Heat. Hey, Heat. Birthday down. This special school board meeting of the school board of Broward County, Florida is now called to order. Dr. Hutburn, are there any items to be added to the agenda?
>> No items to be added to the agenda. >> May I have a motion and a second to close the agenda? >> Second. Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. All in favor of closing the agenda, say I. >> Those opposed say no. The agenda is now closed. May I have a motion and a second to approve all final orders?
>> Second. Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Hixon. Is there discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of approving all final orders say I. Those opposed say no. All final orders have been approved. I now declare the special school meeting is adjourned.
>> Can we I feel Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Welcome to today's regular schoolboard meeting. This regular meeting of the school board of Broward County, Florida is now called to order. Our primary
focus is to create a safe and productive environment for all participants. Please be reminded of the ex exit doors that are clearly marked for emergency exiting. While in the boardroom, refrain from obstructing the exit doors. All attendees must occupy a seat with the exception of media. Once the boardroom
has reached its seating capacity, attendees will be directed to a designated overflow area. Upon activation of the fire alarm system, please exit from the room in an orderly fashion and continue to exit the building and remain outside until the authority that has jurisdiction has
deemed the building safe to return. Thank you for your cooperation. Board member Aladf will now introduce her school to lead us in the pledge of allegian pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mrs. Alhadef. >> Yes, I'd like to introduce my school for the pledge of allegiance of the flag.
Please stand. Please stand. >> I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> You may be seated. Thank you. Hunt Elementary School. >> Thank you. Board member Zean has requested a moment of silence. Dr. Zean. >> Thank you, chair. Um
I talk about every once in a while about my dad's career in uh as a school psychologist in Broward. It had a big big impact on me and a member of his community, a school psychologist, has passed. So, I'd like to speak in memory
of Dr. Darian Valdez Mooney. She was a dedicated bilingual school psychologist here in Broward County Schools since 2003. A month ago today, she passed after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer. Throughout her career, Darian touched
the lives of countless students, families, interns, and colleagues through her unwavering compassion, expertise, and commitment to serving others. She was a fierce advocate for students and families, particularly our English language learner population. Her passion for equity and access was reflected not only in her daily work,
but also in the numerous trainings, initiatives, projects she led to improve outcomes and opportunities for multilingual learners. Darian earned her doctorate. Her dissertation was focused on English language learners, but she rarely referred to herself as Dr. Valdez
Mooney, a testimony to her humility, intelligence, and dedication. All of these earned her sincere admiration and respect from everyone who had the privilege of working with her. Her legacy extends far beyond professional accomplice. She'll be remembered for her kindness, strength, generosity, and the
care she showed to everyone she encountered. She was a beloved daughter, a loving wife, a wonderful sister, and in the way that all of us can understand who've done this. She was a devoted mother, the center of her life, Estabbon. The impact Darian made on our school,
students, family, and community will continue to be felt for years to come. Her dedication to helping others, her advocacy for underserved population, and her compassionate spirit mark her lasting legacy. Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with her family, friends, and colleagues, and all those whose lives were deeply touched by
her presence. May her memory be a blessing and an inspiration to us all. Thank you, chair. >> Thank you. >> The superintendent released a revised agenda with certain changes for this meeting and published it on the school district's website. The chair finds,
pursuant to section 120.525, Florida statutes that good cause exists for such changes and accepts the revised agenda. May the chair have a motion and a second to close the agenda. >> So move. >> Second. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixen. All in favor of closing the agenda say I.
>> Those opposed say no. >> I. >> The agenda is now closed. May the chair have a motion and a second to approve the minutes for the following meetings. April 7th, 2026, special school board meeting. April 21st, 2026 special school board meeting. April
28th, 2026 special school board meeting. May 5th, 2026 special school board meeting. >> So moved. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Thompson. Is there any discussion? All in favor of approving the minutes as listed say I. >> I.
>> All opposing. >> I. >> The minutes are approved. As we prepare to begin our regular schoolboard meeting, we are reminded that our vision is 100% proficiency for all students. As an A-rated school district, our vital task is to sustain this achievement. We will continue educating all students to
reach their highest potential. Our theme this year is believe, empower, achieve. One Broward. We will soon hear from our registered public speakers. We ask that decorum be maintained and civility and respect be shown during public comment. Our general counsel will assist the chair in maintaining decorum during this period. We also want to remind our
public speakers of the rules and expectations regarding the agenda public comments portion of the of the regular school board meeting as well as board policy. Attorney Dupri Bruno, please explain the rules of public comment. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, and good morning. Public comment is governed by school board policy 1020 and is intended
to provide input on the board's duties, decisions, and the overall operation of the school district. The school board is viewpoint neutral during public comment per schoolboard policy 1020. The procedures are as follows. Speakers must state their name, city of residence, and whether they are a lobbyist before
beginning their remarks. All remarks must be directed to the board as a whole. The board will not respond to or engage with speakers during public comment, and no action will be taken unless the item is on the agenda. During the AM and PM general speaking time, public speakers will have up to three
minutes to address non-aggenda items for a maximum total time of 30 minutes allowed for public comment, a maximum of 10 speakers. Dur the during the agenda speaking time, speakers will have up to three minutes per item and up to one minute on motions or amendments per meeting with an additional one minute if
the motion is introduced. The chair may adjust the order of speakers if necessary. A visible timer will be used and the microphone will be turned off when the time expires. Speakers must limit their comments to matters related to schoolboard business and for agenda
items must remain relevant to the specific item. Comments may not address matters that are pending litigation, quasi judicial proceedings, active investigations, or administrative hearings. Solicitation and lobbying activities must comply with applicable schoolboard policies. Abusive language
defined as profanity, threatening, or name calling is prohibited. In addition, clapping, hissing, booing, shouting, yelling, or other disruption from the audience are not allowed. Speakers who fail to follow proper decorum in the chambers will be ruled out of order by the board chair. Failure to comply may
result in the microphone being turned off or a recess being called. After a warning, the chair may also direct removal from the meeting by law enforcement or the sergeant-at-arms and may also direct removal of the building. Madame Chair, thank you.
>> Thank you, Attorney Dri Bruno. The board wants to hear from you and we appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a respectful, orderly, and productive meeting environment. We will now briefly recess the meeting to uh usher some special guests into the room.
At this time, we will pause for a segment that will become a regular part of our meeting agendas. is student recognitions. This time in the agenda will be reserved for the board to reaffirm its commitment to our why, our students. We will recognize our students for their amazing
accomplishments that continue to make this district and our community proud. Whether it is academic performance in the classroom, participation on any of our sports teams, devoting time in countless co-curricular and extracurricular clubs and activities, or through their selfless community
service, our students continually demonstrate why families should choose the best choose BCPS. We all thank the teachers, coaches, sponsors, school leaders, district supports personnel, and the family
members for all they do to assist and support our students. I now turn it over to Dr. Heepburn and staff to introduce today's student recognition. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. As superintendent of schools, it gives me great pleasure to feature our students and brag on their accomplishments. Just
over a week ago, we hosted 44 graduation ceremonies, witnessed over 15,000 high school seniors and over 1,000 adult post-secondary program completers cross the stage to receive their diplomas and certificates. Today, we are bringing student recognitions back to our meetings. The back-to-back district A
rating with no deer F schools are the hallmarks of our students academic performance. Um, but Broward County Public Schools has a rich tradition of state championships in several sports, co-curricular competitions, and extracurricular clubs and activities. Today, we are featuring a few of our
high schools for their dominance with their student athletes. While we're exceptionally proud of all of them, there are three that we will recognize today. We want to thank the department of athletics and student activities for all their work to to facilitate this for the district. With that, we will begin with Dr. Hoess and the Dillard High
School girls track team. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Heeper. Congratulations to Coach Davidson Gil and the Dillard High School 6 through 12 girls track and field team on capturing their third consecutive Florida High
School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship. This is awesome. I feel like I don't want to stop clapping. Now, this incredible accomplishment is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and perseverance of our student athletes and
coaching staff. Winning a state championship is an extraordinary achievement, but winning three consecutive class 3A state titles is the mark of a truly elite program. Coach Gil's outstanding leadership and commitment to the excellence to
excellence have helped establish a championship culture that continues to inspire our school and community. We are proud of the young woman who represented Dillard High School 6 through 12 with determination, sportsmanship, and
Panther pride throughout the season. Congratulations once again to Coach Gil and the Lady Panthers on this historic achievement. Your hard work has earned your place among the very best in Florida track and field. Three consecutive Class 3A state
championships. That's a legacy of excellence. Joining us today to represent the team and the school are several members of the state championship uh team, phenomenal coach Davidson Gil and members of his coaching
staff, the dedicated athletic director Sher Ramsey. Representing Mr. Broomfield is is the proud assistant principal Amamira Polard. Thank you Dr. Hoes. We will now briefly recess for a photo.
Heat. Heat. We're back. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, next we will go to Miss Thompson for Flanigan High School. >> Thank you, Superintendent, and with my Flanigan Green. It is with great pride that I present the Charles W. Flanigan
High School State Championship boys track team. Yes, they are the first boys team in the school's history to win a state championship for a state track. For a track, sorry.
Flanigan scored 77.5 points, winning by over 24 points at the 2026 FHSAA 4A track and field competition, which featured 153 teams, which means we dominated. Um,
this team came in first place in the regional track meet this year. For two consecutive years, they came in first place at the district track meet. For three consecutive years, they came in first place at the county track meet. Shout out athletes are Raymond Hawkins, the Suns Sentinel track and field
athlete of the year. Jacob Thomas, the Miami Herald track and field athlete of the year. Jorge Perez is the BCAA South Division athlete of the year. And Malcolm Spence, the BCAA track meet
MVP. Coaching honors were bestowed upon coach Jason Carter, the Suns Sentinel and Miami Herald track and field coach of the year and coach Marvin Tatim, the BCAA South Division Coach of the Year.
Joining us today to represent the team and the school are several me members of the state championship team, phenomenal coaches Ja Carter and Marvin Tan Ham. I'm sorry if I'm butchering your names. The dedicated athletic director Brian Cook, and representing Mr. Fatu, the
proud principal and assistant principal, Lauren Jack. Thank you so much. We will now briefly recess for a quick photo. Down. Say yeah. I see there. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. And now I turn it over to Miss Alade to introduce Marjorie Stoman Douglas High School. >> Good morning. Marjorie Stoman Douglas High School baseball is more than just a
name. It is a family, a dynasty, and a brand recognized across the nation. The program has accomplished a feat unmatched anywhere in the country, capturing six consecutive
FHSAA7A state championships. During this historic run, the team compiled a remarkable 59game winning streak and posted an outstanding 174-7
overall record while recording a 36-1 mark in state playoff competition over six years, outscoring opponents 265-78. Beyond the six straight state fifth
titles, the program also earned four national championships during that span. Under the leadership of coach Fitzgerald, a fivetime coach of the year, the
program has developed elite talent producing five MLB draft selections and five allameans. This has truly been a decade of dominance. Throughout this remarkable
stretch, Marjorie Stman Douglas baseball has never finished lower than six nationally, cementing its place among the premier high school baseball programs in the nation. The legacy built through
excellence, consistency, and commitment has established the program as one of the greatest dynasties in high school baseball history. Joining us here today to represent the team and the school are one of the phenomenal
players, Todd Sturbach, head coach Todd Fitzgerald, assistant coach Von Stbbach, athletic director Al Guzo, and proud principal Michelle Keford. Congratulations
All right, thank you. We will recess for the last time to take a brief photo. Mhm. What a way to start the day. Thank you again to all of our students. Thank you to all of our students and all of the adults who pour into our students
and and make these opportunities and achievements possible. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. The board identified any agenda items they wish to address in advance of the meeting. The following consent items have been pulled for
discussion. H1, H2, A1, A9, B2, B3, C1, E1, F3, L1, M3, M4, M5, O2, 03, 05, and T1. At this time, may the chair have a motion and a second to pass the consent
items that have not been pulled for discussion. >> So move. >> I need to read them into the record, please. A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A10, A1, F1, F2, G1, M1, M2, M6, M8, M10,
M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, 01, 04, 06, and S1. Moved by Miss Thompson, seconded by Dr. Zean. Are there any registered speakers on the items that have not been pulled for discussion? >> No speakers. All in favor of approving the consent agenda items that have not
been pulled for discussion say I. >> Those opposed say no. >> I. >> Items pass unanimously. And I believe we have Mrs. Alhidef and Miss Rupert on the line. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Um at this time, may the chair have a
motion and a second to pass agenda item H1. >> So moved. >> Moved by Miss Tom uh moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Thompson. Is there public comment on H1? >> Madam Chair, there are five public speakers. First, we have Delvin King,
followed by Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh, >> followed by Nicole, I'm sorry, Nicholas Morris. Delvin King, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh. Nicholas Morris. >> So, if you heard your name, please approach the podium. I know we have some
people in the overflow room, so we'll give them a minute. All right. >> Good morning. >> Ready? Good morning, Delvin King, U PMPO Beach. Um, I have a few things to say about these new appointments.
And before I state this, I see now um we added a nice little red um covering here, so we can't come any closer. Um, I'll speak about this at public speaking, but I'm I'm I'm just tired of talking to y'all way back here
on this side. So, I see that you put a new principal at Blanchila High School and didn't finish conducting business as usual. Now that the principal is gone, how are we going to hold him accountable?
He's gone on a um a leave or he he res No, he resigned. And we still have a active investigation at Blanchila High School. You're bringing a new principal in. You're bringing a new assistant principal in. And
the investigation is still going on. But you know what you did do? You removed an AP at Blanch High School during this investigation. You bought him back. You didn't say anything. You
didn't say anything to this community that you were removing him. You didn't give us another assistant principal while he was gone. You just said, "Make it work. Make it do what it do." We need to make sure that we hold these
principles accountable. the new principles that's getting ready to take their positions. We need to hold them accountable. During that whole investigation, you should have removed every principal that had something to do uh their school
was under investigation. And if you didn't want to remove them, you should have at least switched their schools. You should have moved one principal to another school, one principal to another school. It was so many schools being used. And you telling me to this day, Mr. Williams, the principal at Blanchita
High School, is gone to Texas and ain't have nothing to do with nothing. These are illegal facility rentals and you just going to bring in a new one like ain't nothing happened. And when we talk about resignations and
all the other things, I'm going to address some data that I looked at on how we don't follow policies and procedures here in broad schools. To the new principles, congratulations. Job well done. Even though y'all just
went and selected people and just put them in places, y'all didn't confer with this community on who we wanted at our schools, what skills we need at our school. That's why we got the problem that we got. Now, Mr. Williams is somebody we did not want
at Blanch Elely. He had no experience on the high school level. And this the reason why our school is destroyed and that we had illegal facility usage. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> Good morning. Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh,
Plantation, Florida. There's a lot to object to in this item and there are some things um that were positive in this item. like I saw somebody in the general counsel's office who is always pleasant when I call over there. Um, finally got a raise. I didn't
know she made so little, but um, congratulations there. And then there are these faux demotions. MGT recommended consolidating positions because you have too many layers of management. So what does this
district do? They get rid of directors and downgrade people to assistant directors and now they're reporting to executive directors. That is not what they meant because you have to have a hierarchy that makes sense. But I've said it
before and and I read the MGT report and I a lot of what is happening in this item has to do with their recommendations. But like any other vendor, what makes one of the thing other things besides grand jury reports that makes Broward
unique is it doesn't matter how clearly written a recommendation is, staff will find a way to turn it upside down, inside out, and do it all wrong. Um like finding number two where you have fragmented functions. So instead of you streamlining, you're actually
fragmenting more. But I'll mention that in a little bit. Um so there are positions where people were forced into demotions. People do not follow policy around here. Can you direct a point principles? Absolutely. When it's
necessary according to policy in extraordinary circumstances, not just because you don't want public input. And for all the people in here yesterday, it sounds a lot like the board chair declared war on the public as far as policy 1020.
Challenge accepted. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> Good morning. My name is Nicholas Norris and I am a u resident of Lauderdale Lakes. I am also proud to have served as a teacher at Lauder Hill Paul Turner
Elementary School for the last two years. Today I respectfully ask that the reported demotion of Mrs. Michelle Ingram Mcnite be reconsidered. Why? Results and achievements. Under Mrs. Mcnight's leadership, Lill Paul Turner
Elementary School has risen from a C to an A. Today, our schools rank ranks among the highest performing schools in Broward County, including uh being number three in mathematics and eight number eight in science and data gains. Those accomplishments reflect a leader
who uh set high expectations, built strong systems, and never stopped believing in our students, our culture and community. The story of Lahill Paul Turner is bigger than data. Mrs. Mcnite has created an environment where students feel supported, teachers feel valued, and families feel welcome. Her
leadership and has fostered uh trust, teamwork, and shared belief that excellence is possible for every student. Staff support and loyalty. The evidence of her impact extends beyond school grades. I
have here with me and I've also emailed you all uh statements that uh are signed petitions that are signed by 43 out of 60 uh faculty and staff members which is approximately 72% of our staff who stands in solid uh who stands united in
support of Mrs. Mcnite. It is earned leadership like this is earned through service, stability and strong character. Mr. Mcnite's leadership has personally changed my life. Because of her support, I'm now a certified ESC teacher. Also,
I've entered educational lead educational leadership program where she has been mentoring me. And I've al also earned a scholarship that has helped me prepare for my next stage in my career. Great leaders do more than manage schools. They mentor, motivate, and develop future leaders. Mrs. Mcnite has
done exactly that. some fair questions I want us to consider uh and also full evaluation as we consider this decision. I believe it is important to look at the whole picture. That picture includes achievement, culture, staff support, student success and lives transformed.
We must we must ask some questions. Have all factors been fully considered? What support and culture were provided? Were opportunities for growth offered to her? Are any similar situations being evaluated consistently?
My final appeal is that uh today the results of Lill Paul Turner are visible. Our students are succeeding. Our staff is growing. Our culture is thriving. Our community is benefiting. Thank you so much. >> To close us out, we have Melissa Banner
followed by Willlet Smith. >> Melissa Banner, PMPO Beach. Good morning, school students. I'm sorry. Good morning, superintendent and members of the board. My name is Melissa Banner and I proudly serve as a Broward County
Schools employee. I am part of the staff of the foster care and prevention services program. I am here today not only as an employee but also as an advocate for the children and families who depend on our services every day. I come before you because I believe this issue is about more than a personnel
decision. It is about fairness, integrity, and the values we demonstrate as an organization. In schools, we teach students that hard work matters. We tell them that dedication, leadership, and service leads to success. We encourage them to earn opportunities through their
efforts and their results. As as adults, we have a responsibility to uphold those same principles. Under the leadership of Mr. Henry Smith. Our foster care and prevention team has achieved extraordinary results for Broward County for Broward County's most vulner
vulnerable students. Our program was recognized as partner of the year by the children's services council. This year, Mr. Smith was nominated for citizen of the year from student from children services council. Our team conducted more than 4,840
child abuse records review and provided direct support to over 900 foster care students throughout the district. We helped foster and abused youth trans transitioning to college by securing donations that provided them essential items for their dorm rooms, ensuring that they could begin the next chapter
of their lives with dignity. Just last month, our depart our I'm sorry, our program brought together more than 100 school social workers, mental health professionals, and community partners to strengthen services for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and
trauma. These accomplishments represent real children, real families, and real lives. That's why it was deeply concerning when the next day after our the success of our symposium, Mr. Smith was informed that he would be replaced not because of poor performance, not
because of goals that were not met, and not because children were not being served. When proven leadership and measurability success are set aside despite a record of excellent, it raises important questions about fairness and organizational integrity. The children
we serve deserve deserve stability. The families who rely on these services deserve consistency and employees the employees who dedicate their lives to this work deserve to know that performance and results matter. Today I respectfully ask the board to consider
the impact of decision to remove Mr. Smith from his position. Mr. Under his leadership we have we have to ensure that the values we teach our students fairness, accountability, integrity and excellence are reflected in our actions as well. Thank you for your time and
your consideration. I'm a little short. Okay. Good morning, superintendent and esteemed members of the board. My name is Wlette Smith from Miami date county and I am here this morning addressing you with humility as an employee within the foster care and
prevention services program within the student services department under the leadership of Mr. Henry Smith. no relation. My concern stems from the decision to release Mr. Smith from his position. When Mr. Smith joined the child abuse program, he brought with him
over 14 years of welfare experience from childnet and the department of children and families, both agencies with with whom Broward schools remain in direct contact. He was initially hired for his extensive knowledge and professionalism
in child welfare. He now faces job loss seemingly as a result of these very qualifications. I'm so sorry. Foster care and prevention services merged with child abuse and Mr. Smith because of his resume and
references were was fairly integrated into the new position as supervisor for the newly formed foster care and prevention services only to now be replaced. The foster care prevention services program supports our most vulnerable
students, specifically those involved in child abuse cases with over 4,800 received calls this school year from the abuse hotline to the department of children and families and subsequently to our office
and foster care which oversees the student services move the student services movement in collaboration with childnet where he previously served as a supervisor. He remains vital. Mr. Smith continued continues his roles as a
professional safeguard for Broward County Schools is essential given his dedicated career commitment to protecting the children in our district, thereby ensuring that no child in our district is ever at risk to have a significant incident. I employ at least
one to take a real look before making final decisions that could impact that could have a lasting impact on our most vulnerable population of students. Please give it a consideration. >> That concludes public speaking.
>> Thank you. Um board member comment. Miss Hixon. >> Thank you. Um, first I'd like to congratulate the 154 retirees that are on the list um for this board meeting. Thank you so much for your time and
dedication to the district and wish you much um success, rest and peace in your new journey. And the second thing is I have a question. So on pages um let's see it starts
um where appointments title changes and salary adjustments that whole section that starts on page nine there are a variety of places where it says pay protected and we have received a number of emails um I think people have a different idea of what pay protrotected
means so Dr. Heburn, can you kind of explain? >> Yes, >> that. >> Thank you, Miss Six. And uh excellent question. Uh for clarification for the board and for the public, pay protected means in in policy um when a um employees is transitioned from one job
to the next, their pay is protected for 6 months. Um during that six-month window, we will evaluate um uh what the pay will reduce to um by the end by uh January, by the end of December. >> Thank you. So just looking in here,
there was a lot of NAS in some places. There was um a pay salary that stayed the same on both times. So it's not really consistent. When this when moving forward, could you possibly please include even if the salary doesn't change so people know what it is and
then maybe in the pay protected put the salary and then an asterisk that says pay protected for six months or something so it's just a little more transparent to the public. Yes, absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Rupert.
>> Um, thank you, Madam Chair and, uh, general counsel. I wanted to recuse myself on the vote um, on page at least 96 if we could um, I move that we set my daughter aside uh, from the main item
and then um, so I will be able to to vote for the other people on H1. Um and then um I will abstain from the uh the second vote which is just my daughter. Can you walk me through that? >> So madame chair um if the board my
recommendation is that we remove that particular individual and then do the regular vote on H1 and then we can come back and vote on that particular individual. >> Okay. So Miss Rupert, do you want to make your motion? >> Uh yes. I would like to uh set aside the
name of Brena Roupert um in order for me to recuse myself in the in a vote after the main item. >> Second >> motion made my best Rupert seconded by Dr. Zean. Public comment on the motion board member discussion.
All in favor of the motion to separate uh Miss Rupert's daughter say I. >> I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. Motion passes unanimously. Any other comments, Miss Rupert? >> Um,
I think we have to vote now on the main item. >> Well, we Miss Thompson has comments before we vote on the main item. >> Okay, >> Miss Thompson. >> Thank you, chair. I just wanted to say um thank you to all the principles of
the schools that were um closed or consolidated this year for your patience and um for your leadership with your staff uh really supporting everyone through this change in your community. Um, and for the the principles that are
new or are currently going to be accepting new students, I look forward to partnering with those in district 2 to make sure all of our communities feel welcomed in their new home. And I also wanted to say thank you to Mr. Strauss for all your leadership in the south and
welcome to Dr. Fleming for coming to the south. I expect a lot from you and I'm looking looking forward to our partnership. Um, and that is it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Hoes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
So, um, Dr. Heburn, I have a a few questions. Um, and I know that as board members, um, you know, we do visit a lot of schools, but we may not spend as much time as say uh those from the regional
office and so on and so forth. Uh but we do stop in for an hour or so at different schools and so we may not be aware of everything that's taking place. Um that's would be more of an operation issue. So just so um we can get more
clarification. Dr. Heepburn describe the support and guidance that's given to leaders, principles and so on prior to um any type of demotion. Yeah, thank you for the thank you for the question, Dr. Holus. There's a um a
plethora of of um support uh specifically helping leaders build their capacity. It it starts with their director who's their direct supervisor and and majority of their role is actually to coach and support um because they're readily available to principles and their leadership team. And then the
district also has principal coaches um that also provide a wraparound service to to leaders who need additional support for for various aspects of of their responsibilities that may that they may not be fulfilling. Um and so you you and also the regional um
superintendent as well and and additional members of their team. So there's tons of support that we provide to to school leaders and their leadership teams. >> Okay. So prior to to demoting a leader um would you say that the district would have provided a fair level of support
and it would be in the best interest of the district to demote such individuals such as a principal or any other leader. >> Yep. Absolutely provide um lots of support o over years. Um and if a leader is not responding to that coaching and
support um we have to make tough decisions and you know those are complex matters but we have to make tough decisions. >> Okay. So when a leader does not respond in a manner that would be beneficial to staff and students as far as support that's when the motion occurs. Is that correct? >> Correct.
>> Okay. Okay. So, do you believe that all of the demotions on here um that these individuals were given appropriate support and the response to those support um were not substantive enough uh to continue in the current position? >> Correct.
>> Okay. >> Um so do you um just a couple more questions. >> Dr. Holus, I believe Dr. Fulton wanted to add something. Go ahead, >> Dr. Fton. >> Good morning. Angela Fton, deputy superintendent. Um the list of people that Dr. Heer mentioned is accurate. I
also want to add we do work depending on the bargaining unit that employee belongs to >> um principles and assistant principles. We also bring in uh BPAA Broward principles and assistant principal association and they work with us to also provide coaching, mentoring and
support as well too. So in addition to internal support, we reach external with their bargaining group to provide support as well and layers of mentoring, coaching, support to be able to uh close whatever skill gaps, leadership gaps
that are appearing with those school leaders. >> Okay. So um Dr. Fulton. So the the principles who are being demoted um is it fair to say that BPA um the that group was involved in in in
monitoring and in assisting with support to develop that leader. >> What I will tell you we we work closely with that uh bargaining group. when there are concerns, we work with them to share what the concerns are, what the expectations we are, what support that
we're going to give. And there are sometimes the support that that person needs, it comes best from that organization. So, we work in conjunction together to make sure all of our employees are supported. But when they get to a point where they don't respond
to the support, then we have to make decisions to ensure that they're operating in the best efficiency from whatever position where they'll be most effective. >> Okay. So that bargaining unit such as the BPA, they are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the the demotion of a principal. >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. And um were there any objections from the bargaining unit with any of the principal demotions that you have that's here today? um you would have to ask them that question, but I will tell you. >> Are you aware of any objection? >> So, no. >> Okay. All right. So, um I'd also like to
ask another question and then I I'll be finished. Um Dr. Heepburn, so when principles and other leaders are demoted, um it's not necessarily a punishment. It it's it's because they're not exercising certain skill sets that's necessary to continue in that position.
So, when they're demoted, are there opportunities for them to develop those skill sets? And do you provide such opportunities that they can grow and and and resume the role if possible to which they were demoted? >> Uh yes. So I can tell you everybody um that's eligible and have the opportunity
to learn, grow, and continue to progress throughout their career. We we don't stifle uh we actually provide support so everybody has an opportunity to to um grow and get promoted through their career. >> Okay. >> Regardless if they hit a stumbling block, that's that's not the end of your career.
>> Understand? and and I believe Dr. Futton if you wanted her go ahead. >> So we have great examples of um some people that were demoted as a principal and went to be assistant principal. I think the key is a the strategic placement that we put. So we try to
place those individuals with a principal that can support them to mentor them to help them grow in their areas where there was some skill skill gaps. And I we have some examples where we've had people that were recently de uh previously demoted but were able to
respond to the support work on the areas of um needs that that that we were speaking to them about and they were able to show that they um have been able to close those skill gaps and position themselves to be a principal again. We have several people that are serving as principles who were once a principal
before were demoted and now a principal now. Uh we wanted to make sure with anybody that is demoted that we place them with a leader that can support them, can mentor them and help them in those areas. And when they show that they're responding and position themselves to be um looked at as a
principal again, we certainly look at them. They are not going into a position and and that's where they're going to reside forever. But if they work with us, work on those skill gaps, they have every opportunity to be promoted again to whatever position that they deem appropriate for them.
>> Okay. So, so Dr. Fulton, so so Dr. Fton, >> Miss Fusco, this is your first warning. Please, let's have Dorm in the audience. >> This is my second warning. >> Okay, we will recess the meeting for 5 minutes. >> Really?
Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. All right, we are back. Dr. Holes, you have the floor. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, just to um summarize what I've heard regarding the
demotion of leaders, principals, and others. Um I'm hearing that uh adequate support is given throughout the process of any concern with a school leader or other leaders. um if it's necessary
demotions occur to um work on the skill set of those individuals and um normally for principles specifically organizations and groups bargaining groups such as BPAA are involved in the collaborative effort to
develop that individual and upon demotion should that occur that those individuals are given adequate support to build those skill sets to resume their role. Um, would that be a fair summary, Dr. Heper? >> Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion on each one? >> All right. So, we'll vote on the item and then we'll vote on Miss Rupert's uh motion. So, all in favor of H1 with the
separation um say I. >> All oppose say no. The item with with the separation passes unanimously with Miss Rupert and Mrs. Alhadaf on the phone now. Um, could I get a We'll take a vote on the separated
name, Miss Rupert's daughter. So, all in favor Oh, sorry. >> Oh, sorry. Thank you for clarifying that um with No, she did not. She because that she didn't >> separated a name. >> She'll recuse herself from this one.
Um, all in favor of the >> sorry, >> Mr. Preo, do we need to move the name? >> You you've already separated it with the last motion. And just for the record to be clear, Miss Rupert is abstaining, not voting on this because of a conflict which she's previously identified, but I
just want to make sure it's on the record and she will u complete the appropriate forms. >> I believe the name is Brenda Rupert. Correct, Miss Rupert? >> Brena Brena. Brena Rupert. All in favor of Miss uh Brena Roupert say I. >> I.
