind of a tax credit with a de with a developer?
I think there's some details that we need to understand. And I guess that would come back when we get bids and have develop the, you know, have the developers make proposals. But it's not necess it's not
I I I agree with Thompson that there is that there is not it's not it wasn't 100% as presented. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Zean. Thanks so much. Um uh my understanding from day one on this was this was 100% Ber County Schools. And so this is going back several
different times where we had this topic brought up. Um but I've also met with the mayor. I met with the city manager and their head of development. I met with the city commissioner whose district this would be in. Uh and I learned a lot about it. One of the things I learned is uh the city of Pompo
thinks Broward County's chief facilities officer staff and real estate staff is first rate and they were very complimentary on our efforts of going to them and to try and develop this. One of the evidences that they brought to this is they saw our concept drawing. Do you guys remember the concept drawings where
we had 94 units and they had like courtyards in front of buildings and it was certain heights and things like that. They were overwhelmed that that concept fit in with the concept that they haven't even finished yet for redeveloping uh the city hall area across the street. Uh so um to Miss
Thompson's point, I think you're right that we should always be working with municipalities to get this right. Uh and in this case, we have overworked with them. We've had elected leaders meeting with elected leaders. We've had chief financial off u uh chief operating officers and heads of real estates
meeting with the development people in Pompo. um they're dying to get this resolution because they they just love what we're doing with our land. On the legal issue, I'm also your rep, Miss Thompson, on the Broward Planning Council, and we're the group that's working on beating back, you know, the
housing crisis in Broward County. And so, there's been some recent legislation that allowed uh u more uh flexibility in terms of building on property and and restricting uh who can live there. In this case, we already had the law, at
least according to the county lawyer, because we own the land. And when you own the land, you can do that. If you, what you're trying to do is do some kind of, you know, other kind of development where you don't own the land, you have less uh capability to restrict it. But according to Florida law, at least
according to our county uh housing attorney, uh we can do this. Um, and and I'm not sure why I knew this was 100% Broward County employees, but I've just been watching this being briefed for over a year. And that was kind of the going in position. And isn't it great?
Like, we sit up here and we scared to death that people can't come to work here because they can't live here. Well, now we got 94 units in Pompo, right near the beach, right across the street from a tri rail station, uh right across the street from a brand new redevelopment of city hall where 94 of our uh employees
and their families can live and they'll be charged u a significantly subsidized rate. And what we're donating, just so you guys understand the business side of this, is we're not selling that 2.8 acres. So, we could sell 2.8 8 and get 10 million and walk away or we could
perpetually and I think uh if I could chair is this for 30 years or 50 years Dr. Heburn, we have not worked those terms out. It depends on our um the partner we get to to actually do the construction, but the longer the better
u is the way I feel. Um so is it fair to say that it's at least 30 years? Minimum 30. Thank you. Yeah. So, so just think about what you know we're Miss Leonardi just brought this really cool idea up about what are we doing for the community and she had 10 things on her list. Well,
another thing is we're providing people who work for us a more affordable place for 94 employees and their families. And we're doing that for 30 years plus. And so we're trying to make good decisions about how we can put things together. And I just want to reiterate what the
city of Pompo, the mayor, the city manager, and the head of development both said, Mr. Aabuso and Miss Paul were the bees knees to work with. So, thank you all uh for being so professional to the point where they would repeatedly call you out for getting things done quickly and and being very clear with
them. Mrs. Alhuda, thank you. I just need some clarification. Were the PMPO Beach commissioners briefed on this? Dr. Heburn, Miss Paul,
my team has had unofficial conversations. the resolution is what we would bring to the c um to the commission to kind of formally have that conversation. Uh keep in mind this is the first time that we're actually doing
doing this. Um it's exciting in the sense that uh it shows that we're trying to progress and take care of our employees, but the other side of it is that we're going to make mistakes and it's not going to be perfect. hand what's in our head in terms of how we
think about the project uh is is maybe different to different in terms of how people understand it because this is not a typical thing that a school district does. One example is in Miami and they did it on a very much smaller scale. So,
I definitely appreciate your uh the board's uh input and feedback uh because if we're going to do more of this, we want to make sure that uh we don't have those or any misinterpretations or misunderstandings about it. The the
ideal situation is that we're able to do this for our employees and maybe expand it to others and maybe cities can do this for their employees. But uh with all of this, it's important to work in collaboration with the cities and and the various commissions and stuff to get
it right. And that's really what the motivation is is just to get it right uh and and have this as a valuable asset similar to the rocks program uh to to provide this for just our teachers and regular employees.
