TEST. . >>Karen Perez: HI, I AM >>Karen Perez: HI, I AM KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE WORKFORCE PROGRAM.
>>Nadia Combs: I AM NADIA COMBS, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS ITS COUNTY. >>Lynn Gray: OUR DISIS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND
FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL FRONTIER CHANNEL 2. >>Stacy Hahn: MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. >>Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE WILL PROVIDE TIME BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR ABOUT IS ITEMS, OUR
AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTIVE MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE, SITE, HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. >>Jessica Vaughn: OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: MAY BE SEATED. >>Karen Perez: IF ANYONE IN THE BOARD ROOM WHO HAVEN'T SIGNED IN AND ARE GOING TO BE AND ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING DURING COMMENT, PLEASE DURING COMMENT, PLEASE -- CHECK IN. MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENTS PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENTS ENTERTAINMENT. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL CHORUS WITH THE PRINCIPAL
WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN WU. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS TO COP UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> HI, I AM JASON MARTIN AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> HILL LOW, >> HILL LOW, GUSTAVO AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> LUCAS, AND I AM 7th >> LUCAS, AND I AM 7th GRADER. >> HI, >> HI, LUVELA AND I AM IN 8th
GRADE. >> HI, I AM BROOKLYN WHITE AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> HIP, LILIANA ROMERO AND I AM IN THE 7th GAME. >> HI, NAOMI PARKER AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> I AM RAYLIN AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> HI, I AM AVA PARADISE AND IN >> HI, I AM AVA PARADISE AND IN 8th GRADE. >> HI, >> HI, >> HI, ANGILY IN 8th GRADE. >> MARIO AND I AM IN 7th GRADE MY NAME IS SOPHIA AND I AM IN 7th GRADE. >> I AM LEXI AND I AM IN 8th GRADE.
>> HI, I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> HI, I AM JESSIE MARTINEZ AND I AM IN 8th I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> HEIM SHAUNA ABILITY TIME IN >> HEIM SHAUNA ABILITY TIME IN 8th GRADE. >> I AM ALSO IN 8th GRADE. >> I AM ELIZABETH SALAZAR AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> CARRIE SANDER AND TIME IN 8th GRADE. >> ATHENA AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> >> JASMINE TORREZ AND I AM IN 8th GRADE. >> HELLO, I AM CHRISTINA WU, THE CHORUS DIRECTOR AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. MY THIRD YEAR.
I GRADUATED FROM FSU, A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL ALUMNI. I WENT TO I WENT TO CHILES ELEMENTARY. LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL AND SO INSPIRED BY MY CHORAL DIRECTORS GROWING UP GROWING UP THAT I DECIDED TO COME BACK AND DO THE SAME FOR COME BACK AND DO THE SAME FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION THE FUTURE GENERATION. HOW I LEARNED TO BE A GOOD FRIEND, HOW TO TREAT OTHERS AND HOW TO COME OUT OF MY SHELL AND BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY
. I COULDN'T DO ANY OF THAT WITHOUT MY PAST WITHOUT MY PAST DIRECTOR. I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THOSE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE HOW KIDS BENEFIT THROUGHOUT LIFE AND HOW THEY THEY GROW UP IS THEY GROW UP IS IRREPLACEABLE. I CONTINUE TO CONTINUE I CONTINUE TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. A SECOND BY MEMBER A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER COMBS. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, MARCH APPROVED TODAY, MARCH 10, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER
WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD TO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND TO SUCCEED. OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH HAD THAT UNDERSTANDING, TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES
TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, AT SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW READ THE BOARD THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS YOU BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETINGS UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE
DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV, ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED IN CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ONLINE VIDEO CAR CHIVE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE SCHEDULED WE HAVE ONE SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, ONE ITEM. AT 6 P.M., EMPLOYEE AND AT 6 P.M., EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT EN PUT. WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER RECOGNITIONS.
OURS FIRST RECOGNITION A 01 RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH APRIL 2026. AND MEMBER HAHN WILL HIGHLIGHT IN ITEM. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU -- EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXTEND OUR HEART-FELT GRATITUDE TO THE MANY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE
IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF IN COUNTLESS WAYS. FROM TUTORING STUDENTS, MENTORING YOUNG MINDS TO ORGANIZING EVENTS AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR CLASSROOMS, YOUR EFFORTS TRULY MAKE A EFFORTS TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE MORE THAN 75 MORE THAN 75 2 PARTNERS TO CONTRIBUTE PARTNERS TO CONTRIBUTE 79,408
VOLUNTEER HOURS VOLUNTEER HOURS VALUED AT MORE THAN THAN 25,088, 801 TO THE IT IS STRICT FOR THE 2024-'25 YEAR. IN MONTH WE IN MONTH WE HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND TAD INCIDENTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS THRIVE. VOLUNTEERS HELP CREATE A RICH, EDGE GAUGING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENHANCES ITS ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENHANCES ITS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR EACH
STUDENT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN -- I MEAN MEMBER HAHN. [LAUGHTER] RECOGNITION A 02, RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH. IT WAS IN MARCH OF 2026. AND I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER MYSELF, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR THE
VITAL ROLE SOCIAL WORKERS PLAY IN SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. SO SO HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MARCH AS THE NATIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS MONTH A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS TO SOCIETY AND OUR SCHOOLS. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS SOCIAL WORKERS WORKERS UPLIFT, DEFEND WORKERS UPLIFT, DEFEND AND TRANSFORM. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR AMAZING SOCIAL WORKERS DO EVERY DAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SOCIAL WORKERS SERVE AS AN SOCIAL WORKERS SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL'S EDUCATION TEAM. THEY ARE -- THEY ARE EXCEPTIONALLY SKILLED AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WHO FACE SERIOUS CHALLENGES. NOT ONLY AT SCHOOL BUT ALSO OF LIFE. HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 250 SCHOOL APPROXIMATELY 250 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. ONE AT EVERY SCHOOL. AND THEY OFTEN GO FAR AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY BY PROVIDING VALUABLE RESOURCES TO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO COME TO THEM FOR
FOR ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR ALL -- TO ALL THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS FOR WHAT YOU DO ON DAILY. AND THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING SCHOOLS AND STAFF FOR CELEBRATING THEM. SO BEAUTIFULLY DURING NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH. THE BOARD -- THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR
COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUES YOU LIKE AND WILL NOT BE INTERRUPDED. HOWEVER, BEHAVIOR TO DISRUPT THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE ASK YOU TRY TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD,
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING AND THERE WILL BE 30 SECONDS LEFT. YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND HEAR A CHIME. A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE FIVE SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANITA BLOOM, AND I HAVE PROUDLY CAUGHT AT PIZZO K- FOR SEVEN YEARS AS THE ART TEACHER. I WAS HERE AT LAST BOARD MEETING, AND I BROUGHT ALONG MEETING, AND I BROUGHT ALONG A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS. I AM GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF. EARLY ON IN MY CAREER, MY TRAINING CAUGHT ME THAT THE BEST WAY TO GET A STUDENT INVESTED IS TO CREATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. AND I AM SURE YOU WILL ALL AGREE THIS IS EMBEDDED IN OUR TRAINING AND WE ARE TAUGHT EVEN THE MOST DIFFICULT OF SITUATIONS IN THE
CLASSROOM WITH MOST EFFECTIVELY BE MITIGATED WHEN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS EXIST. WHEN WE DEAL WITH STUDENTS WITH TRAUMA, WE COUNT ON THIS. I CAN PROUDLY ATTEMPT THAT PIZZO K-8, OUST BEST ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THE STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE. OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR BEST AND STRONG AND BUILT ON TRUST. OUR STUDENTS ARE GENERATIONAL WITH TEACHERS EDUCATING CHILD, SIBLINGS AND EVEN PARENTS. WE PARTNER WITH WE PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO ENSURE ARE SAFE, FED, CLOTHED, HOUSEDED FROM HURRICANES AND
WELL-EDUCATED. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE PROBLEM AT HAND. OUR FAMILY IS BEING EVICTED. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT THE DOING OF THE BOARD, BUT AT THE ENDS, THAT IS WHAT ENDS, THAT IS WHAT IT IS. WHAT STANDS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PARENTS, OUR STAFF, OUR FAMILY IS THE HURRIED WAY WE ARE BEING PULLED WAY WE ARE BEING PULLED ALONG. SOME MY PURPOSE TODAY S TO CONVEY TO YOU WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB AND EARNED A SEAT OF THE TABLE AS STAKEHOLDERS AND WE NEED FOR YOU TO STOP RUSHING THROUGH. WE HAVE A YEAR IN PLACE. BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE A PART OF CONVERSATION, WE ARE HOPING YOU INCLUDE US MORE SO.
EVERY POSHLT FOR SUCCESS NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED INCLUDING MOVING US AS A UNIT. DISMISSING A DAMS AS TOO LARGE DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THINGS WE CAN TO DO MITIGATE THIS. SEATS FROM STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS INTO OUR BOUNDARIES, EXTENDING CHOICE WINDOWS AND INCENTIVIZING MORE ENROLLMENT BY DEVELOPING US INTO A MAGNET. WE NEED TIME TO ACTUALLY BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION AND TO BE HEARD. WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS AND IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. I TEACH ART
I TEACH ART FOR THREE ACCESS POINT CLASSES EACH WEEK AND SPENT YEARS DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILY. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WILL AGREE THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE CRUCIAL. WHY ARE WE READY TO PULL THEM OUT AND START ALL OUT AND START ALL OVER AGAIN WHEN ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR SR. TIME AND HELP A SOLUTION THAT RESPECTS YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU ARE PROMISING PARENTS THAT WILL NOT TAKE STUDENTS AND THROW US INTO OVERCROWDING. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT ALL EYES ARE ON YOU AND WE WILL KEEP COMING BACK AND REMINDING YOU
AND THE PUBLIC PROMISES THAT YOU HAVE MADE. OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR COMMUNITY IS WATCHING HOW EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY FIGHT FOR US OR DISMISS US INTO THE MASS. FOR OUR FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THEY ARE VOTING ON THE VEERS OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU AND KNOWING THEIR CHILD'S HISTORY AND LONG-TERM NEEDS. VOTING ON LONG-TERM VOTING ON LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP YEARS OF SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S NEED. COMMITTED TO KNOWING AND GROWING MATTER. PLEASE CONSIDER US. IN YOUR
IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS. >>Karen Perez: NEXT >>Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER. [ APPLAUSE ] >> HI, EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS CYNTHIA MALONEY, A CYNTHIA MALONEY, A MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT DUNBAR ELEMENTARY MAGNET AT THEIR SCHOOL GARDEN SCHOOL GARDEN ALONG WITH A
TERRIFIC GUY NAMED NATE FARLEY THAT CAME TO US WITH THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY GARDENS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE FIRST HAND THE MAGIC THAT CHILDREN EXPERIENCE WHEN EXPOSED TO GARDENING, THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE COALITION, THE TAMPA GARDEN CLUB AND RIVERVIEW GARDEN CLUB, A MINI PILOT PROGRAM SERVING 11 TO 12 CHILDREN ONCE A WEEK AFTER SCHOOL FROM APPROXIMATELY 3:30 TO 5. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY CAN SHARE OUR EXCITEMENT AND GAIN FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE LIVES OF THE FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GROW. FROM FROM SPROUPTING DUNBAR GARDEN CLUB PLAN AND NURTURE. PREPARE NEW FOODS, LEARN OF ITS PROCESS AND ABOUT NUTRITION. CHILDREN ARE WILLING TO TRY NEW FOODS. KALE CHIPS AND ARTICHOKES, IF THEY ARE GROWN THEMSELVES. OUTSIDE IN THE SUNSHINE AND FRESH AIR AND THEY WORK TOGETHER AND A SENSE OF AGENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY. THEY LEARN TO APPRECIATE BUGS
AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO WATER APPROPRIATELY. THEY ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR GARDEN. I DON'T HAVE TIME IN THREE MINUTES TO OUTLINE ALL THE BENEFITS OF GARDENING FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIORAL SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIORAL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. DOCUMENTED IN THE LITERATURE. HEIM HERE TO PLEAD FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING A LARGE PILOT WITH PILOT WITH DUNBAR, STEWART MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. REDEVELOPMENT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE STEWART
CAMPUS PROVIDES FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND INSTALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE IT. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FROM THE JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER LIFE AT AT TEXAS A&M, ONLY ABOUT 35% OF THE JOB OPENINGS IN AGRICULTURE ARE FILLED EACH YEAR. WE NEED MORE FOOD SCIENTISTS, FARMERS, BOTANISTS AND ENGINEERS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF FEEDING THE WORLD SUSTAINABLY AND THE WORLD SUSTAINABLY AND WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS. EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE TO GROW THEIR OWN
FOOD AND HELP FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. EXPAND OUR EXPAND OUR PILOT PROGRAM IS A LOGICAL AND ACHIEVABLE NEXT STEP TOWARD PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GARDENS ARE NOT EXPENSIVE. THEY REPRESENT TONS OF INKIND DONATIONS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND MANY, MANY HOURS OF VOLUNTEERS TIME. WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT, GARDEN SPACE THE USUAL PROBLEMS OF SHIFTING LEADERSHIP AND FOCUS AND A LACK OF CONTINUITY.
WE NEED TO SURE THAT ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE VETTED AND TRAINED TO PROTECT STUDENTS AND STAFF. WE NEED TO DOCUMENT OUR EXPECTED SUCCESSES BY TRACKING ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER TIME. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH YOU LISTENING TO ME. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: MY NAME IS MAX MAX ENTREAGO, A STUDENT AT HOWARD W. BLAKE.
CAME HERE WITH A SPECIFIC PLAN BUT EVERY DAY SEEMS TO BE EVER-CHANGING AT BLAKE AND I HAD TO MODIFY A FEW THINGS. I WILL START WITH A BIT OF HISTORY. BLAKE IS A BLAKE IS A HISTORICALLY BLACK -- PREDOMINANTLY BLACK SCHOOL. ONE UP THE FIRST DESECOND DEGREE GO A GO A -- IS HE SECOND DEGREE GRATED SCHOOLS, GRATED SCHOOLS, STARTED OFF AS A DESECOND DEGREE GRE GATED AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOOLS. WE SEE INEQUALITIES. MAKE IS A MAGNET SCHOOL SOME OF
BEST ARTISTS, BEST ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, AND WRITERS. AND YET WE SEE SOME REALLY STRANGE DISPARITIES. I FILLED OUT SOMETHING RECENTLY, AND AS OF THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, 35% OF BLACK STUDENTS ARE MAGNET. 81% OF WHITE 81% OF WHITE STUDENTS ARE MAGNET. THIS SHOULDN'T BE FAIR. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE OUR ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL COMMUNITY SCHOOL SEEING OURSELVES NEGLECT THE MAJORITY BLACK POPULATION, THE PEOPLE WHO
FOUNDED OUR HISTORY AT HOWARD W. BLAKE. NOT JUST THAT, LESS THAN 5% OF OUR WHOLE STUDENT POPULATION IS ASIAN AND WE SEE OUR SENIOR PROM THIS YEAR FOCUS ON THIS YEAR FOCUS ON ORIENTALISM. MIDNIGHT OASIS, HARD TO REMEMBER WHEN THEY HAVE BOTH POSTERS STILL UP. THESE ARE HARMFUL IMAGERY OF ASIAN CULTURES AND HOSTED AT THE EGYPT SHRINE WHICH IS OFFICIALLY RUN WITH THE FREE MASON RUN WITH THE FREE MASON RELIGION. ONCE AGAIN BETRAYING OUR
HISTORY. I CAN'T SAY I AM THE ONLY ONE UPSET BY THIS. ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, A LARGE PORTION OF STUDENTS AT BLAKE FEEL WHOLE. DESPITE OUR TALKS WITH SCHOOL STAFF, WE SEE IMAGERY OF MAGIC LAMPS AND DESERT SANDS AGAIN RATED BY AI RATED BY AI WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL POINT. OUR SCHOOL IS USING AI IMAGERY
NOWADAYS, THE SAME TIME, OUR SCHOOL IS CUTTING OUR ART PROGRAM. OUR WRITINGS PROGRAM. OUR FEEDER OUR FEEDER PROGRAMS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE FACING TEN TEACHER CUTS AT BLAKE, SOME OF WHICH ARE IN OUR ART DEPARTMENT. I AM BEING I AM BEING NEGLECTED. RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL. 20-MINUTE WALK AND I SAID WHAT THE OTHER STUDENTS HAVE BEEN BEGGING ANYONE TO BEGGING ANYONE TO LISTEN TO. WE ARE BEING NEGLECTED. STUDENTS AT BLAKE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED ATTENTION. WE NEED FUNDING. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE US.
DO NOT ABANDON US AND PLEASE HELP SHOW NOT ONLY BLAKE BUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A WHOLE THAT WE STAND FOR EQUALITY, SAFETY, AND RACIAL SAFETY, AND RACIAL SOLIDARITY IN FLORIDA. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD EVENING, SIERRA SIZEMORE AND I GRADUATED FROM PLANT FIVE YEARS AGO AND IN MANY WAYS IT IS A MIRACLE I'M HERE TODAY. I HONESTLY WOULD HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING OUT A LOT SOONER HAD I KNOWN IT WAS AN OPTION WHEN I WAS A STUDENT WHICH IS A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEMS. THERE IS A VERY, VERY OBVIOUS LACK OF COMMUNITY OCCASION. AND I AM ONLY REALLY HERE BECAUSE I AM COMMITTED TO BE A LIFE-LONG STUDENT. AS YOU CAN SEE -- AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND I HAD A LOT OF BARRIERS GETTING HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE FOR TO YOU CONSIDER THE MAGNITUDE OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE CONCERNS WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW UP TODAY. AT LEAST 30 STUDENTS THAT MAX SPEAKS FOR.
AND I, MYSELF, HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITHIN MY COMMUNITY TALKING TO PEOPLE IN PERSON AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR UNDERSTANDING THEIR BARRIERS UNDERSTANDING THEIR BARRIERS AND THEIR CONCERNS. AND I AM HONESTLY HERE BECAUSE I REMEMBER BEING A STUDENT HANDED EMPTY PROMISES YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND I AM TERRIFIED TO SEE THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS ON THE DECLINE. OF COURSE, PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE UNDERFUNDED. BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT PARENTS ARE EVEN MORE SO UNDERFUNDED AND
UNDER CONSIDERED AND UNDERPROTECTED. TALKING TO COMMUNITIES, ALL I HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT PEOPLE WANT TO PROTECT STUDENTS. AND THESE FAMILIES DESERVE TO BE PRIORITIZED. THESE STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED AND DESERVE COMMUNICATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY NEED IMPORTANTLY, THEY NEED EXAMPLES AND LEADERSHIP TO BECOME OF THE FULLY CAPABLE FULLY CAPABLE CITIZENS THAT THEY ARE THROUGHOUT THEIR LATER LIFE. EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IS AN INVESTMENT WITH AN IMMEASURABLE RETURN RATE OF. ENCOURAGING PARENTAL
ENCOURAGING PARENTAL ENCOURAGEMENT WILL START WITH FOLLOW-THROUGH. THAT TRUST NEEDS TO BE BUILT. IT JUST DOES. BUILD THE DEEPER RELATIONS BUILD THE DEEPER RELATIONS AND HAVE A MORE COMPLETE OF HAVE A MORE COMPLETE OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHATEVER SUPPORT COMMUNITIES NEED, YOU WILL SEE A RETURN INVESTMENT. YOU WILL SEE MORE PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT. MORE DONATIONS AND YOU WILL SEE MORE VOLUNTEERS. IT WILL COME BACK. I KNOW ALL TOO WELL HOW DISCOURAGING THESE EMPTY PROMISES CAN PROMISES CAN BE AND HOW DISPARAGING IT IS TO BE ABANDONED, UNPROTECTED AND
NEGLECTED DURING THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY ASKING YOU TO HEED SUGGESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. ALL THEY WANT IT CLEAR COMMUNICATION, PROTECTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN, PROTECTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S STABILITY, PROTECTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT TRANSPORTATION AND PROTECTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. ASSAY NOT THE ANSWER. SCHOOL CLOSURES ARE NOT THE ANSWER. TEACHER CUTS ARE NOT THE ANSWER. OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT, YOU HANDS ARE TIED, BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS TERRIFYING. THIS IS THIS IS TERRIFYING. AND THE YOUTH LOOKING AROUND
TODAY ON THEIR PHONES, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM. RATHER WHAT IS NOT HAPPENING TO THEM. AND THEY WILL COME BACK HERE ONE DAY LIKE I HAVE TO ASK YOU DAY LIKE I HAVE TO ASK YOU AND SCHOOLS IN GENERAL WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE NEGLECTED. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CAN WE GET SPEAKER CAN WE GET SPEAKER 6-11 TO LINE CAN WE GET SPEAKER 6-11 TO LINE UP, PLEASE. >> >> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JOANN MAN IN CADE AND I AM PARENT OF A FOURTH GREATER AND THE AND THE PTSA PRESIDENT FOR SULPHUR SPRINGS COMMUNITY SCHOOL. FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT THE OONS COMMUNITY IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF DOING WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT RESISTING CHANGE. WE ARE ASKING TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. WE WANT ASSURANCE THAT EVERY DECISION THAT IS GOING TO BE MADE IS GOING TO HAVE THE STUDENTS' WELL
STUDENTS' WELL BEING, SAFETY AND STABILITY AT THE CENTER. COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR A PAUSE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR A PAUSE NOT TO DELAY PROCESS BUT TO MAKE SURE THE BOUNDARY PROPOSAL PLAN IS COMPLETE, SAFE AND ROOTED IN WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR KIDS. WE WERE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THIS THIS GILYARD FAMILY ZONED TO WOODSON WERE ABLE TO BRING THEIR ELEMENTARY SIBLINGS WITH ELEMENTARY SIBLINGS WITH THEM; HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENS TO HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENS TO SULPHUR SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE ARE COMPARING THEM TO WOODSON.
HAPPY TO HEAR THAT SOMEONE WILL PERSONALLY BE REACHING OUT TO FOURTH TO SIX FOURTH TO SIX THE-GRADE PARENTS TO SHOW EXACT LOOK WHAT HE IS GOING ON. RELIEVED THAT THE CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING WILL BE UTILIZED BY OUR COMMUNITY, BUSINESS PARTNER AND ADULT EDUCATION. MISS GILYARD SUGGESTED MISS GILYARD SUGGESTED MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS CARE PACKAGES TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF TRANSITIONING. WE ARE ASKING FOR EACH STUDENTS TO BE TO BE TRANSPORTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE OF ALL THE
HAZARDS IN OUR HAZARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. DISTRICT SAFETY OFFICE VERIFIES THE NEED FOR THE NEED FOR BUSING DUE TO SAFETY HAZARDS. EVEN TOY THIS OUR STUDENTS WILL BE BE WITHIN A TWO-MILE RADIUS THE SCHOOL BUS FIELD TEST WILL FIND THAT RAILROAD TRACKS NEED TO BE CROSSED. STUDS STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO STUDS STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO WALK ALONG RIVERS, WITCHES AND APPEAR STREECHT WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 456 MILES PER HOUR. NOT TO MENTION THE MED FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY. YES, WE HAVE NEAR ABDUCTION YES, WE HAVE NEAR ABDUCTION
INSTANCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING A CONTACT NAME SO THE PUBLIC CAN GET UPDATE ON TRAFFIC. WE STILL HAVE LOOMING WE STILL HAVE LOOMING ISSUES. IF OUR SCHOOL AVERAGES 20 KIDS PER CLASS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THAT MEANS THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF MORE PERSONALIZED EDUCATION. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THE ATTENTION TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. WHAT WILL CLASS SIZE LOOK LIKE WHAT WILL CLASS SIZE LOOK LIKE AT THE NEW REZONE SCHOOLS. HOW MANY MORE UNITS WILL BEAL THE CAPED TO ASSIST OUR
STUDENTS. WE ALSO WANT TO ESTABLISH A WE ALSO WANT TO ESTABLISH A TRANSITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT INITIATIVE, COMPROMISE OF OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING TEACHERS, PARENTS TO HELP FACILITATE A HEALTHY TRANSITION. AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR A PAUSE. NOT TO DELAY PROGRESS, BUT TO MAKE SURE A PLAN IS COMPLETE, SAFE ROOTED IN WHAT IS BEST FOR THE KIDS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT NEXT SPEAKER.
[ APPLAUSE ] . >> I AM >> I AM RACHEL, I AM A PARENT. I ATTENDED A MEETING WITH YOUR PIZZO TEACHER THIS WEEKEND. I NEVER SEEN TEACHERS TAKE TIME OUT OVER THEIR WEEKEND AND SHOW SUCH INCREDIBLE DETERMINATION FOR THEIR STUDENTS, AND I ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM AT LEAST TIME TO -- AT LEAST REQUEST THAT TO -- AT LEAST REQUEST THAT USF. GIVE THEM SOME TIME. THEY DESERVE THE SEAT AT THE TABLE.
I SUPPORT THE MOVE TO MOVE TO I SUPPORT THE MOVE TO MOVE TO ADAMS TO PEOPLE PIZZO FAMILIES. IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE THEM, MOVE THEM TOED A DAMS. I KNOW VERY WELL WITH A MOM WHO HAS KIDS WITH IEPs AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO STAY CONSISTENT AND KEEP YOUR TEAMS. I ENSURE THAT MY KID IS AT ESY. PIZZO STUDENTS CANNOT STAY AT THANK THEIR SCHOOL, OPEN ADAMS TO MAKE CONSISTENCY FOR THOSE STUDENTS. I THINK IT IS A SHAME TO CLOSE PIZZO BECAUSE NO PROGRAM THAT IS
PIPELINE FROM PIPELINE FROM USF COLLEGE OF TEACHING. THIS WOULD BE A GREAT LOSS ANDED A VO THE CAPE FOR MORE TIMES TO SAVE THIS PROGRAM AND THE SCHOOL. I WOULD HATE FOR THEM TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT OUR IF A.LY HAS. I TALKED OF THE ISSUE WITH SUMMER PROGRAMMING. GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER OF ESY. I ENTER IF THEY ARE US HAVE. LAST YEAR, WE WERE PLACED AT A SCHOOL FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME. THE THE PREVIOUS YEAR MY YOUNGEST KID WANT ABLE TO BUS WITH GRADY
WITH HIS TIME-SENSE TESTIFY MED CHA IGS. DESPITE PAYING TO HOST I CAN'T HAVE THEM DUE TO THEIR FATHER BEING SENT ON A LAST-MINUTE DEPLOYMENT. THERE ARE NO WILLINGNESS TO FIX THEM BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK GOOD INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO GOOD. YOUR MONTH OF THE MILITARY PROCLAMATION EVERY APRIL IS EMPTY EMPTY WORDS. EVEN SIMPLEST ACTION LIKE LISTENING TO PARENTS WHEN THEY SPEAK OR CALLING US BACK IS NOT DONE. MILITARY FAMILY JUST TALKING POINTS.
IT IS ONLY SAID TO LOOK GOOD AND CLIMB HIGHER IN CLIMB HIGHER IN POLITICAL OFFICE. WHEN LEAVE HERE FOR A HIGHER POSSESSION IN OFFICE, YOU LEAVE WITH ALL OF THESE UNFIXED PROBLEMS FOR US TO DEAL WITH. PARENTS OF MILITARY CHILDREN CAN COUNT ON YOU TO LISTEN TO US, TO DEAL WITH OUR UNIQUE SUMMER PROGRAMMING ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN DO NOT END UP IN SCHOOL WITH TEACHERS THAT PERFORM ALARM TIK TOK PERFORM ALARM TIK TOK FROM DISTRICT 2 CLASSROOMS. YOU NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I WISH YOU WOULD SUB CITY OPPORTUNITY EMPTY WORDS TO ACTION AND TO THE MILITARY
CHILDREN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE. MY KIDS BETTER NOT END UP IN A SCHOOL WITH THAT TEACHER THERE ARE SUMMER. IT IS NOT OKAY. YOU HAVE YOU A DEW POINTY AND A THE CHILDREN FROM TEACHERS LIKE THAT WHO WERE REPORTED BY PARENTS. IF YOU WERE NOT GOING TO PROTECT ALL THE KIDS, AT LEAST PROTECT MINE. >>Karen Perez: NEXT >>Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS MORGAN MONEY AND MY NAME IS MORGAN MONEY AND I AM A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS.
