All right, we will now reconvene at 9:24 a.m. Please silence your electronic devices to avoid avoid disturbing others. Mirroring and modeling how our students begin each day. I ask that you please pause for a with us for a moment
of silence. Please join me. 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, and we will leave a legacy of success. I would ask that our schoolboard attorney please explain the rules for this public
workshop. Good morning, Attorney Powers. >> Good morning. Thank you. 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 the speaker's name 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 this meeting. Speakers may criticize subject matter
and decisions in a respectful manner, but not people. Finally, speakers must be very careful not to violate the 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, and good morning. Miss Martinez Young, can you please provide proof of publication for today's meeting? >> The notice for the May 21st, 2026 administrative briefing and work session was published on the district website on May 14th, 2026. Proof of publication has been attached to boards under proof of
publication. >> Thank you. And good morning, Miss Martinez Young. We will start with our superintendent's administrative briefing. Dr. Brewer, the floor is yours. >> Thank you. Good morning. All right. Marian County Public Schools has successfully completed spring state
testing for 95% of our students with overall scores showing an increase in the number of students performing at or above grade level. State testing will continue through the remainder of this week with makeup testing scheduled for next week. Parents can access all
student scores through the Florida Department of Education family portal through family access skyward family access. As you know, we have exciting we've had an exciting couple weeks with award ceremonies and back laurates and graduations starting on Friday. This
Friday, we will um all attend Hillrest school graduation and then Lake High School Friday night with Belleview High School Saturday morning. So, we're excited for all of these wonderful end of the year celebrations. I do want to provide um the board and the public some
information concerning some summer work sessions. As many um don't realize, this summertime is when the schools shut down, but we stay really busy providing updates and information sessions to the board. So, our first work session in
June, um the annual benefits update will be provided as well as the sales tax project and the central office staffing plan. In the end of June, we will provide you with the PM3, that's our progress monitoring three updates. Mr.
White House will provide all of the final numbers to the board and we will also have a 2627 public education foundation overview. So, u Megan Magamal will share all of the program updates and the statistics that go with all of
her programs, all of the team's programs. And then in July, we will have the comprehensive operations update that the board has requested as well as budget presentations and the five-year capital plan. And last but not least, at the end of July, we will have the summer
school wrapup. the board if you recall you have requested we always provide you an update but you've requested um data attached to discipline I mean um attendance as well as credits recovered for both middle and high school students
and we will provide you with the facilities rental agreement um and that will be the July 23rd work session. Those are all my comments this morning. >> All right, thank you. Well, we will kick it off with item 4.1 which is our quarterly compliance inspection report. I believe Miss Cynthia Barnes is here
from our safe schools department. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning. Um, Chair Dr. James, members of the board, and Superintendent Dr. Brewer. In accordance with Florida statute 101.2, the Florida Department of Education's
Office of Safe Schools monitors compliance with school safety requirements across all public school districts, including charter schools. The office conducts unannounced triannual inspections of all public schools while they are in session and
investigates any reported instances of non-compliance. Each quarter, a report is provided to the district school safety specialist identifying the number and percentages of schools, including charter schools, that were inspected or reinspected
during that period and the number and percentage of those schools found to have no safety requirement deficiencies. I'm required to present this report to the district school board during a public meeting to help maintain the
safety and security of our districts. This report does not include detailed site specific information for the third quarter of the 2025 2026 school year. Unannounced compliance inspections conducted by the Florida
Department of Education Office of Safe Schools in at Marian County Public School and Charter Schools yield the following. Number of schools inspected or reinspected, nine. Percentage of schools inspected or
reinspected 15.79%. Number of schools with no safety deficiencies nine. Percentage of inspected schools with no deficiencies 100%.
In closing, I would like to commend our school leaders, teachers, students, and support staff for their continued commitment to maintaining safe and secure learning environments each day. I'm extremely proud of the collective
efforts, support, and leadership that made this possible. I also want to assure our community that the school board and superintendent remain fully committed to prioritizing school safety. Thank you for your time and this opportunity. >> Thank you, Miss Barnes, for your
commitment to ensuring our schools are safe each and every day. Board, is there any comments or remarks regarding this item? >> No. Was that a no, Mr. >> That's correct. >> Okay. All right. Is there any public comment on this item? All right. Hearing none. Thank you, Miss
Barnes, for your presentation and your commitment to safety. >> Thank you for the opportunity. >> All right. Okay, we're going to move on to item 5.1, which is our gifted programs part three update. I believe Mr. White House and Miss Connor are here. >> Thank you, chair. Good morning, board.
