The schoolboard work session begins in 1 minute. Please take your seats. Again, the schoolboard work session begins in 1 minute. [Music]
I now call the May 8th, 2025 administrative briefing and work session of the Marian County School Board to order at 9:00 a.m. Please silence your electronic devices to avoid disturbing others. mirroring and modeling how our students begin each day. I ask that you please pause with us for a moment of
silence. Please join me. Thank you. I will now read our board commitment statement. We are the Marian County School District Leadership Team. When we come together to work, we are efficient, effective, and productive. Our three most important characteristics
are dedicated, transparent, and individually responsible. To work well together, we must demonstrate respect, confront reality, and be accountable. We will always put students first. We will leave a legacy of success. I'd now like to ask the school board attorney to
explain the rules for the public work session. Good morning, Attorney Powers. Thank you, Chair Conrad. This work session is a public meeting as defined in Florida's Sunshine Law. The board is dedicated to full transparency in its meetings and its work. In compliance with the Sunshine
Law, the board has adopted uniform meeting procedures, including the right for citizens to participate. The board will allow public comment regarding any work session item listed on today's agenda at the appropriate time. Speakers must fill out a request form located in the lobby and hand it to the board
clerk. After the board and superintendent have completed their discussion on a particular agenda item, the board clerk will call speakers names in the order received. Each speaker will have three minutes as required by the sunshine law. The board must maintain orderly conduct
and proper decorum throughout its meeting. Finally, speakers must be very careful not to violate privacy rights of others, especially students and their family members by mentioning their names or other identifying information. Thank you for your attention to these important rules. Thank you, Attorney Powers. Good
morning, Miss Martinez Young. Can you please provide the proof for publication for today's meeting? The notice for the the notice for the May 8th, 2025 work session was published in the Ocala Gazette on April I'm sorry 25th, 2025. Proof of publication
has been attached to board docs under proof of publication. Thank you. All right, we'll now begin our work session. Uh we only have one item today. Um the board wanted to keep uh the superintendent search uh as a topic um as we move forward this
process. And so uh we're going to open it up for discussion. Um I know Dr. Campbell, you had some uh initial ideas that you shared at our last meeting about a survey. So I thought I'd let you lead uh the disc the discussion.
Okay. Well, I I don't necessarily have anything that I uploaded. I I have gathered a little bit of information just kind of as work product. Nothing necessarily to share um just yet. Um in looking at the most recent superintendent
searches that have happened in both St. John County as well as uh St. John's County as well as Monroe. You can actually go to their websites. If you just Google St. John Superintendent Search, they have a website. Same thing
with um Monroe Superintendent Search. And whenever you get to their websites, then there's a tab for community input. And so what those community input tabs then have are the results from their
surveys and their town hall meetings. What I would first say is there's there's a couple of questions I think that we as a board need to answer and in the process if we're interested in hiring a
search firm, these are things that obviously search firms have done for both of these districts. If we're trying to do as much as we can on our own, then that's a question we need to answer. So, if we would like to
potentially save some of the costs of a search firm and still conduct a search similarly to the way we just did our interim search, but kind of put all the onus on us, I think that's a question we need to answer. And so, before we get into an
actual survey, I think that it would be helpful if we had some kind of common ground on the direction that we as a board would like to take. understanding that a search firm is going to cost us 40 50 $60,000. I honestly I don't know,
but I do think that it's possible if we took the ownership of some of this inclusive of community survey as well as a couple of town hall meetings that we didn't necessarily task staff with scheduling as much as we one of us, two
of us, three, however we want to handle that. Um, but I think it's imperative that if we are moving in the direction to not only have some kind of electronic survey, but also to have at least three different town halls because some people are not going to complete a survey, some
people are, you know, so we we I want to make sure we get as much community input as possible. But also want to understand the rest of the board's perspective on that. And then if we come to some consensus on do we want to search firm, do we not want to search firm, what it then we can talk through what surveys, locations, all that can look like. So if
that's okay. Thank you Dr. Campbell. Dr. James has Dr. James. So I I think I'm in the same pattern of thought. I just have one I think variant in that I would actually like to know what the community wants
the board to do since the community doesn't get to elect anymore and they appointed us they appoint they elect us to appoint I would I love the idea of a town hall. I would love to see this board create a survey and then since we
have five districts we each hold a town hall in our district because I I think it could get muddy if more than one of us are at one town hall. So, we each hold a town hall in our district at a school and that's an opportunity for the community to share with each of us their thoughts. We do that in conjunction with
a survey and then we have a work session where we all share the thoughts from the community from the town halls and we go over the results of the survey and from there this board then makes a decision what we do next. And maybe then we will
either use that data or have to do town halls again if we hire a national firm and do the whole national search. Or maybe from those town halls and survey the community will tell us hopefully overwhelmingly one way or the other. That would be my hope that they don't
want to do a national search and they want us to figure it out or give Dr. Brewer time to figure it out or I don't know. I I don't know what the community will say, but I think I want that data before then I make a decision about what
we do next. So, and and maybe the summer would be a good time to host town halls or as we get close to the start of the school year, maybe at the beginning of August. I think we're at this like really tough spot because I don't want to schedule them in the summer and then people are miss the opportunity to come.