>> All oppose say no. Motion passes with Miss Roupert recusing herself. Is Mrs. Alhadaf on the line? Okay. So, Mrs. Alhadf is not on the line. All right. Could I get a motion and a second on item H2? >> So, move. >> Oh, sorry. One second. A little bit
off off my game today. Um, the chair would like to take a moment to recognize new staff appointments. We would like to congratulate each of you for your career advancement with Broward County Public Schools. We value you and your families. If we could give the appointees a round of applause. >> Dr. Heper, can you please share a few
remarks and introduce the new leaders? Yes, absolutely. Um, first of all, I want to thank all of uh folks who are being promoted and taking on new roles. I'm looking forward to your to your leadership and supporting our district. But I do have eight principles
uh who were former assistant principles. And as I call your name, u please come to the podium and you have about like 30 seconds to I know they probably gave you a time. I'm give you 30 seconds. Uh, first off we have a new Apollo Middle principal, Shhatrak Henry.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. So, good morning members of the school board, Superintendent Dr. Heepburn, district leaders, families, friends, and fellow new principles. I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next
principal of Apollo Middle School. I want to thank Dr. Heburn and thank uh Deputy Superintendent Fulton for giving me this opportunity, for believing in me, and for allowing me to serve in this capacity. I'd like to thank my wife, Mahelia, and my two children, Jacob and
Jordan, my mother who's probably watching online crying right now. Uh my family, my close friends, and I want to thank you for your love, your support, your encouragement, unwavering, and I wish to share this honor with you. To my Everglaze family, uh, thank you for more
than two decades of memories, friendships, and opportunities. Everglaze will always hold a special place in my heart. To my Tabernacle 7th Day Adventist Church family, thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the many leaders, mentors,
colleagues, and friends who have poured into me over the years, invested in my growth, encouraged me during my challenging times, and believed in me even when I doubted myself. Your wisdom, your support, and example have helped me shape into the leader that I am today.
Above all, I want to thank God for his grace and his faithfulness. I'm almost done. I promise. I promise. I promise. I'm truly excited to join the Apollo Middle School community, and I look forward to working alongside the students, the staff, the families, and
the community to ensure that every single rocket has the opportunity to soar to new heights. Thank you, and have a wonderful day. >> Thank you. Next, uh, uh, new principal at Broadview Elementary, Susanna Cruz. >> I'll be brief, I promise. Good morning,
Dr. Heburn and board members. I want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve as principal at Broadview. I have had the privilege of being the assistant principal there for the last year, and I have gotten to know the families and the community, and I love them all. So dearly, I look forward to the great work
that we will continue to do. Um my goal as principal is to make sure that all students feel safe, supported, and successful. And lastly, a shout out to my family because they are always behind me. Thank you.
>> Next, uh Charles Drew Elementary new principal, Rashika Ro. Good morning uh to the school board superintendent, deputy superintendent, and members of the BCPS community. It is truly an honor and privilege to stand before you today as the proud principal,
not acting, but proud principal of Charles R. Drew Elementary School in the city of Pompo. Since being appointed as the acting in October, this journey has been one of growth, learning, and tremendous support. I would like to extend my
sincere gratitude to the regional superintendent. I'm going to try not to cry, Dr. Fleman, and my director, Mr. Santana, for your guidance, encouragement, belief in me throughout this journey. Your support has made me has made a lasting impact. Shouts out to
the north and particularly my group, my cohort, Mr. Santana's group. I think the data shows that we have most A's in all the regions. Oh yes. Yes. Um I think that's why you guys are taking uh you know Dr. Plumbly to the south
sir. >> Oh wow. >> Because we have the most A's. But you know I think um you know Mr. Strauss you'll take us. You'll take all the schools from you know higher. And to Mr. Santana I want to say that we landed the
plane. Sir, I am incredibly proud of the students and teachers and staff and families and our community partners. Together, we created a culture of excellence that has allowed Charles Arju to maintain our predicted a status two years in a row. Um, this achievement is
a testament to the dedication and commitment to everyone who pours into our students, all our lovely staff each day. Um, I want to thank you for your unwavering support and believe in our mission. and I am honored to continue to serve this school community and thank
you. >> Thank you, Miss Ro. Also, looks like competition is on. I love it. I love it. Uh, new principal at Cypress Elementary, Claudine Dumbar Crearyy. >> Good morning, Dr. Heburn, schoolboard members, and other distinguished
district leaders. Thank you for the opportunity to return home as Dr. Fulton said to Cypress Elementary where my leadership journey began many years ago to the home of the Owls. Cypress has a very very special
place in my heart and I plan to continue building on the strong foundational uh excellence that we have built o over the years. I'm looking forward to working with our amazing dedicated staff, students, and families. I would also
like to uh extend um my sincere gratitude to two fabulous principles um Miss Vanessa Schneer and Miss Tara Desanowisk who've mentored me along u my leadership journey. I would also like to thank my amazing family,
my loudest cheerleaders. Um, again, thank you for the opportunity and I cannot wait to serve as the principal of Cypress Elementary. >> Thank you. Next, uh, new principal of Mirror Lake Elementary, Mimi Jensen.
>> Good morning. I want to thank you for your trust, your confidence in appointing me as the official principal of Mirror Lake Elementary. I have been acting since October and we have done amazing things. I am honored to serve
the plantation students, the staff and their families and I look forward to continuing our work together. I want to thank you again for this amazing opportunity and for your continued support. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> New principal Parkidge Elementary, Terry Glford. >> Hey now. Good morning, Superintendent Heepburn Broward. uh Broward school board members and my colleagues. It is both an honor
and a privilege to stand before you today as the new principal at Park Ridge Elementary School. First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to supant superintendent Veta Hudge as well as director Dr. Ba Stewart
for entrusting in me an incredible opportunity to serve the students in and staff and families at Park Ridge. I would also like to personally thank my mentor and dear friend Rhonda Paris for your encouragement and unwavering belief
in me and Joe Balunz. I am deeply grateful for your guidance and support throughout my leadership journey. As an instructional leader, I am committed to ensuring rigorous, engaging instruction in every classroom, Dr. Fulton, and keeping student achievement at the
center of all we do. To our families and the Deerfield Beach community, I look forward to partnering with you as we continue to strengthen the connection between school and community. Thank you for your trust and support. Brower County Schools. I'm excited about this
journey and thank you to my family and my husband Jason and my son Brennan. >> Thank you. New principal Piper High School, Matthew Lewis. >> Good morning. First, I'd like to thank
the members of the Broward County School Board. Superintendent Dr. Heburn, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Fulton for this opportunity and for the confidence you had in order to place me that you placed in me in order for me to have this opportunity. I am honored and humbled to serve as principal of Piper High School.
Piper is a school with a proud tradition, dedicated students, talented staff, and a supportive community. and I look forward to building upon the positive momentum already underway started by Marie Hodigan and working alongside with our students, staff, families, and community partners to
build Piper High School into the school of excellence that the community we serve deserves. So, thank you for your trust, your support, and the opportunity to serve. And I'm excited for what lies ahead. Thank you. Thank you, sir. and with new principal
whisper whispering pines center Dr. Jeannie Thewell. Good morning. I would like to begin by thanking the Broward School Board, superintendent, district leadership, and this incredible community for your support, encouragement, and belief in me
throughout the last decade. Every opportunity, every challenge, and every lesson has helped shape the leader I am today. I am especially grateful to the mentors who poured into me, challenged me, and reminded me that growth happens when we step outside of our comfort zones. Your guidance has left has has
left an indelible mark on my journey. To my husband and daughter, thank you for your love, patience, and unwavering support. You have sacrificed so much along the way. And thank you for sharing me with my other best friend, my laptop.
Even after I I've spent a full day at work, I could not do this without you guys. As a daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, I grew up watching my parents work tirelessly to create opportunities for our family. My father, with only a fifth grade
education, instilled in me humility, pride, and the value of hard work. My mother, a high school dropout who later became a a successful business owner, taught me resilience, determination, and never to give up. I stand here today because of them. I stand on their
shoulders. As I reflect on my career, I can honestly say that every experience in this district has been different, but each one has been meaningful. Every role from ESC specialist, Elmo magnet coordinator, and Latinos in action teacher to assistant principal, and
every school from Boyd H. Anderson High School to the College Academy at Broward College and lastly the historic Blanch Elie High School has prepared me for this opportunity this very moment. Thank you for believing in me. I am
honored, humbled, and excited for what lies ahead at the wonderful Whispering Pines Education Center. As the new principal, I promise to lead with integrity, serve with purpose, and make you all proud. I am
so grateful. >> Thank you. And congratulations again to everybody. Madam Chair, that concludes introduction of our new leaders. >> Thank you. At this time, we will now recess this regular school board meeting for a board photo with the new staff appointments. Hey,
hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Grand. Hey. Heat. Heat. All right, we are back and we are at our time certain for item B3. So, could I get a motion to second item B3? >> So, second
>> moved by Dr. Zeman, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on B3. >> No speakers. >> Um board member comment. Dr. Hoes. >> All right. >> Okay. Madame Chair, am I doing Dr. Cooper or Dr. Hajj first?
>> Up to you. >> Okay. Awesome. All right. Is uh um Mr. Sullivan, is Dr. Cooper here with us? Okay, awesome. So, we're going to do Dr. Cooper first. And I would like to uh
this is a proclamation given to Dr. Lacricia Cooper and her team. I have to tell you um uh Dr. Cooper uh was brought to my attention initially by Commissioner Pam Beasley of the uh city of Fort Lauderdale because of the good
work that she and her team has done. and the commissioner uh uh um Miss Pam Beasley is a champion of the program um that uh Dr. uh Cooper and her team uh is involved in. So um I'd like to read this
proclamation in recognition and thank you Commissioner Pam Beasley for bringing this to my attention if you're listening. Uh whereas Dr. Lacricia Cooper, supervisor of college, career, and life readiness within the school counseling department of Broward County
Public Schools, alongside the dedicated college and career and life readiness team has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to student success through strategic collaboration, purposeful partnership, and a shared vision for expanding
college and career opportunities for all students. And whereas through the collective leadership, innovation, and dedication of Dr. Cooper and the college career and life readiness team, Broward County Public Schools has strengthened finan financial aid access for students
and families by supporting FASA assistance efforts across schools, resulting in a current 45% completion rate, reflecting a 12% increase over the same time last year. Whereas in January 2026, Dr. Cooper and the college career
and life readiness team played a critical collaborative role in ensuring Broward County Public Schools student participation in the in the community health strategies 2026 Infinite Scholars and YMCA scholarship fair by working
closely with event organizers and partners to coordinate logistics, communication, and access for students. And whereas through this collaborative effort led by Dr. Cooper and supported by district staff and community partners. More than 2,100 students from
36 high schools, including 21 B County high schools, were transported to attend a 3-day event that provided broad access to post-secary opportunities. Whereas, Dr. Cooper and her team have further expanded student access by cultivating strong relationships with community
partners, resulting in more than $290 million in reported post-secondary funding opportunities, including financial aid awards, bright futures, and community partnership scholarships while providing consistent communication through various college and career um
resources. And now therefore, be it proclaimed that I, District 5 School Board Member and Vice Chair Jeff Holes, and co-sponsored by District 1 School Board Member Mara uh MacArthur Bullman and District 7 schoolboard member Norah Rupert hereby recognize and commend Dr.
Cooper and the college career and life readiness team for their collaborative leadership, dedication to student opportunity, contributions to success of the 2026 Infinite Scholars and YMCA scholarship fair, as well as for their continued efforts to strengthen college
and career readiness for students across Broward County Public Schools. Let's give her a round of applause. And I believe we're going to do both of them. Uh, Madam Chair, and then we'll have photos after. >> At your pleasure. >> Okay. Great. All right. Um, and, uh, may
I also mention that any board member who wishes to co-sponsor, uh, you can see, um, Miss Janice after the meeting and we'll be glad to update the proclamation. >> Miss Hixon has a question. >> Yes. So, not to interrupt all this, but the chief of staff did send us an email.
I did respond to all of these, and I think other people might have as well because the idea was to respond to the chief of staff so you didn't have to reprint the proclamation. So, I don't know where what happened to the disconnect, but I just want you to know
I think a number of us responded to the chief of staff's request. >> Okay. So, um, for those who responded, Miss Janice will make sure that all of the board members who responded are on the updated version. All right. Thank you so much. So, we'll go to
proclamation honoring Dr. Veta Hajj. Okay. Um, >> we haven't even read it yet. >> Let let me see if I know where to begin here. Dr. Veta Hajj, you know, I I wanted to participate in the screaming as well, but I Okay. All right. Whereas
Dr. Veter F Hudge uh brings strong visionary leadership uh shaped by more than 30 years of service to Broward County Public Schools beginning in 1990, including service as a teacher, assistant principal, principal,
turnaround principal, director of accountability, director of strategic achievement, director of service quality, executive director for student services, and assistant superintendent. And these experiences these experience is reflected in her leadership of the
school transfer transformation office since its inception. And whereas through her career Dr. Veda F Hudge has modeled a result focused and businessminded approach to leadership ensuring initiatives are executed with fidelity,
progress is closely monitored and teams are supported and held accountable in service of student success. Whereas under her leadership, school transformation office schools demonstrated significant academic progress, including unprecedented gains
within one year with 55% earning an A or B rating. Uh continued improvement from C to higher grades and the recognition of two school transformation office principles as principal of the year recipients in 2025 and 2026. And whereas
the effectiveness and impact of the school transformation office are driven by the dedicated efforts of its department staff including directors, the assistant director, instructional facilitators and clerical staff whose daily work provides critical academic and operational support to schools,
strengthens instructional practices, and ensures the consistent implementation of systems that promote sustained school improvement. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that I, District 5 School Board Member and Vice Chair Dr. Jeff Holes, and co-sponsored by District 1
School Board Member Mara MacArthur Bulman, District 4 School Board Member Lori Alhadev, and District 7 schoolboard member Norah Rupert, hereby recognizes and honors Dr. V F. Hudge for her visionary leadership, her results, focus, execution, and her steadfast
commitment to fidelity and accountability as a leader of the school transformation office since its inception. And further recognizes the dedicated school transformation office staff whose collective efforts have strengthened schools elevated leadership and improved outcomes for students
across Broward County Public Schools. And let's give Dr. Veta Hudge a round of applause. And madame chair, if you don't mind, um, for any board member, and I'm sure there might be more board members who who co-sponsored, we will make sure all the names are on here for the final
proclamation, uh, that will be sent out. >> Thank you. We will now briefly recess the meeting for a photo. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, Down. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Everybody's All right. And we are back with our last proclamation. um the proclamation in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Um and I just want to thank all of my
colleagues who are who are co-sponsoring this is a once in a 250 year occasion. So I thought it was very exciting to reflect on the legacy um in history of this beautiful country. So I'll go ahead
and read the proclamation. Whereas on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence proclaimed to the world that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And whereas for 250 years, the United
States of America has stood as a beacon of freedom, democracy, opportunity, and hope, inspiring generations of Americans to strive toward a more perfect union. And whereas the freedoms we enjoy today were secured through the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who
answered the call to serve our nation throughout its history. And if I could pause for a moment and ask the veterans in the room to please stand. Thank you for your service. Whereas, we recognize the service and sacrifice of the brave Americans who fought in World War I, defending freedom
abroad and helping preserve democracy during one of the most consequential conflicts in modern history. And whereas we pay tribute to the greatest generation whose courage during World War II helped liberate nations from tyranny, defend democratic ideals, and secure peace for future generations. And
whereas throughout our nation's history, countless veterans, service members, first responders, educators, public servants, workers, and community leaders have strengthened the foundations of our democracy and contributed to the progress of this country. And whereas each generation of Americans has played
a vital role in expanding opportunity, advancing justice, and ensuring that promises contained within the Constitution are extended to all people. And whereas Americans have worked to protect and strengthen the right to vote, ensuring that more voices are heard in our democracy and that government remains accountable to the
people it serves. And whereas the generations of citizens who have championed civil rights, equal protection under the law, and the freedom for individuals to live authentically, including the right to love and marry whom they choose. And whereas the abolitionist movement carried forward by freedom fighters,
formerly enslaved people and allies of conscience challenged the nation to live up to its founding ideals culminating in the emancipation proclamation and the ratification of the 13th amendment. And whereas the women's suffrage movement from the Senica from the Senica Falls Convention of 1848 through the
ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920 expanded the promise of self-government by securing the right of women to vote and participate in American democracy. And whereas the sacrifices of civil rights leaders, marchers, and ordinary citizens who faced injustice with dignity and
resolved resolve transformed American law and conscience, resulting in landmark legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And whereas the story of America is one of continual progress shaped by people
from every background who have worked together to overcome challenges, expand freedoms, and create great greater opportunities for future generations. And whereas we commemorate the 20 250th anniversary of our nation, we reflect with the gratitude on our history,
celebrate our diversity, honor those who came before us, and renew our commitment to the ideals of liberty, equality, justice, and democracy. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the school board of Broward County, Florida, that July 4th, 2026, as a celebration of the 250th
anniversary of the United States of America, and encourages all residents, students, families, and community members to reflect on the nation's history, honor those who have defended our freedoms, celebrate the progress achieved over the past 250 years, and recommmit themselves to building a
future worthy of the ideals upon which America was founded. Um, now Beacon, I I understand we have a video if we could roll the tape of all of the things we've been doing in honor of this incredible occasion. Across our district, students and
teachers are bringing history to life through the Hero Grants America 250 project. As we prepare to commemorate the 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, these projects highlight creativity, civic engagement, historical
inquiry, and student voice. We are proud to showcase just a few examples of the incredible work happening in our Broward County Public Schools. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early
so proudly we I know. Hey. Heat. Heat. All right. Any Thank you, Beacon. Thank you to all of our schools, our students, our educators who have uh honored this
again, this really incredible occasion. Any other board member discussion before we vote? Miss Bulman? >> I'd just like to say that I think that proclamation was beautifully written. Thank you. >> Very, very beautiful. >> Thank you. There is a a small misspelling at the top. So we will fix
it both online and uh on the printed proclamation. >> Dr. Hoes, >> Madam Chair, are we um voting on this specific proclamation or >> vote on item B3 al together? >> Okay. So can I make a final comment? Um
uh and by the way, Madam Chair, that was very beautiful. So thank you for bringing that forth. Um just want to mention that um you know I had received a a couple of concerns not very many regarding u proclamations and so I can
clarify my position as far as um you know what I do. Um I know that uh I normally bring proclamations that have to honor individuals uh with you know who has displayed significant um milestones or impact that
are farreaching. um you know we're a large district and so um you know I don't necessarily bring every proclamation to the board um for recognition um because it would be very very timeconuming for example we have a lot of individuals who retire they spend
30 years in the school district and so on and so forth uh those kind of proclamations I usually take those to uh say the retirement party or if it's a funeral I would be at the church and so on and so forth because it would be very timeconuming because there are a lot of individuals that can be recognized but
those that are those proclamations where uh the impact is very farreaching or district-wide or even beyond the district. Um you know as a public figure I think it's important that um the public uh um you know witness and observe our recognition of such
individuals like when I had recognized Mr. Levi Henry the founder of the Westside Gazette or Barington Irving who is the first African-American to fly solo around the world and so on and so forth. So those are the kind of uh individuals that I usually bring forth
because um I would love to bring everyone but it would take a lot of time and so um and even the impact that Dr. the Hudge has had on the STTO office. We know we had 7Ds and two F schools in B County. The STTO office came about and we didn't have any D's and F schools. Uh
partly part of that had to do with leadership. Uh the other part of that had to do with the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff uh led by the STTO uh office in terms of the STTO schools. We've seen significant improvement. So um so just wanted to clarify that madam chair that the ones
that I bring forth and I do recognize and I'm cognizant of time but the proclamations I bring forth to the district are individuals that need to have uh a wide range of public recognition because of the significant impact they've had. Um I've had Dr. Strod Mr. Dorset because of their effort
with the hurricane release effort with Baron Urban to get supplies over to families in Jamaica and so on and so forth. So um so just wanted to clarify because it has been brought to my attention regarding proclamations by one or two individuals and this is not uh a practice of bringing every proclamation
but those that have significant impact and farreaching that the public need to be aware of and observe. So thank you madam chair. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion on this item? >> All right. All in favor of item B3 say I.
>> All oppose say no. Item B3 passes unanimously with Miss Rupert on the phone. Uh, now we have another time certain. Could I get a motion and a second for items HH1 through HH6? >> So move. >> Moved by Moved by Dr. Zean. Second by
Miss Hixon. Public comment on HH1 2 3 4 5 and six. >> Yes, Madam Chair. HH1. We have Dr. Trudy Janovich. HH5, Dorothy Davis, HH6, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh, and Pete Tingum. And I believe we are also inviting our
labor union partners to the podium if they would like to provide some remarks. Welcome. My name is Dr. Trudy Germanovich. Um, I just wanted to say that a lot of the things that were decided on the on the
changes that are on uh for teachers in particular really um I really struck a lot of bad cords out in out in the teacher community. Unfortunately, you
you have looked at what you can do and I know you can't do much with the the this what the state sends down to you. However, you have to learn to do better because these teachers, that's one of the reasons you had so many
resignations, not just retirements, but resignations. So even though you had to increase their insurance and I understand even my Medicare increased which is sort of
amazing to me that it's gone up as much as it has and that I know all insurance has but what you've done is you've taken away money from teachers by doing it. There's no other way to say it. So I I
wanted to really praise what was being done here. I like it when when you can come to consensus, but you didn't really come to consensus. It sort of was imposed. So, I really think this next school year, I hope
that you will, as soon as you know what's in the measly budget you're going to get, I hope that you will start those negotiations in August and you will complete them before
December. That would be a milestone. Thank you. Good morning board members, superintendent Dorothy Davis, uh, representing the COPA organization and confidential employees
of the district. I had hoped to be thanking you this morning for salary increases for confidential employees this year, but unfortunately um we do realize that that's not
possible for this year based upon what the district is going through with the budget and we accept that for this year. um confidential employees will indeed weather just like the rest of the
employees um not having increases for this year. But it is certainly our hope that the district is planning and starting to plan right now for increases for next year uh for all employees of
the district. Um and I'm speaking particularly for the confidential employees. Uh we we still have concerns about the rising costs of of just cost of living and having to weather this this next
year without uh the rest of this year and who knows when next year uh without pay increases. So it is our hope that you will start right away with that. We still have concerns about insurance and
the fact for the first time employees will have to contribute to the the premiums and um in most cases some of them will have increased deductibles and co-ayments all in a time when there is
no increase in their take-home pay. But uh we feel confident that the district and the superintendent will work on uh getting raises to give confidential employees relief for the next school
term. As always, the confidential employees will continue to serve the district uh with excellence. Thank you very much. Good morning again, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh. Uh, when I saw HH6, I read and I
think I just read it for a fourth time to make sure that the salary schedule you're approving is actually not going to give money to the people you didn't intend it to go to again. because, mark my words, uh not that I think the referendum's going to pass, but this is
going to be a sticking point again. Um and especially since you've been advised multiple times both by Dr. Germanovich and myself, a salary cap, which is not happening, understand that salary pay band, it's in the backup, goes from
87,000 to 170,000. And in contrast, the confidential employees, they don't make anywhere near that. So you are giving the referendum bonus to to people making up to 170,000
where if you capped it at a h 100,000, you would keep the public from coming for you. But nobody listened. That wasn't a motion. So here we are. You have an opportunity to do that. You can change this salary schedule. Are you doubtful? But I raise it so that when
the referendum doesn't pass, and it's because people don't want to give highly compensated employees a raise, a bonus, this will be one of the reasons. So, you can choose to listen or you can choose not to listen, but I have a pretty good
track record of being right. Thank you. Uh Pete Tingum Plantation representing ESMAP. We understand the district is in a financial crisis and insurance has been a major part of that crisis growing for the past 10 years.
the proposal on the board right now with a sliding scale. SMAP opposes a sliding scale because the Dell vision all the other things are done with a flat amount. A person doesn't buy a gallon of
gas or have to submit their W2 to buy car insurance because it's different that way. We think that a standard scale would have been better, but that's a fat complement. I'm not going to belver that point. ESAB
employees have had two raises in the last seven years, 2019 2023. And as often has been presented, they are not the they are some of the highest paid, but they're also some of the
lowest paid supervisors. In many cases, people are supervising people who make more money than they do because of time and a half and extra periods and things of that nature. I also would like to say that you should
base this sliding scale on actual pay, W2, rather than base pay. And that would be fairer for everyone if they did it by the W2 or by base pay. and what it's concerned to be. I hope
that insurance can be creatively looked at for solutions. It is still an unsustainable amount of money that you're spending every year in excess of $300 million. You also have many government entities
surrounding you that secure insurance at a much much lower rate and they have different coverage, but the coverage is good for the those municipalities and cities and school districts around us.
At $1,700 a month per employee, that is a lot of money. If you do cut a thousand employees off the roles this year, I believe that computes to about $17 million. But again, I would urge you to look at
what you're doing. Make sure that you are applying this equally to all employees and I hope that you'll become a creative solution for insurance. Thank you. Anna Fusco, teacher union president. Um,
I've always had a concern about the insurance. I I don't believe insurance is the problem with the financial problem of Broward County Public Schools. You've got people that are working it. That that's the problem.
You've got excessive excessive programs out there. And I'm not talking about the ones in schools that you're allowing to cut like band and art and physical education. You know, those programs that actually bring students in the Brower County public schools that I
told you on May 11th that you're not going to notice until next school year when there's excessive class sizes because you've let hundreds and hundreds of educators go that you said you wouldn't touch schools, but yet you did.
You did. You allowed it. And we got to keep hearing the whining and the crying that Brower County Public Schools in a financial problem that the nine of you can't figure out. Well, 10 of you, 11. We got a superintendent and a new general counsel.
But you got a district like Collier County that figured it out praising what they do to keep retention teachers, staff, and students. And all we hear is now we're looking at these these pay scales, which I believe people
should get paid what they're worth. I'm not going to sit here and knock anybody's pay scale. When you've got certain people that actually do their job and don't sleep on the job, deserve their pay because they're taking care of business and
they're working year round and they're at a deputy superintendent's beck and call or at the superintendent's beck and call. That's what you do for Broward County Public Schools. not sleeping on the job. But when referendum dollars do come, and
I do believe we will win it because the community loves Brower County Public Schools and the educators that are taking care of their children because they saw what it was like when their kids had to stay home for over a year. What it really means to have an educator in the school taking
care of their children. So, we do believe that we're going to win it, that it will be handled correctly because I'm never shutting up about a lot of things. So, again, it'd be nice to see the people that actually get paid hefty salaries that are held strongly
accountable, not sleeping, and taking care of their schools. Not one more school should close down next year, especially how it was taken care of. You didn't sell them off. You just redefine them, literally. So, I don't know how much money that literally saved, but I call BS that you put on the
backs of every employee to say that they have to pay into their insurance. There's a lot of things that I didn't agree with that I know needed to get done that you guys keep making excuses for and actually showing the solution was going to make Broward schools
thrive. Get your act together. >> Thank you. Any other public speakers? >> That concludes our public speaking. >> All right. Um on H1 HH1 I have Mr. Sea. >> Thank you chair. I want to thank the um
the speakers for coming in today and letting their voices be heard. I also want to take a moment to address um our teachers and and school-based staff and employees that uh may be out
there and listening for purposes of today as we vote um on this agreement. I do want to apologize to our teachers and our schoolbased staff that we are not in a position at this moment to
provide the raises that our educators truly deserve. Um, let's call it what it is. The the district has has failed on this. Our teachers are the backbones of our schools, and I know words alone are not enough on this issue. And while the
current financial realities are certainly difficult that we face in this district, this board member remains fully committed to fighting hard for better pay, stronger support, and the respect that our teachers and schoolbased staff have all earned. Moving forward and as long as I'm up
here, I'll continue pushing every possible avenue to secure meaningful raises for our dedicated professionals who serve our students every day. I do not want this to happen again. That being said, um I want to address
some specific comments, chair, if I may, that were made. Um Mr. Superintendent on HH6 there's a uh salary schedule and and I heard from a speaker that there are potentially employees who are earning up
to and including $170,000 who may be entitled to referendum monies. I I looked at the chart in in preparation for this and I'm looking at it again now. Uh first and foremost, is there any validity to that statement? Uh, and if there is, can can someone
explain to me who those individuals would be and why when we have teachers making 50 and $60,000 a year trying to survive in this very expensive county, we're giving prospective referendum dollars to individuals who are making close to $200,000.
>> Go ahead, Miss Sullivan. >> Uh, sure. So the board uh appro in the current referendum approved for um well recently uh directors and below. So yes, that statement is true. However, the superintendent's recommendation that the board approved for the new
referendum would exclude directors which is D and above. >> So the soup's recommendation moving forward is to not include those individuals. Where's the pay band here? >> Correct. as approved by the board.
>> Okay. So, this is this would be pay ban T, correct? That would be in that bracket. >> No, you're referring to pay D for the directors. >> No, the the higher paid individual directors. >> Those are executive directors and they're not included nor the chiefs are
included right now. They were excluded from the current referendum recently. for the future referendum. The soup went further to restrict it um pay ban D and above which the board also approved if the referendum were to pass.
>> And for the record, pay band D indivi do any payband D individuals make $170,000 a year. >> I don't I believe that's the max. I I think there'd be very few who actually make that. >> Okay. And who would qualify for such a salary? >> Directors.
any certified teachers? >> They could be they could have cert a a director could be a certified teacher. >> Okay. Uh is there any teachers who are physically placed in schools who would make that type of money? >> Repeat that. Mr. Ver, if you could back up off the mic a bit. >> Sorry, I'm doing my lean
>> which I have to do with Sullivan more than I'd like to admit. Um are there any teachers who are currently placed in any of our schools? >> No. >> That are making upwards of $170,000. Uh, we would have to provide a follow-up. I don't believe that would be the the norm. There could be an
exception. >> I would love to know the answer to that in a follow-up. >> Sure. >> As well as any counselors, social workers, people who are actually in our schools teaching our kids. I want to know if they're making that type of
money that would that would qualify for referendum dollars should that pass in the future. Um, also I don't want to get too off topic, but I had this on my notes to discuss today, and it just so happens that one of our speakers brought it up.
Mr. Superintendent, how long ago was it that this board voted to um close those six schools? >> Uh, that was in January of this year >> and we are in June, >> correct? >> Okay. What is going on
with five of the six schools? Because the only school I ever seem to hear about is Norfolk. We've heard some some proposals for that, but there are five other schools that I have no idea what the heck is going on. Are we selling them? Are we leasing them? Are we repurposing them? Why has it taken this
long to get to uh this point where people are starting to have to now scratch their heads? >> Yeah. So, we've had we've had several workshops already. We have a workshop uh is that next week Dr. um Dr. We have a a workshop next week for an additional update to let the board know um the uh
for all of the schools the purpose they're going to be used for for relocation um and also an update on the North Fork situation, update on the um uh >> Seagull Seagull situation as well and an
update on this particular building as well. >> Okay, for this workshop, here's what I would like. This is next week, sir. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> For these six buildings inclusive or I guess seven if we're counting the KC KC right building, I need to see some comps
about what these up to date through the date of the meeting. I want to see some comps about what these properties are worth. I also want to see um lease comps as well in addition to sales comps. Um I feel like we've been dragging our feet on this. Uh we promised these folks that
if we made the difficult decision to close these schools, we would take some type of action to benefit the district. And as we come close to six months after the fact, the only one that I have really seen any kind of viable action is Norfolk with the presentations that were
made and the proposals that were submitted by Cyrunk and um the JA world folks. So um thank you chair. That's all for me. Thank you, Miss Hixon.