Good morning, superintendent. Um, we are here to provide an update on our gifted program presentation. So, as the board recalls, we did several presentations in the fall about the comprehensive K12 gifted program. Um, at our last presentation in November, we shared uh
the plan to add um the possibility of adding a middle school gifted pullout elective uh for the 2627 school year. And the board asked that we come back um at the end of the year to share updates on on that uh program. And so we are here to share the how this was rolled
out and also our numbers um as they will be for next school year. So the first thing was in January um working with our principles and assistant principles at our January meeting to discuss what the possibility of a gifted pullout elective would look like. Um and so we talked
through the state standards that go along with that course. Um how it could be scheduled, what it could look like. Um and Miss Connor worked with the principles and assistant principles on the language for messaging to make sure that we targeted our gifted parents. Um, so we did add the advanced academics
course option as an elective um to all of the middle school course requests and then had the middle school to send out that targeted messaging so parents would knew who had gifted students in or coming into middle school would know what the elective possibility would look like. And then based on the level of
student interest, we have three schools that are going to be piloting that advanced academics course for the 2627 school year. And those are Belleview Middle School, Fort King Middle School, and North Brand Middle School. So, we have a good cross-section of schools um across the district that will be
piloting this program for us. Uh we are going to work with each of those schools to build that course, what it can look like, making sure that we're sharing resources between those programs so that we have a solid foundation. Um and then can share that feedback with the other principles about how that program uh is
progressing next school year. Um, other things in progress that we will continue working on, making sure that we are adding extension activities on our curriculum resources to to support gifted instruction, K12, um, and also increasing our professional learning options, which is a part of our
strategic plan for the next five years, uh, which would include getting more more teachers gifted, endorsed into the future that can provide greater services for our students. So, that's the quick wrap up and Miss Con and I are happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Thank you, Mr. White House. Um, quickly
just question I have how many sections are we offering at each school? >> So there are 80 students total between them. Uh, so I think that works out to about four sections basically one at each said Belby Middle School was the largest gifted population outside of OciOla probably have two. >> I'm sorry I couldn't hear a single thing
you said which means board member Conrad can't definitely can't hear what you've just said. >> So we had 80 students in total that are going to be taking the gift Alexa between those three schools. So it's about four sections worth of courses. Bellev Middle School, I assume, is going to have two because they're our largest gifted population outside of Oyola.
>> Okay. I heard you say Oyola and I was confused because that wasn't a part of the their projection. >> Um, okay. So, it's uh the way it's being delivered is a teacher who teaches six would have taught six sections of something last year is now teaching five sections of that something in one section of advanced academics.
>> Correct. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Those were my only questions. I open it up to the board for further comment. board member th >> I'll just say uh quickly that this is great. Um it completely lines up with
what has been our goal which is to find help students every student find a path that keeps them engaged in school. Um I'm working hard on really being able to remember every single time supporting every student's pathway to success. Our new vision statement and I'm so glad
that for King's being included. >> Thank you. Um, did you want to go, Dr. Campbell? >> Uh, I I too am grateful that we're headed in this direction to pilot this. Um, I I still continue to believe the
greater focus that we put on this specific population of students at every grade level, having extra added support for them will only enhance our
marketability. I I'll say that I I I've been speaking recently with a homeschool parent who has a child that is a very young student about to be a first grader I believe and is needing
stronger support in this area and short of having them apply in a lottery program uh we don't have services for them and and so it's causing struggle at those early grades. So, I I I love
that we are Thank you. middle school is that's been a a huge focus that we've said we have had a gap for decades and we're not alone. Multiple districts around the state have gaps for sure. We heard today freshmen have a gap. Uh
several freshmen we heard about today. Um there there there are gaps throughout this district for this specific population who will continue to struggle with discipline related issues if they're not
positioned in in the right way. So, um, I encourage us to continue to explore and and perhaps other board members feel the same, to continue to explore those specialized locations where we're not just putting even our
elementary school kids in a lottery. Because if you don't get in to the two magnet schools that really do service a lot of our gifted kids, you're you're going to be in a gap. And so, um, I I
know that we are are doing good work around the district, but I know that we can continue to enhance it. Thank you for hearing what we asked for specifically. Uh, but I I'm looking forward to the day that the legislature starts actually identifying the need to
fund this differently. So, >> thank you, Dr. Campbell. Dr. Ber had remarks. I I wanted to add that we have also prioritized um sharing information about how teachers can add on to their certifications for the gifted um endorsement. And so we have shared that
through our curriculum newsletters and our HR newsletters because that of course will only help us in this um next step. >> Absolutely. So if if we're able to actually get almost like a recruitment team of current gifted teachers because
you know how those cohorts work like when people the the group of four that all went and got their doctorates at USF together like you'll you'll do it together with another peer who's going through a cohort with you. It makes it easier to lean on each other whenever.
