>> HI. I'M I'M KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAM. >> I'M NADIA COMBS, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA, AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE
WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE ACROSS THE COUNTY. >> OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. >> 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 ON SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND
FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. >> MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. >> WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT
HillsboroughSchools.org. >> OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING. >> THE BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 2, 2026 IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. THERE WILL BE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>>Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY, SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTES WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH FOUR VOTES. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHAIR PEREZ AND MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER VAUGHN WILL BE HERE LATER ON. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO
APPROVE TODAY, MAY 5, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND MAY 12, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO
OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY, WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL GUESTS. STATE ATTORNEY
STATE ATTORNEY SUSIE LOPEZ. [ APPLAUSE ] AND OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION GWEN MYERS. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW LEAD US IN THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS.
THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTION ON LIVE WEBSITE ON CABLE TV ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTION IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. AT 5:01, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARING FOR RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR WORLD LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND E 02, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED
POLICIES. AT 6:00, WE DO HAVE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. WE'LL BEGIN WITH RECOGNITIONS. A 01, RECOGNITION OF STUDENTS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE. [ APPLAUSE ] AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL AN MARIE COURTNEY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS
OF CABINET, AND OUR GUESTS. TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE 7 STUDENTS WHO HAVE SHOWN GREAT COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH A DEMONSTRATION OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE. [ APPLAUSE ] YES. TO PUT THAT IN TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT
IS 2,340 DAYS OF CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER 13 YEARS OF ATTENDING. [ APPLAUSE ] JAMES WOMACK ONCE SAID: COMMITMENT UNLOCKS THE DOORS OF IMAGINATION, ALLOWS VISION, AND GIVES US THE RIGHT STUFF TO TURN OUR DREAMS INTO A REALITY. I DO I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE SEVEN STUDENTS WE RECOGNIZE TONIGHT HAD A DREAM TO EARN PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY MADE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY MADE THAT A REALITY. EACH OF OUR SEVEN EACH OF OUR SEVEN GRADUATING SENIORS WITH PERFECT SENIORS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE, ARE BEING PRESENTED WITH $500 SCHOLARSHIP AND GIFT CARDS FROM SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION. [ APPLAUSE ] BOB HYDE, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION, IS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE THIS TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THESE EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS. FIRST WE HAVE JULIUS FIRST WE HAVE JULIUS MONTAVO FROM GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] JULIUS WAS UNABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZED HIM HERE THIS EVENING.
HE MADE IT WHEN IT MATTERED, RIGHT? THAT'S ALL I GOT TO THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. NEXT WE HAVE NATHAN NEXT WE HAVE NATHAN JORDAN FROM LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR NEXT GRADUATE WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE IS NOAH ATTENDANCE IS NOAH JORDEN FROM
LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL. >> WOW, I GUESS THEY BOTH STAYED HEALTHY TOGETHER. >> OUR NEXT GRADUATE WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE, AMANDA HARRIS, NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT GRADUATE WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE, DARIUS DONALDSON DONALDSON DUMPHEE FROM PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] >> OUR NEXT STUDENT, >> OUR NEXT STUDENT, SADIE JONES FROM SICKLE HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND THE LAST STUDENT, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, MATTHEW MASON FROM MASON FROM SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] >> STUDENTS, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, I AM CONFIDENT THAT CONFIDENT THAT THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT FORECASTS MANY SUCCESSES IN YOUR FUTURE. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF THESE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS. YOUR SUPPORT OF YOUR CHILD'S COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US
HERE IN THIS ROOM. ANOTHER HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNER, SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION, FOR THEIR GENEROSITY IN PROVIDING THESE STUDENTS WITH THIS $500 SCHOLARSHIP AND GIFT CARDS. AND CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES, ON YOUR UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE. [ APPLAUSE ] BOARD, IF WE COULD HAVE A PICTURE, PLEASE.
[ APPLAUSE ] >>Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THOSE ARE DEFINITELY INDIVIDUALS YOU WANT TO HIRE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HIRE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SHOW UP. THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. NEXT IS A 02, THE RECOGNITION OF THE JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUNE 19, 2026. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. APPRECIATE THIS.
JUNETEENTH IS A NATIONAL DAY OF OBSERVANCE THAT COMMEMORATES OBSERVANCE THAT COMMEMORATES A 160-YEAR-OLD CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND RESILIENCE FOR BLACK AMERICANS. ON JUNE 19, 1865, MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE SIGNING OF YEARS AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, ENSLAVED AMERICANS IN ENSLAVED AMERICANS IN GALVESTON, TEXAS FINALLY RECEIVED WORD THAT THEY WERE NOW FREE BY UNION GENERAL GORDON GRANGER. THIS CELEBRATION IS A TIME TO
GATHER IN OUR COMMUNITY GATHER IN OUR COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL TRADITION THROUGH MUSIC, STORYTELLING, AND FOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THAT. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. 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 WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE
BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE AND YOU WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE DO REQUEST THAT YOU TRY TO FOCUS ON ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMEMBER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND HEAR A CHIME. A RED LIGHT AND CHIME WILL
INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL NOW CALL UP THE FIVE FIRST SPEAKERS. PLEASE COME UP. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DARYL HYCH. MR. WASHINGTON JUST MR. WASHINGTON JUST GOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THE JUNETEENTH. I'M REMINDED OF A QUOTE BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN THAT SAYS DEMOCRACY IS TWO DEMOCRACY IS TWO WOLVES AND A LAMB FIGHTING LAMB FIGHTING OVER WHAT TO HAVE
FOR LUNCH. LIBERTY IS A LIBERTY IS A WELL-ARMED LIBERTY IS A WELL-ARMED LAMB CONTESTING THE VOTE. THE LAST TIME I STOOD BEFORE YOU, I GAVE YOU, I GAVE YOU NUMBERS OF THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT WERE BLACK AND BROWN THAT HAD BEEN SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL. I STAND BEFORE YOU I STAND BEFORE YOU TO APOLOGIZE. I TOLD YOU IT WAS 46,000. BUT AFTER DOING CLOSER BUT AFTER DOING CLOSER RESEARCH, THERE
THERE IS 129,424 DAYS OF SCHOOL MISSED BY BLACK AND MISSED BY BLACK AND LATINO FAMILIES BETWEEN THE YEARS FAMILIES BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2023 AND 2023 AND 2025. HOW CAN YOU CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH WHEN YOU GOT THOSE TYPE OF NUMBERS TAKING NUMBERS TAKING PLACE? WHAT WE COME TO FIND OUT IN THE LAST 30 DAYS IS THAT, IN LOOKING AT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPOKEN OF, YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT DURING THE MEETING THAT'S BEEN PUT OFF, YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT
HAS BEEN THE MAIN SOURCE AND THE MAIN REASON FOR SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE MISCODING OF OUR STUDENTS AND CODING OUR KIDS WHERE HORSEPLAY IS DETERMINED FIGHTING, AND ENGAGING WITH A TEACHER UNINTENTIONALLY IS GIVEN A 21- TO 30-DAY SUSPENSION. WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, I THEN COME TO REALIZE OTHER ISSUES THAT COME AS A RESULT OF THIS SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE. AND THERE CULTURAL THAT YOU'VE
CREATED. NO LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AGO, MS. NINA WILLIAMS AND HER FAMILY SUFFERED SOMETHING SUFFERED SOMETHING THAT NO FAMILY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO SUFFER SUFFER IN 2026. I RECALL MY FAMILY IN CALHOUN CITY, MISSISSIPPI, WHEN I ASKED A QUESTION, HOW DID WE END A QUESTION, HOW DID WE END UP IN OHIO? AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE KLAN AND SYMBOLISM AND OTHER THINGS THAT LED THEM OUT OF MISSISSIPPI.
AND HOW DO WE STAND IN 2026 FACING THESE SAME TYPE OF CHARGES? IT'S A SIMPLE ANSWER. YOU'VE CREATED A CULTURE AND A SYSTEM THAT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THIS TO PERMEATE. THEN YOU WRITE A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT ALLOWS IT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. IF WE HADN'T BEEN COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE CODE OF CONDUCT, MANY OF THE SAME FACTORS WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE. I ASK YOU TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS
SAYING. THE COMMUNITY HAS SOME STRONG REQUESTS. THINGS SUCH AS GIVING US REPORTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING ABOUT OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HOW YOU DOING >> HOW YOU DOING TODAY? I'M ELVIS I'M ELVIS PIGGOTT, PASTOR 20 YEARS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WANT TO FIRST START BY SALUTING AND SALUTING AND APPRECIATING OUR SUPERINTENDENT FOR SUCH A
WONDERFUL RESPONSE TO WHAT TOOK PLACE AT BARRINGTON. WHEN THAT HAPPENED, OF COURSE, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING AND HORRIFIC, BUT THE LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE GUIDANCE AND THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT, OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, RICK GRAVES, PHENOMENAL LEADERSHIP. IT DID NOT TAKE ANY -- NO TIME, NO REHEARSING. THEY JUMPED IN AND TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE THIS DISTRICT REALIZE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. KUDOS TO YOU SUPERINTENDENT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CHIEF OF SCHOOLS.
I ALSO SAY TO THE FAST I ALSO SAY TO THE FAST ACT I ALSO SAY TO THE FAST ACT OF OUR NAACP PRESIDENT OUR NAACP PRESIDENT YVETTE LEWIS JUMPING IN, MAKING SURE THAT SHE NAVIGATED THAT FAMILY THROUGH THAT STORM TO LET THAT STORM TO LET THAT FAMILY KNOW THEY WASN'T ALONE. GREAT LEADERSHIP WE HAVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WANT TO ALSO REMIND THIS BOARD, IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO THAT I CAME TO THIS BOARD AND TALKED ON BEHALF OF MY NEPHEW THAT WAS CALLED A THAT WAS CALLED A NIGGER AT WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL. THAT WAS THE WORD THE TEACHER LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID.
I ASKED ADDISON DAVIS, THE SUPERINTENDENT, TO PLEASE SEND A LETTER AND LET THIS DISTRICT KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WE FAILED TO DO THAT. I COME AGAIN NOW AND ASK OUR SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH HE HAS ALREADY ADDRESSED, WHICH HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED THAT WE MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THAT. I ALSO SAY ON BEHALF OF TEACHERS, IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ATTENTION OF SEVERAL TEACHERS THAT ARE FACE AMBASSADORS THAT WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE THE
STIPENDS OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF DOING THE WORK, DEALING WITH THE COMMUNITY, THESE TEACHERS, BECAUSE THAT IS OVER. BUT YET WE HAVE A FACE DEPARTMENT THAT ABSOLUTELY NO PRINCIPAL I TALKED TO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY DO. NO PRINCIPAL NO PRINCIPAL I TALKED TO -- THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE TEEN TAKE-OVERS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. FACES MISSING. WE WANT TO SEE THE FACE TO FACE. THIS IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT BACK AND RECEIVE CHECKS SIT BACK AND RECEIVE CHECKS AND GET RETIREMENT UNTIL YOU DECIDE TO GET OUT.
THESE POSITIONS ARE TO THESE POSITIONS ARE TO ENGAGE AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RAYS STADIUM AND LOSING MONEY, WASTING SIX FIGURES. PEOPLE SITTING IN A DEPARTMENT WHERE THERE ARE NO MORE STIPENDS FOR THE TEACHERS DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY, ENGAGING COMMUNITY, YET THE LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT, THE CHIEF OF FACE, ALL THESE PEOPLE GET SIX FIGURES TO PEOPLE GET SIX FIGURES TO TELL PRINCIPALS THAT IT'S NOT THEIR JOB TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY. I'M ASKING THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND THIS BOARD, PLEASE LET'S DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT'S TOO ALONG THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE SITTING GETTING SALARIES AND ABSOLUTELY DOING NOTHING THAT BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, AND THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10 PLEASE COME UP? >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JEANETTE HORN SMITH. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE BOARD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. FOURTH GENERATION TAMPA NATIVE. THE MOTHER OF TWO SONS.
I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP HERE FOR YOUR ACTIONS IN TERMINATING THE EMPLOYMENT OF KAREN DURING THE BARRINGTON INCIDENT. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I ALWAYS COME PREPARED WITH REMARKS SO I COULD BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE. FOR MANY STUDENTS, PARENTS AND EDUCATORS, THE INCIDENT AT BARRINGTON WAS NOT SIMPLY OFFENSIVE BUT HARMFUL. IT RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS ON WHETHER EVERY CHILD IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS IS SAFE, INCLUDING MY OWN. THIS INCIDENT IS BIGGER THAN A CLASSROOM. IT HIGHLIGHTS AN ONGOING CONCERN REGARDING RACISM, BIAS, AND
DISCIPLINE POLICIES THAT CONTINUE TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. WE KNOW THAT THE DATA SHOWS THAT BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DISCIPLINE CONSEQUENCES AT DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR PEERS. FAMILIES CONTINUE TO REPORT INCONSISTENT TREATMENT, UNEQUAL ACCESS TO ADVOCACY AND VARYING INTERPRETATIONS OF THE DISCIPLINE POLICIES DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL THEY ATTEND. SO TONIGHT I ASK THAT THE BOARD CONTINUE TO MOVE BEYOND WORDS AND COMMIT TO MEASURABLE ACTIONS. FIRST, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL
TO CONTINUE TO ADOPT AND COMMUNICATE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR RACISM, RACIAL HARASSMENT, RACIAL INTIMIDATION AND DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ANYONE SERVING WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE SENT THE REQUEST TO REVOKE KAREN'S TEACHING LICENSE TO THE STATE, I JUST SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY ONCE THE STATE HAS ACTUALLY APPROVED THAT SO THAT WE CAN FEEL SAFE THAT SHE IS OUT OF THE CLASSROOMS WHERE OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE SAFELY LEARNING.
ALSO, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND TO OBSERVE WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE. ON RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WHEN IT COMES TO VIDEO ACCESS AND VIDEO ACCESS AND PARENTS GAINING VIDEO ACCESS THAT WE ENSURE WHATEVER POLICIES ARE PUT IN PLACE THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH THE RIGHTS OUTLINED FOR ALL PARENTS AS IT PERTAINS TO FERPA AND IF THE VIDEOS ARE PART OF THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL RECORDS. I ALSO ASK THAT THE DISTRICT PUBLICLY DISPLAYS AND
COMMUNICATES THE DISCIPLINE DATA DISAGGREGATED BY RACE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT FOR PREVIOUS YEARS BUT NOW THAT THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS OVER, WITHOUT DELAY, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT PROGRESS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN MADE GIVEN THE DEDICATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS IN THIS ROOM WHO HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO PUT FORTH BEST FORTH BEST SUGGESTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GOING INTO THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR, OVER THE SUMMER, WE ARE OVER THE SUMMER, WE ARE HOLDING OUR ADMINISTRATORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING TIER 1 PLANS. FULL TIER 1 PLANS THAT ARE IN
PLACE AND THAT THESE ADMINISTRATORS, THE APs AND PRINCIPALS ARE ALSO FULLY TRAINED ON WHATEVER CHANGES ARE GOING TO COME FORTH IN THE REVISED STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT THAT YOU WILL EVENTUALLY VOTE TO APPROVE. TRAINING TRAINING IS AS CRITICAL AS THE CHANGES THAT ARE MADE. LASTLY -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MRS. MY NAME IS MRS. LUCINDA JOHNSON. I'M HERE TODAY AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN, GUARDIAN, ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION, AND PARTICIPANT IN DISTRICT COMMITTEE SUPPORTING STUDENTS. I WANT TO ASK THIS BOARD AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. WHEN PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND STUDENTS REPORT BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION, STUDENT SAFETY CONCERNS, OR STAFF MISCONDUCT, CAN THEY TRUST THAT THOSE MATTERS WILL BE INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY, FAIRLY, AND OBJECTIVELY?
MANY WITHIN THIS DISTRICT, INCLUDING MYSELF AS A PARENT AND FAMILIES CONNECTED TO BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, CONTINUE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, CONTINUE TO RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING BULLYING, BULLYING, INVESTIGATION, STAFF CONDUCT, TRANSPARENCY, AND WHETHER DECISIONS ARE SOMETIMES MADE BEFORE INVESTIGATIONS ARE FULLY COMPLETED. THESE CONCERNS REFLECT BORDER ISSUES -- BROADER ISSUES -- BROADER ISSUES INVOLVING ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC TRUST.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALSO OBSERVE THAT MAJOR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS INVOLVING A FORMER STAFF MEMBER OCCURRED ONLY AFTER PUBLIC ATTENTION BROUGHT WIDER VISIBILITY TO THE SITUATION. MOMENTS LIKE THIS UNDERSTANDABLY LEAVE MANY QUESTIONING WHETHER SERIOUS MATTERS RECEIVE THE SAME URGENCY WITHOUT OUTSIDE EXPOSURE. PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ATTENTION, REPEATED REPEATED ESCALATIONS, EDUCATIONAL ADVOCATES OR ATTORNEYS BEFORE MEANINGFUL ACTIONS TAKE PLACE.
FAMILIES SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT CONCERNS WOULD BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE REPORTED. CONCERNS ALSO EXTEND INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION. AN IEP OR A COMMENDATION PLAN MAY LOOK APPROPRIATE ON MAY LOOK APPROPRIATE ON PAPER, BUT WITHOUT CONSISTENT DAILY IMPLEMENTATION, THOSE SUPPORTS ARE NEVER FULLY DELIVERED TO THE STUDENT. THE DISTRICT OFTEN THE DISTRICT OFTEN SPEAKS ABOUT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP. HOWEVER, MANY
HOWEVER, MANY ENGAGED PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, INCLUDING ME AND MY HUSBAND, CONTINUE TO FEEL DISMISSED WHEN ADVOCATING FOR OUR CHILDREN'S NEEDS AND SAFETY. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE NOT THE OPPOSITION. WE ARE PARTNERS. WE SHOULD ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL. STUDENT SUCCESS. THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES A SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE ACCOUNTABILITY IS CONSISTENT, STUDENT SAFETY IS PRIORITIZED, AND FAMILIES ARE TREATED AS TRUE PARTNERS IN
THEIR CHILDREN'S THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS SUBA BATIGLIERI, PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN IN APOLLO BEACH. AS WE HEAD INTO SUMMER MONTHS, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT ABOUT
SOUTH COUNTY EDUCATION FUTURE ACTIVE. THE STATE BUDGET IS CURRENTLY AWAITING FINAL APPROVAL FROM GOVERNOR DESANTIS, AND ITS FUNDING DECISIONS WILL HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND LONG-TERM PLANNING ACROSS THE DISTRICT. AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TONIGHT TO REMIND YOU THAT SOUTH COUNTY REMAINS AN AREA OF SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND DEMAND, AND THAT DEMAND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE
NEED FOR A PUBLIC K-8 OPTION IN OUR COMMUNITY. AT A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING, I SHARED DATA SHOWING THAT WHILE MORE MORE THAN 584 ZONED STUDENTS CURRENTLY ATTEND DOBY ELEMENTARY, OVER 850 STUDENTS WHO ARE ZONED FOR DOBY ARE CHOOSING OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS. THOSE NUMBERS REFLECT TODAY'S ENROLLMENT AND DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE CONTINUED RESIDENTIAL GROWTH OCCURRING THROUGHOUT OUR AREA. THIS DATA TELLS AN IMPORTANT STORY: FAMILIES ARE SEEKING ALTERNATIVES AND MANY ARE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR
EDUCATIONAL MODELS THAT BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS. A NEIGHBORHOOD K-8 OPTION REMAINS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE THAT EISENHOWER IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOLUTION. THREES ARE NOT COMPETING PRIORITIES. WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN EISENHOWER WHILE ALSO EXPLORING A K-8 PATHWAY THAT SERVES THE GROWING NEEDS OF SOUTH COUNTY FAMILIES. WHILE THE FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR THESE PROJECTS MAY DEFER BOTH INVESTMENTS SUPPORT THE DISTRICT'S BROADER GOALS OF
RETAINING STUDENTS, SERVING COMMUNITIES AND PLANNING RESPONSIBLY FOR FUTURE GROWTH. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CONCERNS OF CLOSING PIZZO K-8. THE STRONG COMMUNITY RESPONSE UNDERSCORES THE VALUE FAMILIES PLACE ON K-8 SCHOOLS AND THE ROLE THEY CAN PLAY IN ATTRACTING AND RETAINING STUDENTS. AS THE DISTRICT EVALUATES ITS OPTIONS WE HOPE A SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND THAT BEST SERVES STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY. AS DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE OVER THE COMING MONTHS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE BOARD KEEP SOUTH COUNTY'S NEEDS IN MIND.
THE DEMAND IS THERE. THE GROWTH IS THE GROWTH IS COMING, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE FAMILIES REMAIN IN FRONT OF US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONTINUED CONSIDERATION. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. JUAN HERNANDEZ. I AM A MOTIVATED PARENT, CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE EXPANSION OF DOBY INTO A K-8. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST AND WE
IN THE PAST AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW IS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF EVOLVING NEEDS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE FULLY SUPPORT THE CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION HAPPENING AT EISENHOWER, EISENHOWER, BUT EISENHOWER, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF PARENTS ARE LOOKING TO MOVE INTO A K-8 MODEL AND GREAT PLACE TO HAPPEN AT DOBY. THERE ARE A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF GREAT K-8s IN THE COMMUNITY ALREADY. PIZZO IS ONE. YOU SEE THE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY ALREADY COMMUNITY ALREADY ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUPPORT KEEPING THAT AROUND.
WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO PUT THAT OUT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD, THE SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY IS VERY DEDICATED TO LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL CHOICES AND OPTIONS TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE IT IS AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. JOHN GREEN. LET'S TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS AND LAW. I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE FOR
TWO YEARS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE UP UNTIL TODAY. A KID A KID HANGING AT THE FOCAL POINT OF A TELEVISION OF BLACK DOLL WITH A NOOSE AROUND THE NECK. THAT IS A THAT IS A LIFE-CHANGING, PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT THAT KID WILL HAVE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, EVERYONE THAT WAS IN THAT CLASSROOM. LET'S TALK ABOUT FELONS BEING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. YOU HAD THAT INFORMATION. YOU KNOW ABOUT IT AND YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING.
RIGHT. SO WHERE DOES FAIRNESS AND SO WHERE DOES FAIRNESS AND LAW MAKE CHANGES WHEN YOU KNOW. ONE THING WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW. ANOTHER THING WHEN YOU DO KNOW. I AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT THAT THEY TOOK THE NAACP PRESIDENT. I AGREE WITH HER. YES, THEY DID -- PROBABLY NOT DO ANY DIVERSITY TRAINING OR TAKING BLACK HISTORY BOOKS OUT OF THE SCHOOL. I AGREE WITH THAT.
HOWEVER, YOU WAS QUICK TO FIRE THE TEACHER AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT YOU'RE NOT BUT YOU'RE NOT QUICK ENOUGH TO REALLY LOOK AT THE REALLY LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE OF A FELON BEING ON GARY ADULT SCHOOL PROPERTY OF WHICH YOU KNOW. BECAUSE YOU ALL ANALYZED THE DATA, WELL, LET ME LET YOU HEAR IT FOR YOURSELF.
>> THE STUDENT, THE PARENT, THE TEACHER, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO ADVOCATE FOR EACH ONE HOLISTICALLY. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE NAACP HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BRANCH, I'M GOING TO ASK GOING TO ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE STAND. >> SHE LET YOU ALL KNOW -- SHE LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT YOU ALL ANALYZED THE DATA. YOU ALL DO STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND YOU IMPLEMENT. BUT I HAVEN'T
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IMPLEMENT THE THE JESSICA LUNSFORD LAW YET AND YOU KNOW IT. I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE AND I'M NOT THERE AND I'M NOT DONE. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT TO THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT RIGHT TO THE KIDS, AND EVERYONE, EVERY KID IN EVERYONE, EVERY KID IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT DESERVES TO BE SAFE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VAN AYRES, THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR HIS SWIFT ACTION. HOWEVER, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT'S SELECTED. A WEEK AGO, THERE WAS AN ELDERLY LADY PUSHED DOWN OVER AT MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL AT A GRADUATION. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS NOT MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, BUT IT WAS A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT USED THAT FACILITY. BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WAS IN ATTENDANCE HAVE CALLED ME AND SAID THAT THERE
SAID THAT THERE WAS NO SECURITY OR ANYONE AT THAT FACILITY. NOW IT LEADS BACK TO THIS BOARD. YOU ALL DO NOT YOU ALL DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR CONTRACTS. YOU DO NOT ADHERE TO CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE YOU. I GUESS YOUR SUBORDINATES ARE FOLLOWING WHAT THE HEAD IS DOING AND THAT'S OVERLOOKING WHAT'S IN A CONTRACT. NOW, AS A NOW, AS A TAXPAYER, WE'RE GOING TO BE SUED BECAUSE THIS LADY WAS INJURED ON THIS PROPERTY. NOWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THAT I KNOW OF WHERE YOU
KNOW OF WHERE YOU ALLOW THE NAACP TO HAVE FREE RENT, FREE OFFICE AND WE IN THIS CONDITION THAT WE'RE IN. YOU HAD -- WELL, USED TO BE THE FIRST PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE OF THE NAACP TALK ABOUT THE ABSENTEES AND SUSPENSION AND EVERYTHING GOING ON. WHEN YOU HAVE AN OFFICE OF THE NAACP SITTING ON TAXPAYERS' PROPERTY, WE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT RACISM. WE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN BEING THROWN OUT OF
SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE COLLABORATING WITH HER. YOU ALL ARE COLLABORATING WITH THEM. WE SHOULD NOT WE SHOULD NOT IN 2026 BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ABOUT HOW OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND, TEENAGER TAKE-OVER. WE'RE LOOKING AT INCARCERATION OF KIDS. WE'RE LOOKING AT KIDS KILLING KIDS. NOT ONE TIME HAVE I EVER HEARD THIS PRESIDENT SPEAK OUT AGAINST THOSE ACTIONS. YES, SHE IS A JOHNNY-COME-LATELY BUT THERE IS A RECORD OF A
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT THE CITY OF THE CITY OF PUT ON THE THE CITY OF PUT ON THE BOOKS FOR THIS NAACP TO RECEIVE. BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT THE MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW WHY THEY SHOULD RECEIVE THAT MONEY. THIS ORGANIZATION FOR THE SEVEN YEARS SHE'S BEEN THE PRESIDENT HAS HAS NOT HAD ANY -- HAS NEVER HAD AN ELECTION. THERE ARE SO MANY ILLS THAT'S GOING ON. BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS BOARD,
THIS BOARD, NOT A HEARING TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, READING THE CONTRACT, IMPLEMENTING THE CONTRACT, AND NOT SHOWING FAVORITISM. SO I STAND AS A PARENT, GRANDPARENT, GREAT GRANDPARENT SAYING THAT IT'S TIME OUT FOR THIS FOOLISHNESS. I NEVER THOUGHT AT 72 I WOULD BE SEEING AND HEARING THE RACIST THING THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS SCHOOL BOARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT ON BOARD. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, SCHOOL BOARD. CABINET, CHAIRS AND EVERYBODY CABINET, CHAIRS AND EVERYBODY CABINET, CHAIRS AND EVERYBODY ELSE PRESENT. CABINET, CHAIRS AND EVERYBODY MALACHI JAMAR DOUGLAS. I AM A RISING JUNIOR AT THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT ARCHAEOLOGY HONORS AS A COURSE REQUEST. IT INTEGRATES SEVERAL STANDARDS WITHIN GEOLOGY, BIOLOGY, ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND EVEN MORE SUBJECTS THAT CAN ALL BE COMBINED AS A SCIENCE COURSE. I ASK NOT TODAY, NOT TOMORROW, BUT ONE DAY SOON TO VOTE ON THIS AND MAKE THIS A REAL REALITY FOR NOT JUST OUR COUNTY, BUT FOR ALL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. ARCHAEOLOGY HONORS FILLS A GAP THAT I NOTICED VERY QUICKLY THAT I NOTICED VERY QUICKLY ON LOOKING AT THE STATE'S LOOKING AT THE STATE'S CCD COURSE CODE DIRECTORY.
THERE ARE SO MANY SCIENCE COURSES THAT ARE REPEATED NOT JUST BY AP, IB, THAT'S IT. IT'S SEVEN. COMPARED THAT TO SOCIAL STUDY CLASSES, 50, 100, SO MANY MORE. SO I WANT TO ADD ONE MORE NOT JUST BECAUSE, OH, I'M JUST -- I WANT TO ADD ONE MORE BECAUSE I WANT TO ACTUALLY GET A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL WHILE I HAVE THE CHANCE, NOT JUST THE SAME LITTLE PATHWAY. I WANT TO HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH A VOTE SOMEDAY SOON SO THAT WAY STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A PROGRAM ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS BY CREATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ASHLEY MORROW. REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH WE MAY WISH TO DISSOCIATE OURSELVES FROM TAMPA OF 1850s OR DISCLAIM THAT SOCIETY, WE PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION -- IT PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR MODERN TAMPA. ONLY BY UNDERSTANDING THE
REALITY OF BLACK-WHITE RELATIONS UNDER SLAVERY UNDER SLAVERY CAN WE HOPE TO COMPREHEND ITS LEGACY. WRITTEN WRITTEN BY R. WRITTEN BY R. WADE WEATHERINGTON IN 1890 AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY REMAIN RELEVANT TODAY. WHETHER THE ACTIONS WERE INTENDED TO BE A JOKE, PRANK, OR SOMETHING ELSE, THE IMAGE CARRIED A PAINFUL HISTORICAL MEANING THAT MANY STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THANKS TO THE PARENTS AND SOME HISTORY TEACHERS. YOU ALL ROCK. MANY PEOPLE WANT TO VIEW INCIDENTS LIKE THIS AS ISOLATED EVENTS, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN A PART OF A LARGER PATTERN. WE HAVE SEEN SITUATIONS WHERE A BLACK PERSON SIMPLY WAITING OUTSIDE A BANK WAS OUTSIDE A BANK WAS VIEWED AS SUSPICIOUS ENOUGH FOR THE POLICE TO BE CALLED. WE'VE SEEN BLACK -- WHILE DOING ORDINARY THINGS. I APPRECIATE YOU, MR. AYRES AND YOUR BOARD FOR SWIFT ACTIONS AND RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT WHEN IT BECAME PUBLIC. WE ALSO NEED THAT SAME SENSE OF URGENCY WHEN RACIAL
MICROAGGRESSIONS BECOME INGRAINED IN A SCHOOL'S CULTURE. THE POINT IS NOT PUNISH INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS, IT IS TO ADDRESS THE ROOTS THAT ALLOW THESE INCIDENTS TO TAKE PLACE. IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO WHAT ARE WE SO WHAT ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY ASKING FOR? ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE EDUCATION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. YOU ALL KNOW I LOVE TAMPA'S AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. I HAVE SUMMER READING FOR YOU. THE FIRST ONE IS FREE. THE NEGROES ARE THERE TO STAY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF TAMPA'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY BY DR. LARRY EUGENE RIVERS AND DR. CANTER BROWN AND THESE TWO BOOKS YOU CAN GET OFF OF AMAZON. FAMILY RECORDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PIONEERS OF TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BY DR. CANTER BROWN. TAMPA AND CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION BY DR. CANTER BROWN. MR. MR. WASHINGTON, WHEN YOU MR. WASHINGTON, WHEN YOU TALKED EARLIER, JUNETEENTH. JUNE 1865. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE TAMPA'S
EMANCIPATION DAY AS WELL, MAY EMANCIPATION DAY AS WELL, MAY 6, 1864, A FULL YEAR BEFORE JUNETEENTH. OKAY. YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THAT FROM MR. FROM MR. FRED HEARNS. SHOUT OUT TO HIM. DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW ALSO 142 BLACK SOLDIERS SOLDIERS LISTED SOLDIERS LISTED AS INACTION IN TAMPA ON THAT DAY, MAY 6, 1864. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WE HAVE ABOUT THREE SPEAKERS LEFT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. ANGELA. THANK YOU FOR FITTING US IN LAST MINUTE. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY THAT I AM SO PROUD OF MY COMMUNITY BEING HERE. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND I DO NEED TO SAY THAT I APOLOGIZE FOR THE EVENT OR EVENTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT THEM HERE. BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE STANDING TOGETHER, AND THAT WE ARE HERE TO HOLD OURSELVES, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND OUR BOARD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL. I REALLY HOPE IN ALL OF THAT THAT YOU ARE LISTENING. IT'S NOT JUST OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S THE DISTRICT AND EVERYBODY BEHIND. I HOPE THAT YOU ARE TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY TAKE IN EVERYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING. WITH THAT, PIZZO K-8, WE KNOW THAT THE CONTRACT HAS CEASED AT THIS TIME, BUT WHAT A LOVELY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO CREATE A NEW ONE. THE COMMUNITY FOR PIZZO HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN LISTENED TO. WE TRIED TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE AS POSSIBLE. SOME MAY HAVE BEEN FEARFUL TO COME OUT. SOME MAY HAVE BEEN BUSY. WHAT A GREAT TIME TO START A NEW CONTRACT. WE CAN GET SOME MORE
CONVERSATIONS OPEN. WE HAVE A LOT MORE THAT CAN BE DONE THERE. SO WITH THAT, AND WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH DOBY, WE SEE THAT THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO WHETHER IT IS LISTENING TO OUR SCHOOL AND REVISITING OUR COMMUNITY AND POTENTIALLY REVISITING OUR CONTRACT, WHETHER IT IS MOVING US TO ADUM AND TAKING THE SULPHUR SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL TO ADAMS AND KEEPING THE FAMILY TOGETHER AND PROTECTING IT. WHETHER IT IS LISTENING WHEN TIME TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT DOBY TO GIVE THEM THE K-8 THEY ARE ASKING FOR TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THEM TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND WHETHER IT IS LISTENING TO ANYONE WHO HAS APPEARED BEFORE YOU TODAY DEMANDING MORE DEMANDING MORE SAFETY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY, I HOPE WE ALL LISTEN AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT OR DO SOMETHING TO GET MORE INPUT FROM US SO THAT WE CAN KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND EVERYONE MOVING FORWARD IN OUR ACADEMICS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HISTORY, ANTHONY PIZZO ACTUALLY DID ANTHONY PIZZO ACTUALLY DID A
WONDERFUL JOB DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR AND THE HISTORY OF THE 1900s AND 1920s AND 30s. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT USF USF LIBRARY, HIS DOCUMENTS ARE HOUSED THERE, IMPORTANT REASON TO KEEP PIZZO ON THE USF CAMPUS. I INVITE EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT THOSE RELICS. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE LISTENING, AND LET'S KEEP THAT COMMUNITY IN MIND. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES. BEFORE I WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING TO THE MEETING I WROTE A SPEECH. THE SPEECH IS HOW I'M FEELING AT THAT TIME. AT THAT POINT THINKING ABOUT PIZZO K-8 I WAS A LITTLE ANGRY. INSTEAD OF BEING ANGRY BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL ARE TRYING, I'LL TRY AND DO THIS CALMLY. I GET THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT
YOUR FAULT. USF DECISION AND THEY ARE BEING A LITTLE GREEDY RIGHT NOW AND YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT. BUT AS MANY PEOPLE HAS BROUGHT UP, WE COULD BE MOVED TO UP, WE COULD BE MOVED TO ADUM. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MOVE ON ABOUT THIS THINK ABOUT IT MORE CLEARLY, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE YEAR LEFT. SCHOOL IS OUT. MAYBE STUDENTS MIGHT BE HAPPY BUT OTHER PARTISANS ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS BECOME LESS AFFORDABLE. PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO MOVE, AND VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND MY PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW. I'M ASKING YOU, REVIEW IT MORE CLEARLY. COME SPEAK TO THE STUDENTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE WRITING LITTLE TINY POSTERS TRYING TO SAVE THEIR SCHOOL, AND IT'S NOT JUST CUTE, IT'S SICKENING, IT'S HARD TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE LOSING A HOME, A SECOND HOME. NOT JUST A PLACE, NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT'S A HOME.
SO COME SPEAK TO THE STUDENTS AND I'M LEAVING. FOR ME TO BE UP HERE, THAT SHOULD SAY SOMETHING. I'M NO LONGER IN THAT SCHOOL. I'M A FRESHMAN. I COULD BE MOVING ON, BUT I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE THERE. THERE IS A CULTURE THERE. SO STOP TRYING TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND. I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE. YOU ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOLS THAT YOU ALL HAVE. I GET THAT YOU I GET THAT YOU HAVE MORE PRIORITIES BUT PIZZO IS AN AMAZING SCHOOL. THE COMMUNITY BROUGHT IT UP. A K-8 MODEL, WE ARE NOT JUST GOOD, WE ARE NOT JUST GREAT, WE ARE AMAZING. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO LEAVE IT ALL, REVIEW IT, LOOK AT IT FURTHER. AND SEE IT FROM THE INSIDE. DON'T JUST HEAR THE COMMUNITY, COME SEE THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I ONLY HEARD ONE PERSON COME TO THAT SCHOOL.
I THINK IT'S JESSICA VAUGHN. ONLY HEARD ONE PERSON COME TO THE SCHOOL AND THAT'S IT. NEWSPAPER CAME TO MY DOOR LAST MEETING THAT SAID SOME CRAZY SECRETS THAT MADE ME ANGRY. THOSE MADE ME ANGRY. SO INSTEAD OF JUST MOVING ON, LOOK FURTHER. COME TO THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR TONIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M ANTHONY J. I'M ANTHONY J. PIZZO, SON OF ANTHONY PIZZO, THE NAMESAKE OF PIZZO K-8. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PIZZO FAMILY TO LET YOU KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS. MANY OF YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW WHO TONY PIZZO WAS OR REMEMBER THE NAME. HE DIED HE DIED IN 1994. UNDERSTANDABLE. HE WAS A HISTORIAN. HE WROTE A COUPLE OF BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF TAMPA.
HE WROTE MANY, MANY ARTICLES. HE WAS THE FORCE BEHIND PUTTING UP MANY OF THE PLAQUES AND HE DID A LOT OF WORK WITH USF IN PARTICULAR. THE FIRST THING HE WAS ASKED TO DO WAS FAIR TATE A DO WAS FAIR TATE A TEN-PART -- NARRATE A TEN PART SERIES TONY PIZZO TAMPA PIZZO TAMPA BROADCAST ON USF TELEVISION AND WAS PRODUCED BY USF. HE ALSO TAUGHT AN HE ALSO TAUGHT AN EVENING COURSE ON LATIN
ON LATIN INFLUENCE IN TAMPA, AND HE DID OTHER THINGS THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL. SO THERE WAS SO THERE WAS A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIM AND THE SCHOOL. NOW, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY NOW, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN 1994, THERE WERE MANY VERY NICE THINGS DONE FOR HIM, INCLUDING ERECTING A STATUE IN CENTENNIAL PARK IN YBOR CITY. AND WHERE YOU COME AND WHERE YOU COME IN, YOU VERY GENEROUSLY AND KINDLY OFFERED TO NAME A SCHOOL AFTER HIM AND
APPROACHED MY MOTHER WITH SOME VERY KIND OFFERS, INCLUDING A HIGH SCHOOL, I BELIEVE A MIDDLE SCHOOL. BUT ONE SPECIAL STOOD OUT. THAT WAS THE PIZZO K-8, WHAT IT IS NOW. A DEVELOPMENTAL SCHOOL WHERE THE STUDENTS AT USF COULD COME OVER, THE THE EDUCATIONAL STUDENTS COULD LEARN AND PROGRESS IN THEIR COURSE OF BECOMING TEACHERS. WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND MY FATHER AND IT WAS A VERY EASY DECISION. WE'VE BEEN SO PROUD AND SO
PLEASED WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT THAT OVER THE YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE OF THE EVENTS AND WE WERE INVITED AND DID SEE THE COMMUNITY AND INDEED IT IS A SPECIAL COMMUNITY WITH SPECIAL KIDS, WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO O LIKE TO ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE PIZZO FAMILY ENCOURAGE TO YOU REVISIT THIS THING. DISCUSS IT WIT DISCUSS IT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE
APPARENTLY IT'S BECOME A FINANCIAL ISSUE INSTEAD FINANCIAL ISSUE INSTEAD OF AN EDUCATIONAL ONE. WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS SCHOOL CONTINUING WITH THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION AND THESE STUDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK IN PARTICULAR MS. VAUGHN FOR HER HELP WITH ALL THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS AFTERNOON. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE ARE DONE WITH PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOW. WE'LL NOW MOVE THE CONSENT
AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO
HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE EIGHT AGENDA, WE HAVE EIGHT PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. SOME ARE TRANSFERS, SOME ARE NEW APPOINTMENT. ONE MIDDLE, ONE HIGH, SIX ELEMENTARY. I'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO GO THROUGH THE EIGHT. WE'LL START OFF WITH NEW PRINCIPAL AT FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL. THAT'S DEANNA McCANN. DEANNA, WHERE ARE YOU AT? [ APPLAUSE ] GO AHEAD AND STAND UP GO AHEAD AND STAND UP DEANNA.
DEANNA IN 2003 TRANSFERRED TO CAREER CENTER AS TEACHER AND INTERVENTION SPECIALIST. TRANSFER TO EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL IN 2009 AS A RESOURCE TEACHER. 2010 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AND LATER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR CURRICULUM AT SPOTO HIGH SCHOOL. TRANSFERRED TO SUMNER. IN 2021 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE CURRENTLY SERVING. MOVES FROM PRINCIPAL AT SHIELDS TO PRINCIPAL AT FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL. DEANNA, CONGRATULATIONS.
ANY FAMILY OR FRIENDS OF ANY FAMILY OR FRIENDS OF DEANNA THAT WANT TO STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED? CONGRATULATIONS, DEANNA. WE ALSO HAVE A NEW PRINCIPAL OVER AT BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THAT IS CRISTINA VEGA. CRISTINA, COME ON UP. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU GUYS KNOW CRISTINA AS DEANNA. BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS BY LINGUAL AIDE.
SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN -- 2022 TRANSFERRED TO SULPHUR SPRINGS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND IN 2025 MS. VEGA WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AND NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL. CRISTINA VEGA, CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] NEW PRINCIPAL AT BRYANT ELEMENTARY. VICTORIA, COME ON UP. MS. MORRIS BEGAN HER TEACHING
CAREER IN 1995 WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHING FIRST GRADE AT MITCHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 2001 TRANSFERRED TO LUTZ, TAUGHT 12 YEARS. SERVED AS PEER EVALUATOR FOR THE DISTRICT IN 2013. 2017 2017 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BRYANT ELEMENTARY. MS. MORSE APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT WOODBRIDGE ELEMENTARY IN 2021 WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. MOVES FROM PRINCIPAL TO NEW PRINCIPAL AT BRYANT PRINCIPAL AT BRYANT ELEMENTARY. MS. MORSE, CONGRATULATIONS.
NOW WE'LL MOVE INTO NEW PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT IS THE FIRST DAY AS PRINCIPAL. MAJOR, MAJOR DEAL AND SOMETHING YOU LOOK FORWARD YOU LOOK FORWARD TO. LIZETTE LIZETTE BELTRAN, CANNELLA ELEMENTARY. LIZETTE BEGAN HER CAREER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2006 TEACHING THIRD AND FIFTH GRADES AT LOW MAX. 2008 SCHWARZKOPF AND TOOK ON THE
ROLE AS READING RESOURCE TEACHER. 2022 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CANNELLA ELEMENTARY CURRENTLY SERVING. NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT CANNELLA ELEMENTARY. LIZETTE BELTRAN. CANNELLA ELEMENTARY, I KNOW FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF LIZZETTE. THERE THEY ARE. I MISSED BUCHANAN. WE HAVE FAMILY WE HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM
BUCHANAN. SO MUCH SUPPORT. [ APPLAUSE ] DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYBODY. VICTORIA, I MISSED YOU. FAMILY AND FRIENDS. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER NEW PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT. CHRISTINA, THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT LOWRY ELEMENTARY. CHRISTINA BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2006 THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT CAHOON.
LATER TAUGHT AT SIMMS AND COLLINS COLLINS UNTIL 2002 -- 2016, SCIENCE RESOURCE TEACHER AT TOWN N' COUNTRY ELEMENTARY. MS. CALVE APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN 2022 WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL TO NEW PRINCIPAL AT LOWRY ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS. FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CHRISTINA BACK THERE. [ APPLAUSE ]
CONGRATULATIONS. ANOTHER NEW PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT. CARMEN CARMEN HINTON, NEW PRINCIPAL. CARMEN BEGAN HER CAREER CARMEN BEGAN HER CAREER IN EDUCATION AT CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IN OHIO IN 2013. MOVED TO FLORIDA AND BEGAN TEACHING CAREER TEACHING CAREER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2019 TEACHING VARYING EXCEPTIONALITIES AT CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY. 2021, LOUIS ELEMENTARY WHERE CURRENTLY SERVING. MOVES FROM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
AT LOUIS ELEMENTARY TO NEW PRINCIPAL AT McDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CARMON CONGRATULATIONS. FRIENDS AND FAMILY, STAND UP PLEASE. THERE THEY ARE. [ APPLAUSE ] FOLLOWING IN BIG FOOTSTEPS. WE HAD A RETIREMENT AT McDONALD. DEANNA COULDN'T BE HERE. DEANNA DEDICATED 26 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN 2022, SHE WAS IN 2022, SHE WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT McDONALD ELEMENTARY. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THEY
ACHIEVED A SCHOOL GRADE OF B IN 2025. AS SHE ENTERS RETIREMENT, AS SHE ENTERS RETIREMENT, WE CELEBRATE HER JOURNEY AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISTRICT. I KNOW WE'RE IN GOOD I KNOW WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH CARMON. WE HAVE A NEW PRINCIPAL AT MORGAN WOODS MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY. JENNIFER HEINZ. PRINCIPAL AT PRINCIPAL AT EDISON, BUT
MS. HEINZ BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2005, SECOND GRADE AT DUNBAR AND TRANSFERRED TO TRANSFERRED TO EDISON, TAUGHT SECOND AND THIRD GRADES. 2019 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MELLER AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT EDISON. 2023 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT EDISON AND NOW OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AND TAKING OVER AT MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY. JENNIFER, CONGRATULATIONS.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS, STAND UP. [ APPLAUSE ] NEW PRINCIPAL AT TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD, AMY METZLER. AMY, COME ON UP. WE KNOW AMY AS PRINCIPAL AT TAMPA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY. NOW TRANSFERRED OVER TO TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD. BEGAN HER CAREER -- SHE MOVED TO FLORIDA IN 2010 WHERE SHE BEGAN HER CAREER TEACHING FIFTH GRADE AT SUMMER FIELD CROSSING ELEMENTARY AND THEN SHORE
ELEMENTARY. 2013 MATH COACH AND SERVED AT SHORE, TAMPA HEIGHTS, SHORE, TAMPA HEIGHTS, POTTER AND DISTRICT LEVEL MATH COACH. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8 SPRINGS K-8 IN 2019. 2022 SHE WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT TAMPA HEIGHTS WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES. BRAND-NEW PRINCIPAL AT TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] GOT THEM ALL? THOSE ARE THE EIGHT PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS.
BOARD MEMBERS, I ALSO HAVE, VERY EXCITED THAT I HAVE TWO CABINET LEVEL POSITIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THIS LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION TO OUR PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS WE HAVE TWO NEW CABINET MEMBERS THAT I AM APPOINTING TONIGHT. THESE TWO LEADERS WILL STRENGTHEN THE DISTRICT'S FOCUS ON SCHOOL SAFETY, EMPLOYEE SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. FIRST, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE CHIEF ANTHONY COLLINS. ANTHONY IS OUR NEW CHIEF OF SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. COME ON UP. [ APPLAUSE ]
BOARD, OF BOARD, OF COURSE, OUR ROLE CREATING TOGETHER, CREATING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF REMAINS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY EVERY DAY. CHIEF OF SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POSITION IS A CRITICAL POSITION FOR US. I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK CHIEF JOHN NEWMAN FOR HIS DEDICATION FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS. HE HAS CREATED -- [ APPLAUSE ] HE HAS CREATED A SOLID FOUNDATION THAT CHIEF COLLINS WILL NOW CARRY ON. CHIEF COLLINS IS BRINGING MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SAFETY
LEADERSHIP TO OUR DISTRICT. HIGHLY RESPECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE, HE MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS SERVED AS CHIEF DEPUTY OF SUPPORT FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH SHERIFF'S OFFICE ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE NATION. HE SERVED AS INCIDENT COMMANDER FOR EMERGENCY FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, OVER-YOU A THE SCHOOL RESOURCES DEPUTY PROGRAM AND PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN NUMEROUS LARGE SCALE SECURITY OPERATIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS OVER THE YEARS. THIS NEW ROLE WITH THE DISTRICT, MR. COLLINS WILL LEAD ALL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL SECURITY, INCLUDING THREAT ASSESSMENT, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, CRISIS
RESPONSE, AND COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVES. MR. COLLINS HOLDS A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM ST. LEO UNIVERSITY AND SERVED AS SERGEANT IN U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. CHIEF COLLINS BEGINS HIS ROLE TOMORROW ON JUNE 3rd. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING CHIEF COLLINS, OUR NEW CHIEF COLLINS, OUR NEW CHIEF OF SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ANYBODY WITH CHIEF COLLINS, STAND UP. [CHEERS AND [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
CHIEF COLLINS, CHIEF COLLINS, CONGRATULATIONS. BOARD MEMBERS, I ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER -- I LOVE THE ENERGY IN HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS GREAT. I ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER POSITION I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DANIELLE SHOTWELL NEW CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER. [ APPLAUSE ] I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS DANIELLE BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THIS ANYWAY. DANIELLE HAS NEARLY 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BEGAN HER CAREER IN THE
CLASSROOM AS A MATH TEACHER AND COACH AND TRANSITIONED INTO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP SERVING AS HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND LATER AS A PRINCIPAL BEFORE MOVING INTO THE DISTRICT LEVEL ROLES. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS DISTRICT GENERAL MANAGER OF BUDGET AND FEDERAL FINANCE WHERE SHE OVERSEES DISTRICTWIDE BUDGETING AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL PLANNING. NEW ROLE, DANIELLE WILL OVERSEE DISTRICT HUMAN RESOURCES OPERATIONS INCLUDING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, LABOR RELATIONS, EMPLOYEE ONBOARDING AND BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION. THE POSITION PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES ACROSS THIS
DISTRICT AND FOSTERING A DISTRICT AND FOSTERING A STRONG, POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. EDUCATION SPECIALIST AND MASTER OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ALONG WITH A BACHELOR ALONG WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION. SHE WILL BEGIN HER ROLE EFFECTIVE JULY 1. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DANIELLE SHOTWELL. [ APPLAUSE ] FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH DANIELLE, I THINK ALL OF HR IS HERE. EVERYBODY IS STANDING UP. [ APPLAUSE ]
BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE KNOW MR. LEWIS DID NOT STAND. HE IS THE ONE PERSON NOT AS ECSTATIC AS EVERYONE ELSE. NO COMMENT. BOARD MEMBERS, THOSE ARE EIGHT PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS AND TWO NEW CABINET LEVEL POSITIONS FOR THE EVENING. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A FEW MINUTES TO CLEAR OUT. WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND THEN CONTINUE WITH OUR POLICIES. >>Nadia Combs: WE'RE GOING TO
RESUME THE MEETING WITH RESUME THE MEETING WITH THE HEARING ON POLICIES. WE'RE RUNNING A FEW MINUTES LATE. 01 PUBLIC HEARING FOR RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR WORLD LANGUAGES AND AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. I'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION PROCESS. THIS IS A RETIREMENT PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND BOARD POLICY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE MATERIALS WERE ADVERTISED AND AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. I'LL NOW ASK GARY BRADY, CHIEF
ACADEMIC OFFICER, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. AFTER THE PRESENTATION, ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD TO THE PROPOSED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. THANK YOU, MR. BRADY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND STAFF. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD IS CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. THE LIST OF MATERIALS IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM AND INCLUDES MATERIALS FOR WORLD LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THESE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY A DISTRICT ADOPTION COMMITTEE, REVIEWED AND VOTED ON
BY TEACHERS, AND ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. AS REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE, A 20 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW OF RECOMMENDED MATERIALS AND PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE BOARD CAN VOTE FOR ADOPTION. THE PUBLIC REVIEW REQUIRES THAT THE DISTRICT PROVIDE DIGITAL ACCESS TO THE RECOMMENDED MATERIALS VIA THE DISTRICT WEBSITE. THE PUBLIC REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BEGINNING ON MAY 13, 2026, THROUGH JUNE 2, 2026. THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING IS TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE COMMENTS ABOUT THESE MATERIALS WITH THE BOARD. THE BOARD DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE
ACTION AT THIS TIME, BUT WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING JULY 14, 2026. AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. BRADY. DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION
OF REVISED POLICIES. I'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REVISED POLICIES ADOPTION PROCESS. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO THE STATE LAW AND BOARD POLICY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE POLICIES WERE ADVERTISED AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. MR. JIM PORTER, OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. AS YOU'LL RECALL, THESE POLICIES WERE HEARD IN WORKSHOP ON MARCH 31st. YOU ALL APPROVED THE POLICIES
GOING FORWARD. THEY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED AND AMENDED TO REFLECT ALL THE CONCERNS THAT YOU ALL HAD AND THEY ARE READY FOR ADOPTION. YOU SHOULD ASK IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SPEAK AND THEN THE BOARD WILL BE READY FOR A MOTION AND A VOTE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF REVISED POLICIES? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO
ADOPT THE POLICIES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW LISTEN TO OUR BOARD ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE
HEARD: C 1.01, 4.02, HEARD: C 1.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 6.02 AND 4.04, 6.02 AND 7.15. 1.01, ADOPTION AND PURCHASE OF RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE, ENGLISH ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND HIGH SCHOOL READING. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE RECOMMENDED TITLES FOR ADOPTION AND PURCHASE WERE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED AND VOTED UPON BY A COMMITTEE AND TEACHERS. THESE TITLES WILL SERVE AS CORE INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE, ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH COURSES AND
HIGH SCHOOL READING. PER FLORIDA PER FLORIDA STATUTE 1,006.283 AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 25-10, THE DISTRICT MUST PROVIDE A 20 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD AND CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD CAN APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF NEWLY ADOPTED MATERIALS. THAT PUBLIC REVIEW FROM APRIL 15, 2026, TO MAY 5th, 2026, WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING CONDUCTED AT OUR MAY CONDUCTED AT OUR MAY 5th, 2026 BOARD MEETING. THIS ITEM IS PLACED ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE GUIDELINES REQUIRING THAT THE APPROVAL AND PURCHASE
OF ADOPTED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS BE KEPT AS A SEPARATE ITEM FOR APPROVAL ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA. AND THAT AND THAT IS 1.01. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT ITEM C 1.01. I HAVE A MOTION I HAVE A MOTION BY I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. THIS ITEM IS FOR NEWLY ADOPTED MATERIALS AND MATERIALS AND MUST BE VOTED BY SCHOOL BOARD SEPARATE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 4.02, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND RISK MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A RATHER EXTENSIVE HIGHLIGHT ON THIS ITEM. DISTRICT PARTNERS WITH A BENEFIT CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE NUMEROUS SERVICES INCLUDING STRATEGY AND
DESIGN, FINANCIAL AND ACTUARIAL CONSULTING VENDOR MANAGEMENT AND RENEWAL, LEGAL CONSULTING AND CLAIMS AUDITS. WE RECEIVE AT LEAST 3,000 WE RECEIVE AT LEAST 3,000 HOURS OF SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULTANT. MUST BE A STRONG PARTNER AND ADVOCATE FOR HCPS AS WE ADMINISTER SELF-FUNDED GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE AND VARIETY OF ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OFFERINGS. FEBRUARY 2, 2026, PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR RFP TO
SECURE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONSULTING SERVICES. SO 3,000, AND WITHIN THAT SO 3,000, AND WITHIN THAT RFP, 3,204 VENDORS WERE NOTIFIED THROUGH VENDOR LINK AND DEMAND STAR. 72 VENDORS DOWNLOADED THE RFP AND WE HAD SIX VENDORS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS. FOUR VENDORS SUBMITTED COMPLETE PROPOSALS, ALLIANT, PROPOSALS, ALLIANT, AON, CBIZ AND GALLAGHER. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED VENDOR SUBMISSION AND WORK PRODUCT AND RATED ON SCOPE OF SERVICES AND DELIVERY APPROACH,
QUALIFICATIONS, CAPABILITY, EXPERIENCE, COST, SLASH, BEST VALUE AND UTILIZATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. RFP HIGHEST RANKED BIDDER AON CONSULTING, TOP SCORES. PARTNERING WITH AON PROVIDES THE DISTRICT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAXIMIZE BENEFIT OFFERINGS WITH A CONSULTING FIRM CONSISTENTLY CONSIDERED BEST IN CLASS AND AT THE TOP TIER OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONSULTING SERVICES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS 4.02. >>Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION
AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 4.02. MOTION BY MEMBER MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. WE'VE ALL PULLED THIS ITEM. WE'LL START WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET STARTED? START WITH MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT A COMMITTEE CHOSE THIS AND WE'VE BEEN
PARTNERS WITH PARTNERS WITH AON FOR A LONG TIME AND TRACY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF HELPING ME UNDERSTAND JOB OF HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THE VALUE AND THE PARTNERSHIP. MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I HAD A MEETING WITH THEM. I REQUESTED SOME INFORMATION TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PLAN DESIGN. I GOT NO INFORMATION. I GOT NO FOLLOW-UP. I GOT NO COMMUNICATION ABOUT IT. FOR ME, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO SEE THE VALUE IF I CAN'T EVEN GET SIMPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT PLAN DESIGN
ANSWERED BECAUSE OUR HEALTH PLAN AND WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AS WE SEE IN THE NEXT ITEM, HEALTH CARE ITEM, HEALTH CARE RISING ITEM, HEALTH CARE RISING SO MUCH AND JUST EVERYTHING THAT REVOLVES AROUND HEALTH CARE AND KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES HEALTHY. UNFORTUNATELY, I'LL HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THIS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO IT. ALL OF THE HEALTH STUFF AND THE COMMITTEE. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME EXPLANATION BEHIND MY VOTE. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON.
>>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M GOING TO COMBINE MY COMMENTS FOR 4.02, FOR 4.02, 4.03 AND 4.04 BECAUSE IT'S RELATIVE. BASED UPON HIRING YOUR BENEFITS MANAGER PLAN IS GOING TO REFLECT ALL OF THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT WE OFFER TO OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY GOING SELF INSURANCE. I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THAT OUR MANAGEMENT PLAN BE THE FIRST THING WE DO, NOT THE LAST THING WE DO IN A YEAR. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE VERY FIRST THING WE DID SO THAT THAT MANAGEMENT COULD HAVE CREATED A
FULL CIRCLE PLAN. WHEN WE MET, I ASKED FOR ROIs. YOU MADE IT VERY CLEAR WE'RE JUST BELOW THE MARK OF WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR TO WHAT WE SPENT THIS YEAR. I SAID HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WE'RE TOUCHING? I ASKED AND I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THAT. IF WE RAISED IT LAST YEAR BY 30% AND YET WE'RE COSTING LESS THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR, THEN THAT TELLS ME I'VE GOT LESS EMPLOYEES UTILIZING OUR BENEFITS. SO WHAT ARE WE REALLY PROVIDING TO OUR TO OUR EMPLOYEES?
AT THE SAME TIME I'M BEING TOLD THAT IF WE DON'T DO ANY OF THESE ADDITIONAL PLANS WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE ANOTHER 24 PERCENT. LEAVE THAT TO 30 PERCENT LAST YEAR, 24 PERCENT THIS YEAR, THAT IS A 54 PERCENT IS A 54 PERCENT INCREASE IN OUR PLANS TO OUR STAFF AND YET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PLANS THAT WERE CREATED, YOU TOLD ME THAT THE ZERO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE PLANS ARE GOING TO WORK VERY MUCH LIKE HAVING THE PREFERRED PROVIDERS IN THAT PLAN PROVIDERS IN THAT PLAN SO WE GET
-- IN OUR BENEFITS OUR STAFF WILL GET GOOD BENEFITS BUT THEY ARE THE PROVIDERS THAT WILL BE LESS LESS COSTLY. I SAID, WELL, WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL OF THE PLANS AND YOU TOLD ME IT IS A THREE TO FIVE-YEAR PLAN. WELL, WE'RE THERE NOW. OUR EMPLOYEES CANNOT PAY FOR OUR INSURANCE. THIS DISTRICT CANNOT PAY THIS DISTRICT CANNOT PAY FOR A 54% INCREASE OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. AND EVERY DOLLAR WE PUT IN THIS IS ANOTHER DOLLAR THAT COULD BE IN THE POCKETS OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
THE FACT THAT WE GO TO A ZERO PLAN WITH PREFERRED PROVIDERS FOR THE ZERO COST TO EMPLOYEES AND YET YOU WANT ME TO SPEND ANOTHER $1.5 MILLION FOR AN ONLINE PLAN THAT MY STAFF CAN GO ONLINE, PICK A PROVIDER, AND GET THE THING BACK AND IT'S A PREFERRED PLAN, LESS COSTLY TO THE DISTRICT AND THEY GET THE REIMBURSEMENT. WHY AREN'T WE ALREADY DOING THAT IN ALL THE PLANS? WHY PAY ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION TO HAVE PREFERRED PROVIDERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LESS COSTLY TO THE DISTRICT AND STILL PROVIDE GOOD INSURANCE TO OUR EMPLOYEES?
NONE OF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE THAT WE'RE NOT DOING IT ACROSS THE BOARD. THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW WE NEED TO DO IT BUT YOU ARE PLANNING IT OVER THREE TO FIVE YEARS IS DISTURBING. WE SHOULD BE DOING IT TODAY. WE SHOULD LOOK AT WE SHOULD LOOK AT AON AND SAY, LISTEN, THIS IS THE POT OF MONEY WE'VE GOT. GIVE ME ALL THE OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND GET FOR THIS POT OF MONEY. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE GIVING OUR TEACHERS SALARY INCREASES. I NEED RAISES. I NEED THINGS THAT ARE GOING IN THEIR POCKET AND YET THOSE
POCKETS ARE LEAVING. IT'S GOING OUT. THIS IS NOT A BENEFIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AT THIS POINT. OUR EMPLOYEES CAN'T OUR EMPLOYEES CAN'T PAY $80 FOR A COPAY. $50 FOR A COPAY. $40 FOR A COPAY. MY GOD IT'S $80 TO GET MY GOD IT'S $80 TO GET A TANK OF GAS. WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT. WE SHOULD NOT BE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF THINGS WE'RE PAYING FOR IN ORDER TO GET A LOWER COST ON OUR INSURANCE. IT DOESN'T ADD UP. EVERY TIME I BRING A NEW ONE
THING. I'M A NO TO ALL THREE OF THESE PLANS BECAUSE THE COMBINATION DOES NOT ADD UP. GOING TO SELF INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN OUR HAVE GIVEN OUR HR DEPARTMENT HAVE GIVEN OUR HR DEPARTMENT AND AON THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A BETTER PLAN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BETTER PLAN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AT LESS COST-EFFECTIVENESS TO OUR DISTRICT. EVEN IF IT WAS AN EQUAL PLAN, EVEN IF IT WAS WE LIMITED THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS IN ORDER FOR US TO REDUCE THE COST TO PUT US TO REDUCE THE COST TO PUT THE
MONEY IN OUR STAFF POCKETS AND ALLOW THEM TO CHOOSE TO GO TO ANOTHER PROVIDER BUT WE NEVER GIVE THEM THAT OPTION. THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS TO DO ANY OF IT. CONSEQUENTLY, AGAIN, I ASKED FOR THAT INFORMATION OVER TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THE DATA, THE ROI ON THAT FOR THE EMPLOYEES. I NEVER GOT IT I NEVER GOT IT BACK. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND THEN THE LAST PART IS THE VITALITY PIECE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE PAYING MORE MONEY FOR A PROGRAM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE VITALITY. ISN'T THAT GOING TO BRING THAT TO THE AWARENESS OF OUR
PROVIDERS THAT PEOPLE ARE EITHER OVERWEIGHT, DIABETIC AND WON'T THAT INCREASE OUR TOTAL COST TO THE EMPLOYEES? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT I'M TELLING THEM THEY ARE OVERWEIGHT, I'M TELLING THEM THEY ARE DIABETIC AND THAT WILL CAUSE HIGHER RATES FOR OUR INSURANCE. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO ANY OF THIS. I'M A NO ON ALL THREE OF THESE. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MS. SCHATZBERG AND YOUR TEAM.