>> Thank you. And um I too want to thank everyone that's on that everyone in the district for um all that you've done this school year. It is um I don't know if embarrassing is the right word, but it is hard for us for me as a one board
member, but I'm going to guess all of us to not be able to provide payraises to everyone. It's it's unfortunate that we find ourselves in the place that we're in, but I just want to remind everyone um and our budget hearing will come up. We as a board directed the
superintendent to start the sal to start the budget next year with a 4% increase at minimum for every employee in the district. So, we appreciate the patience through this year because it's been difficult and we've had to make a lot of difficult decisions. But as one board
member, I am committed. I have done that since I got here and every year it somehow falls through occasionally. Um but committed to making sure that that is how our budget starts this year. 4% minimum increase for every employee in the district. So again, thank you for
your patience. >> Thank you, Miss Thompson. >> Thank you, chair. Um I think something needs to be addressed about redefining because it has been covered consistently. We have had multiple workshops. As the board member that
represents the majority of the schools, maybe Hoess and I are tied that were closed. I really appreciate the efforts our staff has put in to make sure that people know what is happening. Um, as board members, we have probably spent 20
plus hours, if you prep for meetings, knowing what's going to happen to these buildings. We got a flowchart about which departments are going into each building. Uh and that the purpose of that which I think needs to be explained
is because we are trying to lease out this building or potentially sell it depending on the superintendent's recommendations which are coming June 16th which we have known is coming on June 16th for at least the last several months. Um so it is inaccurate to say that we are not communicating to the
public. Um it is inaccurate to say that we are um hiding what we're doing. I think we have had multiple media stations cover what's happening to these meetings. I have been reached out to by multiple media outlets to make sure they
know what's happening to our schools. Um my only complaint which I will cover in JJ3 but my main complaint was that the principal placements lasted too long or took too long and that is because the board delayed that process. So I just
want to commend our staff. I wanted to correct the record that communication has been had about where there's going and obviously things like finding out the pricing and comps take time but it is coming and it has been coming. So I
just thought it was very necessary to say that. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Any other board discussion? Oh, Mr. Sea. >> Mr. Mr. Superintendent, I took my uh some time here to look on the website.
Um and I'm just wondering if you can direct me because I've clicked a couple links. Where can I find the comps about the values of these six buildings on the website? >> Go ahead. >> So, um good morning Valerie Wanza, chief strategy and innovation officer. So, we
do not have the actual comps for those six buildings. >> Don't have the comps on the website. Okay. >> Mr. Rivera, please let uh staff finish their sentence. So, what we did do at the May 12th um schoolboard workshop, we and and the presentation is online. We
outlined what each one of those six buildings were going to be repurposed for. We talked about how um Panther Run Elementary School is going to be used um as an administrative site for staff that will be relocated from TSSC. We talked
about how Palm Cove Elementary School will become a branch campus of Sheridan and Technical College. We talked about how um we obviously so the the workshop next week we will have conversation around the proposals for the North Fork
facility as well as um conversation potentially with the Seagull facility. We talked about at that same workshop how the Plantation Middle School facility will become now an administrative site for our safety and security operations as well as IT and
our benefits department. We also um there's one other school that's probably escaping me. Sunshine >> Sunshine Elementary School is going to be the primary home for all of the operations that were relocate from the current Rock Island Professional Development Complex.
They're going to Sunshine Elementary School. We laid that all of that out in the workshop on May 12th. Um we we'll put a reminder in the workshop for next week. And then in the workshop on July 21st, that is when in a followup we
explain to the board that we will lay out the entire um uh plan or proposal as it relates to space in this building and where those departments will go. Um, it we also will put we also already have it teed up the financial information for
what leasing for each floor of this building looks like, the pricing, the comps. So, we have all of that laid out and we and we explained in a cadence um on the May 12th workshop. We actually laid out in a slide the cadence that we were coming to the board to have these
conversations. So that was laid out at the May 12th workshop and we are prepared as a staff to um work in the manner in which we laid out and receive feedback from the board at the May 12th schoolboard workshop. And I will say that on the district website there's a
link for redefining our schools and it has every single workshop presentation there um where we did a one-pager that told the the public essentially what happened in that workshop. Those are there. So, um I've certainly through the
superintendent I'm prepared to answer any other questions, but we have been very um transparent in every workshop that we've had about the six campuses that are being repurposes and what their intended use will be.
>> Thank you for that, Dr. Wanzo. And uh I appreciate the information. Here's what I don't like, and here's why I'm not satisfied. So despite the fact that some of my colleagues may be happy what's on the website right now, um I'm not I don't want to have to click 17 different
things to find out information. I think at a very minimum I would like to see the comps available on there for both sale and lease from the last workshop that we had or whatever our most up-to-date numbers are. And I think when
you go to the district's website and you get to the hyperlink about redefining schools and you click it, I would like to see the comps for both sale and lease there because the way I look at this, you have to click on 17 different tabs before you get any
information. That may be good enough for some, but people who are impatient like me may not want to do that. Maybe some people are not as great as using the the interface that we have on this website as others. But the reality is this is very important what we did with these
buildings and at the very least okay when a lot of these people uh were under the impression that these buildings would be either sold or leased so you know we can get some money to get out of this $und00 million deficit that we're facing. I would have liked the public to have information regarding sale comps
and sale leases on the front of the redefining page before next um next week's workshop. and I'm very much looking forward to next week's workshop where we can discuss this further and continue to be transparent with the public about this very important decision that we've made collectively as
a district. Thank you. >> Hey, Miss Bulman. >> Thanks, Chair. Um, thanks Dr. Wanza for the explanation. I I guess some clarification here. my understanding and I think our staff
has done an amazing job quite frankly and I think that we were more prepared than a lot of districts with the decline in public uh school enrollment to be on the ground able to utilize our buildings to put staff in there and to um shift
things around. So I I think you guys have done a great job with that and I really appreciate it. So the the question is if we are fully um occupying buildings that we had closed that we're
closing as schools. We don't necessarily have the intention of selling any of that. We are utilizing them uh right now for another um purpose. My understanding is that we're looking at potentially uh or we're
I mean we're definitely moving forward with filling with renting out KCW W and that was our best option, right, for office space and things like that. So that's what that's the direction we're taking. Right. So that's my recollection too because I was going to ask if that's
the will of the board of what Sea is requesting because uh throughout the um this process of redefining for 2526 um there was no discussion about sale and lease of those buildings it was to the only two buildings or two former
school buildings uh was possible sale or lease but the the board landed on leasing was Seagull and also the Northport u facility. Our intentions as we um communicated to the board and there was um consensus for that was to
um uh placement of staff out of this building. We have to place staff from the two TSSC buildings because we are surplusing those two buildings. So they have to have places to go which we're occupying our space instead of going off and leasing external spaces so we can
save money there. So we have two properties that will be sold um in the two TSSC centers. We have two properties that will be land lease, North Fork and Seagull. Um and uh reorganizing and placement of employees in this building
to also occupy P uh space at schools that we've closed so we can actually lease out the floors in this building too. So that's what's been communicated to the board. That's what we've gotten direction to move forward on. Um, so if there's any changes in that and I honestly I don't know I think the conversation is premature because we
have a workshop next week to discuss all of this. Um, if so if there's additional directions or um or a change in direction I would u you know ask the board that we discuss that next week instead of this week. I don't
>> agreed. I just I don't want the to be doing unnecessary work if we have no intention of selling the properties um since we're using them for another purpose. >> Um we'll gladly take feedback on any additional information that needs to be on the current website. Uh but as far as
a robust discussion as far as decision-m for the board, I would say wait for next week when we actually have a whole workshop desated for these topics and we can get better feedback on how we move forward. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Zean. Mr. Chair, um, you
know, today is not the not the it's not the good news part of budget stuff. This is where we look at people and say, uh, we did our best to reduce costs. Um, but the shock that we had to our revenue side, as Miss Johnson can tell you in
great detail, if you'd like to sit down with her, is $225 million reduction over the last three years of enrollment declines. That is historic. Um, you know, school districts are not built to absorb those kinds of changes. I think that, uh, there have
been cost reductions. There have been position reductions, there have been travel freezes, hiring freezes. Um, and buckle up, uh, Buttercup, because next year we got to find 80 million before we find the 60 million that Miss Hixon would like. And all of us, I think,
would support identifying for pay raises because the state, Miss Johnson, if I'm correct, is around 8,000 uh FD reduction for next year as well. >> Yeah. So, you know, we're we're going through another round of cost reductions that we're going to have to do to do it.
But you have to just think about how hard this is. We only have $2 billion of operating money. It sounds like a lot, but when you go down 10% in three years, um while we were still giving raises those first two years, um we are we were in a difficult difficult situation. So,
I think we just have to kind of think about this in bigger numbers than just, you know, we can't give payraises or couldn't give payraises this year to our staff. Um, but I am I am amazed at at how this district found a thousand
positions outside of schools to reduce in one year and still keep operating and still keep answering all the regulatory compliance issues, finding the principles, uh, doing all the the the work that is being done. So, this this is um not an easy thing to solve next
year, you know, because I I don't know anybody in this room that's got $80 million in their pocket that they'd like to donate every year to Broward County Public Schools, but that's what we'd have to find just to pay the FTE reduction next year. And then, uh if we want to do 4%, it's roughly $60 million
on top of that. So, $140 million in one year is a tall order. I hope we can do it. Um, I think our people, you know, have to, um, uh, you know, be paid in ways that allow them to appreciate what they do for the community. The good news is that in 20 uh 728, should the
referendum pass in November, there's a significant amount of funds uh, just over $300 million. Is that correct, Miss Johnson? Is it 300 million roughly we're going to get per the referendum in 2728? >> That is correct. >> So, so there's there's funds coming. we
just have another, you know, bad year coming up and it and we have to work really hard. I commend Miss Hixon for continuing to drive us toward, you know, these pay raises. Um, if we want to do that, uh, we're going to have to do some big decision make up here about high
school teaching load, about other benefits, about size of staff outside of schools, number of schools. um is there's going to be a whole bunch of other decisions that we have to make in order to find those funds. Uh but it'll be exciting if we can do that. Remember
though, 225 million over three years out of a $2 billion budget is just over 10%. And I think those kinds of changes make all of us scratch our heads and wonder how he how the heck do we do it and keep operating as a district? We did it partially because by closing six to eight schools, partly reducing what we
can contribute in healthcare benefits, which is awful, uh partly by pay freezes, um which is also not the will of the board. We'd love to find a way to do that, but we have to figure out how to balance all of these things and still keep a school district running. And and Dr. Heepern, this has been a very very
challenging year, but to to uh have you respond to the board and go find those thousand positions was a was a big deal. a big deal. Uh, and that's great. I do want to agree with something though. I think that uh the speed with which we do
once we've decided to lease or or sell property could be faster. Uh, I think that our employees are looking at that and saying, "Hey, why do we get no pay raises and then we're sitting on properties?" Um, TSSC. Uh, chair, do you know how much money we're going to generate with the sale of TSSC?
>> Dr. Heer, um, >> I don't have the exact number unless you do, Dr. give me about 3 minutes. I I'll I'll get it. But yes, we'll get it for TSSC as well as the annex. >> Sure. And and maybe to one of my colleagues's point, it would be interesting and to Miss Bulman's earlier
point to know how much we're not paying in commercial space by using the space that we have in our schools. It would just be good to have a good estimate of that number >> and we can get that too >> because in essence, that's a cost saving as well. We would have taken the staff out of out of this building, this headquarters building, uh and moved it
forward. Last question I have, well, we'll get to that when we get to F3, but you know, all of these things took a lot of uh cooperation with our labor union groups, a lot of uh cooperation with the superintendent staff, and some, I think,
good decision-m by this board uh to get us down, you know, the $225 million. Let's uh let's see what we can do next year because to get to that 4% missix and we've got to start with a with a cost reduction of 140 million and and
just as a reference point those thousand positions saved us 60 million right or 56 million Dr. Hepper. >> Correct. >> So so a th000 position is 56 million. We've got to find three times that to pay the $80 million reduced revenue plus the 60 million that we'd like to find
for payraises. So, if we can strap in and find that, that'd be great. Um, but we've got one more year till we get to that referendum where we're going to we're going to have significantly more revenue uh to make up for the loss of FT. Thanks, chair. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion?
>> All in favor of HH1 2 3 4 5 and six say I. >> All oppose say no. items passed unanimously with Miss Rupert on the line. Um, at this time we will go to our
uh public the general public speakers um for their our morning session. Each registered speaker is reminded to present their agenda comments in accordance with policy 1020. And as a reminder, per our policy, we do not go back and forth with our speakers. for
the list of speakers I I have for the morning are Natalie Lynch Walsh, Trudy Dmanovich, Delvin King, Cynthia Dominique, and Lisa Reyes. So, if you heard your name, uh please approach the podium. Mr. Hill, did I miss anything? >> No, you got them all, Madam Chair.
>> Good. Almost still not morning. Um Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh, Plantation, Florida. Um, there's a lot of irony going on here today considering yesterday's meeting. Um, so today I'm
going to talk about public records. I heard you guys mentioned it after we left yesterday. So I sent Pat Gleason, who works for the attorney general's office, an email asking um for mediation because I've been having trouble getting
public records requests. There's myriad issues with public records, but they stem from three problems. I call them the rule of thirds. Lack of automation, lack of custodial response, and possibly more
importantly, lack of competent management of the public records function. That leads to misunderstandings and wasting of time like you would not believe. If I were to make a recommendation, it would be to automate
using next request or gov QA, change the management and hold count the custodians responsible for responding and train them. So I have several examples of some of the issues where the problem
is your custodians. I asked one of the things I forwarded to Pat Leon was a list a request for a list of all open contracts. My expectation is to get the list of open contracts in the format that they
maintain the list of open contracts. That's not what I got. First they send a PDF which means they created a document. Then I get altered Excel documents which means they altered the native format file that I'm looking for. I still don't
have that one. And state law. Well, let me read the response. The custodian said it is not the school district's responsibility to provide data to them in a specific format. State law 119.01.
An agency must provide a copy of the record in the medium requested if the agency maintains the record in that medium. Okay. Staff is wrong. Still don't have it. I asked for the bus inventory because I I believe that came up at a
meeting months ago. Did I get the bus inventory? No. Staff once again created a record telling me that they track it internally through a locally developed monitoring system. Okay, we'll provide that. We won't even talk about the fund
balance and the superintendent's follow-up log. The issue there is your superintendent is out of compliance with your policy because they are logging your requests for each meeting, but they are not providing ongoing progress updates. Hence, it is not a follow-up
log. And I'll be doing another rule development workshop because yesterday was not that. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Judy Germanic. >> My name is Dr. Germanovich. Um, I wanted to talk about the disastrous budget
coming from the state which appears to again increase the amount of vouchers to unacceptable private schools or unaccountable private schools or I wanted to talk about the importance of passing our referendum. Unfortunately, I'm instead I must strongly object to
the way the meeting was held yesterday. It was legally noticed as a rule development workshop, but this was not made clear on the information provided by this district. Also, 32 policies were all included in one item. So, a speaker
had to pick one to discuss in our three minutes because otherwise you really can't discuss it. Rulem in our county has always been done carefully and with each policy being given separately. What you decided with the policy for
public speakers was to reduce the public's ability to have 12 minutes to speak on separate items down to three. There is no way I can cover this whole the whole thing that we have in front of us today in a threeinut time. That's
just ridiculous. You are you are stifling us. It's because and because a few of us come to speak doesn't mean that we aren't influenced by thousands on social
media and we don't influence thousands on social media. So, those of you who just seem to take it real lightly to give up the 12 minutes that we had, as board members Hixon and Sea said, the
policy of public speakers should not be changed at this time. They were the only two of you that said that. Those of you who decided to change the way the public is allowed to speak without discussing this with any of your various committees and advisory groups
will need to answer to the voters on why you allowed this to occur. I urge you to revisit this discussion on not making changes at the end of this meeting and redirect us to have another rule making
specifically later when everybody is back from vacation because that's the other problem. You are sneaking these things in during the
summer and we have to vote on who will represent us in August. Think about that. >> Next speaker, Delvin King. >> Delvin King. Um, PMPO Beach.
So again, I'm here once again about the illegal facility usage across the county. So we're a little over a year in and this investigation is still going on. Um the board is still not able to
discuss these items and I have an issue with that. you can't discuss the items, but publicly uh on Facebook, Rachel Delhi, which is the she works in the office of real estate and facility planning, she
commented and said, "Why are they only focused on gyms and from the looks of it, black coaches, baseball fields, tracks, auditoriums, etc. have been overlooked purposefully. So, it seems as if she has more
information and we need to go back and speak with her to reinvestigate her. Um, I I want to read something from a report on May 19th. Coach McNab receive received a zel payment of 1350 from MJM
Sports for the use of Blanchila High School basketball gym on May 17th and 18th. On June 3rd, Coach McNab received a zel payment of $675 for the use of another basketball gym.
Coach McNab received a zel payment of $6775. I need people to start checking their zel. Check your zel. You need to check your zel cuz people are getting zel payments. So, I I'm reminded of a song
by Young Miami. And if Young Miami was here today, she would say, "Where all my scamming school board employees at?" Spending that money fast.
20s, 50s, hundreds cash. Rachel daily go in that goyard bag. Boosting employees where y'all at? Stuffing those facilities in y'all bags just to flip it
and pop some tags. Rachel Daily going in that goyard bag. Spinach. Spinach. Spinach. Spinach. Listen, we got to hold these people
accountable. We got to hold them accountable. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Lisa Reyes. >> Good morning. My name is Lisa Reese. I live in Parkland, Florida, and I'm the mother of two children, one in elementary school and one entering
middle school. I'm a former educator and I also hold a master's degree in educational technology. I love technology. I absolutely believe it has a place in education. But I also believe our district is getting this wrong. In
our district, technology is no longer being used as a tool to enhance learning. It is being used for the sake of using it. From what has been shared by the academics, the IT and the data teams, it feels as though we are racing to be recognized globally to say that we
are first to implement AI at scale. But recognition should never be the reason we adopt any tool, especially one as powerful and potentially dangerous as artificial intelligence. The aggressive push for more technology in the classroom, particularly in the
elementary classroom level, is one of the main reasons I struggle whether to keep my children in public school. When I hear district leaders say, "This is the world we live in. We have to embrace it." I cringe. Technology is not simply valuable because it exists. It is valuable only
when it is the right tool. When it enhances learning in a way that could not be achieved otherwise. If it does not meet not have meaningful improvement outcomes, then it is not then it does not need to replace what already works. For example, we have spent millions of
dollars on programs like I Ready. Yet, a recent 15-year study showed that less than 1% increase in standardized test scores for students that used it over those that did not. Less than 1%. That does not justify the amount of instructional time students now spend on
screens, let alone the money we spend. At the recent AI symposium, we were told that students could use the district's large language model to brainstorm ideas, organize research papers, and receive feedback before turning in assignments. But those are not small
tasks. Those are core components of the writing process. That is where the learning happens. That is where the teacher sees how a student thinks, where they struggle, where they grow. We keep hearing that AI will not replace teachers. Yet the examples provided show
it is replacing the very moments that allow teachers to understand their students. It replaces the productive struggle. It removes rigor. It reduces the stamina required to think deeply and work through challenges. It was said that students will need be
will need to be strong writers in an AI world. But I would argue that that's not accurate. Students won't need to be strong writers. They will need to be strong prompt writers. And that is not the same as learning to craft, organize, and express original thought. What I am
asking for is simple, safe, proven teaching methods. I am not afraid of technology. I am not confused. I am not uninformed. I understand the research and the data does not support the narrative that more edtech automatically
equals better outcomes. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I'll just call Cynthia Dominique, but I know um since she signed up, but I don't think she's here. All right, Dr. Hein, do we have your superintendent's report? >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to take a moment to thank the Broward legislative delegation for their continued support of Broward County Public Schools and the students we serve. During the recent legislative and special sessions, the delegation of advocated for several measures that had a significant positive impact on our
district. They supported the creation of the statewide declining enrollment fund resulting in more than $8 million for Broward County Public Schools this fiscal year. protected voter approved referendum dollars by supporting legislation that prevents tax collector commissions from being withheld from
local school referendum revenues. It helped ensure school districts were excluded from the proposed property tax relief amendment, protecting public education funding and avoiding what what could have been more than 800 million in annu annual revenue losses for BCPS under full implementation.
Um they continued to champion public education throughout the legislative process and remained accessible and responsive to the needs of Broward County students, families, and also employees. These actions demonstrate a strong commitment to public education and the nearly 200,000 students who
attend Broward County Public Schools. On behalf of our school board, employees, students, and families, thank you to the Broward legislative delegation for your partnership and continued support of public education. And now about graduation. It's been another busy but
incredible month at BCPS. Graduations were truly amazing. I got to shake the hands of thousands of students and um probably two of the largest that I went to in one day at Western High School and also Cypress Bay. Yes. Uh my arm still hurts from that
one. Uh for us educators, this is always the highlight of our school year. beacon at this time. If you can roll the tape it up, it up it up. Woo! >> Happy birthday, Trade Winds. We love
you. We love our community. And guess what? Here's to another 30 more years. Heat. Heat. request, request, we honor you. We honor you. >> Uh music is the language of the soul. So, it's it's just good for everybody.
It's therapy for everyone. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. It was an awesome year. Um, didn't get a chance to go to every graduation, but went to many. But, um, probably the best
graduation speech I heard was from Mr. dosa at Cypress Bay High School. Principal uh still has me charged up till this day um listening to that speech. And probably the the most decorative hat that I saw I think was also at Cypress Bay, a young lady with a space shuttle, the planet that was
Western High School space shuttle up the planet Earth, other planets and stars lit up on the hat. So there thank you to our our staff um for doing an amazing job this year and also our students and hopefully you have an awesome summer. Thank you, Madam Chair. That concludes
my report. >> Thank you. Um, now we will have our presentations and reports from some of our organizations. Do we have something from BEF? >> Good. Still morning. Good morning, everybody. Um, just a couple things to
share. Um, we have our school supply drive coming up. It's July 1st through August 31st. Um, this is a big deal for us to get uh supplies back into the hands of teachers so we can uh start trying to cut down and eliminate as much as we can from teachers dipping into their own pockets for supplies that they
might need to meet some of those needs in those classrooms. Um, that's going to be July 1st through August 31st. Um, and I wanted to make a quick mention of the need being so great. Up to this point right now today, we have given out over
$2.1 million worth of supplies to to teachers in this district. So that we understand how uh how important that initiative is and for us it's a really big deal. But with the supply drive um we give out boxes to uh companies, organizations, individuals in
the community to fill with supplies to bring back so we can go ahead and get these supplies back into the hands of teachers. So far, we've gotten over 200 about 250 boxes requested that are be going to be going out this week and next week. So, just wanted to say thank you to the team on that. And because we are
doing a uh check presentation that is not here today, it will be tomorrow at uh McFatterder. We received a $100,000 gift from Advanced Auto Parts to go to McFatterder um to assist with uh with tools. They're going to be receiving
they're going to be receiving cash towards um certifications, tools, and uh other items and some program support. So, that check presentation will be tomorrow. But, I wanted to make sure to mention it here today because there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes that continue to uh to make the impact
that uh that we all see every single day. So, I just wanted to say thank you because I know a lot of you on uh on the Deis um and in this room um continue to support that. So, thank you guys so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Um, I know we received a written report,
but is anyone from Broward County Council PTAs, PTSAs? All right. Employee union groups, BTU, BPAA, ESMA, BOPI, COPA, and PBA? We have BTU first on the list. Anna Fusco Bower, teacher union
president. A couple of things. We're wrapping up the school year. Um, the fiscal year is not done yet. you can still find money to give a raise. I know you guys I don't know if you take is it like you're happy to talk about the
failures or you think it makes it look look at us we know I'm not quite sure it's quite disheartening that you're okay that your schools are being stripped of actual programs in the
schools but the office of academics has grown. We just had a parent talk about the whole technology piece that you're not actually letting teachers teach, but is it something like let's bring in the technology and get rid of the person? You think that that's
better? We're confused. Your 12,300 teachers are confused. Certainly, your social workers and that group is confused that you've upped it to take away their positions.
So public needs to know that Brower County Public Schools has less mental health people servicing the children, but you're okay with that because you allowed it to happen. No raise.
Made sure that you've made excuses of why you have to charge every employee for their insurance. Keep talking about the low enrollment. We know Tallahassee is a big blame, but I can come up with a list and I will on
Janu on June 23rd of all of the districts that are in the same boat of getting less money and still making it happen. But yet you guys keep making excuses until legitimately showing a plan
on how to show a success in Broward County Public Schools. And then you have the audacity that you're going to let certain people take the credit for the A-rated other than the educators in the schools. The audacity. It's insulting. I'm going to say it
again. You allow a topnotch executive to sleep and then have people lose their jobs. Not only a principal and then you got a school board member that backed it, which I'm very unhappy with. That's a whole
another story. My position on that school member will be coming out real soon along with another one because you two think it's funny that someone sleeps and then people get to mot it. You think it's okay
when people make fat salaries and aren't held accountable. But the rank and file that actually moves the student in a positive successful way and gets this A rating, they're losing their jobs left and right.
I've never had to work so hard to make sure with the six schools that got closed that the people that didn't get time to pack their life up that were dedicated in those schools, some of them decades, but you got people that sleep and then make sure that they were taken
care of. that people that were in jobs in schools for decades that they're just going to get placed anywhere lucky they have a job when they were promised that they were going to be taken care of above anyone else but then someone that sleeps gets to keep his job and I'm never
shutting up about it until you do something about it because I have the videos on it and you yet I've seen people say wake up sitting from up there to down here but that's okay but the people that Decades in schools that close, three in your
district, school board member Thompson, under the person that sleeps. But it's okay, right? Very disheartening when people that have worked decades that said, "My students are moving to certain school." And you promised them
that they would help get them to those schools and yet those teachers are not getting moved. Does the public know that? But you're okay with other things and you think that I'm just gonna shut up.
I'm just getting started. I'm not okay to sit here and watch wasteful spending, which groups and groups of people are starting to rally together that are going to prove it. And we will win the referendum. Again,
the community loves their educators. What they're not happy with is the top rank that continue to not be held accountable or make up BS excuses. Do better. It's not okay.
No race for anybody in this county, not one group. And you call this a success. You should be ashamed. You should be looking at what to do better instead of making excuses. >> Thank you. Um, BPIA,
ESMAB, Phy, COPA, PBA. All right, we will go on to our next item. Could I get a motion and a second on item H2?
>> So moved. >> Moved by Dr. Zean. >> Could I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Miss Roupert. Thank you. Public comment on H2. One registered speaker, Delvin King. >> No, I registered.
>> H2. Public comment on H2. >> I only show Delvin King as a registered speaker. >> Is Mr. King in the room? Any other public speakers? Anna Fusco, Broward Teachers Union.
So, I noticed on H2 that there is a schoolboard employee that probably makes 15 bucks an hour, who's being terminated for sleeping on the job. Can you explain that to me when I've given you somebody
who's very high up that's sitting in this room that has slept on the job multiple times and in very important meetings. As a matter of fact, a school closure meeting, but yet we're going to fire somebody
that makes $15 an hour. I mean, I've got two and a half minutes. I'm not going to say the person's name out loud, but it's on there. You can look through your little file there. So, what's good for one is not good for all.
Or is it matter who is that we're closest to certain people in the district and we circle the wagon and pat up each other? I'm not letting it go. You said you set a standard on
discipline on all employees, but I looked in this discipline and saw an employee that it gave the description sleeping. I didn't create that. But I am taking an opportunity as a
speaker on this item. And if anybody up there can ask why does one get fired, terminate it. But then when another one that is mentioned is it's funny. I don't think
it's funny. So please anybody help me out here. I know there's other people on this discipline that are up for certain disciplines and we're going to take the proper routes to take care of it. But when I was looking through it and I
noticed that and I didn't get a chance to speak in public speakers on the reappoints because I missed the window. Unfortunately, traffic is still real even though school is out. I thought that I will take an
opportunity and sign up for H2. Maybe if I talk softer and lighter, you'll hear my message. Apparently, if I say it loud, it's an excuse to ignore the message, which I think is BS. I don't think a message should be
ignored. You can't run from it. I'm not accepting laughing about it anymore and I'm not accepting ignoring it. So if one person that sitting in the room
gets to sleep in front of you guys by the way, but somebody that makes $15 an hour is going to get terminated over it. Please explain it. >> Thank you. Any other public speakers? >> That concludes our public speaking. >> Thank you. Board member comment. Mr.
Sea. Thank you, chair. Um, excuse me. I would like some followup um on this issue. The speaker didn't name the individual who apparently is being uh terminated
for sleeping while on duty. Um, where is >> Azero? Is this Travis Robinson? >> Heather Pente, director of professional practices. Yes, sir. >> Okay. Can you explain the circumstances of that? I mean, yes, obviously, we don't want people sleeping in the
classroom, but uh a termination for a one-time offense, unless it's as routine of him taking naps during the course of the day, which I hope not, uh a termination doesn't seem justified. Can you expand, please? >> Yes, sir.
This employes job is of a campus monitor. So he was before you prior with a five-day suspension for sleeping while on duty in charge of keeping a campus safe. So during the first discipline that came before you observed by
parents, visitors and staff members sleeping on the post at the main entry gate instead of actively monitoring that entry gate for the parking lot as campus as folks were arriving on the campus during the scheduled work time between 8:15 and 4:15. There was video footage
that showed that he was asleep from approximately 10:10 to 10:29 as students, parent, visitors, family member, I'm sorry, um, and other individuals passed through the gate that he was responsible to be supervising.