Um so, I mean, maybe we could do it right there right when school's about to start. And so it's kind of like a because that schools are kind of getting back open and reminds people to get back into the swing of things. I don't know. But that has been my um concern about the timeline and and a survey. And maybe
we let the survey go all summer and then the kind of the conclusion of the survey is the town halls in August and then we have a work session in August to discuss the data. I don't know. That's a thought. I just I have hesitation of tasking the community with participation
in the summer when historically the district I think we struggle with community participation in the summer as we see this morning. That's just my thought. But I love a I think if we all host our own town halls I think that's awesome. I like that idea. Bor how oh
Dr. Camp and I I like the idea as well. My honestly my thought almost would be a little bit in reverse though that our town halls actually need to be sooner rather than later. I think right now the community is talking about it. Right now we know that we've just been in
transition. Scheduling them in the month of May will be challenging. I understand that. and depending on where we go. But if there's any way for us to hold our own individual town halls in the month of May and also have the survey kick off at
the same time or something, you know, maybe survey kicks June 1, but that while people are talking about it and while it's top of mind, what I I don't want to see is us go all the way through the summer and then people they've they're all like all over the place.
they haven't their kids are doing whatever and they're in a new school and they're all the things that are happening and some of our stakeholders that are engaged right now might not be as engaged in August. That that's my only thought on the timing. I think my concern and I don't disagree with you.
So, my concern would be finding a date that no school in the district has an event that night because I would never want a parent to say, "Well, I couldn't come to that because Sunrise had their whatever or Anthony had their whatever and so I couldn't come because my kid was being honored at this." And so
finding a day between tomorrow and May 29th that one of the schools in your district doesn't have an event is going to be I think that with also giving proper notification and like I would say proper notification is at least five
days. I mean probably more like 10 days, right? 10 10 work days. So, we're in the 20s now then and and so we're in the last two weeks of school and finding a time then that no school doesn't have something for our own district I think is going to be a challenge. Attorney
Powers. Uh just a reminder to the board that if a search term or if if a search firm is selected um they may have a specific plan pattern or structure for how they wish to go about community engagement and that may conflict with
the way that we would initially set up engagement that we see. So that's something for the board to consider and discuss. Thank you. I appreciate that. Uh board member Dor. Thank you. And um with that, it's been a while. We've only done
one superintendent search and it's been a while. So I think that maybe as a leadoff sooner than later, like at our very next work session, it would be great to have uh Rick Collins come and give everybody an overview. And for some
of us, it's a refresher of how the search was conducted last time um to help us make a decision um with with more information. Um I worry a little bit about
peacemealingness. Um I worry about duplication. Uh you know, time is important, money is important. uh if we decide to go with a search firm, they've got expertise just pulling up um St. John's, you know, how many surveys they did and all these different groups. I
love the idea of the town hall, you know, I I think that's great. Um but those are those are some of my uh beginning thoughts um with this. Thank you, board member Thrower.
Cummings. I um in looking at this in looking at this I I understand the idea of the town hall meetings. I also understand the idea of the
surveys, but I'm looking at at time. I'm looking at the fact that um properly getting the message out to everyone. Maring County is a large county. um to say we'll do one town hall
in our district. Some of our districts are huge and one town hall may not be enough. Um I can possibly see us doing a town hall at the beginning of the summer. Um a survey throughout the summer and then possibly another town
hall right before school starts to try and cover as many people as we can, but also doing a town hall with our own staff. um they're they're they're a vital part of this process as well. One thing that we learned in the last um superintendent search is that there were different
groups that those those um firms took into consideration, staff, administrators, all those different people. So, we're trying to do a survey to figure out if we even want a search firm. So, I think we still need to go to we can pull the data, we can pull the information from the last one and see
what groups that that firm touched and make sure that we also touch those. We're going to do a initial survey to see if we're going to go with the firm. That's what I think we need to go first get that that information at next work session. Um because I don't want the summer to be idle. I don't want us to
sit around and wait for the whole summer to be idle. As as Dr. Campbell said, you may lose some interest from some of the our partners that want us to move forward with this process. So, I think we need to pull that information from the last um superintendent search. Um
bring in Mr. columns like you said, see how we proceeded there. Look at those those uh stakeholder groups that we pulled in to get information from. Make sure that we're touching those same stakeholder groups again because they were vital in us selecting a
superintendent and using that uh information that data from those surveys to determine how we proceed as far as with the search. That was kitten that I forgot. Yes. and I had shared it last time and um it seems to be better
received and feels more secure to our employees to have an external survey versus a, you know, from a third party. You know, I I wish it wasn't like that, but I think we'll get more participation.
