>> CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS INCLUDING CHILDREN STARTING WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. >> I'M KAREN PEREZ, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN OUR AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 20,000 PEOPLE WORKING ACROSS 250 SITES ACROSS THE
THE COUNTY. SPEAK . >> OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4:00 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND
FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV 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 INTEREST INTERESTED IN WHEN ABOUT 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. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD MEETING OF JULY 8, 2025, IS CALL TODAY ORDER.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS A BOARD MEMBER AND LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER I'M DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF 107 LIVES IN TEXAS FLOOD ON JULY 4th. AS A PARENT WHO HAS SENT MY CHILDREN TO ENJOY SUMMER CAMPS, AND I UNDERSTAND MEMBER RENDON AS WELL, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES AFFECTED BY THIS DEVASTATING EVENT.
IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY AND HARDSHIP, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE STRENGTH AND SUPPORT THAT CAN COME FROM COMMUNITIES NEAR AND FAR. JUST AS OUR OWN COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA HAS FELT THE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY SHOWN BY OTHERS ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES. LET US CONTINUE TO STAND TOGETHER. OFFERING COMPASSION, EMPATHY, AND ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED. AS WE NAVIGATE THESE AS WE NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGING TIMES TOGETHER. AND AS WE COME TOGETHER TODAY,
PLEASE LET US TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN TEXAS. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. (PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE)
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. WE HAVE ONE WITHDRAWN ITEM TODAY, 503, STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. AND I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT
THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, JUNE 17, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND 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 THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. AND IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE BACK IN THE QUEUE. BEMPER PEREZ BEMPER PEREZ WILL READ BEMPER PEREZ WILL READ THE
BEMPER PEREZ WILL READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Karen Perez: LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF THE 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 CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM AND ALSO WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Jessica Vaughn: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED
ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AT 6:00 P.M. THAT'S EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. 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 AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THESE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE YOU'D LIKE AND YOU'LL NOT BE YOU'LL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED
TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND WE REQUEST THAT YOU FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST I'LL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS.
>> MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE. LEWIS VIERA OBVIOUSLY ON TAMPA CITY COUNCIL. PARDON MY VOICE. I WAS GETTING OVER A COLD AND FOR MOST MEN COLDS ARE DEVASTATING EXPERIENCES AND THAT WAS TRUE FOR ME, SO THERE YOU GO, RIGHT? I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT STRONGLY AN EFFORT SPEAR-HEADED BY BOARD MEMBER WASHINGTON TO RENAME THE AUDITORIUM AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AFTER A LATE WONDERFUL LATE WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE, COUNSELWOMAN GWEN HENDERSON WHO PASSED ON NOT TOO LONG AGO.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING WITH HER FOR SOME TIME AND SHE WAS A WOMAN OF GREAT PASSION AND A STRONG LEADER AND SHE WORE A LOT OF HATS. ONE OF THE TOP HATS SHE WORE WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SHE LOVED OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY WERE A PLACE WHERE KIDS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS NO MATTER YOUR INCOME, NO MATTER YOUR FAITH OR WHERE YOU COME FROM OR WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK YOU CAN GET A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THAT'S WHAT SHE BELIEVED IN. SHE WAS A BIG BELIEVER IN OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUITY FOR
PEOPLE. SHE WORE A LOT OF HATS. IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCES SHE HAD. SHE WAS A BIG CHAMPION OF OUR BLACK HISTORY, HER BLACK ENGLISH BOOKSTORE AND NORD HISTORY AND CARVER CITY AND IN TAMPA WHERE A LOT OF RETURNING AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS CAME HOME TO RAISE FAMILIES LIKE THE HENDERSON FAMILY. BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST HATS SHE WORE WAS BEING A VERY PROUD JEFFERSON DRAGON ALONG WITH OUR FRIEND CHARLIE MIRANDA WHO IS HERE. WE HAD A LOT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS,
MEMBERS, CAPINE, MEMBERS, CAPINE, SUAREZ, HENDERSON. MY DAD WENT TO OLD JEFFERSON FOR SIX MONTHS WHEN HE CAME HERE FROM CUBA IN 1960. THIS IS A FITTING TRIBUTE FOR HER BECAUSE OF OUR PUBLIC HER BECAUSE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HER CHAMPIONING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CHILDREN AND ALWAYS -- I MEAN, ANY TIME SOMEBODY WENT TO THE MICROPHONE AND SPOKE ABOUT JEFFERSON, YOU WOULD GET A SHOUTOUT AND I EMPHASIZE THE WORD SHOUT. A SHOUTOUT FROM COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON BECAUSE SHE LOVED BEING A JEFFERSON DRAGON.
I'D URGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT. I KNOW ALL Y'ALL GOT GOOD HEARTS SO I KNOW THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR A VERY GOOD WOMAN. SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND GOD BLESS YOUR TIME AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHARLIE MIRANDA, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. I WANT TO THANK ALL SEVEN OF YOU FOR MAKING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE THROUGH EDUCATION. GWEN HENDERSON HAD THE SAME THING IN MIND. NOT YESTERDAY BUT EVERY DAY.
SHE WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS THROUGH HER YEARS OF BEING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION WERE THE BEST THEY CAN BE WHEN THEY LEFT SCHOOL. HOWEVER, IN MY 31 YEARS ON AND OFF OF COUNSEL I CAN TELL YOU ANOTHER THING. SHE WAS THE -- COUNCIL. SHE WAS THE BEST SHE WAS THE BEST PREPARED COUNCIL MEMBER ON HER FIRST YEAR THAN ANYONE I WORKED WITH, INCLUDING MYSELF. SHE WAS SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH. SHE HAD A FEELING ABOUT LIFE. ABOUT TEACHING THE KIDS NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM OR WHAT COLOR OR WEIGHT OR HEIGHT,
TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE AND NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HER. SHE WAS A NATURAL BORN EDUCATOR THAT TRIED TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR NOT ONLY THOSE KIDS BUT FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. SHE HAD A FEELING IN LIFE. IN FACT, THE FIRST YEAR SHE WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE CEA. THAT'S EIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY THAT SHARE THE REVENUE TO MAKE IT BETTER THAN WHEN THE MONEY CAME IN FOR THEM. SHE WAS WELL VERSED AND I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT TO MY LEFT, THE
BIGGEST DRAGON AROUND. RIGHT, MR. AYRES? THANK YOU FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE. THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE THE AUDITORIUM, I HOPE IT PASSES. I CAN SEE BY THE SMILES ON YOUR FACES, IT HAS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE. I REMEMBER MOST -- I REMEMBER MOST WHAT PEOPLE DON'T SAY THAN WHAT THEY SAY. AND THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER MOST BEING A DRAGON IS WHAT YOU SAY WITH YOUR MOUTH AND SAY WITH YOUR BODY, AND YOUR BODY LANGUAGE TELLS ME IT'S A DONE DEAL. I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON YOU BUT HERE IT IS, I WANT TO THANK YOUR FINE ATTORNEY
MR. PORTER AND YOUR STAFF. YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> MARK >> MARK KLUTHO LARGO. YOUR AGENDA USED TO BE, LIKE, THE THE PINELLAS.
HERE YOU GET THE FIGURES. IT IT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH IT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH THE THINGS ARE THAT YOU LIKE TO KEEP ARE THAT YOU LIKE TO KEEP THEM IN THE DARK. AND AND WHAT AND WHAT A JOKE AND WHAT A JOKE YOUR AND WHAT A JOKE YOUR CARING ABOUT THE ABOUT THE CALAMITY IN TEXAS. WHAT CAUSED EXTREME RAINFALL
FLOODING IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY FLOODING IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY. WELL, YOU BUILDING YOUR WELL, YOU BUILDING YOUR SCHOOLS THE WAY YOU DO. THAT'S WHAT DOES IT. SAYS HERE, WATERS IN THE GULF ARE OFTEN THREE, FOUR, FIVE DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL. AT ONE POINT THIS YEAR, SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN THE GULF OF TEXAS AND LOUISIANA OF TEXAS AND LOUISIANA WERE MORE THAN EIGHT DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
AS HAS BEEN SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN. EVENT AFTER EVENT, CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE LEADING TO CHANGE IS THE LEADING TO WETTER, MORE EXTREME MORE EXTREME PRECIPITATION MORE EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS. OH, OH, THINK ABOUT MILTON. YEAH. WELL, SEE, WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR WELL, SEE, WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR STUPID BUILDINGS, THEY BELCH MORE CARBON INTO THE MORE CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THESE EVENTS.
AND OF COURSE HERE YOU ARE ALL WEARING COATS WHEN WE HAVE A HEAT HEAT INDEX OVER 100 HEAT INDEX OVER 100 DEGREES, AND YOU BUY MORE YOU BUY MORE AIR CONDITIONING TO BE COMFORTABLE. AND THE CARBON IS BELCHED INTO AND THE CARBON IS BELCHED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. HOW STUPID IS THAT. SO SAD.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE THE LIKE THE MANATEES DYING. CAUSE AND EFFECT. A CORRELATION. THE ONLY WAY YOUR SCHOOL BUILDING SHOULD LOOK IS LIKE THESE BUILDINGS HERE. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY. YOU GO OVER TO THE MEDITERRANEAN, YOU WON'T SEE OTHER BUILDINGS LOOKING OTHER THAN THIS.
BOY, YOU PEOPLE ARE STUPID. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE DANLEY AND HENDERSON FAMILY. MY NAME IS VELDA MY NAME IS VELDA HENDERSON AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. A GRADUATE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY SCHOOLS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY I'M THE SISTER OF
THE SISTER OF GWEN HENDSERSON. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT WHY IN GRUWEN'S IN GRUWEN'S HONOR. IT'S A FITTING TRIBUTE TO IT'S A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HER EXTRAORDINARY AND THE BROADER TAMPA AREA. I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO FIVE COMPELLING REASONS WHY THIS RECOGNITION IS SO WELL DESERVED. A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION OF EDUCATION. FOR 25 YEARS GWEN DEDICATED HERSELF TO SHAPING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS STUDENTS AT JEFFERSON. SHE WASN'T JUST A TEACHER.
SHE WAS A MENTOR, ADVISOR, ADVOCATE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. HER IMPACT WENT FAR BEYOND ACADEMICS, CREATING A PROFOUND AND LASTING INFLUENCE. CULTURALLY AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. GWEN WAS A CHAMPION FOR CULTURAL PRIDE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SHE FOUNDED THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CLUB AND THE NATURALLY AWARE PROUD AND STRONG GIRL EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION. EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO EMBRACE THEIR HERITAGE AND ENVISION
BETTER FUTURES. IMPACT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. SHE LED INITIATIVES LIKE THE MR. AND MS. JEFFERSON SCHOLARSHIP PANGANT, NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY AND FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL IN EXTRACURRICULAR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS. HER LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS. GWEN'S DEEP CONNECTIONS WITH THE STUDENTS ENDURED LONG AFTER GRADUATION. SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR THEM. WHETHER OFFERING ASSISTANCE,
ATTENDING LIFE ATTENDING LIFE MILESTONES OR PROVIDING GUIDANCE. HER TOUGH LOVE CALLING WHEN THEY DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THEIR POTENTIAL BECAME A TERM OF ENDEARMENT AND HER MENTORSHIP CONTINUED TO SHAPE THEIR LIVES. A TRUE DRAGON AT HEART. THE MOTTO ONCE A DRAGON, ALWAYS A DRAGON, WAS MORE THAN A PHRASE TO GWEN. IT WAS A REFLECTION OF HER DEEP CONNECTION TO JEFFERSON WHEN THE 2010 VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM WON THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY HONORED HER WITH THE
CHAMPIONSHIP RING SYMBOLIZING HOW SHE WAS PACTED EVERY ASPECT OF STUDENT LIFE. RENAMING THE AUDITORIUM RENAMING THE AUDITORIUM AFTER HER WOULD NOT ONLY HONOR HER DECADES OF SERVICE BUT ALSO SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO STUDENTS THAT THEIR POTENTIAL IS LIMITLESS. IT WOULD SERVE AS A LASTING REMINDER THAT THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, DEDICATION, AND EMPOWERMENT SHE INSTILLED IN THE JEFFERSON COMMUNITY LIVES ON WITHIN THOSE VERY WALLS WHERE SHE SERVED. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE MOTION
TO RENAME THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AFTER OUR BELOVED GUWENDLYN GWEN HENDERSON. [APPLAUSE] >>Jessica Vaughn: I'LL CALL UP SPEAKERS 7 TO 11. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. SUPERINTENDENT, ONCE AGAIN, SUPERINTENDENT, ONCE AGAIN, I'M TINA WILLIAMS TINA WILLIAMS BRUSTER AND VERY FAMILIAR WITH MS. HARRIS AND I'M A DRAGON MOM
A DRAGON MOM TIMES THREE. SHE WAS IN HONOR OF HER, I'D LIKE TO ALSO APPROVE OF THEM DOING RIGHT BY MS. HENDERSON. YOU MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS LIKED HER APPROACH BUT ONE THING I CAN HONESTLY SAY ABOUT MS. MS. HENDERSON, SHE LOVED STUDENTS AND SHE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE HER THAT CHOSE STUDENTS ALWAYS CAME FIRST WHICH LEADS ME INTO WHAT I'M SAYING. AS WE AS WE BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I HOPE THAT WE REMEMBER OUR ESE REMEMBER OUR ESE STUDENTS.
OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO COME UP HERE AND WORK EXTRA HARD TO MAKE THEIR SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN GET CHILDREN GET SERVICES THEY NEED. NOT SERVICES THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO BUT ENTITLED TO BUT SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. SO THIS YEAR I, YOU KNOW, AWARE THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHANGES IN GAITHER AND I'LL BE HOLDING YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE. SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF ME. I'M PROUD TO SAY I'M A GRANDMOM NOW. SO GET READY. IF YOU THINK I WAS CRAZY ABOUT
MY KIDS, WAIT UNTIL MY KIDS, WAIT UNTIL GRANDMAW COMES THROUGH. SO I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUT I WANTED TO MAKE A SHOUTOUT WANTED TO MAKE A SHOUTOUT THAT OUR ESE PARENTS AND 504 PARENTS, OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED. I HAVE GOD CHILDREN. I'M STILL AROUND. BLAKE NEEDS SOME WORK. WE GOT TO DO SOME WORK SO IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF ME, I'M GOING -- ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS, WE'RE COMING FOR YOU. THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, THEY'RE NOT AS NICE. LET'S DO BETTER BY OUR STUDENTS. THEY THEY DESERVE IT.
IF YOU'RE FEELING SOME TYPE OF WAY ABOUT STUDENTS, ASK YOURSELF, WHY DID YOU GET INTO EDUCATION. IF YOU CAN HONESTLY SAY IT'S TO EARN A PAYCHECK, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG FIELD. IT'S STUDENTS FIRST. EVERY STEP WE MAKE SHOULD BE ABOUT STUDENTS. PARENTS ARE NOT YOUR ENEMIES. WE'RE HERE TO BE PARTNERS. IF YOU HAVE A PARENT LIKE ME AND CAN'T STAND THEM, TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE BACK AND SEE WHAT ARE THE ISSUES YOU HAVEN'T YOU HAVEN'T ADDRESSED. WHAT'S THE WHY. LET'S BE PARTNERS AND NOT ENEMIES.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE LIKE THAT. WE GIVE YOU OUR BEST WE GIVE YOU OUR BEST -- OUR BEST. WE JUST WANT THE BEST AND IF YOU DO YOUR JOBS, WITH FIDELITY AND PROFESSIONALISM, THEN WE'LL BE PARTNERS. BUT REALLY, I WANT TO STRESS TO BUT REALLY, I WANT TO STRESS TO ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW COMING YEAR, PARENTS ARE PEOPLE TOO. DON'T IGNORE THEIR STUDENT ISSUES. ANOTHER ISSUE I'M GOING TO BE REALLY LOOKING AT IS BULLYING. WE'VE GOT TO STAND UP. OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING BULLIED
AND THIS ZERO POLICY, IT'S NOT BEING EFFECTIVE. I SIT ON A LOT OF BOARDS. BULLYING, WE GOT TO DO BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO BULLYING. NOT NOT THE VICTIM'S FAULT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> ALLEN BRUSTER, GOOD >> ALLEN BRUSTER, GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE BEEN
COMING HERE A WHILE COMING HERE A WHILE TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP ABOUT LEADERSHIP. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LEADERSHIP. PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARENTS. PUTTING THE STUDENTS FIRST. I REALLY BELIEVE THE STUDENT SHOULD HAVE A VOICE. THEY SHOULD HAVE A THEY SHOULD HAVE A PLATFORM. THE -- THEY VOICE THEIR CONCERNS. THE ISSUES GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS. A LOT OF SCHOOLS, THE STUDENTS CAN'T GO TO THE CAN'T GO TO THE PRINCIPAL. THEY CAN'T. THE PRINCIPAL DOESN'T LISTEN.
THEY'RE NOT LISTENING. NOW I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE. WE'VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS. WE'VE BEEN TO EIGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. EIGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND ALL OF THOSE EIGHT SCHOOLS, WE'VE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. AND WE COME HERE, MY WIFE AND I, TO ADVOCATE, TO BE A VOICE, TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID TO COME HERE. TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO SAY, WE SAID SOMETHING, AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICS AT GAITHER. A LOT OF POLITICS.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PARENTS AT GAITHER, AND THEY SAY, WE VOICED OUR CONCERNS AND VOICED OUR CONCERNS AND NOTHING WAS DONE. AND I'M SAYING THIS FOR THE NEW AND I'M SAYING THIS FOR THE NEW PRINCIPAL. HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE STUDENT-CENTERED. PARENT-CENTERED. INNOVATIVE. AND COME UP WITH SOME ROBUST PROGRAMS. AND I'VE BEEN AND I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR AND I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR
STUDENTS HAVING PRIORITY IN THEIR SCHOOL. I'VE ADVOCATED FOR MAYBE ON A FRIDAY, THE STUDENTS HAVE -- THEY WEAR THEIR GAITHER SHIRTS TO SHOW THEIR PRIDE IN SHIRTS TO SHOW THEIR PRIDE IN GAITHER. UNITY. I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A COMMUNITY CLEANUP WITH THE SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IF YOU DON'T BUILD THESE THINGS IN THE SCHOOL, WHY WOULD THE STUDENTS WANT TO COME AND TALK WANT TO COME AND TALK TO THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT ISSUES IN THE BUILDING.
THERE ARE ISSUES THERE. I'VE SEEN STUDENTS HANGING OUT AT BOB EVANS. THERE IS BOB EVANS NO LONGER THERE. THEY'RE TURNING IT INTO A VETERINARIAN. THEY'RE HANGING OUT THERE. THEY'RE HANGING OUT AT MCDONALDS. IF THEY DON'T -- THE SCHOOL DOESN'T GET OUT AND THE ADMINISTRATORS DON'T GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE THIS. WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL, YOU COULDN'T GO TO THE MALL BETWEEN 8:00 TO 4:00.
YOU COULDN'T GO IN NO BUSINESS BETWEEN THOSE HOURS. YOU HAVE STUDENTS ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN HILLSBOROUGH, NOT ALL THE WAY, BUT HANGING OUT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT. I'M ONLY HERE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF BECAUSE HOPEFULLY I CAN MEET WITH YOU
MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY. MY NAME IS MY NAME IS MY NAME IS SYLVIO MY NAME IS SYLVIO DELGADO. I'M SOMEONE RAISED IN FLORIDA AND GREW UP IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WENT TO JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL AND HAD MS. GRAY, BOARD MEMBER LYNN GRAY. IT SOUNDS WEIRD CALLING HER LYNN BECAUSE I CALLED HER MS. GRAY AS A TEACHER OF MINE WHERE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT SO I'M USED TO FACING THE LARGE CROWD AND NOT THE SMALL CROWD. I'M GOING TO FACE THIS WAY. I WANTED TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF AND CONGRATULATE YOU ALL AND WE'LL GET TO THOSE THINGS LATER.
I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. ANY GATORS? OKAY. AND THEN I WENT TO BE A TEACHER IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, WHERE I TAUGHT DUAL LANGUAGE MATH FOR SEVERAL YEARS SPEAKING IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A CLASSROOM WHERE WE HAD OUR MOTTO ON THE WALL MUCH LIKE YOU HAVE IN THIS SPACE AND ON ONE OF THE WALLS IT SAID THE WALLS IT SAID IMPOSSIBLE IS THE WALLS IT SAID IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING AND THE OTHER SAID CI SE CI SE PUEDO. AND THEY'D DO THIS.
I'LL ASK ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE I'LL ASK ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE NOW I'LL TURN AROUND AND RAISE OUR HANDS IF WE CAN AND WE'RE ABLE AND SHAKE THEM A LITTLE BIT. OH, MY GOSH. THERE IS SO MANY PARTICIPANTS. I LOVE IT. THE REASON I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE WE'RE SO FORTUNATE AND BLESSED TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE WE CAN ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT IS EDUCATION. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A TEACHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR FOR ANOTHER SEVERAL YEARS AND IN THAT TIME I GOT TO ENGAGE WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES LIKE YOU ALL GET TO DO LIKE ALL OF US GET TO DO.
AND I HAD US RAISE OUR HANDS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S PASSION THAT BRINGS US INTO THIS SPACE. IT'S PASSION THAT BRINGS INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CLASSROOM SPACE WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL IS FIVE YEARS OLD OR A FIVE YEARS OLD OR A CHICIOTE OF MUCH MORE YEARS BEING THE TEACHER IN THE ROOM, IT'S PASSION THAT BRINGS US INTO THE SPACE AND IT'S IN THAT SPIRIT I SPEAK WITH YOU. I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK WITH A WITH A -- COMPANY CALLED "I
TEACH" AND GIVES THEM AN TEACH" AND GIVES THEM AN ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATE PATHWAY. AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET YOU ALL AND FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN MET WITH OTHER FOLKS IN THIS COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE AS AN OFFERING HERE IN THIS STATE. DON'T WORRY. E-MAILS WILL COME TO EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY. I WANTED YOU TO HAVE A FACE TO THE NAME SO WHEN YOUR E-MAIL BOXES HAVE MY NAME AND E-MAIL YOU KNOW WHO IS REACHING OUT TO YOU AND MY STORY. THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU IN
ADVANCE FOR READING THAT E-MAIL AND THE CONVERSATIONS I HOPE I GET TO HAVE WITH EACH OF YOU. AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO EVERYONE OUT HERE FOR THE CONVERSATIONS I MIGHT GET TO HAVE WITH EACH OF YOU ABOUT THE PASSION THAT FOLKS GET TO BRING INTO THE CLASSROOM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> HI. MY NAME IS KAREN ARMSTRONG AND I'M GOING TO BE A RISING JUNIOR IN THE THEATER PROGRAM AT BLAKE
HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M HERE TO VOICE MY FRUSTRATION I HAVE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES GOING ON FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SUCCEED WHEN THE WHEN THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE SAY OH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVEN ALLOW YOU TO ASK A QUESTION. FROM A STUDENT'S FROM A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE I WAS BEYOND DISAPPOINTED WAS BEYOND DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED. I DIDN'T HAVE AN ENGLISH TEACHER FOR SIX MONTHS. I CAN'T GET MY I CAN'T GET MY ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TESTS ACKNOWLEDGED AND GET AN I DON'T KNOW OR TEACHERS BERAIDING THE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T -- BERATING THE
STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY NEED EXTRA HELP OR TIME. WHY AM I FEELING MORE RESPONSIBLE THAN ADULTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHARGE AND LEAD. IF TRADITION NEEDS RESPECT ACCOUNTABILITY CHANGE AND LEADERSHIP WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TEACHING OR PREPARING US FOR? THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TODAY WILL AFFECT ME, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE FUTURE. LET'S MAKE A CHANGE LET'S MAKE A CHANGE TODAY. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS GIANI HUNT AND I'M HERE AGAIN TODAY NOT AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN. BUT AS A VOICE BUT AS A VOICE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE ONGOING THREATS TO OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION. IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT PROTECTING ACCESS TO EDUCATION BUT TODAY I WANT TO PIVOT TO SOMETHING JUST AS URGENT. THE BUDGET. YOU SEE, I'M THE PRODUCT OF STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I AM SOMEONE WHO LIVED THE
IMPACT OF DECISIONS MADE IN ROOMS SIMILAR LIKE THIS. I CAME INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A KID WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE WASN'T ENGLISH. AND I'LL BE HONEST. IT WAS VERY IT WAS VERY OVERWHELMING FOR ME. BUT WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WAS THE PROGRAMS AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS LIKE ME. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICES. THE PATIENT TEACHERS. THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE COUNSELORS WHO HELPED ME CATCH UP IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. THOSE SERVICES DIDN'T JUST HELP ME LEARN ENGLISH.
THEY HELPED ME FIND MY VOICE. THEY HELPED ME FEEL LIKE I BELONG AND HELPED ME SUCCEED NOT JUST IN SCHOOL BUT IN LIFE. I'M HERE OUT OF A GROWING CONCERN FOR OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS IN LIGHT OF THE 6.2 BILLION DOLLARS THAT IS BEING DELAYED FOR K-12 DELAYED FOR K-12 EDUCATION. FLORIDA ALONE STANDS TO LOSE 347 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT ACROSS KEY PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR DISTRICT'S CLASSROOMS, EDUCATORS, AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
SCHOOLS ARE LEFT WAITING FOR CRITICAL SUPPORT WITH NO CLEAR TIMELINE FOR RELEASE OF THESE FUNDS FROM CONGRESS. SO I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS I HOPE THIS BOARD CAN ADDRESS. IF THE FUNDING DELAY CONTINUES, IS THERE A PLAN TO COMMUNICATE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN STAY INFORMED AND BE PREPARED. IF THE FUNDING ULTIMATELY DOES NOT COME THROUGH, WHICH SPECIFIC PROGRAMS ARE AT RISK? COULD WE SEE A REDUCTION IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS? IN LITERACY PROGRAMS? MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?
OR SUPPORT FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS? AND LASTLY, WHAT SPECIFIC ACTIONS IS THE SCHOOL BOARD OR SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE TAKING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RELEASE OF THESE FUNDS. PLEASE REMEMBER WHY YOU WERE ELECTED. FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT'S COMING. NOT AFTER THE FACT BUT NOW SO WE CAN ORGANIZE, PREPARE, AND SO WE CAN PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES THE BEST WE CAN. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LET POLITICS IN WASHINGTON QUIETLY
DISMANTLE THE PROGRESS HERE AT HOME. SO LET'S DEVELOP CLEAR POLICIES FOR COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIPS LIKE EVERYBODY'S ADVOCATING FOR SO WE CAN ALL BE PART OF THE SOLUTIONS OUR KIDS NEED. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT. WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 12 THROUGH 16 LINE UP AND NEXT SPEAKER AT THE THE PODIUM, PLEASE? >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DEANA WILSON AND I'M A PROUD 2019 GRADUATE OF THOMAS
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FULL SUPPORT OF RENAMING THE AUDITORIUM AFTER MS. GWEN HENDERSON. A WOMAN WHO FOR SO MANY OF US WAS THE WAS THE HEARTBEAT OF THAT SCHOOL. MS. HENDERSON TAUGHT IN THE WAY THAT ACTUALLY MATTERED. BY SHOWING UP FOR EVERYONE. FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE OVERLOOKED, FOR THOSE OF US TRYING TO FIGURE IT TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT, SHE DIDN'T NEED A SEATING CHART FOR HER TO CLAIM YOU AS HERS. SHE SHOWED UP FOR
SHE SHOWED UP FOR EVENTS THAT MADE HIGH SCHOOL FEEL MORE THAN JUST TRANSCRIPTS. MR. AND MS. JEFFERSON, EVEN THE UNFORGETTABLE MARCH TO SEE UNFORGETTABLE MARCH TO SEE "BLACK PANTHER" AT WESTSHORE MALL. WE DIDN'T JUST WATCH SUPERHEROES ON THE SCREEN DATE. WE WERE WE WERE NEXT TO ONE. MS. HENDERSON. I WAS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT BECAUSE OF HER. AND ALMOST EVERYONE EVENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HER. IF IT WAS JOYFUL AND MEANINGFUL, IT HAD HER FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT. ONE OF THE MOST PERSONAL MOMENTS
WITH MS. HENDERSON FOR ME WAS A 2019 HAPSE ACHIEVER CEREMONY WHICH MYSELF AND DOZENS OF OTHERS ALMOST DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND. YOU SEE, SOME OF US WERE LEFT OFF THE ROSTER MISTAKENLY DUE TO BEING BIRACIAL. BUT WHEN I TOLD MS. HENDERSON THE ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT, SHE HAD THE ROSTER FIXED IMMEDIATELY. NOT WITH A SHRUG OR A MAYBE NEXT YEAR BUT WITH ACTION. BECAUSE THAT'S WHO SHE WAS. SHE DIDN'T JUST INCLUDE PEOPLE. SHE MADE SPACE FOR THEM. SHE BELIEVED IN EVERY STUDENT.