So, that was the first incident that was before you for a five-day suspension. Then, we're back before you again with this situation where again there was an issue with him sleeping in a parked vehicle. Um he allowed traffic to go back and
through back and forth through the gate to enter and exit the campus. Was observed sleeping allowing multiple vehicles to enter and exit. I'm looking for a time frame for you. He remains inside his parked vehicle for
1 hour and 25 minutes during that time rather than actively monitoring the entry gate and parking areas. So that is the reason to be when they are this employee is here before you for the second time. The first was a five-day this is termination for failing to perform that job and keep the campus
safe. And is this in So just just so we're clear, this is the second um I guess for a lack of better terms, the second napping incident with the same employee. >> Yes, sir. >> And he's a security monitor and he was previously disciplined a I think you
said suspension. >> Yes, sir. Five-day suspension. >> Okay. And pursuant to the disciplinary chart um is the next form of discipline termination. >> Yes, sir. especially serving in the role of a campus security monitor where he's responsible for the safety of the campus
and to monitor. Yes, sir. >> Thank you for that explanation. Um I I want to switch gears and I'm doing it because it was brought up um by the speaker and I do want some direction and Mr. Superintendent, I'm going to direct
this to you if you want to pass the buck off on to um general counsel for her advice. Uh, I I'd like to know the answer. I don't want to revisit the whole ORC chart thing. Uh, I think everyone who's
been paying attention knows my position on the ORC chart and how respectfully I think we got that wrong. I do have a general question though because I don't want to fall into this, you know, the trap of what's operations and what's not. But
if any of us as the um board member sitting on this dies have an issue with any member of your cabinet or any member of your staff at BCPS, okay, outside the ORC chart, period. Uh it's no secret
that I called for um certain changes to be made on the ORC chart that I thought were appropriate and I thought respectfully we're going to save this district a ton of money that could have been reinvested in our teachers and schoolbased staff. But my colleagues didn't agree with me. So, it is what it is. But my question is, now that we're
past that debacle, if any of us have an issue with any any member of the cabinet, any member of of of district staff within this this building, what is the proper course of action to bring that to your attention? Uh, if
appropriate. Um or maybe it's I just make a motion to terminate such and such person for whatever reason that I think is um appropriate. Number one, is that proper? Um and if it's not, I I want to know what the recourse is. If any of us
up here have a specific issue with any member uh of your cabinet or staff. >> Thank you for the question, Mr. Vera. Um and GC, correct me if I'm wrong. There's only three people that work for the board. That's myself as superintendent, the chief auditor, and also the general
counsel. If you have any issues with any of our staff members, as all the other board members always do, to pick up the phone and call me, let me know what the issue is. Uh if there's a lane of evidence that I can um uh review to see if there's some if any of those concerns
are actually real and substantive, um we'll do our research and they'll go through the process just like any other employee for discipline. >> So, in essence, Mr. superintendent, the only power I have as a District 6 board member, if I had an issue with any of your staff or cabinet members would
essentially to be to talk to you, >> correct? >> Tell you what my concerns are and keep my fingers crossed that you'll do the right thing. >> Correct. >> I don't have the ability as a board member to bring a motion or bring to the floor potential termination for any member of your cabinet or any district staff. >> That's correct.
>> Uh Madame General Counsel, do you agree with the superintendent's position on this? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. And these conversations, Dr. Superintendent, should they be had in a public setting or is this something that um throughout the course of of the week
if we have an issue, we have to reach out to either you or General C? >> I would suggest we do that during the week uh during a phone call or or a in person closed door session because um if there's uh misinformation or or basis allegation thrown out in public that
puts the district in liability. >> Understood. Do I have the ability um as a representative from district 6 to voice my concern about a specific employee um in my personal opinion because I know we went through that yesterday in my personal opinion and
let's say put that in an op ed or put that on uh social media or put that on Substack. Am I able to do that, Mr. Superintendent? Um, I'll defer to the GC as far as personal capacity versus capacity as a board member representing the district.
>> So, you have to be extremely careful because there are rules with regards to slander, defamation, etc. that will be um something that could come up if you make allegations against somebody. Um, and then the second thing is it's very um not advisable to ever put any type of
allegation out there in the public prior to due process being rendered in a proper investigation being concluded. >> But Mr. Preo, truth is always the ultimate defense to defamation, isn't it? >> It is, but you do have to be careful because you not only are exposing
yourself, but you're also exposing the district. So, we just need to go through the proper steps. >> Understood. And I and I appreciate your counsel on this. And I just want to I just want to make sure that we're 100% clear, Mr. Superintendent. I do not have the ability to say, "Mr. Superintendent, I'm making a motion to terminate the
employment of such and such person on your cabinet." >> That's correct. >> Thank you both for the explanation. >> Thank you. Any other board member? Oh, well, I actually need to make a motion. So, I'll make a motion to remove the name Basil Billings, teacher from
Dillard 6 through12, from the item H2. Mr. Mr. Billings to submit his paperwork to retire from the district in lie of termination. >> Second. >> Motion made by me, seconded by Dr. Zean. Public comment on the motion. Is that the second motion on the floor though? Wasn't there a motion before?
>> It's one. >> There is no motion. Anyway, I appreciate you acknowledging that a employee had the opportunity to retire when, by the way, on this particular employee, public
persecution happened before due process and was going to be up for termination. So, as to go on your comments, Mr. Severa I see it's only good in the behalf of upper upper upper
management and when anybody's ranking file they just nail them. So GC, I find it interesting that you make that strong comment, but only when it's on upper upper management, but it's never
for rank and file. I find it interesting. Any other public comment on the motion or member discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> Motion passes unanimously with Miss Roupert on the line. Back to the item.
Any other comments on H2 as amended. >> All in favor of H2 as amended? Say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> Item passes unanimously as amended. Could I get a motion and second on A1? >> So move. >> Moved by Dr. Zean. Second by Miss Hixon.
Public comment on A1. >> No comment. >> Board member discussion. >> Madam Chair. Yes, Miss Rupert. >> Um, could we call A1 and A9 together? >> Yeah, there. >> Okay. Uh, could I get a motion in a second to bring A1 and A9 to the floor?
>> So, move. >> Move. Second. >> Dr. Zeman, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on A1 or A9. >> No comment. >> For member discussion, Miss Rupert. >> Thank you. I wanted to make it quick for everybody. I'm um in tremendous support for these two items. I've been uh
advocating for this for a while. I'm so excited um about all areas of the district going to have the opportunity to expand aeronautical um and science and space um with with these burgeoning career opportunities that they're going
to have. So, um I'm very happy for that and um cannot wait cuz what better time than right now than to be um pursuing the career in space and opportunities because we've got Artemis 3 coming up in
about a year. So, um let's uh really make sure that we help our students um have that excitement moving forward. And um I thank uh I thank you so much for the opportunity and thank you um Dr. for Hepper and for uh speaking to staff and
you guys working so diligently to get this happen. So I I appreciate it very much. Um thank you so much. >> Thank you, Miss Thompson. >> Thank you, chair. Um I pulled the space Florida because it I'm also very excited for it to be coming to two district 2
schools, Flanigan and Myar. And I just wanted to know our communications plan to make sure that the district and our school communities know about this exciting opportunity. Yes, absolutely. Um, we're waiting for this approval so we can start initiating that that uh
communications plan. I see uh uh uh Miss Formosa back there if she wants to go over some of the logistics. >> Hi everyone. Lai Formosa, career technical adult and community education director. So we have already met with Farah Wilson and Kayla Conpsion from
both marketing and mass media. So we will have a press release ready to go. We have already started on all of our marketing materials, slogans. We will have a banner on all of our fences for the start of the new school year. We have met with all of our principles
already so that we could give them the go-ahad once it was board approved. >> All right. Thank you. Any other board member discussion? >> Um, I have a question. >> Miss Rupert, could we give Miss Hicks an opportunity to speak? >> I'm so sorry, Debbie. Sorry.
>> Oh, no worries. I just wanted to say thank you to um Director Formosa and your staff. I know that there's been a number of schools really interested in that. Really great to see that it's moved across the district. Apparently, it's still missing in in a few
districts. So, if we could continue to to grow on that, but I know this is a lot of work. So, I just want to say thank you so much for all of the work, time, and energy that you've put into getting these partnerships for our students. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Rupert.
>> Um, thank you. And, uh, as to the expansion, I would love very much to have a yet another one in District 7 after we, um, you know, put into more areas, but, uh, especially in the Deerfield Beach zone if possible. Um, so
there we go. I'm very excited. Can't wait to hear all about it and, um, really it's it's going to make such a big difference um, for our school. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Any other board member discussion? All in favor of items A1 and A9 say I.
I. >> All. All oppose say no. Items pass unanimously. Could I get a motion and a second on item B2? >> So moved. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Bulman. Public comment on B2. >> Madam Chair, there are four public speakers. Jackie Luskum, Dr. Natalie
Lynch Walsh, Dr. Trudy Jamanovich, President Anna Fusco, Good morning everyone. Jackie Luskam. Um I'm in favor of half of this motion because yes, we can and must improve customer service, but we do not need to troll other districts around the country
to learn how to do it. The people who can tell you are right here in Broward, your customers who interact with this district every day. They can tell you where this district succeeds, falls short, and how you fix it. One of the rules of customer service needs to be to hold accountable those
failing customer service and to work with those who pursue and demonstrate excellence to infuse their best practices across others. Dr. Hoes suggests modeling Broward on other districts. I suggest be the model for other districts. On November the 19th
last year, ESSE Advisory agreed a lengthy recommendation to you relating to the improvement of customer service. It comprised multiple elements identifying weaknesses and suggesting how to turn them into strengths and it was pitched with constructive spirit
knowing that we can either stand still and keep complaining or we can make suggestions and work with you for progress. Suggestions included uh a whole item itemized list um that address specific uh shortfalls and then
in the months since I urged for anybody to take an interest in this. in January returned to the subject at our monthly advisory meeting to broaden out our suggestions beyond solely ESSE and we added an important analysis of the existing customer service initiatives
that you have. The people who can help lead the enactment of customer service improvements are also in Broward. You're sitting right there. It starts with you. It begins with listening. It means not leaving the room when folks are speaking
to you. It means answering emails, returning phone calls, responding respectfully to concern, providing clear information, and ensuring people feel heard and valued. It means sharing also that this isn't just your boardroom, but it's your customer's boardroom.
Disrespecting people who give their time to speak here, not for themselves, but to represent for the needs of others, is not where good customer service starts. Um, I want to draw attention as well to the executive summary for this agenda
item, which I think summarizes where we're at. If you look at the final page, it summarizes school impact, stakeholder engagement, and implementation considerations. It states community stakeholder engagement colon not
applicable. Enduser input colon not applicable. Nobody with that mindset should be in charge of or involved with drawing up a customer service action plan. This document betrays the very root of the problem. Um, good customer
service is not a mystery we need to take to other districts to ask how to do. Please build solutions and systems with those of us out here inviting your collaboration. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker, >> Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh, Plantation,
Florida. I do not support this item. I agree with Jackie and all of her points. Um, once upon a time ago, I worked in a company where the president started a customer service improvement initiative
wanting to know why morale was so low. The 27year-old version of me, I guess this was now 30 years ago, was like, "She should just get a mirror because she makes the place miserable. How do you have this item today?
You guys are desperate to pass a referendum and yesterday after having this faux rule development workshop where you don't need to be there. That was not a rule development workshop. That was a board workshop where you ran through a bunch of items
and you decided to cut out the public that you serve whose support you need to pass the referendum. Until you change how you see the people you serve, this is will be a waste of taxpayer dollars because you're going
about it with the wrong intentions. Your hearts are not in it. Your mind's even less. You're not getting it. the beginning of this meeting, I I thought I was going to get thrown out for giggling because you're complaining about public comment lengthening the meetings and it
was nothing but pomp and circumstance for the first two hours. You guys need to have some serious come to Jesus moments with yourselves or this will fail. There is no point. It's not the first time it's been done.
You have to treat parents as though they are your customers and who now more than ever can pick up their children and go elsewhere. They can. And yesterday, just to prove how bad yesterday's treatment was, it
cemented in my mind that I will not be voting for the referendum. I was undecided until yesterday's nonsense. >> Thank you. Next speaker. My name is Dr. Trudy Jamanovich. Customer service is not just being
pleasant. This year we've had an incredibly stressful year, end of year for many employees. I know of one school, one which had the opportunity
to have a sitting with the principal candidates before they were direct appointed. Many years ago, I was on a SAC committee and we actually were allowed to give real input
on who we felt was the best fit for Sunrise Middle School. The top-down decision makingaking is not fair to the school. What happened when we did it when customer service was really asking the
customers what they wanted was that the teachers and the uh parents and the community members sat in on the interview process. That is the way you hire someone. I was
actually hired when I taught in California by the superintendent of schools. I was interviewed. Did that make me feel good? Yes, it did. He asked me a tough question. How would you teach density?
Good thing I knew how to do it. Anyway, these kinds of things are what makes the pe people look at you and say, "You're listening. You're listening." When you do direct appointments without
any communication with the school community for principles and APS that is very very damaging to the school because you aren't bringing them along
in the process and that's what customer service is. It's thinking, thinking before you do and not just pushing things through. And that's how we feel with what happened yesterday.
I'm sorry we keep bringing it up, but it is it will be a big deal because it is a big deal. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> Yeah. Anna Fusco Tu Jing and Pre.
So no, I don't agree with this. I think the only one sitting on the board last of the maggan is Norah Rubert who sat with Robert Runy when he brought in Disney and they pushed back and said can't help out.
It starts with you guys first of all and I wasn't in the audience yesterday but I watched the workshop. You can't sit here and say you care about customer service when you just sat here yesterday. You don't care about your customers.
I may be a union president, but I'm also an educator and I'm also a a member of Brower County. So, I am a customer. My son graduated from Brower County Public Schools. It takes more of customer service and a
fake smile and talking sweet and nice to pretend like you care. I might have more loud, more aggression, more assertiveness, but everybody damn well knows I care. That
is what customer service is. When you care, you go out of your way to make something happen. You go out of your way to get it done. What have you done to go out of your way to show the customers of Brower County that you care
by stifling people that come into this room? You may not like five or six of us that we might get aggressive or assertive or loud, but the community loves us. Hell, when I walked out of this room after I did my little show because I'm
bothered that somebody that's high up in the in the management gets away with sleeping and you think it's funny. You call that customer service while three of your schools closed down, Rebecca? I call that a shame. What customer service is that? Or that you led the community to believe
what you were really going to do with the schools, but then you turned it around and you're not selling them out. That's customer service. When you sat there and said, "We will not touch schools and hundreds and hundreds of educators are losing their
jobs." You call that customer service. Are none of your employees got an increase but work overtime to get the job done to make that school district an A? And the people here sleep. You call that customer service.
Customer service is showing and doing. And yes, I do agree that you have to have a certain decorum. You have to have a certain personality, but not BS. Stop BSing the Brower County residents.
That's not okay. You know what else can be for customer service? The board members need to be cut. We don't need nine because you want to talk about a decrease. You're here for the Brower County Public Schools. So decreased in everything. So now we have
to start at the top. So, put your money where your mouth is and show customer service. >> Thank you. Any other public speakers? >> No, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Board member discussion. Uh, Dr. Holes, since this is your item. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to
the speakers for giving your feedback. So, Dr. Dr. Heppern, I'd like to first before I continue my comments is to um I know you've uh put certain initiatives in place to improve customer service and
uh that's recognized including the ABCs of customer service and district-wide survey tools and so on. Um this item is to provide an opportunity to strengthen and build upon those practices across the district. Um, I believe that uh
customer service is one of the key uh in order to to win back students, to win back customers, to keep customers. As a business owner, uh I've recognized there are four things that are essential in
keeping uh customers. One of them is customer service. The other is facility appeal. The other is quality of the product that you're offering and the other is results. You have to have results. We've had great
academic results. We I believe are offering great quality products. Uh there are areas such as the facility appeal and customer service that we do need to improve on. Uh this is an attempt to do so. Um, and this is not to
negate any actions taken by the superintendent thus far, and I commend him and the staff on those efforts to improve customer service, but I believe that we can do more. So, in order to combat the issue of not losing more
students, more customers, uh, this item is very simple and straightforward. It's really to direct the superintendent to conduct nationwide research of successful datadriven customer service
practices and upon doing so to determine if any of those practices can be or fragments of it can be adopted and used in a customer service action plan that establishes
clear standards, training and accountability. So um it has two parts to this. One is to simply look at what great organizations with um A-rated
customer service what they're doing and once we have that information to determine if there's anything we could um adapt adopt from what they're doing. And so this is um a direction to the superintendent to conduct that research
and then to develop a comprehensive district-wide customer service action plan um as a result of such practice. Now I also want to just mention that I do appreciate the input of um uh our um ESC
um chair advisory chair as well because all of us if you've been observing what I advocate for ESC students are significantly important uh to me uh my son was an ESC student and so um you
know identifying uh improvement of customer service within um our ESC uh population as well as districtwide in all groups I believe would be beneficial to the district. Um
so this is not to change what we're doing per se. This is not intended to say we don't look inside and see how we can improve ourselves, but this is to also look at what others are doing and see if there's anything we can adapt. I can tell you as a business
owner for a franchise um we've had um meetings with multiple owners across the nation and we look at different practices that they have and how we can implement that in our own individual business and it works. So this is really to just go out and see what's out there
that we may not be using and if we could possibly use it. You know I know we're losing students. I've heard the rational that well we're losing students um statewide and that may be true and it is it is true for the most part but you
know I I don't believe um that because of that we can't proceed to try to gain students you know and um for those of you uh who listen to um uh Bob Marley there's a song that he says you must
never give up the fight and for me I don't think we should give up the fight. I think we should continue to unturn every stone we can to provide opportunities to win back customers and this is one of them. So I'm asking board members to support it.
>> Thank you. Um we have Miss Thompson. >> Thank you chair. Um thank you Dr. Holes for bringing this item. I do think there's there's areas we can improve on. I had maybe an addition to add or just a comment. I know we do customer service
surveys, we do them to students, we do them to parents, but I think where we're there's a gap is when there is a complaint or an issue at a school, sometimes we just rectify it without actually um telling the community that we fixed
it. This is something when I had roundts with students um with our previous student advisor, he was talking about the importance of the student survey and most of them would just leave it blank or fill it out quickly because they thought that their
feedback didn't matter because nothing came out of it. And then Mr. spell were explained that bathrooms were fixed because of the survey or that staff addressed um class issues immediately because of the survey. So what is our
current model of when we get this feedback or these surveys to address the issues and to let them know that they've been addressed? >> Thanks for the question, Miss Thompson. So um so as far as a you described the
student initiative um that Landon and Jir um created and has a lot of traction and a lot of actionable um steps and some great results. Um but as far as the survey that we receive um through the ABC and of customer service and all of
that the information that we receive we act on. Most of the time it is um somebody detailing a bad experience they had, a lack of a phone call, a lack of responsiveness, and we'll follow up with that staff member and there'll be some retraining and things like that. Um and
so I do agree um with Dr. Hoess um and the team is already working on updating and enhancing the current customer service uh framework and doing research and all of those great things so we can come into the school year as we do with anything, continuous improvement process, understanding the gaps. Um, one
of my one of the biggest things for us though is how do we get people and all of us do it where it's natural for for everybody. How do we get them to engage more? Uh, a lot of people just don't do surveys because we're so indented with them from when we shop, when we everything, right? So, you the only time
you really do a survey is that one horrible experience that you had. You know, I got to do a survey for this. Um, and so how do we get more people to engage in the survey process? um is something that we're trying to learn more about from other entities is to make sure we get great feedback across
the board. And I like also like the the idea of um receiving more feedback through this through our customer service platform from staff. Um this one thing that Dr. Fulton uh has been championing in in cabinet is that you know we're we have an expectation that
we're responsive to our students and our parents. Um but we also have an expectation that departments that service schools are also uh responsive to school needs too. So making sure there's follow through in that part and how do we close the gap um and understand what type of feedback we get
through a customer service loop as well. So, I love that addition as well. >> And I I think I would like when it comes if approved and comes back like how are we because I think there's a way you can say you know 20 complaints were made about this school. They were all
addressed within 24 hours or a week. Um there's a way to make people feel heard and then they will fill out the survey because if if it goes nowhere >> um then what is the point? Um I think also maybe communicating because I have
a couple schools that um have differences opinions on their leadership and they feel like there's no outlet to communicate that. Um so explaining surveys or maybe we start implementing focus groups. I would be
interested if when you guys are doing your nationwide um research if focus groups are a better way to see um because I feel like when I did my 12 community meetings about redefining I got so much more feedback than I think
when I did surveys or anything like that. So I think when people feel heard and we go to them is another important important component like maybe we go to the PTA meetings or we have um regionalized meetings so that it's accessible because public engagement is
important but we need to make it accessible. So I will be proud to support this item. Thank you Miss Hixon. Thank you. To kind of piggy back off of what Miss Thompson just mentioned, I was
going to say people surveys are good, but again, most people don't like to do them. We had discussed a while ago about doing town halls across the district and different regions, not as schoolboard members. I mean the district going out
also as schoolboard members but they we did we did the first initial online um parent university about the finance but we had talked about doing a town hall going out and talking to the public about what is our actual financial situation. What are some of the
suggestions they have to to tweak that? So to kind of expand on what Miss Thompson is saying to the superintendent, when were we planning on starting those town halls beyond the virtual one we had and maybe that's a
place where we could um also have conversation or or gather a focus group because at the end of the day we can do a nationwide thing but Broward is Broward is very unique in a lot of different ways. So, I think um one of
our public speakers had a point. We need to know what the issues are in our community. And I think people, the better, the more we improve customer service, the more likely we are to have students come back because sometimes the students like the school, but the
parents aren't feeling as if they're being heard. And so they doesn't matter what the academics is, they don't feel like they're getting what they need from the staff. Um, and you know, you mentioned our staff a lot of times they
have questions about things and no one answers the phone or they don't answer the email. So, it's great to have surveys, but what are the action steps beyond that? So, I like that that's in this plan, but I also don't know that we need to do a nationwide research. I
think we know what we need to do. We just need to figure out how to do it and to engage not just making people come here or fill out a survey, but going into those communities as Miss Thompson said. So, I'd like to see us, we already
said we were going to do them, but we haven't scheduled them. Town halls that focus on just the the state of the district. I mean, we mentioned that before also, you know, you you going in and having a little discussion about, you know, how many schools are an A in
this in this region, all of those good things, but then giving them an opportunity to know here's where we're at and what are what is your feedback so we can take action on it. So, do you know when >> Yeah. So, I see a couple of different
lanes. Um the customer service action plan is a little bit different from um what you gather from a town hall. Um the national research to me is more about process and strategy that works to garner the information that you're trying to receive out of your constituent. So, I don't want to
disregard that because there may be processes and strategies that are going well um that we're unaware of that can, you know, grab or absorb a lot of information that we vitally need from our constituents and parents and and students and and staff. So, we'll definitely um incorporate that. Um as
far as state of the district, I I like the idea of the town halls as far as state of the district, and we do some of that already um but uh we do it with the municipalities, right? uh the regional teams that go into municipalities and go and and inform them about the their
school grades, what's the what's the accomplishments and what what's some of the challenges. I think we can replicate that process by just stepping out of the municipality and and doing it uh maybe a couple of times within a region so that we um u uh provide a a venue where
everybody can participate uh no matter where they are within that region and provide that same information, accomplishments, challenges for the upcoming school year and and getting additional feedback um at the end of that for some of the challenges that we know we're going to face um during that school year. So we can we can discuss
that um as we're retooling the the plan, but I see it as is uh uh two different lanes because the customer service is, you know, we're we're doing that on a recurring and frequent basis, not just one time, right? That's what that's what I appreciate about the current initiative that we're trying to update is that it's frequent. We're pushing out
it pushing out the links um I think uh quarterly or every two months or so. Um and then the QR codes and all that. So we have frequent information just like what we have with academic performance information. we have it frequently throughout the year so we can make adjustments. That's why I uh you know it
all sparked from my experience in going to schools when I first started. Right. So just wanted to um find a mechanism to help us get better in that area. So again continuous improvement process but love the feedback the board's given um so we can certainly plan out um a series of town halls throughout the year. Just go ahead and get them on the calendar.
>> Okay. Well, and I would say if you're already doing municipalities, you don't have to. You could add it to that because there's there's power in numbers and if you're hosting something with the municipality, there may be groups of
people who already like participate with municipalities. So, you could do it in partnership. I think that would also be really helpful because there's some sense of security and trust with their municipalities. So, the more we can get
that and um there's also a piece on here about accountability and I think that's some of the issue is that people will make um the district aware that there's some concerns but they don't see any followth through on that. So, I think
that that's um a really important piece on this um item. So, and you know, in ter I know you said about training and stuff, but I've also walked into places and thought hm um so I I just think it's yes important
to to have that the conversation so that we can make everybody better. >> Yep. And I'm I'm glad you mentioned accountability. So, that was that I know we mentioned that before and I've mentioned that with Dr. Holdness um before 101 is that that's the key lever. Um and so I've already been discussing that with the HR team of you know what
what current policies or SOPs that we can leverage as account for better accountability when things aren't going well after we've trained an employee redirected them and and the such because that's the lever that hasn't been pulled. So there's no accountability just going to keep repeating the same
bad behavior over and over. >> Thank you Mr. Sea. So, here's my two cents um on this. I think um your heart is in the right place with this uh Dr. Honess. However, I don't think um the finished product of what's
being proposed is in the best interest of the district. And here's why. We have a very unique um group of of folks in in in Broward County. Uh we are the sixth largest uh school board district in the entire
country. Uh we've gone through some stuff over the years that um a lot of other districts in a lot of part of the state and the country never would have to uh dream about or imagine. So the obvious starting point for me if we're going to do this and we're going to try
to implement um datadriven customer service practices, we need to start in Broward County. Um, we heard board member Hixon talk about town halls. I I agree. I think that would be a great great idea. Community outreach. We have
advisory committees that come and speak to us. These are all folks who are plugged directly in to the BCPS pipeline. And these are the individuals that we serve and this research project needs to be geared towards them. Don't
understand the need for a nationwide search. Um, with all due respect to the Hawkeye State, I really don't care what they're doing in Iowa or what they're doing in Texas. I don't care. I care about Broward County in the great state of Florida. And we need to focus on
Broward County. We have a an obligation to service um our constituents and to service our kids and everybody who works within the district. And those are the folks opinions that I care about, not so much people in different parts um of the
nation. Um, also, Mr. Superintendent, what would be the cost associated with this nationwide search if this were to pass? >> There is no cost. Um, again, this is doing research to find uh best practices
of receiving information from the people that we're trying to receive it from. So, I don't want to discount um going out and doing your our research is, you know, we can't uh just isolate ourselves in a bubble and say we're going to do it this way and and and that way, but I understand there's better ways of of
gathering that information from the people that we serve um every day. So, there's no cost. Um and so we would go out and do our due diligence, do initial research, and then if we need to find out more detail, just pick up the phone and call those school districts, those companies. Um we have the council of
great city schools that have 82 82 member districts that are available. Um they can assist us with additional research as well. So we have an avenue to do research without any cost >> and and maybe the answer months or years down the road of this project is to open
this up and start talking to people in other states or in other cities or in other parts of the country. At this point, I don't think we as a district have a good handle on the needs of our constituents and our um residents in Broward County. This is where we need to
start talking to the folks in Broward County whose kids go to Broward County public schools. So, this idea of this nationwide search, maybe we get there at some point in time, but right now, this needs to start in the 954. This needs to start in this
county. We need to have town halls. we should do community outreach if we're serious about this. This is how we should start this. I don't believe starting in a nationwide search and skipping over Broward County is the right uh way to approach um an agenda item like this. So, uh the way this is
worded, I will not be supporting this um unless we can have some sort of transition where we agree that this starts in our county first before we start looking into other parts of the state um or the country. >> If I may, Mr. Sever before you move on, I just want to clarify. I think we're
we're um we're like on two ends of the spectrum of this nationwide. Um I'm not fully understanding the concern about the nationwide, but the what I'm trying to convey is to understand process and strategy um of collecting information
and how do we get that from the people that we serve all every day or who we hear from every day, right? not about um you know getting feedback from national research. It's about process and
strategy as we do with everything else, right? H how do we drive on this road better? What type of vehicle should we use to get the best gas mileage and things like that so we can get from point A to point B? Um is is as as I and correct me if I'm wrong, Dr. Hol is just to understand uh that's that's my
understanding. It's not about anything else besides strategy and process so we can get the best information possible um from our constituents because we want to talk to the people here in Broward to get that information. So that's that's I just want to my clarification of his understanding of that is correct >> and I and I appreciate that. But as I
read the executive summary on what a a yes vote would entail. It says, and I quote, "The superintendent of schools will conduct a nationwide research, will conduct nationwide research of successful datadriven customer service practices." This is what the executive summary that
staff provided us says. I don't want you to waste time right now conducting anything nationwide. I want you to start in Broward County speaking to our residents, speaking to our constituents, and after you've done that research in Broward County as to what you think our
folks need, then we can venture off nationwide. I'm not necessarily suggesting that we should ignore that all completely. But we need to have our finger on the pulse about what's going on in Broward County, what our folks want, suggestions, what our constituents
think would be better for this district before we start looking about what's going on in different parts um of the country. That's my um take on this. And I would also note and would be remiss if I didn't mention the irony is not lost on all of this. going through yesterday's meeting where a substantial
portion of this board wanted to substantially limit public speaking um of our constituents and of our members of the public. Yet, here we are today talking about customer service. What better way to provide customer service than allow for proper public comment?
Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Zean. >> Thanks, Chair. Um, chair, just a question for the superintendent, if you don't mind. Um, you had a plan in place already for customer service to work on it this
year. Uh, you and I have talked about key performance indicators. Uh, we've talked about stratifying the audience. So, it's customer service for students and staff and community members, business leaders, uh, residents of Broward County. Um what would change
were this item to pass today in the plan that you already had? >> Um nothing would change um really besides pro um honestly nothing. It's it's right in line of uh what we're concentrating on and what we're trying to update as we move forward because it's part of our continuous improvement
process for redefining, attracting, and retaining students all the initiatives to maintain enrollment and also improve enrollment over the long term. >> Do you feel, Mr. superintendent that we're at an ally y'all moment in the sense that we should be doing everything
that we could possibly do to uh recruit and retain the students that we have now. >> Correct. >> So, this is just one more plank in the process that you've got in place. I would um tell you how fascinated, excuse me, I am with things that I've learned
from other districts. I was in a call last uh Friday with the council of great city schools and I found out this district of Cincinnati provides parking at night for homeless people who are in cars. And it it made me think very differently
about what we do because we're really focused on students and academics and mental health and kind of all the obvious things. And then there's Cincinnati with this homeless but uh population that has cars and nowhere safe to to park. And so every school in
Cincinnati offers that at night. If homeless people call, they have a lot that's locked up at night to provide them a safe place to uh to to spend the evening. You know, there are things that we learn. Houston Independent School
District invested in a oil field and it now provides a significant portion of their operating expenses. Um, the way that Chicago, you know, does customer service is fascinating, driven by their business community. And so I've learned
a ton from listening to other districts. I think it would be irresponsible for us to make decisions without that information. I think we're always going to make better decisions when we gather more informations, whether it's about Miami date. You know, I went down there and watched a schoolboard meeting, but before I did that, I went to the prep
meeting the day before, and it was fascinating to watch the cabinet talk to the schoolboard member the day before in committee meetings so that when the schoolboard meeting happened, all the questions that we possibly could have asked had already been answered and we got to go very efficiently through uh the schoolboard meeting that was more
publicly attended. So, I think Dr. He that uh it's essential to to look to our business community to look at other districts uh on strategy on practices and examples of of ways in which they're doing it better. Um but I think this is
one plank of many planks. I mean we are to your agreement in an all y'all moment where all y'all have to help. Everything we could possibly do in the competitive environment uh needs to be pushed forward. So I appreciate you bringing this Dr. Holes. Um, I think that this
might provide a little bit more uh support for the initiatives that Dr. Heer and his and staff are going through. Uh, it is an area as a parent of three kids in Broward County schools. They're there kind of funny moments at the end of the day where I wish our customer service had been better, Dr.