Madam Chair, also um and I think our we're we're we're good enough to get a uh and I agree with I agree with Moro that we can get some type of QR code that leads straight to a survey that we all can have that everybody can have. They can put on the site that helps us
to be able to put on our our Facebook pages. It's it's just another method of getting it out there to get as many people to do the survey as possible. What's happening is um we're missing groups of people, right? We're missing groups of people. So my goal is to make
sure we get as much input from the entire Marian County community. Okay. Yes, Dr. Campbell. So chair, with that thought, just hear me out as I this is this is one of those like thinking as we're speaking. So let's hypothesize
that we created the questions and we knew what the questions were going to be and how we wanted them to look. There's a way, and I'm just using SurveyMonkey as a tool. It doesn't have to be SurveyMonkey, but allow me to use that as an option. There's a way that if it was created, then that then can be
shared with other groups to then replicate that. And so potentially, we have each of our unions then have the exact same survey that they then send to their groups. Potentially we have the C
do one. We have the RECC and the DNC. We have like we we put them in retirement communities. We put them and we just say each one of your individual groups, here are the questions we want and here's when we want the data back. And then they give it back to us. I don't know
that they're willing to do that. I mean, that's putting a lot on other people. But I think the most important thing about a survey is that we develop what questions we want answered. Because if we're not actually asking I I did if
we're not actually asking do you believe Marian County School Board should conduct a national search for the next superintendent. If we don't actually ask that question with a yes or no then we honestly don't get that answer and just the ambiguous nature. The one thing that I found unique about the survey I
believe that was conducted. I I did pull the Rayan Associates chart that they had put together and I also looked at some of this data in these other two s other searches that were done. It looks as if the searches that have most recently
been done are all with open-ended questions and that I understand. I know as a as a researcher who prefers qualitative, I understand the need, but wanting to actually tabulate in a
quantitative nature to actually have thousands of responses. It's so much easier to have it quantitatively. So, but it does appear that the most recent searches include um surveys, including the one that Ray and Associates did was like, "What
characteristics would you like for in the next superintendent or what characteristics do you think blah whatever?" And then it it's open-ended and it causes someone on that search firm team to tabulate all of that data and assign a point value and put them in
category. So I think it's important I say all of that big thing to say that we come up with the exact questions that we want to ask in a survey and potentially those are also the questions that guide us through town hall conversations
and however that looks I mean some some of the survey kind of ideas that I would think that we should do scales like a one to seven like using the following scale
What value would you say the next superintendent has experiencing managing budgets of 500 million or more? Like I'm just literally just throwing out or strategic planning experience or classroom experience or and have like a one to seven scale and that they rate I
mean again we're this is all just we're thinking out loud. These are all things that a search firm would do for us, but if we're not really wanting to get to Well, if Rick Collins comes, and I I agree having Rick I've said that probably every public meeting we've had since the resignation letter. So, um I
absolutely are on board with Rick Collins coming and I think you've heard that from at least three of us. So, um maybe May 22nd, we can make that happen. Uh but if we are going to do our own survey, uh and that's just a an idea of how we might be able to do it. Board
member Thor go talk. So, and he you didn't see coming, so I'll go after him. Okay. Just trying to um and again, yeah, having Mr. Collins here is uh going to be a good refresher because I'm trying to remember if we
shared criteria with with Ray and Associates, you know, that these are questions that are important to us. this was at a different time you know and it's all in how the questions are worded because if someone reads national search then automatically some people may think well then locals can't apply you know so
we have to be very careful about how these survey questions are worded and I think that there's value in this is a very very important decision and there are extreme professionals at this that do this for a living that understand the
prat falls and so I just don't want to fall into a mess when we could avoid that from the start. To me, pennywise, pound foolish. I'm all about saving money, but in a budget of almost a billion dollars, even if it's 60,000, to get it right the
first time, I'm more than willing to approve that. All right. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. I if we do this survey, if it sounds like we're probably going to be doing a survey, I don't want us to get so detailed into a survey about um the
particulars about the particular about about the superintendent's job and all that because you could confuse the public. If we do get it firm, they're going to ask their own certain question and it could just really be a mess. Um,
I don't want us to get to the I don't want this board to get to the point that we become the firm, research firm. Um, and I'm hoping that we don't get to that point. I'm hoping that we will go to with the direction of of a firm because it it really muddies the water and it could it could make any of us look bad.