So, I appreciate the the campaign to push it out, but if we don't have real like testimonials and people recruiting within their own schools to say, "Hey, come on. You can do this." Uh, I I dare say it it's potentially not going to be
quite as successful as it can be. But because right now, we know there isn't any additional dollars associated for those teachers to receive those gifted endorsements. It's just an enhancement to their prof professional learning and how
they're able to enhance their uh coursework that they're doing in this in the classroom. So to be able to meet the needs of their students for sure. Uh but it's not a requirement and it's there's no dollars assigned to it. So it really takes someone who's dedicated to the
interest of students that meet this specific criteria. So, um, I again appreciate you hearing us. Appreciate what, uh, has been done thus far. I'm I'm excited to hear what the progress looks like. Whenever we see those students in this middle school setting,
maybe the pilot expands to all of our middle schools in the future. Obviously, pilots are there for a reason. Most of our pilot program, most, not all, most of our pilot programs do end up being so successful that it does roll into to everyone gets the opportunity. So I just
en encourage us to continue to have a very keen lens on this unique specific population again specifically to make ourselves really marketable now that marketing is an actual thing that has to happen in the marketplace
and it's called that. So I that's not something that we in public education ever really had to talk about because but now that the the legislature and DOE has put in place a marketplace, we have marketing goals and families that need
the services that aren't being offered elsewhere in our community. So so we need to look to how we can continue to do that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Um Reverend Cummings, did you have anything you wanted to add? Okay, we're con brief. Good morning, Mr. White House. Um, I
want to thank you for your continued commitment. This has been a long stretch of conversation, uh, trying to get this across the finish line. And I just have two things. I I look forward to when we have the opportunity to have this in every middle school. I think our students deserve it. And I also am
excited on the in progress piece, the adding extension activities. Um, as we work to get more teachers certified, it's a heavy lift for for our instructional staff to come up with and create meaningful activities for their
gifted learners. And so, um, our gifted teachers that are already certified um, coming in and and assisting with this planning piece. >> Yes. So we we certainly tap into them as much as we can during the school year is challenging, but summer is usually when we get a lot of that work done.
>> Okay. I I think that's a really great tool. Um you know, as I'm I'm working on a unit as an in an instructional unit, something's already there prepared um that I can give to my um my highest achievers. So thank you. I I really am excited about that piece.
>> James, >> uh if I may. Sure. >> Thank you. Uh the the other thing potentially even at the elementary school level, we witnessed it last night with the we the people and we we do just have five of our elementary schools that are participating in that right now.
Expanding that program into even more elementary schools will also help at least those fourth and fifth grade learners in a different and unique way in an in an advanced type program. So, I'm just looking forward to the opportunities that we can expand these
resources to every school, every student, so they don't have to go to a specialized program and be a part of a lottery. Again, the the the way that my children got into one of those magnet schools is different than it is today.
And again, from a marketplace standpoint, we if those families that are with those kids, with those in with those already in hand papers that say genius IQ right here, but I didn't get in.