SHE CELEBRATED US WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID AND GAVE US PLACES TO LEAD, BELONG AND BE SEEN. AND THAT AUDITORIUM WAS HER STAGE TO MAKE ALL OF THAT HAPPEN. SO IF YOU CHOOSE TO RENAME IT AFTER HER, YOU'RE NOT JUST HONORING HER LEGACY. YOU'RE PASSING IT ON. YOU'RE REMINDING EVERY FACULTY, STAFF, ADMINISTRATOR, AND STUDENT WHO STEPS INTO THAT ROOM WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LEAD WITH LOVE, TOICT ACT -- TO ACT WITH PURPOSE AND SHOW UP FULLY REMINDING THEM THAT THE STUDENTS COME FIRST.
MS. HENDERSON DIDN'T NEED A SPOTLIGHT. BUT SHE HAS MOST DEFINITELY EARNED ONE. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> HI, I'M RACHEL. I'M A PARENT I'M A PARENT OF TWO IN YOUR I'M A PARENT OF TWO IN YOUR SCHOOLS. THE LAST MEETING YOU DIDN'T HAVE
A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT HCPS PARENTS CAME FOR. DON'T WORRY. I'LL GO TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION NEXT WEEK AND TELL THEM IT'S DISGUSTING TO IGNORE PARENTS AND ALLOW MEDIA SPECIALISTS TO BE CALLED ABUSERS. FIRST REGARDING THE PEEPS PROGRAM I WANTED TO GIVE YOU FACES TO BACK UP YOUR DATA. IT'S TRUE YOUR PEEPS PROGRAM LEADS TO BETTER KINDERGARTEN OUTCOMES FOR YOUR STUDENTS. THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WHERE THEY ARE ACADEMICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY WITHOUT THE PEEPS PROGRAM. I AM SINCERELY GRATEFUL. I WILL SAY THOUGH THAT IT WAS EASY TO GET MY OLDEST ENROLLED
WITH HIS WITH HIS DELAYS BUT YOU MADE ME JUMP THROUGH HOOPS. WE HAD TO PLEAD SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES BASED ON HIS DISORDERS. YOU NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER ON KIDS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. BUT I DOUBT THAT WILL EVER BE DISCUSSED ON THE DAIS SINCE YOU'RE SO ALLERGIC TO PARENT FEEDBACK. THIS IS WHY COMMUNITY PROCESSES THAT INVOLVE PARENTS ARE PREFERRED BY PARENTS BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN'T IGNORE US. THE OTHER THING WAS SUMMER PROGRAMMING LAST YEAR WAS A DISASTER. IT NEVER GOT FIXED AND I IT NEVER GOT FIXED AND I NEVER
GOT AN JUST TO LET JUST TO LET YOU KNOW MY KID DID ESY THIS SUMMER INSTEAD AND THAT WAS RUN MUCH BETTER. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MEETING IEP GOALS NEXT YEAR BUT I KNOW COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS IS NOT REALLY A PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE ROOM SO MAYBE I'M WASTING MY BREATH. LAST, THANK YOU TO MEMBER WASHINGTON FOR MOVING TO NAME THE AUDITORIUM AFTER GWEN HENDERSON. GWEN WAS A FRIEND.
SHE WAS A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT. SHE WATCHED THE MEETINGS AND CHEERED PARENTS ON. GWEN RAN WHAT IS ARGUABLY THE BEST STORE IN THE STATE. GWEN AND I WERE TENTATIVELY GWEN AND I WERE TENTATIVELY PLANNING AN EVENT FOR THE FALL AND SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY. SHE ALREADY HAS A CATERER AND VENUE LINED UP BEFORE YOU ASK. GWEN LOVE LOVED HILLSBOROUGH AND BRING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AS A PARENT I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO DESERVES PART OF A SCHOOL THAT SHE DID SO MUCH NAMED AFTER THEM MORE.
MY KIDS LOVED BLACK ENGLISH AND WE LOVED WE LOVED GWEN, SO THANK YOU. WE LOVED GWEN, SO THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CARLA WHITE SUNDAY. I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND I'VE COME TO ASK AND PLEAD THAT YOU
NAME, RENAME, THE AUDITORIUM AFTER GWEN HENDERSON. I MET GWEN 45 YEARS AGO WHEN MY DAD WAS THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT JEFFERSON. GWEN AND MS. GWEN AND MS. DARLENE JOHNSON WERE SOMEWHAT OF MY BABYSITTERS AT CHEERLEADING PRACTICE SO I GREW A LOVE FOR GREW A LOVE FOR JEFFERSON EARLY. MR. MR. AYRES'S MOM WAS MY DEAN BACK THEN AT JEFFERSON. IT WOULD BE AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE. I HELPED JUDGE I HELPED JUDGE THE FIRST OR SECOND MS. JEFFERSON. I KNOW MR. AYRES SHOWED UP.
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THE ROCK STAR AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY CHEERED FOR HIM BUT MS. HENDERSON HAD A PASSION FOR KIDS. SHE DIDN'T CARE WHERE YOU CAME FROM, WHAT YOU DID. SHE JUST CAME TO OUR SCHOOL AT FARROW ON APRIL AND THOSE GIRLS LOVED HER. THEY WANTED HER TO COME BACK. SHE TALKED WITH OUR SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHT RS SO IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO RENAME THE AUDITORIUM FOR HER. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JULIE HDPEB I'M JULIE HDPEB. STARTING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STEPPING IN TO ADDRESS THE PORNOGRAPHIC FOLKS, THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED THEM, HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, MUCH HAS BEEN STIRRED UP. ONE THING I NOTICED SINCE THEN IS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. HOW ABOUT WITH THE PROCESSES AND THE BOOK CHALLENGE PROCESSES. LIKE EVERYONE HAS BEEN WANTING TO KNOW. THE LIBRARY COLLECTION MANAGEMENT. ALL OF THAT. BUT HOW ABOUT THE ACTUAL CONTENT
OF THE LIBRARY BOOKS. HOW CAN WE BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT INSTEAD OF LEAVING SEX INSTRUCTION MANUALS ON SHELVES WITH ZERO WARNING ON THE FRONT. WHAT ABOUT CONTENT THAT I'VE READ THAT MADE NATIONAL NEWS SHOCKING PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE NATION BUT THEN YOU LEFT IT NATION BUT THEN YOU LEFT IT ON YOUR SHELVES. AND IMAGES EVEN FROM A SEX SCENE THAT IS STILL IN THAT IS STILL IN LIBRARIES AND ALSO MADE NATIONAL NEWS. LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE REVIEW PROCESSES. WHEN LIBRARIANS ARE INVOLVED, THE PROCESSES ARE NOT WORKING.
ONE BOOK AT A TIME AND ONE LIBRARY AT A TIME IS ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE. IF A BOOK IS DEEMED PORNOGRAPHIC IN ONE LIBRARY IT DOESN'T BELONG IN ANY AS THE DOE RECENTLY CLARIFIED WHEN THEY SAW CLARIFIED WHEN THEY SAW CONTENTS FROM OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LIBRARIES. LIBRARIANS ARE CHOOSING THE REVIEWERS AND CLEARLY THAT'S BEEN A BIASED PROCESS AND HAS NEVER ONCE RESULTED IN A REMOVAL BY ANY COMMITTEE. IT TOOK SEVEN MONTHS TO IT TOOK SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE ONE REVIEW PROCESS FOR ONE BOOK
IN ONE LIBRARY. ACTUALLY, IT WAS TWO. YOUR PROCESSES HAVE RESULTED IN AGAIN A SEX INSTRUCTION MANUAL INCLUDING FIVE STEPS FOR INCLUDING FIVE STEPS FOR USING A SEX HOOKUP APP TO BE SEX HOOKUP APP TO BE LEFT IN SCHOOLS. ALL THE LIBRARIANS I HEARD COME HERE TO SPEAK DEFEND THE BOOKS AND PROCESSES AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES DOING THE REVIEWING? AND YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO A GOOD JOB REAMOVING THE EXPLICIT JOB REAMOVING THE EXPLICIT BOOKS NOW? SUPERINTENDENT, WE'RE GRATEFUL SUPERINTENDENT, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO YOU THAT YOU ARE TO YOU THAT YOU ARE -- I JUST CAN RELATE WITH BEING IN SUCH A
DIFFICULT POSITION. YOU HAVE PASSIONATE VOICES ON ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUES AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ACTUALLY A RED COUNTY BY ALMOST 10% IN ONE OF OUR MOST RECENT ELECTIONS. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND WILL STAND BEHIND YOU AS YOU CONTINUE IN THE DIFFICULT PROCESS. WE KNOW THESE BOOKS ENDANGER CHILDREN AS THEY BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN -- AND SEND AN EXCEEDINGLY SEXUAL VIEW OF THE WORLD TO CHILDREN. PARENTS ACTUALLY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO CONTROL THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING OF A CHILD.
THIS RIGHT IS STRIPPED WHEN SCHOOL LIBRARIANS EXPOSE CHILDREN TO CONTENT THAT DIRECTLY VIOLATES THEIR MORAL AND RELIGIOUS TRAINING. LASTLY IF IT CAN'T BE PLAYED ON THE EVENING NEWS AND THE FCC SAYS IT'S NOT SUITABLE FOR THE AIR'WAVES AND IF IT WOULD BE RATED R OR NC-17 AS A MOVIE AND YOUR OWN BOARD MEMBER BELIEVES IT HARMS CHILDREN WHEN I READ IT OUT LOUD OR THE SUPERINTENDENT IS UNWILLING TO READ IT ALOUD AND THE CONTENT DOESN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE PORN
THROUGH THE PORN FILTER AND INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK CENSOR IT, AND IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA IS WILLING TO BRING THE LAW DOWN ON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OVER THE BOOKS, THEN IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT BOOKS DO NOT BELONG IN SCHOOLS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> HELLO. I SERVE AS A PRODUCT MANAGER FOR AVID CENTER. I LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR
THE LEGACY OF GWEN THE LEGACY OF GWEN HENDERSON, AN EDUCATOR, MENTOR, FRIEND AND EDUCATOR, MENTOR, FRIEND AND COMMUNITY LEADER COMMUNITY LEADER WHOSE IMPACT REACHES FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. GWEN WAS MY ASSIGNED MENTOR WHEN I ENTERED THE DISTRICT IN 2006. NOW WE ALL KNOW HOW AN ASSIGNED MENTOR CAN BE DEFINITELY DIFFERENT THAN AN ACTUAL MENTOR. BUT GWEN QUICKLY BECAME NOT ONLY ONE OF MY FIRST MENTORS AS AN EDUCATOR BUT WHAT BEGAN AS A PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE BLOSSOMED
INTO A POWERFUL FRIENDSHIP. SHE ALSO LED THE HILLSBOROUGH ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS WITH GRACE AND DETERMINATION. GWEN AND HER LAST YEARS AT JEFFERSON WAS AN AVID COORDINATOR AND I HAPPEN TO SERVE AS THE AVID PROGRAM MANAGER AT THAT TIME FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A PROUD A PROUD SAM-U A PROUD SAM-U RADLER SHE CHAMPIONED THE FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY 813 DAY AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXPOSED TO AN HBCU. GWEN WAS A FORCE. SHE MADE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. SHE CREATED SPACE FOR YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH HER WOMEN THROUGH HER GIRLS EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE, A STUDENT-LED EVENT THAT POWERED AND EMPOWERED STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDSS TO BACKGROUNDSS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS AND NOT ONLY THEIR TALENTS BUT TO BUILD CONNECTION IN THAT WORK. SHE HELPED STUDENTS EVEN LIKE MY
LITTLE COUSIN WANT TO THINK ABOUT EVEN PLEDGING DELTA SIGMATHETA WHICH I WAS LIKE, AS AN AKA, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT. BUT WHAT I LOVED ABOUT GWEN IS THAT SHE MADE SURE THAT SHE HELPED EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SHE HELPED ME EVEN WITH MY BUSINESS PLANS AND HELPED ME TO CREATE GOALS OUTSIDE OF THE REALMS OF EDUCATION. AND SHE NEVER LET HER LIFE'S CHALLENGES AS A CARETAKER DERAIL HER FROM HER MISSION OF IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.
GWEN PUSHED FOR HIGH GWEN PUSHED FOR HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND ALWAYS HELD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IRON SHARPENING IRON. SHE BELIEVED DEP DEEPLY IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITY AND IMPORTANCE OF OPPORTUNITY. WHETHER AS A CITY COUNCIL WOMAN, A BUSINESS WOMAN, AN EDUCATOR, GWEN MADE THINGS HAPPEN AND SHE MADE IT HAPPEN WITH EXCELLENCE. SO I WANT TO SHARE THIS. SHE LEFT ME WITH THIS QUOTE THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO HER. AND IT SAID, BLACK HISTORY IS MADE FRESH DAILY. LET'S MAKE IT TODAY BY RENAMING
THE AUDITORIUM AS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL THE GWEN HENDERSON AUDITORIUM. EDUCATION IS THE POOHS PASS POPPORT FOR THE FUTURE FOR TOMORROW BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE IT FOR TODAY. LET'S PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE BY HONORING GWEN'S LEGACY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I CALL UP SPEAKERS 17 THROUGH 20? AND THE NEXT AND THE NEXT SPEAKER MAY APPROACH. THE PODIUM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THE PILLAR, THE WARRIOR, THE TRAILBLAZER, MOST OF ALL TO ME, A QUEEN IN HER OWN WAY A QUEEN IN HER OWN WAY WHO A QUEEN IN HER OWN WAY WHO SET HERSELF APART THROUGH PASSION AND AUTHENTICITY. SHE IS MORE THAN JUST A SPACE. YOU CAN'T CONTAIN A GIANT TO A SPACE BUT WE'LL TAKE WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE. A TEACHER, NOT ONLY WITH THE
BLUEPRINT BUT WHO LEFT HER DNA IN EVERYBODY THAT YOU'RE HEARING. ALSO, SHE LEFT A BLUEPRINT THROUGH HER DAUGHTER, ARIELLE AMIR ARIELLE AMIR DANIEL WHO HOPEFULLY WILL HOPEFULLY WILL FILL THEM FOOTSTEPS AND MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU ALL FOR NAMING THIS AUDITORIUM, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD NAME THE WHOLE SCHOOL AFTER WHOLE SCHOOL AFTER HER, BUT THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BISHOP MICHELLE BEPATTI. I HAD THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH GWENDOLYN GWEN HENDERSON AND HER HENDERSON AND HER DAUGHTER, ARIELLE DANLEY IN ARIELLE DANLEY IN SECURING HER SEAT ON CITY COUNCIL SEAT ON CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING DISTRICT 5. IT DIDN'T STOP THERE. HER FIRST LOVE WAS EDUCATION. GWEN DID NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF "NO." WHEN SHE DECIDED TO
OPEN UP HER BOOKSTORE IN A DEPRIVED BLACK DEPRIVED BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, DEPRIVED BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, FOLKS TOLD HER IT WOULDN'T WORK. SO WHAT DID SHE DO? NAMED IT BLACK ENGLISH BOOKSTORE THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NOW NATIONALLY. SO IN DOING SO, WE'RE SEEING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THE AUDITORIUM SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER HER IN HER HONOR. AND AS THE SPEAKER JUST SAID, NOT JUST THE AUDITORIUM BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER MANY TIMES AT CITY COUNCIL WHEN PEOPLE CAME
BEFORE HER WHO DIDN'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE VOTED ON. SHE SAID, LET ME MAKE THIS A TEACHING MOMENT. SHE WAS ALWAYS A TEACHER. SHE READ. SHE RE-DID HER RESEARCH. SHE ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT SHE ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT THINGS THAT SHE SPOKE ON, SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. NOT ONLY DID SHE STOP THERE WITH THE BOOKSTORE WITH HER AND ARIELLE OPENING THE BOOKSTORE.
FAIR OAKS, A $45 MILLION PROJECT THAT PEOPLE DID NOT WANT BECAUSE IT SITS IN THE HEART OF EAST TAMPA. AND IT WAS PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE US THAT ACTUALLY FOUGHT AGAINST IT. BUT GWEN STOOD HER GROUND BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT COMPROMISE HERSELF. SHE DIDN'T GO ALONG TO GET ALONG. SHE DID WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY. SHE USED TO TELL ME OFTEN, MICHELLE, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION BECAUSE THERE IS SO MANY THINGS WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO OVER IN THAT PLACE. PICKLEBALL -- SHE DIDN'T PLAY PICKLEBALL BUT SHE WAS EXCIDED ABOUT IT. SHE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT CONFERENCES AND SHE TOLD ME I CAN EVEN DO MY MOTHER'S DAY PROGRAM THAT I DO ANNUALLY THERE. SO GWEN WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BETTER THIS COMMUNITY. SHE COULD HAVE SAT BACK AND SAID, I MADE IT. I'M CITY COUNCIL. I'M READY TO RETIRE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD. BUT NO. SHE DID NOT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT HER DAUGHTER, ARIELLE, COULD NOT BE
HERE THIS EVENING. SHE IS OUT OF TOWN. HAD A FORMER COMMITMENT. BUT SHE WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT SHE GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU NAMED THIS AUDITORIUM IN HER MOTHER'S HONOR. ARIELLE IS RUNNING WITH THAT TORCH. ARIELLE ARIELLE DANLEY, REMEMBER THAT NAME BECAUSE THAT'S THE NAME THAT IS GOING TO PICK UP THAT TORCH AND PICK UP WHERE GWEN LEFT OFF AT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I'M HENRY WASHINGTON JR. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY DEAR FRIEND, GWENDOLYN HENDERSON. I MET GWEN IN THE YEAR 2000 WORKING AT WORKING AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS JEFFERSON THROUGH AND THROUGH. IF SHE -- THAT'S ALL SHE TALKED ABOUT. JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS A DRAGON. SHE WAS A CLASS OF '82. SHE WORKED FOR JEFFERSON FOR SHE WORKED FOR JEFFERSON FOR 25 YEARS. SHE SPONSORED THE MR. AND MS. JEFFERSON IN WHICH MY
DAUGHTER WON IN DAUGHTER WON IN 2018. SHE WAS MRS. JEFFERSON. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF HER CLUB, NAPS. NATURALLY AWARE, PROUD AND STRONG AND WHEN MY DAUGHTER BECAME THE PRESIDENT, I WONDERED, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MS. HENDERSON, YOU WORKING WITH MS. HENDERSON, YOU BETTER GET IT TOGETHER BECAUSE SHE WILL GET YOU TOGETHER REAL QUICK. SHE LEARNED AND HELP MY DAUGHTER BE ONE OF THE TOP STUDENTS AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE ALSO CREATED THE FAM SHE ALSO CREATED THE FAM-U EVENT WHERE THEY RECRUITED ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THAT EVENT
WAS A BIG EVENT ALL OVER THE NEWS AND SHE WAS A SPONSOR OF THAT AND MADE THAT GOAL. RESEARCH SHOWS ONE CARING ADULT CAN CHANGE A KID'S LIFE FOREVER. AND I KNOW FOR A FACT SHE CHANGED MANY LIVES AT CHANGED MANY LIVES AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. THOUSANDS. I'M SURE. AFTER 25 YEARS. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW THE BIBLE FRONT AND BACK, BUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES IN THE BIBLE IS PROVERBS 27:17.
I SHARP AS IRON SO A FRIEND SHARPEN A FRIEND. SHE MADE ME A BETTER SHE MADE ME A BETTER EDUCATOR AND PERSON. AND I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE ARE HERE AT THIS MOMENT TO HONOR HER AND HONOR OF HER BEING AN EDUCATOR, NOW THAT SHE IS WITH OUR ANCESTORS, SHE DEFINITELY UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT. UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, FAMILY, ALUMNI OF JEFFERSON FAMILY, ALUMNI OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF 2019 FROM JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I RISE TODAY NOT ONLY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WITNESSED THE TRANSFORMATION POWER AND LEGACY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY WE ALL
SHARE TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SHAPED THE VERY FOUNDATION OF SHAPED THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR SCHOOLS. NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITIES. WE ARE HERE TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL THAT IS FAR MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE. IT'S A CHANCE TO ETCH INTO THE HEARTS OF THE THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, A PERMANENT TRIBUTE TO A WOMAN WHOSE IMPACT CAN NEVER BE NEVER BE ERASED. CITY COUNCIL WOMAN GWENDOLYN GWEN HENDERSON. BEFORE SHE WAS A BEFORE SHE WAS A COUNCILWOMAN, SHE WAS MS. HENDERSON, A
DEDICATED TEACHER IN THE HALLS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE DIDN'T JUST TEACH LESSONS FROM A TEXTBOOK. SHE POURED HERSELF INTO LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS. INSPIRING GENERATIONS TO REACH HIGHER, DREAM BIGGER, AND BELIEVE DEEPER. IN THE CLASSROOM, SHE WASN'T JUST AN EDUCATOR. SHE WAS A MENTOR. A MOTIVATOR. A LIFELINE FOR SO MANY. AND SHE DIDN'T STOP THERE. HER CALLING TO PUBLIC SERVICE LED HER TO THE COUNCIL WHERE SHE
CONTINUED HER FIGHT FOR CONTINUED HER FIGHT FOR EQUITY, EDUCATION, AND EMPOWERMENT. BUT NO MATTER HOW FAR HER INFLUENCE INFLUENCE EXTENDED, SHE NEVER FORGOT WHERE SHE CAME FROM OR THE STUDENTS WHOSE POTENTIAL SHE BELIEVED IN BEFORE THEY BELIEVED IN THEMSELVES. RENAMING THE AUDITORIUM IN HER HONOR IS NOT JUST HONOR IS NOT JUST SYMBOLIC. IT'S APPROPRIATE. IT'S FITTING THAT THE SPACE WHERE VOICES RISE WHERE VOICES RISE IN PERFORMANCE, WHERE STUDENTS
GATHER IN HOPE, WHERE FUTURE ARE INSPIRED SHOULD HEAR THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO SPENT HER LIFE DOING EXACTLY THAT. LET THIS NOT BE A MOMENT OF POLITICAL DECISION. BUT A MOMENT OF COMMUNAL GRATITUDE. LET THIS BE A LEGACY OF REMEMBRANCE AND RESPECT. LET EVERY STUDENT WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS AND SEES THE NAME GWENDOLYN GWEN HENDERSON ASK, WHO WAS SHE? AND THEN LEARN ABOUT A WOMAN WHO
TAUGHT HERE, SERVED HERE, AND FOUGHT FOR HERE. AND LOVE AND LOVE HERE. I URGE THIS BODY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL. LET US NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE HONOR WHERE HONOR IS DUE TO A WOMAN WHO GAVE SO MUCH OF HERSELF TO THE SCHOOL AND TO THE CITY. MAY GOD BLESS THIS BODY. MAY GOD BLESS THIS COUNTY AND MAY GOD BLESS THESE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT ONLY AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF HCPS BUT A WIFE, MOTHER AND SOMEONE WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND THE WIDER SCHOOL COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. AS A PARENT LIAISON MY AS A PARENT LIAISON MY RESPONSIBILITIES GO FAR BEYOND WHAT THE TITLE MAY SUGGEST. I BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY, I MONITOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE, I PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, HELP OPERATE
IN THE FOOD PANTRY, COLLECT AND MANAGE DATA, PLAN SCHOOL EVENTS AND SERVE AS AN ASSISTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE TEACHER. I AM ALSO PROUD TO BE AN AN -- ACTIVELY CANE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL WORK BRINGING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO THE SCHOOL THAT HELPS MEET STUDENTS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS. THIS KIND OF WRAP AROUND SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL TO HELPING STUDENTS THRIVE AND I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT. I TAKE ON EACH OF THESE ROLES
WITH PRIDE, COMPASSION, AND A DEEP BELIEF IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY. BUT DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT I GIVE TO MY SCHOOL, I ONLY EARN $15 AN HOUR. THE WAGE DOES NOT REFLECT THE LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY, THE COMPLEXITY OF WORK, OR THE PERSONAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED TO DO THIS JOB WELL. THE TRUTH IS I OFTEN FIND MYSELF IN THE SAME POSITION AS MANY OF THE FAMILIES I SERVE. NEEDING SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND ASSISTANCE JUST TO GET BY.
IT IS PAINFULLY IRONY TO BE THE PERSON OFFERING HELP TO OTHERS WHILE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE FOR MY OWN FAMILY. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS HOW IMPACTFUL THE RETURN TO WORK IMPACTFUL THE RETURN TO WORK BONUSES WERE LAST YEAR FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO COME BACK AFTER SUMMER AND WINTER BREAK. THOSE BONUSES MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR MANY OF US OFFERING A FINANCIAL CUSHION DURING UNPAID TIME OFF. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE BOARD KEEP THOSE BOARD KEEP THOSE BONUSES IN PLACE MOVING FORWARD. LASTLY I'M REQUESTING YOUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF A $5 INCREASE OF HOURLY WAGE FOR PARENT PARENT LIAISONS. THIS WILL BRING OUR PAY CLOSER TO LIVING WAGE AND SHOW THAT THE DISTRICT VALUES THE ESSENTIAL WORK WE DO. WORK THAT IS OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES BUT VITAL SCENES BUT VITAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS. I LOVE MY JOB. I LOVE MY SCHOOL. AND I LOVE THE AND I LOVE THE FAMILIES I SERVE. WHAT -- BUT LOVE ALONE DOES NOT SUSTAIN A SUSTAIN A HOUSEHOLD OR REFLECT THE WORK OR CONTRIBUTIONS.
FOR A CONVERSATION IS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL ISSUE. IT'S MATTER OF IT'S MATTER OF DIGNITY, RESPECT AND RETENTION. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS KYRA MONTAGUE MARKS AND I'M HONORED TO BE SPEAKING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ON THIS MATTER. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A FORMER STUDENT AND COLLEAGUE OF
MS. HENDERSON'S WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH HER BIRTH OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH HER BIRTH PROGRAMS LIKE MR. AND MS. JEFFERSON. IN 2006 WHEN I SAT IN JEFFERSON'S AUDITORIUM AS A JEFFERSON'S AUDITORIUM AS A JUNIOR FOR THE FIRST EVER PAGEANT, I WAS IN PAGEANT, I WAS IN AWE OF THE PRODUCTION LED BY MS. HENDERSON. AS A SENIOR I LEARNED BY TAKING PART IN THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT I CAN DO HARD THINGS. AND THIS IS A LESSON THAT MS. HENDERSON TAUGHT EVERY STUDENT THAT CAME IN CONTACT WITH OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT
SHE GAVE OF HERSELF AT JHS AND THE COUNTLESS HOURS SPENT IN THE AUDITORIUM NURTURING EACH OF HER STUDENTS TO BE THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. AND IF YOU AND IF YOU KNOW, THEN YOU KNOW. AS A FORMER COLLEAGUE, I WATCHED HER BIRTH PROGRAMS LIKE HER BIRTH PROGRAMS LIKE NAPS WHERE SHE TAUGHT EVERY FEMALE STUDENT TO BE NATURALLY, AWARE, PROUD, AND STRONG OF WHO THEY ARE.
AND HOW TO EMBRACE THE THINGS THAT MAKE US UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT. MS. HENDERSON HAD A PROGRAM AT JEFFERSON THAT WOULD CELEBRATE EVERY STUDENT THAT WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE SCHOOL. SHE CHALLENGED HER SHE CHALLENGED HER STUDENTS, THE STAFF, AND EVEN THE PARENTS. AND HER IMPACT WAS AND HER IMPACT WAS UNDENIABLE. HER STRENGTH AND LOVE ECHOED THROUGH THE AISLES AND RESTS ON EVERY SEAT OF THE AUDITORIUM.
SHE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN. SHE WAS THE DEFINITION OF SHE WAS THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO IT MEANS TO BLEED BLUE AND GOLD AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO HONOR A WOMAN WHO WAS UNAPOLOGETICALLY HERSELF AND GAVE SO MUCH TO HER GAVE SO MUCH TO HER ALMA MATER. WE HAVE A SAYING AT JEFFERSON, ONCE A ONCE A DRAGON, ALWAYS A ONCE A DRAGON, ALWAYS A DRAGON. AND THE AUDITORIUM IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HER NAME TO BE FOREVER MEMORIALIZED.
A PLACE THAT SHE LOVED. A PLACE THAT MATTERS. AND A PLACE THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO EVERY TO EVERY DRAGON. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. >> GOOD >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. MR. SUPERINTENDENT MR. SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD. I'M I'M SENIOR PASTOR OF THE AME CHURCH HERE IN THE GREAT
METROPOLIS OF TAMPA. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU AND HEARTFELT SHOUTOUT TO MR. HENRY SHAKE WASHINGTON. YOUR VISION AND LEADERSHIP, MR. WASHINGTON, AND SWIFT ACTION DID NOT GO UNNOTICED ON THE VERY DAY WE LAID COUNCILWOMAN GWEN HENDERSON TO REST, YOU HONORED HER LEGACY. YOU HONORED IT BY MAKING THE MOTION TO NAME JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM IN HER MEMORY. AND THAT KIND OF FORESIGHT AND
RESPECT SPEAKS VOLUME AND FOR THAT, SIR, WE ARE GRATEFUL. WITH THE SAME SPIRIT OF REVERENCE I JOIN IN SUPPORT WITH SO MANY OTHER FOLK BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON WAS MORE THAN ELECTED OFFICIAL. SHE WAS A BEACON OF LIGHT, A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE, AND THE TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE, EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT. A DAUGHTER OF TAMPA SOIL, SHE WALKED WITH PURPOSE. SHE SPOKE WITH POWER. AND SHE SERVED WITH DEEP CONVICTION. YOU HEARD MR. WASHINGTON JR. SAY
HE IS NOT AN EXPERT ON THE BIBLE. NEITHER AM I. I KNOW ONE OR TWO I KNOW ONE OR TWO THINGS ABOUT IT. BUT I DO KNOW PROVERBS SAYS WHO CAN FIND THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN FOR HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GWEN HENDERSON WAS A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, BECAUSE SHE LOVED GOD'S PEOPLE AND LOVED GOD'S CHILDREN. DIDN'T MATTER WHERE THEY WERE FROM OR WHO THEY BELONGED TO. SHE SAW VALUE IN THEM.