It can make any of us look like we have a personal preference. It can make it could it could tarnish the whole process. So um I think that's why we've always we that's not always that's the one time we did the u process of going through it firm so that there everything
was very transparent everything was out of our hands um but the firm took the information or the data from us what we wanted and they implemented all of that into the search which makes more sense than us because Dr. James may have one
thing that she's looking for in particular. I may have one thing. Everybody have their own one thing and it could come out in a biased way and we don't want tarnish that image of us as a board. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. Either one of us. Um,
well, yeah, my idea of a town hall and a survey is to understand what the community wants us to do next. Not what the job looks like, not who the person is, not what their experiences are. My my my buy into a survey and a town hall
sequence is to understand what they want us to do. Do they want us to hire local? Do they want us to do a national search? Do they want us to sit steady and see how it goes? What do what do the people
who elect us want us to do? That's what I'm looking to understand from a survey in town halls. and then we do a national search and we have a a in-depth survey. But I'm not looking for that
type of survey right now. Thank you for the clarification, Dr. James. Yes, Dr. Campbell. So I I think the way I started that when you handed it off to me, I think the way I started was to see to gauge the board's feedback on do we want a search firm because that's really we have to
come up with that answer. And if the answer is and I believe I just heard board member Cummings say he doesn't want us to be the search firm, but he does want us to have a search firm, then I think the next step is Rick Collins. And and I don't know that it warrants us
actually having the survey to ask the community, do you want us to do a search if there are at least three of us that agree we need to do one? And and so I I respect that we we still want to value what the community's input is along this
process and they absolutely will be able to do that with a firm who will then do all the town halls and the surveys and all of those things. I I use this illustration. I'm going to use a very interesting illustration because right now, and Kevin may be familiar with this because our alma mater university is in
the process of a president search and they've they've had a search committee. They've they've done a lot of things um with that. And ironically, all of the candidates that have come back, the four top candidates, all have been a part of the university
before and actually have all been in our church system and and all of that. And I don't know that that at first when I saw that I was like well well why did they spend all this money on a search firm? You know why? Because the community of alumni and those on all
want the next president to be affiliated with the church which is you know and they you can have a search all over everywhere all over the nation and all the top candidates and these people aren't all local but they are all affiliated and so that's what the search firm was able to do but it was a third party that did it and so that's my
illustration. I even used that with Dr. Brewer. I told her she's like why do you want to search for like let me explain I'm going to use my illustration. And so Kevin may or may not agree with all of that, but he's been a part of that process, too, and probably filled out an alumni survey. I I just say all that to say that sometimes that third party voice still validates that our local
candidates are top-notch and that we need to consider them as as the the selection and and but I do think when it's taken out of our hands, it doesn't make it look like we're pushing that narrative. So, I'm in favor of us bringing Rick Collins in. Start talking
about RFP for a firm. Let us get that. Is that a Amber Alert? Yeah, we're all about to get them on our phones. Sorry public if you're hearing that. But, uh if if we're at least in consensus or the majority of us at least believe that's
the next direction, then then all of the conversation about a survey today is is irrelevant because it'll all happen with them. All right. Uh, thank you, board. And, um, I have had brief conversations, uh, with attorney Powers and with Mr. Collins trying to anticipate, um, the
needs and the wants of the board. Uh, Mr. Collins is available on the 22nd. So, if you all are in agreeance, I would like to invite him to go through um the process and, you know, tell us the ups and the downs. I know two of you have been through the process before, but
it's been five years or so and three of us haven't been through the process. I did uh want to share um just for the public uh to know and us as well is that um five years ago uh the cost of a
national search was 40,000 45,000 and 34,000. So, um, just to give you a ballpark, uh, on what we were looking at or what we will be looking at, um, at spending and so I I just needed it sounds like everybody's in agreeance
with that and that'll be our next step um for the 22nd. Everyone's good with that. Okay. All right. That was great and not too painful. All right. Any further
comments on that topic? One other thing I just I did want to mention um Dr. Campbell, I know you you really enjoy working on job descriptions and that was brought up at our last meeting and so I just why it was on my mind I wanted to bring up about the
superintendent's job description and as we move forward um I know we don't need that immediately. you know, it's later down the line, but you help me remember that we want to work on that and update that moving forward with the with the search firm. And whenever we potentially I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt,
but whenever we see maybe as they do the survey and the things that they're looking for, then we incorporate the things into our job description. I that's completely appropriate, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair. And let me I I do want to kind of clear up something too. Um because a statement was made