What do they do? And and so I I I'm struggling with that for this one specific family because I don't know what I I just told her I said I I'm gonna come up with something. Get I don't know what it's going to be. So, um, anyway, that those are my thoughts. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, um, a couple things I'd
love for you to be able to confirm for me, Mr. White House. When a student is homeschooled, um, and they're using family empowerment potentially, um, money, they are able to come onto our campuses for gifted instruction still, right? >> So, that's uh, something that Miss
Connor is working on right now with finalizing what our elective selection will be for next year. So, we are active on the marketplace as a county, but we don't have any of our in-person instruction available yet. We're trying to get our finalized pricing list out there for the marketplace for next school year. But that is one of the
areas that we're looking at because it's not school availability, it's course availability. And so, if there's seats available in that course, students could come for that course >> that we would then receive funding for. >> Correct. >> And that's from a secondary perspective. >> Secondary and elementary could be included as well. Well, elementary as it
exists right now, if they're homeschooled, they can still come onto our campus to receive gifted instruction. >> Correct. >> But we'll be able to receive a monetary value for that, which we wouldn't have previously >> if they're taking the family empowerment scholarship. Yes. We would be able to charge them through the marketplace. >> Understood. Because we wouldn't be able
to claim the FTE for the one day of one of instruction. Right. >> Correct. >> And we offer gifted instruction on or through all of our elementary campuses. >> Correct. Yeah. So some of them as you know are combined just based on the numbers of gifted students that we have
that we do have to combine a few of our close proximity elementary schools together but every school has access to a pullout gifted program at the elementary level. >> Okay. Um I just wanted to make sure that was clear because yes our magnet schools I think are hubs to students who are um having academic excellence. However, our
magnet schools also have students who have severe dyslexia or um other exceptionalities and unique abilities. So, we're offering gifted delivery to students at all schools. Um, and some of
them are bus and I don't love I don't love that we bus. Um, I would love to be a thought partner on figuring out how we can deliver more effectively on site because there are lots of minutes missed when we're transporting students. Um, and I also think there's a potentiality
to use the vans as a way to transport instead of waiting on the yellow buses. um because some of the students we're transporting it's 10 or less kids and so I'm thinking about Romeo and Denellan Elementary specifically right and so um thinking about ways we can deliver that
in a more efficient manner in the coming years um so thank you for that clarification I want to know um typically what happens in fifth grade is we have a conversation about consult right so asking about how have those
gifted meanings gone in fifth grade this year and what how does that look different to ensure that students specifically at North Marian um Belleview and Fort King in those fifth grade meetings where they were talking about that transition to middle school and what would have been presumably a
conversation about going to consult because that's what we do. How have those conversations looked different and for those meetings that occurred prior to this conversation today or in the last month or two? Have we gone back to revisit with those families about what um delivery could look like if they
weren't on consult? >> Yes. So most of our middle schools actually operate as an inclusion model. So the students are receiving gifted services through a core academic class with other advanced peers who may not necessarily be gifted and so it is more of an inclusion model. High school is where we get to consult only.
>> Okay. >> Because those students have so many different choices in high schools to accelerate themselves and wherever they feel their strengths are. um we don't operate the inclusion model but um so to that question I think the the conversations have been good in terms of gathering feedback from families um
trying to help educate families on what options are available. I know I've sat in a few meetings where students currently in sixth grade have felt like they could really benefit from having a pull out gifted program. And so I think that's been encouraging for us to be able to talk about that with principles and and help share some of the feedback
of parents that if we can start to build this, it may not be right for every student. Some students really will benefit from the inclusion model, but certainly having it available for the students that is a good fit will be useful. >> Yeah, absolutely. And then um I just want to
um two things to finalize. I imagine this conversation, assuming Dr. Dr. Campbell and I are still on the board together will continue to be a conversation that we bring back up regularly because we're both pretty passionate about the way we deliver gifted services. Um I don't believe I ever saw a finalized version of the
letter we give parents um after the gifted screening is process is complete. I know we went back and forth and we had a couple different conversations. I don't know that I've ever seen the finalized version that really truly tells a parent what their legal opportunities are. Um and I will
maintain my visceral disagreement with the way we do gifted screenings. Uh and the kit um for the record I will say again my own child kit score would not have qualified her by almost 30 points for
gifted and she's very gifted. And so, um, the K bit in my opinion is not a reflective tool to ensure that students are being identified, which is why we're not doing the universal screener anymore, right? Because the universal screener