I HOPE YOU SEE VALUE IN HER LEGACY BECAUSE AS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA SAID, I CAN SEE BY ALL YOUR SMILES THAT YOUR DECISION IS ALREADY MADE AND FOR THAT, I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE I JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE 26,859,000 LOWER THAN WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD WE MAINTAINED A FULLY INSURED PLAN. AS A REMINDER LAST OCTOBER OUR DISTRICT HELD A SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THE
SELF-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE. SINCE THAT TIME, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF AND OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER MR. LEWIS HELD NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH BOARD AND UNION LEADERSHIP AND SOME OF UNION LEADERSHIP AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RENEWABLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER. THE NEW PLANS WILL BE OFFERED WITH A VARIETY OF DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS AND HAVE NATIONAL NETWORKS AND COPAY TO LIMIT OUT OF PAY COST AND CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A ZERO DOLLAR PREMIUM PLAN. EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE
ZERO COPAYS FOR CVS MINUTE CLINIC, CVS VIRTUAL CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH VISITS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM TO REWARD HEALTHY BEHAVIORS LIKE HAVING ANNUAL PREVENTED VENTIVE CARE -- PREVENTIVE CARE AND REACHING WELLNESS GOALS. DR. PATTON, IF YOU WANT TO ADD MORE, PLEASE. >> >> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I ARE APPRECIATE THE BOARD GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SHARE JUST A FEW SHARE JUST A FEW KEY POINTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THE PACKET YOU REQUESTED IS THAT WE
DO HAVE A COMPARISON WITH OTHER DISTRICTS SO YOU DISTRICTS SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT HAND. THERE IS A ROAD MAP THAT INCLUDES A THREE-YEAR PLAN THAT GIVES JUST A PLAN WHICH I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS YOU HAD AS WELL AS VETTED CONTRACT THAT IS IN THERE WITH ETNA THAT'S VETTED BY LEGAL AS WELL AS PROCUREMENT TEAMS. WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND INCLUDED THAT AS PART OF THE INCLUDED THAT AS PART OF THE REQUEST. THE OTHER THING, WHEN WE DID THE OTHER THING, WHEN WE DID HAVE THE WORKSHOP, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ASKED US TO DO IS THINGS YOU ASKED US TO DO IS
ENSURE THERE WAS A MINIMIZATION OF DISRUPTION TO THE EMPLOYEES ACCESS TO EXISTING PROVIDERS AND CHOICES TO WHERE THEY RECEIVE THEIR CARE. THE OTHER PIECE THAT IS IN HERE IS THE PLAN DESIGN AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PLAN DESIGN WAS INSURED TO BE EMPLOYEE CENTRIC AND A HOLISTIC APPROACH. PART OF THAT WAS THAT WE WANTED TO UTILIZE THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE OF THE CONSULTANTS WE UTILIZE AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR UNIONS AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT UNION REPRESENTATION HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WE DID HAVE THAT CLOSE NETWORK WITH THEM
MAKING SURE THERE WAS A PLAN THAT WAS CLEARLY VETTED AND NOT LOOKED AT IN ONE -- WHAT FRAMEWORK BUT JUST HOLISTICALLY AGAIN. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GOAL WAS TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ROBUST AND COMPETITIVE BENEFITS. HAVING A WELL-BEING PROGRAM AND THAT IT WAS COMPREHENSIVE CARE SO THOSE WERE OTHER KEY THINGS WE KEPT IN MIND AS WE LOOKED AT THE PLAN. AND JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT BENEFITS AS A WHOLE FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND THE STAFF, THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THIS IS OUR TOOL FOR
RECRUITMENT. -- IT'S NOT FOR RECRUITMENT BUT IT'S FOR RETENTION AND TO CARE FOR OUR STAFF AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AND WE VALUE OUR STAFF. I THINK WE HAD A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A STAFF WE WERE ABLE TO A STAFF WE WERE ABLE TO RETAIN BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY NOT ONLY CAME AND HAD A GREAT SALARY BUT HAVE ACCESS TO GREAT BENEFITS. WERE THERE ANY KEY POINTS YOU WANTED TO WANTED TO SHARE, DR. WANTED TO SHARE, DR. SHOTSBURG? >> DR. PATTON, YOU DID GOOD. AND SO DID YOU, MR. AYRES. I'D LIKE I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE GROUP BEHIND
BECAUSE IT'S A BIG COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT. THANK YOU TO THE THANK YOU TO THE UNION AND STEPHANIE SITTING UP HERE. SHE CAME FROM THE B?. WE HAVE FOLKS FROM ETNA AND EON AND WE HAVE THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS STAFF CAME ON THEIR TIME OFF BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS. WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND JUST LASTLY MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT HAVING A GOOD PRODUCT BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND WHAT CLAIMS ARE COSTING SO IT'S RESETTING PREMIUMS. WE'RE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE CLAIMS. SO THANK YOU.
>>Van Ayres: MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S THE AGENDA ITEM. >> I NEED A MOTION AND A >> I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C4.02. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THE ITEM. MEMBER RENDON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START US OFF? >>Patti Rendon: SURE. LET ME FIRST SAY MY COMMENTS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ETNA AS A CARRIER. MY COMMENTS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS REVIEWED THE PRODUCT
THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN FRONT OF THEM. MY COMMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE NOT GIVEN FULL TRANSPARENCY OF OPTIONS TO FULL TRANSPARENCY OF OPTIONS TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I HAVE UNDERSTAND -- UNDERSTAND, I LOOK AT THIS COMPARISON AND THINK IT'S WONDERFUL. PINELLAS IS ONE OF THOSE COMPARISONS. PINELLAS HAS THE EXACT SAME BENEFITS AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BOTH ETNA'S BENEFITS IN BOTH ETNA'S BENEFITS IN PINELLAS COUNTY IS
COUNTY IS IDENTICAL TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. OUR OUR DEDUCTIBLES ARE DIFFERENT AND COSTS ARE DIFFERENT. BECAUSE WE DID NOT WITH FIDELITY GIVE THAT SAME OPTION GIVE THAT SAME OPTION TO OUR STAFF, TO OUR UNIONS, OR TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THEM TO MAKE A FULL DISCLOSED DECISION. I DID GET A COPY OF THE BENEFITS FROM PINELLAS FROM PINELLAS SO I KNEW IT WAS ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THAT. I GOT THEM ALSO FROM POLK COUNTY
WHICH HAS A MUCH LOWER AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES THAN OUR DISTRICT DOES. ALL OF THEIR COPAYS COST OUT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE ALL LESS THAN OURS, AND THEY HAVE A ZERO THAN OURS, AND THEY HAVE A ZERO PREMIUM PRODUCT TO ALL OF THEIR STAFF. SO LIKE I'VE SAID IN THE PAST, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT OUR HR DEPARTMENT DID NOT GET A FULL FIDELITY OF OPTIONS FOR OUR
UNION, OUR STAFF, AND OUR DISTRICT TO REVIEW BEFORE BRINGING A SINGLE PRODUCT TO THE TABLE. AND UNTIL WE DO THAT, I'LL ALWAYS VOTE NO. NOT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT OUR STAFF. BECAUSE I SUPPORT OUR STAFF, I BELIEVE WITH FIDELITY THAT WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. CHARLOTTE COUNTY IS NOT ON HERE. I LOOKED AT CHARLOTTE COUNTIES. THEY'RE MUCH HIGHER THAN OURS. THEY HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLAN. BUT AGAIN, THE COMMITTEE HAS NO IDEA ABOUT THAT. NEITHER DOES THE UNION.
NEITHER DO OUR EMPLOYEES. BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE FIDELITY TO BRING FIDELITY TO BRING OPTIONS TO THE TABLE. NOW I'D LIKE TO -- I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROAD MAP JUST SO THAT I'M VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT ON THIS. I SEE HERE I SEE HERE WHERE WE SUBMITTED THE ATTESTATION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND SET UP REQUIREMENTS. FAMILIARIZE THE TEAM WITH THE REQUIRED RECOMMENDATIONS. THEN WE GO TO THE RFPs. INITIATE AND IMPLEMENT STOP LOSS EFFECTIVE. I BELIEVE THAT'S ONLY RFP FOR
STOP LOSS PREVENTION, CORRECT? NOW WE'RE GOING TO INITIATE A BENEFITS ADMIN MARKETING POSITION FOR RFP AND THEN DO A POSITION FOR RFP AND THEN DO A PHARMACEUTICAL RFP. I SEE NOWHERE IN HERE I SEE NOWHERE IN HERE BY THE END OF 2025 BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU GUYS HAVE TOLD ME MULTIPLE TIMES IT TAKES TIME TO GET AN RFP A MINIMUM OF 90 MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS TO SIX MONTHS WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE WITH FIDELITY TO HAVE THE COMPANIES BRINGING US PRESENTATIONS,
KNOWLEDGE, YET BY DECEMBER 31 OF 2025, ONE YEAR FROM ETNA'S CONTRACT, YOU ARE NOT BRINGING RFP REGARDING OUR RFP REGARDING OUR MEDICAL BENEFITS. I FIND THAT DISHEARTENING CONSIDERING YOU STATED LAST BOARD MEETING YOU WERE GOING TO GO AFTER AN RFP. I BELIEVE OUR COMMITTEE WOULD FIND THAT FIND THAT DISHEARTENING AS WELL. 2026, 2026, AGAIN, I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE AN RFP THAT WE HAVE
MEDICAL BENEFITS BEING DONE WITH AN RFP. AM I WRONG? >> SO WE ARE INDEED GOING OUT TO BID AT THE END OF DECEMBER. WHEN YOU SEE AT THE VERY BOTTOM IT SAYS IT SAYS INITIATE MEDICAL SLASH RX MARKETING. IT WILL HAPPEN IN 25 FOR AN 1, '27. IN '26 IT TALKS ABOUT OTHER MARKETING. IT'S HAPPENING IN DECEMBER. MAYBE NOVEMBER. >>Patti Rendon: I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE REVISE THIS TO MAKE IT VERY CRYSTAL CLEAR BECAUSE MY
EXPECTATION, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WITH FIDELITY FULL SEE WITH FIDELITY FULL OPTIONS TO MAKE AH COMMITTEE, THE BOARD HAS THE FULL FIDELITY OF OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT OUR STAFF DESERVE THAT OUR STAFF DESERVE TO HAVE BETTER. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT, THAT'S THAT'S 1/1/27 YOU'RE GOING TO GO AFTER AN RFP. >> IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE >> IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE 1/1/27. >>Patti Rendon: THE NEW PLAN OR
RFP? >> WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH PROCUREMENT IN A FEW WEEKS TO GO OUT ON THE OUT ON THE CALENDAR BUT PROBABLY GO OUT FOR THE BID IN DECEMBER. THIS DECEMBER. IN IN '25. YEAH. IN ORDER TO -- SO GOOD YOU LOOK BACK A YEAR AGO WE ACTUALLY STARTED EVERYTHING IN THE FALL OF OF THE YEAR BEFORE. OUR COMMITTEE MET IN THE OUR COMMITTEE MET IN THE SPRING SO WE COULD GET INFORMATION SUBMITTED FOR A JUNE ITEM. >>Patti Rendon: WE DIDN'T REALLY GET INFORMATION. WE GOT INFORMATION FROM A SINGLE CARRIER. LET'S MAKE THAT CLEAR. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE RFP
FROM BEFORE. >>Patti Rendon: WE DIDN'T GO AFTER THE RFP. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THINGS NOT ACCURATE. WE DID NOT GO AFTER AN ARF AND CONSULT WITH ANYBODY EXCEPT CONSULT WITH ANYBODY EXCEPT ETNA AND PINELLAS AND PINELLAS AND ETNA, WE HAVE THE SAME THE SAME POLICY. POLK DOES AND THEIR BENEFITS COST LESS WITH A ZERO PLAN. NOW I DO ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TO DENTAL, PRESCRIPTION, ET CETERA, ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS HAVE A -- OKAY.
I'LL GET BACK I'LL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. >>Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY? >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU, DR. PATTON AND MS. AND MS. SHOTSBERG. I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD AND WE HAD MANY MEETINGS AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. I DO FEEL A LITTLE I DO FEEL A LITTLE BIT AS YOU WELL KNOW -- WELL KNOW -- JUST KIND OF RUSHED WITH A HUGE PLAN,
WITH A HUGE PLAN, VERY EXPENSIVE, WE WILL SAVE 27 MILLION OR MORE OR MAYBE A LITTLE LESS. AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BOARD FEELS RUSHED OR THE CTA AND/OR OUR EMPLOYEES, WE OUR EMPLOYEES, WE START ASKING QUESTIONS. WE ARE CONCERNED. SO THESE SO THESE QUESTIONS THAT I ASK ARE FROM A VARIETY OF CONCERNS, ONE OF THEM BEING MY OWN. WHEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, AND
I KNOW IT WAS A SLICE OF TIME I KNOW IT WAS A SLICE OF TIME THAT WE DID NOT HAVE MAYBE AVAILABLE BUT WHY DIDN'T WE GO -- WHY DIDN'T WE INVESTIGATE OTHER SELF-INSURED OTHER SELF-INSURED COMPANIES. NOW I TOLD YOU THE CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE SPENT TWO YEARS OR MORE TALKING ABOUT CONVERTING FROM GROUP TO SELF. THIS WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. SO PROBABLY THAT'S NOT EVEN RELEVANT. THE POINT IS, DID YOU HAVE A THE POINT IS, DID YOU HAVE A CURIOSITY TO BRING TO THE BOARD
PERHAPS THAT THERE IS OTHER SELF-INSURED ENTITIES, VENDORS, THAT YOU COULD HAVE SHARED THAT YOU COULD HAVE SHARED VERSUS JUST ETNA. JUST FOR NOTHING ELSE BUT EDUCATION. FOR NOTHING ELSE BUT EDUCATION. >>Van Ayres: IF I COULD JUMP IN, I BELIEVE AT THE WORKSHOP, MS. GRAY, THAT WORKSHOP IN MS. GRAY, THAT WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER THIS PAST YEAR, PART OF THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD WAS TO STAY -- WE HAD I THINK FOR 28 YEARS HUMANNA. PART OF THE DIRECTION WAS WE JUST MOVED TO JUST MOVED TO ETNA AND KEEP IT
FOR ONE MORE YEAR AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RFP FOR THE END OF THIS COMING UP DECEMBER 2025. SO I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION FROM THAT WORKSHOP AROUND WE HAD JUST MOVED TO ETNA AND KEEPING SOME CONTINUITY WITH INSAME HEALTH INSURANCE. WE HAD WE HAD HUMANA FOR 28 YEARS TO AVOID GOING OUT AND SWITCHING AGAIN. THAT'S THE DIRECTION STAFF WENT WITH. THEY MOVED FORWARD WITH ETNA. WE HAVE A FULLY INSURED CONTRACT ALREADY WITH ETNA. THIS IS FOR THE SELF-INSURED PIECE WHICH
PIECE WHICH IS A DIFFERENT CONTRACT. UNDER THE THREE-YEAR ROAD MAP, UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN MAY NOT BE AS CLEAR AS IT COULD BE. BUT THE INTENT IS BY DECEMBER THIS YEAR,' 25, TO GO OUT FOR AN RFP EFFECTIVE JANUARY '27. DID I SUMMARIZE? >>Lynn Gray: SO THAT'S THE ANSWER RIGHT THERE. AND WE WILL. SO THAT PARTICULAR CONCERN WAS ONE OF MINE BUT THERE IS OTHER FOLKS THAT SAID THE SAME, AND A BOARD MEMBER HAS ALSO SHARED THAT. THE NEXT THING THAT I FIND AND
THIS CAME TO ME IN A FEW DIFFERENT PAGES, THE DEDUCTIBLE. THERE IS A QUESTION OF THE DEDUCTIBLE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT 20 TIMES. BUT DEDUCTIBLE INDIVIDUAL WITH ETNA THAT WE ETNA THAT WE HAD, THE GROUP WAS 1250. NOW IT'S GOING TO BE 4,000 FOR THE FAMILY. 3,00750. NOW IT WILL BE 8,000. -- 3750. NOW IT WILL BE 8,000. REGARDING ON THIS, OUT OF POCKET MAX, 4,000. OUT OF POCKET
OUT OF POCKET MAX FOR OUT OF POCKET MAX FOR FAMILIES, OUT OF POCKET MAX FOR FAMILIES, 10850. FOR GROUP, 6,000. I CAN GO DOWN THE LINE. FOR EVERY CASE FROM THE PRESCRIPTIONS, THE RX, SPECIALIST VISITS, URGENT SPECIALIST VISITS, URGENT CARE, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LANTERN AND THE SURGERY FREE AND I KNOW THE CVS AND YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. BUT WHEN WE COME TO DOLLARS AND CENTS, TAKING OUT OF OUR POCKET, WHICH MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE, WHICH MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE, WHAT DO WE SAY TO THAT?
THE CONCERNS OF THE THE CONCERNS OF THE DEDUCTIBLE RAISE? RAISE? >> OKAY. GREAT QUESTION. THOSE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING. SO AGAIN, WE LOOKED AT OTHER DISTRICTS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY DO IT. AND LOOKED AT THEIR AND LOOKED AT THEIR DEDUCTIBLES AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE ON THE DISTRICT COMPARISON, YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE DEDUCTIBLES AND DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. A HUGE PIECE OF WHAT WE DID IS LOOKED AT OUR OWN DATA. WE NEEDED TO SEE HOW OUR EMPLOYEES WERE DOING IT. WE KNOW THAT WE HAD LESS THAN
20% OF OUR EMPLOYEES MEET THE DEDUCTIBLE LAST YEAR. LESS THAN 1% MET THE OUT OF POCKET DEDUCTIBLE. IT WAS WHEN WE SAW THAT HARDLY ANYONE MET IT, IT MADE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT. WHAT WE'RE INTRODUCING NEXT YEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN PLACE THIS YEAR ARE UNIQUE COPAYS. FOR EXAMPLE THIS YEAR IF YOU WERE TO HAVE AN MRI AND YOU HADN'T MET THE DEDUCTIBLE YET, YOU'D HAVE TO PAY THAT AND IT COULD BE UPWARD TO $800 FOR AN MRI. NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
RADIOLOGY COPAY OF $400 SO IT WOULDN'T BE MORE THAN WOULDN'T BE MORE THAN THAT. WE'LL HAVE THESE LITTLE STOP GAPS IN THERE THAT SHOULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM MEETING PEOPLE FROM MEETING DEDUCTIBLES. WE FEEL LIKE WHEN THEY MEET THE DEDUCTIBLE, IT WILL LIKELY BE SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE SURGERY WHICH IS WHY WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN ANOTHER ITEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LANTERN. COULD PEOPLE MEET IT? IT'S POSSIBLE. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING IS MAKING THE DECISION OF DO YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES PAY MORE
HAVE EMPLOYEES PAY MORE IN THEIR PAYCHECKS WHICH MEANS LESS WHEN PAYCHECKS WHICH MEANS LESS WHEN THEY GO TO THE DOCTORS OR LESS IN THE PAYCHECKS AND MORE IF THEY GO TO THE DOCTOR. LIKE WITH YOUR CAR INSURANCE. IT GOES UP. YOU ASK, OKAY, CAN I GO HIGHER ON THE DEDUCTIBLE BECAUSE I DON'T EVER GET IN ACCIDENTS. OR I I GET IN ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME AND I NEED TO HAVE A TIME AND I NEED TO HAVE A BETTER DEDUCTIBLE. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THAT >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER, MS. SHOTZBERG. CAN
CAN DEDUCTIBLES AT THIS POINT BE NEGOTIATED? >> WE HAVE DONE WITH THE COMMITTEE MODELED MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND IF WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR CLAIMS LIKE I TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END THE CLAIMS ARE THE CLAIMS, SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A PLAN THAT'S ACTUARIALLY SOUND AND WE REALLY NEED TO LEAVE THOSE COPAYS WHERE THEY ARE. IF YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES CONCERNED, THEY COULD CHOOSE TO PICK A THOUSAND DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE PLAN. THE HMO OR HIGH PPO WHICH IS A $2,000 DEDUCTIBLE.
THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES. ANY EMPLOYEE WHO IS ON THE LOCAL PLAN, STAYS ON THE LOCAL -- THE LOW PPO PLAN. WILL HAVE NO INCREASE. I THINK I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ON THE STAFF AND SELECT PLAN REALLY START TO PAY ATTENTION AND RECOGNIZE THEY MIGHT BE BETTER OFF ON THE LOW PPO BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT USING THEIR DEDUCTILE. OR MEETING THEIR DEDUCTIBLE. >>Lynn Gray: WHEN WE HAVE A TOOL WE CAN USE FOR RECRUITMENT, WE DARN WELL BETTER SAY THOSE -- THE ADVANTAGES OF WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING SOME PUSH BACK. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I HAVE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VENDORS WE HAVE WITH THIS, BUT HAVE WITH THIS, BUT VENDORS NEED ATTENTION. THERE IS GOING TO BE QUESTIONS. THERE IS GOING TO BE THERE IS GOING TO BE EXPECTATIONS. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THAT NOW WILL -- WE'RE GOING TO BE AN INSURANCE
DISTRICT. WE WILL BE WE WILL BE MANAGING HUGE INSURANCE CLAIMS AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF. SO LET'S GET AN SO LET'S GET AN ANSWER ON THAT SO LET'S GET AN ANSWER ON THAT ONE. >>Van Ayres: I'M NOT SURE -- WHAT'S THE QUESTION? >>Lynn Gray: WHAT'S THE QUESTION. >>Van Ayres: IT WAS A LOT. I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT THE QUESTION IS. >>Lynn Gray: WHAT IS OUR STAFFING GOING TO LOOK LIKE TO HANDLE THE HANDLE THE SELF-INSURED? >>Van Ayres: I WANT TO REITERATE LIKE I MENTIONED LAST BOARD MEETING THIS IS A MOVE TO SELF-INSURANCE TO ULTIMATELY
SAVE THE DISTRICT IN THE LONG RUN. THAT ENTAILS THAT ENTAILS STAFF THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE ON BOARD. IF YOU CAN TALK THROUGH WHAT THAT SELF-INSURANCE STAFF MIGHT LOOK LIKE. >> SO WE INITIALLY TALKED ABOUT IT AND DID STATE THAT WE POSTED AND HAVE A MANAGER POSITION BECAUSE THIS IS A JOURNEY. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT. HEALTHCARE IS EVOLVING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STAFF. SO HAVING OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OF NOT JUST SAYING WE WANT TO HIRE UP A BUNCH OF STAFF. WE SAID WE'LL START WITH THE ONE
AS WE BEGIN THE JOURNEY BUT WE'LL DO THE ASSESSMENTS BY LOOKING AT WHERE THE CLAIMS ARE, WHAT'S COMING IN, AND DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL STAFF TO H.R. >>Lynn Gray: WITH AN APPRECIATION OF THE WORD "JOURNEY" PEOPLE'S WORD "JOURNEY" PEOPLE'S LIVES, THEIR HEALTH, MENTAL, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL HEALTH. I DON'T LIKE THE WORD "JOURNEY" BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A GAME. THIS IS REAL CARE NEEDED, REAL MONEY FOR DEDUCTIBLES. WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. SO THAT WORD TO ME, SO THAT WORD TO ME, I DON'T CARE
FOR THAT WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT. THE LAST THING, THE LAST THING, AND I'LL SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE THE FINAL ANALYSIS THAT BECAUSE THE FINAL ANALYSIS IS, WE'LL LOSE A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A DISTRICT -- 30 MORE SECONDS? HOW MUCH ARE YOU SAYING WE'RE SAVING? YOU SAID YOU SAID $27 YOU SAID $27 MILLION? >>Van Ayres: THAT'S CORRECT. BY MOVING TO SELF-INSURANCE, 27 MILLION. I THINK IT WAS 26.8. BUT $27 BUT $27 MILLION APPROXIMATELY. BY MOVING TO SELF-INSURANCE. IF WE STAY WITH THE HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN AS IS, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $27 MILLION ADDITIONAL $27 MILLION COST. CORRECT? >>Lynn Gray: AND THAT'S MINUS THE PERSON -- THE OFFICE MANAGER? DOES THAT INCLUDE THAT SALARY? >>Van Ayres: THAT >>Van Ayres: THAT SALARY, 27 MILLION, YOU'RE TALKING WHATEVER THE SALARY MIGHT BE -- >>Lynn Gray: SO I'M SPLITTING HAIRS. RIGHT NOW AS AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THAT MUCH THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE WE ARE NOW JUST BEING DRAINED IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. SO I WILL SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, BUT THAT QUESTION -- THOSE QUESTIONS
YOU'RE HEARING FROM ME CAME FROM CONSTITUENTS. AND ONE OF THEM CAME FROM ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON? >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. I WANT TO HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION WITH THE CONTRACT. AS WE SAID, AS I CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND I NEED CLARIFICATION FROM YOU ON A COST WE'RE YOU ON A COST WE'RE PUTTING OUT TO THE TO THE -- IN ORDER FOR THE BROKER AND SERVICE FEES. TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WILL BE
10.9 MILLION 10.9 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEES AND BROKERAGES TO THE BROKER COMPANY. CORRECT? >> THE BULK OF THAT AMOUNT >> THE BULK OF THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE GOING TO ETNA. NO MORE THAN NO MORE THAN 825,000 WOULD BE GOING TO GOING TO AON, THE BROKER. >>Patti Rendon: SO MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE IT HAS THE BROKER AND SERVICE FEES. >> IT'S THEREIN. I CAN FIND IT -- IT'S IN THERE. >>Patti Rendon: I'M ON PAGE, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE EFFECTIVE DATE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND CONTRACT
ITSELF, PAGE 1 OF THE ACTUAL FEES OF WHAT WE'LL BE FEES OF WHAT WE'LL BE SPENDING FOR THIS PROCESS. THERE IS TWO FACTORS. ONE OF THEM IS GOING ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE THE MEDICAL FEE AND BROKER COMPENSATION WHICH IS COMPENSATION WHICH IS $911,000. WHERE IS THAT GOING? IT'S PER ENROLLEE. YOU'RE ESTIMATING 19,000 ENROLLEES WHICH IS CLOSE AT 4798 PER PER ENROLLEE THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR COVERAGE TO
A BROKER. >> IT'S PER >> IT'S PER AON'S CONTRACT WHEN THEY WON THE BID THEY WON THE BID IN '20 THEIR CAP. SO IF WE HAVE 30,000 EMPLOYEES EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH CHARGE, THAT'S HOW ETNA IS KIND OF THAT'S HOW ETNA IS KIND OF BUILDING IT IN. THEY WILL NOT PAY THEM MORE THAN 825,000. >>Patti Rendon: BUT IN THE CONTRACT IT ACTUALLY SAYS THE ESTIMATED NUMBER TIMES THE ACTUAL PER ENROLLEE, IT COMES ACTUAL PER ENROLLEE, IT COMES OUT TO OUT TO 911,667
OUT TO 911,667.98 AND THERE IS NOWHERE IN THIS CONTRACT THAT SAYS THAT ION IS ONLY GETTING $800. >> COULD I INTRODUCE NATALIE >> COULD I INTRODUCE NATALIE FROM ETNA. SORRY. >> I'LL CROUCH HERE. THERE IS NOT ANOTHER CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICE -- THANK YOU. NATALIE NATALIE GUNDER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WHAT DR. SHOTZBERG
WAS SAYING IS THAT IN OUR CONTRACT, THE FEE THAT EON WILL BE PAID IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE FEES. IT IS ACTUALLY IT IS ACTUALLY $3.62 PER IT IS ACTUALLY $3.62 PER IT IS ACTUALLY $3.62 PER EPM. I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THE PEPM FEE TIMES THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES YOU'RE COMING UP WITH THE OVER 900,000. IT'S ACTUALLY CAPPED. >>Patti Rendon: BUT IN THE CONTRACT ITSELF, AND I GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT FEES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING
OUT THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MEDICAL BENEFITS. THIS IS JUST THE FEES FOR HAVING THE OUTSIDE ENTITY THE OUTSIDE ENTITY OF RUNNING THAT. IT DOESN'T SAY IN HERE THAT ION IS ONLY GETTING ION IS ONLY GETTING $800,000. THE 3 DOLLARS AND SOME CENTS. BECAUSE I'M LOOKING ON THE NEXT THREE PAGES WHICH ENCOMPASSES THREE PAGES WHICH ENCOMPASSES ALL THE FEES. I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S
THAT'S ON THE THIRD PAGE. NO, THAT'S ONLY A DOLLAR 65. >> SO IT'S ACTUALLY >> SO IT'S ACTUALLY -- IT ACTUALLY IS IN THE -- IF YOU'RE IN THE SECTION WHERE WE LIST OUT WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED, IT'S SORT OF -- I GUESS THAT'S PROBABLY MIDDLE WAY THROUGH THE ACTUALLY CONTRACT THAT YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU. THERE IS A SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT PRODUCER COMPENSATION UNDER BILLING INFORMATION. AND THERE IT DOES INDICATE THE NUMBERS I HAD REFERRED NUMBERS I HAD REFERRED TO, THE 3.62 PER EMPLOYEE PER 3.62 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH OF COMPENSATION CAPPED AT THE $825,000 ANNUALLY. >>Patti Rendon: YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S UNDER WHERE? >> THE SECTION THAT'S CALLED >> THE SECTION THAT'S CALLED BILLING INFORMATION. UNDER PRODUCER COMPENSATION.