Heepern. Uh, but um, you know, that's that's just as one of your customers as a parent, too. Um, you know, there there are things. So, I look forward to to learning about this. I think just to the board members too, we might want to think about this when it comes time for establishing u evaluation parameters for
the superintendent. Maybe this is something you know like we did um on the construction projects. We said we wanted to get x number of construction projects done per year. Uh maybe we want to set a baseline in the first year of customer service and then ask for some level of improvement uh in subsequent years as a
way to to kind of codify this. Dr. Holes, that might be a way to take it beyond what we were going to do otherwise. Uh, but we'll get to that when when it's time to think about your evaluation. Dr. Heer, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Miss Bowman.
>> Thank you. Um, I I agree with Dr. Zean. Uh first of all, thanks for bringing those uh examples because when you're looking at the broader picture of what who we are to the community and how we
can be contributing, I think it is important that we're really broadening the way that we're looking at it. So, you know, we could be contributing um on that big large scale. And then we also need to really look at our culture. And I the accountability piece that Miss
Hixon was bringing up. I think you know you can tell from school to school who's creating a great culture and that comes from the top and from the leadership and the expectations and then who's not. And I I mean I can tell you off the top of
my head, you know, um and so consistency I think is the is something that we really need to work for and people have to be ultimately held accountable because we're all going to suffer if we are losing students because you're not
um you know, we're not holding a baseline customer service. So I um I really like the idea of how we could expand what we offer to the community but also small scale. So I um thank you for bringing this forward Dr.
>> Thank you. Any other board discussion? >> May I have my hand up? >> Thank you, Mr. Rupert. >> Now? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Oh, thank you so much. I didn't want to bump anybody else. Um, thank you so much for this this
conversation for today. Um, I I tend to believe um that we don't need to do yet another survey and spend time doing it. It's pretty simple. What do we do? Well, the same question you ask the parents,
the teachers, the students, community. How can we do better? Same people. and they'll tell you what do you like about the public schools, what would help you stay with the public
schools, and what are you getting elsewhere that is obviously uh the X factor for you to be able to move there. Um, and then change it.
Don't just listen. Don't just write it down. Don't check a box. you have to do it. And then we all have to remember, you know, I used to work on a cruise ship. I might not be on work hours, but I had to wear like white chinos, a blue
polo, and it said, you know, cruise staff. So, if somebody caught me on my day off walking around, I didn't say, "Sorry, it's my day off." You're on for 247. Same thing at Publix. Same thing whatever you're at. you meet, you talk
to people. That's important. That is customer service. Um, unfortunately yesterday I was unable to be at the meeting, which is um, ironic because uh, I understand that not only is
uh, the the opportunity for our public that truly are the banging the drum out for us, our our employee groups, our families, our advisory people. um they're out there
and it it seemed to us after looking at it later that we were kind of tamping down on public opportunity to speak. Um, but even more
so than that, um, tying the hands of our schoolboard members, if they're on a scheduled vacation or they have a scheduled doctor appointment, which I did yesterday, and I rightfully
um, we told John Sullivan that that day was not possible for me uh, to make it if at all. It was going to be later. So, I did try my best to be there. Um, watched it afterwards, obviously. Um, so
those are important. Um, I don't know if that's already come and gone, those votes, but it's I think we have to really think about not only silencing public comment, but silencing our
colleagues ourselves who are elected constitutional officers to not have the ability, if they are away overseas. I wouldn't be able to call in for budget. I wouldn't be able to call him
for uh you know multiple meetings in July and in August. So it's very very chilling for me to think wait I can't call in and vote. I could watch the meeting but I wouldn't
be able to to vote. So, uh, I would definitely like to talk to the attorney at another at another time about this issue, but I want my colleagues to think very seriously about that. Um, the other points, we have some amazing rock stars
currently right now. uh besides the people that were um welldeserved uh recognition, but we have somebody who I'm really excited coming back to district 7 and that's Joe Balcunis. So
Joe, you're finally coming back home to district 7. He kicks I don't know, he just kicks butt, let me tell you. He lives and breathes the district that he's recommending and
residing, not residing and working for. And he makes every person feel, and this is incredibly important and hard to um, you know, really put your finger on. He makes you feel like you're listening, you're being listened to, but also
valued. and I I look forward to him spending some more of uh Jill Bakuna's time with uh principles and the community, but he really gets it. And I'm going to say this again and again about Mr. Schroeder for Margate Elementary. Um I don't ever
want you, Mr. Schroeder, to ever go up the the opportunity to another position because you are so fabulous to the whole community. And he gets it. He gets it. You don't hear parent complaints from them. You don't hear anything. You hear
happy phone calls, happy letters. And that's important because we all have a part in making this wonderful district even better than it can be. So yes, we have some customer service issues. Yes, we need to gain
structure uh structure. And we next we need to have our students um that need to come back to us. Um and very briefly but with the big emphasis music and the arts
are not something that we need to put aside. Social workers are not something we need to push aside. Those are not electives. Those are core principles
of being a well-rounded student and a community. There's nothing like going to a concert or play to get really excited about what we have in public schools. And um one point the superintendent was
saying that he we've received information and then they've been pushing it out. And I understand that and I yes I agree. However, we haven't implemented or at least to the point where I as one
board member do not see anything customer service-wise that we've implemented and we still hear from the public that that not is not so. So I'm I'm assuming that we'll be discussing that next workshop. So, I won't talk much longer here um because that'll be
part of the um reimagining our district conversation, I hope, uh is implementing what we've learned and I look forward to that. And um that's pretty much it. It's simplistic.
We need to ask our people and then not only ask them, tell them implement what they say they are leaving for or what they say they love about our schools. And when we put money that way, uh it's
it's a wonderful thing. I'm all for that. So, uh not I won't be supporting this item because I don't think we need to spend the time and the manpower to do this. We know already. It's just time to act. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other board discussion, >> Dr. Horn? >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I wasn't sure if we were going on second round, so I'll I'll go ahead and speak. So, um I thank you, board member Roupert, and I I hear your um you know, your input, your
concern. But what I'll say is this. Um a few years ago, maybe a decade ago or so, um when I started my learning center, I had zero students. And as I built my business, um I started
to realize the importance of um attending conferences with other similar franchises and learning best practices from from those um who's also in the same business. And
within a couple of years, I grew to be number three in South Florida as far as that particular franchise in the volume of students that I have. And that's not because of just me thinking of ideas. It's me embracing ideas outside of what I
thought about, you know. So there is value in listening and in engaging others and of similar uh companies to see how we can improve our current practices and to see if we can adopt um
new practices. Um so you know this is not to replace or negate what we're already doing in Broward. This is not to say Broward doesn't have the answer. It's not to skip over Broward. It's to take a look at what others are doing and see if we can improve our current
practices as well as the possibility of adopting uh new practices that can make us better. The superintendent mentioned it's not going to cost any money. At the very least, he'll come back to us with information that could make us better. And if he doesn't believe it can make us
better, we won't adopt it. you know, but to shut it down for any board member who decide not to support and you do have the right to do so. I it's us not taking an opportunity to look at additional
information that could help us. You know, my main concern is we are losing students in broad county schools. If we're going to attempt to do something to improve uh customer service that could potentially increase our student population,
um it's a win-win all the way, you know. So, I do hope um others will support it and I do hope we have majority. Uh but again, this is not to skip over Broward. It's not to replace what we're doing as uh Dr. Hepern so um clearly stated. um
it's really to improve the process and strategies by looking at what others are doing. So it's very simple. Look at nationwide companies that have great customer service practices and determine if we can adopt
any of what they're doing and if we can improve what we're already doing. Uh I don't see um any negative in doing so. I think it's all positive and if we as a district is going to continue to be focused on improving student enrollment,
increasing student enrollment, we have to not leave any stone unturned. This is one of those great opportunities that's not going to cost us much of anything. So, I do hope that it it's supported. My only goal in this item and for me to
think about this item and to take input that's been given over months including input from ESC as well um is to see how we can better serve our students how we can improve this district. That is the intent. There's no other intent. Um so I
do hope that it'll be supported. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Any further board discussion? Okay. Those in favor of item uh B2 say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> No. >> No.
>> Okay. Um roll call. >> All right. We're going to do a roll call on item B2. Uh school board members Alhade is not on the line. Bowman. >> Yes. >> Sea. >> Nope. >> Hixon. >> Yes. >> Hoes.
>> Yes. >> Leonardi. Nana deas Roert. >> No. >> Thompson. >> Yes. >> Zean, >> uh, and Miss Leonardi, now that you're back in the room, >> yes.
>> Item passes. 62. >> Okay. Thank you. And we'll move on to our next item. Um, uh, at this time, may a May I have a motion and a second to pass agenda item C1? So moved.
Okay, the item has been moved and seconded. Um, are there any registered speakers? >> One registered speaker, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh. Sorry, I had to pop two Advil. Um,
so this item, the revised organizational chart, uh, there's two things on here that I want to bring to your attention. One is because we didn't have the final org chart on the day you guys passed the org
chart. It wasn't possible to see that you were lumping PO in with um you moved it and not sorry not PO but the chief the chief building official the compliance people are now in with PO
because it's all under strategy and operations um as opposed to facilities. So that should be moved or you can wait till somebody points out it should be moved besides me. Somebody did point out the
other thing which is finding number two on page 10 of the MGT report. Administrative functions are fragmented across departments rather than coordinated or centrally supported. Case in point, you have under food and nutrition a
director of finance. We learned that that dotted line is to an executive a new executive director that'll be sitting over in actual under the CFO. But for some mysterious reason, which is the opposite of what MGT is
recommending, it says in peer districts, operational functions such as HR, finance, communications, and facilities coordination are more often supported through centralized services or shared resources, reducing duplication across divisions. In BCPS, these functions are
more frequently distributed across departments, resulting in similar work being performed in parallel rather than through coordinated or centralized support. This fragmentation increases staffing requirements systemwide and makes it difficult to reduce costs
without affecting service delivery. It doesn't matter who's funding the human that's doing the work. You can allocate the human's time to a specific funding source. It does matter when you have them sitting in individual functional
departments like food and nutrition sitting in strategy and operations or when you have a budget person stray a poor stray sitting in PO and all kinds of other weird places they've stuck the affforementioned types of people. So
150,000 was spent in taxpayer funds for a recommendation. Jackie left, but she shouldn't feel bad and take these things personally because you're not taking this recommendation and applying it to the org chart. Or you could since it's before you today, let's see what
happens. But they literally said to that they had a finding that you fragment rather than centralize. And this was a superintendent recommendation to fragment. the exact opposite of what their finding was. >> That concludes public speaking.
>> Thank you, Dr. Zean. >> C1. >> Uh, and please turn your mic on. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. I just had a quick clean up. I got several emails from folks asking about why we were growing management staff and I explained to them that this is a typo kind of thing. We're
just fixing uh what we've always had. This is not new staff. So for those that are concerned about us growing the food nutrition staff uh at a time which they're, you know, losing some of their fund balance, I appreciate you writing to me as a budget geek. Uh but in this
case, we're just cleaning up something that we had done before. Thanks a lot, Chair. >> Thank you, Dr. Hoes. Um, Madam Chair, thank you so much. Um, so Dr. Hepern, uh, I just want to um to
um ensure that uh this this organizational chart with these changes as far as the minor changes including um the change uh in um Mr. Bruno's office. Um, are these the only changes that for us to anticipate?
>> That's correct. >> Okay. And as we continue in the upcoming school year um and continue to look at staff uh uh allocation and staffing for uh on the chart um are we going to possibly continue to see further
reductions in the upcoming year or two >> uh for the up for this upcoming school year? No. >> Okay. But there's a possibility going forward we'll continue to proceed to see how we can um best trim staff in order to um save funds.
>> Correct. If as if you're referring to realignment of staff um downsizing. Yes. >> Okay. Great. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. Seivera. >> I realize that in the grand scheme of the York chart that this change is uh relatively uh minor. I just want to be
on the record. Um, again since the York charts back up that I am not supporting this, nor did I support anything on the prior rich in the York chart. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion? All in favor? >> I have a question. >> Oh, go ahead, Miss Rupert.
>> I'm sorry. Um, yes, actually it's to the to the superintendent. Maybe I missed it, but is there going to be a um a graphic for us that breaks down the MGT um recommendations and and how uh we're
going to implement them. >> There was a the another report was sent to the board. Um we've implemented some of their recommendations in in the um reorganization. Um and some of their recommendations may be implemented as we
plan for future years. And that you have that written down like it it'll say done this uh in future years 26 27 27 28 we plan to do XY Z. >> Uh correct. It's it's it's not pretty
much just implementing their their their total plan. It's it's mere recommendations for us to consider as we devise our strategy of how we're going to address our our unique needs to Broward County Public Schools. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. Any
other board discussion? All in favor of C1 say I. >> All oppose say no. >> No. >> No. Item passes with two dissenting votes from Miss Rupert and Mr. Rivera. Could I get a motion and a second on E1? >> Could I get a motion and a second on E1
and '05, please? >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on E1 or05. >> Madam Chair, we have one register E105. Um and president Anna Fusco on both items.
>> Hello Annaf Fusco teaching and president. I just got do done a news um interview about this item that I've been speaking about for a while and obviously anything that brings safety to our
children of Brower County Public Schools and I it it brings safety to everyone. and anybody that's out on the streets and if anybody is out on the streets more than the Broward Teachers Union that drives the county because we visit
all 250 something schools daily. Not ob obviously not 250 schools in one day, but I am up in in the streets from 4:30 in the morning till sometimes 10:00 at night. And our buses are out on those streets and I see the cars that still
haven't gotten the understanding don't text and drive. Obviously, we've got people that are swerving that they're probably not texting and driving, maybe under the influence. You've got people that don't understand the laws of the road and what it is happening when a bus stops and puts their arms out. So, this
is a deterrent. It's a safety measure. And then, yes, it does bring money into the public schools. So, a company came up with this plan, which is safety to help save lives. So, I'm
definitely in favor of making sure that this plan gets put forward. Now, the piece that's important that everybody's questioning, what's going to happen to the money once Brower County Public Schools gets it? What are you going to do with it? How's it being governed? How
are the citations going to be accurately done? That we know that this company is fully engulfed and taking care of the operational piece of it. And Broward County Public School just sits there and waits for the check. Now, who you guys task and what you do to make sure that
the money is spent properly and is accounted for is on you. It's a big toll because again, it's dealing with money, making sure it's managed correctly, making sure it gets back put into whatever the agreement. I have not read
the agreement, the legal piece of it. So, I believe I did hear from somebody that it might get automatically put back into safety and security, which that will free up money for other things. So, wherever the money goes back to, you have to pay attention that the money
needs to come back into the people in Broward County Public Schools to where they're working overtime for their safety and health because there's a lot of ways to keep safe and healthy. And when you're overworked and underpaid and you have to go get two and three jobs
themselves driving for Instacart or Uber or Amazon, that is safety on them. Also, they're tired. They're overworked. Okay? So, putting back into your employees is another form of customer service, by the
way. Pay attention to that. So, I'm in favor of this being passed unanimously. >> Thank you. Any other public speakers? No, Madam Chair. >> Board member discussion. Mr. Seivera. >> Thank you, Chair. Um, I want to start
off by thanking our general counsel's office uh for pushing to get this done and I also want to um thank the Broward Sheriff's Office and special shout out to Major DeMarco for the role that he played in working with our general counsel's office. Um, keeping our kids
safe is of the utmost important um to not only myself, but I'm sure I speak for all of my colleagues in the district um as a whole. Um, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2000 to 2024, there were 63 fatalities and crashes that
involved a driver illegally passing a stopped school bus. An average of two and a half fatalities a year. That is too much. uh this system will ensure that uh drivers will hopefully stop when they are supposed to stop and allow the
kids to get on and off the bus. So, uh anything to keep our students safe uh on their way to school and dropping them back home after school, I'm 100% in favor of. And again, thank you to our general counsel and to BSO for uh getting this deal done.
>> Thank you, Miss Hixon. Thank you. Um, I also wanted to thank our general counsel. This has been a long time in the making and I have made more than a few calls to Miss Jacqu Adams to ask her what was taking so long. But I I do want to just give her
kudos for taking the time to make sure the contract we had was a good contract for the district. Um, thank you to Miss Depri Berno for sending us a chart that explains how our contract is different from other counties and where we it it
was in the email just not too long ago. Dr. Zemon's looking. Um, so you know the chart that shows what other counties what their contract looks like and what ours looks like and you know the fact that we don't have to pay for some
things that other counties have to and that this is something that will be good for the district in terms of financially but also as was mentioned keep our students safe. So Mr. pre Bruno um can you answer the question about where the
money that we get from this um partnership will go because I've had a lot of emails asking that question. So the statute is very explicit in terms of how the funds can be used. Um simplistically it has to be used for student transportation safety
initiatives related to transportation school bus driver recruitment and retention. Um the program administration itself and any other related transportation safety enhancements. >> So thank you. Now my question to that is
all of those pieces are I guess to the superintendent where the money can be spent. Was that money already that would be spent in capital or is there anything that was mentioned there that could be shifted from the general fund to capital
in terms of how could I just want to be clear that this money can it be in in some either directly or indirectly way to help us with our 4% raise that we want or what where what what are the constraints about where this money goes?
we will have to analyze um the offset. So if there are certain things that this is paying for capital or paying uh general that we would usually pay for transportation safety safety initiatives for transportation and this money could uh do that for us while we absorb that
general fund to do something else with it. Yeah. So we'll have to analyze. I know uh we got um kind of like a a predictor of u of what revenue may look like for us. Um, I think after the first couple of months of implementation, we'll be able to uh figure out what that
would be for a 12-month period and then um we'll have a better analysis of what it would offset in order to uh save money in general. So, if you could please send us a followup with that or even, you know, we'll bring it up later just to share with people because I just I of course having additional money for
safety and all that's really important, but I just want to be really clear about whether it does free up a lot of money in general fund or if most of these things were being covered in capital anyway, so it'll allow us to use our capital money in a different way. So, I
think it's really important to know what that looks like. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Zean. >> Oh, Dr. Hepern, I believe Miss Johnson wants to >> I'm sorry. Oh, go ahead, Miss Johnson. >> This money offset the general fund cost.
Capital cost is is not associated with this money. So, it free up money in a general fund. >> Right. Dr. Aziman. >> So, I I would say this is, you know, the funible pot of money. You know, if you take the money from bus patrol and you spend it on uh transportation salaries,
that frees up general fund to do uh more salaries for other people. If that's fair, Miss Johnson, I love uh thinking about that. Um I appreciate our general counsel sending the information because it was sent out by email. Was that information shared with the public, Miss uh Dupri Bruno?
>> No, that information was only shared with the superintendent, chief of staff, and the board. I wonder if you might summarize it for everybody that didn't get that email. >> Uh well, give me one second. >> I mean, this is important information. We're asking the public um you know, to
contribute uh under terms of this contract. I think they deserve to know, you know, kind of uh why this is a good deal and where the funds are going to go. >> Okay. Um through the chair. So, uh, basically the program is
authorized under Florida statute 316.173 and it's designed to enhance student transportation safety through the use of automated school bus stop arm infraction system. So, that's basically the stop arm that comes out um, and you're
supposed to stop uh, and not go around the bus because students are exiting the bus or entering the bus. So this allows for an enforcement through the school district of that program. Uh the program consists of three primary components for
us. It's a a specific contract with the organization bus patrol. It's also a interlocal or mutual aid agreement with the Broward County Sheriff's Office delegating citation authority to our own Broward Schools Police Department. And
there's also an agreement with the division of administrative hearing to serve as the hearing officer for any contested citations of the notice of violations. In addition, the main one of the main components in this um particular
contract is to ensure that the school district has no outofpocket expenses whatsoever with regards to the enforcement. That includes paying our own police departments. Uh that includes paying the hearing officers. that includes um moving and enforcing the
actual program. Uh the split is 7030 with 30% uh well let me go back. The the ticket is $225. Uh $25 goes directly to the school district and then the remaining 200 is
split 7030. Uh 70% goes to bus patrol, 30% goes to the school district. But here's what you must remember. of that 70%, the cameras, the enforcement, the process, paying our police department, paying for DOA, um paying for any
affiliated cost relating to the program comes out of that 70% because bus patrol is responsible for all costs relating to this program. And then again, what can you use this for? Um well, and one of the things that's a little bit different
from our agreement with others is that um we were able to negotiate out negotiate out of our contract termination fees, other recurring fees, equipment, um monthly payment fees, etc. And what can you use this contract? What
can you use the funds for again is for student transportation safety initiatives, school bus driver recruitment and retention program administration and related transportation safety enhancement. >> Terrific. And chair, to your knowledge, was this the result of a competitive
solicitation? >> Mr. Berno, >> this was as a result of an RFP. Yes, it was. >> Terrific. And were there other biders that were deemed qualified? >> There were other biders, but I don't know all the names. I'll have to get that information. where any of those other biders have. I mean, my issue is
the allocation of funds. I don't like giving up 70% of the money the public's paying. I mean, this is a great safety issue. This should generate, by the way, how much money do we expect to generate in the first year of this? >> So, from Bus Patrol's assessment, and it's just an estimate, um they're
estimating um about 8 to 12 million. >> So, 8 to 12 million in the first year, but that is representing the $25 where we get 100% and 30% of the 200. You put that all together times the expected number of infractions and we're going to generate 8 to12 million. >> Correct.
>> Terrific. Were there any other biders that had a different allocation of the 100% besides 7030? >> So I'm going to have to defer to procurement on that because that I don't that information I don't have. >> This is the only part that I find difficult to sell to the community which
is you know we're going to create a greater enforcement of an existing law. You're not allowed to pass a bus with the arm out. Everybody knows that they still do it. It's very unsafe. So, that's a great part. The part that I have a hard time selling to my neighbor is that we're giving up 70% of the money
to the vendor. So, unless the vendor was unless the vendor was, you know, the one that gave the best deal to Broward County, um it's difficult to kind of move this forward today. Um even though I think the 8 to12 million is a tremendous thing. Could it have been more if we had gone with a different
vendor? Uh I don't know. Do we have that information available today? >> I think uh Mr. White is coming in the room. >> And why we're waiting for him? Um the financial analysis on this these two items was blank. Were we missing that
information a week ahead of time that we could have shared it with the public? The financial analysis worksheet for E1 and '05 is both blank. But this is a program that's going to generate 8 to12 million. A lot of money for Broward schools. It would be nice to have 8 to 12 million extra dollars, but
did we not have the information that came through by email to board members late yesterday afternoon? We did not have that ahead of time to share with the public >> as far as the prediction of 8 to 12 million >> that and the details that are shared in the email. >> Um, no, we didn't have that at at um at
that time as far as comparatively speaking about the specific um numbers compared to other school districts. >> Okay. >> Uh Mr. White. Um I don't know if you heard the question uh but it was there uh other vendors um as part of this solicitation
>> that offered a better split than 7030? >> No sir. >> Were there any other qualified vendors besides bus patrol? >> Uh I do not believe so. No sir. >> Okay. Um does this contract um uh general counsel have a uh clause for um
cancellation in the convenience of government? All of our contracts have that. >> Well, that's not I wish that was true, Mr. White. Maybe since you've been here, they have it, but that's not true of all of our contracts. >> This one does have it. Okay. So,
>> in a world in which, you know, there's one dominant vendor and we are, you know, dealing with uh um working with that vendor because there's one qualified vendor that that that applied. We had no restrictions in this RFP to any vendor to apply and do this
work. Right? So, as long as you had the technology, you passed all the qualifications, you can bid. We got one qualified bidder. >> A year from now, if there's 10 qualified biders because people figure out this technology and the split is different, this board could cancel this contract.
Is that fair, general counsel? Uh, and rebid the contract. >> So, I'm going to defer that to Miss Jack Adams. So, um, section 3.5 of the agreement does allow us to go ahead and, uh, terminate the contract. >> Terrific. So, I'm comfortable doing this, but I'm not comfortable giving up
70% of the money on a forever basis. I would ra I'd rather have more of the money go to Broward County Public Schools than go to our vendor. And so, uh, given that we have this convenience of government clause in it, that's great. I also don't like voting on
things where the public is not given all the information that they need ahead of time. Uh, so I hope that this is a once in a year kind of thing where uh, the board gets information by email right before a meeting rather than that information being put out uh, in the financial we have these financial
worksheets in a standard format so the board so the public can see what we're voting on. uh in this case uh that didn't happen and I don't I really just don't feel comfortable excluding information from the voting public uh who should have every right ahead of a meeting to know everything we know and
then give us uh their feedback uh on this in this case this is a program that's uh available in many districts it's a company that has done what they promised to do in those districts I just hope that the market shifts and we get a larger share of the money uh in the future and and we can rebid the contract
and maybe they win and uh but with a different chair. Thank you, chair. >> Thank you, Miss Thompson. >> Thank you, chair. Do we know how much it's costing the company to provide these services? I see the chart that
Miss Kathy Bruno sent that says other districts are having to pay for fees for equipment. They have indemnity clauses. Um, but do we and they also have to pay for DOA hearings, which I know from my conversations with our previous general
counsel is actually quite expensive. So, do we know what their out-of- pocket costs are? >> So, because we're we're kind of guesstimating, if you will, the only thing we can really do is to look to see what other um counties have been
expending. So, if you look at Miami Dade, um we know that they are paying well, look at Hillsboro, they're paying approximately $225,000 a month um for the equipment and the usage. Um they have there's just a lot
of fees that's affiliated. We are anticipating it's probably going to cost another $200,000 if you will for our police department. It could be a little bit more than 200,000. Um the DOA cases are also very expensive and it depends on how much volume. So right now until
such time as the program actually um starts and we start seeing how many violations occur, we are just guesstimating at the cost. But we do anticipate that there is going to be a significant cost because this is a pretty um very large program that requires a lot of manpower to handle
>> and technology >> and technology all the cameras um the installation of the cameras everything at Buzz Patrol is paying for that. So I think um you know I hear the concern about the 7030 and I but I do think that
we are getting a good deal by not having to pay these fees, the technology, the different clauses we have worked in. But I think it would be interesting for the board to get kind of what those costs are so we can make sure that we are getting the better deal. And then my other um I want to thank everyone who
worked on this so hard to bring it to us. I do just want to recognize one of the reasons it took so long, at least in my opinion, is because there were several controversies in how it was being implemented in Miami Dade. So, I would like an understanding of what
steps have been taken. And my understanding of Miami Dade was basically there was a lot of false tickets and then no way to combat those tickets. So, what are we doing to make sure that our Broward County residents are um you know getting a ticket if they
deserve it but not if they don't? >> Through the chair. So, one of the things that occurred in Miami was the um hearings. So, individuals were getting notice of violations and there was no place for them to be able to appeal. That's how come the division of
administrative hearings has now started to hear those cases. Not just for um Broward. But I think Lee County was probably the second district at the same time with um Bvard and trying to um get DOA to hear these um appeals. So that's one thing. The other thing is how you
set up the system. Um one other thing that was happening in Miami date is that they were capturing tickets beyond the median. So it really depends on how it's set up and we know that our police department will work with um bus patrol to ensure that it's set up properly. So the appropriate cameras and their
appropriate violations are captured and then even when that happens, it goes back to our police department who will review the videos to determine whether or not they want to issue the citation. >> Thank you for that. I think it is important that we address that and it
wasn't just a delay in our staffing. It was there were some other things to consider and make sure that if we're bringing in this program, it's going to be implemented correctly. Um, and then my final question about the revenue since it is an estimation at this time. What steps are staff going to take so
the board's aware of the revenue coming in and how we are going to be spending said revenue? >> Um, thank you Mr. Thompson. Great question. So we can provide um a monthly frequ or or monthly report um to let the board know what the revenue is and you
know kind of give a predictor of what the outlook may be um and then make some decisions of how those funds should be spent. We'll bring back recommendations based on uh where we think we should spend to get the have the greatest value and cost savings to the general fund. Um and then we can work with the board from
there. And will that be like monthly recommendations or is it going to go into a pot and then at the end of the year that money will be distributed like how do you think it's the best way to implement that? >> I think um if we have a good predictor based on the first couple of months of uh citations and revenue from that we
can actually give a prediction of how it should be used for the year. >> Thank you. That's all. Thank you, Miss Bulman. >> Thank you. Um thank you for pulling this all together. I'm impressed by the way that it has finally come together. I
know it's been a long time coming. So, um, thank you. And I know, uh, we do have the split, but since we don't have any upfront costs, I think that, um, and that that's not a bad deal. And it looks like compared to everybody else that we're doing okay. Um, the question that
I have is with the opt out clause, do we have any obligation for equipment? like would there be any penalty for us if we decided to cancel the program? >> Excellent question. So, this is one reason that we believe that Broward's um
contract is really a gold standard in terms of these types of contracts from across the state because many with the exception of Lee County, uh many of the other districts did have to pay a termination fee and we negotiated that out of our contract. So even if we
decide to get out of it in a couple years, we do not pay a dollar. >> All right. Well, excellent job. Keep up the good work. Thanks. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion? All in favor? Can I say one thing? >> Go ahead, Mr. Preo. I I just wanted to
say this was um a heavy lift with regards to bus patrol and there were a lot of individuals at a very high level that was involved from Chief Nazcowitz uh to chief Gregory who would just pick up the phone when I was in the middle of negotiating a particular clause all the
way to our superintendent when I would call Dr. Hepper to negotiate a particular clause. So I I do want to thank procurement as well for all of their work and Dr. Clower um Dr. um Wanza because this was really a true group effort to lift and bring this
contract to you. I also want to thank um my partner from the Brower County Sheriff's Office, Deputy General Counsel Lee Futch, as well as the General Counsel Lynch Terren because they really did a huge job to try to get this um resolved as quickly as possible for us
and were a good collaborative partner. And then I am very proud of the office of the general counsel because um when we were on 9-hour two-day phone calls with bus patrol, some of the other things weren't getting done and the other attorneys stepped in and then of
course the herculean task that our um Kathleen Jack Adams did in trying to get this contract over um the hump was amazing. So I want to thank the team for that. >> Thank you. Any other comments or
discussion? All right. All in favor of E1 and 05 say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. Item pass. Items pass unanimously. Did I get a motion and a second on F3? >> So moved.
>> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Thompson. Public comment on F3. >> We have one registered speaker, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh. >> Good afternoon, Dr. Natalie Lynch Walsh, Plantation, Florida. So, the budget reports,
I see that there's um now revenues. There are things that magically happen monthtomonth. And just so you know, this was one of the two examples I sent to Pat Leon in the attorney general's office asking for mediation on because
this reports you're looking at are PDFs. I asked for the supporting schedules which would suggest Excel spreadsheets which your CFO came over to me at May on May 5th, the last time you had one of these and said she absolutely does her
work in Excel. I got excited for half a second because I thought for sure I'm going to start getting drowned in Excel spreadsheets, but I'm still parched. Nothing happened. Still no reports. I could do another request to keep this
going and ask for them every month, but I'm I'm not getting them. I'm getting schedules adjacent. They're interesting, but none of them are starting with what we're all looking at today. So, a and we don't even acknowledge parts of my other
requests. So, for instance, you have prepaid inventories. The projected balance is zero. at the end of the year you would prepay for the following period. That's even explained I think somewhere in this
document but they disappear. Um also disappearing again the restricted which one month that was the difference in the fund balance. They use the restricted to fluff up the balance. Magically the projected revenues now match the adopted
budget's projected revenues when that number has been all over the place. So, I cannot explain the numbers that are changing from month to month looking at a PDF. I can't do it. I I I'm not a I'm
not a magician. I need to actually see spreadsheets. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other public speakers? >> No. >> Um board member discussion. Dr. Zean. >> Thanks much, Chair. Appreciate the opportunity to see this. Uh Miss Johnson, appreciate getting all this uh information to us. I would say that a
highlight of this report is the 3.36. Again, you know, we were at 2 point just under three points a couple months ago. Uh so, um terrific. Um chair, is part of this increase in the expected fund balance, the $8 million we got from the
um legislature in terms of uh relief on enrollment changes? >> Mr. Johnson? >> No. >> So, that 8 million is really for next year, not for this year. So, it doesn't help us with this year's fund balance. It should but we haven't received it. I
don't The reason why revenue is recorded at the time we cannot record revenue till we receive or we get something from the state to notify is going to be recorded this fiscal year >> if that if we do we anticipate to get the 8 million in this uh school year. >> Yes. >> Terrific. And how much would that change
our end of year fund balance? >> 8 million. But remember the categoricals really are still going to be impacted. That's the restricted part and we haven't identified what that's going to look like until the end of the fiscal year.
>> That's terrific. Um I'm still worried about, you know, uh um salaries and benefits and I and I'm going to continue to talk about this until we come up with a better himmit. Is it fair, Miss Johnson, to say that a school, if they overspend, uh their salaries and benefits gets into a little bit of
trouble? That's the purview of of the deputy superintendent and her team as far as you know how they um >> what happens to a principal if they overspend their salary and benefits um uh budget that they're given for their whole school. >> If they overspend, it's it's uh kind of
difficult for them to overspend, but if they overspend, they go through the process that they need to. >> So, it's almost impossible for them to overspend at a school. >> Correct. >> They get a salary, they get benefits, it's the budget that goes out. Is that also true of district staff? >> Um yes, it we we have uh put in some
other controls. I think the over the usually the overspend that you do see is such as transportation with um overtime because you we just don't have enough employees to drive buses in in many cases like that and some of our wor workforce education opportunities at the
tech schools because you can't find that that welder and so the welder is working morning and and and night school. So those are some of the things that we often see. >> I appreciate that. Um I think that this is bigger than that. That's why I keep talking about it. You know, um salaries and benefits are a huge share of our
operating budget. Um for this year, what are we projected to exceed on the budget for salaries and benefits? >> Go ahead, Mr. Johnson, if you have that number. >> Last month we I mean when I did the presentation was around 50 million. >> $50 million. That's a lot of money, >> right?
>> That's not a welder or a bus driver. It's a lot of welders or a lot of bus drivers and a lot of other things going on. The part that I just cannot sit still about any longer is if a school does that they I mean they virtually cannot do it. A school cannot overspend the budget that they're given for
people, but the district can overspend by 50 million. We just did it. And what I'm going to ask for, Mr. superintendent is a formal response to what are we going to do for school year 2627 so that our overspend on the budget
is zero for for salaries and benefits. Why is that important? If you need welders and bus drivers and other people to work overtime, it's got to be in the budget because this board approves the budget. And if we're approving a budget and we miss by $50 million, what's the point of
having a school board? So, I need to have confidence that we have internal controls for our district staff in the same way that we have internal controls of our schools because schools is where we do our magic, right? This is where we win
over students and they're held to very tight salary and benefit controls and I don't understand why this district is not. Other districts in the United States have that, by the way. Did you know that they have internal controls and their overspend is zero or they make an asset out of the year because they
book um salaries and benefits at number of people times total salary and then they have people that leave, people that resign and that salary lapse becomes an asset for the board and the superintendent to work on in order to deal with emergencies that come up during the year. We have got to figure
out how to do that and that's going to hurt because Miss Hixon wants us to get 60 million for raises. We're going to start the year 80 million in the hole. And now Zemon's coming in and saying that $50 million that you just, you know, you don't budget honestly about it. We've got to be honest with
the public and we must be honest with this board. We cannot approve a budget that is that is going to be missed by $50 million on our number one cost which is on salaries and benefits. So formally, Dr. Epern, I'm asking for you to come back to the board and tell us
what internal controls that you're going to put in for next year so that our salaries and benefits that we spend is less than or equal to what we budget. >> Dulan noted. >> Thank you, sir. Uh it this has just been going on for too long and it's it's not anybody's issue that's here now. This is
a budget kind of momentum that's been going on forever. Uh, but I would rather be in the business of having salary lapse as an asset than to be in the business of lying to the public and saying, "No, we can come in at 1.3 billion in salaries when we know uh it's going to cost $50 million more." The other thing that I love about this, Dr.
Heepern, is this board has to help you with welders and bus drivers. Uh, we just found an asset, I think, uh, with our general counsel's help of 8 to 12 million that could be spent on things like bus driver salaries, bus driver bonuses, and things like that. But I don't understand why we continue to
start the every every year 30 or 50 bus drivers short. If we need to pay them more to get 30 or 50 more bus drivers, let's giddy up and let's pay them, you know, what the market uh needs us to pay them to do the job. I think driving kids around is a hard job, but there's a lot of people uh that really do that.
>> Thank you. Any other board member discussion? >> All in favor of F3 say I. >> I. All oppose say no. Item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion and a second on L1? >> So move. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss
Hixon. Public comment on L1. >> No comment. >> Board member discussion. Mr. Sea. >> Thank you, chair. Um, I get a little antsy when I see things like this. Uh, regarding is this is framed as a non-disclosure.
you know, my position on transparency and how important I think it is with all of our constituents and general members of the public as well. In doing some research, um, it's my understanding, and madame general counsel, if I'm wrong, please tell me, but it's my
understanding that there is a portion of the Florida statutes dealing with certain trade secrets. I think it's 688 of the Florida chapter 688 of the of the Florida statutes if I'm not mistaken. And the purpose of this is to protect certain trade secrets of the prospective
vendor. >> That's correct. >> Okay. And um after this initial negotiation is decided, anything that comes out of this that forms the basis of a contract would have to come before
this board with all terms disclosed and the members of the public would be able to review that in advance, come and make public comments. Well, hopefully they'll be able to come and make public comment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but they will be able to engage with us and this is not something that will be finalized
uh under the guise of an NDA or concealing any type of information. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. My concerns have been answered. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion? All in favor of L1 say I. >> I. All oppose.
>> All oppose say no. >> Item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion and a second on M3? So moved >> moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixim. Public comment on M3. >> No com no comment >> for member discussion. Dr. Zean. >> Thanks so much, Chair. Uh in item M3, uh
we see that there uh is a group that would like to continue to use PAL Stadium um American Youth Football League. He's used this for a long time. What status would they have for negotiating directly with the school board to continue to use
that stadium? Go ahead, Dr. WA. >> Thank you. Um um so Dr. Zaman, what we have been in contact with them. They are a um an outside entity that would you know approach the district like like anyone else to potentially do a lease
agreement of some sort or partnership agreement with us. Um they have been in contact with us. They would like to do it at no cost and that is we know that that is not something that um that's not the direction that we have received from the board. So, we will work with them, see, you know, what they are able to do
as it relates to um entering in entering into some type of an agreement, but I'm certain the direction that we've heard from the board is no cost, is not something that the board is interested in, but we will sit down and talk with them. Um they are the youth athletic
league. there in in the city and um but as you know in the executive summary, the city um approached us about making this making this adjustment to the recreation lease agreement because of the decline in participation and things
of that nature in the youth athletics in the city. >> Yeah. Terrific. And uh Dr. Heern, I wonder what direction have you uh received from this board about doing things that uh at cost less than what it cost us to maintain and operate the fields?
>> Yes. So, we've received um direction from the board about ensuring that we're not just giving things away for free. Um simply simply state >> I'm I'm glad I asked because I thought I heard it a little differently. I thought what I heard was if we sell it, we're selling it at market price. If we lease
it, we're leasing it at market leasing price. Is that is that fair enough? >> That's correct. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. Um, and I I don't know if we ever need to be formal with that in some some kind of direction. Maybe I'll borrow Dr. Holes and we'll uh uh see if somebody wants to
write that up in in a formal direction uh to the superintendent, but I think it would work very well. Now, in some senses, this American Youth Football League may have to go through Facilitron and lease the field in the interim until they until they want to work out something. Maybe there is a cost to them that is the market cost that's less than
Facilitron, but um I just appreciate the staff kind of trying to keep that league going even though the city um wants to walk away from this agreement. Thanks, Chair. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion? All in favor of M3 say I. I. >> All oppose say no. Item passes
unanimously. Is anyone on the line? >> Um yeah, I I voted. >> Yeah. Sorry, Miss Reaper. What did you say? >> Uh, I I was I >> Okay, got it. >> Thank you. >> Could I get a motion and a second on um item M5?
>> So, move. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on M5. >> No comment. >> Four member discussion. Miss Thompson is not here. Um I apologize. Um, first I just wanted to say thank you to staff for correcting
the um or not correcting but for hearing community feedback about the K through8s and working with them. Um, I know it probably took a longer time than they wanted, but we needed to ensure that the entire community wanted that time
change. So, I really appreciate that. And then I do have a motion to correct some other times. Um, so I would like to make the following revisions for Dr. M. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
to correct the time to 8 to 2. for Silver Silver Trail Middle School to correct the end time to 3:50 for Pompo Beach High School to correct the end time to 3:30 and for McFatterder
Technical to add PM share time hours. Second public comment on the motion for member discussion. Miss Hixon, >> I just can you kind of like are they wrong on the schedule and you're just
fixing them or >> because I'm the only board member that pulled the item. I was requested to make these >> Amen. >> changes. >> There we go. We should do that quickly. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion on the motion? Dr. Zean, were you wanting to >> I was going to ask what the other countywide member asked already. Thanks,
Miss Hixon. >> Got it, >> Madam Chair. >> Go ahead, Dr. Holes. >> Um, and I appreciate board member um Thompson. um you know feedback but just for the record um are there any objection from staff regarding these
recommended uh time changes Dr. Fton it's okay if I >> go ahead Dr. >> um Dr. Holdness. I um as Miss Thompson said, I actually asked her if she would be kind enough to make the motion because I know um there was a a
scrimer's error and we wanted to make sure that it was corrected for the record. One of them particularly was with um Pompa Beach High and then the other uh the one for Dr. MLK, right? >> Um when the com the concern was brought to us over the weekend and we were able to work with transportation to actually
affect affect that change. So, it instead of revising the item and then, you know, upsetting the board with getting something at the late hour on Monday, um, since Miss Thompson pulled the item, I asked if she could publicly, um, ask the board to revise the item. Okay, you're on the appreciate, Dr. Wz.
Just wanted to make sure staff is on record that it's okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sorry, didn't realize I was the chair. All right. So, any further comments on item M5? board member comments.
>> Thanks, Becca. >> Okay. All right. Those in favor of item M5 say I. >> Those opposed say no. Okay. The eyes have it. At this time, may >> as amended. >> Oh, as amended. Thank you. Those in
favor of item M5 as amended, say I. >> Those opposed say no. >> Good. The eyes have it. Um, at this time, may I have a motion and a second to pass uh to pass agenda item 03?
>> 03. >> 03 rather. Um, moved by uh board member Thompson, second by board member Sea. Are there any registered speakers? >> No speakers. >> Okay. Any um discussion? We have board member Thompson. I just wanted to uh
congratulate or show appreciation for the staff for having this program. Um and I wanted to hear our plan for making sure the community knows about it. >> Okay. Thank you, board member Thompson. Any further discussion? Board member
Bulman. >> Thanks for pulling this board member Thompson. Um I I echo that sentiment. It's always a pleasure at the water matters day to award um the naturecape uh award winners and we always have a
lot of participants from our schools which is very awesome with their uh food forests and their gardens and everything else. So, um I don't know how they're going to disseminate the information,
but I but there's many uh programs that we have in the schools right now that are actively participating. It's really great to see. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Board member, >> real quick, can I have staff explain how they're disseminating the information? >> Okay, so go ahead, Dr. Fulton.
>> Thank you. Um Dr. Con, I'm going to um go ahead and have you delay the plan, but I will tell you the first thing we needed to do now that is approved. So, now uh Dr. Dr. Con will go ahead and go into detail what the communication plan is after today. >> Sure. We're going to uh have meetings with all the impacted schools uh via
teams and we also have some information that we're ready to hit hit send to all the schools that are participating so that they are aware of it and there will be an implementation timeline that we'll also be creating specifically for those schools to share out that information and the resources that they'll be
following. >> Okay. Uh, board member Bulman, any further comments? Okay. All right. So, um, Whoops. Sorry. May May I have a motion
uh to um May I have a motion and a second to pass agenda item T1? Oh, >> I'm sorry. Those in favor of agenda item um 03 say I. >> Those opposed say no.
>> Okay. The eyes have it. May I have a motion and a second for agenda item T1? >> Okay. Moved by board member Thompson, second by board member Hixon. Um any uh registered speakers? >> No speakers. >> Okay. Board member Roupert for item T1.
Um, thank you Dr. Holes. Uh yes, I pulled this. So, um to discuss briefly, actually have staff discuss briefly about the email from uh Miss Dubbin of
the um DAC elementary technology committee and um basically what their uh concerns were uh as well as um what they anticipated uh moving forward and what
were their suggestions. Um, and I'm uh actually I'll just briefly wait there to see staff to answer that. >> Dr. Fulton. >> So, I'll check with the team because I'm not familiar about the email. Mrs. Rupert.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Board member Roert, do you have any further comments? >> Um, yes. Actually, it would be VA. Um I'm not going to ask uh well I guess maybe I could uh ask u madame chair is
she back on the dis or no? >> No >> I can't see very well. Okay so um Dr. for homeless. Maybe you remember uh that our chair brought like a a technology
I want to say it was a technology plan to basically have parents being able to opt in and opt out of services for for elementary school. Um has there been any further um movement in that? And I hope I'm memor remembering it
correctly. Um I I know I thought it was part of a workshop or or something. So does that sound familiar yet? >> Dr. Fulton, >> Miss Rupert, I'm trying to um are you speaking of the assessment plan where we were reducing assessments for for
students? Uh or are you speaking specifically of technology? >> Um basically technology, computers, uh for reading programs over the weekend for screen time for elementary school kids. So basically to kind of you know
similar to what we did with cell phones with limiting their use, we we are certainly having them use a tremendous amount of screen time um as well on the computer during school but also during uh the weekend for doing their reading groups and and certain practices. Um, I
guess it was um I I know that some other districts around the country and maybe um Dr. Zean knows this as well that uh several of them have done a resolution for
technology with intention. It's a the initiative to um utilize the resol resolution for um basically gradebased screen time foundational mastery giving back the um really to ensure that the
teacher has autonomy for educators who may choose paperbased instructions without penalty into uh to into policy. So having to make sure that it requires instructional technology to meet standards for intentionality, cognitive
engagement, and developmental appropriateness. Um, it's basically a bill of rights that ensures that operations and instructions comply with the federal and Florida data and privacy laws, but also to make sure that um we
are developing a screen time guideline as well as uh tracking our students screen time and um purposefully giving uh our parents uh and our teachers the ability to use paperbased products if um
if they feel it's it's better. And I know as a reading teacher, it's way better if we kept the kids off screen time at least on the weekends and and less for homework at the elementary school age. Um there's nothing better than a uh a paperbased book for for kids
to keep the learn of the love of learning in there. So, um I don't know if we have started a um a resolution for this, but I'd certainly uh you know take direction as to uh give it to you guys to see if you'd want to do one and
sponsor it. I certainly would any comment >> any board member comments on board member Rupert's response? Um board member Sea. >> Thank you. Um, vice chair, Miss Rupert, I I think I know what you're talking
about. Are you referring to the DAC's um, >> yes, >> white paper >> that they circulated to the board back on May 12th, >> Dr. Fton? I just Do you got it now? Okay, great. Dr. I forwarded it to Dr. Fton. Um,
I know this is a little off topic for the agenda item, but I I had the opportunity to review it uh as well as to speak with um the DAC on this as well. Uh there's some good nuggets on on here. There's a proposed resolution that
can provide guidance to our technology policies. There's a good amount of research in here. Um there's resources that are referenced and some technical recommendations that address some of the DAC's um concerns. Uh I know that some of us feel the screen time is getting a
little out of control in the classroom and I know that the DAC uh the elementary subcommittee here put a lot of good work and effort into this to have uh recommendations uh made. I I don't want to step out of bounds here. I
don't know if it's appropriate to do anything on this on this particular agenda item with the Microsoft, but um I just wanted to clarify what Dr. Rupert, excuse me, what Miss with Miss Rupert uh was great >> was referring to honorary doctorate
today, Nora um was referring to on this and and for the record, I too would like to see this come before maybe at the next workshop when the DAC presents um so they all the ideas can be fleshed out and explained to my colleagues. But just to shed some light uh on what I believe Miss Rupert was talking about.
>> Thank you. >> Yep, that was it. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Um any further board discussion on item T1. Okay. Those in favor of item T1 say I. Those opposed say no. Okay. The eyes have it. >> I'm an I.
>> And uh board member Rupert as well. At this time, we're going to look at the open agenda items pulled for board discussion. Uh those BB1. Okay. At this time, may it may the chair, vice chair have a motion and a
second to pass item BB1. Okay. Okay. Moved by board member Hixon, second by board member Bulman. Any public speakers? Any board discussion? BB1. I believe I have here
board member sea. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um, I just have a question for the $78,000 I think that we're getting this invoice for. What exactly is included in this
membership? My apologies. Let me correct the record. $75,000 uh dollars is the annual membership fee for the Council of Great City Schools. What exactly what benefit is derived from paying that? I'm assuming we get
like a shiny membership card and that's great, but what do we get for our 75K? >> Okay. Um Dr. Fulton and then I'll have board member um Zemen respond as well. I have to follow up on that one.
>> I could probably assist with some >> I'm I'm the rep to the council if you'd like me to share. >> Dr. Zemen. Um after uh Dr. Con. Um >> Oh, Dr. Fulton. Dr. >> So I know is is being a a member standing member of the council of great
city schools for a very long time. uh part of um our affiliation to be part of them provides us with some national advocacy and influence policy uh when it comes to federal grants such as title grants. It also gives all board members
access to all of their research data. Uh there we are part of the large urban school district so we get to confer meet and confer with all of our life peers with some national trend data as part of membership districts. uh we also get to uh participate with them in national
studies around academic instructional resources and materials. Uh we also part of uh just part of being the member district that allows us to uh align ourselves around some academic outcomes and goals that are aligned to both
national, state, local efforts. Uh most of the districts in Florida are part of uh the larger convening of the council of great city schools. So we do a lot of partnership with our peer districts within uh the district. We don't often take an opportunity to participate but
they it is available around professional learning and leadership. Uh we've had a lot of uh council great cities that came to the district and help uh in terms of board governance. Uh that opportunity is very specific to us in terms of roleike convenings that they provide to the
district as well. They also provide some technical assistance to the district uh in terms of advocating uh around operational efficiency governance uh and management systems uh particularly in the in the space now we're looking at
expert level diagnostic of improving some of our uh trend data that every district is doing. Uh so school districts are experiencing enrollment issues. So they help with a lot of that stuff. So there's a lot of convening that helps us to kind of think about
what other districts are experiencing and how they're able to bring us together collectively. >> Thank you, Dr. Cohen and Dr. Zean. >> And just to Mr. Sever's point, because I'm our rep uh to this group, um they have a monthly in addition to everything Dr. Co pointed out. Um the Department of
Ed federal stood down its 200 person research unit in the past two years. Um, and the Council of Great City Schools is the only other national organization now that can talk about large urban districts. And so the top 82 districts have relatively similar, not the same, but similar kinds of issues on
transportation, on food, nutrition, on teacher pay, on, you know, how do we deal with enrollment changes uh up and down and things like that. Uh, they do a pretty amazing uh job every year with their staff of a couple dozen researchers identifying things. So, we've gone to
them before, Dr. Dr. Con and I and the superintendent who attend these monthly uh calls and said, "Hey, we'd really like to know more about we asked him once last year about deaths of students. You know, we had a a junior in one of our high schools killed and we're like, are there any districts that have done
something to really make this a meaningful learning experience?" So, you can take that horrible accident that happened and spread it to, you know, 20,000 high school students and maybe even some middle schools to get it together. uh they've helped us with some technology research to make sure we don't make mistakes as we move forward
with AI. Um but the cool part about is this group's 70 years old. I mean, they started because in 1956, Sergeant Shriber uh wanted American high schools to teach vocational ed because they wouldn't get into that. They thought that was, you know, that's someone else's problem, not ours. And with this
group, they moved into what, you know, is now career and technical education. So, they do get ahead of those things. They make districts think a little bit about what's next, not just what you're doing right now. Um, but every district throws that $75,000 in of the big ones. Um, we just expanded the size. It used
to be 60 or 62, I forget the exact number and they lowered the enrollment limit to let the next 20 in because it turns out they had similar problems to the top 62. So, we get a lot of value out of it. Um, I'm not going to I don't want to um suggest how you would vote as
a fellow board member. I just want to make sure that you're aware that we've taken the research that we've gotten from them and we've actually implemented it in items right here in Brower County and I think it's made a big difference in terms of making sure we do the right things and avoid doing some of the wrong things.
>> Okay, Mr. Ca, um I know you're you're going to continue on the item. Uh do is your comments going to uh be pretty short because we have a two o'clock time certain or did you wanna >> you're done? Okay. Uh Dr. Zean, >> I I've said a lot of what I wanted to
say. U the only other thing I'd like to do is is as we move into the next year and we move into another budget cycle, um assuming that the travel restrictions on the board are not uh taken back, next year's Council on Great City School big conference is in Boston October
>> 20 >> 21st to the 25th. I've been to this for six years in a row. It is bar none the best three or four days you can spend on K12. superintendent. Most of the cabinet goes uh every year, so it's an opportunity to go through sessions with them. But when you want to get out of
the seven urban districts in Florida, which is a great bubble by itself, and you want to get to 82, the quality of the speakers, it's the Bnee Browns, it's the um uh founders of of uh Chat GPT and things like that that go and you get to
get to have really powerful things. So, I'm just giving a shameless plug for anybody else who would like to join the superintendent. The cabinet and I ain't going, but it's a it's a hike. It's up in Boston, but it is bar none uh the best K12 conference I've been able to attend. Uh including the one I went to last year in London, which is great because it was London.
>> And Dr. Some of us will be presenting at that Boston conference. >> Absolutely. And I think the superintendent's presenting as well, if I'm not wrong. >> Yes. >> Yeah. That's wonderful. And thank you again for doing that. I went to your sessions last two years, Dr. Con, and I appreciate that. So, there you go. >> Thank you, Dr. Ze and Dr. Fton.
>> I think Dr. um Zean corrected. I wanted to add he did say it was expanding. He's absolutely correct. Have expanded to 82 large districts. So, it's a huge network. >> Awesome. Great. Those in favor of item BB1 say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. The eyes have it.
We have a time certain at this time which is item O2. May I have a motion to bring item O2 to the floor? Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Moved by Dr. Zean. Uh second by board member Hixon. Um, are there any public speakers? >> No speakers.
>> Okay. >> Okay. This >> Good afternoon everyone. Sorry. I'm here to speak on behalf of that item. >> Okay. >> My name is Melissa Olen and I'm from Nicholas Children's Heart Institute and the director of project atom and thank you a sincere thank you to all of you
for allowing the time to be here to represent this item. Um, I believe that a summary of the program is within your documents and I am just here to help provide any questions that you guys may have regarding the program that I am
beyond beyond excited to expand to the county of of Broward County Schools. Um, so we've done some great work with Miami Dade County Public Schools in implementing and teaching school faculty how to respond in the event of a cardiac
emergency on school campus. Uh, we are proud to make the to congratulate Miami Dade County Public Schools and become an 100% heartsafe school district. this great work. We were then invited and allowed to expand the program to Palm
Beach public school system and they are now 100% heartsafe schools as well. Uh this is in a school we do know how important it is for people to be able to respond to cardiac issues. Um we're thankful for the people that were at
William Dandy to be able to save our dino. Um, but we I think it's really important that people beyond just um the nurses on on campus are able to do it. So, I'm really appreciative of this partnership. I too hope we have 100% um
in the next year that our hearts safe and um thank you so much for bringing this to this to Broward County. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion, Miss Bullman? >> Thank you. This is awesome. I was going to say the same thing. We're very happy
that someone was able to save Ardino and now there will be someone in all the schools that could do that. So that's fantastic and I look forward to you coming back in two years so that we can celebrate our 100% proficiency in heart
emergencies. Thanks. >> Anyone else? All in favor of O2 say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. Item passes unanimously. All right. Um,
have we done 03 yet? >> Yes. >> BB2. >> Oh, BB2. Okay. Can I get a motion and a second on BB2, please? >> Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Hixon. Public comment on BB2. >> No comments. Uh,
>> board member discussion. Miss Thompson, >> I was just going to uh thank my colleagues for the support of this item. As your representative on the NO, I think it's really important that we have um representation there as they're determining different projects
throughout our county. Um and that's it. Thank you. Any other board member discussion? All in favor of BB2 say I. I. >> All oppose say no. >> Uh item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion and a second on FF? So moved.
>> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Bulman. Public comment on FF1. >> No comments. >> Board member discussion. Miss Hixon. >> Thank you. As I like to do every month, I again want to thank our grants department and all the different staff members that have put all of this
together. Happy to this is a big number. So happy to report the total amount of grants for just this month. And I will say a big one is title one is 32,932,841. So almost $33 million coming to the district in addition. Um and you know
some of them are smaller grants that go to the schools. So thank you for the partnerships in that. But a lot of these are federal and state grants to continue title one and um all the bigger programs that we run for our students, Head Start, things of that nature. So it's a
big heavy lift and we really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Any other >> Thank you. Any other board discussion? All in favor of FF1 say I. >> I. All oppose say no.
Uh, item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion and a second on item GG1? >> So, moved. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on GG1. >> No comment. >> Um, I just wanted to congratulate the new deputy general counselss. Um, I don't know if Attorney Dri Bruno wanted
to make some comment. >> Yeah. >> So, I just wanted to um also join you, Madam Chair, and the board with congratulating our new deputy general counsel, Kathleen Jack Adams. as well as attorney Corey Huffman who
will be joining us August 3rd. Nice. >> Um all in any other board discussion. >> All in favor of GG1 say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. Item passes unanimously. Um I want >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Um I'm sorry there's no one there for me
to raise my hand for. Um, but has the item BB3 or did it already go through? >> Yes. >> Or nobody pulled it. >> So it it was it was approved. >> Um, well BB3 was not pulled. So we have we're I'm actually going to do the bulk
items in a moment. >> Okay. >> With BB So BB3 was not pulled. So if you'd like to speak to it, you need to let me know. >> Oh, no. Well, as long as it's going in the bulk one, I'm fine. >> Okay. So the items that we have not yet passed that have been pulled by board
members are FF1, GG3, JJ1, JJ3, O2419P7, and TT1. So at this time, may the chair have a motion and a second to pass the open items that have not been pulled for discussion. AA1 through 4, BB3, DD1 and
two, FF2, three and four, GG2, JJ2, MM1 O1 35 6 7 8 9 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, double
P1 2 3 4 5 6 and SS1. >> So moved. Chair, we can add TT1 to that list because my questions were answered unless someone else has them. >> Okay, we'll add TT1 and we passed
>> F1. F1. Okay, thank you. >> So moved, chair. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Hixon. Public comment on is there public comment on the open items that have not been pulled for discussion? >> One registered speaker for double P3, Dr. Trudy Germanic. I got distracted.
Okay. So, this is PP1. Is that correct? >> Double P3. >> Double PP3. Okay. Sorry. Okay. I thought I had signed up for double P4, but I think they're similar. I'm in favor of this item because I've been told it went through the technology
committee and was presented as a separate item which was discussed at the rulemaking workshop. That has been the process for changing policies in Broward schools for many years. I would hope that for the next school year you will uh make sure that you ask for interested
persons to be an active representative on all your committees. Their job should be to keep you apprised of the work of each committee. I know the board asked for a way for for the board to know who's interested in serving. Today there was a public speaker Lisa Reyes who has
experience in teaching and uh technology and also is a parent presently. I hope someone will reach out to her because she asked me how she could get on the technology advisory committee. you asked had asked the superintendent to provide
a way for the public to sign up for being on district committees and I've not been able to find it on the website or anywhere else. So, if I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how to guide people when they want to be on those committees. I know I can call on some of
you, but I'd really like the public to be able to look on the website and find out how to do it. I've now spoken on my this would be my third item and have used nine of my 12 minutes allowed for me to speak according to the policy which we presently have in place and
which you changed yesterday. I want you to keep track of that. This is my third time speaking. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other public speakers? >> No other speakers. >> All right. All in favor of the open items that have not been pulled for
discussion say I. I. All oppose. All oppose say no. >> Items pass unanimously. Um, could I get a motion and a second on item GG3? >> So move. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on GG3. >> No speakers.