concerning that job description that kind of was kind of clouding the the the air on that because it talked about sitting and standing and all that kind of stuff like that. Some job descriptions have to have stuff in it
based on OSHA standards. And so, um, for it to be put out to the public as if that was that was not something that's common. That's common in job descriptions. Um, how much you can push, pull, and all those types of things. And in our job description, it does
statutoily list the statute. So, I want the public to know that our job description is not a horrible job description of a superintendent. It is is actually accurately. Um, but I don't want the public to think that uh that we did a halfaphazard job on what's out
there because it is correct. Reverend Cummings, I appreciate that clarification because I did not I didn't I'm not intending that it's a terrible job description. Just it was a good reminder for me that as positions come available, we have been diligent about updating our jobs descriptions. And so
this is just more of the same. It's good protocol, good procedure uh to re-evaluate. Anything else? Any further comments? Okay, we are going to uh move along with some meeting reminders. There's a special school board meeting scheduled
for May 13th at 5:30 p.m. Our regular scheduled schoolboard meeting will also be on May 13th uh beginning promptly at the conclusion of the special board meeting. And with that, we'll lead into um board comments. Miss Martinez Young, do you have anything to share with the
board? What's the category title you want for this superintendent search? It just stays the same. Stay the same. anything more specific? Um, I don't want anything more specific unless we want to be more specific. I just think that
um I wouldn't want us to find ourselves in a pickle because we lacked specificity and then we talked about something. I mean, a big umbrella is nice because then we can talk about a variety of things, but then if we lack specificity, then they didn't know we were going to talk about what we were talking about. So I mean if if Rick
Collins is coming to do a presentation in my in my brain that's an additional item. So that is an additional item. I thought we were adding an item and then the board would have a secondary discussion that could be broader about the superintendent search. But Rick
Collins is going to do a presentation on RFP process for superintendent search procurement. I don't know whatever but then we're able to then have a broader discussion because maybe after we have that discussion then we talk about townhouse again or we talk about this again or we talk about that again. And if and if
that is are though if those are two separate things I just think for clarity to the community they would know we're getting a presentation about this and then we may have a separate discussion that's broader though that's been only my my only hesitation in making sure that we're clear to the community about
what each topic is. Yes. Uh I I I don't disagree. I would think that for this next meeting that uh just adding um uploading I'm looking at what we got sent a while back um and what he
presented back in 2019. So whatever he intends to present should should be uploaded. But I want to be careful that we don't box ourselves in either. So it's it's a superintendent search process. You know that goes in all kinds of directions. But if there's something specific that
we know we're going to be talking about, like he's going to be presenting, then by all means, let's upload the information. And as long as we can defend our position, I don't care either way. I just want to make sure that we are incredibly transparent and crystal clear with what our where our discussions are going. Um, and so that
we're not we're not vague. Like there's no attachment for today, right? And so, you know, there's no way for a community member to prepare and there's no way for them to unless they watch live or watch back, they have no idea what we discussed. And so, I just want to make sure that we are trying to be as
diligent as possible to preload and frontload for the community the specifics we're discussing. So then no one can say we lacked transparency if they missed the meeting live. That's my only and I don't actually think we had
discussion, right? You didn't I I appreciate that there's no one in the audience to discuss, but we didn't ask for public comment. Oh, public public comment. I did public comment. Okay. Um from the throng. Yes, from the thong. Um and I you know I told Mr. Collins, I
would reach out to him after today's meeting. And so I can certainly ask him if he's going to have um you know a PowerPoint or something that he wants to share with us and we definitely can have that um uploaded you know so it's part of the presentation. Miss Martinez
Young, does that give you enough to move forward on? Okay. Thank you. Yes. Would you also like for me to upload the summary that I had sent to you all in an email um of our prior I'll I'll upload that onto the same item when when Mr. Collins department creates it so we so
you have both there for reference. It'll be handy to follow along. Thank you. Attorney Powers. That's a great idea. Yes. I guess I would also feel more comfortable as we get to the end of this uh conversation. Attorney Powers, do you think we're well covered by continuing
to title it superintendent search? Should we add process procedures? And then I think we've all agree that whatever is being uploaded, including past history, should should be in there. Uh yes, and I think that just in titling it superintendent search
discussion um rather than necessarily procedures because it might imply that we're creating a procedure, right? Um but the discussion is just an ongoing it's ongoing opportunities for community engagement and for people to speak and for board members to express. So uh and then a separate topic exactly and then a
separate item um for specifically the RFP portion of the discussion I believe is appropriate. Okay. That makes me feel better. Thanks. All right. Very good. Um Attorney Powers, anything to share with us? Nothing further. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Dr.