was essentially overshowing some kids and undershowing other kids. Um, and I just think a screener tool should be a piece to a puzzle, not the gate that you have to unlock to get to the puzzle. And
that is a barrier that I think this district still needs to improve. I understand we have two school psychologists retiring and our school psychologists are already have a case load that's incredibly um significant but we are missing kids because we have a tool that is not properly identifying
giftedness and not even the giftedness that Dr. Campbell has spoken about which means maybe not tied to a paper IQ but I'm literally talking about a paper IQ. We have kids who are missing opportunities and their parents do not know their rights and their parents
don't have the um soft skills or hard skills to advocate for their child. And so those kids are just missing out on enrichment because a screener didn't deliver a service that
or or a result. And so I am going to maintain that our screener should be an access point into a further evaluation and just a tool that we're using as a metric for qualification and not a gate stopper. So um those are my thoughts on
gifted. I am grateful that you guys listened to our passion and did some research and surveying to determine that doing a pilot of a an elective in middle school is wonderful. And when my gifted learner gets to North Mary Middle School in two years, I pray that that pilot is
still available because I will be a parent who takes advantage of it. Ward, was there any further I figured I would impassion someone? Dr. Campbell, >> I could not agree more about the kit. Uh, your gifted educators
are not in fa in favor of of how we use that as the gate. I loved that analogy that you used, Dr. James. it it's not a piece to the puzzle. It's a the gate preventing you to even get to the puzzle. And and that's how we've used that. And I completely disagree with us
continuing to use it in that way. Uh the the the students that we are missing it it's in light of how we began our day. It it's almost making me question if we
need to consider and I'm not saying we go this route totally but every student with multiple referrals or multiple quick referrals also just gets a gifted screener. I'm just
curious. It's something that not all of them, not all of them certainly, but I want to make sure that we are identifying and that can be an indication if if if we have students that are acting out because they're bored, we're misidentifying why they're
having that aggressive behavior, especially in the elementary school years. and that wasn't what we saw today. But it there I'm just looking forward to the day whenever we have this figured out the best we possibly can. I don't know if there are other districts
that have it figured out better. I continue to inquire if if we can get some peer-to-peer feedback on what that looks like, but anyway, I I completely agree, Dr. James, on the K bit. I I don't like it. And I think I'll just say I think it's a it's
going to be a work in progress forever because the student is going to change. So I don't think we're ever going to land in a place where we have total satisfaction because our learner looks so different now than they did 20 years ago. And so the way we deliver services to the learners is going to have to look different. But ultimately we need to
continue to be as responsive as possible. And districts are doing it different and they're doing it better. And some of those districts have more resources than we do and so we get to be creative. Board member Thor. Thank you. Um, other districts have more resources. Well, we've done a really
darn good job of bringing this whole gifted conversation to our legislative delegation and truly it is their priority to improve public education and I believe the advocacy just needs to
continue. Um, great point about the root causes of of behavior. It it it may be boredom. It may be just, you know, needing support, impulse control, whatever it is, but there so often
kids create disruption for a reason. And it could be because they're really smart and and and finding out early how to help them channel that is would be great. Um, one reason why it's stayed the way it
has stayed for all these years is because there has been a constant shortage of financial support and and availability of school psychologists. And that speaks to our student board members saying time after time that
kids, you know, they they are crying out for support and someone to connect with and and really having resources available to them so they can become their best selves. So this is another opportunity.
We are down here doing our very best to provide direct services to each and every student so they can succeed. And our passion continues no matter who the kid is. And so I'm grateful for the for the conversation. Um, when it comes
to the marketplace and what we're going to to charge, my understanding, at least as of a few months ago, uh, because I was checking in on maybe helping out with it, I think vans were being used to transport some of the kids in gifted programs from one place to another
because there wasn't that many of them at one school going to another. And and so hopefully that will continue because it's probably more cost effective. But when you're pricing things out, just make sure that if they're going to be driven somewhere that the cost of
transportation is factored in if that's allowed because you're talking a lot of uh time and treasure, you know, to make that happen. So just Mr. Oanic obviously can confirm, you know, the use of the vans and that. So I
the conversation is is is great because it lines up again with our strategic plan supporting every student's pathway to success. >> All right. Thank you. Is there any other board comment on this item? Is there any public comment on this
item? All right. Well, hearing none, I want to thank Mr. White House and Miss Connor for their work on this and we look forward to getting a report back of how amazing the implementation goes. And um we'll move on to 6.1 which is our graduation 2026. Mr. White House, you