I HAVE JUST A FEW POINTS AS A DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A MONOPOLIZATION IN THIS INSURANCE INDUSTRY. THE CONTRACT IS SO VAST. THE SERVICES INCLUDE EVERYTHING, AND I WILL AGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON, WITH INCLUSION OF 4.02 AND 4.03 -- 4.03 AND 4.04, GARNER AND THE ENTIRE INSURANCE PLAN. AON SEEMS TO WIN. I WONDER IF THEY ARE INVOLVED
WITH PUTTING THIS WHOLE PLAN TOGETHER SO THAT THEY WILL. THIS IS JUST TO ME FOR 20 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AON. IT'S A SHAME THAT GALLAGHER, ANOTHER ONE, CAN'T EVEN MATCH. SO THE MONOPOLIZATION IS A CONCERN FOR ME. SECONDLY, WHEN YOU HAVE A MONOPOLY -- AND THIS IS FROM THE OLD HISTORY TEACHING DAYS -- YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU EXCLUDE THE EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF
COMPETITIVE BIDS. GARNER IS GARNER IS THE DOCTORS AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE MORE COMPETITION, THE EMPLOYEES MIGHT NOT HAVE THE BEST OPTIONS AND THE BEST PRICE POINT. AGAIN, THE WORD MONOPOLIZING IS VERY TRUE IN THIS CASE. LAST, I HAVE LAST, I HAVE TO ASK A QUESTION AND AND MS. SCHATZBERG WITH DUE RESPECT, DID AON IN ANY WAY ASSIST IN EDITING, ASSIST IN EDITING, WRITING,
PREPARING AND/OR COORDINATE THIS PARTICULAR RFP? ACTUALLY I SHOULD SAY THE OTHERS TWO. WERE THEY WERE THEY INVOLVED? >> NO, MA'AM. MY CHAIR KEEPS SINKING. THE RFP WE UTILIZED THIS TIME WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME RFP WE UTILIZED IN 2020, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SIMILAR ONES THAT WE GATHERED FROM MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE. WE ALL KIND OF SHARE INFORMATION. NO, MA'AM.
AS QUESTIONS CAME IN FROM THE RFP -- AND THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, QUESTIONS WOULDN'T HAVE COME IN TO ME. THEY WOULD COME IN TO THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT. I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO PROCUREMENT AND THEY THEN POSTED IT. >>Lynn Gray: WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IN SUPPORT OR NOT SUPPORT WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND FOLLOWING THROUGH FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH 4.03 AND FOLLOWING THROUGH FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH 4.04, I BELIEVE IN THE COMMITTEE WE HAVE CHOSEN. I HAVE WORKED WITH MS. HEATON.
I'VE WORKED WITH YOU IN A SHORT WHILE MR. LEWIS. I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART AND HEAD IS AND I KNOW YOU CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. I KNOW THAT TO I KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE IN DANIELLE SHOTWELL. I ALSO KNOW THIS IS A WHOLE NEW GAME FOR US. SELF-INSURED. WITH THIS, I'M GOING TO SAY WITH MY TRUST IN THE STAFF THAT MY TRUST IN THE STAFF THAT ARE ON THIS COMMITTEE, WE WILL ON THIS COMMITTEE, WE WILL LEARN FROM THIS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE TOOLS TO GUIDE US WHEN WE NEED TO MAKE TWEAKS AND ADJUSTMENTS AS PER OUR EMPLOYEES' RESPONSES AND OUR BOARD, OF COURSE, RESPONSES. I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AS YOU ALL DO IN INSURANCE NOR WILL I EVER HAVE I EVER HAVE THAT MUCH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT'S COMPLEX AND GETTING MUCH MORE COMPLEX AS WE GO YEAR TO YEAR. MY REPLY AND MY VOTE WILL BE TO
SAY SAY YES TO THIS AND THERE WILL BE SOME ASKS ON MY PART. I MAY MENTION THAT I MAY MENTION THAT ON 4.04. AGAIN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I'M TRUSTING. THIS IS SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, I'M TRUSTING EACH OF YOU TRUSTING EACH OF YOU TO WATCH OUT, TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, MAKE IT AS COMPETITIVE AS YOU CAN SO THEIR COSTS ARE
COSTS ARE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONSUMED WITH WITH HIGHER COSTS AND EVERY DIMENSION KNOWN TO DIMENSION KNOWN TO MANKIND. I CONCLUDE THAT I SUPPORT THIS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE HERE ALL AWARE HERE ON 4.04 THAT THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROPOSAL HAS NO CONTRACT ATTACHED. THIS STAFF AND SUPERINTENDENT YOU'RE ASKING ME TO APPROVE
YOU'RE ASKING ME TO APPROVE A $267 MILLION CONTRACT WITHOUT EVER SEEING IT. I DON'T FIND THAT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO DO THAT. I ASKED FOR THE CONTRACT TWO WEEKS AGO TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD. WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT. I DID A SEARCH TO LOOK FOR IT. THE OTHER THING IS I WANT TO -- >>Jim Porter: ONE SECOND, IF WE COMMENTS ON THE ITEM. WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY. >>Patti Rendon: THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE OTHER TWO
PIECES. THAT'S PART OF THE SELF INSURANCE. I FIND THIS HAS GOT TO BE A TEAM EFFORT. THIS IS SELF INSURANCE. >>Jim Porter: I UNDERSTAND. YOU'RE REFERRING TO 4.04 THAT IS NOT UP FOR VOTE YET. >>Van Ayres: I'LL ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE GET TO 4.04. >>Jim Porter: IT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO ADDRESS WHEN THE ITEM COMES UP FOR A VOTE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, JAMIE, TREYS SCHATZBERG, EVERYBODY WORKING ON THIS. I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS I'M HEARING
FRUSTRATION FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AND REQUEST A WORKSHOP AND LOOK AT THIS FROM TOP DOWN, ALL THE WAY THROUGH, HOW THE COMMITTEE IS CHOSEN, WHAT HAPPENS, THE TIME LINE, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE PAST. WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD THE SAME CONTRACT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COMPARING IT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BE -- MAKE SURE -- I KNOW IT IS A TRANSPARENT PROCESS, BUT I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH CONCERN HERE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP AND THAT
WAY WE CAN REALLY LOOK INTO IT. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM TONIGHT, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP AND REALLY LOOK AT ALL OF THESE ITEMS. INSURANCE AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, AND JUST ALL OF THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. AND I CAN SAY FOR ME I AM ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE HERE. IN THE PAST I'VE BEEN SELF-EMPLOYED. I'VE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT HEALTH INSURANCE. AT ONE TIME, I EVEN HAD COBRA AT ONE TIME AND COST ME MORE THAN MY OWN MORTGAGE. THE COST OF INSURANCE IS SO EXPENSIVE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU WORK FOR, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I SEE MY HUSBAND WHO HAS GREAT INSURANCE. EVEN THAT, THE COST OF EVEN THAT, THE COST OF INSURANCE OVERALL. SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T RETIRE OR CAN'T RETIRE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF INSURANCE. I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I HAD A MAJOR MEDICAL ISSUE. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO WEEKS. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF I DID NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SOLD MY HOUSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. INSURANCE IS INSURANCE IS REALLY, REALLY EXPENSIVE. I KNOW WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. TRY TO TRY TO FIND THE BEST PLANS, BEST HEALTH EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. WHEN YOU DO SEE SOMEBODY DOING
THAT FOR 20 YEARS, DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE PROVIDING SUCH A GREAT SERVICE AND THAT'S WHY THEY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE IT OR QUESTIONS, LOOK FOR DIFFERENT ONES, COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER DISTRICTS, ALSO COMPARE OURSELVES NATIONALLY. I THINK A WORKSHOP WOULD BE GREAT BUT I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE ITEM TODAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR.
IT PASSES WITH MYSELF, MEMBER WASHINGTON, AND MEMBER GRAY SUPPORTING IT. MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER VAUGHN NOT SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM WHICH IS 4.02, REQUEST FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND RISK MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES. NO, I'M SORRY. WE JUST DID THAT ONE. 4.03, AGREEMENT WITH GARNER HEALTH. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS HIGHLIGHT 4.03 AND 4.04 TOGETHER AND WE CAN VOTE ON EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALLY. NEXT TWO HEALTH INSURANCE ITEMS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ARE
IMPORTANT AS THEY REFLECT DISTRICT'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EMPLOYEES. IN LIGHT OF CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND FINANCIAL PRESSURES MANY ARE EXPERIENCING DUE TO RISING INFLATION, INCREASED COST OF LIVING, HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO DEVELOP THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WITH THE GOAL OF AVOIDING ANY INCREASE TO EMPLOYEE PREMIUM COSTS IN 2027, THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR EMPLOYEES, GUIDE THEM TOWARDS HIGH-QUALITY PROVIDERS AND HELP
OFFSET CERTAIN OUT OFFSET CERTAIN OUT OF POCKET HEALTH CARE EXPENSES. IN ADDITION, OPTIONAL FOURTH PLAN THAT OFFERS REDUCED PAYROLL DEDUCTION COST FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DEPENDENTS. AT THIS TIME, I'LL HAVE DR. SCHATZBERG TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO WALK THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING AFTER WHICH WE'LL WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 4.03 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 4.03 OR 4.04. >>Tracy Schatzberg: PABLO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT REGARDING 2027 HEALTH BENEFITS PACKAGE. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WE'LL BE PROVIDING.
HCPS PRIORITIZES EMPLOYEES' HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND RECOGNIZES THE LARGE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS IN OUR TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE. BEFORE DIVING INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU, RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU, LET'S TAKE JUST A MOMENT. THE GRAPH TO TALK ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PLAN. EMPLOYEES, 92% OF THEM ARE ENROLLED IN ENROLLED IN EMPLOYEE-ONLY COVERAGE WHILE 8% ARE ENROLLED IN EMPLOYEES WITH DEPENDENTS. WHEN LOOKING AT TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF 22,000, OF 22,000, WHICH INCLUDES RETIREES AND PEOPLE ON COBRA AND
SUCH, 86% OF PLAN MEMBERS ARE EMPLOYEE ONLY WHILE 10% FOR CHILDREN AND 5% ARE SPOUSES. WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE DATA-WISE IS REMIND THAT YOU WE HAVE THREE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. HMO, HIGH PPO AND LOW PPO. MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, AS YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE, 13,051 HAVE CHOSEN THE LOW PPO PLAN AS THIS PLAN HAS THE EMPLOYEE ONLY ZERO DOLLAR PREMIUM COST. OTHER EMPLOYEES CHOOSE TO BUY UP, HOWEVER, ON THE HIGH UP, HOWEVER, ON THE HIGH PPO AND THE HMO SO THEY HAVE LESS COSTS WHEN THEY SEEK CARE.
HISTORICALLY, GIVEN OUR DISTRICT'S CONTRIBUTION, THE FREE PLAN AND THE COST THAT WE PLACE INTO IT, THE DISTRICT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 91% OF EVERY HEALTH DOLLAR SPENT. THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. IT DOES MAKE FOR A HEAVY LIFT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BUT AGAIN WE VALUE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. I WILL SAY IN LOOKING AT OTHER SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, OUR CONTRIBUTION AT 91% IS HIGHER THAN MOST. AS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE WORKS TOGETHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY CARE TO OUR
EMPLOYEES. WE KNOW EMPLOYEES ON AVERAGE WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK AND OFTENTIMES A LOT MORE. WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING HOME AND THROWING THEIR FEET UP ON THE COUCH. THEY ARE GOING HOME AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS, HUSBAND, GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, AND MANY OF THEM ARE SANDWICH GENERATIONS WHERE THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF BOTH -- KIDS AND PARENTS. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF STRESSES ON THEM. SOME HAVE SECOND AND THIRD JOBS. AS THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE COMES TOGETHER WE LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF THINGS CAN WE HAVE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES WHERE THEY ARE. THIS EVENING WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
WE CONTINUE TO SET INSURANCE RATES THROUGH THE COMMITTEE. IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE NATION IS TRENDING ABOUT 8 TO 10% EVERY YEAR. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S WHAT THE TREND IS. SO WHEN THE COMMITTEE COMES TOGETHER AND WE LOOK AT OUR DATA AND LOOK AT INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, WE SAY TO OURSELVES, WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT PROGRAMS CAN WE PUT IN PLACE TO TRY TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES BE HEALTHY SO THE TREND INSTEAD OF 8 TO 10% COMES DOWN. NOW, TO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ZERO I THINK IS NOT REALISTIC, BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO SLOW IT WHERE WE CAN.
I LIKE TO THINK -- YOU ALL I LIKE TO THINK -- YOU ALL HEARD ME TALK IN THE PAST ABOUT RENTING VERSUS OWNING. WHEN SELF-FUNDED, IT'S LIKE OWNING THE HOUSE. WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH HIGH ELECTRIC BILLS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET OUR ELECTRIC BILLS DOWN? WE DO THINGS LIKE TURN UP THE THERMOSTAT OR WE BUY FANS OR BUY SOLAR PANELS. WE PUT MONEY OUT BECAUSE IN THE LONG RUN WE LOWER OUR ELECTRIC BILL. AS OUR COMMITTEE COMES TOGETHER WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT KIND OF THINGS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE AND WHAT THINGS DO WE SOMETIMES PURCHASE KNOWING IN THE LONG RUN
IT IS GOING TO HELP CONTROL OUR TREND. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH LOOKS AT THE LEVERS THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE FOR 2026, TRYING TO, AGAIN TAKE THAT 10% TREND AND BRING IT DOWN SOME. YOU CAN SEE LANTERN I HOPE YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT. BUNDLED SURGERY. EMPLOYEES LOVE IT. WE SAVED OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS SO FAR. AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT BEGIN TO IMPACT TREND, DUE TO THOSE RATES, EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING FREE SUPPORT.
AGAIN, WE ARE SAVING. YOU CAN SEE PRUDENT RX IS A PROGRAM THAT WE ALSO PUT PROGRAM THAT WE ALSO PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ON SPECIALTY DRUG COSTS, DRUG COSTS, NOW, THOSE DRUGS COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER MONTH AND THEY ARE LIFE-CHANGING. THESE ARE DRUGS THAT HELP PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HOME AND NOT ABLE TO WORK TO WORK TO ACTUALLY COME TO WORK. WHAT THE SPECIALTY PRUDENT RX PROGRAM DOES IS IT ALLOWS EMPLOYEES ZERO COST FOR THEIR SPECIALTY MEDICATION WHILE IT SAVES US MONEY, AND WE HAVE IN
THE FIRST QUARTER SAVED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IMPLEMENTING PRUDENT RX. WE SEE THE VITALITY, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HEARING US TALK FOR YEARS ABOUT VITALITY AND YEARS ABOUT VITALITY AND WE KNOW DATA SUPPORT HEALTHY EMPLOYEES HAVE LESS CLAIMS AND WE SEE THAT THEIR HEALTH RISK IMPROVEMENT IS HAPPENING YEAR OVER YEAR AS WE MONITOR THEM. I REALLY WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO POINT OUT TO POINT OUT CVS AND THE ABILITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES ON OUR AETNA PLAN TO RECEIVE VIRTUAL CARE 24 HOURS A DAY. THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING INTO A WALK-IN CLINIC AT A CVS
MINUTE CLINIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST ACROSS THE COUNTY. BEFORE HAVING THESE TYPES OF FREE OPTIONS FREE OPTIONS OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE BUSY TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES OR WORKING OTHER JOBS MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO MEDICAL CARE ON A WEEKEND AND FELT THAT ER WAS THE ONLY PLACE FOR THEM TO GO. THIS IS A THIS IS A GREAT OPTION TO HELP THEM SAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING NO COPAY AND THEY ARE HOPEFULLY STAYING OUT OF THE ER UNLESS THEY NEED TO BE THERE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROGRAMS ALONG THE WAY. WE DID GET SOME DATA IN TODAY.
WE GOT IT FROM AETNA REGARDING OUR QUARTER ONE UTILIZATION OUR QUARTER ONE UTILIZATION IN 2025 VERSUS QUARTER ONE UTILIZATION IN 26 BECAUSE WE WERE CURIOUS. SEEING MORE PEOPLE, LESS PEOPLE USING THE DOCTORS. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025, 69.6% OF MEMBERS HAD AT LEAST ONE CLAIM. 69.6%. THAT WAS LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR IN THE SAME TIME, IT WAS 69.2. SO VERY CLOSE. WE ARE CONTINUING WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE OUR EMPLOYEES SEEK MEDICAL EMPLOYEES SEEK MEDICAL CARE.
PABLO, LET'S BRING IT HOME. NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY MENTIONED IN MENTIONED IN THE 2027 YEAR. AGAIN, WE KNOW THE TREND IS 8 TO 10%. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR TRENDS, AND THEN WE RECOGNIZE FROM OUR SWITCH FROM FULLY INSURED TO INSURED TO SELF-FUNDED WE ARE HAVING SOME CATCH-UP TO DO. BECAUSE AS I SHOWED YOU ALL WHEN WE MET IN OUR PRIOR MEETINGS, WHEN WE WERE FULLY INSURED, WE HAD RATES WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY HAVING PREMIUMS THAT COST LESS THAN WHAT THE CLAIMS WERE.
WE'RE HAVING TO KIND OF MAKE UP FOR THAT NOW THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR OUR OWN CLAIMS. IT'S GOOD THAT WE DID THAT BECAUSE AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT, HAD WE NOT, WE WOULD BE SPENDING A LOT MORE. I'LL JUST SAY, IF WE WERE FULLY INSURED WE WOULD BE SPENDING ABOUT $34 MILLION MORE IN '27. SO OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THOSE COST CONTAINMENT STRATEGIES. THEY BRING US EVERY YEAR A LIST OF STRATEGIES AND WE AS A COMMITTEE GO THROUGH AND WE LOOK AT WHAT IF WE PULL THIS LEVER,
THIS LEVER, WHAT WILL THE SAVINGS BE, HOW MUCH DISRUPTION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND TRYING TO HAVE A BALANCE BECAUSE WE NEED OUR EMPLOYEES HAPPY AND GOING TO THE DOCTOR BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH AON'S HELP THEY BROUGHT US A VARIETY OF LEVERS TO PULL. IF WE WERE TO DO NOTHING, THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EMPLOYER ONLY, NOT EMPLOYEE, ACTUALLY, WE ARE RECOMMENDING NO INCREASE TO EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS IN 2027, WHICH YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ME SAY IN A LONG TIME.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT NEEDING POSSIBLY A 24% INCREASE TO COVER CLAIMS. WE'LL PUT THESE LEVERS INTO PLACE AND HOPEFULLY REDUCE IT TO 18.4%, WHICH IS ABOUT A $15 MILLION REDUCTION. IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE SPENDING $15 MILLION MORE THAN WE'RE SPENDING WE'RE SPENDING NOW. WE'RE TRYING TO, AGAIN, CONTROL THAT INCREASE. LET'S START WITH GARNER. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GARNER. AS IT SITS ON TOP OF THE AETNA NETWORK, IT IS PROJECTED TO NETWORK, IT IS PROJECTED TO SAVE $3.3 MILLION IN CLAIMS.