Thank you. And I and I agree and and I think communication is really important in the the process and and how we go about communicating. So I'm gonna kind of go back to my question because this really um is important how I vote on this resolution.
Was the PMPO Beach Commissioner specifically briefed on everything here? Dr. Heer, go ahead, Miss Ausso. So from the workshop the directive was to appear before the city commission.
Can talk louder. Okay. So from the workshop the directive was to appear before the city commission. So there was a subsequent meeting and then as Mrs. Paul said this document is to be presented I suppose
maybe it's going to be the chair or somebody I don't know to the city commission that's going to be the formal engagement with the city commission but prior to this we've met with at the staff level I met at the direct direction of the superintendent Mrs. call I met with the city manager,
assistant city manager, real estate manager. This was last year. So at our level, we met. So this document I think is officially to then appear before the city commission and then start that um conversation. Okay. So that's what I have a problem
with. I think we we missed a step. I think that it was, yes, you had those conversations with the city manager and those other staff members, but I still think there should have been maybe a presentation from our staff to the PMPO
Beach Commission before us doing this resolution. There hasn't been a conversation. I mean, yes, there could have been sidebar conversations, but uh openly and publicly with the community, there hasn't been a conversation. So, I
don't feel comfortable passing this resolution today without that conversation happening before because I I don't know if every single one of those people met with our staff, met with Dr. Heepern. I don't you know I
don't know if school board members met with different city commissioners and I don't want to offend anybody on the commission if they're now at a at a one of their meetings they're given this resolution and they're like whoa whoa whoa where where did this come from and
and so I think that is a really important step before we even pass this resolution today. Um and then my other comment is, you know, as we do these
types of um resolutions and uh changes within the school district, it's going to be really important like how we communicate as a board. Meaning like is it going to be our chair representing us at these city meetings? Is it our chair
and our superintendent? Is it not in the purview of the school board to be having meetings with these cities? Is it the superintendent? You know, because as we we go along, we have to make sure we're dotting ours and crossing our tees and
and we can't have one board member having silo conversations because it's really, you know, it's going to be difficult in the in this process. So, I would like to know if it's the superintendent, if it's, you know, is this an operational matter, if he's the
one going forward is going to be representing, or is it the chair of the board? Dr. Heburn. Uh, I can speak for uh my staff and myself is that we've been having conversations with um like for like
positions and roles such as the team, meeting with the city manager and and all of that. Um, as far as meeting with city commissioners, um, I guess it could be the chair and I if we need to get in front of city commissions to, you know, preempt the
intentions of doing something um, in the future and I appreciate that. I I still think for me I can't vote yes on this because I don't know every commissioner of PMPO Beach was is knows about this. I would
like to see another conversation with the the chair and the superintendent before we move forward with this. I don't want to rush this. So, and and I'll just jump in real quick and we're closing in on our time. So, just keep in
mind about that. But I just when resolutions come to us from the cities on different things, I think they meet as a a commission, decide what they want to say as a collective group and it gets presented to them as a resolution. So I
I don't think we're out of the cadence of what that looks like. I I mean I hear what you're saying and you know being able to do that but to be able to collectively speak as a board that's the point of making a resolution voting on it or amending it here and then bringing
that forward to them as a as a board to have the continued discussion. The resolution is just basically saying here's what we want to do what and then bringing it to them and letting them have a discussion. It it it's not a like a we're doing this. It's just a here's
what the board is interested in doing. That that's the way I view it. So, um, Miss Thompson, somebody else said that. Sarah can go first. Go ahead. Mrs. Leonard. Um, just real quick, I want to reiterate like the last workshop when we talked about this. Um,
I think many of us said we hope that we like staff goes to the commission and discusses this with the commission. Um, and just historically it feels like sometimes we've gotten oursel into trouble with cities or not into trouble, but there's been like communication
issues with cities that could have been resolved if we had done, you know, sat down and and had those conversations. Um, I will be voting for this, but I I do think that we need to improve the communication loop with our commissioners um moving forward. Thank
you, Mr. Thompson. I'll just echo what Miss Leonardi said. Miss Leonardi said. Thank you. Okay. All those in favor of doubleR1 say I. I. Any oppose say no. No. Motion car. Aladd.