also have the stand for that. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much. Um so we again we shared at the beginning of the school year what the graduation schedule was. Um I know the board expressed some concerns over last year's graduations and some of the challenges we had. And so uh we were asked to come
back this year in the spring and give an update on where we are in terms of making sure we have very smooth graduation processes this year. Um, so we are here to talk about that this morning. I'm going to try to go through everything and answer questions best I can, but Mr. Corley Har is also here in
case there's things I can't answer. Um, he has worked very diligently on the security plans to make sure that we have a good plan in place at each of these sites and we're certainly answering your questions. U, we also have packets for you all um on your dice. So I believe you all have that information for each
of these graduations with your particular parking spaces, your placard for your vehicle. So, we'll run through those and certainly can answer questions as we go. So, for our general graduation guidelines for this year, um some of the things you're going to see at all of our
sites, one, we're going to be using the open gate metal detector systems that we purchased this year at each of our facilities that we're going to be hosting graduation at. Um that's going to be a new process, but something that we need to continue to work on um in the future. We know that we want to continue using these at large events at our
schools, football games, etc. And so we want to make sure that we've got a good process in place and this is a great opportunity for us to work with our school teams on getting that done. And so we will be partnering with school staff and all of our safe school staff on operating each of those open gate
metal detector systems at each of our graduations. We have an updated bag policy that was communicated out to families. So in essence, we don't want to see any bags with the exception of we understand there are going to be some challenges with mothers that may have a diaper bag or something that just needs to come with them. And so at each of our
graduation sites, we will have an ADA accessible screening point for those who cannot go through the open gate or need to bring in a bag for any particular reason. Uh that we can address that need on site uh without slowing down the traffic flow. We'll have increased law enforcement protection at each of our
sites. Um particularly making sure that each of the the the law enforcement officers that are assigned to the detail know what their post is at each of those facilities. uh we saw that as a critical need last year and just making sure that we don't have any clustering of folks in any particular place that our our staff
and our our friends at the law enforcement agency are spread out among the venue um so that we can provide adequate coverage and security um all throughout. We also will have controlled access with designated entry and exit points for each site including wet um which is going to be obviously a very
unique situation for us but we are going to make sure that we are flowing everybody through um into those open gate weapon detection systems uh so that we have a safe screening process and then we also have a coordinated response plan with law enforcement and emergency medical services at each of our
graduation sites. Could we just pause here real quick because I know I have a few questions and I know the rest is kind of going into the schools specifically. >> Um I'm sorry. It says metal detection with optional screening. >> Yes. So the optional screening is the ADA compliance. So if we have folks that
come in that for whatever reason can't go through the metal detector, they're in a wheelchair, they have a pacemaker, they're diabetic, whatever whatever the reason is, we're not going to we're not going to debate that. We just have a secondary site already set off to the side. We'll just slide those folks right in there. We have a wand that we can
screen them with. We can search bags as needed. >> Understood. Um, regarding the bag policy, um, I was going to ask a question I knew the answer to, so I'm going to ask differently. We have not communicated our bag policy at all. I don't believe and our first
graduation is Friday. So what what I know is as a public member in a community who just looked on our social media, we have nothing on social media about our bag policy and we have nothing like overall
like there's nothing for the public to consume. So maybe we've sent a sky alert to our students, but if they're inviting like if the community is going to an event and they have questions about the event, they're going to look on our social media. I would imagine for
information about a policy. So, I'm looking to understand how we're communicating our bag policy. >> Yes. So, we did push it out on social media a while back um with the updated visual. We have a visual graphic that's going to be available at each of our graduation facilities on large sandwich
signs. Um schools have also pushed out that information to their families as well. Um, but we can certainly follow up and make sure they any of the schools coming up yet on social media for their specific school social media before that happens. >> Well, it has not been posted in the
month of May. So, a if a while back is I mean at this point we have graduations on Friday. I would imagine this needs to be a pinned post to the top because certainly someone would be frustrated if they get through a line and they get all the way to the front and they have a bag that they can't bring in and there are
limitations to that bag and they complain to me. I'm going to say how did we communicate our bag policy and I I don't know of any I mean we haven't done an all call to the entire community about a bag policy. We haven't done a press release about a PAG policy.