MALALA ONCE SAID ONE CHILD, ONE TEACHER, WITH UNBOOK, AND ONE PEN CAN CHANGE WORLD. THIS IDEA IS NOT JUST THIS IDEA IS NOT JUST, IT IS SOMETHING THAT PIZZO BELIEVES. PIZZO IMPACTS US INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL DIRECTLY BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY. UP SAW THIS ON MARCH 25 WHEN WE CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT SOMETHING IMPORTANT US TO AND THE FUTURES OF OUR NEXT GENERATION. AS A SCHOOL BOARD WE TRUSTED TO PROTECT OUR FUTURES AND HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND, I HOPE THAT YOU REMEMBER THE WORD OF OF MULALA AND THE IMPACT FOR
STUDENT NOT ONLY IN OUR PIZZO FAMILY AND IDEOLOGY OF STUDENT AROUND THE DISTRICT. HELEN KELLER SAID JUST ONE, WE CAN DO LITTLE AND TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH. IF ONE KILLED AND ONE BOOK CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. HUNDREDS OF KIDS AND HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS AND PEN EXAMINE CHANGE THE WORLD. I AM A STUDENT AT THE BAR LOW COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL. I NO LONGER GO TO PIZZO, I WALK ALONGSIDE MY MOTHER, ALONGSIDE MY MOTHER, SISTER AND
MY BEST FRIENDS THAT BECAME MY FAMILY. PIZZO CLASS OF 2025 PIZZO CLASS OF 2025 VALEDICTORIAN AND SHARE A PIECE OF MY OF MY SPEECH. THERE WERE MOMENTS I WAS SCARED. TIMES I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I WAS LUCKY. SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO DID BELIEVE IN ME AND MY POTENTIAL ON EVEN MY WORSE DAYS. NOT ONLY PREPARE ME FOR HIGH SCHOOL BUT PUSH MY DREAMS OF BEING A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT ACHIEVABLE. POSTPONE THE VOTE TO KEEP HOUR POSTPONE THE VOTE TO KEEP HOUR
PIZZO FAMILY TOGETHER IN ONE LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON ALREADY CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, SUE AND BOARD MEMBERS, SUE CALIGARE, TWO CHILDREN TWO CHILDREN THAT GO TO DOBY LOLL IN THE APOLLO BEACH AREA. WANT TO CONVERT INTO A K-8 WANT TO CONVERT INTO A K-8 SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR TIME
BUT TO ENGAGE BUT TO ENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAD WE HAD MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AND HEAR OUR CONCERNS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS EFFORT. TODAY, WE WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS EVERY DECISION IN FRONT OF YOU, FUNDING FRONT OF YOU, FUNDING. PROPOSED HALF-CENT SALES TAX TO ADDRESS OPPORTUNITY, GROWTH AND THE NEED OF OUR SCHOOL THE NEED OF OUR SCHOOL THAT ARE FINANCIAL AND SUSTAINABLE. WE SUPPORT THAT.
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, WITHOUT FUND, EVEN THE STRONGEST PROPOSALS CAN'T MOVE FORWARD PROPOSALS CAN'T MOVE FORWARD. WE TONIGHT WANT TO LOSE MOMENTUM. OUR COMMUNITY HAS WORKED HARD TO BRING FORWARD A THOUGHTFUL, WELL-RESEARCHED PROPOSAL. WE GATHERED DATA, COLLABORATED AND SHOWED UP CONSISTENTLY. AND WE HAVE DONE SO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OLUTION FOR BOTH FUTURE AND CURRENT STUDENTS. WE UNDERSTAND WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT ALARM
DUNK. WE UNDERSTAND REAL CONCERNS. FINANCIAL IMLIKESES, LOGISTICAL WITH EXPANDING WITH EXPANDING CAMPUS AND NEED TO HAVE PRIORITIES ACROSS DISTRICT. WE HAVE BEEN WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR DATA IS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR DATA IS STRONG OUR CASE IS COMPELLING AND YOU ARE OPEN TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. THAT MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO TODAY, OUR MESSAGE IS THIS. AS YOU CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF FUNDING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT MAY CREATE, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR INITIATIVE AS PART OF
AS PART OF THAT LONG-TERM VISION BECAUSE IF THIS FUNDING IS APPROVED BY VOTERS, THE POTENTIAL TO TURN CONVERSATIONS INTO ACTION AND WE WANT TO BE READY FOR THAT MOMENT. WE WILL NOT GO WE WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE. WE ARE COMMITTED AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH TO YOU FIND A SOLUTION THAT MAKES SENSE FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS AN OUR DISTRICT AS A WHOLE. OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE THE WORK. WE BELIEVE IN THE SOLUTION. AND WHEN THE PATH FORWARD OTHERS, WE WILL READY TO WALK WITH YOU. THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER AND CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 11-15 -- OR 12-15 TO LINE UP PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS LAURA GARCIA. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF A CONCERNED PARENT WHO SHARES THE SAME GOAL AS MANY OF THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, SUPPORTED AND GIVEN THE BEST EDUCATIONAL BEST EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT TO SUCK RECEIVED. IT READS AS FOLLOWS: "DEAR MEMBERS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, I AM WRITING TO
AM WRITING TO RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO TURN INTO A YOU TO TURN INTO A K-8 CAM US. STUDENT SAFETY, QUALITY STUDENT SAFETY, QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND LOGISTICAL EDUCATION AND LOGISTICAL OF THE CURRENT ASSIGNMENT TO CURRENT ASSIGNMENT TO EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. FIRST AND FOREMOST, SAFETY IS A CONCERN. MANY STUDENTS MOST MANY STUDENTS MOST CROSS AND TRAVEL ACROSS BIG BEND ROAD OF HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THROUGH TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, LIMITED SAFE, AND INCONSISTENT DRIVER AWARENESS RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AT THE PRIMARY
CROSSING POINT. YOUNG ADOLESCENTS, THERE ARE WILL HAVE URN NECESSARY IRS TAX WILL HAVE THEM REMAIN AT DOBY IN A K-8 SETTING. IN ADDITION TO SAFETY, GROWING CONCERNS OF THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AT ICE BE EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. A K-8 MODEL AT DOBY REASON CONTINUITY WITH LEARNING, STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF AND A MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENT DURING THE KRILL CAL MIDDLE SCHOOL JEERS. RESEARCH AND EXAMPLES SHOW K-8
LEAD TO IMPROVED ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. OF REDUCE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES AND INCREASE STUDENT CONFIDENCE. KEEPING IN A SMOOTH AND SMORE I HAVE IT SET ASKING EASE INTO HAVE IT SET ASKING EASE INTO ADOLESCENCE AND FOSTER SUCCESS. MANY FAMILIES SUPPORT MANY FAMILIES SUPPORT THIS CHANGE EXPANDING CHANGE EXPANDING DOBY CHANGE EXPANDING DOBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND A SAFER MORE EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.
I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO EVALUATE THIS PROPOSAL CAREFUL AND ENGAGE WITH FAMILIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND URGENCY AND SUPPORT BEHIND IT. WE SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING OUR CHILDREN FIRST. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS OF EXPLORING THIS AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR COMMUNION FOR A STRONGER FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE, KATHERINE WILLIAMS, COVINGTON PARK PARENTS. IN CLOSING, ISSUING OUR CHILDREN'S
CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND PROVIDING A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO SUCCEED. WE CONTINUE AROUND PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PUNT OUR STUDENTS FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME A THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME A CONSIDERATION. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERREASON SUPERINTENDENT, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MY NAME IS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MY NAME IS JACQUELINE LEAKS, A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR THE TUNE TO SPEAK TODAY ON AN ISSUE THAT WEATHER SHAKE NOT ONLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOL BUT THE DAILY LIVED
EXPERIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. YOU QR THE YOU QR THE PROPOSED FROM SULPHUR SPRINGS FROM SPRINGS FROM PRE-KHORN 8 AS AN ALUMNI AND ENGAGE STAKES HOLDERS. THREE AREAS THAT I ASK THAT YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR DECISION. I WANT TO AFFIRM THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE INTEND BEHIND THE EXEMPT. ADDRESSING DECLINING ADDRESSING DECLINING ENROLLMENT. IMPROVING OPERATIONAL IMPROVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND ELSE IN AND RESPONSIBLE GOALS. HOW WE MOVE FORWARD MATTERS JUST AS MUCH
AS MUCH AS WHY. THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS ROOMED IN THREE PRINCIPLES, COMMUNITY VOLES, STUDENT SAFETY AND LONG-TERM STABILITY. COMMUNITY VOICE MUST BE A DRIVING FORCE. RESIDENTS IN SULFIDE RESIDENTS IN SULFIDE ARE RESIDENTS IN SULFIDE ARE -- SULPHUR SPRINGS ARE NOT ONLY STAKES HOLDER. THEY ARE CHANGE MAKERS. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO AN ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH ENGAGEMENT WITH TRANSPARENCY AND CLEAR FEEDBACK THAT PROVES TO RESIDENTS HOW THEIR INPUT IS
SHAPING OUTCOMES WHEN PEOPLE FEEL HEARD, TRANSITIONS GOODBYE COLLABORATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE AND DISRUPTIVE. SECOND AND MOST QUICKLY, STUDENTS SAFELY WHEN IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION AND WALKABILITY. CONVERTING A K-8 SCHOOL TO K-5 WHICH MEANS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH MEANS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUD LENTS HAVE TO TRAVEL FARTHER TO TWO PROPOSED MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE MUST BE HONEST WHAT THAT MEANS ON THE GROUND. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WALKING TO SCHOOL A
SCHOOL A SIMPLE AND SAFE OPTION. CROSSING HIGH-VALUED CORRIDORS. WALKING WITH AREAS WITH INCONSISTENT SIDEWALKS, INFRASTRUCTURE. WATCH GATING FACES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE REAL AN PRESENT AND WORKING FAMILIES MAY MEAN CHILDREN WALKING ALONE UNSUPERVISED WITHOUT OTHER ALTERNATIVES. THIRD, WE MUST COMMIT TO A LONG-TERM STABILITY. STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SHOULD NOT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY ADJUSTING TO SHIFTING SYSTEMS. ANY
ANY RERESTRUCTURING PLAN A ANY RERESTRUCTURING PLAN A MULTIYEAR COMMIT WITH BUILT-IN EVALUE CHECKPOINTS. SECURITY BUILDS TRUST AND TRUST BUILDS STRONG SCHOOLS. THIS DECISION IS BIGGER THAN A BUILDING AND A BUDGET. IT IS ABOUT IT IS ABOUT ACCESS, EQUITY AND DAY TO DAY OF OUR CHILDREN. YES CHECK BE SUFFICIENT AND RESPOND TO ENROLLMENT IN ACADEMIC TRENDS. NO CHILD IS PUT AT RISK SIMPLY TO TRY TO -- SIMPLY BY JUST TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL. LET'S MOVE FORWARD, BUT LET'S DO
IT THOUGHTFULLY, TRANSPAR REASONABLY AND WITH THE FULL RATE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FAMILY WE SERVE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE. PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GIANI HUNT. TODAY I'M HERE AS A COLLABORATOR. HOPEFULLY AS A PARTNER TO THE BOARD, TO THE TSUNAMI, TO THE CABINET AND TO THE CABINET AND TO THE STAFF.
AND TO A DEDICATED COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. SOMEBODY WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEND SOME TIME GETTING TO KNOW THE PIZZO FAMILY AND THE SULPHUR SPRINGS FAMILY. I AM NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THEM. THEY ARE HERE. THEY SHOWED UP. THEY ARE SELF-ADVOCATING AND EXACTLY HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. I AM GOING TO REITERATE WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR CLEARLY AND RESPECTFULLY. THEY ARE ASKING FOR A PAUSE. THEY ARE ASKING FOR A DEDICATED WORKSHOP OR SOME SPACE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE -- THAT THEIR STUDENTS HAVE -- HAVE BEEN THOUGHT OF, RIGHT.
THAT THEIR SAFETY HAS BEEN THOUGHT OF. THAT THAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN THOUGHT HAS BEEN THOUGHT OF. SULPHUR SPRINGS COMMUNITY. WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS THAT TRANSPORTATION ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED. FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED. FOR THOSE HAZARDOUS WALKING PATHS THAT WE HAVE WALKED WITH TOGGED ALONGSIDE WITH THE COMMUNITY. FOR THOSE ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED. THE PIZZO FAMILY, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT THEIR FAMILY, THEIR STUDENTS REMAIN FORGET. AND AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, HE CAN TELL YOU IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE
COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THEY ARE SEEN, THAT THEY ARE HEARD, THAT THEY ARE THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT THEY ARE, THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS OF THEIR STUDENT AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. REALITY IS RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A GREATER THREAT. YOU ARE NOT THE ENEMY. COMMUNITY IS NOT THE ENEMY. THE FAMILIES ARE NOT THE ENEMY. THERE IS A MUCH GREATER ENEMY COMING DOWN ON ALL YOU HAVE US. COMING DOWN ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COMING DOWN OUR AND ANY AND OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO DO THIS TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC AND WE
HAVE TO BE UNITED. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WHEN THEY SHOW UP, IT MATTERS. MATTERS MATTERS.SO COME AUGUST, COME NOVEMBER WHEN THEY ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE, THEY CAN DO SO CONFIDENTLY KNOWING THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE PLEASE. >> HI, I AM BEN PRAYER. A TEACHER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
SCHOOLS FULL TIME AT PEARCE AND NOW A STUDENT AT USF GET MY MASTER'S DEGREE. I'M HERE TO TALK OF I'M HERE TO TALK OF PIZZO I'M HERE TO TALK OF PIZZO K-8. A SCHOOL AT USF. FOR DECADES. TRAINED FUTURE TEACHERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT USF IS TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO AS SO AS A TEACHER SO AS A TEACHER AND A BULL I WAS WAS PISSED A, WHEN THEY RAISED PIZZO'S RENT FROM $60,000 TO
$600,000 A YEAR. 900% INCREASE FOR NOTHING. IT IS IT IS RIDICULOUS. I KNOW IT IS NOT Y'ALL'S FAULT. GETTING A MASTER'S IN EDUCATION. WE UNDERSTAND SCHOOLS HAVE TO CLOSE FOR BUDGETARY AND ENROLLMENT. NOT THE CASE FOR PIZZO. PURELY A PUBLIC INSTITUTION PUTTING PROFIT AND GREED PUTTING PROFIT AND GREED OVER EDUCATION AND CHILDREN. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IS WRONG. AND AS PEOPLE WORKING IN PUBLIC SERVICE WHO CARE ABOUT THE KIDS HERE WHO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER WHO SEE ALL THE SUPPORT
THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SHOWING LY HAS THIS MATTER RIGHT UP TO THEM. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO USE AN UNUSED CA AM US, UNUSED CA AM US, ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HOUSE THEM SCHOOL TO HOUSE THEM. WE HEARD FROM WHY K-8 IS SO IMPORTANT. WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION. AND YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE TODAY. THAT HAS BEEN HURT BY ANOTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTION PUTTING MONEY AND PROFIT AND PROFIT OVER THE KIDS. SO WE ASK TO YOU PUT THE KIDS
FIRST, TO PUT THIS COMMUNITY FIRST. DO WHAT USF WOULDN'T AND HELP THEM. PLEASE TAKE MORE TIME WITH THEM. BOARD SHOULD SEE THAT USF DIDN'T GET THE ENGAGEMENT FROM OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE SEE WHAT AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE. WE SEE THEY WANT TO STAY TOGETHER. PLEASE HELP PLEASE HELP THEM. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NICOLE DENNY. I AM APPEARING AS A PARENT. I DON'T HAVE A SPEECH OR ANYTHING, BUT I JUST WANT ANYTHING, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MY GRANCHILD HERE, THIS WILL BE HER THIRD SCHOOL THAT IS CLOSING. SHE IS JUST IN THE THIRD GRADE. SO SHE IS GOING TO BE GOING TO A FOURTH SCHOOL NOW. AND THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA, THEY ARE ALL CLOSING. AND THEN THE ONE THAT IS LEFT THERE, NOT REALLY UP TO PAR AS FAR AS GRADES, BUT THAT IS STILL EACH, YOU KNOW. WHY? I DON'T KNOW.
YOU HAVE ABOUT I HOPE ALL OF THIS WASN'T IN VAIN TODAY. IT DOES MEAN SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THAT -- I AM SURE DO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE PARENTS AND STUFF TOO -- KIDS. BUT WE VOTE FOR YOU FOR REASONS, AND YOU EXPECT IN THOSE REASONS TO WORK FOR YOU AT TIMES LIKE THIS. AND AND NOT JUST TO CLOSE SCHOOLS LIKE EVERYBODY SAID FOR LIKE EVERYBODY SAID FOR PROFIT. AND IT SAYS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. SHE IS GOING SHE IS GOING ON HER FOURTH SCHOOL, FOURTH GRADE. THAT IS CRAZY. GOING TO A FOURTH SCHOOL. AND GOING TO PIZZO ACTUALLY
GOVERNMENT HER GRADES BACK UP TO PAR WHERE SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG, BUT BECAUSE UP THE OTHER SCHOOLS SHE WAS IN WEREN'T UP TO PAR, HER GRADES FELL. BUT NOW BACK WITH PIZZO. LOVE OTHER TEACHERS. SCHOOL IS GREAT. STAFF OF THERE AND EVERYONE THERE. THEY CARE ABOUT CHIRP THEY CARE ABOUT CHIRP AND THE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE THERE REALLY HELP THE KIDS AND THEY SEE THE HELP THE KIDS AND THEY SEE THE LOVE THAT THEY GIVE THEM LOVE THAT THEY GIVE THEM. AND AS FAR AS MONEY OR WHATEVER THAT THE SCHOOL THAT THE SCHOOL NEEDS, THE PARENTS DON'T MIND HELPING.
SO IF ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN REALLY DO AND NOT JUST A SHOW, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS >> MY NAME IS KAILANI NICOLE ALEXANDER, AND I GO TO PIZZO. I DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT PIZZO TO CLOSE BECAUSE I LOVE PIZZO.
AND I LOVE MY TEACHERS. AND, AND, YEAH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HEY, LUIS >> HEY, LUIS RIOS. A FORMER STUFFEDENT FROM PIZZO. GRADUATED FORD YEARS AGO, AND NOW I AM A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO TALK OF THE RENT INCREASE THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
900% IS CRAZY TO ME. AND I AM GUESSING TO EVERYBODY IN HERE. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT SOME THINGS OUT. I AM IN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, AND AS WE CAN SEE, POPULATIONS ARE INCREASING. I AM IN HIGH SCHOOL. EACH YEAR THE POPULATION INCREASES AND HARD TO KEEP TRAINING OF KIDS. HARD FOR TEACHERS TO STAY SAFE WITH MORE KIDS ON WITH MORE KIDS ON CAMPUS. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE COASTING DOWN -- CLOSING DOWN A SCHOOL
DOWN -- CLOSING DOWN A SCHOOL AND ADDING TO THAT PROBLEM DONE -- IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK FOR ME. AND I AM GUESSING FOR YOU AND I AM GUESSING FOR YOU GUYS TOO. THERE ARE SO MANY THERE ARE SO MANY TEACHERS THAT GRADUATE FROM COLLEGES EACH YEAR, BUT ONLY SO MANY SCHOOLS ARE OPEN. AND NOW WE ARE TRYING AND NOW WE ARE TRYING TO CLOSE ONE DOWN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT ALL MY ALL MY TEACHERS ARE HERE. IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS AND I AM STILL SUPPORTING THEM. THESE DIFFERENT TO GO TO SCHOOL THESE DIFFERENT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND FEEL NOTICED AND TARGETED FOR YOU TO
FOR YOU TO SUCCEED, SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN ALL SCHOOLS. FEELS MILES TO FOR TEACHER TO BE THERE FOR YOU EVEN AFTER YOU GRADUATE. THEY SEE ME SUCCEED ALL THE WAY FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEY TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW RIGHT NOW. IT WOULDN'T BE FOR THEM, YOU WOULD BE STANDING UP WITH YOU GUY. I CAME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND I WENT THROUGH DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND I CAN TELL YOU GUY IT IS WASN'T THE
SAME AS ATTENDING PIZZO. THEY GAVE ME AN EXPERIENCE THAT NOT EVERYBODY CAN GET. SOME PEOPLE GOING TO SCHOOL BEING A NUMBER, BUT I FEEL THAT KIDS THAT GO THERE ATTENDS AS BEING MORE THAN A NUMBER. AND AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE SHOULDN'T CLOSE IT DOWN. AN THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I HAVE TO HAVE TO SAY. YEAH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> I AM THE INTERPRETER FOR RAFAEL. HE IS A FORMER STUDENT FROM PIZZO. AND HE GARAGE I WANTED, WHEN? 2023. [SPEAKING THROUGH INTERPRETER] >> AND HEIM HERE TO LEFT YOU KNOW ABOUT PIZZO.
ONE, IT IS WRONG TO ONE, IT IS WRONG TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL. PIZZO IS A VERY GOOD SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN TO THREE STATES AND THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND NO SCHOOL LIKE PIZZO. PIZZO IS A SCHOOL WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOURSELF. ALL OF THE TEACHERS THERE
SUPPORT YOU, AND YOU CAN REACH SUPPORT YOU, AND YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOALS. UP UNTIL TODAY, I STILL HAVE TEACHERS THAT CALL ME AND WORRY ABOUT ME AND ASK ME ABOUT ME AND ASK ME HOW I AM DOING. I HAVE A FEW TEACHERS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THEY CALL ME ONCE AND TWICE A MONTH TO ASK ME HOW AM I DOING AND IF THERE IS
ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR HIM. AND I HAVE A SMALL BROTHER WHO IS IN FIRST GRADE AND I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GO TO PIZZO AS WELL. FROM ME FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, PIZZO IS A VERY HEART, PIZZO IS A VERY GOOD SCHOOL.
WHEN I CAME HERE, I WAS SO AFRAID THAT I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL. BUT WHEN I BEGAN BUT WHEN I BEGAN TO GO TO PIZZO BUT WHEN I BEGAN TO GO TO PIZZO, AND I FEEL LIKE ONE OF THEM, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T FROM THERE, BUT I FELT LIKE I BUT I FELT LIKE I BELONGED THERE. EVEN KNOW I DID NOT KNOW THE
LANGUAGE BUT I MEANT FRIENDS THERE AND THEY HAD A GREAT IMPACT IN MY LIFE. UP UNTIL TODAY, ALL MY TEACHERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BECAUSE IF NOT BEEN FOR THEM, I WON'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY. AND THE SAME WAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD LOVE FOR OTHER PEOPLE OR OTHER OTHER PEOPLE OR OTHER STUDENTS TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY HIKE ME. BECAUSE ALL OF THEM AT THE SERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AND IT IS A SHAME THAT WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC OR OR FINANCES. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL ARE HUMAN AND SHOULD ALL ARE HUMAN AND SHOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T GET THE SAME TREATMENT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME THING IN ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS. HAND IN PIZZO, THEY WILL DEPARTMENT THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THIS IN OTHER PLACES AND OTHER STATES BUT HERE IN PIZZO, I HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: >>Karen Perez: GRACIAS.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE BEN MY NAME IS CHRISTINE BEN INEPT AND CURRENT TEACHER AT PIZZO. 33 RLD YEAR AS BEING A TEACHER. I HAVE TO TELL YOU I NEVER HAD A HOME AWAY FROM HOME LIKE I DO AT PIZZO. AS K-8 WE STAND AS ONE. NOT JUST A SCHOOL BUT WHAT WE HAVE BEGUN. LIVING, BREATHING COMMUNITY
BUILT ON TRUST, CONSISTENT TEE AND UNITY. FIRST SMALL STEPS AND FIRST SMALL STEPS AND BROAD NEW DREAMS, WE GUIDE OUR CHILDREN. STEADY HANDS AND WATCHFUL CARE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IS BUILT RIGHT HERE. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, HEAR OUR VOICES RISE. THIS IS NOT NUMBERS, THERE ARE IS LIVES. THROUGH EVERY CHANGE, PLEASE SEE IT CLEAR TOGETHER IS WHY WE IT CLEAR TOGETHER IS WHY WE SUCCEEDED RIGHT HERE. OUR TEACHERS DO FOR OUR TEACHERS DO FOR MARATHON TEACH, THEY CONNECT WITH THE ONES THAT ARE HARD TO REACH. THEY KNOW EACH NAME, EACH STRENGTH, EACH NEED.
THEY PLANT AND NURTURE EVERY SEED. WE ARE NOT DATA ON PAGE, HOSPITALS IN LINES WITHIN BUDGET STAGES, WE ARE A NETWORK TIGHTLY TIED ABOUT NO CHILD LOST AND NONE DENIED. CLOSING DOORS HAS NOT CLOSING DOORS HAS NOT JUST CHANGED BUT REARRANGES SOMETHING DEEP AND STRANGE. TAMPA BREAKS THE BONDS THAT TOOK YEARS TO GROW IN WAYS THAT SPREADSHEETS CAN NOT SHOW. IF YOU MUST ACT AND ACT WITH CARE, DO NOT DIVIDE WHAT IS BUILT AND ALREADY THERE. KEEP
KEEP STAFF AND STUDENTS KEEP STAFF AND STUDENTS SIDE BY SIDE. LET PIZZO'S EXPERT STILL SURVIVE. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HERE OUR VOICES RISE, A FEW NIGHT FRONT YOU CAN NOT TIS GUYS. DO NOT SCATTER WHAT WORKS SO WELL, THESE ARE WELL, THESE ARE STORIES THESE WALLS WALLS STILL TELL. THINK BEYOND THIS HOME'S NEED. THINK OF EVERY CHILD YOU NEED TOLEDO. ACCEPT KURT IS ACHIEVE, NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN EASILY RETRIEVE. NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN EASILY RETRIEVE, I RETRIEVE, I SAY THAT AGAIN.
AT PIZZO AT PIZZO K-8 RESTAND AS AT PIZZO K-8 RESTAND AS ONE. THIS WORK AND SUBMISSION NOT THIS WORK AND SUBMISSION NOT UNDONE. DO NOT UNDO WHAT WE BUILT FOR CARE AND WE CAN NOT REBUILD US ANYWHERE. HEAR US WHERE HEART, TO NOT TEAR THIS PLACE APART. BECAUSE WHEN YOU CHOOSE AND SHAPE US ALL. AND TOGETHER WE HAVE PIZZO, WE WILL NOT FALL. AND HISTORY WILL REMEMBER NOT YOUR VOTE BUT WHO YOU CHOSE TO STAND FOR. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MICHELLE SCHWARTZ. MEDIA SPECIALIST FOR K-8 LOWER CAMPUS. I WOULD LIKE FOR I WOULD LIKE FOR THE BOARD TO HOLD OFF OF PIZZO AND THINK OF THE OPTION THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THOUGHT ABOUT ALREADY BUT DISMISSED. AS YOU HEARD BEFORE, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY TOGETHER. REMAIN A REMAIN A K-8 AND KEEP OUR STAFFER AND STUDENTS ALL
TOGETHER. MOVING TO THE OLD ADAMS BUILDING IS A VIABLE OPTION WITH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF INVOLVED AND FOSTER AND SUCCESS WITH OUR STUDENT POPULATION. I WATCHED YOUR RECENT PODCAST AND LEARNED YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD ADDING MORE FORWARD ADDING MORE ACCELERATED FLAGS FLAGS SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS. THIS PROPOSE MOVE TO THE ADAMS BUILDING AND ADDING A BUILDING AND ADDING A PROGRAM SUMP AS A STEM MAG INEPT IS A GREAT NEXT STEP FOR -- MAGNET IS A GREAT NEXT STEP FOR A GREAT NEXT STEP FOR PIZZO.