Motion carries with one descending vote. The next item is double T1. Can I have a motion in a second? Second. It's been moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Thompson. Any public comment? Uh, yes. Jackie Lubcum.
not here. Oh, there she is. Hello. Good evening. Um, when the school board took bids for a replacement student information system, um, and it it it awarded that bid to focus, it did so based on an RFP that made clear what
the core functionalities needed to be. This was in 2021 and 2022. In addition, it also identified the custom applications that BCPS al already operated for itself. There were 31 of them. One choice was identified in the
RFP or appendix one to the RFP as one of those 31 applications. And one choice being the the platform that handles um school choice. Just three years later, we're being told here now that there is a pressing urgency to award half a million dollars to replace one choice.
And correct me if I'm wrong, and I may be, but I don't see a contract um for doing for or sorry, an RFP um for taking bids as to who should provide that platform. I just see that it's going to focus. We're told in the executive summary of this item that if you don't
approve this and if that transition is delayed, it quote increases the risk of system failures and that it may also affect data integrity and limited access for families. It says that if you vote no, you'll be left relying on an aging platform that lacks modern functionality
and is increasingly difficult to maintain and doesn't support current expectations for usability, accessibility, or integration. Some of those criticisms also apply to what you already have with focus. Meanwhile, the
uh this item describes this kind of cyber nirvana that if you grant $500,000 now to focus to build it out for you, uh you will have a platform that is has improved access, transparency, and efficiency. What's not clear is whether
this went out to bid first. Was there an RFP and folks pick the best submission? or is BCPS now in a situation where we're going to go through that list of 31 custom applications one by one and when they're out of date or it's felt that they are they're then all going to
just be awarded to Focus to build out for 500,000 and sorry $518,000 a time without inviting other bids because Focus already runs that core student information system there's a question mark at the end of that a good system
can interface with other platforms and I feel the board should ask one was this put out to bid two what process has this gone through to arrive at the decision of it going to focus also did it come to technology advisory the answer is no so that public transport that public transportation um transparency piece
could have been delivered we're in hard times 500,000 is a lot um we need to look at also whether is this essential how are we to have confidence in a system that has not been uh put out to bid and that we know we're getting the u best value for um also I feel there's a
lot to finish really in finishing what we started with focus rather than allocating another half million at this point to having it build out another platform when we've got pressing needs especially in the ESC area for things that we need now thank you thank you Mr. Sea
chair would it be possible for Dr. Zean to go first sure Dr. Zean spent some time uh working on this. Um the particular question I have um is whether or not
um this I guess let me just I have a question and and a follow-up question chair. Um does this system improve the efficiency of our uh school choice processes? Dr. Hepper. Yes. And given that it improves the
efficiency of those processes, have we reduced staffing to the of the people who were assigned to do that process or are we trying to improve the quality of that process by adopting this efficiency? Improve quality and then in time reduce staffing. Terrific. Thank you very much uh Mr.
Superintendent for following those. Is that it? Okay, back to you Mr. Sea. I'm satisfied. Okay, great. All those in favor of item TT1, a double T1, say I. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm Mrs. Rupert.
Sorry. Um, thank you. Sorry, m Madam Chair. I have just two questions. Are we fully integrated with focus currently? Dr. Heburn. Yes. for the um modules that we
currently have SIS and SSS and um I know for this upcoming let me um also I can ask Mr. Davis to give some detail because I know we're um implementing the additional phase around um discipline if I'm if I'm correct Mr.
Davis. Good evening. Trey Davis, chief information officer. if I could get Emily Copo, director of data intelligence up. And while she's coming up, I'd like to speak to the to the cost. Um, you know, it's $518,887.50
over three years. Includes installation, configuration, and professional services, including training. Uh, if you work that out, it's $389,887.50. Licensing cost, which works out to $129,962.50 annually. That's about $20,000 cheaper
than the cost of running our decades old uh legacy mid-range system today called One Choice. Thank you, Emily. Yes. Hello, Emily Copa, director of data intelligence. Um yes, so to answer that question, uh we did in ultimately do our initial implementation in two phases.