SO WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT GARNER IS EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN AETNA -- EXCUSE ME, ON AETNA -- EXCUSE ME, ON AETNA'S NETWORK, LET'S SAY THEY NEED TO VISIT AN ENT. THEY WOULD GO INTO THE GARNER APP. THEY WOULD SAY THEY WOULD SAY WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. THEY WOULD PUT THE ZIP CODE. GARNER WOULD USE THE GARNER WOULD USE THE PROPRIETARY PROGRAMS IT HAS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE AND BETTER COST-EFFECTIVE AND BETTER WITH
NOT HAVING, OH, GOSH, NOT HAVING, OH, GOSH, NOT SIDE EFFECTS, REPEAT VISITS AND POOR OUTCOMES, ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS. SO IT HELPS THEM TO DO BETTER. WE SEND THEM TO THE MOST EFFICIENT PHYSICIANS. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, YOU IDENTIFY THE DOCTOR THAT YOU WANT TO SEE WHILE YOU ARE IN THE APP. YOU'LL SAY I'LL GO SEE DR. WASHINGTON. THEN YOU GO, YOU MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT AND YOU PAY YOUR COPAY. WHEN GARNER SEES THAT YOU HAVE GONE AND UTILIZED THAT DOCTOR, THEY GIVE THEY GIVE YOU BACK YOUR COPAY. SO THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN
WITH MRIs AND X-RAYS. WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR EMPLOYEES TO GET ONLINE, DO THEIR RESEARCH AND GO TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE PLACE. WE'RE USED TO BECAUSE OF GREAT PLANS WE'VE HAD SO LONG, WE DON'T REALLY SHOP AROUND US. SO WE WANT TO START TRAINING OUR EMPLOYEES TO GO AND GET THE BEST CARE. GARNER WILL HELP WITH THAT. IT IS 100% OPTIONAL. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT. BUT IT IS A GOOD WAY TO SAVE MONEY. WE ARE EXPECTING, WE ARE HOPING 30% OF OUR EMPLOYEES WILL GIVE IT A SHOT IN '27. IF WE DO, WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE
OVER 3 MILLION IN SAVINGS. WE WILL WORK TO GET A LOT MORE THAN 30% DOING THAT. AETNA, THE AETNA, THE AETNA PERSONAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS, THIS IS A DIGITAL SOLUTION SOLUTION FOR SOLUTION FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL, SMOKING CESSATION, WEIGHT LOSS, ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT THINGS WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN GET DIGITAL SUPPORT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO BRICK AND MORTAR. AS WE TALKED ABOUT, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO DO EMPLOYEES TO DO THEIR JOB, HELP WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THEN STILL
FIND TIME TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. SHOULD THIS DIGITAL SOLUTION WILL PROVIDE THEM IN THE MOMENT CARE. WE WILL ONLY BE WE WILL ONLY BE CHARGED IF AN EMPLOYEE MEETS THEIR MEASURABLE GOAL. AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SAVINGS ON THAT, PAYING THROUGH CLAIMS. NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT A PROJECTED SAVINGS, BUT IT DOES HELP OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HEARD OUR EMPLOYEES, WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, AND RECOMMENDING A REJECTION IN OUR COPAYS ON EVERY PLAN. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE PRIMARY
CARE PHYSICIAN COPAY IS CARE PHYSICIAN COPAY IS REDUCED $5 AND THE SPECIALTY IS REDUCED $10. SO WE THINK WE SHOULD SEE SOME FOLKS BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WE WOULD LIKE TO SUNSET THE OPT-OUT CREDIT. FOR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE HEALTH CARE OPTIONS ELSEWHERE. THIS IS PROJECTED TO SAVE US ABOUT $3 MILLION THAT WE COULD SEE THEN UTILIZE TO REINVEST THE FUNDS INTO ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES THAT BENEFIT MORE EMPLOYEES. IT WILL PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND REDUCE OVERALL COSTS.
MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN THAT, AND THESE COULD BE PEOPLE THAT ARE RETIREES AND TRICARE, MIGHT BE ON A SPOUSE'S MIGHT BE ON A SPOUSE'S PLAN. THEY MIGHT BE THE ON THEIR PARENT'S PLAN FOR YOUNG FOLKS THAT WE'RE HIRING. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN UTILIZING THEIR CREDIT ON AN THEIR CREDIT ON AN FSA. HOWEVER THE IRS DOES NOT ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE BOTH FSA AND HSA. WE'VE BEEN HAVING MORE AND MORE EMPLOYEES WHO OPTED OUT WITH FSA REALIZED THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE OF IRS REGULATIONS TO
HAVE THAT. THAT SHOULD HELP THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR FSA ON THEIR CURRENT INSURANCE. THE EMPLOYEES WILL STILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR VITALITY. PARTICIPATE IN VITALITY AND MEET YOUR GOALS, YOU CAN EARN YOUR GOALS, YOU CAN EARN UP TO $300 A YEAR. ALMOST DONE. I FEEL YOUR EXCITEMENT NOW. WHOO WHOO. FOR 2027, WE'D LIKE TO NARROW THE NETWORK ON OUR LOW THE NETWORK ON OUR LOW PPO PLAN AND JUST TIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS JUST FOR THAT PARTICULAR PLAN. THAT IS PROJECTED TO THAT IS PROJECTED TO SAVE $2.7 MILLION LESS IN CLAIMS. IN LOOKING AT WHETHER THAT WAS A GOOD DECISION, WE RECOGNIZED THAT 92% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY UTILIZING THAT NARROWER NETWORK. WE'RE NOT EXPECTING A LOT OF NOISE WITH THAT. FINALLY, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO SEE HOW THIS GOES. BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE EMPLOYEE ONLY PLAN AND THE FINANCIAL COST THAT PLACES ON THE DISTRICT ALLOWS US LESS ABILITY TO GIVE MONEY TOWARDS DEPENDENTS AND THAT OFTEN MAKES
EMPLOYEE WITH DEPENDENT COSTS VERY HIGH. OUR INSURANCE COMMITTEE AND BENEFIT CONSULTANT TRIED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO PROVIDE AN OPTION THAT WOULD PROVIDE SMALLER PAYCHECK DEDUCTIONS WHILE NOT WHILE NOT CAUSING ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT. WE'LL INTRODUCE SOMETHING CALLED THE VALUE PPO PLAN NEXT YEAR THAT WILL OFFER A REDUCTION IN PAYCHECK DEDUCTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WITH EMPLOYEES WITH DEPENDENTS. THEY COULD SAVE -- LET ME START WITH THE DEDUCTIBLE. GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER. IT WILL BE IT WILL BE A $5,000 DEDUCTIBLE.
HOWEVER, IF THEY ARE AN EMPLOYEE WITH FAMILY RATES AND THEY CHOOSE THIS PLAN, THEY WILL SAVE OVER $5,000 A YEAR IN THEIR PREMIUM PAYMENTS. WE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF TRAINING. THIS WILL BE FOR SOME THIS WILL BE FOR SOME FOLKS BUT NOT FOR OTHERS. DIDN'T MAKE IT A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES COULD STILL GET FREE SERVICES THROUGH CVS, STILL PARTICIPATE IN LANTERN AND GARNER, AND SO GARNER, AND SO THERE YOU GO. WE'LL GIVE THAT ONE A SHOT. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS, SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO YOU A HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN THAT DOESN'T CARRY AN INCREASE IN PREMIUMS BUT ALSO HAS A REDUCTION IN COPAY COSTS. WITH YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNICATION. WE'LL WORK WITH OUR WELL-BEING CHAMPIONS WHO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN EVERYTHING WE DO. TWO AGENDA ITEMS FROM HERE. FIRST ITEM 4.03 IS GARNER HEALTH. THE SECOND THE SECOND ITEM 4.04 IS FOR 2027 PLAN DESIGN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I KNOW I WAS A LOT LONGER THAN YOU THOUGHT I WOULD BE. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, DR. SCHATZBERG. IF I CAN ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CONTRACT. THE LAST TIME THE BOARD APPROVED
THE CONTRACT WITH AETNA IT WAS A DIRECT NEGOTIATION WITH AETNA. THAT'S WHY THE CONTRACT WAS THERE LAST YEAR. THIS WAS AN RFP. WHEN THE RFP PROCESS GOES THROUGH, AT THE BOARD MEETING ON MAY THE 5th AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, THE TERMS OF THE RFP WAS APPROVED. IT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE BOARD. THE TERMS OF THE THE TERMS OF THE RFP BECOME THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT. 89 PAGE 89 PAGE RFP. DETAILS INCLUDED, TERMS INCLUDED. THE RFP THEN BECOMES THE
CONTRACT. MR. LEWIS, MISS ANYTHING THERE? OKAY. THAT'S THE EXPLANATION TO WHY THERE'S NO CONTRACT ATTACHED. THE CONTRACT WHICH IS THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT OF THE RFP WAS APPROVED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING ON MAY THE 5th. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 4.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>Patti Rendon: SINCE THIS WAS
PRESENTED AS TWO, CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT IT AS TWO? >>Jim Porter: YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY BUT BOTH ITEMS ARE NOW ON THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION. YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE CONTRACT IS TOTALLY RELEVANT AT THIS POINT IF YOU WANT TO ASK IT. >>Patti Rendon: ALTHOUGH IT WAS PART OF THE RFP, RIGHT, THERE'S STILL AN AGREEMENT STILL AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND AETNA ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE THAT'S GOING TO BE SIGNED BY THE CHAIR. AM I NOT CORRECT ON THAT? NOTHING IS SIGNED. NO OBLIGATION BY NO OBLIGATION BY AETNA ON
ANYTHING WE ARE DOING. JUST THE RFP IS APPROVED. $267 MILLION. >>Tracy Schatzberg: THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT, THEIR RESPONSE ON THE RFP IS THEIR COMMITMENT. >>Patti Rendon: WE HAVE NO LEGAL COMMITMENT FOR $267 MILLION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I GET THE FACT THAT'S WHAT THEY COMMITTED TO BY AN COMMITTED TO BY AN RFP, BUT WE DO RFPs ALL THE TIME FOR PLUMBING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT WE STILL HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR WE'RE USING AND
WE KNOW WE COME INTO A LEGAL BINDING CONTRACT WHAT THE PERSON IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. >>Van Ayres: I WOULD ADD THIS IS NOT ANYTHING ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER RFP WE GO THROUGH. WHEN WE GO THROUGH AN RFP, THE TERMS OF THE RFP BECOME THE CONTRACT. THIS IS NOT ANY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER TIME WE'VE GONE OUT FOR RFP WHEN THERE'S NOT A DIRECT CONTRACT WE'RE LOOKING AT. >>Patti Rendon: MANY TIMES, MR. FARKAS' OPERATIONS WE GO OUT FOR RFP. YOU GIVE US THE RESULTS. BUT WHEN WE UTILIZE THAT VENDOR
WE THEN IN TURN WE THEN IN TURN HAVE A CONTRACT ATTACHED OF WHAT THE SCOPE OF THE WORK IS GOING TO BE. >>Van Ayres: THAT WAS APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BACK ON MAY 5th. 89 PAGE DOCUMENT APPROVED BY THE BOARD ON MAY 5. THE TERMS OF THAT RFP THEN BECOME THE CONTRACT. >>Patti Rendon: AGAIN, THAT AGENDA ITEM THAT CAME BEFORE US WAS THE FACT THAT WE WENT AFTER THE RFP. NOW THIS IS ABOUT THE CHOICE THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN FOR THAT THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO
APPROVE. THE BOARD CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN. THIS BOARD MEMBER IS NOT GOING TO APPROVE ANYTHING THAT I DON'T SEE BINDING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. AGAIN, I GO AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE -- I APPRECIATE GARNER AND I UNDERSTAND THE THING. I UNDERSTAND WHAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT AETNA IS TRYING TO DO ABOUT DIRECTING OUR EMPLOYEES TO GO TO SPECIFIC PROVIDERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LESS, THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE LESS RETURN TO THAT SAME DOCTOR. ALL OF THAT IS GREAT. IF WE CAN DO IT FOR ONE PLAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING
IT FOR ANOTHER. WHEN WE MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW WE'RE NOT HAVING HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, THE FACT THAT FACT THAT WE ARE $63 MILLION MORE IN AN OVERALL COST, THAT MORE IN AN OVERALL COST, THAT IS $63 MILLION MORE THAT I'M $63 MILLION MORE THAT I'M NOT PUTTING IN EMPLOYEES' POCKETS. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT PAYING THE PREMIUM, THEY ARE PAYING FOR IT. LET'S REMIND US, THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S MONEY I'M NOT PUTTING IN SALARIES. MONEY NOT IN BONUSES OR OTHER RAISES. WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE NOT
PAYING A PREMIUM, THAT'S MONEY I'M TAKING AWAY THAT I COULD BE PUTTING INTO TEACHER SALARIES AND OTHER THINGS. MAKE NO MISTAKE, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PREMIUM DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY FROM EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT DOES. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE GARNER AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT AETNA HAS THAT TYPE OF A PLAN. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IF WE CAN DO IT FOR ONE PLAN WHY WE'RE NOT DOING IT FOR OTHERS. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO EASE OUR STAFF INTO IT BUT I THINK OUR STAFF GETS IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. I THINK OUR STAFF GET IT THAT
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES IN ORDER TO HAVE A HEALTH CARE PLAN SO WE CAN PUT MORE MONEY INTO THEIR PAYCHECKS. I THINK OUR STAFF -- WE HAVE VERY EDUCATED STAFF THAT ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. AND THEY RECOGNIZE THAT. YEAH, I'M STILL A NO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT -- THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN RFP THAT'S COME TO US THAT WE DID NOT HAVE WHEN WE THEN VOTED ON THE ITEM ITSELF, WE HAD ITSELF, WE HAD A CONTRACT. FOR $267 MILLION, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. OKAY. THAT PRESENTATION I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THAT BEFORE. >>Tracy Schatzberg: WE DID IT OVER THE COMPUTER. >>Jessica Vaughn: I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING IT IN THAT WAY. >>Tracy Schatzberg: THE PRESENTATION, YOU'RE RIGHT. >>Jessica Vaughn: IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME PRESENTATION BEFOREHAND THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED TONIGHT BECAUSE IT LEFT ME WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK BEFOREHAND
AND NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE ITEM AND I HAVE TO HAVE THEM ANSWERED IN FIVE MINUTES. I FIND IT FRUSTRATING IF THERE IS A PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN AS A BOARD THAT THEN IS PRESENTED WITH THIS. BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT NARROWING THE NETWORK FOR NETWORK FOR AETNA. I'M CONFUSED. DOES THAT MEAN THEY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO PROVIDERS NOW? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET NARROWING THE NETWORK? >>Tracy Schatzberg: YES, MA'AM. ON THE LOW PPO PLAN, THAT IS WHAT THAT MEANS. 92% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY USING A NARROWED NETWORK, SO IT
WILL BE LESS OF AN IMPACT. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT SO PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BUY UP ON THE HIGH PPO AND HMO AND SPEND MORE FOR A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY. I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IS PART OF WHAT IT'S LIKE IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT CHOICE BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY. IT'S A BALANCE. WE TALK ABOUT HAVING A PLAN, IT'S FIGURING OUT WHEN DO WE DO WHAT? >>Jessica Vaughn: AS SOMEONE WHO HAS THE PLAN AND HAS TO UTILIZE IT QUITE A LOT, THERE'S ALREADY LIMITED ACCESS OF PROVIDERS THAT NARROWING IT TO ME
NARROWING IT TO ME MAKES IT FEEL ALMOST WORTHLESS AT SOME POINT BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO EVEN FIND SPECIALISTS WITHIN A 20-MILE RANGE IN THAT PLAN DEPENDING ON WHO YOU SEE. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT FOR THE FREE PLAN, OUR EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE LESS ACCESS TO DOCTORS THAT THEY NEED TO WITHOUT DOING AN UPCHARGE OF SOME SORT. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT PIECE OF IT. I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED IF I HAD SEEN IT IN THIS FORMAT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT, OTHER THAN DISTRICT STAFF AND CABINET MEMBERS, AND CABINET MEMBERS, WHO REPRESENTS OUR EMPLOYEES ON THAT COMMITTEE? >>Tracy Schatzberg: OUR UNION REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVES, HCTA, H -- HASA, PERSONNEL FROM HASA, PERSONNEL FROM THOSE GROUPS, AND THE GROUPS, AND THE RETIRED GROUP. >>Jessica Vaughn: THERE'S THREE COMPARED TO THE 10 OR 12 REPRESENTED FROM THE DISTRICT. >>Tracy Schatzberg: THERE'S FOUR. AND I WOULD SAY IT'S NEVER, THOUGH, BEEN ONE WHERE THEY ARE
SAYING SOMETHING THAT WE'RE -- WE TEND TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME GETTING -- BUILDING CONSENSUS WITH EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE. >>Jessica Vaughn: HOW DID >>Jessica Vaughn: HOW DID HCTA WHO REPRESENTS THE MOST AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES VOTE ON THIS ITEM -- OR THE NEXT ITEM, THE HEALTH PLAN? >>Tracy Schatzberg: WE DON'T VOTE ON THESE. WE HAVE CONSENSUS AND WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. WHEN WE ASKED THE GROUP IF THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS MOVING THE ITEM AHEAD TO THE BOARD, I WAS TOLD -- NO ONE SAID THEY HAD TOLD -- NO ONE SAID THEY HAD ANY
CONCERNS. EVERYBODY SAID WE HAD NO CONCERNS MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. ROB KRIETE DID INDICATE THEY WANTED TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING. HE'S HERE. HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK BETTER TO IT. KNOWING WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY FROM THE STATE REGARDING BUDGET, THEY WERE BUDGET, THEY WERE HESITANT TO COMMIT. THERE WAS NO VOTE. >> HE WAS SAYING -- >>Jessica Vaughn: SO THE NEXT
QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS FROM THE NETWORK OF PROVIDERS FOR GARNER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOPE TO PUSH OUR EMPLOYEES TOWARDS SO THERE CAN BE A COST SAVINGS, YOU SAID YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE AWARE OF THIS. WHAT IS THE PLAN? WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS WE DO OFFER THAT EMPLOYEES AREN'T TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT. I SEE THINGS ALL THE TIME FOR FRS, YOU GO TO SCHOOL SITES, EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ABOUT RETIREMENT AND OPTIONS, ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THIS GOING FORWARD? BECAUSE I SEE ZERO ATTEMPT TO GET THE COMMUNICATION OUT SO
PEOPLE REALLY CAN DIGEST IT. MAYBE IT'S THERE, BUT I'M ON THE PLAN AND I DON'T GET IT. I WOULD LIKE THAT DONE ON A LARGER SCALE. IS THERE A PLAN FOR THAT? >>Tracy Schatzberg: ABSOLUTELY. UPON YOU GUYS PASSING, WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR COMMUNICATION PLAN. ANNUAL ENROLLMENT. DIFFERENT MEETINGS WE HAVE, MAKING SURE THAT INFORMATION IS PASSED OUT THROUGH OUR WELL-BEING CHAMPIONS. WE HAVE TRAIN THE TRAINERS AT EACH SITE. LOTS OF STUFF THAT HAPPENS FROM HERE. YOU'RE RIGHT, IF NO ONE IS USING IT, NOT WORTH IT. ON THE NARROW NETWORK, 92% OF
OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY UTILIZING THAT NARROW NETWORK. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT I'VE GOTTEN SOME E-MAILS ABOUT IT AND WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY TO BE TRANSPARENT. GLPs ARE NOT INCLUDED. A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES WANT TO UTILIZE THAT FOR OUR HEALTH. MAKING SURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES ARE EMPLOYEES ARE HEALTHY, ACCESS TO
-- DIABETES, REALLY FRUSTRATING. YOU MENTIONED A NUMBER, A ROUND NUMBER JUST TO INCLUDE THOSE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS? >>Tracy Schatzberg: YES. GLP-1s ARE GLP-1s ARE ALLOWABLE FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS. IT'S NOT FOR WEIGHT LOSS, WE DON'T COVER IT FOR THAT. IN LOOKING AT OUR IN LOOKING AT OUR DATA IN 2025 FOR JUST DIABETES, WE FOR JUST DIABETES, WE SPENT $10.9 MILLION ON THAT MEDICATION. SO IF WE WERE TO ALLOW SO IF WE WERE TO ALLOW IT FOR WEIGHT LOSS, IT JUST IS NOT
SOMETHING UNFORTUNATELY THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE. I'M HOPING I'M HOPING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE CAN BEGIN TO DO STUFF DIFFERENT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING JUST NOT SOMETHING WE'RE ABLE TO AFFORD. >>Jessica Vaughn: SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND SAID HOW ARE SO MANY OTHER COMPANIES OFFERING THIS, YOU WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT THOSE ARE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES A LOT OF THEM AND THEY ARE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR RATES OR ABLE TO SUBSIDIZE IT SOMEHOW WHERE THEIR CUSTOMER BASE IS PAYING FOR THAT TO UP IT AND US BEING A PUBLIC AND US BEING A PUBLIC ENTITY THAT IS CONTINUALLY GETTING LESS
FUNDING AND LESS REVENUE, THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. IS THAT CORRECT? I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO TRYING TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME, ESPECIALLY LOWERING THE COPAYS. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PAID A LOT OUT FOR OUT FOR COPAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE COME TO WE COME TO SPECIALISTS, I THINK THAT $70 IS STILL A LOT BUT NICE TO HAVE A REDUCTION OF $10. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT. I STILL STRUGGLE WITH SUCH A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE. I KNOW WHEN I ASKED ABOUT LOWERING IT FOR A THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THAT COULD BE A LOT FOR THEM, YOU HAD QUOTED I QUOTED I THINK $3.2 MILLION. >> 3.24 YES. >>Jessica Vaughn: FOR ME, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INVEST IN, BUT I UNDERSTAND IF THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY OF THE REST OF THE BOARD. BUT I DID WANT TO SAY I PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A STICKING POINT FOR A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FACING AN EMERGENCY, HAVING SUCH A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHELL OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
I THINK I'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE YES ON THE GARNER. I STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTH, THE ACTUAL HEALTH PLAN BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION, AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING THE NARROWING OF THE NETWORK AND SOME OTHER THINGS. I'LL PROBABLY VOTE NO ON THAT. BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS. I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF WORK FROM ALL OF THE COMMITTEE. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY HOURS PEOPLE SIT THROUGH AND DIGEST ALL OF THE INFORMATION. PRICES ARE RISING EVERYWHERE. TO MEMBER RENDON'S POINT, WHILE
I THINK WE HAVE AMAZING STAFF WHO IS VERY WHO IS VERY EDUCATED, THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD, I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE KIND OF FINANCIAL PRESSURE WE'RE FACING AND THIS COMES AS A BIT OF A SHOCK TO THEM. I HOPE WE DO A BETTER JOB ADVOCATING AND GETTING THAT INFORMATION INFORMATION OUT. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ITEM 4.03 WITH MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM
VICE-CHAIR. LISTENING TO THE REMARKS AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOMMEND A WORKSHOP BECAUSE OF NOT ONLY THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'RE HEARING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, MY EXPECTATION IS TO EXPECTATION IS TO HAVE EXPECTATION IS TO HAVE A FULL EVALUATORY TYPE OF METHOD FOR EACH SERVICE. THE USAGE, AMOUNT OF THE USAGE, AMOUNT OF CLAIMS, SAVINGS. THERE ARE THERE ARE SO THERE ARE SO MANY CATEGORIES SYSTEMATICALLY YOU CAN ORGANIZE TO DO A VALUATION ON EACH OF THOSE.