THE LARGER SPACE WILL ALLOW PIZZO TO BE A TRUE K-8 IN SIZE AND COURSE OFFERINGS. EACH YEAR WE TURN AWAY MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAN WE CAN EXPECT DUE TO OUR SIZE. USE YOU HAVE ADAMS BUILDING WILL ALLOW FOR FURTHER GROWTH AND SUPPORT OF A SCHOOL SUPPORT OF A SCHOOL THAT IS SHOWING TREMENDOUS STUDENTS GROWTH AND SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED. A MOVE TO ADAMS WILL SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AND SHOW THEM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN AND 8th GRADE.
MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BUS RIDERS WITH SOME CAR AND DAY CARE IN THE MIX. NO WALKERS A THE PIZZO. DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CURRENT LOCATION AND ADAMS IS ONLY 5.2 MILES. SEEMS AN EASY COMMUTE AND SEEMS AN EASY COMMUTE AND MODIFICATION TO MANAGE. PLEASE SERIOUSLY KERR ALD DAMS AS AN OPTION BEFORE CLOSING US UP AND CLOSING PIZZO DOWN BECAUSE IT IS EASIER AND THEY HAVE KNOW HOW TO DO REASSIGNMENTS. IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ARE TOO VALUABLE TO COMMUNITY ARE TOO VALUABLE TO
DISSOLVE. PIZZO TEAMS OUR STUDENTS TO PROBLEM PROBLEM SOFRL ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL INVOLVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SARAH POLAND. I AM A FOURTH-GRADE I AM A FOURTH-GRADE TEACHER AT PIZZO K-8.
I OFFER YOU A I OFFER YOU A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TONIGHT. I AM I AM SPEAKING FOR I AM SPEAKING FOR THE STUDS ANSWERS WHOSE VOICES ARE LEFT OUT OF THE DECISIONS LIKE THIS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MOST EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MOST EFFECTED. I GAVE THEM APPEAR I GAVE THEM APPEAR OPTIONAL I GAVE THEM APPEAR OPTIONAL ASSIGN. THE ANSWERING A PROMPT. WHAT MAKES PIZZO SO SPECIAL. THEY DID IT WITHDRAWING OR WRITING. I HAD A STUD INCIDENT COME IN AFTER THE WEEKEND WITH A AFTER THE WEEKEND WITH A THREE-PAGE PAPER WHAT MAKES PIZZO SPECIAL AND I DID NOT TELL HER TO DO. THAT ALONE SHOULD TELL YOU
SOMETHING. WORDS I AM ABOUT TO SHARE COME DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS. STUDENTS THAT LEARN THERE, GROW THERE AND A THERE AND A SENSE HE BLUDEONING AT PIZZO. WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE OF A SCHOOL'S FUTURE, IT IS EASY TO FOCUS ON ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AND BUDGET, BUT A SCHOOL IS MORE THAN NUMBERS. STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY. STRENGTHS CES. SO ALLOW ME TO SHARE A FEW PIECES OF STUDENT WORKS. WHAT MAKES PIZZO SO SPECIAL IS
YOU KEEP MEMORY WHERE YOU -- LIKE WHEN YOU WERE IN KINDERGARTEN AND NOW ARE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WHAT MAKES PIZZO AMAZING? I HAVE BEEN IN THIS SCHOOL FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AND ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOLS I EVER HAVE BEEN AT. WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL WE LOSE. WE WIN, WE WILL REMEMBER PIZZO FOREVER. IN THE WORLD. IT SEARCHES ME NEW THINGS AND MY BEST FRIEND MAKES IT SPECIAL. KEEP PIZZO OPEN. WE LOVE PIZZO. EVERYTHING IS SPECIAL ABOUT
EVERYTHING IS SPECIAL ABOUT PIZZO MY TEACH HERS MR. PIZZO MY TEACH HERS MR. POLANDLAND AND POLANDLAND AND MISS. HE LIST. THEY ARE LIKE MY PARENTS. I GO TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE SAD. PIZZO CARES ABOUT US STUDENTS. THIS SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED. TAMPA HAS BEEN HERE TAMPA HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS. PLEASE DON'T SEPARATE US TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF THESE STUDENTS SHARE MANY OF THE EXPERIENCES AND SHARED PERSPECTIVES THAT PIZZO IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO THEM. SO TONIGHT, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE STUDENTS WHOSE VOICES I CARRY.
FOR THESE KIDS NOT JUST A SCHOOL BUT RELATIONSHIPS, SUPPORT AND THE PLACE WHERE STUDENTS STAY SAFE AND VALUED. PLEASE KEEP US TOGETHER. THESE STUD EARNS FEEL THAT PIZZO IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY TO THEM LAND STAY TOGETHER EVEN IF WE ARE NOT IN OUR ORIGINAL CAMPUS. WE HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL UNIQUE COMMUNITY AN OUR TRUE GOAL S TO MAKE SURE IT CAN STAY TOGETHER SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS ASALIO >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS ASALIO AND THIS IS MISS BOLLAND AND PROUD GRADUATES EVER THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. AND WE ARE CURRENT AND WE ARE CURRENT EDUCATORS AT PIZZO PIZZO PIZZO K-8 TAMPA STAND BEFORE YOU WITH HEAVY HEARTS. THE CLOSURE OF PIZZO HAS BEEN DEEPLY HEARTBREAK NOT ONLY A TEACHER BUT SOMEONE WHOSE JOURNEY WAS SHAPED WITHIN THIS VERY SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AS A USF GRADUATE. PIZZO WAS MORE THAN JUST A PLACEMENT SQUEAL FOR
E FOR ME. IT IS WHAT I ENDED UP TODAY. PIZZO IS NOT JUST A BUILDING BUT A PLACE WHERE FUTURE TEMP REMEMBERS TRAINED, WHERE STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS ARE NURTURED AND WHERE A STRONG SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY THRIVES. PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN USF AND PIZZO IS SOMETHING PIZZO IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY SPECIAL. ASPIRING EDUCATORS WITH REAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE BRINGING PASSIONATE DRIVEN INDIVIDUALS TO CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST. CLOSING PIZZO WILL NOT ONLY DISPLACE STUDENTS AND STAFF, BUT
IT WILL ALSO -- SORRY, EXCUSE ME, DISMANTLE A VITAL PIPELINE THAT HELPS PREACH FUTURE EDUCATORS RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AT A TIME THERE IS ALREADY A TEACHER SHORTAGE, REMOVING A TEACHER SHORTAGE, REMOVING A SCHOOL OF THAT WILL ACTIVELY DISTRIBUTES STRONG, CAPABLE TEACHERS SEEM TO BE A TOWNSHIP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. BEYOND ECONOMICS, PIZZO IS A FAMILY, FAMILY, STUDENTS RELY ON FAMILY, STUDENTS RELY ON CONSISTENCY AND CONSISTENCY AND CONNECTIONS.
RELATIONSHIPS BUILT WITHIN THESE WALL CANNOT BE REPLAYERSED. -- YOU -- YOU REPLACED. I KEN URGE YOU THAT WERE SCHOOLS LIKE PIZZO ARE NOT EASY TO REPLICATE. ONE THEY ARE GONE, THE LOSS IS PERMANENT. PLEASE FIGHT FOR THE SCHOOL JUST AS WE FIGHT FOR THE STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS RHONDA >> HI, MY NAME IS RHONDA DONOVAN. I AM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ART I AM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ART TEACHER AT PIZZO. PRIOR TO MOVING THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I WAS AT A VARIETY OF UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES. SEVEN YEARS PRIOR, I WAS A TEACHER AT TEACHER AT USF WHERE I RECEIVED MY TERMINAL DEGREE. I AM A BIG FAN OF USF I AM A BIG FAN OF USF AND I UNDERSTAND THAT UNDERSTAND THAT OUR GOALS AND THEIR GOALS
THEIR GOALS DON'T ALIGN. I GET THAT. BUT SOMETHING WE CAN DO OF THIS PIZZO SITUATION. I PREPARED A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ. OUR SCHOOL CULTURE HAS BEEN CULTIVATED OVER YEARS TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. PARENTS THANK US REGULARLY FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CHILD'S LIVES FOR CHILD'S LIVES FOR ENGAGING THEIR INTEREST AND MOTIVATING THEM TO REACH FARTHER. IN MY CAPACITY AS MIDDLE SCHOOL ART TEACHER, I WAS HIRED TO DESIGN AND COMMUNICATE
DESIGN AND COMMUNICATE CURRICULUM TO SHOW STUDENTS HOW TO TAP INTO THEIR TO TAP INTO THEIR CREATIVE POTENTIAL. IS IT HAS ALSO-A WAY OF DEMONSTRATING HOW CREATIVITY CAN EITHER BE A BEAUTIFUL AIRPORTWORK OR USED TO ACTIVATE THE PART OF THEIR BRAIN WHERE OPPONENT IS OPPONENT IS CHANGED A OF INVENTIONS ARE BORN. AND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH OUR STUDENTS FLOURISH WITH THE TIME AND ATTENTION WE CAN PROVIDE AT PIZZO. THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS WE THE RELATIONSHIPS WE NURTURED AS
FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF WORKING TOGETHER. TO BUILD TO BUILD STUFFEDENTS UP AND BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE, THEY ACHIEVE SUCCESS. EACH YEAR, THERE IS A STEADY PROGRESSION TOWARD HIGHER LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT, TO DEVELOP POSITIVE HABITS AND WHEN POSITIVE HABITS AND WHEN STUDENTS EXPERIENCE GOOD OUTCOMES, THEIR CONFIDENCE OUTCOMES, THEIR CONFIDENCE INCREASES. WHEN THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEY MAKE GOOD CHOICES. IF YOU FIND A WAY TO KEEP PIZZO 8 TOGETHER, YOU WILL BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AND SHOW THESE FAMILIES HOW MUCH YOU CARE. I SUPPORT I SUPPORT UTILIZING THE ADAMS BUILDING, WHICH WON'T HAVE VACANT SPACE FOR LONG. EACH YEAR WE DO TURN AWAY EACH YEAR WE DO TURN AWAY MANY STUDENTS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SIDE. AND AS YOU AND AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE CURRENTLY A CHOICE SCHOOL. I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF MAG INEPT I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF MAG INEPT CONVERSION AND OTHER IDEAS MENTIONED TONIGHT. AND IF YOU -- IF WE ARE GRANTED A WARMER SPACE, WE WILL GROW OUR POPULATION AND ALSO BECOME A NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT FOR
NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT FOR NEARBY HIGH SCHOOLS. OUR PROXIMITY TO IT THE COLLEGE OUR PROXIMITY TO IT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT USF WAS STABLED AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR TEACHERS. BUT ADAMS' LOCATION IS STILL CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THOSE CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THOSE INTERNSHIPS TO CONTINUE. STUDENTS ENJOY GETTING TO KNOW THESE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF. AND THE T.A.s HAVE TIME TO WORK ON, A JAWS GRADE LEVELS BEFORE GRADUATION. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: NEXT >>Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> HI, CARSON VOSSER. A THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT PIZZO K-8. I WANT TO SPEAK OF MY FAITH IN THIS SCHOOL. AS A PREVIOUS INTERN AND MY MENTOR TEACHER IS ACTUALLY SITTING IN ROOM WITH ME, MISS MONEY AND HER MONEY AND HER DAUGHTER SPOKE AS WELL. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT CONSISTENCY IS NOT ONLY FOR INTERNS BUT ALSO FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. I NOW HOST MY OWN INTERNS AND GUIDE THEM INTO THEIR SELF-DISCOVERY OF TEACHING AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FOUR
YEARS. I FEEL I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY STAY TOGETHER. DISTRICT COACHES PROMOTE DISTRICT COACHES PROMOTE CONTINUOUS FOCUS ON TEACHER EFFICACY. WHAT A BETTER WAY TO DESTROY THAT BY BREAKING APART A COMMUNITY. I AM SURE MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT COME FROM A BROKEN HOME OR HAVE MOVED SCHOOLS MANY TIMES IN THEIR LIVES DO YOU HAVE TO ONE. I KNOW I WAS A KID THAT EXPERIENCED THIS, EXPERIENCED THIS, AROUND IT WAS TRAUMATIZING TO SAY LEAST. SOME OF US HAVE WORKED AT THIS SCHOOL FOR 20-PLUS YEARS.
I, MYSELF, HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED SO MUCH SUPPORT, NORTHWEST ONLY AS A GROWING TEACHER CONTENT TWICE AND PERSONALLY, BUT MY SCHOOL FAMILY HAVE ALWAYS SCHOOL FAMILY HAVE ALWAYS NEVER BE NEVER BE ABLE TO REPAY. DURING HARLDZ TIMES AND MY OWN PERSONAL LIFE, MY TEAM HAS SHOWED UP IN WAYS THAT CAN'T BE REPLACED. I FEEL AT HOME HERE. AND I KNOW MY STUDENTS DO TOO. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE THIS. THIS IS ECONOMIC EVICTION.
AND WE KNOW THE BOARD IS NOT THE ONE DOING THIS. BUT WE HOPE FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO MOVE OUR FAMILY TOGETHER AS A UNIT. AND PLEASE REMIND OUR KIDS THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST A DOLLAR SIGN. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LIZ.
I HAVE BEEN TEACHING FOR 30 YEARS. AND I WAS AND I WAS INVITED TO COME TO TEACH -- I DON'T KNOW, I PREPARED A SPEECH. I GOVERNMENT A NOTE FROM MY STUDENTS, BUT I AM JUST GOING TO SAY IT. I WAS INVITED TO COME TO TEACH AT PIZZO BY MR. AT PIZZO BY MR. OVETTE WILSON. OUR TEAM HAD SCORED THE HIGHEST SCORES IN -- IN THE SCHOOL AT THE TIME. WHEN I CAME TO PIZZO, I HAD SOME RESERVATIONS.
HE SAID, A VALDEZ, JUST DO YOUR THING. BUT I WAS SCARED TO BUT I WAS SCARED TO GO TO A NEW PLACE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU FIT IN. AUTOMATICALLY IT WAS LIKE EVERY WALK OF LIFE. IT WAS -- I AM A IT WAS -- I AM A NEW YORKER BY NATURE. IT IS EVERY -- EVERY WALK OF LIFE. HUGGING YOU. TRYING OUT FOR A DEGREE. UPPING THEIR UPPING THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. AND I TRULY, TRULY FELT AND I TRULY, TRULY FELT LIKE I
WAS READY TO BE WAS READY TO BE REINCAR NATED AS TEACHER. WHEN YOU HAVE A VETERAN TEACHER, WE -- YOU KNOW, WE GET A LITTLE TESTY ABOUT CHANGE, BUT THE -- BUT THE COACHES THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN OUR THEN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, WHO IS NOW OUR PRINCIPAL, SHE WOULD COME IN AND SHELLS LIKE, NO, NO, NO, LET ME SHOW YOU HOW -- TRY THIS. LET'S CO-TEACH. THAT IS GREATEST FEELING.
BECAUSE YOU LET DOWN YOUR GUARD. AND THEN AND THEN YOU BECOME A BETTER PERSON FOR IT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT WITH OUR POPULATION. THEY COME IN WITH THEIR WOUNDS. THEY COME IN WITH EVERYTHING THAT HURTS THEM AT HOME, WHATEVER SITUATION THAT IS, WHETHER THEY ARE HUNGRY. I KNEELED I KNEELED HELP. AND WE STEP UP TO THE PLATE. WE FIELD THEM. I BRING SNEAKERS. WE GIVE THEM UNDERWEAR. WE GIVE THEM CLOTHES. YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T CARE IF
IT COMES OUT OF MY PAYCHECK. YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THAT KID IS GOING TO SHOW UP THE NEXT DAY. AND I AM AND I AM GOING TO DELIVER THE AND I AM GOING TO DELIVER THE GRADES THAT EVERYBODY HERE WANTS. OKAY. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS ALYSSA MY NAME IS ALYSSA HEFARB AND TEACHER AT PIZZO K-8 LOW KITED ON THE USF CAMPUS. HEIM HERE TO EXTEND THE VOTE ON PIZZO'S'S CLOSURE TO WORK WITH WITH USF TO WITH USF TO WERE SERVE THIS VITAL SCHOOL AND PARTNERSHIP. SUPER NERVOUS EVEN THOUGH I TEACH ALL THE TIME. IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. PIZZO CAN- PIZZO CAN- HAS BEEN PILLAR
SUPPORTING SUPPORTING USF STUDENTS AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY RUN DEEP. HOST INTERNS AND STUDENT TEACHERS FROM TEACHERS FROM USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEERS FROM EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEERS FROM TUTOR ASSOCIATIONS. PIZZO PROVIDES REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES THAT HELP GENERATE THE NEXT GENERATION THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHERS. I AM LIVING I AM LIVING PART OF THIS. I GARAGE I WANTED IN 2018. CONTINUED MY INTERNSHIP AND RETURNED TO PEZZO AS A FULL-TIME
EDUCATOR EDUCATOR THAT DECISION CHANGE MOO LIFE. TEACHING MATTERS. CONNECTION MATTERS. NOW I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF MENTORING INTERNS AND MENTORING INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS MANY ARE SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS BECAUSE THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AT PIZZO. AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER BUILT RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS THAT EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. AS MANY OF OUR FELLOW TEACHER HAVE, I HAVE BEEN EN VINE HAVE, I HAVE BEEN EN VINE $TO SWEEPS 16stS AND HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION. NOT JUST ACADEMIC MILESTONES BUT LIFE MILESTONES. IMPACT THAT PIZZO HAS. WE DON'T JUST TEACH TS WE CHANGE THEIR LIVES. IT REMOVES IT REMOVES MEANINGFUL SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERS AND FOR FUTURE EDGE CAREFULERS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT DESTABILIZES ITS STUDENTS WHO RELY ON RELATIONSHIP, MENTORSHIP AND CONSISTENCY WE AND CONSISTENCY WE PROVIDE. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO STOP PROCESS FOREVER.
WE ARE ASKING FOR TIME TO GO WITH WITH USF LEADERSHIP, EXPLORE RELATIONSHIPS AND WHETHER STAYING IN SAME LOCATION OR A NEW HOME THAT ALLOW THIS PARTNERSHIP TO CONTINUE. THOUGHTSFUL CONSIDERATION AND NOT A RUSHED TIMELINE. PIZZO K-8 ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. OUR STUDENT AND TEACHERS ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. HE CAN TENDS THE VOTE AND LET US FIND A SOLUTION THAT HEAVENS EVERYONE INVOLVED. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NECK SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO LOW, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. EDUCATION IS NOT A PREPARATION FOR LIFE, EDUCATION IS A LIFE ITSELF. A KWOECHT FROM JOHN DOBY. THIS SHOWS THE IMPORTANT OF EDUCATION AS IT LEADS TO THE FUTURE OF SCHOLARS AND THEIR LIVES. I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERING AS YOU VOTE FOR FUTURE OF ANTHONY PIZZO K-8 AND ITS STUDENTS. HEIM MADDOX HEIM MADDOX MEYIA HEIM MADDOX MEYIA A PIZZO FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 8th GRADE AND HERE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT. THE REASON FOR MY PRESENCE OF THOSE SITTING IN THESE SEATS AND WAITING FOR YOUR VERDICT.
I AM DEEPLY EMOTIONAL OF OF THE PIZZO K-8 AND SEPARATION OF THE STUDENTS. THEY CAN ALL BE AFFECTED BY THIS -- BY WHAT YOU DECIDE. TYING BACK TO THE QUOTE IN THE BEGINNING, EDUCATION SHAPES FUTURE OF NOT ONLY THE FUTURE OF THIS SCHOOL, BUT ALSO SCHOLAR THIS SCHOOL, BUT ALSO SCHOLAR WHO WILL NEVER FORGET TAKE WHO WILL NEVER FORGET TAKE FROM SOMEONE THEY LOVE. ARE ONES TO REPLACE US AN YOUR CHOICE TODAY CAN IMPACT THAT DRASTICALLY. MY ONLY WISH THAT YOU PUT MY ONLY WISH THAT YOU PUT YOUR SHE HAVE IN THOSE SHOES. AS A SCHOOL BOARD, I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR BEST
HAVE YOUR BEST INTENTIONS IN MIND FOR THE FORESEEABLE MIND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE YOU HAVE OUR SCHOOL. EVEN IF WE ARE MOVED WITH WE WILL WORK OUT OF THE SOLUTION. PIZZO IS MORE THAN A BUILDING, IT IS A FAMILY. IF WE CAN STICK TOGETHER, I WILL. A WHOLEHAVED SPOTLIGHT ON MISS MISS CAMELO WHO PUSHED US AN IS THAT RIGHTED THIS WHOLE ENTIRE FIGHT FOR US TO EVEN BE HERE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI, I AM ANGELA >> HI, I AM ANGELA CAMELO. MADDOX IS AMAZING AND YOU CAN SEE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HERE. I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING THE EMOTIONS, THE TEARS, AND HEALTHNESS AND CRYING AND THE PRIDE AND TEAMWORK AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE. I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO JUST SINCE WE ALL MET WITH YOU LAST MONTH. IF FEELS LIKE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE TOUCH OR SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS DILEMMA THAT WE HAVE IS HERE AND SUPPORTING US TODAY IN ASKING FOR A PAUSE IN JUST
KINDS OF A MOMENT-TO-GATH AND GAIN MORE INFORMATION. I AM GO TO GO I AM GO TO GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT. SOMETIMES WHEN WE COME INTO THESE MEETINGS, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD. I HAVE HEARD THIS CHARTER RENEWS. THIS CHARTER RENEW. THIS CHARTER GETS A CONTRACT. YOU GET A CONTRACT. GET ANTICS TENSION CONTRACT. ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WHAT WE ARE ASKING TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE IS NOT U BEH-OH, BUT BEH-OH, BUT PIZZO, YOU HAVE TO CLOSE
CLOSE SULPHUR SPRINGS. MADISON, YOU ARE MOVING. IF 11 AND 13-YEAR-OLD WEREN'T GOING TO THE SCHOOL, IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT FEELS LIKE IT IS POSING A PROBLEM. AND WE ARE ASKING TO REGAPTER AND WE ARE ASKING TO REGAPTER AND COME TOGETHER AND -- REGAPTER AND COME TOGETHER TO CHANGE THAT. MR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH EVERYBODY AND MAKING PIECES CONNECT. MARCH 12 AT THE MARCH 12 AT THE TCTV MEETING, YOU SHARED WITH YOU SHARED WITH ME THAT YOU WILL COME BACK TO COMMUNITY AN ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO
THAT YET AND SO THAT YET AND SO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON AND ASK YOU TO IMPLORE THE BOARD TO DO A PAUSE. GIVE US A MONTH AND LET'S REGATHER. YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE DONE RIGHT NOW. IMAGINE WHEN WE FINALLY GET THAT LITTLE NICHE INTO USF AND JUST INTEREST THAT CONVERSATION WITH DR. DR. LIMYAN AND WHAT GUIDANCE TO NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT AN WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO WILL BE WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO WILL BE VERY HELPFUL. WITH THAT, I ALSO WANT TO MENTION MR. WILSON'S MESSAGE ON
10/11/24. HE ASKED US THAT NIGHT, PLEASE THANK CUSTODIAL STAFF TOMORROW. WE SERVED 1400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEFORE, AFTER AND DURING HURRICANE. UNTIL SCHOOL DISTRICT MUCH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, USF, CITY OF TAMPA, ONE HAS A PLAN TO FIGURE OUT OF THE WHAT TO DO WITH 14,000 MEMBERS, THE NEXT NATURAL DISASTER FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES, I THINK WE NEED TO PAUSE AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT IN PLACE. EFFICIENCY IS WONDERFUL AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE ITS NO HURTING THE VERY PEOPLE IT IS TO PROTECT. SULPHUR SPRINGS, NEW TAMPA, TAMPA, TEMPLE TERRACE, MORTGAGE. ALL OF THESE MARGINALIZE COMMUNION ARE HERE BEHIND YOU ASKING FOR HELP AND ASKING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO EVERY ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO HAVE MAKE SURE HAVE MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING AND WE HAVE ONE MORE FOR YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
I KNOW EVERYBODY IS HAPPY TO SEE ME, BECAUSE I AM LAST. [LAUGHTER] MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT STUDENTS LIKE TO SAY THAT STUDENTS LIKE LUIS, RAFAEL, MORGAN, MADDOX, THEY ARE PIZZO. MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE HERE FOR THEM AND MANY THAT WILL COME AFTER THEM. MY NAME IS SUSAN SANTIAGO AND THE PROUD THE PROUD ISOL RESOURCE TEACHER FOR K-8 FOR PAST 11 YEARS. I AM NOT HERE IS SPEAKING FOR MYSELF BECAUSE
MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW I WILL HAVE A JOB SOMEWHERE. JUST LIKE MY JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUES. MY STUDENTS DON'T FEEL AS CONFIDENT AS I DO ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. LET'S BE CLEAR, STUDENTS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SITUATION. BLAME DOES NOT FALL ON THEM BUT ON THE DECISIONS OF ON THE DECISIONS OF USF, A PARTNERSHIP WE FULFILLED UNTIL IT NO IT NO LONGER SERVED OUR IT NO LONGER SERVED OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. OUR STUDENTS ARRIVE WITH COPE AND COMMITMENT. THEY LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN HAVING
THEIR FUTURE DECIDED HAYESFULLY. I ASK IS THAT YOU POST PONE STUDENTS THAT SUPPORT THEM, HELP IN THE DEEPEST VALUE AND EXPLORES EVERY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE. THEY DESERVE NOTHING LESS. PLEASE GIVE THEM THAT. [SPEAKING SPANISH] . [APPLAUSE]
>>Karen Perez: WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT OF. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY STAFF. ALL QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDRESS AND BE ANY REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. >>Karen Perez: MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND IS SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR.