And so for this school year, we are launching our discipline bullying and harassment as well as our school social work is now uh fully go live inside of focus. Thank you, Mrs. Rupert. Did you have a second question? I do. Um, but I really want to kind of go back to that where we're talking
about um is focus fulfilling all areas that it was contracted to do currently. Yes. in the initial contract for so the initial contract while one choice the integration with one choice which was our legacy system was part of that
contract actually utilizing the core system for school choice was not part of the contract because it has always been with focus a separate module that's a separate purchase okay so currently right now if I had my three children who are already um out of
the house um however if if if as a mom, one of my children needed to have access to their IEP. As a parent, would I be able to have that immediately right there when I want to? Yes.
And and you're saying that it currently happens right now. Correct. When the IEPs are finished and finalized inside of the system, they um are accessible once they are, you know, finalized through the process. They are accessible to parents. Okay. I I know it's late. We need to run
out of time. I get that. Um I I will not be supporting this item. There has just been way too much uh difficulty with our ESC families and our teachers. Um it's just been a nightmare
from the conversation to to actually get on board with them to now. So um I I just won't be. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. All those all those in favor of item double T1 say I. I. Any oppose say no.
No. The motion carries one, two, three. Motion carries without um five to two. Five um six to one with Miss Bowman absent and Miss Thompson and um Miss Rupert dissenting.
Yes. Thank you. The next item is double T2. Can I have a motion in a second? Been moved by Dr. Mr. Zean, seconded by Mrs. Leonardi. Any public comment? Uh, yes. One registered speaker, Dr. uh, Trudy Jamanovich.
Uh, my name is Dr. Trudy Jamanovich. I often bring you comments from social media and here are some regarding this item. District said that land school will no longer be used by the district. Lies line wirewise will be brought up for purchase in the August meeting. They
had all summer. They wait till schools is starting to approve it. Sorry. AI showed a comparison of Land School versus Linewise and it appeared Linewise was great for administrators but not userfriendly for teachers. Some other
comments from social media. Land school worked well for teachers when it was implemented correctly by the district. It would be nice if they ask us what we wanted. How long will it take till it's actually up and running? Landwise seems worse from a classroom management
perspective. Discussions from the past. Last January. Does anyone know who I would contact about land school air not functioning? Oh, we get it. We're getting it running now. Thank you very much. Back in May 16th. Love that 11
school days are left and final still to give. That the license for land school expired. shouldn't be surprised at this point. My question is why wasn't a major survey of teachers given before a switch was made for something instead of land school? I'll date myself, but this
district used to be a leader in technology. One of the ways we became leaders was because the board took the time to listen to endusers. Since teachers were discussing the land school product as far back as January of this year, why did the district not take this
through a process and ask the teachers to weigh in before bringing in a new and possibly inferior product for purchase? End users are the most important people to choose these products. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? U
Mrs. Bowman? Um, okay. Thank you. So, uh, I was happy. I I guess someone thinks this is an inferior product. My question was when us going with this product, first of all, I think it appears from the item
that it does a lot of things to protect our students and our users. Um, are we replacing other products that we've been using in the past, Dr. Heer? Yes, that's correct.
So, what were we previously using? Land school was the previous product we were using. So, collectively, these three products will replace Lans School. Correct. Well, it's one one product. I
can let Miss uh Mr. Davis provides some light on that. Pardon me. So, so correct. That's that's one of the products we it was multiple vendors that were required to accomplish uh security filtering to be in SIPA compliance uh children's internet
protection act compliance. um as well as other features uh that we have relative to classroom management and also parental controls uh that we get collectively uh in one suite versus having to work through disperate partners. Um so uh that's that's the
reason that we chose that the superior features as well as a parent I and looking at what they these products provide as um guard rails I think they look good. So thank you Mr. See,
thank you, chair. If I read the uh financial analysis worksheet correctly, the prior vendor that we had for this program from July of 2022 until um I believe it was August 1st or August 31st of 2025 for a
three-year deal, we paid them 719,000. the um the request before the board now is for a reoption with a new vendor for the same three years yet it's more than double. Why the additional expense? Dr. Heburn,
Mr. Davis. Uh good evening. Great. Appreciate the question. Um, you know, collectively there were multiple products involved again that we're comparing to the linewise products which includes classwise as well as their their filtering and the parental options as