>> Uh, board member discussion. Mr. Sea. >> Thank you, Chair. So, I've got some thoughts on um this proposed settlement in general. And just some overall thoughts on this
district's um desire to settle cases uh in my opinion that perhaps we need to be a little bit more uh aggressive with uh Mr. B. Pruno, what is the um settlement amount at issue here if this were to pass this afternoon?
>> 1.7 million. >> So we are giving almost $2 million to resolve this lawsuit. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, that's a lot of money. And I've looked over this settlement agreement and I've looked over some of the projects that form the basis of
this. And I'm going to talk directly in what's involved in the settlement and publicly available information. And I'm not going to I'm specifically going to avoid anything that was discussed in any attorney client privilege session for obvious reasons. First and foremost,
this settlement covers eight projects. uh they are listed um within the settlement agreement. Um my question well I I'll pose it to the deputy super but my question is this what was the initial value of the contracts for the
eight projects that are referenced within the settlement agreement that are subject to the lawsuit. So that is something that um we would have to look in terms of the original value. I just know what the claim was, but I don't have the original value.
>> Well, let me throw you out some of the numbers that I think are accurate and you tell me uh otherwise if you believe that's the case. I think for these eight projects, the original PO was somewhere in the ballpark of $2 million.
Despite that, I think we paid them somewhere in the ballpark of $3 million along the course of the way. In addition, we also gave them partial settlements for the various projects at Atlantic, at um Addicts, at let me see
what else, at Pasadena Lakes, uh at Sunrise, and at Westchester. So, when I'm looking over this and trying to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars, and I realize this is this is litigation and litigation has has risk. Um, you know, I do litigate for a
living, so I perhaps better than most can understand that and appreciate that. But when I'm looking at the history of our relationship uh with this particular company and I see the millions and millions of dollars that we paid them over the years above and beyond what
they were entitled to pursuant to contractual agreements or POS that we may have had in place, I get a little antsy. And now we're asking this board to pay another $1.7 million to resolve the pending um lawsuit with this
company. So, let me ask you uh this Madame General Counel, what do we get in exchange for this settlement? >> Well, we're resolving claims. Um they have and we have reviewed their um original claim which was for this
particular um suit $3.68 million. Um we in there basically saying that they performed work and they were not paid for the work that they were perform that was performed. Um the team went and reviewed all of their claims and said
and determined that the work that they actually performed was $1.7 million worth of work. So we are actually paying them for the work that was performed and we are not paying any interest or anything in addition to that just for
the work that was actually performed >> and that's in addition to the near million dollars in overage payments that we've made over the course of the years with the relationship with them for these eight projects. >> I know that there were other payments that were made, Mr. Sea, but I can't confirm the amount.
>> Okay. And this work that they're suing us for, uh, was it performed timely? That's something that I I can't answer that particular. All I can tell you is what was shared with me was that they actually performed this work and this is funds that is actually owed to them.
That's the only thing I can share with you. >> Okay. Well, if I have a contract to perform work within a six-month time period and it takes me 12 years to do the work, I think one could argue that maybe I'm not entitled to that uh as much money as the contract called for because I didn't perform in a timely
manner. In addition, was the work performed properly? Did it meet expectations? >> So, my understanding is that the amount of um what was parsed out from their 3.6 six almost $4 million. The 1.7 was
verified that the work was done and it was done appropriately. That's my understanding. >> So, was it done appropriately? We just don't know if it was done timely. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I'm going to close with this. looking at the data that I have reviewed on this and seeing how much excess money
these folks have gotten over the course of this of this project for these eight schools that they've worked on, which nobody can confirm whether or not it was timely, although I'm glad we were able to pin down that it was proper. But being at the fact that they were o overpaid or received in excess of almost
a million dollars over what we originally bargained for in the contract and in the original PO, um I am not in favor of this and I'm not going to be supporting this. Uh and I'm also going to reiterate that just for the benefit of my colleagues just because someone
threatens to sue us or has sued us. We don't have to fold every single time. We've got good lawyers in house. We've got good lawyers that we hire from outside firms. Sometimes you got to try cases and try to get a better result. So, and I'm not suggesting one way or
another that this is one of those cases, but in light of all of the circumstances that I've outlined, I will not be supporting this. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion? Attorney Dupri Bruno. >> I just want to make sure that I use the correct term of art. The work was done and accepted by the district. I just
want to make sure I use the right term of art. >> Any other board member discussion? All in favor of GG3 say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> No. >> Item passes with one dissenting vote
from Mr. Cera. Um could I get a motion in a second on JJ1? >> Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Hixon. Public comment on JJ1. >> No comment. >> Board member discussion. Miss Thompson. Thank you, chair. I just needed some clarification because it seems like this
change order is to put in work to the portables and the portables aren't being used. So, I just need to understand better this expense. >> Miss Coley is going to come up and address your question. >> I'm sorry. Can you repeat? Uh, good afternoon, Sony Coley.
>> Sure. Um, so this is the item for Whispering Pines. Um, and my understanding of the item is that it's uh putting work into the portables and the portables aren't being used. So, I'm wondering why we're doing that.
>> So, the work has already been completed and at the time the portables they were out there so they weren't being removed from the site and we have to uh at that time we had to put in these uh devices.
They were not on the list to be demolished. >> Understood. All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other board member discussion? All in favor of JJ1 say I. >> I. >> All oppose. All oppose say no. >> Item passes unanimously. I'm going to
jump to some items where there are fewer people speaking just because um we do have a time certain for 230. Uh so could I get a motion in a second on O4? >> Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Hixon. Public comment on O4. >> No comment.
>> Board member discussion. Um, I pulled this item because I found um the measurable goal for this item a little bit concerning and I did address this with the superintendent last week. So uh you know
I I feel very strongly about like giving kids access to paper books and because that is what I I hear a lot from students is that they like to read on paper and I also understand the importance of expanding electronic
access because that expands access to to everyone. Um, and I hear especially from like ESE students that ebooks are actually um easier for for some of them to use. So, I'm not opposed to expanding access to ebooks with the understanding
that we are still providing paper books in our media centers and in our classrooms. But the the concern I have is that the measurable outcome for this says by June 2029, SBBC aims to have at least 40% of students using Sora to read
ebooks or audio books that support ELA uh benchmarks for excellent student thinking, etc. I my issue continues to be that if the goal is simply for kids to be using the program, a lot of times the way that translates into the
classroom is us telling teachers, hey, you have to use this program even if you don't want to because we're paying for it and that is not something that I can support. So, um, Dr. Hepern, you and I had discussed this. You said that that this would be updated. Um, I I guess I'm
wondering what a better measurable outcome could be for this item. O4. >> O4. Give me um one sec. Okay. Yes. Remember the conversation
around this. Um and so this is not to supersede the paperback books that we have in in the um uh media centers um and access this is to expand access to different uh modalities of actually reading books. So I think uh the deputy
and I were um talking about this one is probably more around engagement um to ensure students are diving into some form of literacy um with some lit literary material um and giving them uh
voice and choice of how they want to receive the information. So this is we we talked about more around engagement as a as a um uh measurable outcome u versus what's listed right now. So, I guess what I would like is a followup on
like a better measurable outcome >> and also what happens if we don't meet that outcome. Um, so I would I would like a followup on that. >> Absolutely. >> Um, any other board discussion on this item, Miss Bulman?
>> I'm glad you pulled this because it was on my list as well. So just so that we understand this is for ELA. This is this goal is particularly for that. Okay. >> Yes.
>> But there's also paper books avail you're buying both. >> Yeah. So when we when we um purchase uh curriculum materials, especially textbooks and the like, we get both the paperback and also electronic uh versions. U I don't know if Dr. Con or
um can provide a little bit more detail for this one. >> Where disappeared on me. >> Okay, he's coming. >> If the if the $125,000
a year is paper and digital materials or if this is just digital access. So this is a curriculum not really books. Is that like I'm not we're not getting war in peace on the in >> is this the uh
>> digital accessor it's digital access to books and so it allows us to streamline where teachers normally would purchase physical books. This allows us to contain it so that the books are state approved. They're in line with statute and so it provides digital access to
students not only in the classroom but it provides digital access to students at home that ordinarily wouldn't have access to books. >> So we're not buying the physical books. >> No. >> So they're not available? >> No. It's giving them electronic access to books. They will have hard copies of books within the libraries that they can
check out, but this expands the opportunity to have them have digital access to books. >> And like what So what kind of books are we talking about? Is this like a classic novel or is just this just something that has to do with something that they made up for a curriculum, right? >> Yeah, it's literature books. It's almost like if you recall accelerated reader
where you had opportunities for students to extend their reading opportunities to kind of meet goal one of our proficiency for third grade. So it gives them access to that. And so in this case, schools may have in their circulation one or two or three books. Whereas this gives any student that wants that particular book
uh greater access to that particular book. Okay. I mean, I I think that there's a balance that needs to be made here. We're spending a lot of money on digital access. You know, we don't really know how who's reading them. And then if
we're not putting the money into if we only have four copies of a book, then of course they're not going to pay for it. They're not going to be able to read a book, >> right? >> Or if the need is there, then students will have to wait until, you know, they check the books out. And sometimes books
get lost or get damaged and you have to purchase new books, >> right? But if you're just buying an I mean like a paperback novel, that's not a big that big of a deal. Um I I don't know. I I would rather see more paper
books available to the students as well. Um but that's just me. I think that that I'd rather put our money into that. >> Yeah. I mean, if you look at our um our usage data, I mean, the usage has, you know, more than doubled in terms of
students having access to books, >> right? But to Sarah's point, that might just be because they're being forced to use it as well. So, is it is this a val if the teachers are being told to push it? I I I don't know. I I
would love to see a little bit more information about how we are providing the access to books in general, like what the what the makeup is between our digital library and our physical library and how people
are, you know, how people are reading. if that's something that we could do because it would be a good it would be nice to see how the kids are actually using the material >> to be able to make a better educated decision about like how much it cost and how much we're putting into digital um
books versus physical books. >> Dr. come if I could ask a question. the so I I hear the the board members in their concern if we were let's say um um you know famous novel um and we have four copies per media center for middle
school and high school um what would be the cost for like if that same book the usage is higher electronically because there's you know kids are accessing both what would be the cost to add that amount of books to extend the usage for
paperback back because it >> but does it cost more than $125,000 a year? >> Yeah. Yeah, I think it will it will definitely cost more. And then the the other piece is whether or not the the school or the media center has the space to store those additional um versions of
book as well. Um this just gives uh schools, students, parents a lot more options uh versus kind of having um a library with books that are just sitting around and so they can just check out the books even at home. Whereas you have to go into a library, you have to have a
scheduled time for students to go into the library uh because we treat sometimes library like specials and so you run into that risk of how frequently are they going to have access to the library based on the schedule. Whereas now with something like Sora, it's on demand.
>> Yeah. I I think that's a culture thing though. I mean, that's a major decision that we're making because going to the library is a thing like you go to the library to get exposed. The librarian shows you the books that are available and you know, so I think that's a decision we have to make about how we're
delivering education um and how you're going to read. I the other thing that I that is concerning I'm just thinking about myself. It's like if you're reading something on your phone, you're getting text messages, you're getting other things. When you're reading on a physical book, you're not being distracted all the time. So, the
way that you're actually absorbing the information and you're enjoying the experience is totally different. In fact, it's like you have to train yourself to go back to a book to actually read the whole thing. So, I don't I don't know what I think about this, but I think that's a bigger conversation
for not right now. But um I don't think we should make excuses for not going into the library. >> No. And and that's not what I'm saying either. I think that the option we I think for me I think we need to give more options for students. Um and so I love the library. I love walking and I
love the the be able >> I'm I'm not saying you don't love the library. I'm just saying like I obviously when you have a digital whatever and it's easier to see it, but there's another there's more to the experience of going to the library and the physical books and start >> awful. I mean, maybe we could workshot that. I don't know. But thank you,
>> Miss Thompson. >> And I I understand chair pulled this because it wasn't a lot of comments and then there was. But my question is we already have the whole county as a resource has the Broward County Public Library that offers ebooks. That would
be free. We could encourage our kids to get library cards to use an online system that the taxpayers are already paying for. Um, so at this point I'm not comfortable approving this item when we already there is already this resource
for our schools and for every student. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> I'm sorry. If I could just add. So I think so one we do that we push the the library cards. We do that every year annually. The difference is um I believe
Miss Thompson is that the kids can go into the library and check out any books that they kind of choose to and there are no parameters around that versus doing something like SOAR allows us to be more intentional in terms of the kinds of books that help uh our students uh safeguard kind of where where what
they should be reading that's in compliance because with the library that's parental choice and so forth. So this gives us just this opportunity to say here are books that have been vetted by the state and these are the ones that we believe are appropriate and approved
versus library gives you more autonomy from a parent perspective to just choose those books. >> Thank you Dr. Zean. >> Thanks Couple things just to share big big picture right this is 65 cents per student per year.
Okay, number one. Number two, we need kids to read. Period. Full stop. You can pick the tech. I don't really care that much, but we need kids to read because right now kids are leaving our high schools and going to college and they're reading a chapter at a time in literature classes in college because they've never read a full book because
their attention span is shorter than it is of a goldfish. So, we need kids to read. I don't care if it's hieroglyphics, online Kindles, uh physical books, graphic novels, they just need to read full stop. Second, I am a huge frequent flyer of
this. I have three young people in my family that that live and die by Sora. They've read thousands of books through this service. Um, for students who love to read, this is an amazing resource because it comes through on their laptop. It comes through on their portable device if they want to. Um, and
there are some students, I happen to live with three of them, that read thousands of books through this a year. So when you think about the value for 65 cents per student, this is I think a very very high value for us. And as a school district, we want people to read
period. >> Thank you, Miss Hixson. >> Thank you. And I don't necessarily have a concern about purchasing this, but I'll just say, you know, as a countywide schoolboard member who goes into a lot of libraries, the libraries
are not overflowing with actual book. So I um I don't I'm not against this, but I would just say we need to also put the books into the libraries. And it is
really clear when you go to certain areas of the district where they have books and where they do not. Um, and I know some of them were old and they were getting them off the shelves, but then when I asked them what was the uh intention of the district to replace them, they said there isn't any they
don't they don't have um the money for the books. So, if we have money for the online, I appreciate that. Although, I also appreciate that it's free from the library. And really when they're at home, it's none of our business what they read. I mean, that's up to their
parents to to monitor that. I think we we keep stepping in places where we don't necessarily have to. It's not a huge amount of money, but we do keep saying we don't want to see duplicity. And if it's available in the public
library, why are we spending $200,000 to provide something that's, as was already mentioned, um, access to the to students for no charge already. So, I'm not necessarily going to vote no against this, but I really want to say I think
we need to be more intentional about physical books being in our libraries because they are really not. I I've gone to a bunch of different schools and it's the first thing we notice when we walk in the media center is like these shelves are empty. Um and I don't think
that that's the welcoming space that students walk into thinking, oh, I'm coming here to check out books. They go in there for maker space and all these other things. But I don't think students understand that going to the library is a place to read because there's just not
a lot of options for them there. I'm not saying anything against our media people at all. Just saying I think as a district we haven't made that a priority >> and I'd like to see us balance that better. Thank you. >> Yeah. And I I did I I'm apologize to the to our KIP friends in the audience um
because I did pick this because I thought it would be quick, but I the conversation today has actually like concerned me more regarding this item. Um, to Miss Hixson's point there, it's not like the the the media centers are overflowing, but what I continue to think about like in our education system
is the diminishment of humanto human interactions. And like Miss Bulman said, like the experience of going into a media center, going into a library and having the conversation with the adult in the room, whoever it is, and and you
know, having that adult guide a student to a book, um, is incredibly important. And I will just say I had I, you know, I spent the whole year having roundts with both parents and students specifically on the use of technology in our schools.
And the one thing that they all had in common was that bo both parents and students want to be on screens less. And something that a parent at BSY explained to me was like her child was you when she when her child is reading online, it
is incredibly distracting and it is very hard for that child to to follow along. And that's an elementary school uh parent. Um, every single student roundt that I had when I asked, "Do you prefer to read on paper or um online, the vast
majority of students said they prefer to read on paper?" And I don't want to discount the the increased access for some students. And I'm I'm not trying to say we need to go only paper, but this is what our students are asking for. So, I feel very uncomfortable with how the conversation has gone today regarding
this specific platform and and just our our conversation about digital books and digital access um as it stands today. So, I don't think I can support this this item. Miss Rupert, >> thank you. Um
and thank you for for pulling it. It's um as a reading teacher, all I can say is paper books are magic and we still need digital access for um for a lot of kids that like audio. Um and some kids learn best that way. But I can tell you
as as a high school reading teacher with kids who came in at third grade reading level, it going online at all was not helpful to them because we had to rebuild their foundations. And by doing that, you had to do some repetitive
things that weren't very exciting. However, when you could chunk it out in books and they were able to do it that way in their own group, reading out loud, sharing it, it it's an entirely different thing. So, um I I will not be
supporting this one, nor will I be supporting the O6 item. So, thank you so much. >> Um Dr. Jersey man. >> It is entirely possible that uh people who love to read will read physical
books or digital books because they love to read. And this subscription allows people who can't afford books, who can't get to a library, who don't have other access besides their laptop to get them. And it's also entirely possible that people who love to read and get digital
sometimes because that's more easily available to them then also go have more human contact because they've now learned how to read and they love going to the library. They love going to bookstores. So my point isn't to enter into the debate on digital versus
uh paper. I think both are wonderful. Um, but I also want to kind of acknowledge that that there are children who just love to read and our fundamental requirement as a school board is to give them access to read.
And if we don't give them this, which is 65 cents per person as an opportunity to just expand the the inventory of books that they have, um I don't I'm not sure, you know, how we can how we can uh
justify that just because I think um kids that love to read love to read in lots of different formats. And if we satisfy their desire to read, then they're going to keep reading, then they're going to go to libraries, and they're going to go do other things. Um, I would always prefer, uh, you know, for
kids to have physical books. That's just not possible. It's just not anymore. They're going to get far more access if they have digital, uh, tools available to them as well. >> Thank you, Miss Bulman. >> Thanks. I And listen, I love how you
broke it down to 65 cents. I can um, so I I I don't disagree with you on that. I think that's true. I just think that the broader the broader conversation obviously we have um the library which I was also thinking so thank you for bringing that up but you know this is a
conversation that we keep having you know we're having a lot of public speakers we're having input from parents we're doing you know we're incorporating AI we have to be this is going to be a workshop or you know an ongoing conversation but what is our culture and
how are we approaching this and how do you strike the balance with it I think that's the that's The thing I I don't want to lean too far digitally when we don't have to because I think you're taking away the experience
that is also very important to learning and growing. We don't want to be all in on one because as you can see with research and everything else there's there's benefits and there's detriments to both to to the digital learning. I
learned a lot from Dr. Conn and Mr. Davis and I've changed and I've evolved my attitudes about that. But I think we also have to really think about the whole human the holistic experience for the student. So I I support the item
but I with the caveat that I expect that we will be continuing to have these conversations and really try to strike that balance so that we're listening to our stakeholders and that we're doing the right thing for the kids. >> Yeah. And if I could just add, um, I
agree with you. I I do think that there has to be a balance. Um, but I also think, um, we have to look at the data and there are more students and there are more adults that are reading audio books and their parents are reading
audio books. And I think if we restrict it to just the physical books, we're limiting access and preference and modality to students that are inclined to look at and read books digitally. And
so I think as much as we can strike the balance and we should uh because um and then Miss Hixon to your point, schools are allocated library media funds. So, they're supposed to be purchasing books and that if that's not happening, we we have to address it. I know every year we
actually uh share that with schools. We tell them their balance. We remind them to purchase their books. Um and we need to do a better job of that to make sure. Um but I would say that uh in in in light of where we are, we cannot specifically
tailor uh our options to one segment of the population when we see that other populations are looking at and reading in a different modality. >> And I don't I don't think we are I think we have to look at the whole picture about how we're doing that. I I agree.
And in terms of the media, um, what are they? Centers, >> not the library anymore. We do need to be following up on that because that because Miss Hixon is correct about that. There's some very sad there's some very beautiful, awesome media centers. I
know in district one that's like a magical kingdom that you walk into and then others are like very sad. So, it would be nice if everyone had the same opportunities. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion? All in favor of O4 say I. I.
>> All oppose say no. No. >> No. >> Roll call, please. >> Roll call on4 as presented. >> Board member Bulman. >> Yes. >> Sea. >> Hixon. >> Yes.
>> Holiness. >> Yes. >> Leonardi. >> No. >> Rupert. >> No. >> Thompson. >> No. >> Zean, >> yes. and Aladev is not on the line. Item
>> 44 tie fail fails. >> All right. Could I get a motion in a second on item M4? >> So moved. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on M4. >> One registered speaker, Dr. Trudy Jamanovich. >> My name is Dr. Trudy Janovich. I wish
the state of Florida had not opened up our real public schools to being used for charter schools. Unfortunately, this is the reality and it's not possible to stop it with the present legislature and governor. I remind everyone that your vote in November has consequences for everyone in the state, no matter where
you live. There are many reason why I object to this plan. These documents seem to state that this charter school will recruit from students who normally attend underenrolled elementary schools surrounding Dandy Middle School. That means that those schools will possibly lose even more students and have the
real potential to be closed. My second objection is the sharing of facilities. Even though this plan may be successful, I've read about many difficulties with the co-use of facilities in other states. I also question this charter school bringing young children into a
public school which is presently used by middle school students and not set up properly for kindergarten and primary students. Who will pay for the changes such as the need for in-class bathrooms? Will this money come out of the district's budget? As the charter school expands each year, it appears they will
actually take over more and more of the school. What will happen to Dan Dandy Middle School students as they expand? Do they just expect to eventually take over the entire campus? I've now spoken on my fourth item and I've used 12 of the 12 minutes allowed for me to speak.
According to the present policy, which we have in place for public speakers, what this board did yesterday would have only have given me three minutes total to speak on all the agenda items. The present public comments are not the
reason why your meetings go very long. you are hampering the public's ability to speak on items unless you reverse yesterday's decision and reinstate the policy we revised just last year. Thank you. >> That concludes public speaker and just
to set the record straight that the p the speaker had used nine minutes still had three minutes remaining for the meeting. >> Thank you board member discussion uh Dr. Holes. >> Thank you madam chair. Um so first I'd
like to mention um that I did meet with Kip I believe two or three times and I also suggested that Kip engage the community and I gave suggestions of some
HOAs and and Kip has done that. Um Dr. Heer and I do have a few questions. Um, first I want to for the sake of the public what led to William Dandy being considered
um to have a um colllocating of uh kip. >> So there were thanks for the question Dr. Hol there were specific parameters um uh listed out by the state of what schools within a district uh qualify for collocation. We we had several um that
included uh William Dandy Middle School. Um as a result of that um uh charter schools that are um approved to uh provide an information to provide a request to the school districts to request um collocation of those campuses
and that's how that was initiated. um Kip submitted their request and um uh we've had several meetings with them as well as um u as you mentioned you have also had some meetings with them to to really discuss uh the outlook and um
ensuring that we're following uh state state rules and policy around this and here we are u today. >> Okay. So Dr. Heburn. Um, does Broward County Schools do do we have an option when these requests are made um to deny
any particular um colllocating entity um as far as schools that are identified and um and u fulfill the requirements for as set forth um for this to happen? >> Um not that I'm aware of. >> Okay. So can you describe the process
uh to ensure a smooth functioning uh during the upcoming school year uh considering that William Dandy will now have a second entity occupying the school premise. So can you describe the process that you've gone through with
KIP to ensure that this process will be smooth in August um when this takes place? >> Yeah, so this isn't for the upcoming school year. This is for school year start of 2728. So we have a full year runway. Okay. >> Um to meet with Kip and hammer out any
concerns, go over logistics and operations of collocation um before the start of the 2728 school year. >> Okay. So you do intend to have um multiple uh additional meetings with KIP to ensure that uh in 2728
uh that there will be a smooth functioning of both entities at William Dandy? >> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. Is there any intent to change the name of William Dandy Middle School? >> No, there's no intent.
>> Okay. Um, so is there a process in place to handle when when it does occur uh to handle ongoing emerging issues that occur between the two entities? Are there any
plans currently in place or intended to be in place um for when this happened and both entities are on the campus to resolve emerging or ongoing issues between the two? >> Um we will plan all of that out. Um so right now everything is in preliminary
stage and then we will sit down with and go over great detail of the logistics and operations of the entire campus and and the the collocation of uh Kip on that campus along with our district operated um William Dandy School as well. >> Okay. So >> yes, go ahead Miss
>> um I think Dr. Wanza wants to add that there's another item that has to come to the board in terms of how we are going to uh share that space. So that'll be a shared use agreement I believe. That is correct. >> Okay. And um Dr. Heper, when will we
when should we expect to have that item? >> In the coming uh board meetings, but once we figure out the exact board meeting, we'll let the board know. >> Okay. Um and Dr. Dr. Heburn ha have you met with Kip in discussing any um any of these
issues as yet or the plan is still in action as far as what it would look like what it will look like when they uh colllocate. >> Yeah, the planning is still in action. >> It's still in action. Okay. So you're I'm assuming that from this point onwards we're going to have um
additional and multiple discussion on on how this will look to ensure that the students at William Dandy and the staffing and so on that there's a smooth transition and smooth operation when this takes place. I think this is a first for us. So um certainly careful
planning would be needed. >> Yes, absolutely. That's correct. >> All right. Thank you so much, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Miss Hixon. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to say, you know, I really appreciate the fact that Kip reached out to I know more than just
me, a number of different board members to have a conversation about the idea that they didn't want to swoop in and necessarily just take over, but they looked at it as as a type of partnership. and they will be a middle
school and they're looking to add something that would then allow the students from middle school to move into our high school area. So I think there's a way to make it work where it doesn't feel parasitic um and feels more as a partnership. So,
I do appreciate the them asking, you know, what kind of curriculum or what kind of magnet themes do you think might be um useful and where we could partner together. So, I appreciated that. Um but I have some questions to the superintendent. So, I know they don't
have to pay rent. Um but what about like what if students need transportation? How are they going to eat in the cafeteria? So, we're responsible for also taking care of that. Um, also in terms of like for free and reduced
lunch, all of those kind of things because originally all that was in a bill, then I know the legislation went back and looked at it, but beyond just giving them a space, what else are we responsible for in terms of having them colllocated?
>> Yep. Absolutely. So, I know that's part of the shared use agreement. Uh, I'll throw it over to Dr. Wanza to give a little bit more specifics of what our obligations are. >> So um thank you Dr. Hem. So um um so just that so that the board and the public are just well aware of the
conversation. The item today is just a performance-based agreement. We um have been in multiple conversations with um the leadership at KIP and we will sit down. When I say me, it involves multiple departments in the district, right? So, it's definitely the uh
regional office, the central regional offices. Absolutely. Um the leadership at William Dandy Middle School, district police, food service, transportation, everyone. And then we have to actually um develop two documents that will come back to the board, right? One is the
shared um use plan and then one is the mutual agreement, right? So it so it's it's how both schools are going to colllocate and coexist on one campus and how we look at just those things you're talking about security if if they are going to access our transportation
system what does that look like our food service and there are things that statutoily you are correct Miss Hixon that we must um provide and then um either Mr. Sullivan or Miss Dupri can jump in Mr. can jump in at this point
where there is a um so so for example one part of the the rule talked about if they are going to access like our security and they get safe schools allocations then we would have access to those dollars. Same thing as it relates to transportation things of that nature.
So all of that is what will be delineated in the shared use plan and the mutual management agreements. >> Okay. So great. So there's it's not that the expectation is that we have to cover
the cost of those additional things for them because my concern is the state gives us money for one student but we're paying for one and a half because we have to cover that. It's it will be through agreement and there's things we may have to pay for and things that if
the state gives them money for it and we're providing the service we will get that funds. Okay. So, I look forward to when that item comes because that that's the most concerning part I think about all of it. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion,
>> Miss Bulman? >> This is statutory, right? So, we don't really have a choice on it >> through the chair. Yes. We don't have a choice. It's statutory. >> Okay. So, if you're voting, you're following the statute. If you vote against it, then you're not following the statute.
>> No. >> Or you're vote against the agreement. >> It's an agreement. >> So, Dr. Seammon's correct. You are voting for the agreement. The agreement is the first step to move us forward to follow the statute. So, >> okay. It's in the statute that we have to have the agreement.
>> The statute requires us to allow for those relocations. Mr. Sullivan, >> no, I was just going to say there's a I believe there's a penalty associated with us not moving forward. I believe that penalty is they withhold our charter school administrative fee. So, you're talking millions until we um
>> Right. Okay. I just make I'm just making sure that Yep. Just want to make that clear. Everyone knows why we would be voting for this. That's the only reason I would be voting for this is to make sure that we're not getting further penalized. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other board member discussion?
All in favor of M4 say I. I. >> All oppose say no. >> Item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion and a second on JJ3? Uh moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss
Hixon. There's no public comment. Is that correct? All right. Uh Dr. Zean, >> my apologies, chair. Are we JJ3? >> JJ3. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. Um I asked uh earlier about the timing of this because
um when we were doing repurposing last year, we had some visions about the year in which this would be done and that year was 2728. Um and so my understanding is it is possible to get this done. Um you know the budget side of me says that's great
because if the two elementary schools therefore don't need to operate because we get the K8 going one, it's better for education. they're going to get a better experience uh in a K8 than they would have gotten in an underenrolled K5. Um so that's kind of my academic hat. My budget hat is that's a couple million
dollars per school that we have to pay for fixed cost to run it. And so it seems that it would make great business sense and great academic sense to accelerate this. uh to the superintendent, can we finish this in time by
uh doing things more efficiently by giving it some special priority so that we can open the K8 in the school year 2728? >> Yes, that's correct. We're we're staged and uh ready to move forward as soon as this is approved. >> Terrific. Um what level of commitment can we make to the community right now
that this will open in 2728? >> It will open in 2728. >> So the community has it. That's Dr. Heeper. Uh 754-3212000. You can uh give him a shout. Marks number is No, I'm not >> Third Avenue.
>> You guys have my number too. So 2008, you can call me and and Miss Thompson may be willing to take a few of those calls. But uh I really believe this is important not just for Miss Thompson, but for all of us that when we make a commitment through repurposing to get something done, uh that we giddy up and
get going. Uh, and if that means we do Saturday construction, if that means we, you know, chunk it in different and better ways or give them special layown areas, uh, maybe do design build instead of design and then GMP, um, that we can we can get this done. I'm also a little
bit concerned about the price. I know there's other things besides the bathrooms, but if you divide the bathrooms by the amount of money that's being reserved in this item, it's equivalent to what I paid to build my house. And so I think $370,000
of construction money to build a bathroom is just a lot of money. And so uh I'm I'm not going to make a big scene about that here. But I'd be I'd be curious that the the audience could also do that same division. Um and I just
want to be careful that we're building what we need to build according to SREF rather than trying to build the Taj Mahal of bathrooms because the Taj Mahal is just going to extend the length of time it's going to take as well. So, I'm just kind of throwing it out there. That seems like a lot of money per bathroom.