AND THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR ON THE CON SENT AGENDA, WE HAD TWO PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. START RIGHT THERE. START WITH MR. ERIC FELDER, WHO IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ERIC, COME ON DOWN, ERIC, COME ON DOWN, SIR. [ APPLAUSE ] IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CENTER. ERIC BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2001 AS A
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER IN JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SHEEHY. STAND TRANSFERRED TO JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN 2009. 2013, ABOUT BEGAN HIS ADMINISTRATIVE CAREER AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MR. FELDER HAS HELD ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES IN DR. DUNHAM BAR, POTTER. HE SERVE AS ASSISTANT AS JAMES MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT AS OF TONIGHT, THE MU THE MU PRINCIPAL OF OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, MR.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. FELDER. [ APPLAUSE ] ARE YOU THROUGH. COME ON DOWN. OTHER PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA WAS HELP LISA LISA TREBWASER, NEW PRINCIPAL OF WALDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BEGAN HER TEACHING YEAR IN YAFT IN ALACHUA COUNTY IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. 2001, BEGAN HER YEAR WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASSROOM TEACHER AT
WEST TAMPA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 2013-'15 CYPRESS CREEK, DOBY AND McDONALD AS A TEACHER AND RESOURCE. TRANSFERRED TO IS A TRANSFERRED TO IS A DISTRICT IN TRANSFERRED TO IS A DISTRICT IN 2017. TRANSITION BACK WHERE SHE IS OUT IN PRINCIPAL AT, WALDEN LAKE AND LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. SHE CAN CURRENTLY ASSISTANT SHE CAN CURRENTLY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BUCKHORN ELEMENTARY. UNTIL TONIGHT, SHE IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL. WON CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE IN
PRINCIPAL AT WALDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY! . [APPLAUSE] MADAM CHAIR, THOSE WERE OUR PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NOW THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C C 2.08,C C 2.08,C 4.03, C 2.08,C 4.03, 7.12, 7. 13, 7 BE 14, 13, 7 BE 14, 7.15, 13, 7 BE 14, 7.15, 13, 7 BE 14, 7.15, 7.16, 13, 7 BE 14, 7.15, 7.16, 7.17
AND 10.01. DISCUSSION FOR DISCUSSION FOR.08, CONTRACT APPROACH FOR TERRACE ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: DECEMBER 9, 2025. APPROVED APPLICATION FOR TERRACE OF EXCELLENCE KHORN OF EXCELLENCE KHORN SITES SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN AUGUST OF SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN AUGUST OF 2027 IN 2027 IN THONOTOSASSA. THE APPLICATION ON DECEMBER 9. THIS IS THE CONTRACT COMING FORWARD. FLORIDA STATUTE
FLORIDA STATUTE 10002.33. THE CHARTER SCHOOL TO BE SET FORTH IN FORTH IN A WRITTEN CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT CALLED A CHARTER. ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE MET WITH THE STATE CONTRACT PURSUANT TO THE FLORIDA STATUTE WHICH IS FULLY HE SCHOOL. AND ITEM AND ITEM 2.08 AND MISS CROOKS IS HERE IF YOU ARE TO 2.08, THE CONTRACT APPROVAL FOR TERRACE CONTRACT APPROVAL FOR TERRACE ACADEMY. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C
APPROVE ITEM C 2.08. A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND IS SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED IN ITEM. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MISS CROOKS, I JUST HAVE A FEW MISS CROOKS, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONERS. WHEN WE HAVE THIS CONTRACT BEFORE US. I DO NOT NOVEMBER FOR DOES THE BOARD KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY WILL HAD BEEN AFFECTED. WHEN I SAY "COMMUNITIES" EVERYWHERE FROM THE EVERYWHERE FROM THE AREA OF GRECO, TEMPLE TERRACE, THAT IS, NEW TAMPA. DO WE KNOW WHAT AREAS MIGHT BE DO WE KNOW WHAT AREAS MIGHT BE
IMPACTED? >> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. REMEMBER MEMBER VAUGHN ASKING ABOUT THIS WAY ABOUT THIS WAY BACK WHEN WE HAD THE CONTRACT THE CONTRACT AND APPLICATION ACTUALLY, SO WE -- OUR OFFICE HAD SOME TIME TO LOOK THIS. AND THIS SCHOOL IS AND THIS SCHOOL IS MODELLED AFTER DR. PATEL ELEMENTARY. AND THEY RECRUIT ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THEY ACTUALLY -- THOSE SCHOOLS PULL FROM OVER PULL FROM OVER 120 SCHOOLS OF DISTRICT WIDE.
53 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND 17 MIDDLE AND KHORN 8. 54 OF THE SCHOOLS ARE PRIVATE OR OTHER CHARTER OR AT THE COUNTY. AND THEY DO USE, LIKE, AN ENROLLMENT PROCESS. THEY USE LOTTERY THEY USE LOTTERY TO ENSURE EQUITY. LOOKING AT THE DATA. INFORMATION BROKEN DOWN THAT I HAVE WHO HIKE HAVE WHO HIKE TO SUBMIT TO YOU. I GOVERNMENT THAT YESTERDAY. >>Lynn Gray: I ASK BECAUSE FINE TUNING SO MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS OF WITH UNIT LOSSES.
I AM WONDER GOING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A EXPERIENCE -- I HAVE JUST SAY GRECO, LESS STUDENTS GOING THERE AS FAR AS THE TERRACE. I GUESS AS SOON AS WE KNOW WHICH SCHOOLS OURS WILL SCHOOLS OURS WILL BE PAYMENT OF IM, MISS CROOKS, THAT WILL BE BETTER, DON'T YOU THINK FOR US AND OUR PLANNING PURPOSES. >> YES! AS SOON AS I GET THAT INFORMATION, I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. PREDICT.
LOOKING AT POLICEMEN DATA, IT LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE SMALL IMPACT BECAUSE THEY PULL FROM SO MANY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. IMPACT IS NOT AS BIG, BUT MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS THAT THEY DO PULL FROM ARE THE SEFFNER, THONOTOSASSA AREA, AND THEN NEW TAMPA AREA. >>Lynn Gray: PROXIMITY TO THEIR HOME SCHOOL SO TO SPEAK SAG VERY NEAR. A QUESTION ON PAGE FOUR OF SAYS THE SCHOOL SHOULD MAKE READING A PRIMARY FOCUS AS WE ALL PRIMARY FOCUS AS WE ALL AGREE PRIMARY FOCUS AS WE ALL AGREE ON.
AND GOING TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS FOR THOSE READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL. DO WE KNOW WHAT HE HUMAN RESOURCES ALSO BE RESOURCES ALSO BE ALLOCATED? DO WE KNOW WHAT TANGIBLE RESOURCE WILL BE RESOURCE WILL BE ALLOCATED TOWARD THAT TOWARD THAT GOAL? >> YES. I KNOW THEY HAVE ALREADY -- THE I KNOW THEY HAVE ALREADY -- THE MODELS THEY HAVE FOR STEM AND PBL FOR TRAINING. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT SUPPORT STAFF, THEY ARE LOOKING AT ISE TEACHERS AND THEY HAVE A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND SOME
PARAPROFESSIONALS THEY ARE TRYING TO ADD TO THAT TRYING TO ADD TO THAT MODEL. COVERS MTS, COVERS MTS, RTI, I, STI AND COVERS MTS, RTI, I, STI AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. LASTLY, THE QUESTION WILL BE TRANSPORTATION. I VISITED THE PATEL SCHOOLS BEFORE AND THAT IS ONE THEIR HUGE HUGE CHALLENGES. ANY TRANSPORTATION AND ALLOCATIONS FOR THIS SCHOOL? >> NO, THERE ARE WILL NOT -- CHARTER SCHOOL LOGICAL NOT BE
PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR SITE. >>Lynn Gray: OKAY, SO THE PARENTS ARE ON THEIR OWN ON THAT. >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW YOU? MY BUTTON IS ON. MY BUTTON IS ON. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? COMPANY I USE MEMBER RENDON?
ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? NICE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I APPRECIATE MEMBER GRAY'S QUESTIONS AROUND THIS. AND YOU DIGGING IN TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION. BECAUSE IT IS A SHORTER SCHOOL, OBVIOUSLY IT CAN PULL FROM EVERYWHERE, RIGHT. BUT LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT. PATEL PULLS MOSTLY FROM NEW TAMPA. I LIVE IN NEW TAMPA. I KNOW WHICH KIDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHO CHOOSES THAT SCHOOL. SO THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE HIT ON NEW TAMPA. I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU FROM -- FRESH FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. BUT WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING IS WE HAVE.
>>Kristin Davis:ED SCHOOLS HERE ON AGENDA ITEM, WHICH ARE THESED BECAUSE THEY ARE WITHIN A MILE, TWO MILES OR HOW DID WE TOO H IDENTIFY SCHOOLS OF ON IDENTIFY SCHOOLS OF ON LIST OF SCHOOLS OF WE ARE COMPARING AS FAR AS GRADE AND FASHION OF THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. >> WE LOOK AT A FIVE-MILE RADIUS AND ALL THAT WE DO FOR ALL OF THE BOARD DOCUMENTS. YOU ASKED ABOUT THIS THANKS TIME. SOME I LOOKED INTO A DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, RAVELEDIOUS WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY BOOK PULLING FROM.
WHEN LOOKED AT THE NEW TAMPA SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS THAT THIS -- THIS SCHOOL WILL BE MOTHER'S DAY HE WILLED AFTER PERSIAN GULF FROM TURNER BAR TEL K-8, HOME RUN DAMAGE, RUN DAMAGE, PRIDE, PARK, RUN DAMAGE, PRIDE, PARK, BONITO AN HOLLAND TUNNELER'S GREEN. ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO KNIFE STUDS FROM TEACH OF THOSE SCHOOLS. VAURNZ VAUGHN I APPRECIATE THAT. ... OF SCHOOLS ... OF SCHOOLS FOLSOM. THERE IS JENNINGS, AND THEN THERE ARE PIZZO. THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSEST.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU PUT THE OCCUPANCY BECAUSE OCCUPANCY BECAUSE FOLSOM IS 68% OCCUPANCY. JENNINGS WHICH IS 54 AND PIZZO 93% ACURA SIGH AND GOOD WHEN WE HAVE A DISCUSSION TO TALK ABOUT PIZZO. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING AND I WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR, TO MAKE THIS CLEAR, SUPERINTENDENT, THAT WE ARE SUPERINTENDENT, THAT WE ARE CLOSING K-8. CLOSEST. WITHIN THE SAME YEAR AS FAR AS I AM UNDER STANDING YEAR IN IS SLATED TO OPEN. WE ARE ALLOWING WHICH CAN HE CAN'T STOP.
WE HAVE NO WAY TO VOTE AGAINST IT, BUT STILL IT, BUT STILL KHORN 8 TO OPEN ALMOST IN ITS PLACE THE CHARTER SCHOOL THAT WILL COULD ALMOST DIRECTLY PULL ALL YOU HAVE THOSE DISPLACED PIZZO STUFFEDENTS AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. HOW THIS PLAN WILL LINE UP. >> HOW IT LINES UP. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THIS CONTRACT IS FOR '27-'28. YOU ARE CORRECT, ALL THE BOUNDARY PROPOSALS REALLY FOR THE '27 TO THE '27 TO '28 SCHOOL YEAR. YOU ARE CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: I FIND IT PROBLEM MATIC THAT YOU TALK OF
PROBLEM MATIC THAT YOU TALK OF OF COMPETITION IN A SCHOOL CHOICE ENVIRONMENT AND LOOKING AT WHAT COMMUNITIES WANT AND MATCH WHAT THEY WANT IN OUR MATCH WHAT THEY WANT IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOLLS XEEPT WITH SCHOOL CHOICE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS AND YET WE ARE MAKING A DECISION TO CLOSE A MAKING A DECISION TO CLOSE A K-8 THAT WE SAY ALMOST EVERY COMMUNITY AT ONCE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE TRENDS ARE IN EVERY COMMUNITY ARE IN EVERY COMMUNITY WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR AND SEE THEM CHOOSING WHEN WE HAD OUR WORKSHOP RECENTLY OF UNIT LOSSES AND WHERE THE POPULATION IS
MOVING. THEY ARE MOVING TOWARD THEY ARE MOVING TOWARD K-8. SO INSTEAD OF SO INSTEAD OF MOVING A K-8 AND REOPENING IT AND KEEPING IT INTACT AS A COMMUNITY REMEMBER WE ARE LOOKING AT DISPERSING IT. AND THEN A CHARTER SCHOOL, A VERY REPUTABLE CHARTER SCHOOL COMING IN LESS THAN COMING IN LESS THAN FIVE MILES AWAY AND OPENING THE SAME MODEL. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT SINCE THIS IS THE AGENDA ITEM --. [APPLAUSE] -- THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FULL PICTURES OF THESE DECISIONS THAT
WE ARE MAKING AS WE ARE MAKING THIS. BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP K-8 INTACT, OPEN IT IN ANOTHER LOCATION AND BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE MOW TENSION CHARTER SCHOOL COMING THAT WILL BE A K-8. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON? >>Patti Rendon: SORRY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WAS MOVING TABLES. QUICK QUESTION. THIS -- EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN A THIS -- EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN A LOCATION THAT A PREVIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL IS IN. THEY ARE COMPLETELY OPENING ON THEIR OWN, RIGHT? DO WE HAVE OTHER STEPS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING BEFORE THEY GET FULL APPROVAL TO MOVE STUDENTS IN? >> IF YES, ABSOLUTELY. WHEN I TOOK OVER THIS JOB, IT CAME WITH A CAME WITH A HAT. I ASKED THE PREDECESSOR, WHAT IT IS FOR, WHEN WE OPEN UP IS FOR, WHEN WE OPEN UP NEW SCHOOLS. WE PULL PERMITS AND FOLLOW THE PERMITTING AND ENSURE THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR OCCUPANCY AND
BUILDING CODES ARE UP TO DATE AND THEY ARE READY TO EACH THE SCHOOL. AND WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE BOOKS AND CURRICULUM AND WE DO SOME -- AT THEIR EXPENSE, OF COURSE. THEY PURCHASE ALL THOSE THINGS AND WE ALSO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TRAINED IN COMPLIANCE AND EVERYTHING THAT THAT HE NEED FROM THE CHARTER FROM THE CHARTER OFFICE. >>Patti Rendon: IF WE APPROVE THIS NOW AND FIND ANY OF THOSE THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN MEANT, THEN NO MATTER WHETHER WE APPROVE IT OR NOT, THEY DO NOT OPEN, AM HE CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, YES. >>Patti Rendon: WE AS A BOARD WILL BE FOEPT
HE APPROVALS ARE DONE. >> YES, I AM HAPPY TO >> YES, I AM HAPPY TO NOTIFY THE BOARD. RENDON I RESPECT MEMBER VAUGHN AND SEE WHAT SHE IS SAYING AND I SEE THE SENTIMENT 100%. BECAUSE WE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE TASKED WITH THAT DIFFICULTY. WE ARE VERY MUCH TASKED WITH THE DIFFICULTY AND I SAID IT IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING. I AM VERY SADDENED BY THIS POSITION WE HAVE BEEN PUT IN BY UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. WE KNEW FAITH IS YEARS AGO THAT THEIR FOCUS WAS NOT ON THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION WHEN THEY TRIED TO CLOSE IT. IN DOING THAT, THEY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE HAD FOR WELL OVER A YEAR AND A HALF TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR DECISION ON WHAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO FINANCIALLY FAILS AS A DISTRICT LEAVES PIZZO OPEN. PHENOMENAL FAMILIES AND A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR US TO BE IN. AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT RAMIFICATIONS OF OUR LEGISLATURE, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, COLLOCATION IS A FACTOR. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALSO
ALREADY HAVE HAD ADAMS CLAIMED AS A COLLOCATED SCHOOL. SO, AGAIN, I -- I URGE ALL FAMILY -- FAMILY -- I URGE STAFF. I URGE EVERYONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENS, PAY ATTENTION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT ON THE DAIS. PAY ATTENTION HOW THESE CAN IMPACT AND LIMIT OUR DECISION-MAKING ABILITIES. BECAUSE IT LIMITS WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE WHEN OTHER DECISIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS DISTRICT HAS
BEEN MADE THAT LIMIT OUR ABILITIES. WE RECOGNIZE WHAT A PHENOMENAL SCHOOL PIZZO IS. WE RECOGNIZE WHAT IT HAS BEEN FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY BUT THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORERS OUTSIDE OF THIS BOARD THAT HAVE MADE DECISIONS FOR US THAT HAVE LIMIT WHAT WE CAN DO. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE THAT ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT RIGHT SPACE, TEACHERS, AND CURRICULUM IN FRONT OF THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND IN ORLANDOER TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FULL CLASSROOMS AND WE HAVE SPACE FOR SPACE FOR THEM. AND THEN THOSE OUTSIDE AND THEN THOSE OUTSIDE FACTORS THAT WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF. WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF COLLOCATION. WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF USF'S DECISIONS AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT WE HIGHLY RESPECT THE FAMILY AND THE AND THE STAFF THAT HAVE COME HERE. BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE WHAT AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL THAT IS. THANK YOU.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM -- NEXT ITEM IS ITEM ITEM -- NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 4.03, NEGOTIATED TRANSFORMATION NETWORK MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND THE EMPLOYEE FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS MOU. OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK MOU. THIS MOU AWARDS THIS MOU AWARDS A THIS MOU AWARDS A BONUS TO INCENTIVIZE OUR TOP PERFORMANCE FOR THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND EFK PECULIARTATIONS REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS SUCCESS AT OUR LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS. WE HAVE EIGHT SCHOOLS WHO HAVE GRADUATED TO TIER ONE AFTER SUSTAINING A C GRADE FOR PAST THREE YEARS.
THAT IS ITEM 4.03 AND MISS IN CAN CRAY THAT WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH OUR TEACHERS UNION AROUND THIS MOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS IN,OU WITH OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SOUP SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND IS SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN MEMBER VAUGHN MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY OR MEMBER MEMBER GRAY OR MEMBER VAUGHN? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
WHO AM WHO AM I ASKING MY QUESTION TO? OKAY, MISS McCREA. NUMBER HAVE SUBSTANTIAL ALLY GONE DOWN FROM YEAR TO YEAR. TRANSITIONING MORE SCHOOLS OUT OF THE STATUS? >> SO THE GOAL IS WE WANT THE NUMBERS TO GO DOWN FROM YEAR TO YEAR. HISTORICALLY LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND EACH YEAR WE HAVE SEE MORE AND MORE SCHOOLS THAT REACHED THE LEVEL OF SUSTAINABILITY GETTING A C TO ARE BETTER. LAST YEAR WE HAD EIGHT SCHOOLS THAT THAT HAD THREE YEARS OF BETTER -- A C OR BETTER AND THIS YEAR
WE HAVE NINE SCHOOLS WITH GRADES OF A C AND BETTER THREE YEARS IN A ROW. NEXT YEAR, THERE ARE NEXT YEAR, THERE ARE SCHOOLS ON DECK THAT REACH ESSENTIAL THATABILITY WHICH MEANS WE ARE THATABILITY WHICH MEANS WE ARE DOING GREAT AS A DISTRICT WITH IMPROVING TRANSFORM MANS IN OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK SCHOOLS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL IS TO AND OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL IS TO HAVE OUR SCHOOLS OUT OF THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS BECAUSE THAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS AND PERFORMING AT THE BEST. I DO HAVE CONCERNS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ASSURE
WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO DO AWAY WITH THE MOU TO INCENTIVIZE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT POINTS. IS THIS IS THIS MOU SOMETHING WE SEE RENEWING YEAR OF A YEAR? OR ANY CHANGES COMING PROPOSED? BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, I DON'T TRUST ANYTHING COMING OUT OF THE NEXT YEAR. SOMETHING WE PLAN ON SOMETHING WE PLAN ON SUSTAINING? >> YES, WE HAVE THREE LEVELS IN >> YES, WE HAVE THREE LEVELS IN OUR OUR NETWORK. SO WE ARE GOING HAVE THIS TRANSFORMATION NETWORK MOU FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
WE WANT TO SEE OUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT GO DOWN FOR SCHOOLS AS THEY REACH A LEVEL OF SUSTAINABILITY. IS THIS MEANT TO BE THIS FOREVER? NO. TRANSFORMATION NETWORK, OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK, OUR SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE FOREVER. WE WANT TO GET RID OF ALL THE SUPPLEMENTS TO SUPPORT FINANCES FOR RAISES FOR ALL TEACHERS. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE FOREVER OVER TIME. BUT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT LESS AND LESS SCHOOLS NEEDING THAT EXTRA SUPPORT AND WE WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE RECEIVING SCHOOLS THAT ARE RECEIVING
SUPPLEMENTS. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS I HAVE RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU, MISS VAUGHN. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY? LYNN LYNN THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MISS McGRAY, HATS OFF TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM BECAUSE THERE ARE LESS SCHOOLS HAPPENING. MY QUESTION, DID WE ADD TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD THAT WAS -- >> TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT WE ADDED. THEY WERE A C LAST YEAR, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A LEVEL SUSTAINABILITY. A FRAGILE SCHOOL OVER COURSE OF THE YEAR AND THE ONLY SCHOOL WE ADDED TO THE ADDED TO THE NETWORK, YES, MA'AM. >>Lynn Gray: A GREAT >>Lynn Gray: A GREAT IDEA. AND AND TENOUS. BUT THEY HAVE A GREAT PRINCIPAL. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHILE YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR.
>>Jim Porter: IF YOU CAN RESET THE BOARD AND PLEASE VOTE THE BOARD AND PLEASE VOTE AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS. >>Karen Perez: IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM 7.12, MIDDLE SCHOOL VV ESTABLISHING AN ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Superintendent Ayres: MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE WE GET TO 7.12. SUMMARY, NEXT ITEMS ARE BOUNDARY PROPOSALS THAT WE HAD OUR FIRST
READING ON MARCH 10. NEXT SIX ITEMS ARE THE SAME ITEMS THAT YOU HEARD ON MARCH 10 ARE COMING BACK BEFORE YOU AS PER FLORIDA STATUTE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO READINGS FOR BOUNDARY CHANGES. NEXT SIX ITEM 7. 12 BUT THE NEXT SIX ARE THE SAME ONES ON ONES ON MARCH 10. AND PER FLORIDA STATUTE TWO READINGS. 7-12 THROUGH 7.17 TOGETHER ARE PRESENT BECAUSE THEY RECOMMEND A COORDINATED SET OF ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY IN BOUNDARY IN CONFIGURATION THAT
SUPPORT THE LONG-RANGE PLANNING FOR THE FOR THE 2027-'28 COOL JEER. NEXT SIX THAT ARE COMING I NEXT SIX THAT ARE COMING I WANT NEXT SIX THAT ARE COMING I WANT REITERATE NOT FOR NECK SCHOOL YEAR BUT THE '27-'28 SCHOOL YEAR, YEAR, ENROLLMENT TRENDS, SCHOOL CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT INCLUDED SCHOOL-BASED MEETING, STAKEHOLDER INPUT, DIRECT FAMILY NOTE IF I OCCASION AND INFORMATION SHARED INFORMATION SHARED PRIVATELY. THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE A UNIFIED PACKAGE DESIGNED TO
BALANCE BALANCE ENROLLMENT, MAXIMIZE THE USE AND CLARITY AND STABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT AS THEY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. STAFF COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS RELATED TO THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDING SCHOOL-BASE AND INCLUDING SCHOOL-BASE AND STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS AND INFORMATION SHARED ON THE DISTRICT WEB SITE. TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION AGAIN SERVES AS THE SECOND PUBLIC READING OF THE SIX PROPOSALS AS WE CONTINUE THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION PROCESS. SOME THAT IS A SUMMARY OF THE NEXT SIX ITEMS COMING. I AM GOING TO GO INTO 7.12 NOW.
7.12 7.12 SPECIFICALLY. WE WILL GO EACH ONE BY ONE. 7.12 AND WILL GET INDIVIDUAL VOTES LIKE THE MEETING ON MARCH 10. ONE AT A TIME. 7.12 SPECIFICALLY ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL HAVE,V. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ATTENDANCE FOR THE SCHOOLS ATTENDANCE FOR THE VV SCHEDULED SCHEDULED '27-'28. SOUTH COUNTY AREA CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE GROWTH. MIDDLE SCHOOL VV WILL PROVIDE CONTINUED RELIEF FOR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES AND ALEVE YAFT OVERCROWDING IN SOUTH COUNTY
MIDDLE SCHOOLS. AS PART OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS HELD ON DECEMBER 11, 2025 AND JANUARY 15, 2026 TO 15, 2026 TO GAVTER PUBLIC 15, 2026 TO GAVTER PUBLIC INPUT. AND WILL BE ADJUSTED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. ITEM 7.12 WE WILL LOOK AT 7.12 NOW AND THEN MOVE TO THE NOW AND THEN MOVE TO THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS. 7.12. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES.
A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.12. A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. AND A SECOND AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? MEMBER VAUGHN? >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS ONE WE SPOKE IN LENGTH ABOUT GOING BACK AND FORTH THAT MEMBER RENDON WASSED A VOTE MEMBER RENDON WASSED A VOTE SKATING MAKING -- WAS ADVOCATING MAKING IT A K-8 MANY MONTHS AGO. WANT CLARITY THIS IS THE ONE. SINCE THAT DISCUSSION AND SEEING
THE TRENDS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO START INVESTING IN MORE K-8s. AND THAT WE NEED TO START LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITIES IF WE ARE GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE SPIRIT OF SCHOOL CHOICE. SO I JUST -- I AM -- I AM GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS. GIVING YOU A HEADS UP. HERE IT COMES. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER RENDON. THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AS WE LOOK AT THIS BOUNDARY AND WHAT IT AFFECTS, WE REALLY SEE
REALLY SEE THE REALLY SEE THE EXPENSE AND THE URBAN CORE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION LAST YEAR. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE GOING TO BARRINGTON, TURKEY CREEK THAT CREEK THAT BORDERS NOT ONLY THE CREEK THAT BORDERS NOT ONLY THE POLK COUNTY BUT THE MANATEE COUNTY LINE. A HUGE EXPANSION COMING INTO A LOT OF NEW GROWTH AND NEW DEVELOPMENT OUT OF THE THERE IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE AHEAD OF WHAT THE CURVE IS AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
I AM, AGAIN, I AM, AGAIN, DISAPPOINTED LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN. BEFORE WE GOT SO FAR INTO CONSTRUCTION, WE WERE AT A POINT WHERE WE COULD HAVE PUNT IF A K-8 THERE THAT I FELT WOULD BE MOST RESPONSIBLE MOVE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA AND NOT OVERIMACT BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOLS BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. I ALSO FELT IT WAS BETTER FOR OUT COMMUNITY TO HAVE A WELDING PROGRAM AND A PROGRAM AND A FFA PROGRAM AND A FFA RIGHT NOW WOULDN'T THE K-8.
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE NOT FOR A COMMUNITY THAT ARE TRULY ASKING FOR IT, ESPECIALLY IN A COMMUNITY THAT WALLS BUILT ON AGRICULTURE, NOT TO HAVE A FAA PROGRAM AT A HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT -- IT IS INVEST SAD. SO -- BUT I AM GOING TO APPROVE THESE BOUNDARIES BECAUSE I DO THINK IT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, NUMBER ONE, THE BOUNDARY LINES WHEN I GO AND I DRIVE THESE BOUNDARY LINES. IT TAKE INTO NEIGHBORHOOD. IT TAKES IT TAKES CONSIDERATION CLEAN
UNDERSTANDABLE LINES ON HIGHWAYS THAT YOU KNOW A SPLIT. IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN THESE BOUNDARIES ARE MADE VERY CLEAR AND CONCISE ON WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. FOR THAT, I WILL APPROVE THIS CONTINUE TO. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: SO YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD A QUESTION. AND I AM GOING TO APPROVE THIS. WHEN WE HAVE A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK, ESPECIALLY IN THIS GROWING AREA, I AM JUST GROWING AREA, I AM JUST WONDERING, ARE WE IN A WONDERING, ARE WE IN A SPACE
THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC? THIS MAY BE THE K-8 MODEL. I WANT TO KNOW THE PROXIMITY BETWEEN THE FUTURE ELEMENTARY BETWEEN THE FUTURE ELEMENTARY AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. MR. MR. FARKAS? >>Christopher Farkas: FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION TWO MEETINGS WHICH WE DID FOR THAT. NEW CONSTRUCTION, WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT COME OUT OF THERE. MOST PARENTS ARE HAPPY TO GO MOST PARENTS ARE HAPPY TO GO TO A NEW SCHOOL IN ALL HONESTLY AND THE POPULARITY GOES UP.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS LITERALLY ON THE SAME PROPERTY. THE SOME OF SAME PROBABLY WHERE YOU KNOW MORGAN YOU KNOW MORGAN IS, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS THE WALLS UP IN FRONT OF IT AND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE SAME SPACE DIRECTLY TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE THE NORTH OF WHERE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS. ON THE 87-ACRE PARCEL. >>Lynn Gray: SET UP LIKE BARRINGTON AND BARRINGTON AND STOWERS. WHERE LITERALLY YOU CAN WALK ACROSS DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND IT
IS ALREADY A CAMPUS, A HOLISTIC CAMPUS, IF YOU WILL. THAT WHOLE K-8 MAY NOT EVEN BE A PLACE TO DISCUSS. AND IT IS ALREADY A K-8 IN REALITY. BUT AT THINK RATE, THE MORE PUBLIC WE CAN GET -- YOU KNOW THAT, BETTER THE FEEDBACK. BUT WHAT AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. AND IT VERY MUCH NEED ONE. THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON?