I WISH I HAD A PAGE NUMBER HERE FOR YOU. >>Patti Rendon: I SEE IT. YEAH. IT'S ON PAGE IT'S ON PAGE ONE, TWO THREE, FOUR -- FOUR -- IT'S ON PAGE SIX RIGHT BEFORE BEFORE UNDERWRITING. NO, I'M SORRY. PAGE NINE UNDER "BILLING INFORMATION." SO IF I TAKE THE 3.62 TIMES THE 1900, THAT'S 3.62 TIMES THE 1900, THAT'S 825. WHY DOES THAT NOT MATCH ON THE
FIRST PAGE, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. >> SO -- >>Patti Rendon: BECAUSE HERE THE MEDICAL FEE WITH BROKEN COMPENSATION. DOES THAT MEAN THAT WHEN I TAKE OUT THAT OUT THAT $825,000, WHERE DOES THE THE OTHER ROUGHLY $90 THE OTHER ROUGHLY $90,000 GO. >> THEY DON'T GET IT. >>Patti Rendon: BUT WHERE DOES IT GO. IT'S BEING COLLECTED FROM OUR STAFF. >> SO WHEN WE'RE BILLING THE 3.62, THAT'S PART OF YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE FEES ON A
MONTHLY BASIS, ONCE YOU HAVE HIT IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION TO EON THE $825,000, WE NO -- THAT IS NO LONGER PART OF THE FEE. SO WE ADJUST THE FEES. THERE IS A YEAR END RECONCILIATION TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT PAYING MORE. >>Patti Rendon: DOES THAT GO BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING OUT OF THEIR PREMIUMS 47.98 MONTHLY. AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. THIS IS -- >> IT'S NOT PUTTING ME ON THE
SPOT. IT'S A MATTER OF IT'S A MATTER OF RECONCILIATION. IF THAT MONEY IS PAID TO US, THE MONEY IS RETURNED BACK TO THE DISTRICT. SO THERE IS A YEAR END RECONCILIATION. THAT ADDITIONAL $90,000 YOU'RE REFERRING TO -- >>Patti Rendon: ROUGHLY. >> -- GOES BACK TO THE DISTRICT YOU ACCOUNT FOR THAT HOWEVER IN YOUR WAY. BUT WE DON'T HOLD ON TO THE MONEY AT ALL. >>Patti Rendon: SO RIGHT NOW, AETNA'S FEE IS ABOUT -- IT'S ROUGHLY AROUND $10.9 MILLION. >> CORRECT. >>Patti Rendon: OKAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, AND WHEN I
LOOK THROUGH THE ENTIRE CONTRACT, YOU GUYS ARE HANDLING EVERYTHING. >> RIGHT. >>Patti Rendon: I'VE YET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HIRE ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER TO DO BECAUSE THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE MANAGING THIS ENTIRE MEDICAL PLAN. SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION FOR HR ON EXACTLY WHY WE NEED ANOTHER STAFF WHEN THEY'RE MANAGING THIS ENTIRE PLAN. AND IF WE HIRE ANOTHER COMPANY OR WHATEVER, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT GOES THROUGH VERY DETAILED, MENTAL
HEALTH, COUNSELING, HEALTH, COUNSELING, PATIENT CARE MANAGERS, THE WHOLE WORKS WITHIN THIS CONTRACT OF EXACTLY WHAT AETNA IS GOING TO BE DOING. MY LAST QUESTION IS, MY LAST QUESTION IS, I RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT IF WE STAYED FULLY INSURED, IT'S INSURED, IT'S ASTRONOMICAL. DON'T DOUBT THAT. MY -- I'VE GONE BACK BY THE WAY, SUPERINTENDENT. I REVIEWED TWICE THAT NOVEMBER MEETING. WE SAID AS A BOARD COLLECTIVELY THAT OUR PRIORITIES WERE THAT WE
DO NOT WANT TO SHOW SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO OUR DOCTORS. TO OUR CARE OF SERVICE. TO WHERE THEY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. WE NEVER WERE TOLD WE NEVER WERE TOLD BY OUR DISTRICT THAT BY DOING THAT AND NOT EVEN NOT EVEN GIVING US THE INFORMATION THAT WE COULD HAVE, IF WE AT LEAST GO OUT FOR AN RFP, A POSSIBLE SCENARIO WHERE WE CAN MAINTAIN THOSE THINGS BUT A DIFFERENT NETWORK. WE DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER BECAUSE WE NEVER DID IT.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS BOARD DID NOT NECESSARILY DIRECT THEM TO STAY WITH ONE CARRIER. THEY ASKED FOR THE STAFF TO BE TAKEN CARE OF TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE SAME TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE SAME DOCTORS. THEY DIDN'T WANT CHANGE IN THEIR BENEFITS. NOT NECESSARILY -- WE HAD AN OBLIGATION -- IF YOU WALKED IN AND SAID THAT -- I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. I MAY HAVE TO COME BACK. MY QUESTION I'M GOING TO BE ASKING ASKING IS, IF THE CLAIMS GO OVER THE THE PREMIUMS YOU COLLECT THE PREMIUMS YOU COLLECT, WHO THE PREMIUMS YOU COLLECT, WHO
BEARS THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE COMPARISON OF CLAIMS OF OF 2024-2025 THAT IS -- I MEAN, 2023-24, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT AND DOES THAT MATCH OUR PREMIUMS? WE'VE NOT BEEN WE'VE NOT BEEN GIVEN THAT INFORMATION. >> YES. TO YOUR QUESTION, MEMBER RENDON, IF THE CLAIMS EXCEED THE PREMIUM THAT'S BEEN COLLECTED, YOU'D BECOME A SELF-INSURED PLAN. IT'S ULTIMATELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. ONE OF THE POINTS YOU ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP EARLIER WAS ON THE
STOP LOSS POLICY AND ESSENTIALLY A STOP LOSS POLICY IS A STOP LOSS POLICY IS DESIGNED TO HELP TO HELP PROTECT THE PLAN FROM TO HELP PROTECT THE PLAN FROM CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR AS A MATTER OF FACT IS SIGNIFICANT CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS. VERY, VERY SICK INDIVIDUALS THAT IF UNDER A IF UNDER A SELF-INSURED AARRANGEMENT DEPENDING UPON DEDUCTIBLES YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR STOP LOSS, THOSE CLAIMS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER YOUR STOP LOSS POLICIES. WE CERTAINLY RECOMMEND ALMOST -- I'D SAY THE
ALMOST -- I'D SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE STOP LOSS MEDICAL CUSTOMERS HAVE STOP LOSS TO PROTECT FROM THOSE CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS. SO THAT PROVIDES YOU SOME ADDITIONAL PROTECTION AND COVERAGE BUT ULTIMATELY THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON THE SELF-INSURED PLAN TO COVER THOSE CLAIMS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. DR. HAHN? >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. WELL, THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON, FOR DOING SUCH A DEEP DIVE ON THIS AND THE PASSION YOU BRING TO IT AND THE NEXT TIME I HAVE
TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY, I'LL HAVE YOU SITTING NEXT TO ME. [LAUGHS] I THINK YOU HAVE A LITTLE SIDE BUSINESS YOU CAN DO. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, IT'S ALWAYS -- THERE IS ALWAYS A LOT OF ANGST WHEN YOU'RE MOVING -- WHEN YOU'RE CHANGING THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR SO LONG AND EMBARKING ON SOMETHING LIKE SELF-INSURANCE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD, WHICH
WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO NOW, WITH MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER GRAY. SO, YOU KNOW, IT TOOK THAT LONG FOR US TO GET COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH THE IDEA AND THE IDEA OF CHANGE. THAT'S HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR US TO BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY. SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME POINTS DURING THE WORKSHOP THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO US. CONTINUITY OF CARE. IT WAS THE COST AND HAVING AN RFP AFTER ONE YEAR. IF YOU COULD JUST REFLECT THAT A
LITTLE BETTER ON THE TIMELINE, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST THING I LOOKED FOR AS WELL. YOU KNOW, I -- YOU KNOW, I -- WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE GIVEN THAT WE'RE PAYING $10 MILLION TO AETNA, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE DISTRICT BUILD A HEALTH INSURANCE KINGDOM HEALTH INSURANCE KINGDOM WITHIN OUR WALLS. SO IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I HAD WRITTEN DOWN HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THE MANAGER POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION DESCRIPTION TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT YOU'RE PAYING THEM, AND THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE TO BRING TO THAT TO BRING TO THAT POSITION. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT US TO, YES, WE'RE SAVING MONEY BY MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AND I DON'T WANT TO EAT UP THAT SAVINGS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN SAYING, WE NEED A DEPARTMENT AND WE NEED TO HIRE 12 PEOPLE, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO BE REASSURED THAT REASSURED THAT WE ARE GOING TO COMPETE -- GO OUT TO COMPETE THIS BECAUSE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED TODAY ABOUT DISCUSSED TODAY ABOUT SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND WHAT THEY'RE PAYING. WE HAVE MORE MEMBERS. WE'RE A LARGER DISTRICT. IT IT CONCERNS ME. SO SO THE FASTER WE CAN GET A COMPARISON OR PUT THIS OUT COMPARISON OR PUT THIS OUT ON
THE STREET TO GET THE STREET TO GET -- BECAUSE OUR BIGGEST GOAL TO KEEP COST DOWN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. AND WHEN THEY ARE SICK, TO HELP THEM GET THE THEM GET THE CARE THEY NEED SO THAT WHEREVER THEY ARE FINANCIALLY, THEY ARE NOT -- WE ARE NOT CREATING ANY ARE NOT CREATING ANY BARRIERS TO CARE. I SHARED ON THIS BOARD IN THE LAST YEAR, I'VE LAST YEAR, I'VE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR MY MRI BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER THAN ME GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE. I PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR MY FAMILY INSURANCE FAMILY INSURANCE PLAN.
THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I'M -- I MEAN, IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING. AND IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, $800 OR WHATEVER. IT'S STILL A LOT IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY. AND AND A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES, THAT WOULD BE A BIG WOULD BE A BIG BARRIER TO THEIR CARE TO HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. AGAIN, I JUST HAD TO -- AGAIN, I JUST HAD TO -- MY DEDUCTIBLE FOR PROCEDURE AND I ACTUALLY POSTPONED IT WAS GOING
TO BE OVER TO BE OVER $1600, WHICH I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE MY DEDUCTIBLE IS NOT $1600 SO WHY ARE THEY CHARGING ME -- IT WAS JUST -- SO THIS IS CONFUSING AND THIS IS CONFUSING AND OVERWHELMING OVERWHELMING FOR EDGE -- HIGHLY EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE LANGUAGE BARRIERS ALREADY AND SO WE NEED TO PUT -- MAKE THIS AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE MONTHLY PAYMENT, BUT REALLY WE NEED TO
LOOK AT THE TYPE OF LOOK AT THE TYPE OF CARE THAT -- THE ACCESS TO CARE. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE SOME -- WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN OPT-IN TO. I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO -- I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THIS -- WE THIS -- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. I'M BIG ON KEEPING MY DOCTORS AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE INPUT INTO CHOOSING WHETHER IT'S A SURGEON OR, YOU KNOW, A GP OR A SURGEON OR, YOU KNOW, A GP OR A PEDIATRICIAN FOR MY CHILD OR A
SPECIALIST FOR SOMETHING. I WANT TO HAVE THAT OPTION, SO I UNDERSTAND I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE MORE, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT'S NOT -- I ALSO THINK EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME THINGS I THINK WE NEED THINK WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON, AND I'LL -- ON, AND I'LL -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER >>Nadia Combs: WE SPENT A LOT OF
TIME ON THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE WORKSHOPS AND HAD IT AT THE LAST MEETING AND BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF REFLECT AND TALK ABOUT IT. I THINK -- I HOPE OUR DISTRICT REALIZES HOW IMPORTANT WE THINK THIS IS. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL WORK FOR INSURANCE EVEN MORE THAN SALARIES. FOR ME, YEARS AGO, I EXPERIENCED BEING ON COBRA FOR A SHORT TIME BECAUSE I WAS SELF-EMPLOYED. I REMEMBER PAYING I REMEMBER PAYING ALMOST $2,000 FOR COBRA EVERY MONTH AND THAT WAS FOUR, FIVE MONTHS.
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. WE'RE SEEING HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGE SO MUCH IN THIS COUNTRY. THINGS ARE VASTLY MOVING REALLY QUICKLY. HEALTH INSURANCE. THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD FROM THIS BOARD, I THINK YOU HAD A SHORT RUNWAY. I WANT TO I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, DR. SCHATZBERG, YOU DO A GREAT JOB. YOU WORK VERY HARD. EVERY TIME THEY CALL YOU, PICK UP THE PHONE, DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT IS, THE WEEKEND, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND
THE COMMITMENT NOT JUST FOR YOU, THE TEAM, AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. I'M PERSONALLY ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE MYSELF HERE AT THE DISTRICT, SO I'M GOING TO BE IMPACTED AS WELL. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, I'M THINKING OF THEM, I'M THINKING OF MYSELF, I'M THINKING ABOUT EVERYONE. AND I KNOW THAT INSURANCE IS GOING TO START INCREASING. YOU'RE SEEING IT EVERYWHERE. I THINK WE KNOW WE WANT TO GO TO RFP. WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO TO COMPARE, WE'VE GOT SOME INFORMATION, DATA. WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER ABOUT
OUR OUR CONNECTIONS. HUMANA A LONG TIME. AETNA. WE WANT TO MAKE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE I THINK THE LONGER TIME YOU HAVE, THE BETTER IT WILL BE. TIME FOR RFP. YOU HEARD FROM US. ABSOLUTELY, I'LL SUPPORT THIS TODAY. I THINK IT'S TOUGH WITH THE
PREMIUMS. I THINK YOU'RE SEEING IT, I THINK YOU COULD FIND VERY LITTLE, FEW JOBS RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE'S NOT SOME TYPE OF IMPACT WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THINGS ARE CHANGING. SO I THINK THAT'S A FACT. I THINK YOU CAN LOOK ALL ACROSS AS SUCH A LARGE EMPLOYER, SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST DEAL, YES. WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO DO THAT. FIVE OR SIX COMPANIES? NO, SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL OF WHO WE
VET THAT THEY FOLLOW THROUGH. I FEEL THAT I FEEL THAT HAPPENED WITH SYNERGY. PROMISED ONE THING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT. AFTER A YEAR LIKE LAST YEAR, I PERSONALLY DID NOT WANT TO MAKE SOME BIG CHANGE. I THINK JUST I THINK JUST SELF-INSURANCE, ONE STEP, MAKING SURE WE SAVE MONEY AND THE DIRECTION IS AND THE DIRECTION IS CORRECT TO GO COMPLETELY GO COMPLETELY CHANGE GO COMPLETELY CHANGE 180, 360, I DON'T THINK WE HAD TIME. IF WE WANT TO THINK WE HAD TIME, I DON'T KNOW WORKING OUT THE DETAILS, WE'RE AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR
IT. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT, AND WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU AND THE BOARD FOR WORKING ON THIS. JUST KNOW THAT WE DO CARE ABOUT EVERY PREMIUM. I THINK ABOUT SURGERIES AND THINGS THAT I'VE HAD IN THE PAST. WE'RE APPRECIATIVE AND WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING TO HAVING THE BEST, BEST POLICIES WE CAN CAN FOR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE AS A BOARD CAN SEE OUR
CLAIMS FROM LAST YEAR AND WHERE THAT CEILING GOES FOR THAT STOP LOSS GAP HAPPENS? BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO ANTICIPATE AS A BOARD. IF IT'S GOING TO EXCEED THE 190 -- ACTUALLY, 180 MILLION. 11 MILLION WE'RE PUTTING OUT OF THE 190. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WHETHER WE DO IT -- MR. PORTER, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE NEED TO DO IT. WE'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT WE ANTICIPATE. FINANCIALLY WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE ANTICIPATE.
WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE HAVE THAT STOPGAP, NO MATTER WHEN YOU GO TO SELF-INSURANCE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE SELF-INSURANCE AND FULLY INSURED, IT'S RECOMMENDED YOU HAVE HAVE STOPGAP FOR THOSE CATASTROPHIC ILLNESSES. VERY RECOMMENDED. THAT'S NOT AN UNCOMMON THING. BUT WE'VE NOT BEEN EDUCATED AS A BOARD ON WHAT THAT IS, WHERE THAT COVERAGE STOPS AND GOES, AND WHO IS COVERING THAT STOPGAP. WHO IS CARRYING THOSE CLAIMS. WHO IS PAYING FOR THOSE. WHAT IS THAT COSTING US OTHER THAN WE SEE WHAT IS IN THE PLAN.
WHO IS CARRYING THE STOPGAP AND WHAT WILL IT COVER? HOW MUCH WERE THE CLAIMS -- WHERE ARE WE AT WHERE ARE WE AT WITH CLAIMS? DO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO GO OVER? THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO HEALTH INSURANCE, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. IF YOU WATCHED THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST YEAR, THERE ARE A LOT OF HEALTH INSURANCE QUESTIONS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY AWARE VERY AWARE AND VERY AWARE AND PREPARED. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE TO TAKE CARE OF IT THIS YEAR, BUT I AM GOING TO SAY RIGHT HERE ON
THE DAIS RIGHT NOW, I AM NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY IF DECEMBER 31st I'M TOLD THAT WE HAVE $50 MILLION WE HAVE TO PUT OUT OF CLAIMS THAT WENT OVER BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GIVEN THE FULL TRUTH TODAY. AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AETNA. THAT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S OUR DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY. WE'VE NEVER SEEN WHAT OUR CLAIM NUMBERS ARE. WE HAVE ZERO IDEA IF THIS IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH. WE REALLY DON'T. I'M PRETTY SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS.
BILLING ISSUES, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO INTO THIS. IF I WENT INTO MORE DETAIL, IT WOULD GET MORE CONFUSING. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLAIMS AND WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH CLAIMS ARE GOING TO BE OR WHAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE. ALL ALL WE KNOW IS WHAT CAN -- WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT YOU SAID IF WE STAYED SELF FULLY INSURED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A 30%, ACTUALLY I THINK YOU TOLD ME IN MY OFFICE 40%. I'LL GIVE YOU 30% INCREASE IN
OUR INSURANCE BUT YET OUR INSURANCE BUT YET WE'RE STILL UTILIZING AETNA'S FEE FOR SERVICES FOR WHEN WE GO TO THE DOCTOR. SO HOW ARE WE NOT GOING TO STILL HAVE THAT COST? WE DON'T KNOW THAT. WE'VE NOT BEEN EDUCATED ON THAT. THESE ARE THE CONCERNS I HAVE. YOU'VE GOT A COPY OF THE YOU'VE GOT A COPY OF THE CLAIMS? >> YEAH. WE CLEARLY LOOKED AT THE CLAIMS. I'M SORRY TO THINK YOU WOULD THINK WE WOULDN'T LOOK AT THE CLAIMS. OUR COMMITTEE DOVE INTO THE CLAIMS. WHEN WE DO OUR
WHEN WE DO OUR STOP-LOSS, WE WILL BE BRINGING TO YOU. HAVE A BID AND BRING THE INFORMATION TO YOU. YOU ALL WILL SEE YOU ALL WILL SEE IT. THAT'S TOTALLY TRANSPARENT. >>Patti Rendon: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE COMMITTEE IS NOT APPROVING $190 MILLION. THIS BOARD IS. IF YOU GAVE IF YOU GAVE THE COMMITTEE THAT INFORMATION, AT THE VERY MINIMUM YOU SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED THAT TO THIS BOARD. IT IS OUR NAME. IT IS THE CHAIR'S NAME ON THAT CONTRACT. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IT CORRECTLY. I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S ALMOST INSULTING.
THAT YOU WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO US WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION, BUT YOU WOULD PROVIDE IT TO OTHERS. I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I BECAUSE I HAVE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING BACK A YEAR AGO WHEN WE'VE HAD THESE WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS, 18 MONTHS AGO, SUPERINTENDENT, WHEN YOU STARTED, I FLAT OUT SAID IF WE DO NOT GO OUT FOR RFP, THIS RFP, THIS IS $190 MILLION, I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE CLAIMS. I HAVE NO IDEA OF THESE QUESTIONS. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE BETTER.
IT'S BECAUSE I THINK THEY DESERVE BETTER THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT BETTER. SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE MY BOARD IS COMING FROM BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE DOWN TO THE WIRE, BUT WE SHOULD BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE CONTINUOUSLY PUT IN THIS POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO APPROVE APPROVE THINGS WITHOUT FULL INFORMATION AT THE LAST MINUTE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY PUT IN FRONT OF US. I'M NOT GOING TO APPROVE THIS. I WANT IT VERY CLEAR, NOTHING TO DO WITH AETNA, NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMMITTEE, NOTHING TO
DO WITH OUR STAFF. IT'S BECAUSE I EXPECT BETTER FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND FROM OUR STAFF. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONE THING I REALIZE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM A LONG BEEN IN THE SYSTEM A LONG TIME, EVERY TIME WE HAVE CHANGED PROVIDERS AND SO FORTH, WE'VE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF DISCUSSION, WHAT, 14 YEARS WHAT, 14 YEARS AGO, MAYBE -- TRACY YOU WERE HERE, WE CHANGED THE PROVIDERS.
WE'RE COMFORTABLE IN WHAT WE DO. I THINK IN THIS CASE, WE NEED TO PASS IT. I'M GOING TO VOTE YES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. I JUST HAD SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS CALL IN MAYBE TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY WANT TO COME BACK TO WORK. THEY DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE MONEY. THEY WANT TO COME BACK TO WORK BECAUSE OF INSURANCE. THE INSURANCE IS VERY EXPENSIVE. EVERY TIME YOU LOOK IT GOES UP AND UP AND UP AND MORE.
BUT ONE THING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WITH SIMPLICITY SO WE CAN ALL WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE INSURANCE. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WE CONTINUE HAVING THE SAME ARGUMENT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. AND WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE PROVIDERS THAT THE PEOPLE WANT. NOW, ONE GOOD POINT I NOW, ONE GOOD POINT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS WE CAN KEEP OUR PROVIDERS
BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE SAYING. WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE -- WE WANT TO KEEP OUR DOCTORS. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT FOR MONEY, MONEY-WISE. IT MAY SEEM LIKE WE'RE NOT -- YOU KNOW, WE ARE ARGUING WHAT THE CASE MAY BE, BUT WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT, TOO, AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYEES. IT'S SO IMPORTANT WHEN COME BACK AROUND, WE SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO HAVE AND
WE WON'T HAVE WE WON'T HAVE THESE QUESTIONS AGAIN BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DOING AND IF WE ARE HIRING SOMEONE, IF WE ARE NOT HIRING SOMEONE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND. I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. I'M GOING TO VOTE YEA I'M GOING TO VOTE YEA NOW, BUT WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. OKAY? THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WHOO. I WAITED A I WAITED A LONG TIME TO I WAITED A LONG TIME TO SPEAK. MY THOUGHTS KIND OF CENTER
AROUND I DON'T SHARE ANY ILL INTENTION THAT YOU OR THE COMMITTEE OR ANYONE HAS ANY NEGATIVE INTENT IN SHARING AND DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO AS WE TRY TO TRANSITION TO SELF-INSURANCE. I DO HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE WAY WE SUPPOSEDLY MADE DECISIONS, THE CLARITY AROUND THE CLARITY AROUND THAT, THE CLARITY AROUND THAT, ALSO AROUND COMMUNICATING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. THIS FALLS DIRECTLY ON YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I THINK THAT HAVING ONE WORKSHOP TO GET DIRECTION IS NOT A GOOD
FORM FOR A DECISION AS BIG AS THIS. I EXPECTED THAT TO BE AN OPENING PLACE FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS. AND JUST AS WE'VE DECIDED THE OTHER TOPICS THAT ARE SO BIG, WE NEED TO HAVE MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT. BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER CONSENSUS ABOUT CHOOSING AETNA. I REMEMBER THERE WERE SOME MEMBERS WHO WERE VERY PASSIONATE AND RIGHTLY SO. I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH THEM ABOUT KEEPING CONTINUITY, BUT THERE WAS NOT A LIKE, HEY, HOW DOES EVERYONE FEEL ABOUT STAYING WITH AETNA AT
ANY POINT DURING THE ANY POINT DURING THE WORKSHOP. I SAID THIS REPEATEDLY THROUGH THE PROCESS. TO SAY WE GAVE CLEAR DIRECTION AT THE AT THE WORKSHOP IS PROBLEMATIC FOR ME. I THINK IF WE'RE MAKING BIGGER DECISIONS THAT DECISIONS THAT INVOLVE 20,000 PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, THERE SHOULD BE WAY MORE THAN ONE WORKSHOP WHERE SOMEONE PASSIONATELY SAYS WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT AND YOU TAKE THAT AS THE DIRECTION YOU NEED ON A DECISION THIS BIG. I AM FRUSTRATED AROUND THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT MEANS AND ARE WE ABLE TO
LOOK AT OTHER PROVIDERS AND KEEP THE SAME DOCTORS AND HAVE THESE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BEFORE IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE BOARD MEMBERS ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO VOTE YES FOR THAT. I'VE EXPRESSED THIS CONCERN ACROSS THE BOARD. I DON'T THINK IT'S TO ANY ILL INTENT. I THINK IT IS A NEW THING, A BIG DECISION. I THINK WE NEED TO PUT BETTER PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES IN FOR THE BOARD TO BE ENGAGED IN SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I ALSO WANT TO I ALSO WANT TO JUST I ALSO WANT TO JUST CLARIFY BECAUSE MY OTHER FRUSTRATION
AROUND THIS IS THAT WE HAVE DONE NO ENGAGING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AT-LARGE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A COMMITTEE AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S HARD WORK AND I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THEY ARE A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF OUR WORKFORCE, BUT ONCE INFORMATION GETS OUT, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH AT SEVERAL BOARD MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS NOW, OUR EMPLOYEES DON'T WATCH THOSE WORKSHOPS. THEY DON'T THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THOSE BOARD MEETINGS, AND THEY HEAR SMATTERINGS OF THIS AND IT STARTS STARTS HYSTERIA. THE AMOUNT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WORK THAT I'VE HAD TO DO AS A
BOARD BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER TO PROVIDE CLARITY AROUND QUESTIONS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHEN I ASKED WHY WE HADN'T SENT OUT AN E-MAIL PREVIOUS TO THIS TO INTRODUCE THIS TO EMPLOYEES AND SAY, HEY, OUR RATES COULD BE SO MUCH MORE IF WE WEREN'T GOING SELF-INSURED. EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP FOR COST OF CARE AND OF CARE AND ALLOWED EMPLOYEES TO DIGEST THIS BEFORE WE HAD TO COME TO AS A BOARD AND MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT GIVING THEM TIME IS A PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN AN E-MAIL SENT OUT, WHAT I WAS TOLD IS, WE HAVEN'T DONE
THAT. WE DON'T SENT OUT E-MAILS BEFORE A BOARD VOTES ON AN ITEM. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, AGAIN, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME TO HAVE TO DO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WORK TO GIVE INFORMATION TO OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN TO THEM ON THE FOREFRONT AS WE MAKE THIS DECISION. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. TO THAT, I HAVE QUESTIONS FROM EMPLOYEES NOW THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WE MIGHT BE UNDERSTAND WE MIGHT BE CHANGING. AND I WANT TO AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, FOR OUR MEMBERS THAT STAY ON THE FREE PLAN, THE
CHANGES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO EXPECT ARE, ONE, EXPECT ARE, ONE, THE $4,000 DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH I'M GLAD ONLY 20% USE IT, BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO FINDS THEM WHO FINDS THEM SELF IN WHO FINDS THEM SELF IN A SITUATION, COST $4,000 NOW ALMOST NEGATES THE MILLAGE WE GO OUT FOR DEPENDING WHO YOU ARE. $4,000 DEDUCTIBLE IS MAJOR HEARTBURN FOR ANYONE. THERE'S GOING TO BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER COPAYS FOR SOME THING.
$5 FOR EACH. WE'VE GONE UP ALMOST EVERY YEAR, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM, THERE WILL BE SOME INCREASES ON COPAYS. THERE WILL BE A COPAY FOR HOSPITAL. SO IF SOMEONE BREAKS THEIR LEG AND GOES TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND $4,000. THERE WILL BE THINGS THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT OFFSET THOSE. >>Jessica Vaughn: FOR THE HOSPITAL STAY. DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE MIGHT FALL BEING TREATED DURING THAT. >> IT COULD BE A >> IT COULD BE A RADIOLOGY COPAY. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT WOULD HELP. IT IS POSSIBLE, YOU ARE RIGHT. >>Jessica Vaughn: APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO DEFENDING
THIS PLAN. HIGHER COPAYS, AND THEN THE MAJOR PIECE OF HEARTBURN, SORRY TO GO OVER, I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE IS IN THE QUEUE. I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE, IS BACK IN THE QUEUE, IS THE FACT THAT FAMILIES WILL PAY MORE FOR THEIR PLANS WHO HAVE BEEN COVERED GOING FORWARD. MINUS THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE MENTIONED, ARE THERE ANY OTHER LARGE PIECES OR CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO FINANCIALLY IMPACT OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS RIGHT NOW?