well and their threat detection. So the total amount was $1.496 million. That's if you factor $239,000 a year for securely, which is the secure filtering, and the $779,000 over three years for the land school,
which is the classroom management. Uh the cost for year one of of linewise was u $481,000 keeping it keeping it neutral. Um so there's $142,000 difference between the 1.638 million uh
from Linew Weiss and the 1.496 million uh that is with a collection of products uh securely and land school for example. yet the the features and that we're getting relative to parental controls, the extended uh management and filtering
that parents can handle uh through the custodial parent app um as well as the uh the secure filtering for SIPA protection which we also use server side and of course the classroom management is far superior above and beyond number of features as well that you got with
the previous solution. Mr. Davis, you think this is a good deal? I do. Okay. All those in favor of item double T2 say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously without Miss
Thompson on the deis. And our final item double T4. Can I have a motion in a second? Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Bowman. Mrs. Bowman, any public comment on double T4? No, ma'am. Okay. Uh Dr. Mr. Holes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so for neut neutral link technologies, um, um, Dr. Hepper, uh, what is the usual time of adjustment to using this technology
for student pickup once schools get used to to this? I'm going to have get some help with this one. The usual wait time for parents. The usual wait time for parents without this product. No, once once schools start to use it
because I know some schools just start using this this school year. So once they start to use this, how long is the normal wait time? How um because I the reason I'm asking because I've had concerns uh express um that it takes an adjustment period for schools and
sometimes the wait time until they're adjusted is 30 to 40 minutes. So once schools are adjusted, how long is the wait time and how long is the adjustment period? Um I'm going have to call phone a friend for for for that question. Dr. On average on average
on average I don't know if any of the team I mean what is the goal of this because we can't have parents waiting 45 minutes. Uh exactly. So it's to shorten the pickup time and also to make sure that it is well organized. So, which in inherently is going to shorten the
pickup time just to make sure the right kids get in the right cars. Okay. So, the goal is to shorten pickup time. So, based on that, because this is not the first year we're using it, right? We did it last year with some schools, correct? So, how have h how has the pickup time been shortened? Um, what
improvement have you seen? I don't I don't have that particular data, but I know Oh, go ahead, Trey. I was just about to talk about the additional principles that want to use it based on their colleagues use and they're expressing positive um things about it. I appreciate that. Dr. Heburn, I'd like
to turn it over to Dr. Diamond um to discuss more. Good evening everyone. Daryl Diamond, director of PMO over at ISD. Um, I think that the schools that are using it right now, not only are they seeing decreased time for parents to pick up their
students, but the safety issue is also another component that is making this product very useful to the elementary schools. Uh, we started out with 25 schools in 2022. It went up to 35 schools later on in the next year, 57
schools the following year and right now we have 109 schools that have asked for the product. We are um having about 80 schools that are currently using it. We have six schools that are in the process of getting activated and the remaining
schools I still have to reach out to to make the connection so that they can get theirs going. So 109 elementary schools uh so uh in indicated interest in using the product. Okay. So Dr. Heburn I be specific. There are concerns from some schools number
one that the adjustment period uh during the adjustment period it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to pick up their children. Number two there are concerns about kids uh and it has to do with the schools that are just starting to use it with kids basically um waiting on the sidewalk without monitoring. Number
three, kids possibly going in uh not knowing which cars or going into the wrong cars. So that's usually during the adjustment period. So what training are we providing to ensure because yes, it's there to provide safety, but it's it can also do the opposite if we don't have
proper training on the onset to make sure we're implementing this and the adjustment period is being addressed by training or whatever we need to do. Because those are the three concerns that I've heard. the length of time, kids waiting on the sidewalk, and kids possibly going in the wrong car. So, how do we prevent that from happening before
we get a situation where there is now a safety concern as a result of using it? Mr. Diamond. So, I'm working with our vendor partners and we're making sure that our enduser schools have the necessary skills and and training that they need in order to utilize the application the way it's
designed to be used. if I could have the names of the schools that I need to reach out to, then the vendor and I can get together with those schools and expedite any other training that needs to be done. Okay. So, um and I I appreciate that there are um uh schools that I can