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WANT TO MAKE CLARIFICATION. ALTHOUGH WE ARE GOING TO BUILD AND HAVE POTENTIAL TO AND HAVE POTENTIAL TO BUILD AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON ON THAT PROPERTY, WE DO HAVE PROPERTY, WE DO HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CURRENTLY SURROUNDING THAT WE ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO BUILD THAT JUST YET, CORRECT? >>Christopher Farkas: THAT'S 100% ACCURATE. >>Patti Rendon: I DON'T WANT THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL LIKE WE ARE BUILDING TO BUILD. WE STILL HAVE ROOM IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE HAVE WE HAVE EXCEL END ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS -- EXCELLENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SURROUNDING THE
SCHOOLS SURROUNDING THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AND WE ARE SET THERE FOR GROWTH AS WE GO. >>Christopher Farkas: WE TRACK THAT GROWTH AND THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR HOMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT PUT IN YET. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS SAP. MEMBER GRAY? >>Lynn Gray: OH, I AM SORRY. >>Karen Perez: IT PASSES WITH MEMBER VAUGHN
MEMBER VAUGHN DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE. AND I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE -- WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AROUND TAKE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENT AT THIS -- AT THIS POINT. WE WILL NOW TAKE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR -- HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO SAY
TEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT EN THIS IS NOT EN TENNED TO BE A -- INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION OF
SPECIFIC ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TO YOU SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUE RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND I WILL NOW CALL AND I WILL NOW CALL ROB. >> HEY, GOOD EVENING, ROB >> HEY, GOOD EVENING, ROB CRITE, THE PRESIDENT OF CTA. I -- WE, STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH EVERYONE FROM PIZZO TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL ALL OF PARENTS, ALL OF THE MEMBERS, ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, BUT ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE
TODAY. YOU KNOW, I TOOK SOME NOTES AS THEY WERE SPEAKING, AND REALLY THE ONE THAT DRIVES HOME TO ME IS THE ECONOMIC IS THE ECONOMIC EVICTION OF THIS SCHOOL. OH, MY GOSH. AND THEN WE HAVE KIDS THAT AND THEN WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE FACE OF THAT EVICTION. WELL, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND ASK YOU TO TAKE A PAUSE ON THAT WHEEL WE CONTINUE TO TALK OF WHAT WE WILL DO THERE. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO MANY SCHOOL SITES. RARELY YOU WALK IN ONE WHERE YOU GET THAT FEELING THEY HAVE IT ALL GOING ON AND THEY ARE DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO FOR THESE KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY. I AM NOT SAYING YOU DON'T I AM NOT SAYING YOU DON'T GET THAT HAPPENING IN EVERY SITE, BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING EVERYWHERE, BUT THE GLUE HAS ACTUALLY GLUED. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND FIRST DEGREE OUT A WAY TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY. BUT THE ECONOMIC BUT THE ECONOMIC EVICTION SEEMS LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE ANSWER IS FOUND EVERYBODY HERE AND WATCHING A THE HOME AND REALLY ABOUT REALLY ABOUT VOTING. EVERYBODY HAS EVERYBODY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND ALL
FLORIDA TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FLORIDIANS -- I WILL JUST SAY THEY ARE UPSEPTEMBER WHAT IS GOING ON AND CERTAINLY THE WAY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BEING TREATED AND AN EXAMPLE AND A EXAMPLE AND A CANARY IN COLE MINE. PAUL WHAT WE WILL DO ON PIZZO TO CONTINUE TO TALK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT TO DO FOR THE GREAT COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING GOING ON THERE. THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. >> HI. KIM KIM ENRIQUEZ. LOWRY ELEMENTARY, KINDERGARTEN.
I'M COMING -- THIS IS MY LAST BOARD MEETING I WILL BE SEEING YOU AT. WE LOST SEVEN UNITS AT MY SCHOOL. AND I WAS KIND OF TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF GO AHEAD AND RETIRE, SO I THOUGHT I WAS BEING SO I THOUGHT I WAS BEING GALLANT AND GO TO THE POOL. I ALREADY PICKED MY DATE, AUGUST THE 3rd, AND ALREADY SET MY APPOINTMENT WITH APPOINTMENT WITH ISC, JULY 15. BUT DUE TO MY
BUT DUE TO MY VAM SCORES, YEAH, I'M GOING TO THE POOL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY TEACHING CAREER, BUT IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT. I'M OKAY WITH IT. I AM GRATEFUL, THOUGH, AND THAT WAS THE REASON I CAME TONIGHT. I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE ACTUALLY GAINED A GAINED A KINDERGARTEN PARA AT OUR SCHOOL. SO I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT I HAD A LITTLE PART IN THAT, BUT I THINK IT WAS MORE TRACYE. THANK YOU, TRACYE. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE I COULD APPLY FOR THAT POSITION. I DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL SEE. BUT I'M ALSO SERVING ON BUT I'M ALSO SERVING ON THE ELEMENTARY CONTRACT ACTION TEAM. AND WHEN THEY HEARD I WAS COMING TO THE BOARD TO SAY THANK YOU ABOUT GAINING THE UNIT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MESSAGE KNOW THAT THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN PUT OUT THERE TO LET OTHER KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS KNOW BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKE, IS THAT TRUE OR IS THAT JUST -- I THINK IT'S TRUE. MAYBE IF WE COULD COMMUNICATE THAT, THAT WOULD GIVE SOME HOPE, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN A REALLY HARD YEAR IN
KINDERGARTEN. THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE STILL CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPUTERIZED TESTING. I SPENT TWO DAYS TESTING KIDS ON i-READY. YEAH, THAT WAS A WHOLE TWO DAYS OF INSTRUCTION TIME LOST. AND IT DOESN'T AND IT DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY MORE INFORMATION THAT HELPS ME. WE STILL KIND OF NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AMOUNT OF TESTING THAT
WE'RE DOING IN KINDERGARTEN. IT ENDS UP AFFECTING YOUR IT ENDS UP AFFECTING YOUR VAM SCORE. IT'S PUTTING A FIVE-YEAR-OLD WITH HEADPHONES ON AND ON A COMPUTER, I DON'T THINK AN EFFECTIVE WAY. DIBBLES IS GREAT. LOVE DIBBLES. AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT PUTTING KINDERGARTEN IN THE SPECIALS WHEEL BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS YEAR AT OUR SCHOOL, WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE TWO DAYS OF TO HAVE TWO DAYS OF SPECIALS, WHICH IS NICE, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE
WE EXPECT MORE IN KINDERGARTEN -- AND KINDERGARTEN IS TREATED LIKE ELEMENTARY PRIMARY, IT WOULD BE NICE FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT PLANNING TIME, TOO, BECAUSE WE DON'T GET THAT. WE GET IT WITH THE AIDE, OF COURSE, COMING INTO OUR COURSE, COMING INTO OUR ROOM, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE KIDDOS THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO JUST HAVE THAT PERSON IN THERE BY THEMSELVES. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> HI, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JESSICA WATSON. I'M AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT PIZZO K-8, 7th AND 8th GRADE. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT EARLIER BECAUSE I HAVE AN 8-MONTH-OLD AT HOME, IF THAT'S ANY INDICATION OF HOW MUCH PIZZO MEANS, I'M LEAVING MY LITTLE BABY WITH GRANDMA TO COME SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PIZZO K-8. SORRY I MISSED ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. I TRUST THEM COMPLETELY AND I SECOND EVERYTHING THEY SAY. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER POSTPONING YOUR VOTE TODAY.
MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO DISCUSS, LISTEN TO US. WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE TIME, BETTER OPTIONS. IT'S A COMMUNITY, I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THAT WORD PLENTY OF TIMES TONIGHT. IT'S TRUE. IT'S REAL. I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY TWO CENTS. THAT'S IT. I'LL BE QUICK. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO.
HI. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS ELIANA CADUSE, HERE FOR THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT PIZZO K-8. I WANT TO SAY AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE NOT JUST A COMMUNITY, WE'RE A FAMILY. WE'RE HERE NOT JUST FOR EDUCATIONAL VALUE. WE'RE HERE BECAUSE PIZZO IS MORE THAN A SCHOOL. IT'S MORE THAN A BUILDING. I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS. IT IS LIKE A SECOND HOME TO ME. IT IS LIKE A SECOND HOME TO OTHER OF MY FRIENDS. I HAVE GOTTEN MANY
I HAVE GOTTEN MANY PEOPLE'S OPINIONS SUCH AS ONE OF MY FRIENDS, SHE TOLD ME IT WAS UNFAIR AND A LITTLE UNFAIR AND A LITTLE UNJUST TO HER THAT CLOSING DOWN PIZZO WITHOUT TRULY CONSIDERING WITHOUT TRULY CONSIDERING THE IMPACT OF THE STUDENTS. MY OTHER MY OTHER FRIEND, MY CLOSE FRIEND ALSO ALSO TOLD ME THAT LOSING HER ROLE AS A STUDENT ROLE AS A STUDENT AT PIZZO IS LIKE A CONCERN TO HER LIKE A CONCERN TO HER BECAUSE SHE KNEW SHE KNEW SHE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A PIZZO STUDENT
ANYMORE. I KNOW I WOULDN'T BE A PIZZO STUDENT ANYMORE. AND AND THAT CONCERNS ME. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TO LETTING US STAY. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HI. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M CHRISTOPHER I'M CHRISTOPHER ERKHART, ESE SPECIALIST AT SPECIALIST AT PIZZO.
I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING BUT I WANT TO SAY ONE SHORT THING. I FOND MY WAY TO PIZZO IN OCTOBER AFTER MAKING A VERY HARD DECISION TO LEAVE ANOTHER POSITION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT I LOVED. ESE ESE SPECIALIST POSITION GOT CUT TO .5 AT BARRINGTON, BUT I FOUND MY WAY TO PIZZO. I I WAS GOING TO LEAVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NOT MANY NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT. I WAS WONDERING WHETHER I SHOULD
STAY OR NOT. THESE THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE HELPED ME FIND FIND MY JOY OF TEACHING BACK. I LEARNED A LOT SITTING IN DR. HAHN'S CLASS AT USF. SHE IS A BIG PERSON WHO HELPED ME FIND MY JOY OF TEACHING. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE IT WHEN I WAS THAT FIRST-YEAR TEACHER. BUT THINGS HAPPEN.
THE ATTACK ON PUBLIC SCHOOL WAS HARD. THINGS ARE HARD. NONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOL THAT I WORK AT IS YOUR YOUR FAULT. BUT I WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY THAT I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE PEOPLE BACK THERE. THEY GAVE ME MY CAREER BACK. SO THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD >> GOOD EVENING. I'M BRITTANY MONEY. I'M THE READING COACH AT PIZZO. I WASN'T GOING TO COME UP HERE AND TALK. I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER HERE. SHE'S MORGAN. I'VE BEEN THERE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 11 YEARS. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LOT. WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR OUR STATE WALKING IN, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BUILT UP AT THAT WE HAVE BUILT UP AT PIZZO, TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE CLOSING A DOOR IS REALLY HARD. BECAUSE WE DID A LOT OF WORK TO GET US OUT OF TRANSFORMATION AT WORK. THOSE KIDS THOSE KIDS DEPENDED ON US. ALL OF THE WORK WE PUT IN, THOSE
ARE THE TEACHERS. I WALK IN THE CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE THEM DO MAGIC. AND THESE KIDS RELY ON THEM. IT IS VERY HARD TO GET A KID, ESPECIALLY A CHILD, IN OUR DEMOGRAPHICS TO CONNECT. THEY BUILD THEIR WALLS UP. TO HAVE THOSE KIDS TAKE THEIR WALLS DOWN FOR WALLS DOWN FOR AN EDUCATORS IS VERY HARD. WE'VE DONE THAT. IF YOU WALK INTO OUR SCHOOL, YOU'LL FEEL IT. IT'S DIFFERENT. I'VE BEEN AT THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. THIS IS THE ONLY ONE YOU FEEL IT IN. AND ALL OF US LOVE EACH OTHER. ALL OF US.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE BROUGHT MY GIRLS THERE IF I DID NOT FEEL THAT THAT WAS A FAMILY AND THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM. I HAVE TWO GIRLS THAT MADE LEVEL 5 ON FAST. THEY ARE SUCCEEDING. THEY COULD GO ANYWHERE. I COULD GO ANYWHERE. BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THAT PLACE. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT, AND YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN OPPORTUNITY BY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. AND YOU HAVE A REALLY BIG DECISION. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T WALK IN OUR HALLWAYS EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO
THINK ABOUT US. TO TRULY LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE HERE TO SHOW CHILDREN THAT THE PLACE THAT THEY HAVE CREATED AS THEIR HOME MATTERS. WE'VE ALL COME. WE ALL HAVE. I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS COME IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT CARE THAT COULD BE ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY ARE CHOOSING TO COME HERE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. WE FOUGHT AND WE'LL GET THAT B, BUT WE HAVE FOUGHT AND WE DESERVE TO STAY TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE THAT WORKS AS WELL AS WE DO TOGETHER.
I PROMISE YOU. PLEASE THINK ABOUT US. PLEASE THINK ABOUT OUR KIDS. PLEASE, JUST PUT PAUSE ON THIS AND REALLY THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> OKAY. MY HEART IS BEATING OUT OF ITS CHEST. PLEASE EXCUSE THE NOISE. I KNOW THE SITUATION ABOUT THE
RENT INCREASE AND WE ALL ASKED A QUESTION, HOW CAN PIZZO STAY TOGETHER. I KNOW WE HAVE ASKED THAT BEFORE AND SAID MANY TIMES TODAY, BUT WHEN WE GET THE RESPONSE, WELL, THE RENT INCREASE SHOWS. WELL, I THINK WE CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION THAN THAT. WHEN ALSO WE HEAR THAT IT'S JUST USF'S DECISION TO RAISE THE RENT, WE ALSO FEEL LIKE WE HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE MORE TO SAY, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE RENT.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE RENT TO INCREASE, WOULD EVERYTHING BE THE SAME? I ONLY ASK THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE ASKED THAT QUESTION, WHY CAN'T WE STAY WE STAY TOGETHER, I HEARD WELL, THE RESPONSE WAS, IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO OPEN UP A CLOSED SCHOOL. LET ME ASK AGAIN, WOULD IT COST THE SAME MONEY IF WE WERE PAYING USF THE RENT WE WERE PAYING PREVIOUSLY, WOULD IT COST THE SAME TO OPEN ANOTHER SCHOOL? ALSO I HEAR OTHER SCHOOLS ARE OPENING AND GETTING OPENING AND GETTING REMODELED. SO HEARING THAT JUST MAKES US FEEL THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT WORTH
IT. ALSO A MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING TO OUR KIDS AS WELL. WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RENT INCREASE THREE YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HEAR THE NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT. WE HEARD IT FROM A USF ARTICLE. EVEN IF THE ARTICLE WAS THE FIRST TO BREAK THE NEWS TO US ABOUT THE RENT INCREASE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO REACH OUT AND SPEAK TO US AND MAYBE BACK THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT TIME TO START COMPROMISING OR COMING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATING TOGETHER, THE DISTRICT AND PIZZO STAFF TO COME
UP WITH A GREAT IDEA. I KNOW THAT'S LONG GONE NOW AND WE HAVE MOVED ON BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES. NOW, SINCE THAT HAPPENED, INSTEAD, EVERY YEAR, WHEN WE HEARD FROM THAT ARTICLE, WE'RE JUST HOLDING OUR BREATH, WAITING TO HEAR WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO USF OR TO TO USF OR TO PIZZO. THEN RECEIVED THE DREADED NEWS THAT PIZZO WAS CLOSING. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE MISSING SOMETHING. MAYBE IT WAS THE LONG BREAK TO WAIT FOR THE NEWS THAT WE WERE CLOSING OR MAYBE IT WAS HOPE BEING CRUSHED BECAUSE THE ONLY
PLAN THAT WE HEARD WAS TO BREAK UP OUR PIZZO FAMILY. NOW, DURING THOSE YEARS THAT WE KNEW ABOUT THE RENT INCREASE UNTIL NOW, WE KNOW THAT YOU CAME TO US AND WE KNOW THAT TO US AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAD ASKED OUR COMMUNITY TO PUT IN THEIR INPUT, BUT WHEN WAS THAT INPUT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED? WAS IT AFTER WE MADE THE VOTE? THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. THANK THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS JOY BRASHEAR. I TAUGHT AT PIZZO. THIS IS MY 21st YEAR. I'VE TAUGHT I'VE TAUGHT GENERATIONS I'VE TAUGHT GENERATIONS AT PIZZO. I TEACH CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH SOME OF THEM. THEY HAVE COME BACK AS EMPLOYEES. I ASK YOU, IS CLOSING PIZZO K-8 THE RIGHT THING TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO DO OR THE EASIER THING TO DO? IS CLOSING PIZZO GOING TO AID IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS? WE AREN'T CLOSING BECAUSE WE
HAVE LOW ATTENDANCE. WE'RE ASKING TO BE MOVED BECAUSE RENT IS TOO HIGH. DOES THE FAMILY SEPARATE WHEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE BILLS? NO. THAT SHOULD NEVER BE AN OPTION. STAYING TOGETHER AND FIGURING THINGS OUT IS WHAT YOU DO. PIZZO HAS OVER 900 STUDENTS. 350 PLUS STUDENTS 350 PLUS STUDENTS ON OUR CAMPUS THROUGH THE CHOICE PROGRAM. WE HAVE AN OVERFLOW OF STUDENTS IN OUR IN OUR VPK, IN OUR VPK, PEEPS, ACCESS POINT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8th GRADE IN ADDITION TO REGULAR ACADEMICS, DRUMLINE, CHORUS, ART
CLUB AND CLUB AND FALL AND SPRING ATHLETICS, JUST TO MENTION A FEW ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE. PIZZO K-8 HAS BEEN SERVICING GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS FOR 32 YEARS. PEOPLE SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO US BECAUSE THEY FEEL CONFIDENT KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND SAFETY IS IN OUR HANDS. OUR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN STEADY FOR THE LAST FIVE-PLUS YEARS. WE'RE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL, SO WHY ARE WE CLOSING AND NOT BEING MOVED TO A DIFFERENT BUILDING TO KEEP OUR FAMILY TOGETHER? WE HAVE SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO BE EVEN MORE. WE COULD BE A K-8 MAGNET THAT
CAN FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY. SEVERAL EMPTY BUILDINGS THAT WE CAN MOVE TO. ADUM IS A GREAT OPTION FOR WHOLE K-8 TO MOVE. I ASK I ASK AGAIN, IS CLOSING PIZZO K-8 A RIGHT SOLUTION OR IS IT THE EASIEST SOLUTION? YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG. WE ASK WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP PIZZO K-8 TOGETHER. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 7.13, PIZZO K-8 REASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE SCHOOL YEAR 2027-28.
SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ITEM 7.13, SECOND READING, SAME READING YOU HEARD AT THE MARCH 10 BOARD MEETING. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS INITIATING A STUDENT REASSIGNMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TERMINATION OF THE PIZZO K-8 SCHOOL LEASE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. NEARBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN GRADES K-5. STUDENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLORIDA LAW WILL RETURN TO ZONED MIDDLE SCHOOLS. K-5 ASSIGNED TO
K-5 ASSIGNED TO LOUIS, MORT, DESERVE AS PART OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS, COMMUNITY MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 19, 2026 TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT. STUDENT REASSIGNMENTS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE AGAIN BEGINNING WITH THE 27-28 SCHOOL YEAR. AS MENTIONED, I WANT TO SUMMARIZE THE LEASE. LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THE LEASE BEGAN IN 1997 WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT COST WAS $10 A YEAR. THAT WAS THAT WAS FROM 1997 TILL 2008. IN 2008, THAT LEASE AGREEMENT
WAS CHANGED AND THE NUMBER WAS INCREASED TO $60,000 A YEAR. 2008 TO 2024. YOU MAY REMEMBER, ON THE ORIGINAL LEASE ORIGINAL LEASE OF THE 60 -- SECOND LEASE FROM 2008 TO 2024, THIS TEAM WORKED ON THAT LEASE AS WE KNEW THAT LEASE WAS GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP AND THAT PRICE WOULD BE INCREASED, WE DID AND THE BOARD APPROVED A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION AT THE $60,000 COST. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE STAFF HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY
WITH USF ON THE LEASE AGREEMENT UNSUCCESSFULLY. IN 2024, THE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT WHICH I'LL READ ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA ITEM, NEW LEASE TERM SPANS SPANS JULY 2024 THROUGH JULY 2034 AND ANNUAL LEASE COST 2034 AND ANNUAL LEASE COST OF 555,000 WITH 3% ANNUAL INCREASE. ADDITIONAL 25,000 PER YEAR FOR SECURITY AND ONE-TIME PARKING FEE OF OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. SO OVER THE TEN-YEAR LEASE TERM, TOTAL COST OF THE SITE EXCLUDING MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION.
I WANTED TO SUMMARIZE FROM 97 TO 2008, $10 A YEAR. 2008 TO 24 2008 TO 24 WAS 60,000 IN THAT 2008 TO 2024, THERE WAS A ONE-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION ON THE OLD 60,000 AS WE TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH USF. IN 2024, THE NEW AGREEMENT WHICH THE BOARD APPROVED WAS THE 555 WITH THE 3% INCREASE WHICH PUTS US AT THE SECOND READING TODAY. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING I MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING I MISSED? THAT IS ITEM 7.13, PIZZO THAT IS ITEM 7.13, PIZZO K-8 REASSIGNMENT FOR YEAR 27-28. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM C 7.13. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS COME OUT TODAY AND SHOWED HAS COME OUT TODAY AND SHOWED UP
AND SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY AND SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE INVESTED AND WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR KIDS. SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP ABOUT THIS. I ALSO WANT TO ALERT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS THAT BOARD MEMBERS THAT LOUIS VIERRA, THE CITY COUNCIL MAN FOR THE DISTRICT OF PIZZO WROTE A LETTER AT 4:00 IMPLORING US TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THAT I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD TIME OR NOT TO READ, BUT I LUNCH TO YOU LOOK AT THE E-MAIL AND READ IT. HE MAKES SEVERAL GOOD POINTS ABOUT THE VALUE OF KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
HE HAS COME TO THEIR PARADE EVERY YEAR THAT THEY HOST FOR KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A PARADE. I'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AT THE LAST READING THAT THE MESSAGING IS THAT USF DOESN'T WANT US THERE AND THAT WE DON'T WANT THERE AND THAT WE DON'T WANT TO STAY SOMEWHERE WHERE WE ARE NOT WANTED. IF WE COMMITTED TO THE LEASE HERE, THERE WOULD BE OTHER OBSTACLES AND USF OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT WANT TO CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP. I'VE HEARD THAT. WHILE I DISAGREE THAT PIZZO
ISN'T WORTH THE INVESTMENT AND FIGHTING ON USF, I UNDERSTAND WHERE MY OTHER FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ARE. WE DON'T WANT TO STAY SOMEWHERE WHERE WE ARE NOT WELCOME. HOWEVER, I HAVE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING AND BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, THAT I FEEL THAT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RUSHED. WE TALKED ABOUT THE YEAR EXTENSION LAST YEAR, AND THEN LO AND BEHOLD, SIX WEEKS BEFORE WE TOOK THE FIRST VOTE, I HAD A MEETING WITH YOU, MR. FARKAS, WHERE I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS. I WAS PRESENTED WITH A VERY UNCLEAR MAP OF THE BOUNDARIES OF WHICH KIDS WERE BEING SHIFTED
WHERE. I COULDN'T GO IN ON ANY OF THE ACTUAL STREETS. I WAS ASSURED I WOULD GET MORE INFORMATION THAT I NEVER GOT UP UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT BEFORE THE LAST VOTE. I MADE IT VERY CLEAR ABOUT MY CONCERNS, ABOUT HOW WE'RE RUSHING THIS DECISION, HOW WE REALLY HAVEN'T ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY. I BROUGHT UP SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS SINCE THEN AND THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGES IN THIS. AND IF I'M FEELING THAT THIS, AS A A BOARD MEMBER, WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT THIS IS BEING RUSHED AND WE HAVEN'T EXPLORED ALL OF OUR POSSIBILITIES, I CAN
ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO TEACH IN THAT SCHOOL FEEL LIKE. WE CONTINUALLY TALK ABOUT, AGAIN, IN THIS VEIN OF SCHOOL CHOICE AND BEING THE TOP COMPETITIVE, WE TALK NONSTOP ABOUT BUILDING TRUST AND COLLABORATION AND REFLECTING WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES WANT AND TRANSPARENCY. BUT THIS DECISION AND THE WAY THIS HAS MOVED AND THE AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN AND THE WAY WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS THOROUGHLY HAS NOT HONORED WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
I CAN SAY THAT WITH CERTAINTY. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TONIGHT UNDO WHAT WE RUSHED INTO LAST TIME, MADISON TIME, MADISON MONROE WHERE DR. HAHN HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS AND ASKED US NOT TO RUSH THE DECISION, WHICH WAS RUSHED AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK AND UNDO THAT. I UNDERSTAND WE'RE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS VERY QUICKLY. WE SPOKE ABOUT IT AT OUR LAST WORKSHOP WHICH I URGE EVERYONE HERE TO WATCH WHERE WE TALKED VERY OPENLY ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, WHAT THE STATE IS DOING AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE BEING FORCED INTO MAKING.
BUT NUMBER ONE, WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON WHEN WE MAKE OUR DECISION IS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE WE'VE EXPLORED THAT TO THE FULLEST. I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING THE VERY SAME THING. WE HAVE EMPTY BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR REPURPOSE THAT WE HAVE NOT FULLY EXPLORED ALL OF THE OPTIONS TO KEEP THIS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INTACT. YOU'VE HAD OUR UNION COME AND TALK, YOU'VE HAD TEACHERS COME AND TALK ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND THE MAGIC THAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL. I CAN TELL YOU BECAUSE I WENT
THERE LAST WEEK AND SHOWED UP TO FACE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ABOUT THE DECISION THAT THERE'S MAGIC IN THAT SCHOOL THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE. FOR US TO RUSH THIS DECISION, I EVEN TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE TIMELINE, YOU SAID WE DID NOT HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION RIGHT NOW, THAT WE COULD PAUSE WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE TIME BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR TO EXPLORE MORE OPTIONS. SO THE EMPHASIS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION NOW I FIND TO BE DISINGENUOUS. I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT CO-LOCATION. THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD
ALWAYS BE WORRIED ABOUT. HOWEVER, I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SAME UNDERSTANDING THAT IF AN INTENT HAS BEEN PUT INTO TO THIS SCHOOL TO ADUM WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT THERE'S NO THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON'T TRY TO TAKE THE PROPERTY AND CO-LOCATE BECAUSE IT IS EMPTY. KEEPING THE BUILDING EMPTY FROM OTHER ADVICE FROM OTHER DISTRICTS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO TAKE THE SCHOOL. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS AGAIN MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS AND PUT A PAUSE IN IT TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO TALK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND EXPLORE OPTIONS
BECAUSE WE HAD A ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD SINCE WE DID THE STEWART DECISION COME AND TELL US TO SLOW DOWN. SO THAT'S MY REQUEST. [ APPLAUSE ] [ [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Karen Perez: WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE ORDER SO WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. >>Jim Porter: PUBLIC, PLEASE HEAR THE BOARD. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION ON THE BOARD TO TABLE WHICH REQUIRES A SECOND BEFORE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION CAN OCCUR.