>> IN MY OPINION, I THINK WE'VE COVERED IT. ANY EMPLOYEE WHO IS ON -- I THINK I MENTIONED IT BEFORE, ANY EMPLOYEES ON THE LOCAL PLAN WITH A FAMILY WHO STAYS ON THE LOW PPO WILL NOT SEE AN INCREASE IN PREMIUM. FAMILY WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE WHAT IT IS TODAY. AS I SAID, I DO THINK -- I THINK WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE MOVING TO THE PLAN AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAVE MONEY. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE CONCERN THAT EMPLOYEES ARE SHARING WITH US.
THEY DON'T HAVE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A SELF-FUNDED PLAN IS. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON A SELF-FUNDED PLAN AND HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE SPREADING INFORMATION THAT SELF-FUNDED PLANS ARE BAD ALL AROUND. THEY ARE ALSO REALLY SAYING CONCERN THAT WITH THE OFFSETS OF THIS MEDICAL CHANGE, THAT THEY ARE INDEED PAYING FOR THAT WITH THE MILLAGE INCREASE. THAT WE WENT OUT. WE RAISED A MILLAGE. THEY ARE GOING TO GET THIS INCREASE, BUT NOW WITH THEIR MEDICAL GOING UP, IT ALMOST NEGATES FROM THAT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S TRUE. I'M NOT VALIDATING THAT BECAUSE
YOU'RE MAKING SEVERAL POINTS. BY NOT GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND SENDING OUT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM PROCESS THIS AND BEING FAIR, THAT IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS BOARD MEMBERS NOW. THE LAST QUESTION I WANT TO ASK AND I'LL MOVE ON. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOREVER. WHEN YOU SAY IT WOULD HAVE COST US EXTRA IF WE HAD NOT GONE SELF-INSURED IS THAT AS A DISTRICT BUT NOT PASSED ON TO OUR EMPLOYEES OR WOULD THAT COST NO MATTER WHAT HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, ARE WE SAVING MONEY AS A DISTRICT ON THE BACKS OF OUR EMPLOYEES OR WOULD THEY HAVE NO MATTER WHAT SEEN A SEEN A MUCH HIGHER PLAN SET BEFORE THEM OR COULD WE HAVE SUBSIDIZED THAT? I'M NOT SAYING WE WANT TO DO THAT. MEMBER GRAY MADE A POINT. HUGE FINANCIAL PERIL. NEED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS AT ALL LEVELS. BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY IS THAT A COST WE WOULD HAVE EATEN OR A COST WE'RE SAVING FOR EMPLOYEES? >> WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT THE DISTRICT
PAYS PAYS OVER PAYS OVER 90% OF CLAIMS, OF PREMIUMS. SO HAD WE SO HAD WE SPENT 26.5 MILLION MORE, TYPICALLY THE WAY IT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST IS IF THAT WORKED IN THE PAST IS IF THAT IS 6% INCREASE, THEN THE 6% INCREASE, THEN THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE DONE 6 AND EMPLOYEES WITH DEPENDENTS WOULD HAVE DONE THEIR 6. I SAID 6. THAT'S NOT THE NUMBER. I PUT THAT OUT THERE AS AN EXAMPLE. >>Jessica Vaughn: THIS IS WHERE WE AS A BOARD GET FRUSTRATED, BUT YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THAT CONVERSATION
HASN'T HAD AND WE'RE MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU BRING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT COMES FROM YOU. AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYBODY THINKS WE MAKE EVERY SINGLE DECISION THAT HAPPENS AT THE DISTRICT AND WE'RE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ENOUGH. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. >>Van Ayres: THE COMMENT AROUND SELF-FUNDED PLAN, OUR EMPLOYEES FEELING THE DIFFERENCE OF SELF-INSURED PLAN VERSUS FULLY INSURED PLAN, I WANT TO GET ON
THE RECORD, THE EMPLOYEES SHOULD FEEL NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER SELF-INSURED PLAN OR FULLY INSURED PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. SHOULD BE BEHIND THE SCENES. >>Van Ayres: IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES HOW WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THINGS. THE EMPLOYEE SHOULD NOT, WILL NOT KNOW WHETHER SELF INSURE OR FULLY INSURED PLAN. THE INSURANCE PLAN IS THE INSURANCE PLAN. WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ON THE BACK SIDE. >>Jessica Vaughn: WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR AN E-MAIL TO SAY THAT. >>Van Ayres: JUST TO SUMMARIZE, GO BACK TO THE
GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING, IN DECEMBER OF 25 OF THIS YEAR, HERE WE ARE JULY OF 25, BY DECEMBER 31st OF 2025, MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAM KNOWS, THERE WILL BE AN RFP ON THE STREET OR THAT PROCESS WILL BEGIN. IF YOU COULD TALK THROUGH THAT SO WE HAVE CLARITY ON THE DAIS HERE AROUND WHAT THAT RFP PROCESS. MR. LEWIS, IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN, AS OF DECEMBER 2025, WE GO OUT FOR OUT FOR RFP EFFECTIVE DATE JANUARY OF 2027. SOMEBODY COULD CLARIFY SOMEBODY COULD CLARIFY THAT,
THAT PROCESS OF GOING OUT FOR RFP. >> PROCUREMENT ALREADY MET AND WORKING WITH HR TO BUILD THE PLAN THAT SUPERINTENDENT AYRES JUST MENTIONED. THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN IN JULY, THIS MONTH, PREPARING THE PACKAGE AND DETERMINING WHAT WILL BE IN THE RFP AND SUBMITTING THAT IN THE FALL. DROP-DEAD DATE AS INNED IS DECEMBER, BUT TO MEMBER RENDON'S POINT, IT COULD GO OUT SOONER. OUR INTENTION IS SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO
MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE CHOICE. AS ALSO MENTIONED IN THE ROAD MAP, OTHER TIME LINES THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE CAN WORK WITH FINANCE AND HR TO CLARIFY DATES. WE WANT TO GIVE YOU ASSURANCES THAT WE ALREADY BEGAN THE PROCESS OF SENDING THAT OUT. THAT WILL BE CLARIFIED UP FINISHED UP IN THE EARLY PARTS OF OF FALL. LATEST DATE IN DECEMBER. WE ANTICIPATE WE ANTICIPATE MUCH EARLIER. >>Van Ayres: THE INSURANCE PLAN WE'RE ON NOW STAYS THE SAME THROUGH DECEMBER 31st.
WHAT WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT IS FOR 2026. JANUARY 2026. AFTER THE RFP, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE RFP PROCESS, THE NEW PLAN WOULD GO INTO PLACE IN 2027. WHOEVER IS LISTENING, THE TIMELINE THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR. SCHOOL STARTS AUGUST 10. INSURANCE PLAN THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL DECEMBER 31st. JANUARY OF 2026 THE PLAN APPROVED TONIGHT GOES INTO PLACE. THEN IN 2027 AS THE 26 YEAR IS HAPPENING, THAT RFP PROCESS IS
TAKING PLACE AND WE MOVE FORWARD HOWEVER THAT PROCESS TURNS OUT FOR THE 27 SCHOOL YEAR. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES LISTENING UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE. I GOT IT RIGHT, RIGHT? MAKE SURE THAT TIMELINE IS CORRECT IN MOVING FORWARD. MEMBER MEMBER VAUGHN, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I WANT TO TALK ON THE STAFF SIDE ON THE STAFF SIDE ABOUT A COMMUNICATION OF WHAT STAFF MEANT ABOUT US PUTTING OUT TO OUR EMPLOYEES SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET, IT MAY SEEM TO OUR EMPLOYEES, HEY,
WE'RE ALREADY DOING THIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT. I WANT TO BE CAREFUL OF PUTTING THE BOARD, STAFF PUTTING SOMETHING OUT, THIS IS WHAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE. STAFF WOULD THEN THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED OR THAT DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. THAT WAS THE ONLY -- THAT IS WHY NOTHING WENT OUT TO OUR EMPLOYEES. BUT I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. >>Jessica Vaughn: FIND THE WORDING, ESPECIALLY WITH ChatGPT WHERE WE CAN MAKE IT INCREDIBLY CLEAR TO EMPLOYEES THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN PASSED.
THIS IS A PROPOSED IDEA COMING TO THE BOARD AND HE WANT TO GET FEEDBACK. I THINK THERE'S WORDING TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. >>Van Ayres: IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD MOVING FORWARD, AS WE GO TO THE ONE-ON-ONES, I BELIEVE STAFF HAD ONE-ON-ONES WITH BOARD MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WE'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL OF DOING THAT SO PEOPLE DON'T INTERPRET SOMETHING HAS ALREADY BEEN VOTED FOR AND APPROVED AND HASN'T. I UNDERSTAND. >>Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THE CLARITY. MEMBER RENDON, YOU'RE BACK IN THE QUEUE. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU.
I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO SELF INSURANCE, EVERY SINGLE PROVIDER THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF A SELF INSURANCE PLAN COMES TO THE TABLE WITH DIFFERENT TABLE WITH DIFFERENT PLANS. THEY LOOK DIFFERENT. THEY CREATE A PLAN SPECIALIZED FOR YOUR DISTRICT. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE GO OUT FOR RFP THAT BOTH THE COMMITTEE HAS THE ABILITY TO HAVE FULL PRESENTATIONS BY THOSE THAT WENT OUT FOR RFP, LIKE WE DO FOR LOBBYISTS, THEY CAN GIVE THE BOARD
THE BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS BASED UPON THEIR PRESENTATION AND THE SAME PROVIDER GIVE US A PRESENTATION SO WE PRESENTATION SO WE HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY OF EXACTLY WHAT WAS PRESENTED BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE. I DON'T NEED A DECISION TODAY, BUT COULD WE INVESTIGATE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SO THAT THERE IS A FULL TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT THE PACKAGE LOOKS LIKE. HOW DID WE MAKE THAT DECISION? WHAT WERE THE OPTIONS FOR DOCTORS? WHAT WERE THE OPTIONS OF THE PLANS?
SO IF WE CREATE THAT WHERE WE HAVE A MEETING WHERE THEY GIVE THE PRESENTATIONS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THE COMMITTEE SEES THAT AND IS ABLE TO GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS. THEN WE HAVE A FULL VIEW. IF WE DO THAT IN A PUBLIC SETTING, WE THEN ARE ABLE TO GET PUBLIC COMMENT FROM OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT'S NOW RECORDED. IT'S PUBLIC THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR SOMETHING THIS SERIOUS. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT SO WE MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES GET FULL CONTACT. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>>Van Ayres: JUST SO I'M CLEAR, MR. MR. PORTER, MR. PORTER, GIBSON, REFERRING TO THROUGH OUR LOBBYIST -- WHEN WE CHOOSE OUR LOBBYIST, COMES TO THE BOARD THROUGH THE THE BOARD THROUGH THE PROCESS THEY MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD. THE BOARD ULTIMATELY MAKES THAT DECISION. WE TREAT THAT ONE DIFFERENT THAN COMING AS A SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATION. MOST RFPs STAFF HANDLES, SUPERINTENDENT MAKES A RECOMMENDATION. WHAT I'M WHAT I'M HEARING IS FOR THIS PARTICULAR HEALTH INSURANCE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WOULD TREAT
IT DIFFERENT, MORE LIKE THE LOBBYIST ONE THAT BRINGS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD. >>Jim Porter: FOR THE RECORD, I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU CAN YOU CAN CONSIDER. I WOULD CAUTION YOU ABOUT MAKING THAT DECISION TONIGHT. CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. AS SUPERINTENDENT SAID, YOU DO THAT WITH YOUR LOBBYIST. REQUIRES MORE THOUGHT. I WOULD CAUTION AGAINST MAKING A DECISION. YES, HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. GIVEN THE COMMENT, THE SUGGESTION YOU JUST MADE, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE REASON WE DO REASON WE DO THAT FOR THE LOBBYIST IS BECAUSE THEY LOBBYIST IS BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR FOR THE FOR THE BOARD. I WOULDN'T I WOULDN'T MIND, YOU I WOULDN'T MIND, YOU KNOW, HEARING THE PRESENTATIONS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A WANT TO GET INTO A HABIT OF ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BOARD OF A SUDDEN THE BOARD IS
APPROVING RFPs. I THINK, LOOK, I'M GOING TO SAY, IT GETS POLITICAL. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THIS IS PEOPLE WHO THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND I THINK IT'S A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE. I THINK IT SHOULD COME TO THE BOARD AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO UNDO INFLUENCE PUT ON BOARD MEMBERS FROM LARGE COMPANIES, PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S CLEANER. I THINK IT'S A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE TO START GETTING INTO THIS HABIT. IF YOU WANT IF YOU WANT THEM TO VIDEOTAPE THE THE PRESENTATIONS, THAT'S FINE, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT DECISION ON CHOOSING THAT CONTRACT THROUGH AN RFP SHOULD COME TO THIS BOARD. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. THAT'S A BAD PRACTICE TO GET INTO IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR.
HAHN. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: MEMBER HAHN, I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I AM SPEAKING AS A BOARD MEMBER, WHEN YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE, YOU'RE REPRESENTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE TEACHERS. YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE PARENTS. YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY. YOU'RE REPRESENTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS. I PERSONALLY CAN'T IMAGINE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES. THEY ALREADY THEY ALREADY CONTACT ME ANYWAYS JUST BECAUSE OF THE VOTE. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF THEY THOUGHT
I WOULD BE DECIDING IT. IT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN THAT POSITION. THAT IS OPENING UP A CAN THAT IS OPENING UP A CAN OF WORMS. WE COULD BE -- KELLY -- WE COULD BE DOING THAT FOR EVERYTHING. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE CONFIRMING WE CAN BE MORE INVOLVED, TALK MORE ABOUT IT. MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE WORKSHOPS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, I WANT TO DO A RETREAT. DO A LONG RETREAT AND WORK OUT A LOT OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT, IF NOT, IT'S ALL FRAGMENTED. TO TALK ABOUT THINGS, DISCUSS THINGS, I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF HAVING THE COMMITTEE. SUPERINTENDENT, YOU BRINGING THAT RECOMMENDATION AS WELL AS FOR THE LETTER. WE CAN'T WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO RUNNING DAY TO DAY. IF YOUR CABINET FEELS LIKE YOU SHOULD SEND THE LETTER OUT TO THE EMPLOYEES, DO SO. YOU CAN'T HAVE US AS BOARD MEMBERS INFLUENCING YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES. THAT'S NOT OUR JOB. NOT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED NOT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO US ONE ON ONE, GET FEEDBACK, SEE WHAT
WE'RE THINKING, THAT'S APPROPRIATE. THE DAY TO DAY HOW RUNNING THINGS, IF YOU FEEL ACCURATE, NOT ACCURATE, LET PEOPLE KNOW, NOT LET PEOPLE KNOW, THAT'S WHY YOU ARE HIRED AND WHY YOU ARE HERE. THAT'S HOW I FEEL AS A BOARD MEMBER. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. REAL BRIEF, I WOULD RECOMMEND TO PUT, BECAUSE IT'S FRAGMENTED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO PUT IT ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA FOR AN UPDATE, FOR AN UPDATE, SELF-INSURANCE
UPDATE. KEEP US UPDATED. KEEP US KEEP US IN THE LOOP. FROM THAT POINT, PERHAPS ANOTHER WORKSHOP. THE BOARD IS MENTIONING SO MANY DIFFERENT QUESTIONS AND RIGHTLY SO. THANK YOU, MADAM THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: MY QUESTION IS I'LL ASK THIS, EVEN THOUGH YOU RUN THE DISTRICT, AS SOMEBODY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPOSITORY FOR THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE, ARE YOU GOING TO SEND A LETTER OUT
AFTER WE APPROVE THIS AFTER WE APPROVE THIS BEING VERY CLEAR WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS TO GET AHEAD OF IT OF WHAT CHANGES THEY ARE GOING TO EXPECT, WHY THEY ARE, WHAT PROMPTED THAT, EXACTLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY AS FAR AS NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF-FUNDED AND NOT SELF-FUNDED WITH MESSAGING OF WHO TO CONTACT? WE'RE NOT MICROMANAGING THE SUPERINTENDENT. WE SHOULDN'T SEE THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S HIS JOB.
>>Van Ayres: THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, STAFF IS PREPARED TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT AFTER IT IS APPROVED TONIGHT, IF IT IS APPROVED TONIGHT. >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER RENDON VOTING NO. NOW WE GO ON NOW WE GO ON TO 4.03, LANTERN SPECIALTY CARE CONTRACT.
>>Van Ayres: LANTERN SPECIAL CARE CONTRACT, NEW PROGRAM CARE CONTRACT, NEW PROGRAM IN 2026. LANTERN OFFERS ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF HIGHLY VESTED BOARD CERTIFIED SURGEONS IN FACILITIES AT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE COST, UP TO 50% TO 50% SAVINGS. EMPLOYEES WHO CHOOSE FOR ELECTIVE SURGERIES WILL HAVE DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE WAIVED. VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.
THE DISTRICT WILL PAY LANTERN 30% OF THE SAVINGS REALIZED BY USING THEIR NETWORK. SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAVE BEEN UTILIZING LANTERN AND SEEING SIGNIFICANT SEEING SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. MANATEE COUNTY REALIZING THAT SAVINGS, HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF WORKING WITH LANTERN. DR. PATTON, ANYTHING ELSE ON LANTERN YOU WANTED TO ADD LANTERN YOU WANTED TO ADD THERE? >> AGAIN, WE WERE LOOKING AT OPTIONS IN ORDER FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO EMPLOYEES AT NO COST BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY MAY
HAVE TO HAVE A COST THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM AT THAT TIME. LANTERN IS ONE OPTION AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO DO OR NOT TO DO. IT'S NOT THAT IT IS COMPULSORY, IT'S VOLUNTARY IF THEY DECIDE TO DO THAT. >>Van Ayres: THAT'S 4.03. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 4.03. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: I THINK WE HAVE DISCUSSED THINGS IN DETAIL. I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER >>Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: IS THIS A PRODUCT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE TO CHOOSE TO PURCHASE WHEN THEY RENEW BENEFITS? >> NO, MA'AM. THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ELIGIBLE TO DO IT IF THEY LIKE. WHEN A SURGERY IS NEEDED, THEY WOULD CALL LANTERN AND SAY HOOK ME UP. >>Patti Rendon: SIGN UP AT NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. SURGERY OCCURS, THEY ARE USING
LANTERN, YOU ARE PICKING UP 35%, DISTRICT IS PICKING UP 35%. >> SO THE DISTRICT -- THE COST WILL BE LESS BECAUSE IT IS A NEGOTIATED RATE. TYPICALLY ABOUT TYPICALLY ABOUT HALF. SO LET'S SAY THERE IS A HERNIA SURGERY THAT'S $14,000 NORMALLY. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE LIKE 6,000. AND THEN LANTERN, SO THEN THERE IS A SAVINGS OF LET'S SAY FOR SEVEN -- $7,000 DIFFERENCE, THEY
ARE GOING TO GET 35% OF ARE GOING TO GET 35% OF THAT 7,000. WE'RE GOING TO BE -- WE'RE STILL PAYING A LOT LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING NORMALLY ON A SURGERY AND THE EMPLOYEE WOULD BE PAYING NOTHING. >>Patti Rendon: BASICALLY, WITH ANY ANY SURGERY, OUR EMPLOYEES GET, THEY ARE PAYING THEY ARE PAYING NOTHING. >> YES. BUT NOT BRAIN -- >>Patti Rendon: WHERE DO YOU CHOOSE IT?
HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTOR, I'LL HAVE SHOULDER SURGERY. HE HAS AN HE HAS AN APPOINTMENT, GOES IN FOR SHOULDER SURGERY, I'LL GIVE THEM BOTH MY THEM BOTH MY CARDS. MY LANTERN INFORMATION AND AETNA THING. THEY WILL TELL ME THAT AETNA IS MY PRIMARY MEDICAL. IF I HAVE TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL, AND I HAVE TO SPEND THE AND I HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT, THAT INSURANCE WILL BE MY PRIMARY.
HOW DOES LANTERN COME IN AND WHAT IS THE ACTUAL SURGERY COST? WHEN I GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE SURGERY, MY TOTAL COST IS SO MUCH SO MUCH MORE. IT'S THE IT'S THE DOCTORS. ANESTHESIA. ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND THE NURSES, AND MATERIALS AND ALL AND MATERIALS AND ALL THE ABOVE. WHERE DOES THAT COVERAGE COME IN AND HOW DOES IT WORK. >> HAPPY TO ADDRESS AS MANY DETAILS AS YOU'D LIKE ON THAT. I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH HEALTH CARE TODAY, THE
TODAY, THE WAY CLAIMS ARE PAID ARE BASED ON PERCENT OF CHARGES. WHO KNOWS WHAT DIFFERENT CHARGES. OUR CONTRACTS ARE NEGOTIATED BUNDLE. WE PAY ONE PRICE. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO CHARGE SOMETHING, DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY DIFFERENT THINGS YOU HAVE, WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR OVERNIGHT OR GO HOME THE SAME DAY. WE'RE PAYING A CONTRACTED RATE BASED ON THE PRIMARY CPT CODE OR THE PRIMARY DIAGNOSE THE PRIMARY DIAGNOSE RELATED GROUPING. INPATIENT STAY, WE NEGOTIATED ONE PRICE. INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT. IT CAN BE DONE AT THE HOSPITAL, DONE IN A SURGERY CENTER. WE HAVE A NETWORK THAT COVERS BOTH. I WILL TELL YOU IN MOST SITUATIONS, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME SURGEON. AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S CHOICE. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO USE US BECAUSE WE ARE EXTREMELY NARROW. WE HAVE A GREAT NETWORK HERE. IN FACT, I WAS LOOKING BEFORE WE CAME, LAST YEAR, WE PERFORMED NORTH OF 2,000 SURGERIES IN TAMPA ACROSS OUR MEMBERS.
I THINK WE'RE I THINK WE'RE WITH 12 OR 13 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE STATE HAS US. THAT'S WHY IT IS A CHOICE BECAUSE IT DOES USUALLY REQUIRE CHANGE. THE MEMBER WILL HAVE TO ENGAGE US. THEY'LL ENGAGE ONE OF OUR 250 CARE ADVOCATES. THAT CARE ADVOCATE WILL EXPLAIN TO THEM, NO, YOU ARE GOING TO SHOW YOUR LANTERN CARD. ALSO GIVE THEM DETAILED BIOS ARE THREE SURGEONS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURE THEY NEED THAT HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED BY US TO DO THOSE TO DO THOSE PROCEDURES.
SO THAT POINT THE MEMBER CAN SAY, YES, I WANT TO GO SAY, YES, I WANT TO GO SEE DR. SMITH OF THE THREE CHOICES. OUR CARE ADVOCATE WILL FACILITATE MEDICAL RECORDS TRANSFERS, GET IN TOUCH WITH DR. SMITH'S OFFICE, MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE PATIENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SCHEDULED. GO SEE DR. SMITH FOR AN EVALUATION. IF DR. SMITH SAYS, IF DR. SMITH SAYS, YES, IN FACT, YOU DO NEED SHOULDER SURGERY, THEY WOULD THEN SCHEDULE AND BOOK US AS THE PRIMARY INSURANCE. THOSE CLAIMS WOULD COME TO US AND BE PAID UNDER AND BE PAID UNDER OUR CONTRACT. >>Patti Rendon: WITH YOUR
BUNDLE, DOES THAT INCLUDE AFTERCARE? I'M RELEADS FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH AT HOME CARE, DO I FLIP BACK OVER TO AETNA AND WOULD AETNA COVER A SURGERY AFTER-CARE THAT THEY DID NOT APPROVE FROM THE BEGINNING? BECAUSE, AGAIN, MY SURGERY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY AETNA BECAUSE I'VE NOT DONE -- IN MANY SITUATIONS WITH OUR HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WE HAVE PREQUALIFYING THINGS WE MUST DO BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT LEVEL. IF I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE FOUR
STEPS BEFORE I GET THERE, WILL THAT COVER -- WILL LANTERN OR AETNA COVER MY AFTERCARE AND WHO WILL EDUCATE ME ON THAT? BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE. >> YOUR CARE ADVOCATE WILL EDUCATE YOU IMMEDIATELY. EVERY SINGLE MEMBER WILL GET NOT ONLY A WELCOME KIT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAN YEAR, I KNOW PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO REMEMBER THAT. BEING VERY HONEST. GET A KIT, EXPLAINS ALL THIS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER IT. ONCE THEY ENGAGE A CARE ADVOCATE, THEY'LL AGAIN GET A
VERY SIMILAR KIT THAT EXPLAINS IN DETAIL WHAT IS COVERED, WHAT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED. IF IT'S HOME HEALTH CARE OR YOU NEED TO GO TO A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, WE WOULD WORK WITH AETNA TO TRANSITION THAT SO THE MEMBER DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. WE HAVE TONS OF EXPERIENCE DOING THAT WITH AETNA, WITH ALL THE CARRIERS. THINGS LIKE YOUR FOLLOW-UP VISIT WITH YOUR SURGEON, THOSE ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THE BUNDLE. ALL OF YOUR FOLLOW-UP CARE TYPICALLY FOR MEDICARE GLOBAL PERIOD, USUALLY 90 DAYS, ALL
THAT IS COVERED IN THE THAT IS COVERED IN THE BUNDLE. OFTENTIMES, PHYSICAL THERAPY IF DONE AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WHERE YOU HAD THE PROCEDURE, THAT WILL BE COVERED. WE COVER THAT BECAUSE OF COMPLIANCE. PHYSICAL THERAPY IS CRITICAL AFTER SURGERY. I KNOW -- I I KNOW -- I HAD SHOULDER SURGERY LAST AUGUST. MY DEDUCTIBLE WAS $7500. OUT OF POCKET MAX OUT OF POCKET MAX WAS OUT OF POCKET MAX WAS $11,000. WE JUST BECAME WE JUST BECAME SELF-FUNDED THIS YEAR. WE FINALLY WERE LARGE ENOUGH AS A COMPANY. I PAID
I PAID MY $11,000 OUT OF POCKET MAX. GETTING TO IT, GETTING TO IT, THOSE $50 PT COPAYS GOING THREE TIMES A WEEK, MADE IT A CHALLENGE TO GO THREE TIMES A WEEK. SO WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THOSE THINGS ARE INCLUDED. IF YOU DECIDE TO GO TO YOUR OWN PHYSICAL THERAPIST SOMEWHERE ELSE, AGAIN, THAT WOULD TRANSITION TO AETNA AND CARE ADVOCATES WOULD HELP THE MEMBER WITH WITH THAT. >>Patti Rendon: THERE'S NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. IT IS AN EMPLOYEE CHOICE PROGRAM AND I'LL APPROVE IT BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON WHEN AETNA DOES
NOT -- BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SURGERIES, LIKE I SAID, THERE IS A STEP PROCESS WITH PLAN OF CARE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS BEFORE YOU CAN GET THERE. IF AETNA WOULD NOT HAVE APPROVED THE SURGERY AND NOW WE GO THROUGH LANTERN FOR THE SURGERY, WHAT IS THE AFTER OF THAT? IF I HAVE A COMPLICATION SIX MONTHS LATER BECAUSE OF THE SURGERY, WILL AETNA COVER IT? I WANT TO KNOW THOSE DETAILS. I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY A CHOICE FROM AN EMPLOYEE THAT DOESN'T COST THE EMPLOYEE ANYTHING OTHER THAN I WANT TO
MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HERE IS ANOTHER SITUATION THAT IF WE WERE GOING TRULY WITH AN RFP, WE COULD HAVE BUILT THE FULL PACKAGE AND LOOKED AT DIFFERENT THINGS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ADDING ON TO AN ADDITIONAL TO AN ADDITIONAL SELF-CARE BECAUSE WE DID NOT GO OUT AND BUILD A PACKAGE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A PACKAGE WE WOULD HAVE BUILT AS ONE AND NOT INDIVIDUALLY LIKE THAT, BECAUSE HOW MANY MORE WILL YOU BRING? SELF-INSURANCE, ALL OF THE PRESCRIPTIONS AND EVERYTHING COULD ALL BE ONE BUNDLE THROUGH YOUR PLAN.
WE'VE NOT DONE THAT AND WE'RE NOW ADDING ON TO THAT $190 MILLION. IT'S NOT TREE TO THE DISTRICT. WE'RE PAYING $300,000. >> NOT IF NO ONE USES. NO ONE USES IT, YOU DON'T PAY A PENNY. MY DAUGHTER IS A PUBLIC SCHOOLKID HERE IN FLORIDA. I'M EXECUTIVE OF THE COMPANY, HAVE BEEN FOR TEN YEARS, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE WITH EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MADE THIS COMMITMENT. YOU DO NOT PAY US A DIME UNLESS
PEOPLE USE THE SYSTEM AND WE CAN SHOW WITH DATA THAT YOU SAVED MONEY ON THAT. THAT MEANS WE'LL EAT HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST OF SENDING OUT ID CARD, OUT ID CARD, MARKETING, ANY MATERIALS MEMBERS NEED. ALL OF THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE WILL NOT CHARGE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA A PENNY FOR ANY OF THAT. >>Patti Rendon: I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: MY QUESTION IS YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE A VERY NARROW LIST OF PROVIDERS. WHY IS WHY IS THAT? >> COUPLE OF REASONS.