James. Um not much. I just want to confirm what you said. So you said you want you think we need to have a separate item for the RFP and then change the title of the superintendent search to superintendent search discussions. All right. I just wanted to make sure that that was captured because you kind of like said it and then we
closed the conversation. So I wanted to make sure that that was clear. Um no I don't have any um comments for today. We have a busy month. May is always a very busy month. That's teacher appreciation week. Um, so thank you to and I I saw a
um some dialogue this week about how teacher appreciation week really becomes staff appreciation week and we appreciate we show our appreciation on our campuses to all individuals who support students and I do think it has
transitioned that even as a parent, you know, I include the pair professionals and other support professionals that um support the learning of my children And um I think there's it's a team effort. Uh our our instructors on our campus
don't just come in the form of teachers, they come in pair professionals and um custodial staff and bus drivers. And while we have separate appreciation weeks for different classes of employees, teacher appreciation week has really become instructional personnel
appreciation week. And I just want to share how grateful I am for the educators that not only impact my own children but all of the children in Maring County Public Schools. Right. Thank you, Dr. James. Reverend Cummings. No comments. All right. Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Um my only comment, Chair, um
in addition to teacher appreciation, you know, it's it's interesting. Actually, I have two comments, I guess. uh being among teachers last night at Oyola Middle's eighth grade awards just reflecting on the years now that I've been an Oyola parent. It's it's amazing whenever you've had three children go
through the same school and just how much of an impact so many and and yes that happens at the elementary school level but you don't often have the same teachers touch all of your children whereas when you're in middle school or high school traditionally you do. And so certainly just super grateful for the
work that is done all throughout our district every day. Tremendous hard work that's happening and just grateful for all of those folks. And um I I did want to make you all aware if you haven't seen in the legislative updates something that has passed both the House
and the Senate in the state waiting for the governor's signature. something that I alluded to about cell phone policy that if in fact the governor does sign it, what it will mean is every student in every public school uh will not be able to use a cell phone elementary and
middle school and then they're doing a pilot for high school. Um so if you had not seen that, I had said we've done our own pilot because OciOla is one that had it and now they don't and their data is I'm certainly certain that it has shown a significant improvement. But I I
wanted to um just make you all aware if you had not seen that. Still awaiting governor's signature, but we'll see where that goes. Um the only other thing I wanted to mention and and you all received this information via email uh this week, I believe, because I was the board member that requested it about the form students on waiting lists. And so I
know that we've talked about this before. I don't know that we as a board have given any direction. And if we are interested in giving direction, I'm interested in the conversation. I understand that we had a limited number of students this year that this would
impact and I also understand the sanctity of our lottery system. So I understand all of these different individual pieces to this. I also understand our traditional practice of prioritizing siblings already in the school for the next sibling. I understand all of those practices. But I
think it's imperative that we come up with a plan to determine what we do with these students from form second grades. And we have several students that did not choose to even apply for one of our school choice options. Their family has chosen to do something else. And that's
fine. But if the family is choosing to want to stay in Marian County Public Schools, I think that we need to ensure that we create sanctity around that and we've never had the opportunity to do that. So again, I understand our prior practices. I understand the sanctity of
the lottery. I understand the sanctity of sibling priority, but how do we create the sanctity of forom public school students also being afforded a magnet opportunity just like what they've gotten in those early years
and if I right now there isn't a solution and if the board wants to have a solution I think we need to give directive for that because there isn't one right now. Um, there are still four students on waiting lists for schools and I know uh for a fact that at least
one of the families that's on a waiting list is considering going private because they're not getting in one of these other programs. And that that's okay if this board is okay with that. But a year from now, we're going to have 50 of these, not 17. And so I just wanted to see what the board's thoughts
were on that. if you think it's imperative that we create sanctity around magnet school program that we've created at forom early learning academy and what that looks for when those kids get to be third graders. So that's all I wanted to bring up today in board comments. Again, right now there isn't a
plan. Uh I'm not saying that the team in place isn't going to create a plan. I don't know that that has been a directive that this board has given them. So those are my thoughts on that. Could I could I offer a thought on her thought? I just I would be I think we
have agreed on this consistently and I we kind of had a work session agenda on on it but then it was like kind of lackluster and there's not a unless we add units to the magnet schools there is a very slim
chance that all of the children next year will have placement. It's just the statistics of it. So, this was kind of thrown as like this um flowchart to the board maybe a little bit ago and I agree with Dr. Campbell