THE CHAIR HAS PASSED THE GAVEL AND MR. WASHINGTON, IF YOU COULD NOW RUN THE MEETING. SHE PASSED THE GAVEL. SHE MADE THE MOTION TO SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, NOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DEBATE IS WHETHER YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT OR WHETHER YOU WANT TO TABLE IT OR CONTINUE IT TO A FUTURE DATE. THAT IS THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DISCUSS, ABOUT WHETHER YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO THE FUTURE OR VOTE ON IT TONIGHT. THAT'S WHAT THE DISCUSSION SHOULD BE. WHEN YOU GET READY TO VOTE, I'LL EXPLAIN FURTHER. IF YOU WANT TO
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONTINUANCE, HIT YOUR LIGHT. MS. PEREZ IS SPEAKING. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE USF RIGHT NOW WHO TAUGHT ME AS A SOCIAL WORKER, I GOT MY DEGREE AT WORKER, I GOT MY DEGREE AT USF ABOUT ADVOCATING ABOUT ADVOCATING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SOCIAL WORKERS DO. FOR THOSE WHO FACE, AND THAT'S
WHERE I LEARNED THAT TERMINOLOGY, FINANCIAL EVICTION. USF IS A USF IS A SCHOOL THAT GRADUATES ALUMNI FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY, EDUCATION, AND, OF COURSE, SOCIAL WORK. SO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND A AND A CERTIFIED AND A CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST, FINANCIAL EVICTION CAN BE SEEN
AS A VERY TRAUMATIC EVENT. AND AND FAR-REACHING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL RAMIFICATIONS AS WE'VE HEARD HERE WE'VE HEARD HERE TONIGHT. FROM WHAT I'VE FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD IN FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD IN THE COMMUNITY IS DISPLACEMENT, A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY FACED DISPLACEMENT. A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES OUR FAMILIES FACE OUR FAMILIES FACE INSTABILITY.
ALSO OF THE SCHOOL FOR THEM CAN ALSO LEAD OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE CHRONIC STRESS AND ANXIETY NOT TO MENTION OUR STAFF. THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA THAT THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA THAT COMES ALONG WITH ALONG WITH IT AND ALSO ALONG WITH IT AND ALSO THE EDUCATIONAL DISRUPTION. I GET THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES WANT TO MOVE TOGETHER. A LOT OF STUDENTS WANT TO MOVE TOGETHER, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND THE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS THAT
THESE STUDENTS HAVE THESE STUDENTS HAVE TOGETHER. WE TO YOU THE THAT WE ARE -- WE OUT TO THAT WE OUT TO THAT WE ARE 93% GRADUATION RATE AND I'M HOPING TO SEE 100% IN A FEW TO SEE 100% IN A FEW YEARS. AND THESE STUDENTS ARE PART OF THE HUNDRED PERCENT. THEY THEY ARE HAVING TO FACE ANOTHER PIECE OF ROUTINE. I KNOW WHEN WE I KNOW WHEN WE MOVED THE
STUDENTS INTO NEW SCHOOLS, RECENTLY -- WELL, A FEW YEARS AGO, WE NOTICED THE DISRUPTION REALLY CAUSED SOME ISSUES IN THEIR LEARNING PROCESS. WHAT I'VE SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF TRAUMA AND SOCIAL WORK IS THAT THIS FINANCIAL EVICTION THAT IS COMING FROM A THAT IS COMING FROM A HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOOL, USF, WHO ASKED OUR STUDENTS TO COME AND GET EDUCATION FROM
EDUCATION FROM THEM, WHO EDUCATION FROM THEM, WHO PUTS OUT SCHOLARSHIPS INVITING OUR STUDENTS TO COME STUDENTS TO COME GET AN EDUCATION FROM THEM. IS TELLING THEM ALSO THAT THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION RIGHT NOW AT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TIME IN THEIR LIVES REALLY DOESN'T MATTER. YOU'VE GONE TO SPEAK WITH THEM. I KNOW YOUR STAFF HAS GONE TO SPEAK WITH THEM, AND THEY ARE STILL NOT BUDGING. EVEN IF YOU LET THIS CLASS THIS
COHORT GO THROUGH AND GRADUATE, AND THEN WE MOVE THE OTHER ONES TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, BUT NOT EVEN THAT. THAT'S WHAT I'M THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING. WE COULD DO ALL THE INTERVENTIONS WE WANT TO FOSTER RESILIENCE, BUT RESILIENCE, BUT TO RESILIENCE, BUT TO REBUILD SOMETHING, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE INSTABILITY IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. THAT'S MY THOUGHTS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Henry "Shake" Washington: FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING OUT EVERYBODY, FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO. YOU ARE PARENTS. YOU ARE COMMUNITY PEOPLE. AND YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. IT'S HARD.
I'VE HAD THREE SCHOOLS IN MY AREA TO CLOSE. AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HEAR I HEAR CONVERSATIONS WITH MY PARENTS, VERY DIFFICULT TO PARENTS, VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. I MUST HAVE STAYED UP A COUPLE OF NIGHTS OF NIGHTS CRYING BECAUSE THEY CLOSED THREE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT FIVE, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. APPARENTLY, WHAT WAS THAT CAUSED, SUPERINTENDENT? WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE IF -- WHAT WAS THE COST IF WE USE THE
FACILITY AGAIN? FOR THAT YEAR? >>Van Ayres: KEEPING PIZZO IS $550,000 A YEAR $550,000 A YEAR WITH 3% INCREASE EVERY YEAR CURRENT LEASE AGREEMENT. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: APPARENTLY THEY DON'T WANT US TO BE THERE. THAT'S HIGH, PEOPLE. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THEY DON'T WANT US TO BE THEY DON'T WANT US TO BE THERE. I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH USF. I REALLY DID, BECAUSE WE DID I REALLY DID, BECAUSE WE DID AT
ONE TIME, WHEN I WAS THE AREA SUPERINTENDENT, WE HAD A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVING US TEACHERS AND WE HAD A GREAT COLLABORATION WITH COLLABORATION WITH THEM. BUT NOW IT'S DIFFERENT. THIS IS THIS IS A HARD DECISION. WE MADE MANY DECISIONS IN OUR LIFETIMES, BUT SOME ARErd HEAR THAN OTHERS. AND AS I LOOK AT ALL THOSE WONDERFUL WONDERFUL STUDENTS COMING UP AND PARENTS, IT'S HARD. IT HAPPENED TO ME AT TWO YEARS
AGO, A YEAR AGO, WHEN THEY CLOSED THE SCHOOL AND WE HAD WAY MORE PEOPLE THAN THIS HERE. BUT WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. AND AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, AND THE DECISION IS GOING TO BE HARD. AND BECAUSE WE MAKE A DECISION, IT HAS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PEOPLE. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE REALLY IS DEALING WITH STUDENTS. AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND AND MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT, BUT I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT. THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAKING UP. AND IT'S GOING TO BE WORSE. IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. IT'S GOING TO GET IT'S GOING TO GET HARDER. THIS IS NOT EASY. IT'S GOING TO GET HARDER. WE SIT UP HERE AND MAKE DECISIONS AND WE LOVE YOU GUYS. WE LOVE YOU. WE'RE PEOPLE. BUT SOME DECISIONS WE MAKE WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE, AND WE CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
AND NO MATTER WHAT AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, IT'S GOING TO COME. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MANY OF YOU MANY OF YOU SITTING IN MANY OF YOU SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE SPENT MANY OF THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE GIVING TO
THESE CHILDREN. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? THOSE THOSE YEARS YOU DON'T GET BACK. NOR CAN WE GIVE THEM BACK. YOU KNOW, MEMBER WASHINGTON SAYS THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE VERY HARD. THEY ARE. BUT THAT DOESN'T SATISFY THE QUESTION OF THE PAUSE OR QUESTION OF THE PAUSE OR NOT. MR. FARKAS, YOU MR. FARKAS, YOU HAD MR. FARKAS, YOU HAD SOME STATEMENTS MADE BY A BOARD
MEMBER THAT PERHAPS THERE MEMBER THAT PERHAPS THERE WERE MISHAPS IN THE PROCESS OF THIS DECISION. CAN YOU REVIEW? I HAVE HERE IT SAYS THE I HAVE HERE IT SAYS THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL FEEDBACK REQUESTED TO KEEP PIZZO K-8 SCHOOL OPEN REGARDLESS OF COST TO THE DISTRICT, I COST TO THE DISTRICT, I MOAN, WHAT FEEDBACK -- I MEAN, WHAT FEEDBACK HAVE YOU HEARD? JUST JUST SHARE WITH US THE PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH. >>Christopher Farkas: SURE. YOU HAVE ALL SPOKEN TO THE SAME THING ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF
THE DECISION. WHETHER IT WAS THE FIRST MEETING SUPERINTENDENT AYRES HAD OUT THERE OR THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PARENTS, CONSISTENT. ESPECIALLY THE FACULTY, WANTS TO STAY TOGETHER. NO QUESTION THAT IS THE CASE. ONE OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS BROUGHT UP, WOULD WE BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THIS CONVERSATION IF THEY HADN'T INCREASED THE RENT? THE QUESTION IS, NO, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WHICH MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN CONSISTENT MAINLY FROM MAINLY FROM STAFF, THAT HELPED TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY TOGETHER. YOU SAW THE CAMARADERIE AND SUPPORT THEY
SUPPORT THEY HAVE FOR EACH OTHER TONIGHT. >>Lynn Gray: HAVING HEARD THAT, THEN WE GAVE WHAT THEN WE GAVE WHAT WAS OUR RESULT? STILL HELD STEADFAST WITH THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THAT WE WILL BE TRANSFERRING THE STUDENTS TO? >>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. ADUM IS AN OPTION FOR THE BOARD. THE REASON IT WASN'T RECOMMENDED R ECOMMENDED FROM STAFF WAS BECAUSE OF THE COST AND LOCATION. ADUM IS ALMOST FIVE MILES DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE FROM THE SCHOOL SITE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S ULTIMATELY YOUR DECISION. THAT BEING SAID THE REASON WE DIDN'T PUT IT THERE, YOU ALSO PASS TWO UNDERUTILIZED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON THE WAY. ALSO SITS ON THE SITE WITH FOREST HILLS. SAME SITE WITH FOREST HILLS. FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, IT WAS ONE THAT DID MAKE SENSE TO US OBVIOUSLY FROM A FACULTY MEMBER STANDPOINT, IT'S SOMETHING THEY STRIVE FOR BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER. OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST EDUCATED GUESS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND BEST INFORMED INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WE THINK SHOULD HAPPEN.
I THINK THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE COST, BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE FROM THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL SITE AS TO WHY SCHOOL SITE AS TO WHY WE CHOSE TO DISPERSE. CO-LOCATION WE TALKED ABOUT A BUNCH. IF WE DO GO TO ADUM, ADUM OPEN FOR CO-LOCATION. CURRENT LOCATION AT PIZZO, JUST OVER 1500 -- 900 KIDS OVER 1500 -- 900 KIDS THERE, 950 KIDS THERE, BE ABOUT 60% WHAT THAT LOOKS THAT LOOKS LIKE. UNFORTUNATELY, AVAILABLE FOR COHOAX.
>>Lynn Gray: I'M LOOKING >>Lynn Gray: I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS THAT ARE THE TRANSFERABLE ONES. I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE HALF EMPTY. TAMPA PALMS IS TAMPA PALMS IS HALF EMPTY. WELL, THERE WAS A REFUTE HERE. IS THAT CORRECT? >>Christopher Farkas: I THINK IT'S 60% OF THE TOTAL. I CAN LOOK AT IT REAL QUICK. RIGHT NOW, TAMPA PALMS HAS OVER, I THINK SEVEN OR EIGHT EMPTY CLASSROOMS. THAT'S CORRECT. GRAY X-RAY AT
GRAY X-RAY AT ANY RATE,. >>Lynn Gray: AT ANY RATE, THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION. I DON'T KNOW THE I DON'T KNOW THE PRAGMATIC ELEMENTS OF PAUSING, WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN. I'LL PAUSE MY THOUGHT TRAIN RIGHT NOW. >>Christopher Farkas: JUST SO THE BOARD IS INFORMED, THE LEASE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE REQUIRES A ONE-YEAR NOTICE FOR US TO MOVE OUT OF IT. WHENEVER THE BOARD MAKES THE DECISION AND WE SEND NOTIFICATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, IT'S 365 DAYS FOR US TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE. THE TIMELINE IS DETERMINED BY THIS BOARD.
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T DO THAT DURING A SCHOOL DURING A SCHOOL YEAR. AS LONG AS AS LONG AS WE SEND NOTIFICATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BEFORE THE REASSIGNMENT, THAT IS THE DEADLINE INTENDED. IT'S UP TO THE BOARD, AT THE END OF THE OF THE DAY, 365 DAYS IS WHAT THE LEASE SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THEM BEFORE WE GET OUT OF THE LEASE. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS, AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DO WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR COMING OUT.
IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE. TAKES A LOT OF PRIDE, TAKES A LOT OF GUTS TO GET UP HERE AND REALLY SAY HOW YOU FEEL, REALLY GIVE US AS MUCH INPUT AS WE CAN AS WE DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING ON IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. THESE DECISIONS ARE THE HARDEST THINGS WE HAVE TO DO ON THIS BOARD. IT IS GUT WRENCHING TO LOOK AT A PARENT AND SAY WE'RE CLOSING YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL. IT'S GUT WRENCHING TO LOOK AT STAFF AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING A SCHOOL THAT YOU SPENT DECADES IN AND PUTTING YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL INTO.
IT IS GUT WRENCHING. WE DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY. BUT THIS DECISION IS BUT THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT USF. IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, THIS DISTRICT HAS LOST THIS DISTRICT HAS LOST OVER 7,000 STUDENTS. FROM DAY 10 TO DAY 100, WE LOST 1700. THIS YEAR ALONE FROM DAY 10 TO DAY 100, WE LOST $8 MILLION OF SALARIES WE STILL HAVE TO PAY TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE'VE ALREADY WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD BUSY
MATTER THAT THEY WILL CO-LOCATE IN 30 OF OUR SCHOOLS IN 2027. THAT IS SPACE THAT IS SPACE THAT WE DON'T GET BACK. THAT IS MONEY THAT THEY ARE TAKING OVER THAT WE DON'T GET TO GROW. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF AT ALL. AND IF USF WOULD AND IF USF WOULD SAY STAY THE TEN YEARS, TEN YEARS, IT'S $60,000, GREAT, WE WILL WE WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO DO THAT, BUT IF WE STAY THAT, BUT IF WE STAY LONGER,
THEY CHARGE US MORE. THEY ASK US TO REMOVE THE BUILDING, THE SLAB, AND EVERY PIECE THAT WE EVER HAD. WE WERE NOT GOING TO STAY THERE FOREVER. THEY ARE NOT LETTING US. I WOULD LOVE THEM TO BECOME A LAB SCHOOL. I WOULD LOVE THEM TO TAKE THAT OVER. I WOULD LOVE THEIR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE TEACHERS, INVEST IN THE STUDENTS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. DO THEIR RESEARCH. INVEST IN EDUCATION IN FLORIDA. BUT THAT'S A CHOICE THEY ARE NOT MAKING.
AND IF THEY DON'T MAKE THAT CHOICE, IT'S AN ADDED EXPENSE THAT THIS DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE. IT'S NOT EASY. IT'S VERY HARD, BUT IT'S A LARGE PICTURE THAT IS NOT JUST A ONE-SIDED PICTURE. IT'S IT'S SO IT'S SO MANY IT'S SO MANY THINGS. IT'S LOSS OF STUDENTS. IT'S LOSS OF CHANGES THAT WERE -- THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO FROM THE STATE. THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING
MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR TEACHER SALARIES, FOR SUSTAINABLE WITHIN OUR OUR STUDENTS, AND IN AS MANY SCHOOLS AS WE CAN. SO YOUR SO YOUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD, WHETHER WE MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU LIKE OR YOU DON'T, I CAN PROMISE YOU WE DO HEAR YOU. WE JUST CAN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING. AND WE SEE -- THERE ARE SO MANY
THINGS THAT GO INTO THESE DECISIONS. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A LOCATION OR ONE FACTOR. IT'S A MOUNTAIN OF FACTORS THAT WE FIGHT AGAINST AND WHEN THIS DECISION WAS MADE INITIALLY WITH USF TWO YEARS AGO, I PROMISE YOU WE WERE FIGHTING WITH THEM. I PROMISE YOU WE WERE COLLECTIVELY ASKING OUR LEGISLATORS TO COME OUT AND STAND WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS TO SCHOOLS TO CHANGE WHAT USF WAS DOING. IT DIDN'T WORK. WE TRIED. BECAUSE WE DID FIND THAT THIS IS
VALUABLE SPACE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAD TO SAY BEFORE I RESPONDED. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS UP HERE, WHEN THEY SAY THIS IS A HARD DECISION AND NO ONE WANTS TO MAKE THIS DECISION, I'VE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT I BELIEVE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT KIDS AND CARE ABOUT EDUCATION AND THESE ARE HARD DECISIONS.
HOWEVER, IN COMPARISON TO THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE IN YOUR DISTRICT, MEMBER WASHINGTON, THOSE WERE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. AND I ALSO STOOD WITH YOU AND VOTED NO AGAINST THOSE CHANGES. THOSE WERE SITUATIONS WHERE WE WERE TOLD WE DIDN'T HAVE TEACHERS IN THOSE SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S WHY WE COULDN'T KEEP THEM OPEN. THOSE WERE SITUATIONS WHERE WE WERE TOLD WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ATTENDANCE IN THOSE SCHOOLS AND THAT'S WHY WE COULDN'T KEEP THEM OPEN. IN THIS SCHOOL, THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION. WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT ABLE TO STAY ON THIS PROPERTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT AND THAT IS A HARD DECISION. BUT I DISAGREE WITH THE FACT
THAT WE'VE EXPLORED ALL THE OTHER OPTIONS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS AND EMPLOYEES AND KEEP THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. YOU MENTIONED THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GOT FROM THE ONE MEETING THAT WE THAT WE SHOWCASED AROUND THAT WE SHOWCASED AROUND THIS, WHERE VERY FEW PEOPLE ATTENDED BECAUSE OF THE NOTIFICATION AND SHORT TIMING ON IT. HOWEVER, THE FEEDBACK WAS, IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE US, PLEASE KEEP US TOGETHER. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE SAID WE UNDERSTAND IF YOU CAN'T STAY ON
USF, BUT CAN YOU EXPLORE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES? MY PUSH-BACK IS WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME OR HAD THE CONVERSATIONS TO EXPLORE THAT. IF YOU'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN PRIVY TO AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THOSE DETAILS THAT I HAVEN'T, THAT HE IS A PROBLEM. SO EITHER WE'RE NOT REALLY EXPLORING THAT AND WE'RE NOT HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO MOVE IT TO ADUMS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I'VE HAD TOTALLY DIFFERENT NUMBERS PRESENTED TO ME ABOUT HOW MANY KIDS WOULD BE MOVED AND WHERE THEY WOULD BE MOVED AND WHETHER THEY COULD FIT IN
KIMBALL OR NOT. WE TALK ABOUT DISTANCE. THE MAP PRESENTED TO ME, KIDS REASSIGNED TO TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY TRAVEL FURTHER TO GO TO TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY TO TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY BY 1.26 MILES THAN THEY WOULD TO 1.26 MILES THAN THEY WOULD TO GO TO ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO RETROFIT IT. WE HAVE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE THEY WISH THEY HAD MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITIES LIKE GYMNASIUMS AND ALL THE MONEY WE'LL INVEST TO CHANGE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INTO MIDDLE SCHOOLS, YET WE HAVE THE FACILITIES THERE IN ADAMS,
SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT RETROFITTING FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, I SEE INVESTMENTS IN ALL OTHER DISTRICTS, WHETHER IT'S OPENING NEW SCHOOLS. WHETHER IT'S PUTTING IN NEW PROGRAMS. WE'RE FINDING WAYS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND COME UP WITH THE MONEY IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS TO MEET THOSE COMMUNITY NEEDS. WHAT I DON'T SEE HAPPENING IS THAT HAPPENING HERE, THAT HAPPENING HERE, HONESTLY. AND I FIND THAT TO BE RUSHED. TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T EVEN HAVE MORE TIME FOR MY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED AS A ANSWERED AS A BOARD MEMBER, FOR THIS COMMUNITY'S QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED, AGAIN, IT COMES BACK
TO TRANSPARENCY, COLLABORATION, AND THRUST. -- AND TRUST. I'VE NEVER BEEN TOLD AND I ASKED FOR THEM, WHAT SUPPORTS DO WE GIVE TO THE OTHER SCHOOLS? TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY, CAN I SAY IT'S NOT AT 60% CAPACITY BECAUSE THE ROOMS WE ARE USING IS FULL ASD, FULL SELF-CONTAINED ROOMS FOR OUR KIDS. THEY MAY NOT BE UTILIZED IN THE WAY TO WHERE WE HAVE WAY TO WHERE WE HAVE MAXIMUM CAPACITY FOR STUDENT STATIONS BUT THEY ARE UTILIZED TO BEST SERVE THOSE STUDENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND NO ONE KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN I DO BECAUSE THAT'S MY ZONE
SCHOOL WHERE MY CHILD WENT TO. THE OTHER SCHOOLS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENDING OUR KIDS TO ARE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS. WE JUST HAD A WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT TRANSFORMATION AND TRYING TO GET OUT OF IT. I'M NOT SURE IF MORT IS CONSIDERED FRAGILE TRANSFORMATION, TALKING ABOUT SENDING FROM A C SCHOOL TO THREE TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS. SO TO SIT HERE AND TELL ME THAT WE HAVE DONE ALL THE RESEARCH IN SIX WEEKS WITHOUT GIVING ME THE ANSWERS THAT I'VE ASKED FOR, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THE MOST THOUGHTFUL, BEST DECISIONS, YES, WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS BUT IT'S UP TO EACH AND EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THEM TO MAKE THEM WITH THE FIDELITY THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR PARENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WHILE I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, I DO NOT AGREE THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS SITUATION. IF THIS PASSES I THINK IT IS A TRAVESTY AND WE'LL BE IN THE SAME SITUATION LIKE WE WERE THE LAST TIME WE RUSHED SCHOOL CLOSURES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. CERTAINLY, I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AROUND PIZZO. I WAS A PROFESSOR IN THE COLLEGE OF OF ED FOR 16 YEARS AND HAD INTERNS AT PIZZO EVERY YEAR I WAS THERE. MYSELF AND MY TWO COLLEAGUES WERE WERE VERY INVESTED IN SCHOOL UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BEST WAY TO TRAIN FUTURE TEACHERS AND TO POOH WERE WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. BUT OVER THE BUT OVER THE YEARS, SADLY I'VE
SEEN THAT VISION DISAPPEAR FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. THOSE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS DIDN'T SEEM TO BE VERY VALUED OR THERE WAS NOBODY LEFT TO PICK UP THE MANTLE THE MANTLE AND CONTINUE THAT WORK MOVING FORWARD. AND IT'S AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE PIZZO SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STAR PIZZO SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STAR IN OUR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY RESOURCES WE WERE WILLING TO PROVIDE. AND AT THE TIME THE UNIVERSITY, WE WERE PROVIDING A LOT OF
RESOURCES, AND IT WAS A LAB SCHOOL, AND WE WERE DOING ACTION RESEARCH AT THE SCHOOL, RESEARCH AT THE SCHOOL, AND IT WAS REALLY ON THE CUTTING WAS REALLY ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INFORMING TEACHER OF INFORMING TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS PROGRAMS NATIONALLY. AND THAT HAS DISAPPEARED. I AGREE WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING. IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO MANY OF YOU AS YOU AS ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY. IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME AS FORMER FORMER LONGTIME
FORMER LONGTIME EMPLOYEE OF THE UNIVERSITY TO SEE THAT PARTNERSHIP JUST PARTNERSHIP JUST DISSOLVE COMPLETELY. I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN. I CAN TELL YOU WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ELSE GOING ON IN PUBLIC EDUCATION RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY EVEN AT 60,000 A YEAR AT SOME POINT WE WOULD -- IT WOULD HAVE BECOME UNAFFORDABLE. IT BREAKS MY
IT BREAKS MY HEART TO HEAR ALL OF THE OF THE TEACHERS AND THE CHILDREN TALK ABOUT WHAT THESE DECISIONS, THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THEM, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND YOUR JOY IN YOUR JOB. WHEN YOU DO, YOU WANT TO HOLD ON REALLY TIGHT. WHEN YOU FIND THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR FOR YOUR CHILD, SOME OF YOU PROBABLY CHOICED INTO PIZZO. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, TOO. I SHARE MANY OF THE SAME CONCERNS.
WHAT'S REALLY THROWN US A LITTLE OFF THIS YEAR AS OFF THIS YEAR AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS THE HOPE BILL AND THE CO-LOCATION, BECAUSE THAT IS A PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE, KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU'RE BUILDING THE PLANE WHILE YOU'RE FLYING WHILE YOU'RE FLYING IT. SOMETIMES IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS WE HAVE TO SITUATIONS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE DISTRICT
BECAUSE WE DO EMPLOY OVER 25,000 PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION QUARTER OF A MILLION FAMILIES. AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SCHOOL CAPACITY RIGHT NOW. I KNOW OUR FAMILIES WANT I KNOW OUR FAMILIES WANT K-8s. BELIEVE ME, THEY ARE BANGING DOWN MY DOOR EVERY DAY. IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, THEN THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING. AS MUCH AS IT AS MUCH AS IT COMES TO THE DAIS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT. OUR OUR CIT HAS BEEN CUT DRASTICALLY
FROM 25% TO 5%. OUR SALES TAX REFERENDUM IS UP IN TWO YEARS. BOTH OF BOTH OF THOSE BOTH OF THOSE TAX ITEMS FUND THE BUILDING AND THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS IS ALWAYS A MONEY THING, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD THE PLANE WHILE FLYING IT RIGHT NOW. REALLY SAVE THE PLANE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES BETTER, AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE
TEACHERS WITH RESOURCES TEACHERS WITH RESOURCES AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIFT OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS UP. BUT THAT IS WHY WE ARE FACED WITH THIS HARD DECISION TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE THIS CO-LOCATION ISSUE THAT'S JUST ON OUR BACKS EVERY DAY. AND THOSE ARE JUST HORRIBLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE BECAUSE UNLIKE BECAUSE UNLIKE CORPORATIONS, WE'RE DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS' LIVES. AND THAT'S NOT LOST ON ANY OF US. MY TIME IS UP.
BUT I WILL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE LATER. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. >>Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, AGAIN, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS MADE BY MEMBER VAUGHN, AND IT IS TO TABLE THIS OR HIT PAUSE ON THE DECISION TONIGHT. IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THIS AND NOT VOTING TONIGHT, YOU WOULD VOTE YES. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE THE ITEM, YOU WOULD VOTE THE ITEM, YOU WOULD VOTE NO. >>Karen Perez: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOU SEE YOUR LIGHTS YOU SEE YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR.
AND IT AND IT PASSES WITH -- OH, NO, IT FAILS. WITH MYSELF WITH MYSELF AND MEMBER VAUGHN DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE. >>Jim Porter: THE MOTION FAILS. THE MAIN MOTION ON THE FAIL MADE BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND SECONDED BY MEMBER GRAY TO APPROVE THE PIZZO APPROVE THE PIZZO K-8 REASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE 27-28 IS BACK ON THE FLOOR. YOU CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION OR VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION.