WHEN WE DO AN EVALUATION, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT. THEN YOU HAVE TO THINK, WELL, OKAY, WE CAN WORKSHOP THAT OUT AND GET ALL THOSE PIECES IN PLACE, BUT THEN WHAT ASSURANCE CAN YOU ALL GIVE US -- MS. SCHATZBERG, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IT -- THAT YOU'RE IT -- THAT WHEN THIS BOARD MAKES THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE CONCERN, AS YOU'RE HEARING, WHAT ASSURANCES CAN YOU GIVE WHAT ASSURANCES CAN YOU GIVE US THAT WE FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED OR WE FEEL THIS
RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE DONE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING, I DON'T REALLY LIKE CVS, ALL KINDS OF LITTLE NUANCES. CAN YOU ASSURE US THAT WE WILL BE LISTENED TO AND THOSE TWEAKS AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, WHATEVER THE TIMELINE MIGHT BE, WE'LL BE DONE. >>Tracy Schatzberg: YES, MA'AM. WHAT I WOULD LOVE, IT WOULD BE NICE TO MAYBE BEGIN AN ANNUAL CADENCE WHERE WE COME A FEW MONTHS BEFORE NOW, WHERE WE COME TO YOU EVERY SUMMER AND TELL YOU WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT FOR '27 A FEW MONTHS PRIOR, LET'S HAVE A
WORKSHOP WHERE WE HAVE THE DATA, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IN PLACE AND YOU ALL CAN LET US KNOW, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY THIS. IF WE CAN GET ON A REGULAR CADENCE WITH THAT, THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION. WE HEAR YOU AND VALUE YOUR OPINIONS AND WE WILL LISTEN. >>Lynn Gray: THAT'S THE ANSWER I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, OF COURSE. THE OTHER SUBJECT THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE AON USAGE, I WILL REQUEST A FULL
LISTING OF EACH OF THESE LISTING OF EACH OF THESE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. THEY ARE LISTED ON THEY ARE LISTED ON THE 404. HOW THEY ARE CHOSEN AND IMPORTANTLY WHAT RELATIONSHIP, IF ANY, THEY HAVE WITH IF ANY, THEY HAVE WITH AON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A DISTANCE, AND I HAVE TO HAVE THAT ASSURANCE. THAT'S SOMETHING I'M GOING TO REQUEST. I COULD DO IT WITH YOU I COULD DO IT WITH YOU ON THE E-MAIL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING ONE ORGANIZATION IN CHARGE OF A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS.
LAST, WHAT HAVE WE DONE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE? I KNOW WE HAVE THE WELLNESS PROGRAM. THANK YOU, DINA MARSHALL. AND I SEE THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, MAYBE THAT'S IT. MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT DOES THAT FALL UNDER? >> IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE WORLD MENTAL HEALTH IS CALLED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT AND WITH OUR WORK WITH AETNA, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NO COPAYS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO SEEK MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, WHETHER IT'S IN PERSON, WHETHER IT'S VIRTUAL.
THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM. WE ALSO HAVE ONLINE LYRA AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ALSO PART OF THE AETNA HEALTH SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BE ROLLING OUT HAS A MENTAL HEALTH SECTION AS WELL. AND MENTAL HEALTH IS OUR NUMBER 9 COST DRIVER. >>Lynn Gray: GOOD TO KNOW. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT INGREDIENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEE WELLNESS. LAST, AND PROBABLY NEVER LAST, ONE OTHER THING, WHEN WE DO COMMIT TO THE WORKSHOP, THE
ONGOING NEED FOR ONGOING NEED FOR COMMUNICATIONS IS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS, UNLESS WE HAVE A DEDICATED -- SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, I'M GOING TO PUT THIS ON YOU -- UNLESS YOU HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM TO COMMUNICATE ALL OF THESE SERVICES ALL OF THESE SERVICES TO OUR EMPLOYEES, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO USE THEM OR KNOW ABOUT THEM? I KNOW WE HAVE A I KNOW WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER, VITALITY PLUS, WHERE IS DENA? I SEE HER SOMEWHERE OUT THERE.
DOES A VERY GOOD JOB, BUT THAT'S JUST ONE FORM. >>Van Ayres: I AGREE WITH YOU. WE LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT PLANS. HEALTH INSURANCE IS COMPLICATED AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE OUT, WE HAVE OPEN ENROLLMENT SESSIONS THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE ATTENDED AS WELL WHERE WE COMMUNICATE THAT TO EMPLOYEES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. I'M SURE WE COMMUNICATE IT THE BEST WE CAN BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE LITTLE DIFFERENT PLAN CHANGES, SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE LET OUR EMPLOYEES KNOW. WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT. >>Lynn Gray: THE COST OF THIS IN TOTALITY NECESSITATES, IN MY MIND, A
MIND, A DEDICATED MIND, A DEDICATED COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR THIS. THAT'S MY OPINION. I'VE SAID ENOUGH. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT WE HAVE WITH HAVE WITH THE IDEA OF THE ASSURANCES THINGS WILL BE CHANGED, IF NEED CHANGED, IF NEED BE, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS COUNT. THANK YOU AGAIN. I'M DONE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU UTILIZED THE COMMENT THAT WE
SPENT $10.9 MILLION ON SPENT $10.9 MILLION ON GLP 1s FOR FOR DIABETICS. HOW MANY DIABETICS SERVING? >> ABOUT 1400. >>Patti Rendon: WHEN I DO THE MATH 10.9 -- MATH 10.9 -- THAT'S $573 FOR 1400. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO THE MATH HERE. 10.9 DIVIDED BY 10.9 DIVIDED BY HOW MANY?
>> 7,000. >> $7,000 PER DIABETIC. >>Patti Rendon: AGAIN, THAT COST IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR GLP 1. I GO BACK TO LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PLANS. PEOPLE CAN GO AND PAY FOR THAT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A PLAN CHEAPER THAN $7,000 A YEAR FOR GLP 1s. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT OF US NOT GOING OUT THERE AND GIVING OUR EMPLOYEES OPTIONS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT AETNA. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS VERY CLEAR. THIS IS ABOUT US LOOKING AT ALL
TYPES OF OPTIONS. $7,000 FOR GLP 1s FOR A DIABETIC IS OVER THE GENERAL COST PER PERSON. THEY COULD GO WITH A PRESCRIPTION AND GO FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE CHEAPER THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR IT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT. WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR WHAT WE'RE GETTING BACK? $7,000 IS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY. THE OTHER THING, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, IF I TAKE
IT CLEAR, IF I TAKE THIS $1.7 MILLION FOR THE GARNER, WHICH, AGAIN, I'M ALL ABOUT GETTING EMPLOYEES TO UTILIZE THOSE BETTER BENEFITS. THAT'S NOT IT. BUT AT THE END OF THE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S $340 PER EMPLOYEE FOR THE 5,000 -- BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE ARE ON THE FREE PLAN AREN'T GOING TO UTILIZE GARNER BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY REDUCING WE'RE ALREADY REDUCING THEIR PROVIDER. YOU'RE TELLING ME, OH, WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM, TOO. >> PEOPLE UTILIZE GARNER TO GET THEIR COPAY BACK. >>Patti Rendon: OKAY.
AGAIN, IS THAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, HAVE WE EVEN GONE RELEVANT TO HOW MANY COPAYS ARE THEY GETTING BACK TO IMAGINE TO WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR 1.75 MILLION? >> ACTUALLY GET BACK UP TO A THOUSAND -- >>Patti Rendon: NO, NO. WHAT I'M ASKING, IS HAVE WE ANALYZED WHAT GARNER IS PAYING COMPARED TO COMPARED TO THE 1.75 WE'RE PAYING TO UTILIZE PAYING TO UTILIZE GARNER? AGAIN, AGAIN, THAT'S 1.75 THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM AWAY FROM OUR EMPLOYEES.
ARE WE ANALYZING HOW MUCH THEY ARE GETTING BACK? >> WE HAVEN'T STARTED IT YET, BUT, YES, ONCE WE PUT THE MONEY OUT, 1.7, 3.3 WE ASSUME IS ON TOP OF THAT. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT MINUS 1.7, TALKING WITH DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND A COUPLE OF UNIVERSITIES SPOKEN WITH, THEY ARE FINDING THAT THEY ARE INDEED GETTING THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THAT'S AON'S JOB TO HELP MONITOR THAT PROGRESS. IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE STOP. >>Patti Rendon: EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WE ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOING THAT IN THE PLANS?
WHY ARE WE NOT USING THE SAME -- IT IS AN AETNA PRODUCT. AETNA IDENTIFIED WHO THE PROVIDERS ARE. YOU SAID IT'S ON TOP OF AETNA. >> ON TOP OF AETNA NETWORK >> ON TOP OF AETNA NETWORK BUT NOT AETNA PRODUCT. THEY LOOK AT THE PHYSICIANS THAT ARE IN AETNA'S NETWORK AND THEY UTILIZE THEIR PROPRIETARY PROGRAM THAT LOOKS AT DATA AND THEY IDENTIFY THE TOP ONES FROM THEIR NETWORK. >>Patti Rendon: WHEN WE ARE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS IN THE FREE PLAN, IS THAT NOT TO GET SOME OF THE SIMILAR TYPE OF PROVIDERS IN THAT PLAN?
>>Tracy Schatzberg: I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME OVERLAP. >>Patti Rendon: BUT I'M SAYING WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE PROVIDERS WE'RE PUTTING IN THE FREE PLAN ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDERS THAT WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT SAME TYPE OF RETURN THAT RETURN THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR RETURN FREQUENT FLYERS TO THE DOCTOR, GET THERE, GET WHAT THEY NEED, GO THEY NEED, GO BACK, THEY WILL BE DOING A PLAN. WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THE PROVIDERS FOR OUR FREE PLAN, RIGHT? >> RIGHT. >>Patti Rendon: AGAIN, WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT ACROSS THE BOARD?
IS IT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE TOO MANY CHANGES? >>Tracy Schatzberg: IT'S DATA ANALYSIS. WE WOULD NEED TO UTILIZE THAT. GARNER IS GOING O GARNER IS GOING O UTILIZE THE NETWORKS -- THE PROVIDERS ON THE HIGH, THE LOW, AND THE HIGH, THE LOW, AND THE HMO. SO THEY WILL BE LOOKING ALL ACROSS THE LEVELS. ALL THREE. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: JUST CLOSING COMMENT, TRACY SCHATZBERG, WHEN DO YOU THINK WOULD BE A GOOD
TIME TO HAVE A WORKSHOP? OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM UNTIL JANUARY 2027. TO ANSWER, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, IF THE VOTE GOES THROUGH TODAY, WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT IN JANUARY, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? LIKE ONE IN THE FALL TO LOOK AT THE COMMITTEE, HOW THAT'S HAPPENED AND THEN ONE IN THE SUMMER SO WE CAN ANALYZE WHERE OUR DATA IS SIX MONTHS LATER? >>Tracy Schatzberg: I'M AT THE WILL OF WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO. >>Nadia Combs: JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT.
THAT WAY ONE PRIOR, BEFOREHAND TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AND THEN MOVING FORWARD MOVING FORWARD AFTERWARDS. JUST REALLY LOOKING AT THE TIMELINE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WHO HAS THOUGHTS OR IDEAS COMING IN, I DON'T THINK WE'LL MOVE ANYONE, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT, HEALTHY DISCUSSION TO TALK ABOUT THIS. AS I SAID, HEALTH INSURANCE, MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT RETIRING, I HAVE SOME FRIENDS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND OF ABSENCE AND TRAVELING. THEIR BIGGEST THING IS HOW DO I GET INSURANCE. WHAT WILL I DO FOR INSURANCE?
I DON'T WANT TO GO THREE MONTHS WITHOUT INSURANCE BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. THE OVERALL COST WHEN YOU GO TO A DOCTOR, THE OVERALL COST OF INSURANCE, IT'S A HUGE NATIONAL PROBLEM. IT'S A HUGE NATIONAL PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE IT, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT. I THINK DOING A COUPLE OF WORKSHOPS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR, AND WE'RE VOTING VOTING ON 4.03. >>Jim Porter: 4.03 ONLY. >>Nadia Combs: AND THEN 4.04
NEXT AND THEN WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IT PASSES WITH MYSELF, MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER VAUGHN SUPPORTING IT. AND MEMBER RENDON DISSENTING ON THAT. NEXT ONE IS 4.04, HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 2027. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED THIS ITEM. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM APPROVE ITEM C APPROVE ITEM C 4.04.
I I HAVE A MOTION -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED. MEMBER WASHINGTON AND THEN SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER VAUGHN AND I PULLED IT. ANYBODY ELSE ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS RIGHT NOW? IF YOU CAN CLEAR THE BOARD, PABLO. ANY COMMENTS? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THIS IS 4.04 THAT WE'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW.
IT PASSES WITH THREE VOTES. MEMBER COMBS, MEMBER MEMBER COMBS, MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER GRAY SUPPORTING IT AND DISSENTING IS MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER VAUGHN. WE WILL NOW WE WILL NOW MOVE TO EMPLOYEE INPUT. THANK YOU, FOR STAYING. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD INCLUDING THROUGH UNION
REPRESENTATIVE, E-MAIL, 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 THE AGENDA WE'RE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES ON THEIR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I THINK WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER TONIGHT. THAT'S MR. KRIETE.
>> YEAH, IT'S ROB. HAPPY TO BE HERE AGAIN. FIRST OF ALL, LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M WILLING TO SIGN AN INTENT TO EARN FOR THE YOUNG MAN THAT WANTS AN ANTHROPOLOGY TEACHER. GET MY INDIANA JONES GET MY INDIANA JONES HAT OUT. THINK I'M READY TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BEST SPEAKER OF THE NIGHT. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND OUR INSURANCE AND OUR STANCE WITH IT. WE ARE ONE MEMBER OF A NINE GROUP COMMITTEE THAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT THING I'VE HAD TO DO
AND WORK ON IN THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS JOB AS A UNION PRESIDENT. IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS LOOKING AT THE DOLLAR THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. IT'S LOOKING AT WHAT PEOPLE NEED, AND WE'RE ALSO IN A STATE WHERE THE FUNDING IS NOT QUITE THERE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS WE ALL AGREE WE WANT TO DO. SO WHEN WE WENT FROM FULL INSURANCE TO INSURANCE TO SELF-INSURANCE, I'M GETTING A FULL EDUCATION RIGHT NOW. YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING A WORKSHOP. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FULL
MASTER'S DEGREE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH INSURANCE. AND THE THINGS I LEARN, EVERY STEP I TAKE AS A COMMITTEE, IT'S SAD OUT THERE, WHAT HEALTH INSURANCE IN AMERICA IS NOT ABOUT MAKING HEALTHY PEOPLE. IT'S ABOUT MAKING MONEY. IT WAS CLEAR TO US THAT HUMANA AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMPANIES WERE NOT MAKING MONEY OR ENOUGH MONEY TO THEIR LIKING THAT LED TO US THE ROUTE THAT WE'RE AT. NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, I KNOW THAT TRACY DOES A GOOD JOB OF DEFERRING TO HCTA BECAUSE WE REPRESENT THE MOST NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ONE VOTING MEMBER OF SAID COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEST. WHAT DOES EVERYONE WANT? WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS IS A LIVABLE WAGE AND HEALTH INSURANCE THAT THEY CAN READILY GO USE. FRANKLY, WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES. EVERYONE CAN'T HAVE ALL OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT IN CONTRACT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FREE OR NO COST NOW WE HAVE A FREE OR NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE INSURANCE. I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE THAT UP, ALTHOUGH WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN COMMITTEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK
LIKE. WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF AN EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE GAVE $50 A PAYCHECK OR A HUNDRED DOLLARS A PAYCHECK. HOW MUCH DRIVE DOWN THE 60 WHATEVER MILLION COST IS. FRANKLY NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE ME, CERTAINLY NOT MY ORGANIZATION, AND, QUITE FRANKLY, THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE. IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS WORTH REALLY DOING RIGHT NOW. WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND NARROWING THAT NETWORK SEEMS TO BE THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT BECAUSE WE CAN STILL KEEP NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE PLAN, BUT LOOK AT REALLY WHAT CAN WE DO TO
MAKE IT SO THEY GET A COUPLE OF DOLLARS BACK. THAT'S WHAT THAT GARNER, THAT PLAN WOULD BE. I CAN STILL USE THE DOCTORS, BUT AT LEAST GET MY COPAY BACK. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING OUT THERE. 50th IN THE NATION IN TEACHER PAY, IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL TOUGH NEGOTIATION ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. MEMBER RENDON MEMBER RENDON MENTIONED, $63 MILLION, I KNOW SHE WANTS TO PUT THAT IN THE POCKETS OF THAT IN THE POCKETS OF TEACHERS. BUT I DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY FROM THE TEACHERS, I WOULD SAY, THE AUTHORITY OF THE EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THAT MOVE, TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU THE
BEST INSURANCE BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A RAISE. ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL IS SOMETHING I AM STRUGGLING WITH. AS AN ORGANIZATION, MY TEAM IS LOOKING AT EVERY POSSIBLE THING WE CAN DO. SENT OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEY OPERATE WITH THEIR COMMITTEE. LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ORANGE COUNTY WITH THEIR INSURANCE DESTRUCTION, IMPLOSION, WHATEVER IT IS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T STEP IN IT LIKE OTHERS HAVE DONE. WE'RE IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE
IN THE IN THE COMMITTEE. I WANT TO BELIEVE IN TERMS OF US LOOKING UNDER THE ROCKS THAT WE HAVE. IF YOU GUYS SEE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING, BRING IT TO ME. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ME ABOUT WHAT I SEE IN THAT COMMITTEE, I WILL ABSOLUTELY SHARE THAT WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT AON DOES A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING US MONTHLY REPORTS. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON WHY YOU COULDN'T SEE THOSE REPORTS ABOUT HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND WHAT INSURANCE IS. AND HOW MUCH DOCTORS COST WHEN YOU GO FOR GLP 1 AND WAY DIFFERENT IF I CAN GO TO COSTCO TO GET IT. IF THIS BOARD WAS WILLING TO
SAY, HEY, IF YOU WANT IT FOR WEIGHT LOSS, YOU SHOULD GO TO COSTCO. IS IT RIGHT ON THE SHELF? I DON'T EVEN KNOW. $7,000 DOES SEEM RIDICULOUS. AGAIN, THESE ARE DOCTOR COSTS TO DIAGNOSE AND MAINTAIN AND WITH THE DRUGS AND ALL THOSE THINGS, IT GETS REALLY, REALLY CRAZY QUICKLY. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE OUT THERE. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM OTHERS AND LEARN TOGETHER TO KIND OF MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE PLAN. ANOTHER THING I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL BE SURVEYING THE EMPLOYEES
OF THE DISTRICT TO FIND OUT REALLY WHERE ARE THEIR PRIORITIES HERE? CAN'T HAVE IT ALL. I WISH WE CAN BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT. WE ALL KNOW THEY DESERVE A LIVABLE WAGE AND THE BEST INSURANCE TO BRING THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO A DOCTOR. I REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WHEN WE'RE IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. I JUST WANT YOU TO SHOW SOME GRACE AND PATIENCE WITH US. FEEL FREE TO ASK US ALL THE HARD QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE WANT TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS AS WELL. THANK YOU GUYS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE? ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'LL CONTINUE ON WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH 6.02 WITH THE PREK-8 FIELD TRIPS FROM MILLAGE REFERENDUM FUNDS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. EXCITING AGENDA ITEM HERE. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY HEARD ME TALK ABOUT MONDAY MORNING IN FRONT OF ALL THE PRINCIPALS, OUR PLAN FOR OUR FIELD TRIPS USING OUR MILLAGE REFERENDUM DOLLARS WE JUST RECEIVED. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VOTERS, OF COURSE, APPROVED THE FOUR-YEAR ONE MILL
THIS ITEM SUPPORTS FIELD TRIPS FOR EVERY GRADE FOR EVERY GRADE LEVEL PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 8 PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES THROUGH TAMPA BAY'S RESOURCES. MR. BRADY WORKED EXTENSIVELY ALONG WITH MS. GARCIA ON THE PLAN. OUR MILLAGE OUR MILLAGE REFERENDUM, 92% GOES TO SALARIES OF EMPLOYEES, 8% TO ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENTS. AND ONE OF THOSE YOU WERE VERY CLEAR, FIELD TRIP, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR PREK-8. NOW TO EXPAND THAT TO OTHER
RESOURCES IN TAMPA BAY, WE'RE VERY EXCITED. THE TEAM HAS WORKED EXTREMELY HARD. THAT IS THE THAT IS THE ITEM 6.02, FIELD TRIPS PREK-8 STARTING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GET AND GET STARTED. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I REALLY PULLED THIS TO HIGHLIGHT IT BECAUSE WE SPENT A
LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE'RE FRUSTRATED WITH OR HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC. I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE STAGGERING PERCENTAGE OF OUR KIDS WHO LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. LEARNING THAT STATISTIC THAT 40% OF OUR KIDS LIVE BELOW THAT LEVEL AND BEING LEVEL AND BEING IN THE CLASSROOM FIRST HAND, I KNOW HOW THERE'S SUCH LITTLE ACCESS TO GETTING OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY OR EVEN COMING TO SOME OF THESE PLACES. AND I THINK BEING ABLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERY GRADE BAND WE'RE GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE ART MUSEUM OR THE ART MUSEUM OR MOSI OR THE AQUARIUM. I THINK A LOT OF US TAKE I THINK A LOT OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT IT'S EASY TO TAKE YOUR CHILDREN THERE, BUT IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY. SO I THINK MAKING SURE AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THIS IS REALLY GREAT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR PRIORITIZING THIS AND MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE THIS. SO THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, AGAIN, I PIGGY BACK OFF OF MEMBER VAUGHN. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLICLY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT 91% OF OUR REFERENDUM IS OF OUR REFERENDUM IS GOING DIRECTLY TO STAFF, AND THIS IS THE LEFTOVER OF UNANTICIPATED DOLLARS THAT WE CAN PUT DIRECTLY TOWARDS STUDENT EDUCATION THAT ALIGNS DIRECTLY ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THE STANDARDS FOR THAT CURRENT YEAR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS DIRECT STANDARDS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT OF EACH OF
OUR STUDENTS THROUGH THAT EDUCATIONAL YEAR, BUT 91% OF THIS REFERENDUM IS THIS REFERENDUM IS STILL GOING TO OUR STAFF. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: YEAH, AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR -- MADAM VICE-CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN, FOR MEMBER VAUGHN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD TAKES A A FIELD TRIP AND A FIELD TRIP AND KINESTHETICALLY
TRIES THINGS OUT WITH THEIR HANDS. I'M A BIG FIELD TRIP PERSON. IT CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES. NATURE'S CLASSROOM IS EMBLEMATIC BUT SO MANY BUT SO MANY PLACES THAT CHILDREN, THEY NEVER EVEN GET OUT OF TAMPA TO SEE THINGS. THANK YOU, MS. GARCIA, FOR ELECTRIFYING THIS SITUATION -- PLURAL -- SITUATIONS PLURAL -- SITUATIONS LETTING THESE KIDS REALLY HAVE A VARIETY.