>> I've gotten information multiple times. We have >> as a as a parent of a graduate I've gotten the mult >> Absolutely. But I think that's the difference. >> It is, but most I'm sorry, Mr. Christian. Most of our graduations are ticketed events. >> Well, they are ticketed events. Absolutely. But >> So then you can't get in without a
ticket and the students who are passing out those tickets are the ones getting the communication. >> That That's correct. >> But we're relying on them to to effectively communicate and so they may or may not effectively communicate the message to grandma. We have shared
initially in April the no bag policy districtwide with every family, every parent, every student. On May the 8th, we sent a Skylar message, including the newly designed sign that has the NOVAG policy and the open gate items that are not allowed to come through. We sent
that to all 12th grade families and principals have also shared that when they are passing out graduation tickets to all of the graduating seniors. I what I'm saying is I think it should be a public facing for the entire community to understand so that if our
senior doesn't effectively communicate with their ticket holders what the expectation is, we can say, well, we didn't just rely on the 12th grader to communicate it. We we effectively demonstrated that communication other ways. That's what I'm saying. As someone
who would I mean, if someone asked me what the bag policy is, I wouldn't be able to tell them. And if I go look on social media, I'm going to I can't find it. If social media is the concern, we can certainly post it there again. Absolutely. And we can we can post it on the district platforms and we can ask
the schools to post it on their individual channels as well. >> Have we done the press release with with all of the days for graduation? >> That was done back in April. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And that open gate information and no bag policy was included in that media release. >> I just think people have short memories obviously. I'm also people, right? And
so I think we have an obligation that especially in the month of May to refresh people of what all the expectations are. >> We can we're happy to do that. We can do it 15 20 30 50 times whatever whatever the desire is. >> Okay. Um yeah. Any other questions on
the graduation guidelines? >> My my question and concern fits right in with that. Um because what I visualize it visualized is especially at wet. So it's very frustrating get in and getting into graduation anyway. And so if
someone gets all the way and then they have a bag that they can't take in and they that's a long hike, you know, to get back to your car to put it away. So one, do we have a plan for if someone gets to the gate and they can't take
their item in particularly at wet? Um what does that look like? And then my other thought was thinking about the 12th grader and the communication. Did we email this to is it in all of the student emails for our 12th graders? Okay. To me, that's a good that's a good
resource because in the night before when mom says, "Oh, I didn't tell grandma about what they can bring in. At least she can pull that up and share it. You have something um you know that you can share with family and friends." Okay. So, that was my biggest concern, getting to the gate and then not being
able to go in and not making it back in time for graduation. >> We're we're not going to let that be a hindrance. Um, we that's again part of the reason why we have an alternate screening location. It's a slower process. Um, but certainly just like at a football game, we're going to accommodate, make sure everybody gets in
to see the event. >> Okay. Thank you. Were there any other questions? Dr. Campbell. >> Thank you. Again, as a parent of a graduate, I have received a lot of communication. So, thank you very much. I just forwarded the voicemail that we received to the grandparents. So, that you know, maybe they don't even use
email like I just forwarded the voicemail. So they are very well aware those who are ticket holders to graduation know what the bag policy is. My concern though is the umbrellas. So I understand that we want no metal. I
get it. But oh my word I I understand. But we are also now moving all of well with the exception of the two that are still staying at Southeast Eastern Livestock Pavilion. We and you know at wet they they do at least have some
cover a bit but Lake Weir Dunell Ellen on these football fields Belleview's always been on a football field but even to that and that that's a concern that I have so umbrellas um and then my other
concern was about the ADA line it just ensuring that people are well aware ware of that they need to split because you're going to have knee and hip replacement people that might not consider themselves, you know, I don't need to carry in a bag, but I do have
some metal in my hip or the pacemakers for sure. They're used to that, but I just um anyway, I I that those are the things that I was concerned about >> certainly. So, we're going to have multiple staff, including safe schools and schoolbased staffed at each of the checkpoints because that way it's very
easy. If you walk up with simply an umbrella in your hand to pass it to a staff member, we don't need to search that. We can see it's an umbrella, hand it around to the staff, walk through the open gate system, they hand it back to you on the other side of that open gate system. And for any of our folks that do um walk through that don't know they
shouldn't walk through and ping positive, we have a secondary screening point that we'll direct them to that will allow us to be able to verify why that's happening. >> Okay. Those those were my primary questions, concerns, what so we would allow umbrellas to be brought in. I mean
that that's the we we originally we said no and so maybe we have revised that but coming to a Marian County Public Schools graduation without an umbrella is not recommended usually >> and Madam Chair I I think we got
the past few years we've gotten rained during graduation so I think we have to kind of think this one out smart um with the umbrella policy Um especially at Wet I I just I just I just keep going back I think two years ago where we got
>> soaked. Um so if if they see us carrying umbrellas and we're going to probably be carrying umbrellas, then you know we got to make sure we do it the right way. >> Okay. Sounds like we have our umbrella plan solidified. Um any other comments about slide one?