>>Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES WITH MEMBER VAUGHN AND MYSELF DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 7.14, GRAHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BROWARD ELEMENTARY BROWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REASSIGNMENT BEGINNING SCHOOL
YEAR 2027-2028. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU. 7.14, SECOND READING. THIS IS THE GRAHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BROWARD REASSIGNMENT BEGINNING 27-28. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS UNDERUTILIZATION TWO OF OUR ELEMENTARY SITES, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS IMPLEMENTING A BOUNDARY CHANGE TO MERGE THE ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES OF GRAHAM AND BROWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. ALL STUDENTS WITHIN THE COMBINED BOUNDARY WILL ATTEND BROWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHICH HAS ADEQUATE CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS FROM BOTH SCHOOLS. AS PART OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS, COMMUNITY MEETING WAS
HELD ON FEBRUARY 17, 2026, TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT. THESE REASSIGNMENTS AGAIN, WHICH INCLUDES ALL STUDENTS WITHIN THE COMBINED BOUNDARY WILL ATTEND BROWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BROWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE 27-28 SCHOOL YEAR. AGAIN, THAT IS THE SECOND READING FOR 7.14, GRAHAM TO BROWARD. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.14. I HAVE A I HAVE A MOTION I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON.
A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT AS A BOARD, ALTHOUGH I'M GOING TO APPROVE THIS BECAUSE SITTING APPROVE THIS BECAUSE SITTING AT 120 AND 128 STUDENTS IN A 120 AND 128 STUDENTS IN A SCHOOL THAT'S GOT HUNDREDS OF OPEN SEATS IS NOT OKAY. WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND THEY ARE HARD AND THEY ARE NOT EASY, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS
IS SOLVING THE IS SOLVING THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON CLEAR ON THAT. WE'RE BAND-AIDING, AND I WE'RE BAND-AIDING, AND I WISH WE WOULD DO BETTER. AGAIN, MEMBER VAUGHN WAS SAYING THE SAME THING. WE'RE PUT IN THE POSITIONS RIGHT NOW THAT WHEN YOU BRING THESE TO US, SUPERINTENDENT, YOU NEED TO SEE LONG-TERM. WE KNOW A SCHOOL CAN'T EVEN SIT, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT 250 STUDENTS. THERE'S NO GROWTH IN THAT AREA TO BUILD ON THE 250. SO WE'RE MAKING A DECISION THAT WE KNOW WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER DECISION LATER.
SO IT'S NOT SMART TO KEEP BRINGING THESE TO THE DISTRICT AND BRINGING THESE TO THE BOARD THAT ALTHOUGH WE'LL APPROVE IT TODAY, WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. I REALLY ASK I REALLY ASK YOU TO THINK THREE YEARS, YEARS, FIVE YEARS, BECAUSE THE STABILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STUDENTS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THIS STUFF IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S NO GROWTH HERE. WE DON'T SEE WHERE THEY WE DON'T SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD NEW HOUSING HERE.
WE SEE OTHER THINGS BEING WE SEE OTHER THINGS BEING DONE. SO CONSEQUENTLY, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE VERY UNDERUTILIZED AS A SCHOOL WITH THIS DECISION. ALTHOUGH WE AGREE WITH THIS DECISION, IT'S NOT SOLVING A BIGGER PROBLEM. WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE BIGGER DECISIONS LIKE PIZZO AND OTHERS, WE OWE IT TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MOVING THESE KIDS TWICE IN FOUR YEARS. WE'RE NOT MOVING THEM THREE TIMES IN SIX YEARS. SO I ASK YOU, CONTINUE TO LOOK BETTER BEFORE -- LOOK LONGER TO
MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, NOT A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION. >>Van Ayres: I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. JUST KNOW FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND PREDICTION OF ENROLLMENT THREE AND FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WE WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO ENSURE THAT. JUST KNOW THIS PROCESS, AS MEMBER RENDON MENTIONED, THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS. WE'LL GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT IT ALL THE TIME ANNUALLY. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW AS MENTIONED EARLIER WITH ENROLLMENT COUNTS, WE'RE AT A PLACE NOW WHERE WE'VE GOT SOME
DECLINING ENROLLMENT. HARD TO PREDICT YEARS IN THE FUTURE WHAT THAT'S GOING TO FUTURE WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AND WORK TO DO BETTER IN THAT RESPECT. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM THE NEXT ITEM IS THE NEXT ITEM IS 7.15.
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY REASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE SCHOOL YEAR 2027-2028. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN, THE SECOND READING OF THE MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARY REASSIGNMENT. DURING THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS FROM MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE TEMPORARILY CONSOLIDATED WITH CONSOLIDATED WITH MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS. DUE TO ONGOING FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATION, THE DISTRICT IS PROPOSING A RELOCATED PORTION OF THE MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AREA TO THE MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITY ON A PERMANENT BASIS. STUDENTS RESIDING EAST OF DALE
MABRY HIGHWAY AND NORTH OF STATE ROAD 60 WILL BE REASSIGNED TO STEWART MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AS PART OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS. COMMUNITY MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 23, 2026 TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT. THE PROPOSED STUDENT REASSIGNMENTS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE THE 27-28 SCHOOL YEAR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM, THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM 7.16, ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY FOR YOUNG MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AND STUDENT REASSIGNMENTS
FOR ADJACENT SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: SECOND READING >>Van Ayres: SECOND READING OF 7.16. CREATION OF THE BOUNDARY COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTION FOR FAMILIES IN WEST TAMPA. STUDENTS WITHIN THE NEW YOUNG MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL BOUNDARY WILL BE FROM GRECO, JENNINGS, SLIGH, AND STEWART MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOLS AS PART OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS, COMMUNITY MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2026 TO GATHER INPUT. STUDENT REASSIGNMENTS WILL TAKE EFFECTIVE BEGINNING THE 27-28 SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT IS THAT IS ITEM 7.16. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.16. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 7.17, SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8 CONFIGURATION EFFECTIVE SCHOOL YEAR 2027-2028. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN, SECOND READING OF SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8 RECONFIGURATION. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PROPOSING A GRADE RECONFIGURATION FOR THE SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8 TRANSITIONING THE SITE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVING GRADES K-5. STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-8 REASSIGNED TO MEMORIAL AND SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND WOODSON K-8 AS PART OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGE
PROCESS, COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY HELD ON FEBRUARY 18, 2026 TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT. PROPOSED STUDENT REASSIGNMENTS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE BEGINNING WITH THE 27-28 SCHOOL WITH THE 27-28 SCHOOL YEAR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM APPROVE ITEM C 7.17. I HAVE A MOTION I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
MEMBER MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL QUESTIONS BROUGHT UP AROUND SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION. THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM THIS COMMUNITY IS FROM THIS COMMUNITY IS THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY ASKING FOR A CHANGE OF STOPPING THIS FROM NO LONGER BEING A LONGER BEING A K-8. BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS AROUND TRANSPARENCY, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING KIDS SAFE DURING
THE TRANSITION. AGAIN THAT AGAIN THAT IS MY CONCERN AS FAR AS WHAT STEPS ARE BEING PUT IN FOR THAT. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION, THERE IS NO BUSING WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS. BUT WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THAT AND KIDS ARE HAVING TO WALK -- AGAIN, I DID MY FINAL INTERNSHIP AT SULPHUR SPRINGS. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA AND THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING. I MEAN, I'VE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT
WILD DOGS IN PACKS COMING BEFORE SCHOOL HOURS. SO WHAT I WANT TO KNOW BEFORE I VOTE ON THIS IS WHAT ARE WE DOING TO BE PROACTIVE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS, SPECIFICALLY AROUND SAFETY AND MAKING SURE THE KIDS ARE GETTING TO THE NEW SCHOOLS SAFELY AND THAT THE PARENTS UNDERSTAND IN ENOUGH TIME AND THE COMMUNITY HEARS THIS. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I HEAR CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY AROUND. >>Christopher Farkas: I THINK THE EASIEST THING IS TO PROVIDE THE ABOUT US FROM SULPHUR SPRINGS TO THE SCHOOL.
>>Jessica Vaughn: SO WE'RE DOING THAT. THAT'S WHAT IS ON THE TABLE. >>Christopher Farkas: THAT IS CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: HOW LONG IS THAT FOR? INDEFINITELY WE'LL PROVIDE THAT? >>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL OF THE KIDS REZONED TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS THEY ARE BEING REZONED BACK TO. >>Christopher Farkas: THREE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THREE. YOU'LL PROVIDE YOU'LL PROVIDE BUSING FROM SULPHUR SPRINGS TO THOSE SCHOOLS SIMILAR AS YOU WOULD WITH LIKE A MAGNET SCHOOL. >>Christopher Farkas: THAT IS CORRECT. >>Jessica Vaughn: -- OF SORTS, INDEFINITELY. WHAT ARE WE DOING AROUND PARENTAL COMMUNICATION TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERY PARENT THOSE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS UNDERSTANDS THIS IN TIME, KNOWS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, THAT THIS IS GOING OUT WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR THEM TO ARRANGE ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED THAT THEY NEED TO, TO BE PREPARED IN ORDER TO DO THAT. >>Christopher Farkas: TALK ABOUT FROM TRANSPORTATION AND GIVE TO CHEZ FOR OTHER PART. TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT, BECAUSE A YEAR OUT, KIDS AFFECTED WILL BE ONES THAT TARGET CLOSER TO THE THAT TIME. SHAY HAS TALKED TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT AFTER-SCHOOL PARTNERS AND OTHER THINGS TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE SAFE. >> IN A COMMUNICATION, STARTING THIS WEEK, EVERY FOURTH, FIFTH,
AND SIXTH GRADE PARENT IS GETTING A PERSONAL CALL. WE'RE NOT RELYING ON PARENT LINK. NOT SENDING HOME AN E-MAIL OR A NEWSLETTER, THEY'LL GET NEWSLETTER, THEY'LL GET A PERSONAL CALL SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND ANTICIPATE MOVING FORWARD. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE A DECISION PRIOR, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN JULY. MATT ROMANO, FOR ANY PARENT WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DECISION. FOR EXAMPLE, INCOMING SIXTH GRADER THAT MIGHT WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A DIFFERENT DECISION GOING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THOSE PARENTS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. THAT IS THE FIRST
THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT THOSE PHONE CALLS ARE HAPPENING. >>Jessica Vaughn: MEANING THEY ARE NOT STUCK IN THE TRADITIONAL CHOICE. >>Shay McRae: YES. WE'LL BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT SULPHUR SPRINGS. SULPHUR SPRINGS HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT AND MYSELF ARE WORKING WITH THE PRINCIPAL. SO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE SO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE YMCA COMMUNITY PARTNER. YMCA IS SAYING, HEY, WE WANT TO JOIN HANDS WITH YOU AND WE CAN OFFER AFTER-SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS THAT MAY BE GOING TO A
DIFFERENT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WANT TO COME BACK AND DO AFTER-SCHOOL WITH US, WE CAN DO THAT AS A COMMUNITY SITE. WE ALSO WORKED WITH SCOTT BROOKS. ONE OF THE REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS, LIKE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO GOING TO DO WITH THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL SPACE? CAN WE HAVE ADULT ED CLASSES FOR OUR FAMILIES? THAT GROUP HAS ALREADY SAID, YES, WE CAN OFFER YES, WE CAN OFFER GED. WE CAN DO ESOL AND ELL CLASSES ON THAT CAMPUS. YES, WE CAN BRING OUR ADULT ED TO THAT CAMPUS. THEY HAVE ALSO ASKED FOR ANYBODY THAT'S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH
THEM IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP, CAN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SPACE THERE AT THE SCHOOL, TO WORK WITH THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES? YES. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. ALL OF THOSE PARTNERS ARE SAYING THEY WANT TO BRIDGE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THOSE STUDENTS, STUDENTS, ANY STUDENT GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE WILLING TO BE A BRIDGE FOR THOSE FAMILIES TO KEEP THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT GOING. SO I WILL TELL YOU, WE'VE HAD AN OVERWHELMING, SUCCESSFUL TIME
WORKING WITH SULPHUR SPRINGS. IT'S NOT DONE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM OVER THE NEXT YEAR. ALREADY COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL OVER THE NEXT YEAR. WE TALKED ABOUT VPK OPPORTUNITIES. SO THEY WANT TO ENSURE STUDENTS IN THE VPK SPACE, THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION INTO SULPHUR SPRINGS, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO BRIDGE THE GAP EVEN WITH TECHNOLOGY, GETTING iPADS AND GETTING DEVICES SO KIDS HAVE THINGS THEY CAN WORK ON IN THE SUMMER. WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT AND COMMITTED TO THAT. WE'VE HAD GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO
TALK. MS. GILLIARD IS WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE PTA. ALSO WORKING WITH JACKIE LEEKS WHO ALSO CAME OUT TONIGHT TO TALK. THAT PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN VERY OPEN AND ONGOING. >>Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. WHAT SUPPORTS ARE WE WHAT SUPPORTS ARE WE PREPARED, SINCE WE'VE HAD AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS LATER AND I'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT, SURPRISING UNIT CUTS WITHIN SCHOOLS, WHAT SUPPORTS ARE WE GIVING IN ANTICIPATION, INSTEAD OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT KIDS SHOW
UP AND THEN TRYING TO SCRAMBLE LAST MINUTE TO FIND TEACHERS TO ACCOMMODATE THESE ACCOMMODATE THESE KIDS, WHAT SUPPORTS? ARE WE ALLOWING EXTRA UNIT ALLOCATIONS FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE INCOMING? ARE WE PREPARING THESE SCHOOLS WITH SUPPORTS TO GET THESE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR DOORS AND SUPPORT THEM THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION? WHAT IS BEING PUT IN PLACE FOR THAT? >> SO, YES, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A YEAR OUT. THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL HAPPEN OVER THE YEAR. ONCE WE GET FINALIZED NUMBERS OF HOW MANY KIDS WILL GO TO EACH ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WE'LL MEET
WITH THE PRINCIPALS AS WE DID IN THE LAST ITERATION OF BOUNDARIES, MET WITH PRINCIPALS ONE-ON-ONE TO DISCUSS NEEDS. EACH SCHOOL UNIQUELY HAS THINGS DIFFERENT. WE IDENTIFY WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE AND WHAT THEY THINK THEY'LL NEED WITH THE STUDENTS COMING IN. WE LOOKED AT DATA, WE LOOKED AT DATA, DISCIPLINE AND ATTENDANCE, BEFORE MEETING WITH THOSE PRINCIPALS, WE BRING THAT DATA TO THE TABLE AND THEN WE ASK THE PRINCIPALS WHAT THEY THINK THEY NEED. WE DON'T JUST GIVE THEM WHAT WE THINK AS A DISTRICT, WE SIT WITH THE PRINCIPALS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED ON THE CAMPUS BASED ON WHAT THEY CURRENTLY
HAVE AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED THERE. >>Jessica Vaughn: SO I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE AND IT HASN'T COME THROUGH TO FRUITION. WHAT I'M ASKING FROM YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, IS THAT YOU ARE GIVING A COMMITMENT HERE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AT THIS PUBLIC MEETING, THAT IF THE UPCOMING SCHOOL SAY THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT DURING THE TRANSITION OR EXTRA UNIT OR EXTRA COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU'RE COMMITTING TO THAT. >>Van Ayres: YES, SIMILAR TO THE BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS JUST TWO YEARS AGO WHERE WE WORKED WITH THE SCHOOLS AND DID THAT. YEAH, WE'LL COMMIT TO THAT.
JUST LIKE WE HAD THEM BACK IN '23 AND STARTING IN THE SCHOOL YEAR '24 TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW BOUNDARY CHANGES, SCHOOLS RECEIVING STUDENTS HAD THE SUPPORTS THEY NEEDED. >>Jessica Vaughn: I HEARD THEY DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORTS. I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE THAT BACK AND FORTH. WHAT I AM SAYING IS YOU ARE COMMITTING RIGHT NOW THAT THE INCOMING PRINCIPALS INCOMING PRINCIPALS OF THOSE THREE SCHOOLS, WHAT THEY TELL US THEY'LL NEED FOR THE TRANSITION, WE'RE COMMITTING TO. >>Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. >>Jessica Vaughn: ONE LAST QUESTION. AS FAR AS ELECTIVES GO, HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FULL CHOICE AND FULL
OPTION AS THEY TRANSITION AS THE OTHER KIDS DO TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE OPTIONS FOR ELECTIVES? IS THERE A WHEEL IN THE SCHOOLS FOR INCOMING SIXTH GRADERS? WHAT ABOUT SEVENTH GRADERS? I KNOW THERE ARE LIMITED ELECTIVES AND THEY'LL HAVE MORE OPTIONS. HOW WILL WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THOSE ELECTIVES AS KIDS ALREADY IN THE SCHOOL? >>Shay McRae: KIDS THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD -- >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL OF THEM. SIXTH GRADERS. SO THE
SO THE SIXTH GRADERS -- >> THEY CURRENTLY -- EVERY SCHOOL HAS ELECTIVES. >>Jessica Vaughn: SULPHUR SPRINGS HAS LESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS KIDS. THEY'LL GO TO A THEY'LL GO TO A SCHOOL WITH -- HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS AS INCOMING STUDENTS, WHEN THOSE ELECTIVES ARE ALREADY FILLED BY THE KIDS IN THOSE SCHOOLS NOW? >>Shay McRae: GREAT QUESTION. IN NOVEMBER, THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING TO WILL COME ON THE FRONT END.
THEY WON'T HAVE THE LEFT-OVER ELECTIVES. IN NOVEMBER WHEN EVERY STUDENT GETS THEIR COURSE SELECTION WORK SHEET, THE STUDENTS AT SULPHUR SPRINGS WILL GET IT AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE STUDENTS GETTING COURSE SELECTION WORK SHEET IN THE TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT ALL THE ELECTIVES, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE SCHOOL, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE ELECTIVES ARE. THOSE THOSE GO HOME SO PARENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT ALL THE ELECTIVES AND COURSE ELECTIVE WORK SHEET. TURN IT BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND
PART OF THE NUMBERS WHEN THEY GET ADDED IN JANUARY. WE DO THAT IN NOVEMBER, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ON THE FRONT END TO GET THE COURSE SELECTION WORK SHEET AND SELECT THEIR ELECTIVES AS THE SAME TIMELINE AS STUDENTS AT MIDDLE SCHOOL. >>Jessica Vaughn: INCLUDING KIDS WHO MIGHT BE CHOICE FOR OTHER OPTIONS. >>Shay McRae: IF THEY CHOICE FOR OTHER OPTIONS, THE CHOICE WINDOW IS IN THE SAME NOVEMBER TIME FRAME. WHAT WE NORMALLY DO, IF A STUDENT SELECTS A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, LET'S SAY I'M SULPHUR SPRINGS, I'M HEADED TO WOODSON K-8 BUT I WANT TO CHOOSE TO GO TO A MAGNET SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE,
THEN THE MAGNET SCHOOL GETS OUT TO ANY OF THE OUT TO ANY OF THE INCOMING STUDENTS THAT HAVE SELECTED. THAT WOULD BE THE SAME PROCESS, BUT IF GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, THAT MAGNET SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD REACH OUT AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO COURSE SELECTION WORK SHEET. THAT'S AFTER. YES, MA'AM. >>Jessica Vaughn: IF THEY HAVE AN APPLICATION IN, HAVEN'T BEEN SELECTED, STILL GET THE COURSE OFFERING FOR NEW ZONED MIDDLE SCHOOL. >>Shay McRae: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO
CLARIFY THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE. FIFTH GRADERS COMING UP AT SULPHUR SPRINGS AFTER THIS COHORT OF 6th THROUGH 8th GRADE GOES OUT. ARE YOU TELLING ME WE'LL PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO THESE STUDENTS FOREVER? THAT DOESN'T ADD UP IN MY BOOK TO ANY KIND OF COST ISSUE. NOT EQUITABLE AROUND OUR DISTRICT. CAN WE CLARIFY THAT WE'LL BE PROVIDING THAT FOR THIS COHORT OF 6th THROUGH 8th GRADE? >>Christopher Farkas: WE ARE. FOR THE LENGTH OF THE TIME THEY ARE HERE. MOST OF THEM WILL MOST OF THEM WILL QUALIFY. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOLS MORE THAN TWO MILES.
THE ONES THAT AREN'T WILL GET -- >>Patti Rendon: NOT INDEFINITE. IF YOU GO TO SULPHUR SPRINGS, YOU DON'T INDEFINITELY HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL IF YOU SCHOOL IF YOU ARE LESS THAN SCHOOL IF YOU ARE LESS THAN TWO MILES, UNLESS YOU ARE PART, THIS COHORT OF SIXTH THROUGH 8th GRADE. THAT'S WHY I'M THAT'S WHY I'M CLARIFYING IT. WE WOULD DO THIS FOR EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL. I DO BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT I THINK MEMBER VAUGHN'S CONCERN IS WE DO HAVE AREAS THAT WE DO HAVE AREAS THAT ARE LESS
THAN TWO MILES, BASED UPON HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THAT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS WALKWAYS. SO WHILE WE'RE MAKING THIS TRANSITION, CAN I AT LEAST HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT THAT WE WILL REVIEW THOSE HAZARDOUS WALKWAYS, ONE. B, WE'LL WORK WITH OUR COUNTY TO GET SIDEWALKS WHERE THERE ISN'T ANY OR AT LEAST ATTEMPT? >>Christopher Farkas: 100% ON BOTH OF THOSE. I THOUGHT -- >>Patti Rendon >>Patti Rendon: CITY. SORRY, DISTRICT FOUR. >>Christopher Farkas: YES, WE WILL DO THAT.
I WAS NOT TRYING TO I WAS NOT TRYING TO MISLEAD. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO CLARIFY. THIRD GRADER AND AUTOMATICALLY HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. >>Christopher Farkas: THE KIDS WE'RE TAKING AWAY FROM ARE CURRENTLY MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS. YES, THIS COHORT. >>Patti Rendon: I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SAME THING ABOUT THE PIZZO FAMILIES. I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE COMMUNICATION WITH FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS AND THEN AGAIN THOSE SIXTH GRADERS, ESPECIALLY
THE SIXTH GRADERS, AND THE SEVENTH GRADERS. SEVEN -- CURRENT 7th GRADERS WILL BE 8th GRADERS, WILL BE GONE. CURRENT 6th GRADERS -- CURRENT 6th GRADERS -- OUR 5th AND 6th GRADERS WE NEED TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH AND GIVE THEM THAT SAME CHOICE OPTION THIS SUMMER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. MAKE THAT DECISION. % IT SHOULDN'T BE FOR ONE SCHOOL AND NOT THE OTHER. >>Christopher Farkas: IT'S NOT. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLARIFYING THAT WHEN WE'RE MAKING THE TRANSITIONS THAT WE GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
BOTH COHORTS. >>Christopher Fark >>Christopher Farkas: YE >>Christopher Farkas: YEP. >>Patti Rendon: I THINK THAT'S VE VERY IMPORTANT. I AGREE WITH MEMBER VAUGHN. WE'RE DOING OUR JOB WE'RE DOING OUR JOB HERE, MAKING THE HARD THE HARD DECISIONS. WE'RE TELLING YOU, WE'RE TAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL. TAKING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT IN THE PAST HAD NO STAFF. WE'RE TAKING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS BUT THE IN SCHOOL, WHAT WE NEED IN SCHOOLS, THAT'S UP TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF, SUPERINTENDENT. WE'RE MAKING THE HARD DECISIONS, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO MAKE THE DECISIONS. IF THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO -- I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS TO CUT MEMBERS IN THIS BUILDING TO KEEP TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS OR PARAS IN OUR BUILDINGS OR WHATEVER IT TAKES BETWEEN CUSTODIAL TO PRINCIPAL, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS WAY. I MEAN THIS WAY, I WOULD HAVE MORE TEACHERS IN A SCHOOL BEFORE I WORRY ABOUT WHO IS PICKING OUT A BOOK.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE MAKING THOSE HARD DECISIONS. WE'RE FACING THOSE FAMILIES. WE'RE FACING THOSE STAFF. I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS TO KEEP OUR DECISIONS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS STAFFED APPROPRIATELY. THAT'S WHERE THE HARDEST DECISION WILL BE MADE. I NEED THE STAFF IN I NEED THE STAFF IN OUR SCHOOLS, ALWAYS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. QUICKLY, NOT VERY LONG. I'M GETTING OLD
I'M GETTING OLD NOW, SO I CAN'T THINK OF ALL THE DATES. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AN AREA DIRECTOR AND WE PUT K-8 INTO SULPHUR SPRINGS. TRACYE, YOU HAD JUST LEFT. TRACYE WAS THE FORMER PRINCIPAL AT SULPHUR AT SULPHUR SPRINGS. AND WE MADE IT A AND WE MADE IT A K-8. WHEN WE MADE IT A K-8 BECAUSE THE PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WANTED THE KIDS TO STAY TOGETHER. THAT WAS THE REASON WHY WE PUT K-8 BECAUSE BEFORE WE PUT K-8 BECAUSE BEFORE WE PUT K-8, SULPHUR SPRINGS KIDS WERE GOING ALL OVER.
SO WE DECIDED TO PUT K-8 IN THERE SO THE KIDS WOULD STAY TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT WE SAID LATER ON, AND IT CAME OUT, WHAT IS COMING TO BE TRUE, THAT THAT COMMUNITY WOULD WOULD NOT BE THAT LONG BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME MIDDLE SCHOOL OR ACTIVITIES AS REGULAR MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAD. BUT WE WANTED TO STAY BUT WE WANTED TO STAY THERE SO THE KIDS COULD STAY TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WERE DIVIDED UP. THEY WENT ALL OVER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WE PUT K-8 WE PUT K-8 IN THERE, BUT WE KNEW LATER ON IT WOULD FINALLY GET WEAKER BECAUSE WE COULDN'T KEEP ENOUGH STUDENTS IN THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE MOVING OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY. SO SO NOW IT'S IN. WHAT WE SAID HAS COME TRUE. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH KIDS THERE NOW TO MAKE THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL, TO MAKE THE SCHOOL MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR MIDDLE ATTRACTIVE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME ACTIVITIES THERE AS WE HAD BEFORE. BUT MY QUESTION, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND
THIS, BECAUSE YOU'RE -- I'M A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, ALMOST. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HAVE TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S THE KEY. WHEN WHEN I'M WHEN I'M LOOKING, I'M -- YOU SAID YOUNG. IS YOUNG INVOLVED? >>Christopher Farkas: NO, NOT UNLESS FOR MAGNET. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THERE WOULD BE NO DANGERS OF ANY OF THE STUDENTS HAVING TO WALK. SEEMS LIKE THESE THREE SCHOOLS ARE A WAYS APART. EVERY KID WOULD BE TRANSPORTED WHERE WE WON'T HAVE TO WALK.