provide later on, Dr. Heburn, but I'm I'm speaking in general for all the schools that are going to be using this as we continue to bring this on board that we have effective um you know implementation training for the principles, the school, the staff in the beginning part of this. So kids don't
end up in the wrong car. Kids are not waiting on the sidewalk not being monitored and the process taking too long for pickup. So it's not just giving you the name of specific schools. How do we address this overall that when we implement it in any school we eliminate these problems? Go ahead Miss Diamond if you want to
elaborate on the current training that you're I know that the vendor is delivering the training. There is manuals in which they are the schools are given but I will be more than happy to continue to work with all of the schools that are coming on board to ensure that the application is
being used the appropriate way. So I I can get with the vendor and we could develop whatever kind of training needs to be developed based on each individual school's needs and we can have Dr. Fton uh reach out to the elementary school principles to find out specifically uh what concerns uh
some the ones who have already transitioned what concerns that they have while they're transitioning so we can uh work with the vendor just to uh bolster up that training. Understood. And I'll speak with you more about it. But we I've had concerns from parents as well as from even the police officers. So you know that needs to be
remedied during the beginning phase of it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. And I pulled this just to say how excited I am when I first started to go to schools. The problem, there was a lot of inequity. This is really about safety. I'm not sure about students waiting on the sidewalk because usually
the students wait in the classroom until they're notified that they can leave, which then gives the school a list of who's left already and who's not, which makes it much more safe. But a lot of schools could not afford it. So appreciate the board when the item came
up before um passing it so that the equity of all schools and Florinata was um a leader in this they made their own app to do it and we looked about trying to do that but I appreciate the opportunity for schools who wanted it. We didn't require everyone to have it
but um I think it is definitely a a good additional layer for safety. So thank you for that. All those in favor of item T4 say I. I. Any opposed say no. Motion carries unanimously.
At this time, do any of my colleagues have any Well, let me make sure we've exhausted all the items, right? Yes. Do any of my colleagues have any update or student success to bring forth to the superintendent for consideration? Um, let's go. Mr. Sea, we'll go back and
forth. Thank you, Madam Chair. uh just received word that 15 Broward County public high schools are among the top uh 27% of all ranked high schools in the nation. According to the 2526 edition of US uh
news and world report uh on showcasing the best high schools topping the list for BCPS are Millennium 6 through 12 collegiate academy ranked number four in Florida and number 56 in the nation. Very impressive. Pumped up Beach High School ranked number 21 in Florida and number 200 in the nation. And rounding
out the top five uh ranked high schools, um McFatterder Technical High School, District 6, very proud of those folks. And Cypress Bay High School uh and as well as Atlantic Technical High. So congratulations to all those schools and being recognized by the uh US News and
World Report. Thank you, doctors. They have real quick two things. One, um I asked a question u through the superintendent to learn about laptops is a huge issue for us. We committed again getting back to Miss Leonard's point of all the great things we've been doing. One thing we promised but haven't
delivered is one laptop for every student that's been held up with some contract issues and reviews and the like. If you look at the answer to that, you'll get ground truth about where we where we went as a district and hopefully that'll help us uh get these laptops procured and to our students as
soon as possible. Second is I'm your rep to the Council of Great City Schools. I enjoy going to Florida schoolboard associations. I enjoy going to South by Southwest and San Diego State has a great conference. I love all of them. The Council of Great City Schools in Philadelphia this year in October is the best opportunity to learn about what we
do as a large urban district. And if you have uh time and can submit an item to go, uh I'd love to see you go with Dr. Heepard and I. Thank you. Thank you uh Miss Thompson. Thank you, Chair. I just had a concern
over something that happened in the meeting today because for the sports academy we had a workshop and during that workshop the board said they were interested in learning more and that was taken and run with it and
that it excited about that. However, we also had a similar item to close nor fork and give it to junior achievement. So if the precedent we have set is now whatever happens in the workshop is now what's going to go. That's how I'm
interpreting it. And so I just need some strong clarification from the superintendent that what we agree to explore in workshops aren't necessarily what's going to happen because if that's the precedent that was
just sent that means we all agreed to close Northfor and I am not comfortable with that. Dr. Hepper. Yes, I can confirm that we'll for situations where around closures and consolidations, we're going out to the community to have those conversations.