that I think you know we're meeting probably 80% I haven't done the math but about 80% of them are getting placement and that's great but we're going to have to address adding units to the magnet schools to be able to address permanent placement or the board needs to decide
it's not a priority and let the odds be ever in their favor. But I would love to have a work session where the board gets to decide what we do next or we get direct clear direction from our interim superintendent on what we do next and then the board makes a decision. But I
don't really feel like we had an opportunity to make a decision this time. It was just kind of like this is our solution. We've piece meal together and it appears that it worked for the most of the of the students. Um, but I am not a fan of losing anyone to
private, especially when, like you, like Dr. Campbell just said, the rules keep getting made for public school, but all of the people who take public school money and go to private don't have to use the rules that are being passed. And so, um, there's a a lack of equity there. Um, and so I would just love to
see us keep all of our kids and serve them well. So, I welcome a work session agenda item maybe in the fall where we can really work through what this process is going to look like and we have it shed up before the window opens in I guess November, right? Right, Dr. Campbell. The tool choice window would
open in November. It does. I I mean, I think certainly I agree. I'm sorry if we're are we open discussion right now, chair. Um so if we I I agree a work session we need to come to some and potentially again interim superintendent
may come with suggestions and great uh but if we wanted to make some kind of prioritization even for these four that are on weight list right now I think it could happen from these board seats if we wanted to do that for four students I I don't know I'm just again I don't once
we lose them we're not getting them back. I mean, we just need to go ahead and be and and we have raised them so well in wonderful program at Fort Berlin Academy that has been amazing and so they're going to be wonderfully successful wherever they go. Uh but my
my hope is that we can find a home for all of these students and so I agree a work session for our 50 students next year 100% agree. But if we have some kind of agreement that there needs to be a plan for these four kids, I I would be open to that
conversation, too. Thank you, Dr. H. Madam Chair. Yes. Let me let me jump in on this one. Um, one of the things that we when we started for them were that we were trying to create something that would be very beneficial to those kids that would help
them get a jump start. And so if these poor kids have done those things and the families have done those things, we need to figure out a way to get them to where they're supposed to be because that was one of the selling points for these families even taking their kids to
remember um we stated that this was going to be a a new program or something new, something innovative that would help those kids get to a a better place. So I think this board has the power and authority to do that and I think this
board needs to do that for kids because what that says is what's that what if we don't what we're saying is that the program is not meeting the goals that we set I think if I can offer though that the limiting factor here
it's well not not for to this year it's not units that's not a limiting factor the limiting factor here is that Madison uniquely from Jones and South Ocala which are the three schools that are mentioned on this spreadsheet. Madison doesn't have flexibility because
they fill with choice to the capacity and then the only time it moves is if a kid chooses another option. Jones and South Ocala fill to a percentage because they have zone a zoning pattern. So Madison is is never going to be an option. And two of these families only
want Madison because because it would take them over the the class capacity, which of course understanding that happens in our zone schools all the time. So if that's if that's the decision we want to make, then that's fine as well. But I just want to make sure that there's that that flexibility
is not as there because of the nozz. So um we just need to we just need to understand that but I you know and I don't I don't know where the third grade numbers are for the other schools. I don't I mean understanding how many zone
third graders Jones will have next year and and where that puts them and those are all nuances that I think Miss Thomas and Mr. Ays would need to be a part of but making exceptions for these four kids would certainly be something I would be palatable with if if we're looking to get consensus on that and then the chair can figure out how that
lands with staff maybe that I mean I'm certainly a supporter of that if we can figure it out. Yes, I would be in agreement with that chair. We just we haven't heard from uh board member Thrower yet. So, um do you want to chime in on this or save it with
your board comments? We're we're talking about it. Okay, go for it. Keep it going. Um I almost feel like this is turning into a work session item. Sorry. So, well, it's it's very valid. Uh and it's a good problem to have. We have grown as a district. We just have a lot
more students now. And we need more room for kids. We just do. And parents are letting us know loud and clear where they want their kids to be. So if if the building's not big enough, then we need
to do something about that. In my opinion, we need to evolve. And just because it's the way it's always been, as board member Campbell just shared, you know, past practice and and whatnot, we need to look at today's reality and
and how we're going to address it. If that means that a few kids from Forom that are still looking need to be placed, u you know, I I think that that is something I'm always a little uncomfortable sitting up here saying that's what the school should do. Uh,