I mean, I literally my construction cost of my house was $370,000. It's a house. It's got four bathrooms, right? I mean, it's like a house. So, I I don't I don't and nor would the public, you know, quite understand why it would cost so much to do that. The
last point is I think there's other K8 opportunities going through the repurposing going forward. And I don't want the $370,000 price tag per bathroom to be a discouragement to doing what's better for kids and better for our community. So, I hope we can find a way to do it faster, do it cheaper, and get
it done. But 754-3212000, that's Dr. Heiner's number if you want to call him and uh deal with the commitment he made today. Thank you, Dr. Heiner. >> Thank you, Miss Thompson. Thank you. I'm going to go a little deeper into this.
Um, who does who prepared the design estimate of 400,000? >> Go ahead, Mr. Dorset. >> Good afternoon. Mark Dorset, chief facility officer, task assigned. Uh, we had uh we we're looking at a design
consultant, one of our internal design consultant to provide the the drawings for this. >> Okay. And who prepared the construction cost estimate? Uh we consulted with AECOM our cost control uh uh vendor and
they provided us with the uh the um the cost for this. >> And then I think there needs to be some clarification. Are we planning to do 24 bathrooms on the first or second or 24 on the first and 24 on the second? So that would be 48.
>> No, it would be 12 I I think 13 on the first floor and 12 on the second floor. And then can you expand on why you guys believe the best route is to do both floors and not the first as originally discussed?
>> So I'll I'll I'll take that question. Um Valerie Wanza. So I I I believe the conversation um as we were discussing it was that so there isn't a restriction, right? Because you when when you talk about the uh restrooms that are needed obviously for the um earlier grades, we want to make sure that there isn't a
restriction that you only have 13 classrooms. you can put the students in. Um and then the the other part was when we look at the schools that um will through domino effect um have to potentially be affected because of this process. We want to make certain that we
have enough um in what what's in the facility so that it can accommodate what may be the total enrollment. >> Thank you. And then historically, what has been the price per bathroom for during the smart program and how long has it taken to construct each bathroom?
>> Uh, I would have to get that information from um Atkins on that is u >> I can send a followup. >> Uh Sonia Coley again, we'd have to do a follow-up for you on that question. >> Okay. And then um building four uh is
the building we're planning to do this in because it is currently unoccupied. How soon could the construction begin? >> Uh we are waiting uh I guess uh we anticipating passing of this item today so we can get started right away. Um we
believe the uh design uh portion of it would take about 3 months. We believe uh going through the building approval process is another two months. So I'm thinking probably November, December we can start construction. We have the entire building that we can stay there
and and do the construction and make meet the timeline that we discussed. >> And then is building approval? Does that include permitting? >> Yes. Yes, it does. >> And then what about the fire marshall? >> That that would be included in the ent in the overall process of the project.
>> Okay. And then how long has it been taking to get fire marshall approval and substantial completion before moving? >> Well, it has because of uh situations sometimes out of our control at this
point. Um it's been taken for the fire marshall to make some some some different uh difficult decisions. We believe because this one is wide open, if you will. The building is wide open. we have access to having the fire marshall review everything as it stands
now what it's going to look like when we design it and and get a proper approval uh before we start construction we believe we can get a better result >> so the fire marshall has to come in before we start construction >> he's going to be a part of the appro the
overall approval process of the design uh construction before we build >> okay and so the design's three months Building approvals is two months including the fire marshall. How long do you think the actual construction will take?
>> I believe this we can construct this in 6 to 8 months. It's it's just a renovation. It's bathroom additional bathrooms inside an existing building. So 6 to 8 months I think we we'll be able to as far as construction goes. >> And then what once construction is
completed what is the next step? Well, once we get the the final approval from the building department and all the permits have been satisfied, then >> so it goes back to permitting after >> No, no, no. Once once the work is complete
>> and all of the inspections have been satisfied, we can get a a occupancy certificate of occupancy for the building. So we're thinking based on your estimation 3 five plus 8 months like 13
months >> close to that. Yes. >> And then um we did a facilities assessment on this building. Correct. >> I believe we did. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Yes. >> Do we have any concerns on building 4 about their ability to handle new
bathrooms? Have we looked at sewage, water, drainage, and venting? No concerns there. It again it's it's it's a basically a shell. We're looking at a shell. It does have uh uh water there now. So just tapping into existing uh uh
um um uh utilities and so forth. >> Okay. And then we are according to the item we're planning to use um an existing CSMP contract for the 7.8 million. What are current levels and do
we think that we'll we will be able to use utilize that? >> Yeah, we believe uh and and Sonia can can speak to this. We do have CSMP contracts that can do this work for this amount. We have a contract on uh
existing right now that we can use. This is what's going to help us expedite the uh the the completion of this project. And is there any limits uh to that existing contract like the amount of money that can be spent on per
project or this would fall in lines with all those? >> This would fall in line with with one of the existing contracted contracted amount. >> Um I can speak I can add to that uh if you want Mark we have a the contract for the CSMP is up to 7.5 million. Um and
just so you're aware that the cost that is presented before you also includes a a contingency. So we would not exceed that that cost. >> And it also includes the playgrounds. Correct. >> Correct. So it's the 24ish bathrooms plus the two
playgrounds. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um thank you for providing that timeline. Um I think we will be holding you to that timeline. Uh me especially and I just want to thank my colleagues
for continually supporting this project. I think when Dr. Harness has brought this up a lot that we need to start thinking about what's going to bring kids back to our our schools and what is innovative. And when I had my 12 community meetings about redefining, the
majority of the parents wanted K through8s, but they wanted all the amenities that come with it. The the band room, the gym, um this bigger facility, and that's simply not possible to construct at the four elementary
schools we were going to create to be K through eights. So, I think this provides an amazing opportunity. this. Also, in district 2, we have the most charter schools and no other charter school can offer these amenities. Um, so I'm I'm really excited about this
project going through and I appreciate staff uh committing to this timeline and to the superintendent and for Dr. Zean for sharing his phone number. >> I don't think he shared his phone number. He shared uh the superintendent. >> Um, Miss Hixon,
>> thank you. Um, I I just have a couple of questions. I I've looked at all of the things and and I know that we did, but can you tell us when the the board made a formal vote about changing Glades Middle School to a K8?
>> Yes, absolutely. I have uh Dr. Wa go through the um the the history of of uh direction from the board. >> Thank you, sir. So, um, as we all know, as we went through the redefining our schools process at the December 8th board workshop,
the superintendent, uh, recommendations were presented to the board and the public. In those recommendations was a recommendation to do a a few well, there were a few um items there. One was to extend the grades at four elementary
schools beyond grade 5 to grade 8. Um the and then the other and then there was a recommendation also to um act to close Glades Middle School, repurpose that school, repurpose Glades and then um reassign the children. A portion of
the students would go to New Renaissance and then the other students would remain at one of those four elementary schools in a K to8 pattern. Miss Thompson presented an alternate proposal that looked at not extending
the grades of the elementary schools, keeping Glades Middle School open, and um doing exactly what is being presented today, extend the grades of Glades down to include the elementary grades so that Glades would become Glazes would become
the K8, not extend the grades of the four elementaryaries and not rebounder um some of the kids to New Renaissance and and Her proposal was and whatever the term is the board was using at the time. The board gained consensus or came to some majority agreement that they
would um that they were in favor of that proposal instead of the superintendent's proposal proposals to extend the grades at multiple elementary schools. um repurpose Glaze Middle School for another district use and reassign the
children to either one of those four elementary schools in a K8 configuration or to New Renaissance Middle School. >> So that that's what I remember. But everything else that because now that idea comes with a very large dollar
amount. We never did a formal board vote like all the other repurposing things came and we did consensus at a workshop and then it came to us at a board meeting to vote on. So that's what I'm asking. Did we ever do that for this proposal? >> So I think that that is what today does
and and and I believe that um there was some concern a couple board meetings ago around what took so long for this to come. And I believe that that's what this item does is it actually formalizes um the conversation from November and
then ultimately January when the board actually voted on what the school attendance areas would be for next school year and Glades remained as a middle school and those um four elementary schools remained as K to five. So, I believe this action today um
probably took a little bit longer than it should have taken, but I think that it formally um that that it crystallizes or codifies what the what the board um expressed in December when the proposals came for redefining. And I will say that
um we we did advise that there would be a cost. It may not have been explained what the exact cost would be. Okay. So, it was about 3.5 million I think was the estimated cost at that time because I think at that time we were just looking at restrooms on the first floor. So,
that is when that um cost estimate was said publicly. And what today does is it actually codifies the conversation that took place back in December 8th and January 21st. But and but in in both conversations we always talked about in
order to do this we will have to impact at least two elementary schools in that area. >> Thank you. And that's just kind of my concern here. I feel like we did this backwards and everything else that we've done. We voted to close the school,
change the school, do whatever and then the financial piece came afterwards. And I'm not saying I disagree with this. I'm just saying that it feels as if we did this differently and it's just not sitting right with me. We never really
had a formal vote. I try I looked everywhere to see where we actually voted on it. We do lots of things in workshops, but then there's the opportunity to bring it back us to vote on it and have a a different conversation once we've gone through
everything. And I I appreciate the fact that we have said if this happens we have to close elementary schools. Um but do those elementary school, you know, like I just feel like maybe the community didn't have the opportunity to
come when we voted formally on this to have a discussion about the rest of it. And I have a concern about there now thinking that there's going to be a third K8. I just we haven't had a lot of great success. I mean, we've had a few
successes, but tr taking a school who's not K8 and turning it into K8, we've had to close some of those down. So, I I just have a concern with because we just opened Coral Cove and now we're going to
have Glades K8 and then there's a third one coming and I just I understand there's a lot of K8s in that area, but I I don't want to to open something, spend $8 million and find that we really didn't increase any of the enrollment in
our district. So, I I just want to express my concerns on that. So I my board members may not agree and that's perfectly fine but this feels like we didn't do it like we did everything else and it's it's bothering me. So
>> all right thank you Mr. Ca. >> I concur. >> All right. Any other board discussion? All in favor of JJ3 say I. >> All oppose say no. >> No. >> Roll call please.
Sea >> Hixon. >> Holes. >> Yes. >> Leonardi. >> Yes. >> Roupert. >> No. >> Thompson. >> Zean. >> Yes. >> Aladd's not here. Bowman.
>> Yes. >> Yes. It passes 5 to three. >> All right. Could I get a motion and a second on O2? >> So moved. >> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. There's no public comment. And Mr.
Seivera just confirming you no longer want to speak on O2. Any other board discussion on O2. >> All in favor of O2 say I. I. >> All oppose say no. >> Item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion in a second on O9? >> So move.
>> Moved by Dr. Zean, second by Miss Hixon. Public comment on 019. None. Uh board member comment. Mr. Sea >> satisfied. >> Miss Thompson. >> Dr. Zean. >> Thank you so much, Chair. um
to somebody maybe on the staff on this uh this um expansion of uh prisms, could you give me kind of a a description of of what this is in terms of which subjects, which schools, how many more students would be involved for this
investment that we're making with prison. >> Go ahead, Dr. Khan. >> Yeah, I'm going to let Guy take this uh on. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. Guy Moa, director of secondary learning. Thank you for the question, Dr. Zean. So, this expansion of the contract gets 15 more
carts, which is 450 more headsets. So, with for a total of about 4,400 headsets altogether for the district, it also comes with it 40,000 licenses to be used for every single middle school student and our eight existing high schools. So, these
carts will be used at our existing middle schools to expand capacity within those schools so more students can do more lessons. You also mentioned what subjects. So right now we have math and science lessons that are through the modules. >> And if I could continue chair um were
this vendor to expand the curriculum topics available. Does this license include expanding to them as well? >> It does. These licenses are student licenses. So once a student has a license for the Prism software, they have they have the availability to download whatever lessons are in that
software, math, science, or whatever else they produce later on. >> Terrific. And do you know of any plans that this vendor has to expand to other things besides math and science? >> I think we've tal she talked about a little bit about civics, but I haven't really seen anything in writing and and done yet, but I do know she's expanding some of her science lessons to be a
little further um deeper into our Florida standards as well. >> Terrific. Last question that I have. Um we've been in this a year, right? I mean, we went to 58 middle schools. Um it's to me like a little magic with the budget because we get to spend capital dollars to earn back operating dollars,
right? So if in fact we can spend capital, get this uh academic enhancement in um and then it encourages more people to come to our middle schools because that fifth to sixth grade year is a tough year. We lose a lot of kids unfortunately. But if prisms is one of the things like a sports
academy, like K8, like other things where we're trying to draw people into six through eight, um we're spending capital to win back operating which I just think is is a a magic little formula. We should do it everywhere we can. What are the results that you have seen
so far? And I know that it's difficult a few days after the end of the school year to have all that stuff put together, but if you could identify some schools uh that you think are representative of what we got out of this investment, I'd appreciate just knowing what uh measurable results we got. I thought the chair made a really
interesting point earlier about, you know, if what you measure software purchase by is participation, that's kind of okay, but it's not it's not one of our strategic goals. you know, we we imagine students will participate and sometimes we can even goose participation uh through uh moral
persuasion, >> but uh what are some of the hard data results that we found uh through the use of this system? >> Great question. So, obviously we have participation data. We have a a huge participation, but I think what's >> what doesn't always show up sometimes is
the >> not the qualitative but the qu not the quantitative but the qualitative data, right? And what I mean by that is our students are more motivated to go to math class in some cases. So what we're seeing some qualitative data coming out of this saying that I'm looking forward to go to math class. I'm looking forward
to put on the headsets. And even when they're not with the headsets on, they're still looking forward to go to class because they know that that motivational piece is there. So that's there from the teacher and the student side. We're also seeing that the increased motivation has increased assignment completion. So students are completing their assignments more to be
able to do some more of those experimental experiential learning experiment on it right now. Dr. Zema, like you said, we just had the end of the end of the year. We have some data back from prisms that Richie department, Mr. Balance department is looking at for us.
So I can come back with a followup with some more with some harder data, but right now it is participation in qualitative motivational data that we have >> and guy I can probably take some of that. And so Mr. Dr. even preliminarily. Uh we started to get some algebra proficiency data already. >> How's it look?
>> So it looks good. Uh so last year we're at 62% proficiency. We did meet our targeted goal. Uh so we're looking at 63% movement and so we're trying to triangulate uh all of those classrooms that had uh prisms access to determine
the efficacy around uh implementation of it. But it does look positive. So over a five-year period, we started on the groundwork at 59%. we're at 63%. So across the board, uh we're seeing acceleration happening. >> Terrific. I think um just as a follow on for the board, if you don't mind,
whenever you get school by school results, you know, and where it was applied, that'd be useful. You know, Rebecca Winthre would teach us that just getting student engagement has a great academic reward itself. They attend more, they're more interested, they're more engaged in the learning, they're going to learn more. Um not not a
surprise to any teacher, but um yeah, appreciate you sharing the results. Thank you. >> Appreciate the expansion of this as well. It'd be neat to have, you said, another 450 headsets on these 15 carts. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you.
Um, I believe that is everyone. Is there any other board discussion on O19? All in favor of O9 say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> Item passes unanimously. Could I get a motion in a second on double P7? >> So moved.
>> Moved by Dr. Zean, seconded by Miss Hixon. Public comment on WP P7. None. Um board member discussion. Miss Thompson. >> My questions were answered. Thank you. >> Okay. I have some questions about this policy. Um
does this policy need to pass today? like is there a a time constraint on us with regards to this policy? Dr. Heepburn. >> Um have Mr. Bradford take that question. >> Good afternoon, Matthew Bradford,
executive director of technology operations. Uh thank you for the question. Um uh Florida, the Florida Administrative Code says that this has to be uh something that is ratified by September 1st every year. So, it doesn't
necessarily have to be ratified today, but by September 1st, it has to be approved. >> Got it. Um, the reason I ask is, and I maybe I'm my recollection isn't accurate, but I recall when we workshopped this back in May, um, I
raised some concerns around AI, and I think I was told that we were going to address those in a separate AI policy. Um, but I see that some some pieces about AI was were added to this policy. So, are we still going to have a
separate AI policy? Um, help me understand why those pieces around AI were added to this. Um, if we're going to have a separate policy, >> does he want you go ahead, Mr. Bford? >> So, this again, this policy is in line with what the Florida uh administrative
code says and actually AI is a part of that code. So, we're making certain that we're in line with that. So, uh, if the board, uh, suggests that we communicate from an AI perspective when it comes to a workshop or another item, we'll definitely do that. >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Perau,
>> so we are going to have additional policies relating to AI, shared use, and acceptable use. It's coming. So, I just wanted you to be aware. >> Okay. Um I'm I'm struggling a little bit because
uh I thought we were going to have this conversation like at length next week and then you know look at at policies. Um so there is a lot I would I would like to add to this. um if we're going
to do the bulk of addressing AI and cyber security in this policy um is that the intent to to do the bulk of that in this policy or are we going to have again I mean I want to go beyond like acceptable use and all of that um I
think like again if I I knew that this was going to be included I would have conversations about like age restrictions and pro you know child safety procurement measures and um adding like an AI student council um a lot of things that I've read a lot
of research on. Uh so again I guess I'm wondering is that again are are we trying to do the bulk of the AI governing in this policy or are we going to do that in separate policies? >> Dr. Con if you go ahead because I know
we have a AI policy coming forward too. So yes, to your point uh um Miss Leonardi, I think so come June 16th, we'll give you the parameters and then obviously it's it's public notice. You can see kind of the parameters of where we are moving towards in terms of the
policy. So on on the 16th uh we'll provide some highlights in terms of stakeholder feedback that we've gathered from principles, teachers, students, and parents as well as our DA committee DAC committee around what policy language should look like and be included to get
feedback from you. Although the 16th is not a policy workshop, it is a a kind of a factf finding feedback session to kind of garner where we need to go in the next steps of this. And so I think to your point, it gives us an opportunity to go back because we're continuing to
engage the stakeholders around this. We got a lot of significant uh information on Friday uh with our parents who came to the broader uh AI task force. They gave us some feedback as well because we shared some of uh the policy language in there. So I think yes, as we move into
policy and rule making, we'll include some of those pieces for all to be considered. >> Okay. when can we the the policy that you referenced Dr. Conn when can we expect that to come to us and then how does that fit into the Nola process?
>> So that's kind of why we put it on halt halt until we were able to get with Niola and then after Neiola was presented uh we'll work with uh our general counsel to schedule the next time we meet to go over the policy.
>> Okay. Uh attorney D pre Bruno. Okay. Um Okay, Dr. Zean, >> chair, I I I think that there's a a really nice opportunity to table this. Uh it would be really cool to see the internet policy right next to the AI
policy, even if one is a month later in terms of formal adoption. Um there's just such an overlap and I have deep concerns as the chair does about getting these right. And I I I've talked about this, the chair has talked about I think members other members of the board and the community have talked about this as
well, which is there is um some things that are appropriate for the internet policy itself and there's some statute about how to do that. But there's also some really good spade work for Broward County to do on AI so that we get that right. But I'm agreeing with the chair I
think which is I would rather table this today given it's not urgent until September and let us see if we can make a little bit of progress through the neola on AI and then we we could at least see them together one might get passed before the other because we might have to get this one done and to move on but there's such an overlap and I want
to make sure as the chair does that the things that make a great difference to students and AI in our structure are are in the right place and what I worry about is we may jam in this one instead of the other one. So, I'd prefer uh chair to uh
>> um Attorney Dre, we were just kind of having a conversation about timing and rulemaking and all of that. So, if we were to table this, is there is it possible to um to get this done by September 1st? >> So, on the board's direction, we could work with Dr. Cohen and team and make
sure we have all of the policies that would impact cyber security, AI, acceptable use, etc. in one package for the board. And if we can squeeze it on a workshop in July as first reading and then two weeks later I can do second
reading, it will be there in time to meet the September 1st deadline. >> Given that, chair, I'd make a motion to lay this on the table until the first um opportunity in August. >> Second. That makes sense. Uh, general counsel. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> Motion made by Dr. Zean, seconded by Mr. Seivera. Public comment on the motion. Board member discussion on the motion. All in Miss Rupert. >> Yes. Um, I absolututely love the idea of
of deferring this and until that point, but if I defer it, I won't be able to vote after we've changed the policy yesterday. We yesterday was a rulemaking workshop. We didn't change anything yesterday. >> Okay. So I will have the opportunity to
to share what I want to feel and vote for July and August then. >> Attorney Dupri Bruno. >> So the policies that were reviewed yesterday were just first reading. Second reading will be June 23rd. That will be the public hearing and then
additional conversations can be had on the policies coming forward. Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Any other board me board discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion say I. >> All oppose say no.
>> Motion passes unanimously. >> All right. Um I believe we've exhausted the list of items. Uh >> chair, if I may. Um, I move to reconsider the vote on the motion regarding O4.
>> I believe I have the >> So, sorry, Mr. Sea. People are saying that we need to do TT1, but we'll go to >> Oh, I thought you were done. I apologize. >> No, no, no. My apologies. You can We Let's go ahead and deal with your motion and then we'll go back to >> No, TT1 was already approved.
>> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So we already approved TT1 so move forward anyway. >> Okay. So I I move to reconsider the vote on the motion regarding uh O4. >> Second >> motion made by Mr. Sea to reconsider O4
seconded by Dr. Zean. Public comment or member discussion. Mr. Sea. After the vote, um I was provided with some additional information and subsequently learned that there's a potential that if this is not approved,
entire libraries that are digitized and rely on this could be um not able to proceed forward and not have what is needed to be able to provide those resources to students. So, I think the implication um of this vote is a
little bit more vast than perhaps some of us realized in just reading the initial executive summary and and the contract. So, I certainly don't want any student who is at a school that has a digitized library to be able to lose out on what um has already been built there.
So, for those reasons, I would ask the board or the the my colleagues who voted no to reconsider the vote because I will be changing my vote. Any other board member discussion? I will just continue to reiterate.
I am very concerned about the movement towards um doing everything online considering all of the feedback that I've heard from parents and from students. And the conversation today was very concerning to me um regarding why we are why we are
doing this and the measurable outcome I find unacceptable. Um so again I and I think some of my comments were mischaracterized. In no way, shape or form do I want to prevent access to digital digital materials. Um I think
students should have a choice. Um, like I said, there are some students that find digital materials and ebooks and audiobooks um to be very helpful. I listen to audiobooks all the time. Um, so I'm not opposed to to giving this digital access, but the why of why we
are doing this was concerning to me. Um, Miss Thompson, >> I would just echo the chair's sentiments, but also the fact that there is a free resource that we could be using for this exact same purpose. I would like a followup comparing this
program and the free resource that the library provides, which is audiobooks, multiple textbooks, it's language learning. Um, the taxpayers are paying for both the Brower County Schools and the library services. So, if we can find a way to work together, that is what we
should be doing. So, in this followup, I expect a comparison what there might be some legal concerns that Mr. Cohen brought up um and how we could proceed with a partnership with the library to replace the services and also what the
terms of cancelling this contract would entail. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other board discussion? >> All in favor of Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Mr. Se. I was getting ready to vote. >> All in favor of O4 say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. No.
>> No. >> What you're voting on is the motion to >> to reconsider. >> So all in favor Well, all in favor of reconsidering O4 say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. No. Uh motion to reconsider uh passes with two dissenting
votes. >> Miss Rupert and myself. All in favor of O4 say I. >> I. All oppose say no. No. >> No. >> O4 passes with two dissenting votes with Miss Rupert and myself voting in descent.
All right. Do we have anything for the good of the order? Miss Hixon. Thank you. Have a couple of things. Um yesterday I already congratulated class of 2026, but I just like to take the opportunity to do that again and thank our staff for all of the wonderful 44 um
graduations. It was a great job. So, thank you for all that you've done. I also want to thank our 26 college sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners. This, yes, congratulations to them. Um, it recognizes exceptional
academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and potential for success in higher education. Um, the students are awarded between five and $2,000 annually for up to four years of their undergraduate study, and it's given to them by the college they've been accepted at. So we had recipients
at the college academy at Broward College, Cypress Bay, Marjgerie Stoman Douglas, Monarch, Nova Plantation, Pompino Beach High School, and West Broward. So congratulations to all of them. Um, I'd like to ask a superintendent um when we were talking
about the B item on customer service. There was um a public speaker who talked about recommendations that were given to the superintendent and in the meantime we got a couple of emails. So, I'd like
to ask you um you know are how are you going to decide and look at those recommendations and maybe instead of waiting for things make an action plan now including some of those recommendations. So, can you >> Yeah. Yeah. So, the team is already in
the midst of um updating and enhancing the plan for the upcoming school year. they've any information that's come my way plus any experiences from uh myself or anybody else, we've already passed that information on so they can consider that as they're as they're building the plan.
>> So the but I'm specifically asking about because it came from the ESC advisory board. So were those recommendations folded into what the action plan is like starting today or starting whenever you have updated whatever your action
>> we're reviewing um any feedback and we'll make those considerations as we build the plan. >> Okay. So when can we expect to have an action plan on >> for the I guess for the next school year. >> I find out from the team it's for the next before it's it'll be before the next school year so we can roll it out
with principles and other department leads. >> Okay. So great. That's the um so that'll be a followup to us, right? >> We'll send the the plan and the package and everything that it encompass so everybody's aware. >> Um and yesterday I we asked this
question but I don't think you were sitting on the dis I think um Dr. Fulton was there there is a concern based on the the policy that we have but also just myself for follow-ups that we get
in the 48 hours like what our requests were and who's in charge but there's no way for us to follow up except for to print out papers and go back which I'm in the process of doing right now and seeing what things have been um done and
what aren't. And I know you discussed having a dashboard or there's a link where we can look at something. When is that going to be? >> That'll be that'll be done sometime this summer. I know um I I think the our office sends a a weekly um email to the
board and your assistants to let you know what's where items are, what's still outstanding or what's actually. >> They don't they don't send that. They nothing says what nothing says like what the progress is or is it done. It's just here's what for this week here are the
items that were captured and here's who in who's in charge of doing it but that's all we get. >> Okay. So I I'll I'll check. I know we send that initially. I I thought we also send something uh every week that shows uh what's still in progress and what's actually late. >> No. So that that's kind of been the
question we're asking because I'm trying to do that on my own right now and it's very cumbersome, timeconuming. Um, and the last thing I'd like to ask is the to the superintendent. Could you please bring back from the org chart the transportation piece because I would
like um to make a suggestion based on the chief who oversees that um and that is to take out the assistant director position and reinstate the director position and there's the cost would be absorbed with what's already in the
department budget so it wouldn't be at an additional cost to the district. >> Yep. We'll bring that back. Do we need board consensus on that? >> Well, they'll vote on it when it comes back. >> Oh,
>> well, I don't want to see it again. >> Attorney Dbr. >> Yeah. >> If the board wants to um have that input, then they're entitled to do so if they want to go ahead and just decide if they if you want to do that. And can you just clarify one thing for me, Dr.
Seaman, though? Were you saying to take a vote on her recommendation to do the switch now or just to bring it back? >> Yeah. >> All right. Is there any objection to bringing back the item? Noting one
objection. Miss Bulman, you had a question >> for the limited purpose of this. I I don't want to reopen the orchar. >> Miss Thompson, you objection. So I'm noting two objections. So um yeah.
>> So >> I was objecting. >> No, I know I Miss Thompson was objecting. So I'm noting an objection from Miss Thompson and Dr. Zean. So the majority of the board is not objecting. So do you have your direction, Dr. Hebrin? >> For the limited purpose of that one change. >> All right, Miss Sixon, was that
everything? >> Yes. Thank you, >> Miss Thompson. >> Thank you, chair. Um I have the distinct pleasure of recognizing um the wizard award. So Sean Steve Yan, our senior security analyst in the
information security and assurance department is a model example of what the wizard award embodies a composite mindset, an extraordinary work ethic, and a multi-dimensional leader. He was nominated by his peers and approved by the entire ISD leadership team. the team
created and there's an attached video I can send to Sullivan to send to my colleagues um announcing his are enhancing his announcement and it's very exciting. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Zean.
>> Thank you chair. Uh four quick things. One is uh after doing 18 graduations, I want to thank all of my single member district colleagues for including me in the certificate uh part of the ceremony. Um I really enjoyed uh the the ceremonies, but part of it was just
being with colleagues and uh and celebrating something awesome connected to that. Uh Dr. Hepern told me something that's just a fact that I think we all should know. Our seniors earned $340 million of scholarships this year, which means the average high school student in
Broward County earned $21,000 worth of college scholarships. That is such a big draw. You know, when you think about, if you want to compare and contrast traditional district-run public schools with public charter schools, I think there's some big
differences, but one of the big differences is that our students on average 21,000. And if we parse that denominator a little bit to those that go to college, it would be significantly higher. Maybe we'll do that in the future. But that is just a big number and it's uh something
that I hope parents are aware of. I want to thank the legislature again. We brought this up earlier about some things that they did that were very pro public education. Um and the $8 million was not expected. Uh I I thought it was a long long shot, but they did it. Um, I
will also tell you that I've been asked by both sides of the aisle to give some advice about education policies going forward at the at the state level and the things they're talking about are different than what we've had for the past 16 years. And again, not a political statement, but for 16 years, we've gone from 23rd in the nation in
funding to 50th. And so, um, if new leadership decides to to do something differently with funding, I would welcome that considerably. Um, and then just a last general point, we I keep talking about this all y'all thing about winning back students. Um, but I want to
talk more about that next week as well because we have a real opportunity with our capital budget to be thinking about how should we, we did it with the VR glasses thing today, spent capital to get more enrollment. So that's like the best investment in the world if you can spend your physical dollars in order to get more every year operating dollars,
right? But there are other investments we could make on the capital side that would allow us to win back students. And so I'm just going to bring some ideas back. Uh and we'll talk about them. Uh but if you if we're really into this, if we can take the facility condition assessment, if we can think about what
improvements to our facilities would be very attractive to people to come back to the schools or at least take a tour, um that we have some real opportunities to do that going forward as we start to approve the DEFP budget uh here in the next couple months. So I'm just trying to tee that up in the future. Chair, thank you very much.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? Mr. Sea, >> I'd just like to note the time. We finished both of our meetings before 4:00 yesterday and today without making any change to the public comment policies. Just saying.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? >> All right. The scheduled order of business for this regular school board meeting of the school board of Brower County, Florida has been completed. Seeing no objection, I now adjourn the meeting.