That's part of that process. We won't just close a school without going out to the community and having robust conversations about possibilities and next steps and and garnering their feedback and and um and input for that process. and it coming back to the board because I don't think 60 seconds of us
saying, "Oh, I guess this is fine because the meeting's ending," should then equate all this. So, thank you, Mrs. Alhuda. Thank you. So, I have a challenge to my colleagues. Uh, my challenge is to reduce our board meetings from 9 hours
to six hours and reduce our number of pulled items. Today, we pulled 41 out of the 74 items. That is the challenge. You you must be looking at my notes because we have give it give us tip. What can we do? So,
sure. Send your questions to the staff before you come to conversations with staff to get your questions answered. I know sometimes you want to publicly say it, but I think also you could have staff write it so it comes back an email. It's supposed to be attached to the item. So, now you are publicly
stating it. Um, I think we can just tighten this up a lot more. Yeah. And just so you know, we have by policy it's we have we agreed to eight hours which I also is a goal of mine but I it's actually number one on my my thing to talk about questions for
meetings. You know we we set a policy. It's in our policy that we are supposed to do that. It's not really a recommendation. It is by policy that we are to ask the questions beforehand. they go on the Monday. I think we extended it to Monday instead of the
Friday before. So, a lot of the questions that we're asking could really be answered by staff. Um, and and remember board meetings, workshops are for discussion and and education and all that. Board meetings are just to vote on the items. It isn't really to have the
long discussions that we're having and they seem to be getting longer. So, if we could work on doing that, make sure ahead of time that you're sending in your questions and if you still need to say, "I already got the answer, but you know, staff, could you read the answer
if you feel like it needs to be said out loud?" Um, but that's a big big thing. The second thing is Dr. um Mr. Rhodess, can you just give us a quick update on the agreement for the audit contract? Has that moved forward? Um, and how do
we expedite that? Yeah, today I was provided with a form with the um various individual chiefs and leaders that need to sign off on it. I had that sent back out to all those folks with all the other uh contract related documents and
there we hopefully will have all those signatures back by tomorrow and then um Miss Belcsky will be able to send that back off to the folks at uh MSL and Forbus Mazers. Awesome. Thank you. And my last thing is I'd like to send um sympathy to the Cook
family. Lenny Cook was a foot a baseball coach at Southbard for 25 years, but even beyond that, took care of that baseball field as we heard the baseball coach from Fort Lauderdale. Put his love and and effort into that even all these years from he was there when I was there
and I've was my 40th high school reunion recently. So long time. So, we would just like to extend our sympathy to Mr. Cook's family. He he passed away yesterday. So, u Mrs. Leonardi, thank you. Um and kind of two, well,
first I want to thank my colleagues for their support um of the BB item today. I I'm very very grateful. Um and as Miss Bulman said, I look forward to supporting um many more projects to deliver results for our kids throughout the district. Uh so, thank you for that.
um to the discussion about like the length of our board meetings. Um I do want to to point out that sometimes questions arise like in the meeting. Um so someone one of my colleagues is asking question and it brings a question
to my mind. Um I'm wondering you know if we need to look at our policy uh if we're not if not all of us are abiding by the policy of submitting questions beforehand. um you know, we really don't have any
way to enforce it. Um so I'm wondering if we need to look at that. Um and I guess my concern about next week, I know, uh our chair asked that the next time we're having a conversation about redefining, it's not on a packed agenda.
Um and it looks like I I'm we have our master board training at the first part of the meeting. Correct. And then we have the code of student conduct and 8022 policies that like have elicited a lot of conversation in the past. So I'm just I don't know if we feel like we
have enough time again for redefining schools for next week. Um I know that our chair had asked that it not be on a packed agenda. So is it possible to make redefining first on that agenda item so that that'd be awesome
because it's always last and that's the problem. We can put it first. Right now, we have it slotted for an hour and a half, the 4:30 end time for the for the day. We can do two hours, make the end time five. I'd rather put it first and then if we have to bump one of those other things.
Well, remember you the just to remind the board, the other two items are board priorities. Yep. But so is redefining. Well, one is student code of conduct and the other one is 8020. We got this. So, I I guess I my my
larger point is, you know, I understand that our meetings are long. Um, but we do have, as uh the chief of staff said, we have some priorities for next week. And I I don't want to rush those
conversations either. And so, I I appreciate the challenge and the goal of having shorter meetings, but there are some times where we do have to have these longer conversations that are more thought out. Um, and I I struggle with the idea of limiting um those
conversations. And I would like to point out I only pulled four items today. So um I you know I I just think when when we need to have these longer conversations, we need to have the time and space to do that. Um so I just I appreciate the challenge and the goal. Um but I think we have a right to have
those longer conversations. Thank you. Seeing no other agenda items or business, I adjourn the meeting. Have a great week.