but I would really like to see that conversation occur and and if that accommodation can happen, but it's it's it's not a it's it's a band-aid. Uh, there needs to be further conversation. And so I would definitely like to see this as a work session item sooner than
later. I would like for staff to bring to us several options um and start truly having a conversation. It is a great problem to have. We have a lot of kids contrary to what you see on if it bleeds it leads media that are doing
great things have a lot of talent, skills and ability and they also already have transportation which is helpful. So um and forom you know the old evergreen campus is underutilized you know right now and we also have another school reic
that's woefully underutilized. So to me, it's not location. I've always felt this way. I don't care if the building's old and it's affordable. It's the teaching that's occurring inside that makes the difference. The fact that we have newer schools, hey, that's a that's a
potential bonus. But yes, we definitely need to have a conversation before the state has it for us. And I keep reiterating that we do need to move on this. So, chair, to wrap that thought up, um I I mean, I think I heard all of us at least say that we would like for
something to happen with these four children. And so, chair, I'm comfortable with you getting with staff and and if each one of these families is presented with their three choices and figure out which one they want to take. They may not they may not all take Madison Street. One of two of them are on South
Ocala's waiting list as well. So I I mean they if those four are given the option and we make that exception from the board table, I think we have consensus that we want that exception made and then obviously have the work session for the future conversations for
forom students because we want our community to be aware. We understand what we've created this gym we've created at forom. If people aren't aware of forom, please check it out because it's pretty special. Um, but we also need to let them know that we're going to take care of these kids, too. I mean,
that they we understand what what we've done and and that we want to make sure that they are we're protecting their sanctity, too. Okay, that's it. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Dr. Campbell. Yes, Miss Thrower. I guess it's my comment time anyway. And and so I will just
finish with saying that at least as of April 22nd. Um there were 23 students I think on the Madison lottery weight list. I worry about that. You know um we want to be able to serve all kids without
deteriorating the the quality of a program. You know classroom um what that's a whole classroom 20 I mean yes that is a whole classroom. So yes, I look forward to the future conversation on that. Um, it is an interesting time
at the schools because there's so much celebration going on of of our great uh instructional employees and and really everyone at this point of the year is is supporting each other and and celebrating successes and people are also really stressing. You know, it is
testing time and and when I talk to principles and hear how they're balancing all that, you know, it's it's mindboggling truly. everything that they're doing on their campuses right now. And so I also just wanted to say a quick word to the
students that may be on the bubble of of graduating or getting to their next grade or, you know, moving from elementary to middle or middle to high, you know, it's you're almost at the finish line and and anything that can be done, you've got a lot of support out there to to help get you there. So, it
it's not too late yet, but we're definitely in in the home stretch, especially at the high school level. You know, certain tests still need to be passed, that type of thing. Uh, don't give up now. Um, you know, because it's not over. Uh, so I think I'll just leave it with that for today. All right. All
right. Thank you, board. I just have a few items um that I wanted to share with you. Uh, there is a district retirement. Speaking of celebrating teachers, some some are celebrating more than others. with a district retirement on May 30th
um at 9:00 am at the Weber Center. Uh Miss Martinez, would you mind sending out a calendar invite for that? May 30th at 9:00 a.m. at the at the Weber Center. Um and along with that, our um
CERTA oversight committee um met yesterday. Is that correct? Wednesday. The days are getting away from me. Wednesday. Yes, it was yesterday. Um board I and Miss Martinez, if you will take these dates down also so we can send calendar invites. The next three
meetings are scheduled for um July 9th at 4:00 p.m. Um September 24th at 400 p.m. and December 3rd at 4 pm here at MTI. And so our initial meeting um
yesterday was just to go actually Tuesday. I got that right. It was Tuesday. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um we went over the bylaws and they elected a chair and a vice chair. And so um we're we're ready to rock and roll, ready to get started. So I just wanted
to share those um with you so that you uh had the invitation. We had also the privilege of um participating in the take stock graduation. Uh, I just want to share what a fabulous event that was. I always appreciate being um a part of
that. I know several of you were able to join us there. It was just a great experience. Um, I also wanted to mention that we've we've had some difficulty with board docs. I just wanted the community to know that is not on our end. Um, it is not our staff. It is an
issue with board docks. And so we are hoping that they get that resolved if it's not resolved already because I know it was a challenge all day yesterday and the evening before. So just wanted you to be aware of that. Um and lastly, I just wanted to say congratulations to
Miss Martinez Young. She got married just has it been two weeks? Not quite two weeks. Anyway, so just wanted to say congratulations to you. We're celebrating with you and practicing saying your new name. Um, so with that board, we'll wrap up.
If there is no further business, we will adjourn this work session at 9:53 a.m. Thank you. [Music]