I WILL BE VERY, VERY CLEAR ON THIS. FIRST, IT IS TO KEEP OUR PRICE WHERE IT IS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY PAY FOR SURGERY. THE MINUTE YOU LET EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE, YOU LOSE ALL NEGOTIATING POWER. SO PART OF THE WAY WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THE COST DOWN IS TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS, SO IT BRINGS VALUE TO THOSE SURGEONS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FACILITIES. BECAUSE THE FACILITY IS 85% OF THE COST OF SURGERY, NOT THE SURGEON. SURGEON ON AVERAGE FOR LIKE A JOINT REPLACEMENT MAKE ABOUT 5.8% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE
SURGERY. WE HAVE TO NARROW THE NUMBER OF FACILITIES SO THAT WE CAN CREATE VALUE TO THEM BY DRIVING BUSINESS TO BUSINESS TO THEM THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT COME THROUGH THEIR DOORS. CREATIVE REVENUE. ALLOWS THEM TO LOOK AT THEIR COST MUCH DIFFERENTLY. THE OTHER REASON IS THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS THAT THE SURGEONS HAVE TO GO THROUGH. THE SURGEONS TO BE IN OUR NETWORK, THEY HAVE TO BE BOARD CERTIFIED. IN THE TAMPA BAY MARKET, THAT ELIMINATES 40% OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS. THEY HAVE TO BE BOARD CERTIFIED. THEY HAVE TO HIT CERTAIN VOLUME
REQUIREMENTS BY CPT CODE OR BY PROCEDURE THEY HAVE TO DO A YEAR FOR THEM TO PERFORM A SURGERY ON ONE OF OUR PATIENTS FOR THAT PROCEDURE. OFTENTIMES FELLOWSHIP TRAINING DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PROCEDURE. THAT EXTRA YEAR OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING AFTER RESIDENCY. THEY HAVE TO HAVE CLEAN MALPRACTICE HISTORY. NO NEGLIGENT MALPRACTICE. CAN'T HAVE A STATE STATISTICS IN ANY OF THE 50 STATES. MEANING THEY HAD THEIR LICENSE
SUSPENDING, REPRIMANDED OR REVOKED IN ANY 50 STATES. IN THE CASE STUDY IN TAMPA OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS, LEAVES US WITH ABOUT 25% LEFT THAT WE CAN CONTRACT WITH. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THEN WE TRACK OUTCOMES AND OUTCOMES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER THAN WHEN PEOPLE ARE LEFT TO GO IT ALONE. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE BIGGEST DRIVERS. KEEP COST DOWN AND KEEP COST DOWN AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES SO THE NETWORK HAS TO BE MUCH NARROWER. >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
DISCUSSION AROUND THIS ITEM? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT -- THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO 6.01, APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE THE 2025-26 TENTATIVE BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATES FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. JAMIE LEWIS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Jamie Lewis: GOOD EVENING.
WE WANT TO WE WANT TO SUMMARIZE 6.01 FOR YOU. THIS IS THE ANNUAL PROCESS OF THE BEGINNING OF OUR BUDGET SEASON. 6.01 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD TO ADVERTISE THE 25-26 TENTATIVE BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATES FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THAT IS A STATUTE REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THIS IS THE PROCESS WE DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR AS WE GET READY FOR THE FIRST HEARING LATER THIS MONTH AND ADVERTISING PUBLICLY OF THAT FIRST HEARING BUDGET. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION MOTION AND A
MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE 6.01. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I HAVE SO I HAVE A FEW SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DOE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DOE, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAD A 47 MILLION MILLION SHORTAGE IN THEIR
BUDGET, AND, JAMIE, MR. LEWIS, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FOURTH CALCULATION YET, RIGHT? >>Jamie Lewis: NO, MA'AM. WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THAT. >>Lynn Gray: THIS QUESTION MIGHT NOT BE RELEVANT. LET ME GIVE IT A GO. HOW WILL IT AFFECT OUR BUDGET THE $47 MILLION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? >>Jamie Lewis: I THINK I PULLED THE LUCKY STRAW THIS YEAR, A YEAR WHERE A LOT OF STUFF HAS BEEN DELAYED. I SAY THAT JOKINGLY BUT THAT IS THE CHALLENGE AHEAD OF US. THE THIRD CALCULATION WAS DELAYED FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
THAT KIND OF SET IN MOTION I BELIEVE THE CONTINUAL BELIEVE THE CONTINUAL DELAY. OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WAS MUCH LATER DATE YEAR WAS MUCH LATER DATE THAN PREVIOUSLY. WITH IT JUST BEING SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR LATE IN THE GOVERNOR LATE IN THE PROCESS, THAT DELAYS EVERYTHING. IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THE FOURTH CALC FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THEY CONFIRMED THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY HAVE NOT SCHEDULED A RELEASE DATE WE KNOW OF YET. WE ARE AWARE THAT THE STATE'S BUDGET IS SHORT ABOUT 47 MILLION. THAT DOES
THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE'LL SEE THAT WE'LL SEE PART OF THAT SHORTAGE, BUT, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WILL BE REPRESENTED ON THE FOURTH CALCULATION WHEN RECEIVED. >>Lynn Gray: I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE GENESIS OF MY QUESTION NOW IS ABOUT THE FOOD SERVICE. I KNOW SHANEY HALL IS NOT HERE, BUT I GAVE YOU THE QUESTION BEFOREHAND BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL GOING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY, GOING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY, AND WE'RE LOSING STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDS TO THE AMOUNT FUNDS TO THE AMOUNT OF $132 MILLION, NOT TO MENTION THE LOCAL REVENUE LOSS LOCAL REVENUE LOSS OF 151 MILLION, MY CONCERN, AND I'M SURE THE BOARD MEMBERS' CONCERN, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FEED OUR CHILDREN? WE KNOW THAT THE SUMMER BOX, THAT ALSO WAS NOT -- THE FEDERAL FUNDS WERE TAKEN AWAY FOR THE SUMMER MEALS. SO I'M LOOKING, AS WE ALL ARE, ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO MITIGATE
THE EMPTYING OF NOT ONLY OUR FOOD PANTRIES, BECAUSE WE MET WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY AND WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY AND THEY ARE ALREADY IN A DIRE SITUATION WITH THE FARM, THE FRESH FOODS ARE LOW, AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PROBLEMS OF PROBLEMS GENERATING FROM STATE, LOCAL, MONIES BEING SUBTRACTED. NOW, THE QUESTION I'M ASKING, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE AND I'M SURE YOU'RE SYMPATHETIC, SO I DON'T NEED TO GET ON YOUR
MORAL COMPASS, BUT WHAT I WANTED TO ASK IS, CAN WE USE THE FUND BALANCE IF WE GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE FREE BREAKFAST, FREE AND BREAKFAST, FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT NOW, BUT I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RADAR BECAUSE I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IN 2028, THE SNAP BENEFITS WILL BE CUT AND I'M SEEING THIS AS A WARNING SHOT. HOW ARE WE GOING TO FEED OUR
CHILDREN. THAT'S REALLY WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. MR. FARKAS. >>Christopher Farkas: THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS STILL OUT THERE. APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THE SPECIFICITY AROUND WHAT THEY ARE CUTTING. SNAP BENEFITS AS THE BOARD KNOWS ARE FOR THE HOME OF THE ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. WE USE IT FOR DIRECT CERTIFICATION. DIRECT CERTIFICATION MEANS FOR CEP SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY SCHOOLS, WE HAVE 198. WHICH WHICH MEANS WHICH MEANS 198 GET FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH EVERY DAY. THE REST CAN STILL GET FREE AND
REDUCED LUNCH BUT HAVE TO DO AN APPLICATION PROCESS. TO YOUR POINT, THIS YEAR, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE SEEING THE IMPACT AT ALL. CEP NUMBERS HAVE NOT CHANGED. MEANS SAME NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ON IT. SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T CEP STILL HAVE TO APPLY. WE'RE WATCHING WITH A CLOSE EYE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE NEXT YEAR. IF SOMEONE DROPS OFF OF SNAP BENEFIT AND NOT DIRECT CERTIFIED, THAT WILL AFFECT OUR NUMBERS. WE'RE WORKING BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH JAMIE'S TEAM.
THEN WE HAVE TO PUSH HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO DO THEIR APPLICATIONS. THAT IS A CHALLENGE. THAT ALSO COMES WITH INCOME CERTIFICATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE NEXT STEPS AND THINGS WE'LL HAVE TO DO. MS. HALL AS YOU GUYS KNOW IS A ROCK STAR. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT KIND OF STAFF DOES STUDENT NUTRITION NEED TO BUILD UP? OBVIOUSLY NOT NOW. IF WE GET TO THAT POINT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY AND BOARD KNOWS THIS COMING UP YEAR, ONCE DIRECT CERTIFIED, DIRECT
CERTIFIED THE ENTIRE CERTIFIED THE ENTIRE YEAR. SCHOOLS ON CEP LAST YEAR, KIDS DOING THE SAME THING, DON'T NEED TO WORRY. FREE BREAKFAST, FREE LUNCH AT SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION AT BREAKFAST. WE DO NEED TO KEEP A CLEAN EYE ON THAT AND MAKE SURE ON THAT AND MAKE SURE IF WE KNOW THE SNAP BENEFITS ARE THERE, THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT TO PERCENTAGES AND HOW WE DO THE CEP NUMBERS. WE'LL NEED TO WORK WITH
COMMUNICATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CAMPAIGN. YOU'LL SEE US PUSH REAL HARD. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF COMMUNICATION AROUND THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY AND BOARD KNOWS AS FAR AS THIS YEAR IN STUDENT NUTRITION AND KIDS GETTING FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, IT WILL BE THE SAME AS THE PAST YEAR. >>Lynn Gray: I APPRECIATE NOT ONLY YOUR HEARTFELT RESPONSE BUT OUR RESPONSE AS A DISTRICT. CHILDREN ARE HUNGRY, THEY WILL NOT LEARN, BUT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS.
FAMILIES ARE ALSO GOING TO BE WITHOUT MEALS. I'M MEETING WITH SOME OF THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, FEEDING TAMPA BAY AND CHENEY TAMPA BAY AND CHENEY ALSO FOR SOME BACKUP FEEDING PLANS, BUT IT IS ON OUR IT IS ON OUR MIND. MY LAST QUESTION, AND THIS HAS COME TO MR. LEWIS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GRANT PROGRAMS, TITLE I, TITLE II, TITLE III, THE TITLE III, THE ELL, TITLE IV, TITLE IV
TITLE IV PART A, NOT ADULT EDUCATION. THEY ARE SAFE. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT TITLE I, MIGRANT $2 MILLION REDUCED. TITLE II PART A, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, $8 MILLION LOST. TITLE III, TITLE III, ELL, 26,000 STUDENTS. LOOKING AT LOOKING AT MINUS $3 MILLION. TITLE IV, TECH AND LITERACY, LOOKING AT 7 MILLION LOSS. TITLE IV PART A, STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, MINUS 7.2 MILLION. SO THE QUESTION, IF THERE IS
GOING TO BE A SUCCINCT GOING TO BE A SUCCINCT QUESTION, IT IS GOING TO BE HOW, IT IS GOING TO BE HOW, BECAUSE OUR FUND BALANCE IS COMFORTABLE AND I'M GLAD IT IS. WE'VE HAD A GREAT WE'VE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION, THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE VERY MUCH FOR A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. MAYBE ONE OR TWO NOT. NONETHELESS, WILL WE BE ABLE TO USE OUR FUND BALANCE IF SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS COME UP, WHICH THEY WILL. I I DO BELIEVE.
>>Van Ayres: MEMBER GRAY, RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING AT 1:00, WE GOT A MEMO FROM ALL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS, GOT A MEMO FROM DOE. IT'S WHAT YOU ARE REFERENCING. BASICALLY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS ADVISED ALL STATES IT IS REVIEWING FUNDING FOR 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. THEY ARE REVIEWING IT. THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED THOSE. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT THAT THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN WITHHELD, NOT RECEIVING THEM, THEY ARE REVIEWING THE FUNDING FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE TEAM IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES. THE NUMBERS YOU MENTIONED, THAT IS THE TEAM WORKING ALL THE FUNDS THAT ARE FUNDS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE TITLES, BEING REVIEWED RIGHT NOW. WE WE JUST GOT THAT INFORMATION. ALL THAT MS. DAVIS HAD PROVIDED TO THE BOARD, ALL THROUGH THE 4th OF JULY WEEK AROUND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. I WANTED TO BE CLEAR IT'S THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING THE FUNDING, HOLDING IT BACK FROM ALL THE STATES. AS SOON AS WE FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS
FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE, TYPICALLY WE DON'T RECEIVE THIS FUNDING UNTIL SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE IT ANYWAY. >> TYPICALLY OCTOBER, SOMETIMES NOVEMBER. >>Van Ayres: THAT'S WHEN WE NORMALLY RECEIVE IT. AS OF THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS CHANGED FINANCIALLY FOR US IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER IS WHEN WE NORMALLY WOULD RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS. MR. LEWIS, THEIR FISCAL YEAR IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, CORRECT? >>Jamie Lewis: THAT'S CORRECT. ADD ON TO THAT THERE IS A CONFERENCE CALL MYSELF, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MS. BROWN WILL BE ATTENDING ON THURSDAY.
THAT HAS BEEN SET UP FOR DISTRICTS WHO GET MORE CLARITY. I THINK THE ONE THING WE'RE FACING, JUST RELEASED, WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT MORE. I THINK THE I THINK THE EMPHASIS RIGHT NOW, THEY DID NOT SAY WE THEY DID NOT SAY WE WOULD NOT GET THE FUNDING. THIS IS A THIS IS A REVIEW. TEMPORARY FROZEN. THAT WORD HAS BEEN UTILIZED OUT THERE. WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS -- THEY HAVE NOT SAID WE ARE NOT GETTING THIS NOT GETTING THIS FUNDING, BUT IN LIGHT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT COULD HAPPEN, THE TEAM IS ALREADY BUILDING CONTINGENCY PLANS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES.
MYSELF AND MS. BROWN ARE ALREADY WORKING VERY CLOSELY ABOUT WHAT THAT CAN BE AND OUR TEAMS ARE ALREADY COMMUNICATING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE BUILDING A PLAN IN CASE IT DOES HAPPEN. OUR HOPE IS IT DOES NOT. BUT WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN OVERCOME IT WHERE WE CAN OVERCOME IT IF NEED BE. >>Lynn Gray: THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AND RESPONSE. HOW I FEEL IS MORE COMFORTED IF I WERE A CONSTITUENT WORRIED ABOUT HOW IS MY CHILD GOING TO BE FED IN THE MORNING OR HOW ARE
WE GOING TO HANDLE WE GOING TO HANDLE THE TITLE I ABSENCE, THESE ARE QUESTIONS OUT THERE AND VERY GOOD THAT YOU ARE STAYING ON TOP OF IT AND SHOULD ADDRESS IT AT VARIOUS BOARD MEETINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I'M DONE WITH MY QUESTIONS. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WHEN I REVIEWED EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR SPECIFIC DISTRICT AND, BY THE WAY, I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO ALL OF OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS. MR. SCOTT'S OFFICE, ET CETERA,
BUCHANAN'S OFFICE, LEE'S OFFICE, MOODY'S MOODY'S OFFICE, AND CASPER -- CASTOR'S OFFICE. N EDUCATED AND INFORMED EXACTLY THE IMPACT IF THE HOLD WAS NOT RELEASED HOW THAT WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR STUDENTS. I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN THE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR STUDENTS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FEED STUDENTS. NONE OF THE HOLDS HAVE NONE OF THE HOLDS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR MEAL PLANS AT ALL, CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
NOT FOR THE ITEMS JUST RELEASED TO US. THAT IS A SEPARATE THING, ONGOING FOR MOST OF THE YEAR. >>Patti Rendon: THERE IS DISCUSSION ON THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY SNAP BENEFITS OR ANY FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE REMOVED BUT COULD FLUCTUATE ON THE FLUCTUATE ON THE ELIGIBILITY BASED ON INCOME AND WE WOULD NOW HAVE TO VERIFY MORE THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST. >> YES, THAT'S PART OF IT, YES, MA'AM. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THIS DISTRICT.
WE DO AN EXCELLENT JOB MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING THE FUNDS WE'RE GIVEN FOR THE CORRECT REASONS. SO WHEN AN ENTITY, A GOVERNMENT ENTITY WANTS TO ENTITY WANTS TO REVIEW WHAT WE'VE SPENT THE MONEY ON, WE HAVE CLEAR EVIDENCE, AM I CORRECT, SUPERINTENDENT, OF EXACTLY HOW WE'VE SPENT THE MONEY THAT WE WERE PROVIDED THROUGH THE TITLE DOLLARS, CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE REVIEWED BOTH LEGALLY AND THROUGH OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT PROPERLY BEFORE
EVER APPROVED. >> YES, MA'AM, MEMBER >> YES, MA'AM, MEMBER RENDON, THAT IS CORRECT. >>Patti Rendon: PART OF THE REASON OF THE HOLD, THEY ARE REVIEWING DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY MAKING SURE WE'RE UTILIZING FUNDS AS THEY WERE REQUIRED TO BE USED. SO I WANT TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THIS DISTRICT GOES THROUGH PAINSTAKING AWARENESS TO MAKE SURE WE SPEND THE MONEY ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND GUIDELINES THAT ARE GIVEN TO US WHEN WE RECEIVE IT. >> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. >>Patti Rendon: OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER PEREZ. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO BACK IN -- WHO CAN I ASK THIS QUESTION TO? BACK IN BACK IN 2023, BACK IN 2023, AFTER COVID, THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT WAS A REQUIREMENT TO REAPPLY FOR MEDICAID MEDICAID AND SNAP. >> RIGHT. PRIOR TO PRIOR TO COVID. >>Karen Perez: AND NOW, >>Karen Perez: AND NOW, AGAIN,
THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME MEDICAID RENEWAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF OF FAMILIES HAVE MOVED AND THE SNAP BENEFITS AS SNAP BENEFITS AS WELL. BECAUSE UNDER MEDICAID IS YOUR SNAP BENEFITS. SO THEY ARE REDOING THE ELIGIBILITY WITH THE FAMILIES. SO WITH REGARD TO SUPERINTENDENT, WITH REGARD TO OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, THEY ARE ASSISTING THE FAMILIES, AM I CORRECT? WE HAVE SOME AMAZING SOCIAL
WORKERS HERE IN THIS WORKERS HERE IN THIS DISTRICT WHO ASSIST FAMILIES TO WHO ASSIST FAMILIES TO APPLY FOR THEIR MEDICAID THEIR MEDICAID AND SNAP BENEFITS WHEN THEY COME INTO THE WHEN THEY COME INTO THE SCHOOLS, WHEN THEY NOTICE THAT THE STUDENTS ARE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, AM I CORRECT? HAVE NO MEDICAL INSURANCE. >> YES, MA'AM. >>Karen Perez: THAT HELPS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE SNAP BENEFITS ARE BEING ADDRESSED, AM I CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>Karen Perez: ON A DAILY, WE'RE ENSURING ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE -- WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE SNAP BENEFITS FOR NOT JUST OUR STUDENTS BUT THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO FOR THIS DISTRICT. >> CORRECT. >>Karen Perez: ENSURING THOSE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED CLARITY ON THAT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. DR. HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. SO SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THIS E-MAIL ON FEDERAL THIS E-MAIL ON FEDERAL FUNDING, JUST LOOKING AT THIS, JUST LOOKING AT THIS, I'M THINKING ABOUT BUILDING -- I DON'T KNOW IF MS. DAVIS IS HERE -- BUILDING OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT NOW. AND THE FEDERAL PIECE, THE BIGGEST HIT WE WOULD TAKE IS WITH TITLE 2. I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE WE THINK ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON THAT ON OUR THAT ON OUR FEDERAL PLATFORM
BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY AROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IT'S AROUND TEACHER TRAINING. AROUND NEW TEACHER SUPPORT. AROUND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. AND WE CAN TIE THAT TO A AND WE CAN TIE THAT TO A BIGGER PICTURE AROUND BUILDING A TEACHER PIPELINE. THAT IS SOMETHING EVERY DISTRICT IS STRUGGLING TO DO RIGHT IS STRUGGLING TO DO RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN GALVANIZE THE SUPPORT OF THOSE DISTRICTS AND HAVE A LOT OF LEVERAGE
OF LEVERAGE AROUND OF LEVERAGE AROUND THAT SPECIFIC ITEM. SO JUST SOMETHING SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU TALK TO FEDERAL, AND WHEN I WAS AT USF, I USED TO GO UP TO D.C. ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR TO SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT TITLE 2 CUTS ACTUALLY OR INCREASING TITLE 2 FUNDING IF IT WASN'T BEING CUT. AND WE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING STRONG TEACHER PIPELINES.
OBVIOUSLY, USF COLLEGE OF ED, THAT WAS THE BUSINESS WE WERE IN TO DEVELOPING TEACHER PIPELINES. I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IF WE DO BUILD OUT A FEDERAL PLATFORM THAT WE PLATFORM THAT WE CAN TIE IT TO SOME BIG SOME BIG PICTURE ISSUE IN THE DISTRICT, AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK MY COLLEAGUES AND I SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO BUILD STARTING TO BUILD THAT PLATFORM THIS SUMMER. IF THERE ARE SOME OF THESE
THINGS WE WANT TO THINGS WE WANT TO TACKLE. OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THEM OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THEM IS PROBABLY A LOT, BUT I THINK IF YOU CAN TIE IT TO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE BIG PICTURE, YOU'LL CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF NOT JUST THE FEDERAL JUST THE FEDERAL LEGISLATORS, BUT ALSO OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS CAN JUMP ON BOARD AND MAYBE ADD THAT TO THEIR PLATFORMS AS WELL AND GET SOME TRACTION. SO THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. I REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT I REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT THE
AGENDA ITEM THE SPECIFICS THAT WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THIS FEELS SO LOUD. I FEEL LIKE I'M BOOMING BACK THERE. I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. THERE'S SO MUCH ANXIETY AROUND HEADLINES COMING AROUND FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING. HONESTLY, MEMBER HONESTLY, MEMBER GRAY, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSISTENTLY ASKING ABOUT IT AND GETTING CLARITY AROUND IT. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE PULLING THIS OUT OF THIN AIR. THESE ARE REAL HEADLINES THAT PERMEATE ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE NEWS SITE AND AGAIN CAUSE SO
MUCH CHAOS AND MUCH CHAOS AND CONFUSION. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, EVEN IF IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM THAT LENDS ITSELF TO US HAVING DISCUSSIONS AND CLARITY. AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE FEDERAL FUNDS AND GETTING CLARITY AROUND THESE FEDERAL FUNDS, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE SPENDING ENOUGH TIME TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT WE DO HAVE ANSWERS ON, THAT ARE AROUND THE STATE FUNDS. I JUST WANT I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. HOW MUCH DID WE LOSE QUARTER THREE? REMIND ME OF THE TOTAL? 19 MILLION?
WHAT WAS THE TOTAL WHAT WAS THE TOTAL TAKEN? >> TOTAL WAS 18.3 OR AROUND THERE, MILLION. >>Jessica Vaughn: $18.3 MILLION. >> AROUND THAT. >>Jessica Vaughn: >>Jessica Vaughn: AND THEN SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOURTH, THAT WE'VE BEEN ANXIOUSLY WAITING ON WITH ALMOST NO GUIDANCE AND YET ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE TO BUILD A BUDGET. WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING, BEGGING US, TALKING ABOUT FINISHING NEGOTIATION, BUT WHEN LEGISLATION FINISHES LATE AND WE DON'T GET A BUDGET PASSED UNTIL THREE MONTHS LATER, BEING ABLE
TO GO TO THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE IS A CHALLENGE WHEN WE HAVE MONEY LITERALLY PLUCKED OUT OF THE BUDGET THAT WE WERE EXPECTING TO COME. HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, AGAIN, ARE WE HOPING FOR QUARTER FOUR? >> AT THIS POINT, THAT IS THE CHALLENGE, RIGHT? SO WE'RE HOPING OUR FTEs DID REBOUND A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE HOPING THAT TRANSLATES THERE BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR -- WE HAVE SOME SUMMER CLASSES INVOLVED IN THAT SURVEY AND ALSO
THAT SURVEY AND ALSO COMPLETIONS OF HVS PROGRAM. WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL DO ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT TO THE APPROPRIATION, WHICH I THINK IS THE MAJOR CONCERN. AND THAT IS THE AREA THAT OBVIOUSLY A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE CAN HELP US OVERCOME IF IT IS A CHALLENGE. UNTIL WE KNOW THAT, THAT REALLY IS HOLDING UP A LOT OF THINGS TO KNOW JUST HOW WE FINISH THE YEAR. THAT OBVIOUSLY LEADS INTO WHAT THINGS OR FLEXIBILITIES WE CAN DO FOR DO FOR THE NEXT YEAR. >>Jessica Vaughn: SPEAKING OF NEXT YEAR, YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME A NUMBER.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT SURE. IN YOUR MIND, IF YOU HAD TO PULL A NUMBER FROM A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO $47 MILLION, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR AS FAR AS A BALLPARK IS IS CONCERNED? >> ZERO IMPACT. THAT'S MY HOPE. >>Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE HOPING TO GAIN SOME MONEY FROM THAT. >>Jamie Lewis: I THINK AT THIS POINT WE WOULD HOPE IT WOULD REBOUND, BUT FROM THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO I THINK FOR THE DISTRICT IS THAT WE'RE NOT IMPACTED ON THE FOURTH CALCULATION BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL OTHER THINGS THAT COULD OTHER THINGS THAT COULD OCCUR. >>Jessica Vaughn: JUST TO CLARIFY, WE THOUGHT WE WERE
GETTING $19 MILLION MORE ON 3. THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY. WE WERE HOPING TO REBOUND WITH QUARTER FOUR, BUT NOW OUR BEST HOPE IS NOT TO HAVE MORE MONEY TAKEN OUT. AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? >>Jamie Lewis: YES, MA'AM. >>Jessica Vaughn: WE'RE LOOKING AT A $20 MILLION DEFICIT JUST THIS YEAR. NOW, WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT, WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING COULD LOOK LIKE. GLAD MEMBER GRAY BROUGHT IT UP AND WE CLARIFIED IT, BUT THE ORIGINAL FIGURES THAT KRISTIN SENT TO US FROM OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST WERE $24 MILLION BROKEN DOWN INTO THE CATEGORY THAT
MEMBER GRAY MEMBER GRAY HIGHLIGHTED. LEGISLATIVELY, WITH JUST THE CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THE DEDUCTION OF REVENUE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? >> VERY GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW. >>Jessica Vaughn: 14 TO $47 MILLION OF A REDUCTION DEPENDING WHAT PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND WHAT PASSED IN THE SENATE. ANY IDEA WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE YET. >>Van Ayres: I THINK WHAT SHE IS REFERRING TO, THERE WAS
REFERRING TO, THERE WAS A 1.59% INCREASE IN PER STUDENT FUNDING THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED, ALLOCATION INCREASED BY .78 PERCENT. >>Jessica Vaughn: OTHER CATEGORICALS THAT THEY COLLAPSED AND TOOK AWAY. LOSS OF FUNDING. >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL DIGGING THROUGH DIGGING THROUGH ALL THAT. I'M NOT PREPARED TO GIVE AN EXACT ANSWER. WE CAN GET BACK TO THE BOARD ON THE QUESTION. WE DO KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS.