I SAID WE BECAUSE I LOVE THEM. WE. >>Christopher Farkas: ESPECIALLY FOR THE COHORT THAT'S THERE RIGHT NOW. I'LL VERIFY THAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE OTHER ONES, BUT YES. THE SCHOOLS ARE FAR ENOUGH THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN TWO MILES AND ALSO THE STREETS, MEET THE STATE CRITERIA FOR CRITERIA FOR HAZARDOUS WALKING CONDITIONS. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: AND WE HAVE MORE SIDEWALKS. I REMEMBER AROUND THE CORNER FROM FROM GRAHAM, THEY USED TO HAVE TO WALK TO LEE. I WANT THE PARENTS TO FEEL SAFE. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS. YOU MAY NOT HAVE K-8 THERE BUT
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT, THE STUDENTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, MEMBER VAUGHN MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUPPORTS, AND MS. McRAE, ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT OF THE FACTORS THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OR DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OR THE
UNSUCCESS IS THE FIDELITY OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES. I ALMOST WANT TO SAY, I ALMOST WANT TO SAY, IF WE HAD A CAPSULE WHERE WE CAN ABSOLUTELY SEE WHAT -- AND THIS IS REGARDING PIZZO, REGARDING YOUNG MIDDLE AND REGARDING SULPHUR SPRINGS -- LIKE A PACKAGE. FOR INSTANCE, AND, FOR INSTANCE, AND, FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS GET -- WHAT EXACTLY TO SATISFY THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE'RE
LISTENING TO TODAY, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND SHARE WITH EACH OF US WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF SUPPORTS? THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE THE EDIFICATION THAT THIS, EDIFICATION THAT THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER WILL BE THE OTHER WILL BE WITH THAT CHILD, VERSUS WHEN WE DID THE TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD, WHEN WE WENT FROM JUST TO TAMPA BAY, WE PUT THE STUDENTS IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A SUCCINCT, LEGITIMATE WAY TO SEE
WHAT SUPPORTS WERE GIVEN. SO THIS TIME AROUND, AT LEAST I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I'M LISTENING TO THE BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY CRITICAL FOR CRITICAL FOR US TO ABSOLUTELY SEE IN WRITING WHAT WE'RE INCLUDING. MS. McRAE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REMARK ON THAT REMARK ON THAT REQUEST AND SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS? >>Shay McRae: NO, WE CAN DO THAT. WE'LL LOOK AT DATA AND INFORMATION. WE'LL LOOK AT THE RESOURCES ALREADY THERE. HAVE TO GET THE NUMBERS OF THE KIDS THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO
THE SCHOOL. GOT TO FIGURE OUT ENROLLMENT VERSUS ZONE BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A DIFFERENCE IN NUMBERS, AND THEN WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL. >>Lynn Gray: I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY, THE STAKEHOLDERS, ALSO, SO THEY KNOW THAT THE CHILDREN WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE AS THEY TRANSFER FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I HAD ASKED FOR THAT, ABOUT ALL OF THESE PREVIOUS TO THIS VOTE
AND HADN'T RECEIVED THAT. SO MAYBE WHEN YOU ASK FOR IT, IT WILL APPEAR. HOWEVER, MY REASON FOR GETTING BACK IN THE QUEUE IS, WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT WE WANT TO WORK WITH TAMPA IN ORDER TO TRY TO PUT THE PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO SULPHUR SPRINGS, I MET WITH THE MAYOR, WITH KRISTIN DAVIS NOT THAT LONG AGO AND HIGHLIGHTED SULPHUR SPRINGS AND ASKED FOR MORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SIDEWALKS AND LIGHTING TO BE PUT IN THERE TO MAKE IT SAFER, AND WE GOT A REPORT BACK THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR IT AND DIDN'T FIND THE VALUE OF IT.
I HATE THE FACT THAT OUR SCHOOLS BECOME THE BECOME THE CATCHALL FOR EVERY FAILED SOCIAL SERVICE THAT EVERY MUNICIPALITY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING, ESPECIALLY AS THERE IS AN INTENTION TO ERODE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND DEFUND US ONE CUT AT A TIME, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT. UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS. IF FOR SOME REASON WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES AS MEMBER RENDON SAID ABOUT GETTING A WAIVER FOR WAIVER FOR HAZARDOUS WALKING CONDITIONS? I KNOW THE STATE LEGISLATION CHANGED IT SO FAR TO A BRIDGE, OVERPASS AND ABLE TO DO THAT
WITH OTHER SCHOOLS. WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO SULPHUR SPRINGS? >>Christopher Farkas: WE'LL HAVE THE TEAM GO OUT THERE AND PROVIDE THE REPORT TO EVERYONE ON THE BOARD. USUALLY TAKES A FEW DAYS TO HAPPEN. SAFETY TEAM TO WALK EACH ROUTE. THEY HAVE TO DO A SNAPSHOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERYONE WILL LIVE GOING FORWARD. MAIN ROADS IN SULPHUR SPRINGS, I'LL HAVE THEM DO THE WALK RIGHT NOW AND REPORT TO THE BOARD AND WE COMMIT TO GETTING THAT TO ALL OF YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR
LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OUR NEXT ITEM OUR NEXT ITEM IS 10.01, INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR IN EXPENDITURES FOR PIGGYBACK WITH CONNECTION PUBLIC SECTOR SOLUTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND SOLUTIONS. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THIS AGENDA ITEM IS REQUESTING APPROVAL TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PIGGYBACK NUMBER AS MENTIONED IN THE AGREEMENT.
EXISTING COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS TO US PROCURE TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES EFFICIENTLY, PREVENTING BOTTLENECKS AND ALLOW CONTINUED PURCHASING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION THROUGH AN ALREADY VETTED CONTRACT. THIS THIS INCREASES SCHOOL SITES, TITLE ONE SCHOOLS CAN EXPEND FUNDS IN TIME TO RECEIVE TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR CUT-OFF AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL GUIDELINES. THAT IS ITEM 10.01. >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 10.01. I HAVE A MOTION
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Jessica Vaughn: I DID. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME TO GO OVER THIS. I KNOW THAT WE HAD RUN OUT OF TIME FOR THE AGENDA REVIEW AND I HAD QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS. I GUESS MY ONLY COMMENT, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS REALLY A PASS-THROUGH FOR THE TITLE PASS-THROUGH FOR THE TITLE ONE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO BE SPENT ON TECHNOLOGY. AGAIN, I AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY.
BUT I DO HOPE THAT WE'RE USING -- THIS IS JUST MY COMMENT -- WE'RE USING ALL OF OUR RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE TECHNOLOGY AT THE SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN USE THEIR TITLE ONE FUNDS TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO ENRICH INSTRUCTION, HIRE EXTRA PEOPLE IF THEY NEED TO, REALLY FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT THAT ARE GOING TO ADVANCE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. SO THE FACT THAT SO MUCH OF THIS IS COMING OUT OF TITLE ONE FOR TECHNOLOGY, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING SO HARD ON THAT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT MEMBER GRAY HAS ASKED FOR FOR SO LONG AND
YOU HAVE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB IN PRESENTING US WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF INFORMATION, MY ONLY HOPE IS IN THAT STRATEGIC PLAN THERE IS MORE BUILT IN FOR THE SUPPORT TO COME FROM THE DISTRICT, AGAIN, OUR SCHOOLS CAN UTILIZE THE TITLE ONE FUNDS FOR THINGS THAT ARE DIRECTLY GOING TO IMPACT STUDENT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENTS I HAVE ON THIS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL MOVE INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY UPDATES THIS EVENING, WE'LL START WITH FLORIDA CELEBRATES MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. AS YOU ALL KNOW, 7th LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE NATION, HOME TO OVER 4,000 MILITARY CONNECTED FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN STUDYING IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS MONTH OF MILITARY CHILD, GIVES COMMUNITIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASIZE AND RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES OF MILITARY FAMILIES AS THEY SERVE OUR NATION.
ON APRIL 15, WE ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AND TO PURPLE UP, WEAR PURPLE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO MAKE THE SACRIFICES EVERY DAY TO SERVE OUR NATION. AND BOARD MEMBERS, AT OUR AND BOARD MEMBERS, AT OUR APRIL 21st MEETING, AGAIN, APRIL 21st MEETING WE WILL HAVE OUR FORMAL DISTRICT RECOGNITION ITEM. ALSO ENCOURAGING EACH OF YOU AND MY TEAM MEMBERS TO WEAR PURPLE FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 21st AS WE HONOR MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD.
R SUPPORT DURING THAT MONTH. WE'LL HAVE IT AT APRIL 21st, FORMAL RECOGNITION AND STUDENT RECOGNITION ON 28, OTHER RECOGNITION AS WELL. WEARING PURPLE, MY STAFF AS WELL. HE HAS HIS PURPLE ON. ALREADY AHEAD. ALSO, AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, WE HAD OUR EXCELLENCE, WE HAD OUR JROTC CADET OF THE YEAR. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, DISTRICT ANNOUNCED THE TOP TEN CADETS FOR
CADET OF THE YEAR ALONG WITH OVERALL WINNER HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. CONGRATULATIONS TO VIDYARTH SATHYA WHO TOOK HOME TOP HONORS FOR CADET OF THE YEAR. ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO WENT THROUGH RIGOROUS BOARD SELECTION PROCESS TO BE CONSIDERED, AND THAT WAS CAROLINE, ALONSO. MARY ALICE BRANDON. CHARLOTTE OVER AT CHARLOTTE OVER AT DURANT. ISABEL AT ISABEL AT NEWSOME.
ANDREW RIVERVIEW. MEMBER RENDON, I KNOW YOU WERE AT THE EVENT AT USF HONORING CADET OF THE YEAR. MR. MURILLO WAS THERE, MR. MURILLO WAS THERE, MR. BRADY AND STAFF THERE HONORING OUR CADET OF THE YEAR. WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN THE TOP CADET, TRULY INCREDIBLE TO MAKE THE FINALISTS AND BE THE BIG WINNER. >> [INAUDIBLE]
>>Van Ayres: HONORS ACADEMY AT AIR FORCE. BLAKE STUDENTS TAKE A TOP ART PRIZE. CONGRATULATIONS TO CORA BOWEN, SENIOR FROM BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL WHO WON THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION WITH THE MILLION PATHS TO TAKE. AS SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL AS THEY ANTICIPATE THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR FUTURES. THE WORK WILL HANG IN THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING FOR THE NEXT YEAR WHERE VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE NATION CAN ADMIRE HER PIECE. THANK YOU TO U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
KATHY CASTOR FOR HER SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAD SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS, QUITE A BIG ACHIEVEMENT, ACHIEVEMENT, 26-27, NEW PRINCIPALS PRINCIPALS COHORT. YESTERDAY, WE HAD PRINCIPAL INDUCTION PROGRAM INDUCTION PROGRAM. I WANT TO TAKE A I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE, IF DR. GRAY COULD TALK, DURING YOUR WEEK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO,
HAVING VISITS TO SOME OF THE PREPARING NEW PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES. >> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. AS SUPERINTENDENT AYRES SAID, WE HAD 38 OF OUR CURRENT ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WHO WERE SELECTED FOR THE 26-27 PMP PROGRAM. I HAD A CHANCE TO PERSONALLY VISIT EACH ONE OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND SHARE THE GREAT NEWS WITH THEM WHICH IS A HUGE SURPRISE. TO BE TO BE ELIGIBLE, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM, TO BE ELIGIBLE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR SUCCESSFUL SERVICE AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STATE CERTIFICATION IN ED
LEADERSHIP, AND THEY ALSO WENT THROUGH A RIGOROUS THROUGH A RIGOROUS APPLICATION AND SCREENING PROCESS. SO AS PART OF THAT COHORT, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL ENGAGE IN STANDARDS BASED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COMPLETE JOB EMBEDDED LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND RECEIVE ONGOING COACHING AND SUPPORT. THE OTHER CELEBRATION WAS YESTERDAY WHICH WAS THE GRADUATION FOR OUR PRINCIPAL INDUCTION PROGRAM. AND THAT WAS FOR 27 OF OUR NEW PRINCIPALS WHO RECENTLY COMPLETED THAT ONE-YEAR PRINCIPAL INDUCTION PROGRAM. SO ALL NEWLY APPOINTED PRINCIPALS ARE AUTOMATICALLY
ENROLLED INTO THAT PROGRAM. AS A PART OF THAT LEARNING, THEY RECEIVED TARGETED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, ONGOING COACHING AND SUPPORT FROM THE LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM DURING THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR PIP GRADUATES AND PMP PARTICIPANTS AND THANK YOU TO TERESA CAMPBELL AND HER TEAM FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT WITH THESE PROGRAMS. >>Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. WE KNOW OBVIOUSLY HAVING HIGH-QUALITY CLASSROOM TEACHER AND HIGH-QUALITY LEADER IN OUR SCHOOLS IS WHAT MAKES THE BIGGEST IMPACT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN OUR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. THANK YOU, DR. THANK YOU, DR. GRAVES. CONGRATS TO MENDENHALL AND THEIR PRINCIPAL, 2026 RISING STAR SCHOOL BY THE EAST COAST TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER. SERVES STUDENT POPULATIONS ABOVE THE STATE POVERTY AVERAGE AND IMPROVE TWO LETTER GRADES 24-25. MENDENHALL MOVED FROM C TO A LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND SO PROUD OF THE WORK BEING DONE BY TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS AT MENDENHALL. MS. GEYER WAS SO EXCITED TO
RECEIVE THIS AWARD, REALLY ON BEHALF OF HER SCHOOL, MENDENHALL AND MS. GEYER. TREMENDOUS WORK. GREAT SCHOOL OVER AT GREAT SCHOOL OVER AT MENDENHALL. FINALLY, CONGRATULATIONS, I KNOW YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF THIS. WE DID HAVE CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN NEWMAN, OUR CHIEF OF SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR BEING SELECTED AS FLORIDA SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR AND HONORING, RECOGNIZING HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND STAFF STATEWIDE. IT WAS AN HONOR. WE HAD OUR SAFETY SUMMIT LAST
WEEK. I WAS IN ATTENDANCE WITH CHIEF NEWMAN. DID NOT HAVE ANY IDEA THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE THE WINNER AND HIS NAME WAS NEWFOUND AND WELL DESERVED. BIG DEAL NOT ONLY FOR JOHN NEWMAN BUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. LONG TIME, BACK SINCE 2016, BACK IN THAT TIME, REALLY INVESTED IN OUR SECURITY IN SCHOOLS AND SAFETY. MR. FARKAS, MENTION A WORD ABOUT MR. NEWMAN. >>Christopher Farkas: WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
AN OPPORTUNITY AT AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE MAY 5 BOARD MEETING. TRADITIONALLY WE DON'T DO THAT. HIS POSITION IS THE ONE POSITION THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE IN THE ROOM. AFFECTS THE KIDS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, BOARD THAT HE TALKS TO ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE HAVE A UNIQUE SITUATION WITH HIM BEING A FORMER HIM BEING A FORMER CHIEF AT TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVING A WIFE, SISTER AND DAUGHTER THAT WORK IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING HIM. HE REALLY DOES HE REALLY DOES TAKE CALLS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR THE CALLS AT ALL TIMES. HE IS A SELFLESS HE IS A SELFLESS PERSON.
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE VAN AND I WERE THERE LAST WERE THERE LAST YEAR. SOMEONE WON THAT HE MENTORED. IT WAS IT WAS A SURPRISE. WE ARE VERY HAPPY JOHN WON THE AWARD. NO ONE MORE DESERVING. DEFINITELY THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE STATE ALL GO TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE INTO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
JUST A REMINDER YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE THE PALOOZA 2026 TRADE SHOW AND STUDENT SHOWCASE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. THIS IS I THINK THE THIS IS I THINK THE SIXTH ANNUAL EVENT. BIG THANK YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL. ADULT ADULT SERVICES.
STANFIELD, TEACHER AT JEFFERSON. BUT THE POINT IS, BUT THE POINT IS, THESE KIDS CAME UP WITH ALL TYPES CAME UP WITH ALL TYPES OF ECLECTIC COMPANIES. BREWING BETTER FUTURES ONE CUP AT A TIME. ANOTHER ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER ONE, OH, SPOILER ANOTHER ONE, OH, SPOILER ALERT. IF FOODS GET BAD, THEY HAVE A MECHANISM TO GIVE YOU A WARNING IF IT'S GOING TO BE BAD.
THE SCHOOLS, BARRINGTON, JEFFERSON, FREEDOM, AND JEFFERSON, FREEDOM, AND RANDALL WERE FEATURED IN THIS TRADE SHOW AND OTHER AND OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT VERY THANKFUL TO THOSE DIRECTORS AND TO USF WHO SPONSORED IT. PABLO, IF WE CAN GET THE EPI SLIDES UP. MAYBE WE ALREADY HAVE THEM. THIS IS THE THIS IS THE EPI SCHOOLTEACHERS. BAY CREST HAS I BELIEVE 13 OF THEM. EVERY ONE OF THE STUDENTS IN
EVERY ONE OF THE CLASSES WERE FULLY 100% ENGAGED FULLY 100% ENGAGED IN THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE AMONG STUDENTS, AND THE TEACHER IS UNDENIABLY SO VALUABLE. I WANT TO THANK SOME OF THESE TEACHERS, MS. VALENTINO, SHOWN HERE, THE HERE, THE PRINCIPAL, HERE, THE PRINCIPAL, ADRIANNA, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. SHE HELPED MAKE THEM UP VERY, VERY, SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS. THANK YOU TO THE IRK PI DIRECTOR
DEBRA MARTIN AND THE SUPPORT TEAM, KEN AND JULIO HART. AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. I THINK, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE HAVE 52 TEACHERS. EPI TEACHERS BUDGETED. IF WE HAVE A TEACHER IF WE HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE, WE HAVE ACCORDING TO -- I'LL SPEAK FOR MR. LEWIS -- WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THOSE TEACHERS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT, FROM THE NEXT, FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE
WANT TO CONGRATULATE DR. FERLITA LEWIS FROM LEWIS FROM FACE. RECEIVED RECEIVED TGH, HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOL WELLNESS AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL. HER COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILY WELLNESS HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY. SHE GOES TO EVERY ONE OF THE MEETINGS. I WANT TO THANK I WANT TO THANK DR. RICK GRAYES FOR HELPING FOR HELPING MOTIVATE 223 MAYBE MORE SCHOOLS THAT FILLED OUT THE HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOL SURVEY. RECORD-BREAKING AMOUNT AND
SHOWING VERY MUCH THAT THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS, THE PRINCIPALS HAVE THEIR EYE ON PRINCIPALS HAVE THEIR EYE ON THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL WELL-BEING OF EVERY STUDENT. LAST, WE DO HAVE LAST, WE DO HAVE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE'LL -- HOST THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY PANEL THIS THURSDAY, 5:30 P.M. WE BEGIN. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. I DID I DID WANT TO SAY
I DID WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE GRADES, ENDS OF YEAR SCHOOL GRADES GOING FROM A C TO AN A IN FROM A C TO AN A IN MENDENHALL, HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES FOR THOSE TEACHERS AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO GET THOSE TO GET THOSE SCORES UP TO THAT POINT POINT IS UNBELIEVABLE. YOU HEAR THE PASSION OF THE PIZZO FOLKS, THEY WORK SO HARD TO GET THOSE CHILDREN TO TO GET THOSE CHILDREN TO THE
BEST INTELLECTUAL BEST INTELLECTUAL MENTAL WELL-BEING. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND DR. GRAYES, GRAYES, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T THANK THESE TEACHERS ENOUGH. THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN POSSIBLY THANK THE HARDWORKING TEACHERS ENOUGH. I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAYBE GIVE THEM THE FIDUCIARY SALARIES THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVENTUALLY BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT.
THANK YOU ALL, CABINET MEMBERS, TOO, BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT BEHIND THE SCENES HELPING MOTIVATE AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, YOU ARE STUDENT-CENTERED. IT SHOWS IN EVERY ONE IT SHOWS IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR VISITS. IT'S PROMPTED EVERY ONE OF US TO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF MOTIVATION TO HELP OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PARENTS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, I HAVE TO GIVE FIRST, I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO DR. DR. GRAYES, YOU DID A GREAT JOB. HE REALLY DID A GREAT JOB, BUT I WAS TEASING HIM A LITTLE BIT. I HOPE I DON'T RIDE WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU GO TO A LOT OF SCHOOLS ALL AT ONE TIME. YOU DID A YOU DID A GREAT JOB. MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH AND REALLY WAS NICE. I DON'T KNOW IF CHRIS IS I DON'T KNOW IF CHRIS IS HERE, I WANT TO THANK CHRIS. HE HAD TO
HE HAD TO DO SOME WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT. NOW, ALSO, ON MARCH 8, WE HAD A KID FROM HOWARD W. BLAME, PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT DIGITAL TO ANNOUNCE THAT DIGITAL CINEMA STUDENT HAS BEEN AWARDED AUDIENCE CHOICE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD AT THE PRESTIGIOUS GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION, RECOGNIZING HIS EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AND GROWING IMPACT AS A YOUNG FILM FILMMAKER.
CONGRATULATIONS. ALSO, ALSO, PABLO -- I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO OAK PART WITH THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME THERE. WE MET PEOPLE. THE MORALE IS VERY HIGH. POSITIVE. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE ABSENCE OF THEIR FORMER PRINCIPAL. ALSO, THE STUDENTS THERE WERE WONDERFUL STUDENTS. EVERY EVERY TIME I GO, I LEAVE SOME MONEY.
SO THAT GROUP GOT SOME MONEY FROM ME. THEY WANT ME TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK, BUT I CAN'T COME BACK EVERY WEEK AND GIVE MONEY. THEN OUR FORMER PRINCIPAL WHO DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WHEN SHE WAS THERE. A GREAT PERSON. MISSED. DID A GREAT JOB, FANTASTIC JOB. A LITTLE BOY, HE WANTED ME TO SHOW, I GAVE MONEY, SO HE CAME UP WITH SOME PAPER. AND HE SAY, SEE, I WANT YOU TO SEE I'M DOING GOOD SO I GAVE HIM
MONEY, TOO. I ENJOY ELEMENTARY KIDS. THEY ARE VERY, VERY INSPIRATIONAL TO ME AS A PERSON. ON MARCH 28, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO CREATING A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. THE THE ANNUAL TRANSITION AND -- MEMBER PATTI AND I WERE MEMBER PATTI AND I WERE THERE. ISC, IT WAS REALLY NICE. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HAPPEN, THEY HAVE A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS BUT WE DON'T GET THE INFORMATION OUT. A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES. WE WENT TO THE WE WENT TO THE ISC, TRANSITION EVENTS, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME. THEY HAVE SO MUCH FOR STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. A LOT, BUT WE WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT. MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT SO PEOPLE KNOW, SOME OF THE PARENTS KNOW AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I HAD A GREAT I HAD A GREAT VACATION, GREAT TIME. HAPPY TO HAPPY TO BE BACK TO WORK, AND, SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB. CONTINUING DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU AND THE CABINET. WE'RE MOVING ALONG. STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, WE CAN'T SATISFY EVERYBODY BUT WE CAN KEEP WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, I'D FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MULLER
ELEMENTARY -- SORRY, ELEMENTARY -- SORRY, MULLER MAGNET ELEMENTARY FOR HAVING ME OUT LAST WEEK. I VISITED BOTH THEM AND PIZZO. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT PIZZO. WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT PIZZO TONIGHT. MULLER, FOR PEOPLE WHO MULLER, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW IS ARTS MAGNET, AND THAT SCHOOL IS JUST PHENOMENAL WITH THE EXTRA DAY OF DANCE THAT THEY HAVE INSTEAD OF P.E., THEY STARTED TEACHING STRINGS TO KINDERGARTNERS ON BOXES JUST TO BE ABLE TO HOLD BE ABLE TO HOLD IT. RECYCLED FASHION SHOW THEY DO
EVERY YEAR WHICH IS ON PAR WITH OTHER FASHION SHOWS, LIKE A PARISIAN FASHION SHOW. THE STUFF THEY CREATE WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS IS AMAZING AND JUST A MAGNET SCHOOL NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT. HIDDEN GEM RIGHT THERE IN THE USF AREA. I WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S A PHENOMENAL SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME IN THERE. THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON, FOR TALKING ABOUT FOR TALKING ABOUT ASIA WHO PASSED AWAY. ONE OF OUR PRINCIPALS, DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HER UP. I HOPE WE AS A DISTRICT DID A LOT TO MEMORIALIZE HER AND REACH OUT TO THE COHORT OF OTHER TEACHERS IN THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK, OTHER PRINCIPALS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OKAY BECAUSE THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. I WANT TO SAY HAPPY VICE PRINCIPALS DAY. I BELIEVE THAT WAS YESTERDAY. WE DON'T SPEAK ENOUGH ABOUT OUR VICE PRINCIPALS. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR TEACHERS BUT WE REALLY DON'T TALK ABOUT OUR VICE PRINCIPALS WHO ARE ALSO THE HEART AND SOUL AND RIGHT THERE WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR ADMINISTRATION TO DO SO MUCH OF THE WORK.
HAPPY VICE PRINCIPALS DAY. I DID NOT -- DR. WHELAN, YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY SENT IT BUT I WANT TO USE THIS TIME TO ASK ABOUT THE REPORT I TALKED ABOUT AT THE WORKSHOP TO SEE HOW MANY OF OUR CLASS SIZES WE ACTUALLY GOT WITHIN THE TARGETED REALM FOR THE UNIT ALLOCATION. I KNOW WE HAD THAT TARGET AREA. AGAIN, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY CLASSES FIT INTO THAT TARGET SINCE WE SAID WE WEREN'T CUTTING ANYTHING FROM KINDERGARTEN. ALSO, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR GIFTED AND
GIFTED AND ELL UNIT ALLOCATION, THAT APPARENTLY THERE WAS A CHANGE THAT WAS NOT PRESENTED TO THE THE BOARD, SPECIFICALLY AROUND SCHOOLS THAT HAVE LESS THAN TEN GIFTED STUDENTS NOW ONLY OFFERING GIFTED ONLINE OFFERING GIFTED ONLINE THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH VIRTUAL SCHOOL, WITH ONE GIFTED SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER THAT FLOATS AROUND AND MAYBE SUPPORTS THAT CURRICULUM. THAT'S SOMETHING WE WEREN'T MADE AWARE OF AND SCHOOLS WEREN'T MADE AWARE OF UNTIL VERY LATE. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND THAT AS WELL AS OUR ELL UNIT ALLOCATION.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T GET TO TALK ABOUT, SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I KNOW YOU HAD A BIRTHDAY, 77 THIS WEEKEND. HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT YOUR AGE OUT THERE, BUT IT WAS PLASTERED ALL OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD BUILDING, SO I IMAGINE THAT WAS OKAY. FINALLY, SUPERINTENDENT, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT I HAVE THIS, BUT I HAVE HAD AN OVERWHELMING REQUEST FROM PARENTS TO ASK HOW THEY CAN OPT OUT OF THE NONSTOP COMMUNICATION FROM FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION THAT IS SENDING THEM E-MAILS SPECIFICALLY WITH NONSTOP BIBLE VERSES IN IT THAT IS VERY OFFENSIVE TO OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. AND SEEING THAT WE ARE THE STATE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND OUR BACKBONE IS BUILT ON THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS, THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN STOP GETTING THE E-MAILS FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION. I KNOW THERE WAS A RULING THAT SAID WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GIVE OUT OUT FAMILIES' E-MAIL ADDRESSES. THERE WAS JUST A RULING ON THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT APPLIES
BUT IF WE COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION AND FIND OUT FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HOW PARENTS CAN OPT OUT IF THEY DON'T WANT THE E-MAILS, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. MEMBER VAUGHN. YOU STOLE YOU STOLE MY LITTLE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEMBER WASHINGTON. I ONLY HAD TWO THINGS. MR. MR. FARKAS, SO, NEWMAN, I KNOW HE TAKES CALLS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE BOARD
MEMBERS WHO CALLS EVERYBODY. I DON'T CARE WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS, BUT I'M GOING IS, BUT I'M GOING TO MISS HIM AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO MISS ME BECAUSE I DO CALL HIM ON A SATURDAY, SUNDAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER. [ LAUGHTER ] NEWMAN. BUT REST ASSURED, I WILL TAKE HIS TIME TO CALL THE REST OF YOU. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]