AS A FORMER TEACHER, FIELD TRIPS TO ME ARE QUITE ESSENTIAL. I'M GLAD WE DID THAT. IT'S GOOD THAT WE IT'S GOOD THAT WE BROUGHT THIS UP AGAIN. ANYWAY, THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, TOO. WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PARENTS. MR. BRADY, YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING OR MS. GARCIA? WE'RE LETTING YOU OFF THE HOOK IF YOU DON'T SAY ANYTHING. >> NO, NO, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT, TOO. ECHO EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING. WE TALKED TO COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING TO SEE ALL THE STUDENTS OUT THERE.
AS THEY MENTIONED, THE ZOO, THE AQUARIUM. THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF IT. WE DID MANAGE TO KEEP ALL OF THE FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY OF WHICH GREAT. OBVIOUSLY, THE MONEY COMING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. THE TEAM, THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, SARAH AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB. >>Van Ayres: REMEMBER, BOARD, THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT STUDENTS WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE RECEIVING. ANYWHERE ELSE, CHARTER SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, THEY ARE NOT GETTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, SO THAT ONE MILL THAT ONE MILL REFERENDUM, THOSE ARE FIELD TRIPS THAT STUDENTS IN
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE GOING TO RECEIVE AND RECEIVE AND NOWHERE ELSE RECEIVE AND NOWHERE ELSE PREK-8. SHOUT-OUT TO SHOUT-OUT TO TRACYE BROWN AND BRADY. STATE PAYS FOR HALF THE DAY, MILLAGE OTHER HALF OF THE DAY. MR. BROWN AND MR. BRADY, VPK STUDENTS, ABOUT 1700 WILL GET A FIELD TRIP AS WELL. EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING NEXT YEAR. PROUD OF THE TEAM AND THEIR WORK.
>>Lynn Gray: I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WITH THE THAT WITH THE VPK. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN, FOR ALSO INCLUDING THAT INCLUDING THAT PIECE. GREAT JOB, YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE THAT'S GREAT. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE SOMETIMES KIDS NEVER GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. I REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN I FIRST OPENED MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL, SOME KIDS NEVER HAD
SOME KIDS NEVER HAD BEEN TO YBOR CITY, 7th AVENUE. KIDS NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GET OUT AND SEE THE OTHER PARTS OF TAMPA. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I PULLED IT, THE PULLED IT, THE MILLAGE IS SO IMPORTANT. JUST THE OTHER DAY, I HAD A TEACHER TELL ME THAT HIM AND HIS WIFE ARE THINKING -- THEY ARE BOTH TEACHERS. THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT GETTING ANOTHER CAR. THEY NEED A NEW CAR AND THE MILLAGE WAS A BIG FACTOR.
KNOWING THEY COULD HAVE A MILLAGE MEANT THEY COULD AFFORD ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT. HE ASKED ME, WHAT IS THE CHANCE, DO YOU THINK IT WILL CONTINUE? IF YOU NOTICED, WE'RE FUNDED 50th IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW WITH SUCH A HIGH INFLATION RATE SO I HOPE THE VOTERS WILL CONTINUE PRIORITIZING THE MILLAGE. THIS IS JUST 1.3% OF THE MILLAGE GOING TO THIS. THE REST IS GOING TO SALARIES AND ALSO OTHER THINGS LIKE FULL VPK. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE EXPERIENCES, EVERY YEAR TO
EVERY YEAR TO GO TO THE MUSEUM, AQUARIUM. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT THEY GET THEIR CHILDREN TO GO PLACES. SOME CHILDREN NEVER HAD THAT EXPERIENCE. IT CAN REALLY OPEN THEIR EYES UP AND OPEN UP THE EXPERIENCE. IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. I THINK WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS, I'M SURE LIKE ZOO TAMPA AND ALL THESE PLACES, GLAZER MUSEUM, TO KNOW NOT ONLY THAT EXPOSURE BUT ALLOWS OTHER FAMILIES. TUESDAYS THEY HAVE FREE DAYS. OTHER DAYS AVAILABLE. IT KIND OF IGNITES A FAMILY TO
MAYBE GO THERE FURTHER AND A REAL CONNECTION WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. ALL OF THEM LIKE BIZ TOWN, ZOO TAMPA, MOSI, TAMPA, MOSI, MUMA, NATURE'S CLASSROOM, THE COURT HOUSE, THE AQUARIUM, ALL OF THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND KNOW THAT EVERY CHILD IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS AT LEAST ONE DAY A YEAR THEY CAN GO ON A FIELD TRIP I THINK IS AMAZING AND TALKS REALLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MILLAGE AND HOW WE HAVE TO CONTINUE LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING FORWARD FOR THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT NEXT TIME IT IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THIS BOARD AND THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT APPROXIMATES -- IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL GO TO THE LAST ITEM. 7.15, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR REAL ESTATE SERVICES. >>Van Ayres: NOVEMBER 17, 2025, PROCUREMENT SERVICES WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT ISSUED A COMPETITIVE
SOLICITATION FOR REAL ESTATE SERVICES FROM QUALIFIED FIRMS TO HELP THE DISTRICT IDENTIFY AND LEASE FACILITIES THAT SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS AWARDING MULTIPLE VENDORS, PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY AND ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED MARKET EXPERTISE AS THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. THESE SERVICES WILL HELP ENSURE COST-EFFECTIVE SITE SELECTION AND LEASE NEGOTIATIONS THAT MAXIMIZE DISTRICT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THE DISTRICT'S LONG-RANGE PLANNING EFFORTS AND ABILITY TO RESPOND TO CURRENT AND FUTURE GROWTH. THAT IS 7.15. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO
APPROVE ITEM APPROVE ITEM C 7.15. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY AND I PULLED THE ITEM. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, MR. FARKAS, I WAS REVIEWING THE WORKSHOP WE HAD IN 2025 ON GROWTH MANAGEMENT. IT SEEMS TO ME IN THE IT SEEMS TO ME IN THE SPIRIT OF WORKSHOPS WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE POPULATION VARIANCE, THE POPULATION VARIANCE, THE CLOSED SCHOOLS, LOW SCHOOLS, LOW ENROLLMENT,
HOPEFULLY NOT. HOPEFULLY NOT, MR. HOPEFULLY NOT, MR. LEWIS, BUT PERHAPS SO, CONVERSION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME OF OUR BUILDINGS, NOT TO MENTION DISPOSING OF REAL PROPERTY. THOSE ARE SUBJECT MATTERS THOSE ARE SUBJECT MATTERS THAT AFFECT US DIRECTLY. I WOULD LIKE TO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A WORKSHOP DONE IN 2026 TO REFLECT THIS. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? PUT CHRIS FARKAS TO WORK. >>Van Ayres: LET'S DO IT. WE'LL GET THAT SET UP.
WE'LL WORK WITH BOARD MEMBERS ON DATES FOR A WORKSHOP. >>Christopher Farkas: WE ALREADY HAVE THE JULY 21st BOARD MEETING TALK ABOUT MEETING TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING. AS WE LEARNED THIS YEAR FROM THE CLOSINGS AND CONVERSATION, GOOD CONVERSATION TO CONVERSATION TO HAVE AS A GROUP. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. >>Lynn Gray: I'LL PUT IT TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT THE BOARD THINKS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THAT, MEMBER GRAY.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, TO DO A WORKSHOP, A BOARD MEMBER PUTS IN A REQUEST AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS VOTE ON IT, RIGHT? WHILE YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THIS, IT HAS TO BE VOTED ON BY MEMBERS AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT I WANT THAT DO NOT GET APPROVED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S EQUITY IN THAT. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT YOU'LL PUT THAT IN. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WASN'T DONE. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: I DO THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS FAR AS THE CALENDAR GOES BECAUSE
WE HAVE REDUCED, ALTHOUGH THE BOARD IN A BOARD IN A RETREAT ASKED FOR AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS, WE ACTUALLY REDUCED THEM FOR THE YEAR WHERE WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT TOTAL AND FOUR MEANT FOR POLICIES IN THE AFTERNOON. SO WE ARE -- IF WE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR WORKSHOPS, THESE ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO BE PUSHED GOING TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO '27. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT. THE BOARD MADE THE REQUEST BACK IN THE FALL, YET THE CALENDAR CAME OUT WHERE IT CAME OUT WHERE IT REDUCED IT. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN STAFF AND THE BOARD THERE HAS TO BE A
CONSENSUS OF CONSENSUS OF HOW MANY WORKSHOPS. WE NEED TO BE MORE EDUCATED ON INSURANCE. I THINK WE HAVE TO BRING OUTSIDE PEOPLE IN TO DISCUSS IT. I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON OUR GROWTH MANAGEMENT. THE WAY THE DISTRICT CALENDAR CAME OUT, IT CAME OUT, IT REDUCED THE NUMBERS. THAT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS WE CAN HAVE MOVING FORWARD. YOU GUYS MAY WANT TO REVISIT THE CALENDAR FOR THAT AS WELL. THEN I WANT TO CLARIFY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST, YOU'RE PUTTING THIS ON HERE THIS ON HERE FOR $500,000 AS A
MAX. >>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. >>Patti Rendon: EACH INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT YOU PUT TOGETHER YOU'LL BRING BEFORE THE BOARD. >>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM, THAT'S CORRECT. OR PART OF A BOARD ITEM. [INAUDIBLE] >>Patti Rendon: CORRECT. WE'RE GIVING YOU PERMISSION TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS YOU ARE NEGOTIATING A DEAL, THERE IS A MAX THAT YOU CAN NEGOTIATE UNTIL WE APPROVE. >>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO PUBLIC MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT. THANK YOU.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I'VE BEEN HERE, I THINK IT WAS YEAR TWO WHEN I SAW TWO WHEN I SAW EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE MOVEMENT AND THE SCHOOLS AND THE BUILDINGS AND THE LEASES, I FIRST GOT HERE LIKE FIRST FEW WEEKS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD THE NAME ROSSAC SOMETHING, WHATEVER IT WAS. YES, SURPLUS, WHICH I WONDERED HOW THAT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD. I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT FOR
MULTIPLE YEARS AND I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE FINALLY USING THIS. YOU DO SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB, MR. FARKAS. YOU ARE AMAZING. YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE TRULY AMAZING WITH YOUR OPERATIONS. IT IS TRUE. THE OPERATIONS TEAM, IT IS AMAZING. IT'S SUCH A DIFFICULT JOB. WHEN YOU GO, YOU KNOW EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY PROPERTY, WHAT'S GOING ON. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS WHEN SOMEONE GOES TO A SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE IT LOOKS GOOD, THAT IT'S FUNCTIONAL, THAT THE AC IS WORKING. PEOPLE REALLY TAKE BIG PRIDE
INTO THEIR SCHOOLS. YOU HAVE NEW PRINCIPALS COMING IN, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THERE IS A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AT THE FRONT. MARQUEE LOOKS GREAT. WALKING INTO A GREAT OFFICE. CAFETERIA TAKEN CARE OF. SO MANY ELEMENTS OF THAT. APPRECIATE THAT. LOOKING AT THE LARGER SCALE OF LEASING, LOOKING AT THE PARKING GARAGE HERE, ALL THE DIFFERENT LAND THAT WE HAVE AND WE TALKED ABOUT LEASING AND LONG-TERM LEASING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS IN
THAT BUSINESS TO WORK ON THAT, TO MANAGE ALL OF THIS. IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT AND LOOK AT THAT AND HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING AT THAT AS WE IMPROVE IT PIECE BY PIECE. THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT FINANCIAL PART OF OUR JOBS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AS TO LOOK AT AS AREAS REDUCE, AS SCHOOLS GET REDUCED MORE AND MORE AND MAKING SURE WE ARE BEING REALLY, REALLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY COMMENTS WILL BE PRETTY BRIEF HERE THIS EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH WE'RE GOING TO START WITH WHAT I BELIEVE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BEST GRADUATION SCENES TO DATE. LIKE I MENTIONED AT THE
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, JUST WHEN YOU SEE THE PRIDE AND THE SMILES AND THE FAMILY, THE CULTURE THAT'S CREATED OF OUR SCHOOLS AND THE PRIDE THAT THOSE GRADUATES HAD AS THEY WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE WAS NOTHING LIKE I HAD EVER SEEN. FIRST OFF, THANK THE BOARD. YOU GUYS WERE AMAZING IN THE CONFERRING OF THE DIPLOMAS. THE NOISE WE HEARD IN THE FAIRGROUNDS DURING EVERY SINGLE ONE, YOU COULD FEEL THE EXCITEMENT. WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE, PRINCIPALS ABOUT THE IMPACT THEY MAKE. WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE IN THE
PARKING LOT WHEN GRADUATES ARE MEETING UP WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THAT'S WHEN YOU REALIZE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES AND THE PRIDE WE TAKE IN GETTING OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STAGE. IT TAKES A WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE TO DO THAT. DEFINITELY WAS ONE OF OUR BEST GRADUATION SEASONS TO DATE BY FAR. IT STARTS WITH THE GREAT, GREAT STUDENTS WE HAVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE HAD WE HAD OVER 14,000 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS THAT WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE. JUST THREE DAYS AGO FINISHED AT BRANDON AT 3:00. JUST THREE DAYS AGO WE FINISHED TO RECEIVE HARD-EARNED DIPLOMA. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND CABINET
MEMBERS JOIN WITH SCHOOL, STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE, OF COURSE, AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR GRADUATES. I DO WANT TO SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR TEAMS WHO WORK HARD, SO HARD TO MAKE THE GRADUATIONS HAPPEN. FROM OUR, SECURITY FROM OUR, SECURITY TEAM, SAFETY TEAM IN THE RED POLOS, IN BETWEEN GRADUATIONS, ALL THROUGHOUT, COMMUNICATIONS TEAM PRODUCING THE VIDEOS, PICTURES, WORKING EVERY SINGLE WORKING EVERY SINGLE GRADUATION. AND, OF COURSE, JENNIFER SPARANO. JENNIFER, IF YOU ARE LISTENING,
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SEASON. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AND THE WORK THAT GOES IN. AS YOU LOOK ACROSS GRADUATIONS THAT HAPPEN AND YOU WATCH THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OTHER STATES AND GRADUATIONS, YOU REALIZE WHAT A GREAT JOB WE DO IN GRADUATING STUDENTS AND PUTTING ON A CEREMONY THAT I PUT AGAINST ANY CEREMONY ANYWHERE ELSE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS THAT WE CREATE. AGAIN, IT ALL STARTS WITH OUR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL FOLKS THAT CREATE THE CLIMATE AND CULTURE AT THE SITES OF EXCELLENCE. I WANT TO THANK THEM. HOW ABOUT THE HOW ABOUT THE IMPACT?
YOU ALL KNOW WE STREAM ALL OF THESE. EACH YEAR WE LIVE STREAM THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES. FAMILIES WHO CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON CAN STILL BE A PART OF THE SPECIAL MOMENT. THIS YEAR'S REACH WAS INCREDIBLE. FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAD VIEWERS IN ALL 50 STATES AND RECORD BREAKING 118 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. THAT'S 13 MORE COUNTRIES THAN LAST YEAR THAT TUNED INTO THE LIVE STREAM AND WATCHED THE GRADUATIONS. FOR THE FIRST TIME WE REACHED EVERY CONTINENT, TRULY REMARKABLE.