BSA DID HAVE AN INCREASE. OBVIOUSLY, NOT AS MUCH AS WE HOPED AND NOT AS MUCH AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE NUMBER, AS YOU MENTIONED, EVERY YEAR THEY CAN PULL STUFF OUT OF THAT, WHAT'S IN THE BSA IN CATEGORICALS AND PUT STUFF CATEGORICALS AND PUT STUFF IN. WE DID SEE AN INCREASE THERE. BETTER THAN ONE PROPOSAL, WORSE THAN THE OTHER. WE DID SEE AN INCREASE AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I THINK THE ONE ONE THING WE'RE GOING
ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR, PROPERTY VALUES, INITIAL INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FROM PROPERTY APPRAISER IS VALUES DID GO UP. THE WHOLE YEAR WE WERE BEING TOLD THAT MAYBE TOLD THAT MAYBE THEY WOULD NOT. THAT IS GOOD NEWS. >>Jessica Vaughn: STILL CAPPED ON THOSE. >>Jamie Lewis: WE ARE. WE'LL GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT LATER THIS MONTH. AT LEAST WE DIDN'T SEE A DECREASE IN VALUES. SO THAT IS ANOTHER POSITIVE THING THAT WILL HELP THAT AND THE REFERENDUM AS FAR AS COVERING THAT COST. ADDITIONALLY, WE SAW OTHER
THINGS THAT DID HAPPEN AND THAT WILL HELP US TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. WE ALSO HAVE MADE -- WE HAVE DONE THINGS TO MITIGATE THE BUDGET. SO WE MADE SOME BUDGET REDUCTIONS THAT WE'LL EXPLAIN AT THE FUTURE BOARD MEETING. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE DISTRICT VACANCIES WHICH WILL ALLOW A DIRECT SAVINGS. THE DISTRICT HAS DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS OF THINGS TO TRY TO RECOUP THAT. SOME OF THE THINGS WILL TRANSLATE INTO THE '25 BUDGET. TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE SEE AN $18 MILLION DECREASE IN OUR
FUNDING IN CALCULATION 3? THE DISTRICT TOOK THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SPRING AND HEADED INTO THE MONTH OF JUNE, RECOUP A LOT OF THAT, IF NOT ALL OF IT. WE'RE WORKING AND CLOSING OUT THE YEAR TO SEE WHERE OUR FINAL NUMBERS ARE. WE WANT TO MAKE A MENTION THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TOOK NOT LIGHTLY AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD AT TRYING TO RECOUP THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE, AS YOU MENTIONED THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THE FUNDING BACK IN REBOUNDED FOURTH CALCULATION. ABLE TO MAKE STRIDES THERE ESPECIALLY AT THE DISTRICT
LEVEL. THAT'S ALSO GOING TO HELP US TRANSITION TO NEXT YEAR. IF WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR BUDGETS NEXT YEAR, WE CAN DO THAT IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. >>Jessica Vaughn: A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THE VERY I APPRECIATE THE VERY LENGTHY ANSWERS, WAS THE REDUCTIONS WE MADE DIRECTLY TIED TO UNIT ALLOCATIONS? WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REBOUNDING, THAT MEANS CUTTING PEOPLE OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS? >>Jamie Lewis: NO. THE DECREASES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE BEEN AT THE DISTRICT
LEVEL SO FAR. UNITS WERE BASED OFF OF ITS SCHOOLS BASED ON THE FORMULA. I CAN SAY THAT WE WENT ABOVE THAT, LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF EACH SCHOOL AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT. I'LL MENTION TO THAT'S NOT JUST A CFO OR HR DECISION. THAT IS A CABINET DECISION THAT WE MEET ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO REVIEW ALL THE NEEDS. REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS WERE HELPING US THIS YEAR. I'M JUST SAYING -- >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT IS >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER -- I'LL TAKE YOUR
ANSWER WE HAD TO REDUCE DISTRICT STAFF. BUT IT DOES RESULT IN REDUCTION OF STAFF, WHETHER SCHOOL BASED OR WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MITIGATED THE LOSS OF REVENUE, WE TALKED ABOUT A DEDUCTION OF STAFF, DISTRICT LEVEL, WHEREVER, WE'RE OPERATING WITH LESS PEOPLE, THAT'S CORRECT? >>Jamie Lewis: YES. VACANCIES, SO WE WON'T FILL THOSE ROLES THAT WERE CURRENTLY VACANT. CLARIFY, NO ONE LOST THEIR JOB BUT ABLE TO REMOVE POSITIONS THAT WERE THAT WERE VACANT AND THAT WILL REALIZE A SAVINGS. >>Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE
THE CLARITY. WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINKING THEY ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS. WE HAVE DONE VERY GOOD AS A DISTRICT. I AGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON, WE WENT THROUGH THOSE PAINS YEARS AGO, BUT THOSE AGO, BUT THOSE ARE LESS AVAILABLE JOBS THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT, PERIOD. WHETHER SOMEBODY LOST THEM OR NOT, THE WAY WE'RE MITIGATING THE CONSTANT TAKING AWAY OF THE MONEY WE EARNED, CORRECT. THIS IS NOT MONEY WE HAVEN'T EARNED. IT'S MONEY WE IT'S MONEY WE EARNED IS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN THIS DISTRICT.
>> ONE MEASURE THAT WE ARE TAKING. >>Jessica Vaughn: APPRECIATE THAT. ONE LAST QUESTION BECAUSE I CAN TELL MEMBER RENDON IS DYING TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE, WITH US GOING INTO A NEW YEAR, WHETHER FEDERALLY, WHETHER BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATION BUDGET, WHETHER BECAUSE OF FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND I COULD BE WRONG, THE REASON THE MONEY WAS TAKEN BACK, VOUCHERS WERE OVERFUNDED FROM WHAT THE STATE IS WHAT THE STATE IS SAYING, ARE WE GOING TO GET IN GOING TO GET IN FRONT OF OUR FAMILIES -- IS THAT NOT TRUE?
>> WE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION FROM THE STATE AND THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER THEY GAVE US. >>Jessica Vaughn: THAT IS THE ANSWER I'M GETTING FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH OUR LOBBYISTS. WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY CLARITY. >> THEY GAVE US CLARITY THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE APPROPRIATION BECAUSE OF THE STATE BUDGET FOR EDUCATION WAS IN NEED OF THAT ASSISTANCE. IT WAS NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO ONE THING OR THE OTHER. ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS THE STATE OVERALL BUDGET. >>Jessica Vaughn: I HEARD BY ALMOST $247 MILLION VOUCHERS WERE OVERFUNDED.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET CLARITY ON THAT. THERE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY IF WE'RE OVERFUNDING THEM. ARE WE GOING TO GET IN FRONT OF FAMILIES TO LET THEM KNOW IF WE HEAD INTO THE NEXT YEAR HEAD INTO THE NEXT YEAR IN $50 MILLION MILLION DEFICIT DUE LEGISLATIVE AND FEDERAL CHANGES IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT SO THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T THINK WE ARE EVIL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE GUARDING MONEY AND REFUSING TO PASS IT ON TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO OUR SCHOOLS? ARE WE GOING TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT WHERE THE CHANGES ARE COMING FROM? >>Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE OUT TO
OUR FAMILIES THE SITUATION WE'RE IN. RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE, THE FUNDING HAS BEEN WITHHELD. FEDERAL SIDE FEDERAL SIDE -- FEDERAL SIDE -- FEDERALLY. 18 MILLION. IF YOU LOOK AT SURVEY 2 AND CALCULATION 3, CALC 3 IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BASED ON OUR NUMBERS OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT PARTICULAR
FOR THAT PARTICULAR SURVEY PERIOD. >>Jessica Vaughn: I'VE GONE WAY OVER MY OVER MY TIME. >>Jim Porter: THE BOARD CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER IT WANTS. THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM TO SET THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING. YOU HAVE GONE WAY INTO A LOT OF SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS WHICH I UNDERSTAND AND THE CHAIR IS ALLOWED IT. STAFF ISN'T FULLY PREPARED TO ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS. I THINK THESE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS AND YOU CAN ASK THEM IF YOU LIKE.
THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU ARE VOTING FOR, APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE TENTATIVE BUDGET. YOU CAN ASK THE QUESTIONS NOW, MIGHT NOT GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED. GET CLARITY ON WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON. >>Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: I HAVE TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE BEING SO INFORMATIVE, CHAIR VAUGHN. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IS TO INFORM OUR PUBLIC
AND TO BE ADVOCATES AND TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW AS REPRESENTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FUNDING. WEAN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WE'RE 50th IN THE NATION FUNDED RIGHT NOW IN EDUCATION AND INCREASES $41.62. SO THAT IS GOING TO KEEP US AT THE 50th, AM I CORRECT OR NOT? >>Van Ayres: LOW -- PROBABLY. LOWEST INCREASE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION, YES. >>Nadia Combs: OTHER STATES, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS A LARGER,
LARGER GAP. STATES LIKE KENTUCKY, WEST VIRGINIA, ALL THESE STATES THAT ARE SO MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN, TO SHOP IN, FOR INSURANCE. SO THOSE STATES ARE SO THOSE STATES ARE PAYING MORE THAN FLORIDA. SO THAT IS A FACT. WE JUST HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW. IT ALSO HAS THE HIGHEST VACANCIES, SO WHEN A PARENT SAYS, WHEN THAT CHILD CAME IN TODAY AND SAID I HAVEN'T HAD AN ENGLISH TEACHER FOR SIX MONTHS, IT'S, GUESS WHAT, MAINLY PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT
BEING ABLE TO PAY YOUR TEACHERS. WHEN WE HAVE VACANCIES RIGHT NOW OF 529 TEACHERS AS OF I THINK WHATEVER IT WAS IN THE 500 RANGE, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SALARIES. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING INTO EDUCATION. I GUESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FOR ME IS, THAT FOURTH ME IS, THAT FOURTH CALCULATION OF $47 MILLION, WE SHOULD HAVE IT NOW AND WE WOULD BE DRAWING INTEREST IN THAT, RIGHT? WE WE COULD BE INVESTING IT. WE COULD GET INTEREST IN IT.
WHO IS MAKING MONEY ON THE BACKS OF THE $47 MILLION? THAT MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE, WHEN SHOULD IT HAVE ARRIVED ARRIVED HERE? >>Van Ayres: 47 MILLION WAS THE MONEY, SHORTFALL FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. >>Nadia Combs: I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FOURTH CALCULATION. WHEN SHOULD IT HAVE ARRIVED? >> LATE >> LATE APRIL, EARLY MAY. >>Nadia Combs: WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT YOU ANTICIPATED? >> I'M NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT. >>Nadia Combs: WHATEVER IT IS, YOU USUALLY WOULD HAVE MADE INTEREST IN THAT, RIGHT?
>> YES, MA'AM. >>Nadia Combs: OR YOU WOULD HAVE INVESTED IN THAT. NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT WAITING FOR THE MONEY, WE ALSO COULD BE INVESTING IN THAT AND MAKING MONEY OFF THAT. THE MONEY THAT WE EARN THAT WE COULD BE INVESTING OR WE SHOULD BE MAKING MONEY OFF THAT WE'RE LOSING THAT. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, TOO. NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT GETTING THE CALCULATION, WE ARE ALSO LOSING MONEY BECAUSE WE COULD BE INVESTING THAT. WE COULD ALSO BE EARNING INTEREST IN THAT. INSTEAD, THE STATE IS EARNING INTEREST ON ALL THESE DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE THEY
ARE HOLDING ON TO THAT MONEY AND EVERY DAY THEY ARE MAKING INTEREST ON THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, IF IT WAS A POSITIVE, HAVE MORE MONEY, YOU WOULD NORMALLY INVEST. >>Nadia Combs: IT'S SO, SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY ARE WE POSSIBLY LOSING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE DON'T KNOW, WE HOPE SO. WE HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BUT IT'S HAPPENING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, TOO. PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO BE INFORMED. GENERALLY, 80% OF STUDENTS, 80% OF OUR OF OUR POPULATION GOES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
LOOK AT OUR GRADES. LOOK AT OUR SCORES, COMPARE IT TO OTHER DISTRICTS, OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS, WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL. SO STUDENTS ARE COMING BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE ARE JUST NOT FUNDING THEM. I REALLY APPRECIATE, CHAIR VAUGHN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DISCUSSING THAT. ALSO MEMBER GRAY, ALWAYS BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR JOB IS TO NOT JUST MAKE SURE WE RUN A DISTRICT. OUR JOB IS TO ALSO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, THE OTHER DAY, I SAID THIS, WHEN YOU SEE KIDS
RUNNING AROUND IN THE STREETS, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, THAT WILL IMPACT YOU IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING AN EDUCATION. IMPACT YOU IF YOU HAVE TO PAY SOMEBODY FOR SOCIAL WELFARE OR IMPACT CRIME RATES OR IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. EDUCATION IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. FUNDED 50th WITH THE INFLATION RATE SO HIGH AND OFFER RATE SO HIGH AND OFFER ME $41 PER CHILD INCREASE WHEN EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT IS 10 TO 20% IS JUST RUCKS. IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY SAD.
I HOPE AS I SEE THE NEWSPAPERS HERE AND MEDIA, THEY TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA. WHEN YOU SEE OTHER THINGS LIKE ALL THESE SCORES AND ALL THESE GRADES, PEOPLE ARE WORKING VERY HARD. WHEN YOU LOOK AT MEASUREMENT, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN EVERY THAT DISTRICT ON EVERY LEVEL INCREASED SCORES BUT YOU'RE FUNDING FUNDING IT LESS. WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FIGHTING AND BEING INFORMED VOTERS. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. >>Patti Rendon: I DO AGREE.
WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUR SCHOOLS IN GENERAL THROUGHOUT THE EDUCATION IN STATE OF FLORIDA BECOMES A PRIORITY. I HUNDRED PERCENT BELIEVE IN ADVOCATING FOR THAT. I DO WANT TO HAVE CLARITY. MR. LEWIS, MS. GARCIA MAY WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS. AS WE GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CALCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THERE ARE TWO CALCES WHICH WE'LL RECEIVE PAYMENT ON. THEN A FIFTH THEN A FIFTH CALC THAT WILL SURE UP WHAT HAPPENS THROUGH THE FULL YEAR AND WHERE THINGS WERE NOT
ADDED UP CORRECTLY OR WE GET INFORMATION, AND THAT COMES IN IN SEPTEMBER, IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN IT SURES UP THE END OF THE YEAR. ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT GET THE CALCULATION FOR THIRD COUNT, WE MAY GET THAT BACK WHEN THEY DO THE FULL SUM OF IT. THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR WHERE THEY PAY US BASED UPON PREDICTIONS AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY FIRM IT UP AT THE SEPTEMBER PAYMENT OF WHAT THEIR PREDICTION. AM I CORRECT? >> YES, A FIFTH CALCULATION --
ALSO CAPTURES SOME SUMMER ACTIVITY. >>Patti Rendon: CORRECT. EVEN THOUGH EACH EVEN THOUGH EACH PAYMENT MAY BE OFF, WE DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT AS A DISTRICT WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER IN MAKING SURE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE BILLING. THAT'S OUR FIRST THING WE'LL WORK ON. TWO, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT OUR EXPECTATION OF RECEIVING, AND THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE BY THE END OF THAT FIFTH CALC WE HAVE RECEIVED FULL PAYMENT FOR THE YEAR. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WHERE WE DID NOT GET A PARTIAL PAYMENT.
AM I CORRECT? ALONG BEFORE THIS YEAR. THERE WERE TIMES PREVIOUSLY WE DID NOT AND CALCULATED IN THE FIFTH CALC. >> THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING ALL THE CALCULATIONS. BUILDS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE. FIFTH ONE THE FALL AFTER FISCAL YEAR IS THE TRUE UP OPPORTUNITY. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING TRACK OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE SO WE MAKE SURE THAT FIFTH
CALCULATION DOES BRING BACK TO FRUITION OF WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE. AM I AM I RIGHT? >> YOU'RE RIGHT. WE WILL ACTUALLY WE WILL ACTUALLY SEE IT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE FIFTH CALCULATION, SEE IT IN 25-26. >>Patti Rendon: THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PRECEDENT OVER THE YEARS. >> HAPPENS EVERY >> HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. >>Patti Rendon: AGAIN, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MEMBER VAUGHN OR MEMBER COMBS THAT OUR FUNDING IS A PRIORITY AND IT'S IMPORTANT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS
YEAR. MR. LEWIS IS ON TOP OF KNOWING IN DETAIL MORE THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. AM I CORRECT? >> WE'RE WORKING ON IT. >>Patti Rendon: I'M JUST SAYING BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT. IT'S A GOOD THING THAT YOU ARE ON TOP OF KNOWING WHERE WE ARE SHORT WHEN. >> THAT IS AN EMPHASIS OF THE FINANCE AND I.T. TEAM IS WE HAVE ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FTE NONSTOP. >>Patti Rendon: THE OTHER THING IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, THERE IS AN ELEMENT WHEN IT GOES TO
THE LOCAL TAX THAT IS SHARED STATEWIDE. PART OF THE REASON IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING A STUDENT RICH PROPERTY POOR DISTRICT, SARASOTA, PER SE, IS A SARASOTA, PER SE, IS A PROPERTY RICH STUDENT POOR DISTRICT, IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PARTS, CERTAIN MILLAGES IN PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOT PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOT CAPPED, THAT GO TOWARD THE SCHOOLS IN THEIR DISTRICT. THERE'S ONLY A SPECIFIC TYPE OF TAX WITHIN THAT FOR OUR SCHOOLS THAT DOES GET TAXED WHEN THEY ARE HIGHER THAN THEY NEED. >>Van Ayres: FEFP ON OPERATING
SIDE EQUALIZES IT SIDE EQUALIZES IT OUT. WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY, EQUALIZES PROPERTY RICH SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE ADVANTAGE OVER PROPERTY POOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ONE YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THE CAPITAL. THE 1.5 MILLS THAT WE GENERATE IN CAPITAL DEPENDING HOW PROPERTY RICH WE ARE OR NOT DEPENDS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE. OPERATING SIDE ON THE OPERATING SIDE ON THE FEFP, THAT'S WHERE EQUALIZED. NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUDGET MEETING THAT WE'LL SAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR ACTUAL MILLAGE RATE IS,
YOU'LL SEE OVER TIME THE MILLAGE RATE DROPPED OVER TIME. >>Patti Rendon: WE ARE LESS THAN WE WERE. OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE LESS THAN THEY WERE IN 2012 WHEN THEY WERE IN 2012 WHEN IT WAS 7-POINT THE 7-POINT THE 9 AND 6.4 TODAY. IT IS CLEAR IT IS REDUCED OVER TIME. >>Van Ayres: THAT WILL BE AT THE SEPTEMBER BUDGET MEETING ANNOUNCE THE MILLAGE RATE, WHAT IT IS AND GO INTO DETAIL OF THE MILLAGE RATE. IT IS THE CAPITAL ONE NOT CAPPED. BASED ON WHAT YOU EARN.
OTHER SIDE OF THE MILLAGE IS EQUALIZED -- >>Patti Rendon: WHICH IS WHY DISTRICTS LIKE SARASOTA, THEY DO GET MORE MONEY IN THEIR PROPERTY TAX BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES. >>Van Ayres: MORE CAPITAL, YES, MA'AM. >>Patti Rendon: I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THERE IS AN ELEMENT THAT WE'LL RECEIVE MORE WHEN PROPERTY VALUES GO PROPERTY VALUES GO UP. >> NEXT AGENDA ITEM, CALENDAR THAT WILL HAVE DATES WHEN WE RECEIVE FINAL NOTIFICATIONS. >>Jessica Vaughn: BACK TO ME. I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT
THE LAWYER IS GIVING ME THE EYE THAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME AND THE PLACE TO SAY IT. SO I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE 14 MORE AFTER THAT THAT CONVERSATION, IS WHILE WE TREE UP EVERY YEAR IN FIVE, THE FACT THAT 19 WAS TAKEN BECAUSE THE DOE HAS OVERSPENT REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SAY IS UNPRECEDENTED. >> YES. JUST TO JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURES IN FRONT OF ME BUT A PORTION TO
MEMBER RENDON'S POINT A MINUTE AGO, PART OF THAT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT THAT WAS CALCULATED FROM THAT LAST CALCULATION WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. REMEMBER, A CALCULATION OCCURS IN OCTOBER. THEN THEY HAVE TO ADD THAT IMPACT TO A CALCULATION. PART OF THE THIRD CALC WAS IMPACT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. >>Jessica Vaughn: I REMEMBER HOW IT BROKE DOWN. >> PART OF IT FROM >> PART OF IT FROM FTE. THAT WAS MORE A TIMING ISSUE. OTHER ONE WAS ADJUSTMENT TO THE APPROPRIATION. >>Jessica Vaughn: APPROPRIATION IS UNPRECEDENTED. >> YES. >>Jessica Vaughn: YES. ONLY QUESTION I HAVE.
I'M ENDING IT NOW, MR. I'M ENDING IT NOW, MR. PORTER. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY -- OKAY, SEEING SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT THE NEXT ITEM, 6.02, PROPOSED CALENDAR FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25-26 BUDGET, MR. LEWIS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Jamie Lewis: HOPE THIS >>Jamie Lewis: HOPE THIS IS A FASTER AGENDA ITEM. 6.02 IS APPROVAL OF THE CALENDAR FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. ANNUAL CALENDAR WE GO THROUGH IN THE MONTHS BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER. IT HAS ALL THE DATES. MOST OF THOSE ARE DETERMINED BY STATUTE. THIS IS THE GAME PLAN THAT WE'LL HAVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WE GET THE BUDGET FINALIZED FOR FISCAL YEAR '26. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 6.02. MOTION BY COMBS AND SECOND BY
RENDON. I PULLED THE ITEM, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME. ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO 7.01, MULTIPLE PIGGYBACK AGREEMENTS FOR SCIENCE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: I'LL BE BRIEF WITH THIS ONE. THIS SEEKS APPROVAL FOR THE
PURCHASE, SCIENCE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND RELATED SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WITH OUR NEW HIGH SCHOOL OPENING UP IN THE UP IN THE FALL, INCREASED COST NEW PURCHASE OF SCIENCE EQUIPMENT AT MORGAN THAT WILL OPEN UP IN A MONTH AND A HALF. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING I MISSED? >> NO, THE REASON YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS SEEN THIS HISTORICALLY, THERE ARE NINE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT NEVER REACHES NEVER REACHES THE $50,000 THRESHOLD THAT WE BUY IN THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. AND MR. BRADY'S GROUP BUYS FROM. OPEN UP THE CAREER CENTER AND MORGAN, THAT IS WHY WE'RE
REACHING MILLION DOLLAR THRESHOLD. TWO TWO SCHOOLS TWO SCHOOLS OPEN. >>Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.01. MOTION BY RENDON AND SECOND BY COMBS. I PULLED THIS ITEM BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE EITHER.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE ITEM PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION OVER THE DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S COME IN FROM THE STATE, ALSO COLLEGE BOARD THAT WE'VE INUNDATED YOU WITH. TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THAT.
BEFORE I DO BEFORE I DO THAT, I DO BEFORE I DO THAT, I DO WANT FIRST OFF, SCHOOL CHOICE AND MAGNET WINDOW, FINAL ONE JULY 7-13. TWO APPLICATION PERIODS AS YOU ALL KNOW. THIS IS OUR FINAL ONE, THIRD ONE IS JULY 7-13.
JUST WITH CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM, AS I MENTIONED, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASED SCHOOL GRADES YESTERDAY. I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER SOME GO OVER SOME IMPRESSIVE RESULTS THAT THE TEAM THAT ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, TEACHERS, LEADERS. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT AFFECTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. BESIDES THE CLASSROOM TEACHER, IT IS THE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, STAFF, SUPPORT TEACHERS. NUMBER TWO IS ALWAYS THE SCHOOL LEADER. AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, IT'S THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CREATE AS BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT
STAFF TO CREATE CONDITIONS TO OUR SCHOOLS CAN GO OUT AND DO THEIR GREAT WORK THEIR GREAT WORK WHICH THEY TRULY HAVE. JUST TO JUST TO KIND OF SET THE STAGE HERE, THE 24-25 SCHOOL GRADES WERE RELEASED. I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THE YEAR, OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SOME STRUGGLES THIS YEAR STARTING WITH SYNERGY AND STUDENT IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM. WE MISSED THE MOST DAYS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH HURRICANE
DAYS. MISSED 11. EVERYONE ELSE WAS MISSING FEW LESS. TWO HURRICANES, 11 DAYS OF MISSED INSTRUCTION. AS WE LOOK AT THE RESULTS THAT CAME IN, IT'S TRULY REMARKABLE. I WANT TO REMIND THIS BOARD THAT TWO YEARS AGO IN JUNE WHEN THE STATE RELEASED THEIR GRADES, THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT WERE A PRIORITY. 29 Ds AND 4 29 Ds AND 4 Fs. MOST Ds AND F IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE. THERE IS NO LONGER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS THE MOST D AND F IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I WANT TO COMMEND ALL I WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS, THIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND ALL THE WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT TODAY. SO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS I WANT TO TALK THROUGH. WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF As FROM 63 TO 70. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THERE THAT ARE LISTED. I WON'T NAME THEM I WON'T NAME THEM ALL.
TURNER/BARTELS, STRAWBERRY CREST ANOTHER ONE THAT IMPROVED. GAITHER AS I MENTIONED EARLIER. SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WILL TELL YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, I SPENT MOST OF THE MORNING TODAY ON THE PHONE CONSTANTLY WITH PRINCIPALS JUST TO HEAR THE EXCITEMENT IN THEIR VOICE FOR ALL THE WORK OUR SCHOOLS ALL THE WORK OUR SCHOOLS DID THIS PARTICULAR YEAR. IT WAS PRETTY IT WAS PRETTY REMARKABLE TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT THIS WORK IS TO THEM AND EVERYTHING THEY HAVE ACHIEVED. YOU CAN SEE INCREASED NUMBER OF
As FROM 63 TO 70. Bs FROM 40 TO 44. 18 SCHOOLS 18 SCHOOLS IMPROVED THEIR GRADE FROM THAT IMPORTANT C CATEGORY TO TO B. AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, IMPORTANT TO NOTE, BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL TWO YEARS AGO THE NUMBER OF Ds AND Fs, REDUCED FROM 29 D AND 4 F TO NO Fs AND 5 Ds THAT WE WORKED TOWARD NEXT YEAR TO BRING THE NUMBER TO ZERO. 33 TO 5 IN A TWO-YEAR TIME PERIOD GOES TO THE WORK
PERIOD GOES TO THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING THAT BOARD MEMBERS OVER AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU APPROVE SETTING CONDITIONS HERE THAT THEN ALLOWS OUR EMPLOYEES TO GO OUT AND DO TRULY REMARKABLE WORK. WITH ALL THAT, WE SAT HERE AND TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE, WHAT WE'VE HAD TO OVERCOME. I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WE'VE HAD. YOU TALK ABOUT YOU TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS WE CHEFFED WITH OPENING A YEAR WITH 400 INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES IN THE CLASSROOM. YOU SEE THE HARD WORK THAT TEACHERS PUT IN. EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS ABOUT THIS NUMBER. NO LONGER EVEN BEING CLOSE IF YOU LOOK AT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE WITH Ds AND Fs. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NOWHERE ON THE MAP AND SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. ALSO MENTION OUR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATINGS. THESE ARE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T RECEIVE A SCHOOL GRADE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS TO RECEIVE A GRADE. I THINK THE NUMBER IS 120. YOU CAN SEE
YOU CAN SEE MEDICAL ACADEMY, SIMMONS SOUTH COUNTY, HIGHEST RATING OF COMMENDABLE THERE. JUST SOME OTHER ASSESSMENT RESULTS, YOU CAN SEE SIMILAR TO FOR GRADES 3-10, INCREASE FROM PM 1 TO PM 2. NO COMPARISON TO OTHERS. JUST SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAME IN WITH THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WITH THE NUMBER OF DAYS MISSED. ENGLISH LANG ARTS, GRADES 3-10, STATE PUT US IN A PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM. YOU CAN SEE YOU CAN SEE IN P.M. 1 IN
SEPTEMBER, 34% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PROFICIENT AND 20% INCREASE OVER THE YEAR IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. MATH AS WELL. MATH WILL START MATH WILL START LOWER. IT TESTS ON END OF YEAR SKILLS. SOME OTHER ONES THAT I THINK WE WANT TO PARTICULARLY BE PROUD OF, IF YOU LOOK, YOU HAVE STUDENT GRADES WHICH HAS STUDENTS BOTH SURVEY PERIODS. THIS HERE FOR SPRING ASSESSMENT RESULTS, ALL TESTERS.
ONE THAT THIS BOARD HAS MADE A PRIORITY AROUND READING AND PROFICIENCY, LOOK AT OUR INCREASE IN COMPARISON TO INCREASE IN COMPARISON TO STATE. GRADES 3 THROUGH 5 FOR PROFICIENCY. WE HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY GRADES. WE HAD A THREE PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN GRADES THREE THROUGH FIVE HERE IN OUR DISTRICT. SCIENCE NUMBERS, A LOT OF SCHOOL GRADES ARE ON SCIENCE, IMPROVED PARTICULARLY TO OUR IMPROVEMENT SCIENCE AT 3%. ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, U.S. HISTORY HAD A HUGE 5% INCREASE.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE. BUT WE CAN LOOK AT DATA ALL DAY LONG. THIRD GRADE AS MENTIONED BEFORE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, 2% INCREASE IN THIRD GRADE. 3-5 -- I WANT TO THANK 3-5 -- I WANT TO THANK OUR ACADEMIC SERVICES PEOPLE. OUR ENTIRE STAFF, ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS THAT HELP SUPPORT THAT. THESE GAINS JUST DON'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. THEY HAPPEN BECAUSE OF HARD WORK AND EXTREMELY TALENTED WORKERS, TEACHERS, EVERY STAFF MEMBER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE THE
REASON WE SEE THE RESULTS THAT WE DID. I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM. WE'LL SPEND SOME TIME CELEBRATING WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AT OUR JOINT PRINCIPAL MEETING AND BOARD MEMBERS YOU'LL ALL BE AT JULY 24. WHILE ALL THAT WAS GOING ON, THAT MORNING OF SCHOOL THAT MORNING OF SCHOOL GRAY, THIS WAS MONDAY, WE HAD ALL OUR ADVANCE PLACEMENT RESULTS CAME IN. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW THIS. I'VE SPOKEN TO EACH OF YOU. WE SAW ANOTHER 4% WE SAW ANOTHER 4% INCREASE. LAST YEAR 66% PASS RATE. THAT NUMBER JUMPED TO 70%.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM SINCE 2022 OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE ARE TALKING A 70% PASS RATE. LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS EVERY STUDENT THAT SAT DOWN AND TOOK THE TEST, 70% OF THEM MADE A SCORE OF THREE, FOUR OR FIVE. IF YOU LOOK OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS, THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH THAT HAS HAPPENED IN ADVANCE PLACEMENT ON A NATIONAL NORM TEST OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT AS WE COMPARE TO OTHER NATIONALLY, I WILL TELL YOU, YOU CAN SEE, OF COURSE, 17% INCREASE SINCE 2022,
BUT YOU'RE TALKING, THERE BUT YOU'RE TALKING, THERE WERE 27,764 EXAMS GIVEN OVER 19,000 OF THOSE STUDENTS EARNED A 3, 4, OR 5. NUMERIC VALUE, NUMBER OF 14 MILLION IN POTENTIAL SAVINGS FOR STUDENTS AS THEY MOVE ON TO COLLEGE. GISELE BROWN WHO IS HERE WHO HELPS LEAD ADVANCED ACADEMICS TEAM BUT IT COMES DOWN, LOOKING AT AP, ALL THE PREP HAPPENS AT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE. HIGH SCHOOL IS REALLY KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK THIS YEAR ALL THE WAY AROUND. REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
YOU MAY BE WONDERING ABOUT ACE CAMBRIDGE, THAT WILL BE COMING AROUND AUGUST IS WHEN ACE RESULTS WILL COME RESULTS WILL COME IN. ADVANCED PLACEMENT, HIGHEST RATE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE A 70% PASS RATE. SAY IT AGAIN, THE HIGHEST RATE EVER EVER OF AP PASS RATE. PRETTY REMARKABLE OF THE WORK OUR TEAMS OUR TEAMS ARE DOING. AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE THAT WAS HAPPENING, FEW DAYS BEFORE THAT, WE HAD IB RESULTS COME IN. MEMBERS YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF OUR
IB PASS RATES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. JUST TO JUST TO SUMMARIZE, 387 IB DIPLOMAS AWARDED TO SENIORS THIS YEAR. 90% OF THE SUBJECT 90% OF THE SUBJECT AREA 90% OF THE SUBJECT AREA EXAMS. THE NUMBER OF DIPLOMAS AND DIPLOMA RATE FOR IB. ADVANCED ACADEMICS AND ADVANCE PLACEMENT, IB, STILL WAITING FOR THE ACE THE ACE RESULTS. AMOUNT OF ACCESS TO ACCELERATED COURSE WORK IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS IS ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE.
WHAT WE OFFER AND THANKS TO TO BOARD FOR MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF ACE. WHEN WE PURCHASE AP EXAMS AND ALL OF THE THINGS WE DO THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE BUSINESS, WHICH ALLOWS OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO GO AND DO THIS KIND OF GREAT WORK. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN CONTACTING A LOT OF YOUR SCHOOLS. THEY ARE VERY PROUD OF THE RESULTS. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEM. THIS ENTIRE TEAM AND STAFF TO GET US TO THIS PLACE.
THAT IS IT. >>Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. FIRST IN THE QUEUE, MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANKS TO THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE MILLAGE REFERENDUM APPROVED BY
AN OVERWHELMING 67% OF VOTERS LAST NOVEMBER AND OUR STRONG COLLABORATION WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION HILLSBOROUGH EMPLOYEES FEDERATION AND HILLSBOROUGH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THE MILLAGE REFERENDUM SUPPLEMENTAL PAY EFFECTIVE JULY 1st, 2025. A SPECIAL THANKS TO CFO, WONDERFUL JAMIE LEWIS WHO STOOD THE TEST OF TIME TONIGHT AND OUR HARD AS HECK FINANCIAL GURU WHO
IS NOT HERE, STEPHANIE HEATON, BUT SHE IS A WONDERFUL BUT SHE IS A WONDERFUL PARTNER WITH YOU AND OUR TAXPAYERS. NEXT, I NEXT, I HAVE A VIDEO -- PABLO, ARE WE DOING THE VIDEO? YEAH, THIS IS THE ONE WHERE OUR HUMAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING PANEL. NO, ALL RIGHT. THAT'S FINE. >> MOVING TO THE BEAT OF THE MUSIC, THE CHILDREN IN THIS CLASSROOM AREN'T JUST DANCING, BUT LEARNING.
IN THIS CLASSROOM, THEY ARE LEARNING IN LEARNING IN SPANISH, A LANGUAGE THAT MEANS A LOT TO HER. >> I CAN SHARE MY LANGUAGE FIRST, MY CULTURE, AND LEARN FROM THEM. >> FIRST GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHER. SHE SAYS HER EXPERIENCE IN LEARNING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS WHAT MOTIVATED HER TO TEACH OTHERS. >> I OPENED THE >> I OPENED THE DOOR FOR THEM TO LEARN AND JUST ENJOY THE TIME THAT WE'RE HERE. I SEE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. >> THE CHILDREN ARE ALSO LEARNING FRENCH.
AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE CAMP. PAST STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IN THE U.S., ABOUT 20% OF K-12 STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN A WORLD LANGUAGE. IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THAT PERCENTAGE IS MUCH HIGHER. VERONICA SCHMIDT GOMEZ IS THE SUPERVISOR OF WORLD AND DUAL LANGUAGES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE SAYS LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE IS USUALLY OFFERED IN HIGH SCHOOL. THIS CAMP ALLOWS STUDENTS TO GET AHEAD. >> THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME AND A CRITICAL AGE FOR LEARNING LANGUAGES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOSTER
THAT. RESEARCH HAS ALREADY SHOWN THAT STUDENTS WHO ACTUALLY LEARN STUDENTS WHO ACTUALLY LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE HAVE COGNITIVE SKILLS THAT ARE MORE ADVANCED. >> THE CAMPUS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE AT THREE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON STUDENTS WHO ATTEND A 15 MILITARY CONNECTED SCHOOLS. WHILE EACH WHILE EACH CLASS IS DIFFERENT, STUDENTS LEARN STUDENTS LEARN IN A STUDENTS LEARN IN A SIMILAR STUDENTS LEARN IN A SIMILAR WAY. >> WE HAVE TO BE USING THE
>> WE HAVE TO BE USING THE BUDDY MOVEMENT TO CALL TO THEIR ATTENTION. ALSO PICTURES, CHARTS, REPETITION ALL THE TIME. >> RIVERA SAYS THE CAMP WILL HELP BRIDGE CAMPS IN LANGUAGES AND CONNECT MORE STUDENTS TO EACH OTHER. >> THERE'S NO LIMIT -- >>Lynn Gray: PABLO, LET'S STOP IT. THIS IS A TESTIMONIAL TO OUR MULTI-LANGUAGE, WORLD LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT AND MERCADO, JESSICA, THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE DoDEA DoDEA GRANT, DoDEA GRANT, DEPARTMENT
EDUCATION ACTIVITY GRANT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY WORLD LANGUAGE SUMMER IMMERSION LANGUAGE SUMMER IMMERSION CAMP EVER. IT'S HUGE. HOSTED BY DAWSON ELEMENTARY, FISHHAWK CREEK ELEMENTARY, RAMPELLO K-8. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE STUDENTS WERE ABSOLUTELY IMMERSED IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES, VARIOUS LANGUAGES, SPANISH, FRENCH, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. SO IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. NEXT WE'LL GO AHEAD INTO THE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE. THANKS TO THE CHAIR -- DO WE HAVE PHOTOS? OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE WAS IN FRONT WAS IN FRONT OF 47 STATES DISCUSSING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE IDEA OF STUDENTS, TRAFFICKING STUDENTS WE GAVE THEM INFORMATION ON THE VARIOUS WEBSITES, THE STRATEGIES FOR -- AND THESE ARE FBI AGENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. STRATEGIES THAT THEY CAN USE FOR
THEIR COMMUNITIES TO THEIR COMMUNITIES TO HELP BE PREPARED WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE GROOMED. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE A SCHOOL WHERE KIDS ARE ABSOLUTELY TRYING TO TRAFFIC TRYING TO TRAFFIC KIDS. SO WE HAVE HAD A SO WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SO WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS, THANKS TO TO THANKS TO TO WELCH, BETSY CONNELLY, FBI. THANKS BETSY FOR PUTTING THIS ON. SERGEANT ADAM. DIAZ OUR CHAIR.
WE'RE GETTING AROUND AND WILL BE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, MIDDLE SCHOOLS NEXT DISTRICT YEAR. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT IMPACT ON THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: GOT A LOT IN THERE. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: PABLO, CAN WE START? I HAD I HAD THE HONOR TO BE ABLE TO GO AND SEE THE FFA STATE CONVENTION.
WE HAD THE PRESIDENT FROM DURANT HIGH SCHOOL. AND ONE OF THE OFFICERS WAS FROM STRAWBERRY CREST. WE HAD MANY OF OUR WE HAD MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE AND WERE AWARD-WINNING. I WOULD SAY WE REPRESENTED OUR DISTRICT BETTER THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WITH ALL THE AWARDS WON. I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF OUR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS FOR THE HARD WORK THEY PUT IN FOR THE FFA AND EVERYTHING THEY LEARN. SPEECHES BY THE STUDENTS WERE
FANTASTIC AND AMAZING. WHAT THEY LEARNED FROM FFA WHAT THEY LEARNED FROM FFA IS FANTASTIC. HOPE WILL BE THE PRESIDENT OF FFA. SHE IS A GRADUATE OF SHE IS A GRADUATE OF STRAWBERRY CREST. ONE OF HER VICE PRESIDENTS IS FROM DURANT HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN. WE WILL BE REPRESENTING THE STATE FFA AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. ALSO, I HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR OF GOING WITH RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. THEY ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO MIDDLE
SCHOOLS TO MAKE IT TO THE FINALS. THEY HAVE THEIR EXPERIMENT THAT WILL BE GOING INTO SPACE AND THE PATCH WRITTEN AFTER THEM. THEY START OFF WITH NINE DIFFERENT TEAMS FROM RANDALL AND NARROW DOWN TO ONE. BUT THEY WERE ONE OF ONLY ABOUT 20 TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, BRAZIL HAD TWO BRAZIL HAD TWO TEAMS. PORTUGAL. SEVERAL OTHER TEAMS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA, PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO. UNIVERSITIES HAD TEAMS. HIGH SCHOOL HAD TEAMS. AND THERE WERE ONLY TWO MIDDLE
SCHOOL TEAMS THAT MADE IT WITH THE SAME THE SAME CALIBER AS THESE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TEAMS. WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB, WHAT A FANTASTIC PROGRAM THAT WE DID THROUGH RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GIVE A HEADS UP TO THEM. THEY HAD AN ASTRONAUT THERE THAT SPOKE TO THE KIDS AND DID A REALLY GREAT REALLY GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OUR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOLS. IT MAKES IT EASY FOR US TO GET UP AND SAY ALL OF OUR SCHOOL
GRADES, BUT THAT IS ON THE BACKS OF ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY, VERY SPECIFIC IN YOUR TASK AND REALLY PUT TIME, EFFORT AND TALENT INTO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS. IT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY IT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOU AND THE JOB YOU DO. YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR DISTRICT AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. WE MAY HAVE MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THIS BOAR, I GUARANTEE YOU EVERY
SINGLE BOARD MEMBER KNOWS THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS DISTRICT. WE RECOGNIZE YOU. WE RECOGNIZE YOU AS EMPLOYEES, AND WE VALUE EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU PUT IN THERE. NOT A ONE OF US THAT DOES NOT ADVOCATE FOR YOU WHENEVER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT YOU, WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO. JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN OUR SCHOOLS, DEDICATED TO STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON.
MR. WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WONDERFUL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STAFF AT THE SCHOOLS FOR DOING A GREAT JOB. WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, WE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE LAST YEAR, AND WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WORKING. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. THAT'S AMAZING HOW TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS HAVE COME THROUGH REALLY, REALLY GOOD. REALLY GOOD.
AND WHOLE STAFF. IT TAKES IT TAKES EVERYONE. NOT ONE PERSON. WORK HARD, BE DEDICATED AND WORK HARD, BE DEDICATED AND DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN ORDER FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. DISTRICT 5, I AM WELL PLEASED BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN DISTRICT IN DISTRICT 5. TWO Ds.
'T SEEN THAT LAST 13, 1 YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NONE NEXT YEAR. AGAIN, TEACHERS AND STAFF AND EVERYONE, EVERYONE, CUSTODIANS, BECAUSE IT TAKES EVERYBODY. CUSTODIANS CLEAN THE ROOMS, HEY, THEY DON'T LEARN. IF WE DON'T HAVE DIETITIAN FEEDING STUDENTS, THEY HUNGRY. EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
OUR HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS FACE TEAM HAS BEEN SELECTED TO PRESENT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS THIS FALL. THIS CONFERENCE BRINGS THIS CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER EDUCATION, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONALS AND ADVOCATES WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WITH OVER 100 SESSIONS FOR PEOPLE NATIONWIDE. OUR FACE PRESENTATION WILL BE SPOTLIGHTED, OUR SCHOOL SUPPORT
FRAMEWORK AND HOW TO UTILIZE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FACE TEAM. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER PEREZ. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, SUPERINTENDENT, I WANT FIRST, SUPERINTENDENT, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. I KNOW SITTING I KNOW SITTING ON THIS BOARD
WITH WITH DR. HAHN AND MEMBER GRAY, WE HAVE SEEN THIS DISTRICT STRUGGLE. WE HAVE SEEN WE HAVE SEEN JUST SOME STRUGGLES. SITTING HERE AS BOARD MEMBERS TRYING TO TRYING TO LIFT THIS DISTRICT, AND TO SEE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, I WAS ECSTATIC TO SEE THESE GRADES. BUT BUT ALSO, I WANT TO THANK YOUR CABINET. AND AND FARKAS AND EVERYONE FOR THE
WAY -- LET ME SAY THIS. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM AND I CALL AND YOU AND YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONE. THAT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PARENTS CALLING WITH REAL PROBLEMS, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS TO LIFT THEIR STUDENTS. SO WHEN YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONES AND YOU HELP THESE PARENTS, THAT'S WHERE WE THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO THESE, GOING FROM A D TO AN A OR GOING
FROM A B TO AN A, OR, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO GETTING TO ONE F. THAT'S HOW WE GET HERE. I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK YOU. BUT ALSO THE TEACHERS, THE PRINCIPALS WHO KEEP THOSE SCHOOLS GOING AND THE TEACHERS WHO ARE IN FRONT WHO ARE IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS. BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK. I ONLY HAVE THREE KIDS AND THEY ARE ABOUT TO DRIVE ME TO DRINK. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF A CLASSROOM FULL OF 15 STUDENTS.
15, 20, 25, 30 SOMETIMES. I JUST WANT TO THANK THIS DISTRICT FOR WHAT DISTRICT FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. WITH THE WITH THE NEW FOCUS SYSTEM TRANSITION ON JULY 1st, WILL THE STUDENTS BE USING THE BUS PASS SYSTEM? >>Christopher Farkas:
>>Christopher Farkas: RFID? NO IN NO. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS WITHOUT FLAWS. WE'LL WORK WITH WE'LL WORK WITH MS. ARJA. WE'RE READY TO GO BUT DIDN'T WANT TO THROW TOO MUCH ON SCHOOLS. COMFORTABLE FOCUSED OFF THE GROUND. >>Karen Perez: YOU'LL LET US KNOW. >>Christopher Farkas: HUNDRED PERCENT. YOU GUYS WILL BE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE TO DO A PRESS CONFERENCE TO KICK IT OFF. YES, WE'LL YES, WE'LL SHARE WITH THE BOARD. >>Karen Perez: A FEW NEWSPAPERS WERE ASKING ME
WERE ASKING ME AND TO DO A PRESS RELEASE SO THEY WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GUYS ARE DOING YOUR -- >> HUNDRED PERCENT. >>Karen Perez: WITH THE BUS DRIVERS, WHAT KIND OF CLEANING EQUIPMENT DO WE PROVIDE THEM TO CLEAN THE CLEAN THE BUSES? >>Christopher Farkas: OUTSIDE THE BUS, BUS WASH. INSIDE, THEY CAN CHECK STUFF OUT AT THE SITE. THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT AT EACH ONE OF THE FACILITIES THAT THEY CAN USE TO HELP DO THE BUSES.
>>Karen Perez: HOW OFTEN DO WE REPLENISH THOSE? >> SHOULD BE ALWAYS. IF YOU HEAR THEY RUN OUT OF SOMETHING, PLEASE LET US KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO SAY ENDLESS SUPPLY BUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE CLEANING SUPPLIES FOR BUSES. >>Karen Perez: THERE ARE CONCERNS TO MAKE SURE AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR THAT THERE'S CLEANING SUPPLIES FOR BUSES. >>Christopher Farkas: I'LL FOLLOW UP NOW AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THOSE. >>Karen Perez: CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. DR. HAHN. >>Stacy Hahn: CONGRATULATIONS.
I WAS EXCITED WHEN YOU SHARED THIS WITH ME THE OTHER DAY. I REACHED OUT TO SHAY AND CONGRATULATED HER. HOPE YOU SHARE WITH HER TEAM. YOU NEED TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WITH THE ROTARY, WITH THE ECONOMIC CLUB, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE NOT WATCHING US RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A DIRECT CORRELATION, THIS HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION
WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT BUSINESSES NEED THAT BUSINESSES NEED AND ELECTED LEADERS, THE MAYOR NEEDS TO KNOW THIS SO THEY CAN ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES TO THE AREA WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT A STRONG SCHOOL DISTRICT WE HAVE. THIS IS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE. I THINK YOU NEED TO TAKE TIME AND SHARE IT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE IT COMES OLD NEWS. TAKE YOUR VICTORY LAP, TAKE YOUR VICTORY LAP, PLEASE. WHEN I LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, I
THINK BACK TO COVID, I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR DESANTIS FOR DEMANDING THAT SCHOOLS REOPEN. SO MANY STATES AT THE COUNTRY STAYED CLOSED FOR UP TO TWO YEARS, THOSE KIDS WILL NEVER CLOSE THAT GAP. LOOK AT THE GREAT LOOK AT THE GREAT GAINS, THE GAPS CLOSED IN THE DISTRICT SINCE THEN. THIS IS REALLY GREAT NEWS.
I THINK ALL THE SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY DISTRICT 2 SCHOOLS. ALL THE SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 2, THEY DID THEY DID GREAT AROUND SCHOOL DATA. BUT I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT A SHOUT-OUT TO A SHOUT-OUT TO A FEW SCHOOLS THAT HAVE REALLY SET A VERY HIGH BAR. ONE IS ONE IS GRADY ELEMENTARY. NUMBER ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
THE DISTRICT. NUMBER 7th IN THE STATE, CORRECT? IN THE STATE. 7th IN THE STATE FOR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, NUMBER PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, NUMBER ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. ADUM, ADUM, K-8, NUMBER ONE K-8 IN THE DISTRICT. COLEMAN TIED WITH WALKER FOR NUMBER ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEACHERS, THE STAFF, THE PARENTS, THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAVE WRAPPED THEIR ARMS AROUND THESE
SCHOOLS AND LIFTED THEM UP TO SUCH HIGH POINT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO THAT. I KNOW ALL THE SCHOOLS PUT THEIR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO THEIR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. SO EVERYONE DESERVES CONGRATULATIONS. BUT I DID WANT TO BUT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT SINCE THEY ALL CAME OUT OF MY DISTRICT. I'M TAKING I'M TAKING A VICTORY LAP TONIGHT, BECAUSE I DON'T GET TO
DO THAT MUCH. NOT THAT I HAD NOT THAT I HAD ANY DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THIS, BUT I DO HAVE A MICROPHONE HAVE A MICROPHONE AND I WANT TO GIVE DO WHERE DO SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT. VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 2 ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF IT. HOW CAN I NOT WHEN WE HAVE SUCH GREAT EMPLOYEES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IN OUR DISTRICT OFFICES TO WORK WITH. YOU ALL MAKE MY JOB A LOT
EASIER. THANK YOU. ONE LAST ONE LAST THING, SINCE I HAVE -- ONE LAST THING, I JUST WANT TO THANK ONE VOICE ACADEMY. THEY HAD -- PATTI WENT OUT, MEMBER RENDON WENT OUT AND I WENT OUT. THEY HAD A STUDENT DAY WHERE NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THEY HAVE A ONE VOICE CLUB. IF YOU DON'T RECALL, ONE VOICE IS WHERE WE HAVE OUR PEDIATRIC
CANCER CLASSROOM. NEWSOME HAS A HUGE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION OF 180 STUDENTS. OVER THE SUMMER THEY DO A RETREAT WITH THE BOARD. THEY ARE BRILLIANT AND THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND THEY ARE COMPASSIONATE. THEY WERE READING A BOOK OVER THE SUMMER. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME. MAYBE YOU DO. IT'S A LEADERSHIP BOOK. WE SPOKE WITH THEM JUST ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY ARE DOING IN LEADERSHIP AND SO FORTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MARYANNE AND SANDRA FOR MAKING THE INVITE. I JUST LOVE BEING OUT THERE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHO DO SOME OF THE HARDEST WORK IN THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. JUST LIKE A LOT OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE, DISTRICT STAFF, TEACHERS. EVEN TODAY WHEN I WAS TALKING TO A COUPLE OF MY PRINCIPALS, IT'S EVERYONE. IT IS THE
IT IS THE LUNCHROOM. IT'S THE BUS DRIVERS. MAKING SURE THE CHILD IS STUDYING OR THE CAFETERIA PEOPLE. IT'S EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER. IT IS THE PARENT LIAISON THAT WAS HERE TODAY. IT'S EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER. I WANT TO SAY I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF MY SCHOOLS. I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BOUNDARY CHANGE. I REMEMBER BEING AT I REMEMBER BEING AT SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVING A BIG ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL. I NEED TO BE I NEED TO BE REZONED. SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL IS AN A.
YOU WERE ALREADY AN A. JUST FORMAL NOW. REMEMBER, SOMETIMES THAT GRADE IS NOT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU DO. SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T GET THAT POINT OR I SPOKE TO SOMEONE TODAY WHO IS ONE POINT FROM AN A, THE SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE ONE POINT FROM A B AND YOU WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. REMEMBER, WE VALUE, WE REALIZE HOW HARD YOU ARE WORKING. I SAY ONE THING ABOUT THIS CABINET AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, I SEE THAT YOU ARE LASER FOCUSED ON HIRING THE RIGHT PRINCIPAL. I SEE THAT BY THE PEOPLE YOU'RE
CHOOSING TODAY. I SEE THAT BY YOU REALLY LOOKING AT WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON WHO IS GOING TO IMPACT THE SCHOOL. NOBODY IN THIS ROOM. REALLY THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL. I REALLY SEE SOME LASER FOCUSED DECISIONS ON THAT. I SEE YOUR CABINET COMING TOGETHER. I THINK ABOUT THE TALENT THAT TOBY HAS FOR MUSIC. ALWAYS SEEN HE'S SO TALENTED, TO SEE HE WILL BRING THAT PASSION TO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL REALLY EXCITES ME. JUST LOOKING DOWN. EVEN LETO HIGH SCHOOL. LOOKING AT ALL THE CHOICES
YOU'RE MAKING. I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST INDICATION OF WHO THE PRINCIPAL IS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCORES LIKE MENDENHALL AND MENDENHALL AND CANNELLA THAT ARE A SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A HARD POPULATION, IT'S CHALLENGING, THERE IS A LOT OF THERE IS A LOT OF TARDINESS, A LOT OF SINGLE FAMILIES, LOT OF SINGLE FAMILIES, ELA, ESE STUDENTS, THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION.
WHEN I LOOK AT THAT I SEE SUCH A LINKAGE. PANORAMA SURVEY, I LOOKED AT SCHOOL GRADES AND LOOKED BACK AT PANORAMA THE OTHER DAY AND SUCH A CORRELATION BETWEEN THOSE. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. THAT IS VERY RELIABLE AND GOOD FOR US TO LOOK AT THE SCHOOLS AND SEE WHAT THEY DID. SOME OF THE SCHOOLS I SPOKE TO, WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT DID YOU DO, ALL THE PRINCIPALS SAY THE SAME THING. IT'S THE STAFF. WASN'T ME. WE WORKED TOGETHER. REGARDLESS IF SCORES WENT UP OR NOT, WE'RE PROUD OF THE HARD
WORK EACH AND EVERYONE IS DOING. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE DOING SUMMER CAMP. I WENT OUT TO I WENT OUT TO WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY AND TO SEE ELEMENTARY AND TO SEE ALL THE STUDENTS OUT THERE SO ACTIVE AND ENGAGED, WE DON'T WANT THE SUMMER SLIDE. WE WANT TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. MAKING SURE WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS FOR READING, WRITING, STAYING OFF THE PHONE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ALSO THANK THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR MOVING FORWARD TO GETTING RID OF CELL PHONES IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE WERE ALREADY AHEAD OF TIMES. I LOVE TO SEE THAT. I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING MORE ABOUT LOOKING AT CELL PHONES AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE NEED TO CONTINUE WATCHING THAT AND MONITORING THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT LUNK TOGETHER WITH PHONES, YOU'RE SEEING A DIFFERENCE AND I THINK THE CELL PHONES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GREAT SUMMER. LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY I HOPE SOMETIME IN THE FALL, I'D
REALLY LIKE TO HAVE A RETREAT. THE FINANCIAL ISSUES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OCCUR. WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND HAVING A MEETING HERE, HOUR HERE TWO HOURS, THREE HOURS, IS NOT ENOUGH. WE'VE GOT TO DO A REALLY DEEP DO I HAVE A. LOOK AT HEALTH CARE. LOOK AT GROWTH MANAGEMENT. LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES AND DO A RETREAT. LET'S MAKE A MOVE. THAT WAY DOESN'T TAKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS. LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TEACHERS IN URBAN CORE. LOOK AT THE VERY BIG ISSUES AND MAKE SURE WHEN WE COME OUT TO
ASK FOR THE TAX REFERENDUM THAT OUR VOTERS KNOW WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE WAY TO SAVE EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR TO MAKE SURE OUR MONEY IS GOING BACK INTO OUR STUDENTS AND YOU'RE SEEING GREAT RESULTS. HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT SUMMER AND THANK YOU. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. A LOT OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS GOING TO ECHO WHAT ALL THE FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS SAID. YOU'RE NOT WRONG. IT'S BEEN YEARS OF CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES. LAST FEW MEETINGS, IT'S BEEN ROUGH. YOU AND YOUR CABINET HAVE HAD TO
SIT THROUGH VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS FROM EXPECTATIONS FROM YOUR BOARD. AND TO SEE THE KIND OF GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD, THERE ARE AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. I DO THINK WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT AT HIGHLIGHTING. HAS AN E-MAIL GONE OUT TO FAMILIES ALREADY? I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OUR CITY. ARE FAMILIES AWARE OF THE GROWTH WE'VE HAD ALREADY? HAS THERE BEEN HAS THERE BEEN A HAS THERE BEEN A MESSAGE? >> INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS HAVE SENT OUT THEIR INFORMATION. BUT WE HAVE NOT SENT SOMETHING OUT FROM US
OUT FROM US TO OUT FROM US TO EVERYBODY. WE DID SEND A PRESS RELEASE OUT. >>Jessica Vaughn: LETTER FROM US SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK, AS EVERYBODY MENTIONED, THIS IS A HEAVY LIFT. THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS HONESTLY HAS BEEN SEEING THE PEOPLE IN MY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS CELEBRATING AND BEING SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES AND CONGRATULATING THEMSELVES. I MEAN, IT HASN'T BEEN A BOOST IN MORALE BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE TO SACRIFICE SO MUCH AND PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO SHOWING UP
FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT WHEN THEY FINALLY GET RECOGNIZED ARBITRARILY THROUGH A SCHOOL GRADE, IT BOOSTS MORALE SO MUCH. AND TO LET OUR FAMILIES KNOW ABOUT THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE HAVING, NOT JUST THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS I THINK IS IMPERATIVE. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON. MEMBER WASHINGTON SAID IT SO ELOQUENTLY WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT IT IS THE BUS DRIVER THAT GETS THE KIDS SAFE. PARAPROFESSIONAL THAT SUPPORTS US.
ALL THE PEOPLE HERE AT 9:00 AT NIGHT. YOUR CABINET TAKE A LOT OF HEAT. PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT TAKE A LOT OF HEAT. PRINCIPALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. EVERY SINGLE PERSON PLAYS A ROLE INCLUDING FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. WE SIT UP HERE AND TAKE A LOT OF HEAT AND DON'T ALWAYS AGREE AND HAVE TO ARGUE. WE DO IT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR DISTRICT AND CARE ABOUT KIDS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS EVIDENT IN ALL THE WORK WE DO. I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS DISTRICT, THE HARD WORK FROM EVERYBODY. EVEN THOUGH TIMES ARE HARD, WE
DO NEED TO TAKE OUR VICTORY LAP. WE ALL NEED TO TAKE IT, EVERYBODY IN THIS DISTRICT TO GO FROM, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAVING SOME OF THE WORST GRADES IN THE STATE TO BEING ONE POINT FROM A DISTRICT FIRST TIME EVER IS TESTAMENT NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES ARE PUT IN FRONT OF US, OUR US, OUR PEOPLE SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO FOR OUR KIDS. THAT SHOULD BE THE HEADLINES FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. REPORTER STILL HERE? HEAR THAT? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU. I CONCUR. HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GREAT SUMMER BECAUSE WE'RE RUSHING RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]