ANTARCTICA, YES, AS WELL. WE'LL HAVE MS. ARJA PULL THE RECORD AND GET IT SENT. AS WE LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, INTERESTING, OUR GRADUATION CONTENT ALSO PERFORMED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. 1.8 MILLION VIEWS ON INSTAGRAM AND OVER 229,000 ON Facebook. AS OUR COMMS TEAM OUT TAKING PICTURES, INSTAGRAM WAS THE BIG WINNER OF PEOPLE LIKING AND
VIEWING THE INSTAGRAM FEED. 1.8 MILLION VIEWS. IT GOES TO THE PRIDE AND CULTURE THAT WE CREATE IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE FINISHED UP ON SATURDAY AT 3:00 WITH MR. WASHINGTON, MS. RENDON, AND MS. PEREZ AT BRANDON. THEN WE GO OVER TO MONDAY MORNING, WE HAD OUR SCHOOL LEADERS INSTITUTE. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR OPENING UP. WE HAD OUR PRINCIPALS AND AP FOR SECONDARY. MIDDLE AND HIGH. MONDAY AND TUESDAY. TOMORROW, WE'LL MEET AGAIN AT
8:00 FOR ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS AND APs. BOARD MEMBERS, MOST OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND AS WELL. BUT WE STARTED OUR SCHOOL LEADERS INSTITUTE WITH SECONDARY. NOW ELEMENTARY ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, SPECIAL THANKS TO GERMANY AND GAITHER TEAM FOR HOSTING US OVER THE FOUR DAYS. I WILL TELL YOU AND TO GIVE PROPS TO PROPS TO CHEZ McRAE, RICK GRAVES, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, THAT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING FOR SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS AS YOU LOOK AT THE ANALYZATION OF DATA WITH K-12 LIFT, THE LEARNING HAPPENING WITH PRINCIPALS AND
APs REALLY AND OUR MODEL OF INSTRUCTION, THE WORK THAT ACADEMIC SERVICES, WORKING TOGETHER WITH CHIEF OF SCHOOLS AND DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, OUR CABINET TEAM, WE WERE A PART OF IT FOR THE ENTIRE DAY ON MONDAY. WE'LL BE A PART OF IT ENTIRE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WE'VE DONE IN A LONG TIME. NICE WE DO IT RIGHT AS SCHOOL LET'S OUT. VERY FEW PRINCIPALS AND APs WEREN'T THERE. PACKED HOUSE. I EXPECT TOMORROW TO BE ANOTHER PACKED HOUSE FOR ELEMENTARY APs AND PRINCIPALS. MS. McRAE, MR. BRADY,
MS. McRAE, MR. BRADY, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, MR. GRAVES, THANK YOU. EXCELLENT SCHOOL LEADERS INSTITUTE. THE PICTURES THERE, WE DID HONOR OUR PRINCIPALS THAT HAD THEIR FIRST GRADUATION. ALWAYS SPECIAL. HONORED SCHOOL HONORED SCHOOL PRINCIPALS EITHER FIRST-EVER GRADUATION, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A PICTURE FOR THEM. TAKE THE PHOTO. GET IT MADE FOR THEM MONDAY MORNING AND PRESENT THEM TO THEM THEY CAN HAVE THE LIFELONG MEMORY OF FIRST-EVER GRADUATING CLASS. OTHER PICTURES THERE OF THE LEARNING TAKING PLACE THERE. IN ADDITION, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU
SAW THIS, I THINK ALL OF YOU WERE THERE ON MONDAY MORNING, BUT AS WE LOOK, WE TALK ABOUT ACCELERATION, THESE ARE OUR RESULTS RIGHT NOW -- NOT RESULTS, BUT PARTICIPATION. WE WILL GET RESULTS ON THESE FOR AP AND IB. IT WILL COME IN JULY. AP AND IB IN JULY. AICE GET THE RESULTS IN AUGUST. WE HAD AN INCREASE ON AP EXAMS AGAIN. 70% PASS RATE FROM LAST YEAR AND NUMBER OF EXAMS TAKEN. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU WERE CLEAR THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, ACCELERATED OPPORTUNITIES, THIS
STAFF AND SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS CONTINUE TO PUSH. WE HAD AN INCREASE OF AP EXAMS AGAIN BY AGAIN BY A THOUSAND. I DIDN'T THINK BASED ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBER COULD DO THAT. UP TO 30,000 AP EXAMS UP TO 30,000 AP EXAMS TAKEN, 29,000, ANOTHER 800 29,000, ANOTHER 800 COURSES IN DUAL ENROLLMENT. IB HAD AN INCREASE AS WELL. WE'LL GET THE RESULTS. AS PARTICIPATION GOES, AS WE LOOK AT NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING CREDIT, MORE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN PROVIDE TO
THEM. MR. BRADY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM CONTINUE TO EXCEL IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. I CONTINUE AS I MENTIONED ON MONDAY MORNING, VERY, VERY ENCOURAGED BY SOME OF OUR FAST ASSESSMENT RESULTS STARTING TO SEE COME IN. WE'LL HOLD TIGHT ON THOSE. WHEN THOSE RESULTS OFFICIALLY COME IN, WE'LL BE THERE TO CELEBRATE SOME OF THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR. FINALLY, LAST SLIDE, SUMMER READING CHALLENGE, THIS SUMMER, WE'RE INVITING OUR STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES TO BE PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250th BIRTHDAY THROUGH OUR READ, WHITE AND BLUE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE. SIMPLE IDEA WITH POWERFUL IMPACT. EVERY MINUTE SPENT READING HELPS BUILD STRONG HABITS BUILD STRONG HABITS THAT LAST A LIFETIME. ALL STUDENTS IN PRE-K THROUGH 12 ARE AUTOMATICALLY PART OF THE CHALLENGE. ALONG THE ALONG THE WAY, EXCITING INCENTIVES INCLUDING CHANCES TO WIN BACKPACKS AND SUPPORT SCHOOL
LIBRARIES AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS TO EARN A VISIT -- CHALLENGE MAY 25th THROUGH AUGUST 3rd. ENCOURAGE EVERY STUDENT TO STAY ENGAGED AND KEEP READING ALL SUMMER LONG. ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR GETS OFF, JUST LIKE OVER THE WINTER BREAK, WE'LL GO OUT AND BOARD MEMBERS YOU'LL JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING THE WINNERS OF OUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE. BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU. AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR ENTIRE STAFF, ALL 24,000 IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANYTIME YOU CAN GET THROUGH A SCHOOL
YEAR AND HAVE A PHENOMENAL SCHOOL YEAR AS WE DID IT COMES TO EVERYBODY IN THE ORGANIZATION WORKING TOGETHER. WE'VE HAD AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL YEAR AND COULDN'T BE PROUDER. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT. HOPE EVERYONE HAS A RESTFUL SUMMER AS WELL. BEFORE WE KNOW IT, WE'LL BE WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK. THANKING AGAIN, ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES FOR PHENOMENAL, TREMENDOUS SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES FOR THE GREAT UPDATE. NOW WE'LL BEGIN WITH BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. WE'LL START WITH MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM
VICE-CHAIR. WE'LL START WITH PABLO, WHO WILL HAVE A VIDEO. I WANTED TO ALSO, BEFORE WE SHOW THE VIDEO, WHICH IT MIGHT BE ON NOW, WE HAVE TO THANK NOW, WE HAVE TO THANK THE MULTILINGUAL LANGUAGE TEAM, MELISSA MELISSA MORGADO, CRISTINA FERNANDEZ AND JESSICA DE LA PREA, THEY DID PREA, THEY DID EXEMPLARY SHOWING AT THE COUNCIL AT THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS. THEY HIGHLIGHTED ALL OF THE
GAINS MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS HAVE GOTTEN. AND THEY WERE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. GO AHEAD, PABLO. >> >> LAST WEEK, BUYER CONFERENCE. I GOT A CHANCE TO I GOT A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESENTATION. AND IT WAS SO AMAZING. THE REASON IT WAS, HOW WE CONNECT TO PARENTS IS SO ESSENTIAL AND IMPORTANT. THE WAY THAT THEY SHARE THEIR
PROCESS, THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, THEY WELCOME FAMILIES IN THE WAY THEY UPLIFT PARENTS WAS A MOMENT THAT EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE REALLY CONNECTED WITH. I KNOW PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WOW, HOW ARE THEY DOING THIS? HOW ARE THEY GETTING PARENTS TO SHOW UP, TO BE THERE, ESPECIALLY IN MOMENTS AND TIMES LIKE WE ARE LIVING TODAY, MEANING THAT MANY OF THEM AREN'T AFRAID OF SHOWING UP BUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A
FAMILY CENTER THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES AND GIVES THEM THE COURAGE AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS AND SHOW UP WAS REALLY MAGNIFICENT. >>Lynn Gray: SO THANK YOU >>Lynn Gray: SO THANK YOU TO THAT GREAT TEAM. WE CAN STOP. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SUBJECT. THE GRADUATIONS, I THINK I DID THE MATH FOR YOU, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES. I THINK I DID THE MATH OF ALL THE HANDS YOU SHOOK. IT WAS
IT WAS ABOUT 14,000 HANDS FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT. WE THANKED THE BOARD MEMBERS, ALL OF US, DEDICATED TEACHERS, STAFF, PRINCIPALS, STAFF, PRINCIPALS, AND, OF COURSE, THE PARENTS, LOVING PARENTS, WHAT A GREAT PARENTS, WHAT A GREAT SUCCESS. IT'S EMBLEMATIC AGAIN MAKING OUR DISTRICT STAND OUT AS A WONDERFUL SUPPORTIVE STUDENT-CENTERED DISTRICT. I ALSO WANT TO I ALSO WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL THANKS AND MEMBER VICE-CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, I WAS WONDERING
IF WE SHOULD GET A LITTLE GIFT FOR JENNIFER SPARANO BECAUSE SHE REALLY PUT FORTH ONE HECK OF AN EFFORT AND ORGANIZED US. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT. ALSO, THE NEXT ONE, SLIDES, PABLO, SHAKE PABLO, SHAKE WASHINGTON, MYSELF, CASEY GONZMART, A FORMER STUDENT OF MINE AND THIS WONDERFUL OF MINE AND THIS WONDERFUL GROUP CEO SPONSORS
CEO SPONSORS -- THIS IS CASEY SHOWING HOW TO CUT A CHICKEN. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG PIECE OF CHICKEN. HE IS A RESTAURANTEUR GONZMART. HE'S SHOWING HOW TO DO THIS. I THOUGHT IT WAS MOST CURIOUS. I TOOK A LITTLE VIDEO OF IT. WE HAD A WHOLE VARIETY WE HAD A WHOLE VARIETY HERE. SHAKE, WE HAD A GREAT TIME, DIDN'T WE? >>Henry "Shake" Washington: FOOD WAS DELICIOUS. >>Lynn Gray: WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE WE MENTION THE OAK PARK PRINCIPAL MR. FELDER AND THE LIFE COACH STUDENT LIFE COACH STUDENT MENTOR MS. BARNS AND HER SON OAK PARK MENTOR AND FORMER NONE MENTOR AND FORMER NONE OTHER THAN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JAKE RUSSELL AND -- OH, PRINCIPAL MAHDI CAME ALSO AND -- PRINCIPAL MOODY CAME AND JOINED US. SUPERINTENDENT VAN SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES CAME. HE POPPED IN. THEN WE HAD THE OAK PARK LIBRARIAN.
IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL EVENT. NEXT, WE WANT TO THANK THE HILLSBOROUGH BAR ASSOCIATION. I KNOW THAT SHAKE AND MEMBER RENDON WERE RENDON WERE THERE AND ALSO -- ONE OTHER BOARD MEMBER. NADIA COMBS, YES. WE HAD THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WONDERFUL ARTWORK, ROLAND PARK, PLANT
CITY, BLOOMINGDALE, ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL AND STEINBRENNER AND ALSO WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST FAMED GALS, CLAIRE REYNOLDS HAD GOTTEN THE LIBERTY THE LIBERTY BELL AWARD WAS GIVEN BY THE CEO -- HE OR SHE THE CEO OF THE OF THE CRISIS CENTER. VERY HAPPY GOT WELL DESERVED AWARD. MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT OUR GRADUATIONS. I THINK THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR DOING GRADUATIONS, AND THIS HAS BY FAR BEEN THE SMOOTHEST. THANK YOU TO THE HARD WORK OF EVERYONE, JENNIFER SPARANO. IT'S SO INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EXCITED THE KIDS WERE THIS YEAR. HOW EVERY SCHOOL A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE BUT THEN THERE ARE SOME THINGS JUST GENERALLY UNIVERSAL TO ALL KIDS KIND OF GOING THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE. BEING ABLE TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST. I WAS EXCITED BECAUSE, I THINK
PABLO HAS A PICTURE, ONE PABLO HAS A PICTURE, ONE OF MY STUDENT COUNCIL STUDENTS ACTUALLY GRADUATED. THERE HE IS. CHRISTOPHER ARTIZ FROM GAITHER. AGAIN, HE WAS ON MY STUDENT COUNCIL AND GAVE REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK. IT WAS EXCITING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH HIM AND SHARE THAT, ALL OF THE GRADUATIONS WERE JUST SO EXCITED. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND TO THE STUDENTS AND JUST TO EVERYONE WHO MAKES THAT EVENT SO MEANINGFUL AND SO EASY AND SO MUCH FUN. THANKYOU FOR THAT.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THAT JUNE IS THE START OF PRIDE MONTH. I WANT TO SAY HAPPY PRIDE TO EVERYONE. AND AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES IS BEING ABLE TO IS BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE BOARDROOM AND GET INTO OUR SCHOOLS TO LISTEN DIRECTLY TO OUR STUDENTS. LAST MONTH I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING WITH ONE OF OUR GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES AND SPEAKING FACE TO FACE WITH SOME OF THE OF THE REMARKABLE LGBTQ+ STUDENTS AND HEARING THEIR
STORIES FIRST HAND WAS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF WHY THE WORK WE DO MATTERS SO MUCH. THEY SHARED WITH ME JUST HOW VITAL THE GSA CLUB IS TO THEIR DAILY LIVES. FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE CLUB ISN'T JUST AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY, IT IS ACTUALLY A LIFELINE. A SPACE WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO HIDE WHO THEY ARE. THEY FEEL AN IMMEDIATE SENSE OF BELONGING AND WHERE THEY FIND A COMMUNITY THAT GENUINELY LIFTS THEM UP. WE AS BOARD MEMBERS AND DISTRICT STAFF, WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN
STUDENTS FEEL SEEN, SAFE, AND SUPPORTED, IT COMPLETELY CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. GSA CLUBS THE FOUNDATION OF SAFETY AND ACCEPTANCE. EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS DESERVES TO KNOW THAT THEY BELONG HERE, THAT THEY ARE VALUED, AND THAT THEIR VOICE MATTERS. SO AS SOME OF US CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH, LET'S REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING INCLUSIVE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ALL
ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ALL OF OUR LGBTQ+ YOUTH, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR EMPLOYEES CAN THRIVE AND FEEL VALUED. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND HAPPY PRIDE. JUST AS WE CLOSE OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, HOW MUCH EXCITEMENT HAS BEEN GOING BEEN GOING ON. SO GREAT TO SEE THROUGH THE MAGIC OF SOCIAL MEDIA SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES SAYING GOOD-BYE AND GOING ON TO NEXT STAGES OF THEIR CAREER, THEIR CAREER, RETIRING. NEW EMPLOYEES JOINING, FAMILIES CELEBRATING, EACH MILESTONE, IT'S NEVER ENDING EXCITEMENT. BEEN A WHIRLWIND. I HOPE WE CAN TAKE A MOMENT TO
BREATHE, GO INTO THE SUMMER, MAYBE REJUVENATE, RELAX A LITTLE BIT, HAVE SOME TIME AND COME BACK FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. BEFORE I START, I WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR YOUR ACTION, QUICK REACTION ON THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT BARRINGTON. WE REALIZE IT'S NOT THE WE REALIZE IT'S NOT THE PROPER WAY TO HANDLE ANY
WAY TO HANDLE ANY SITUATION AT A SCHOOL. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. YOU GOT ON TOP OF YOU GOT ON TOP OF IT. ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR GETTING ON TOP OF THAT. I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO TELL I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I WANT TO TELL YOUR CABINET, YOU DO A GREAT JOB. MANY TIMES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK BECAUSE THEY NEVER SAT IN YOUR SEAT BEFORE. IT'S SO EASY TO CRITICIZE SOMEBODY WHEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE. BUT WHEN YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT THE JOB IS YOU DO EVERY DAY, SUPERINTENDENT
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I REALLY DO. I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND THE CABINET HARD WORK. I WANT TO TELL MR. I WANT TO TELL MR. GRAVES, TOO, WHEN YOU ARE THE -- WHEN YOU ARE THE -- AT THE LEADERSHIP. REALLY. IT WAS MEMORABLE. IT REALLY WAS NICE. IT WAS NICE. THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION, TOO, MAN. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. YOU ALL REALLY DID.
IT WAS GREAT, GREAT. AND THE LEADERSHIP, IT WAS GREAT THERE THAT MORNING. WE ENJOYED IT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ROSS ANDERSON. HE WAS RECOGNIZED BIG SISTERS -- BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTER HALL OF FAME FAME RECOGNITION. ROSS ANDERSON DOES A GREAT JOB IN THIS DISTRICT. HE REALLY DOES. HE IS A HARD HE IS A HARD WORKER. HE REALLY WORKS HARD AND HE DESERVES THAT. LOOK WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE MEN OF VISION.
NOW IT'S PAYING OFF. YOU DON'T REALIZE MANY TIMES YOU START OFF WITH FAILURE, BUT LATER ON IN LIFE IT BECOMES GREAT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH ROSS. HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB. THEN WE GO BACK TO THE OAK PARK BOYS CLUB AT THE COLUMBIA. WE ENJOY THAT. IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS REALLY NICE. THE KIDS, THE KIDS ARE REALLY EXCITED AT EXCITED AT COLUMBIA RESTAURANT AND THAT GIFT THEY GAVE, POKEMON.
OH, YEAH, THEY LOVE OH, YEAH, THEY LOVE THAT. THEY TRADE CARDS OFF. AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE GIFTS THEY REALLY LOVE THAT. ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OVER AT AT SHEEHY, THEY HAVE A VOLUNTEER UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IFAS EXTENSION OFFICE. WISH TO THANK THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE
ROLE YOU PLAYED IN REBUILDING THE RAISED GARDEN BEDS AND INSTALLING INSTALLING IRRIGATION FOR INSTALLING IRRIGATION FOR DR. BAKARE SCIENCE LEARNING PROJECT AT SHEEHY. THE KIDS ARE THE KIDS ARE EATING THEIR OWN FOOD. IT IS REALLY UNIQUE. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. THANK YOU. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE DID HAVE A GREAT GRADUATION. WE REALLY DID. EVERYBODY WAS SO EXCITED. HOW MANY YOU SAID, 14,000? OVER 14,000. PEOPLE COULD CRITICIZE ALL THEY
WANT TO. THAT'S 14,000 STUDENTS THAT REALLY DID A REALLY DID A GREAT JOB IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. ANOTHER 14, PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE OUR GRADUATION RATE CONTINUES TO GO CONTINUES TO GO UP. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WE ALL ARE MAKING HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. YOUR STAFF, TEACHERS, THE BOARD, WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND KIDS AND DO THE BEST WE CAN DO. SO THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I'LL BE CLOSING OUT REAL QUICKLY. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR THE GRADUATION. IT WAS AMAZING. THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOR ALL THE CLAP-OUTS. I WENT TO A BUNCH OF CLAP-OUTS WE WENT TO. AMAZING, CITRUS PARK AND BEYOND. EIGHTH GRADE GRADUATIONS THAT I WENT TO AND THEN CELEBRATION. AND THANK YOU MS. SPARANO AND ALSO THE SECURITY STAFF.
LIEUTENANT DELGADO AND SERGEANT SWEET WHO LED THAT. SO MUCH GOING ON AT THE STADIUM -- SORRY, THE FAIRGROUNDS, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SECURITY, EVERYTHING WENT SO SMOOTHLY. PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING IN AT ONE TIME AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GOING OUT ANOTHER TIME AND MAKING SURE IT IS A SAFE AND SECURE EXPERIENCE AND POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY HUGE AND JUST A GREAT JOB. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS HOPEFULLY THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT
THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED IN EVERY SCHOOL AT LEAST ONE, FIVE, SIX STUDENTS DIDN'T GET TO WALK BECAUSE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. HB 1105, THERE ARE KIDS STILL TRYING TO TAKE THAT TEST AND THEY ARE WORKING ON IT THIS SUMMER. AND THEY DIDN'T GET TO WALK WITH THEIR CLASSMATES. I EVEN HAD A STUDENT CALL ME, PARENT CALL ME FROM ONE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS WHERE THE GIRL HAD ORDERED EVERYTHING AND SHE WAS JUST -- HER MOM SENT ME HER
DIPLOMA WITH TEARS ALL OVER IT. I ALSO HAD THE I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO GO TO A GREAT GRADUATION AT TAMPA CATHOLIC. I DID THINK TO MYSELF, LIKE, THOSE KIDS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT EXAM. AND THEY GET TO WALK ACROSS. HOW IS THAT FAIR? THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL, I THINK AT JEFFERSON WHO HAD LIKE AT JEFFERSON WHO HAD LIKE A 7.1 GPA, DID ALL HER HOURS, HAD GREAT ATTENDANCE, EVERYTHING WAS GREAT, BUT SHE JUST COULD NOT PASS THAT READING TEST BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN HERE FOR TWO YEARS AND ENGLISH WASN'T HER FIRST
LANGUAGE AND WE COULDN'T DO A DIPLOMA. HOW IS THAT FAIR THAT SHE COULD NOT NOT WALK NOT NOT WALK ACROSS. CERTIFICATES -- SHE COULD NOT WALK ACROSS. THE CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. UNFAIR. TAXPAYER MONEY GO TO ONE AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK AND THEN TAXPAYER MONEY ANOTHER PLACE AND NOT BE ABLE TO WALK. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, STREAMLINE IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS BECAUSE THEN IT'S UNFAIR. IF YOU ARE GOING TO STOP SOMEONE FROM GRADUATING, THEN STOP EVERYONE, DON'T JUST CHOOSE A FEW KIDS.
IT BREAKS MY HEART, ONE SCHOOL HAD FIVE STUDENTS AND PEOPLE DON'T THINK IT MATTERS UNTIL YOU ARE THAT CHILD WHO DOESN'T WALK ACROSS. SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE THE ONLY TIME THEY GET TO WALK ACROSS THAT STAGE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK WITH THEIR CLASSMATES IS JUST SUCH A DISSERVICE. I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING THAT AND PRIORITIZING THAT. SAD THAT IT STARTED HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND IT'S IMPACTING KIDS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I THINK IT'S REALLY -- IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT, HAVE ANOTHER PLAN AFTER THAT. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR DOING
SUCH A GREAT JOB AT GRADUATIONS AND FOR YOUR CABINET AND ALL THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND EVERYONE. YOUR FORMER YOUR FORMER PRINCIPALS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHO SCHOOLS WHO COME, IT'S JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU. IT'S LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AND WE HAD ALL THE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS ALREADY THERE, EXCITED TO WORK. TOMORROW, WE HAVE THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM, THIS IS THE TIME. THEY NEVER TAKE TIME OFF.
THEY JUST GET TIME TO LOOK AT THEIR DATA AND NOW THEY ARE MOVING ON LOOKING AT THE NEXT DATA HIRING POSITIONS. CAN'T THANK THOSE PEOPLE ENOUGH WHO WORK YEAR ROUND. I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A GREAT SUMMER. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]