Otherwise we'll get in. Oh, were you done? I was gonna are we walking through the screener also like the the how how does that look? >> So we have a a dignitary side entry point that will take you all >> that we'll talk about in a minute. >> You'll see that in in your packets for each of those um venues where you'll
actually park on the map and then how we'll actually enter you all in to get you right onto stage and off the stage before the traffic hits. >> Okay. Yep. Okay. Are we ready to go Conrad? Um quick question Mr. the White House on increased law enforcement
protection. So two years ago, I believe we had 12 officers. Last year we had 16 officers per graduation. What is the number looking like for this year? >> Yes. So 16 is going to be the minimum. Looking for Cory. 16 is the minimum for all of our venues. Um plus all five of
our safe schools officers are going to be there. So we'll have um plenty of law enforcement support. And then also the big thing is making sure that they are strategically positioned so that they know where to stand and when and what area of the venue they're responsible
for. Um so Mr. Taylor's done a great job of detailing that in very um efficient detail for law enforcement has met with them to make sure that they understand what the expectation is what they need to accomplish during this graduation. That was my second question because last year we had 16 officers and we had a
situation and nobody was responding and the board was on stage and we could all see it happening. Um, but I'm going to not comment on what else was going on, but I'm happy to hear that there's been
conversation about what the expectation is for 16 officers to be attentive to what's going on in the stands. Um, well, and I'll comment because I think it's inappropriate that if we're paying
paying law enforcement to keep the law and we have people running out of the stadium, jumping over stuff and nobody responds. So, um, I think we have to just call it what it is. Um, and when our our our team does what they need to
do, but these are other people that we're paying to do certain things and we need to make sure we're getting our money's work. >> Well, and that's my last part to my question, Mr. White House, is um the cost of that. Are you going to go into that further in the presentation or is that not covered? I just for the
public's awareness, I would like for them to understand what it costs the district, you know, and that is a huge piece of it. >> Yeah, I could break that down for you right now. I have it on my notes on this. Great. Thank you so much. >> So, um, for obviously school-based venues, there's no cost to venue. It's our facility. For the two off-site
facilities, uh, the World Equestrian Center is $7,500 per graduation. So, $7,500 um for for each Forest and Westport, it's $1,000 for the parking fee. And then if we have to use any barricades with parking, it's $10 per barricade. Um, we also have the ability
to rent golf carts at the World Equestrian Center at $65 per day. And then for all of our venues, police detail is at $65 per hour per officer and we pay a minimum of four hours for each of those deputies. Um so you can do that quick math um to get the the total
price. Uh for the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, it's obviously a much more economical um rental agreement. It's $800 for us to rent the livestock pavilion um for each of those events. Um, other considerations, not at WC, but at livestock pavilion and certainly in
some of our schools, they do have to pay for enhanced sound if they don't have adequate sound. So, we do um pay for someone to come in for several hundred to provide sound for each of the um southeastern Livestock Pavilion graduation. Um, bleachers. >> Can I interrupt you right there? Do we
have a different provider for sound this year? >> Yes. Yes, we do. >> Because that also did not go well >> before, during, and after. Okay. Thank you for that. I' I've spoken both with both of those principles multiple times about the sound and assured me it is going to go off without a hitch this time. So
>> because it does at the rodeo. So that's the part that is just so confusing. If the rodeo can sound the way the rodeo sounds, I don't know why graduation can't sound like the rodeo. >> That's I think that's what all of us took away. >> Correct. But what we're saying is if
there's a vendor that works at at the livestock pavilion for the rodeo, then we would love to also have good sound. >> Yeah, Madam Chair. >> Yeah. >> Um, Mr. White House, >> because I'm I'm about the security thing. So, do we have And you got um Mr.
Taylor behind you. Do we have the capability that if someone because we're doing two two a day, um if someone shows up at the morning, do we have the capability to go ahead and get them um blocked from coming to the next one or
the next one or the next one that fast? Um trespassed or something because if they show at one, they don't need to come to the they don't need to come to anymore. >> Probably. >> That's just just where I'm at. >> They probably wouldn't come to another one. >> Yeah, they would. Yeah, they would. Oh, yeah. depends on who they are. >> Oh yeah. If do you have family members
at more than one school? Yeah, you would. >> So short answer is is and I'm sorry, chair, board, superintendent. Um short answer is yes, sir. Um part of the the planning is there would be an intelligence officer. Um someone similar
that you would have your logistics. Um but this individual be responsible for um real time communication information, making sure that we share that information out. In the event that something like that would happen, we would immediately trespass um if the individual isn't arrested in the first incident, but um they would be
trespassed and then we would ensure that there was a bulletin um that was communicated to the remainder of the venues. Um >> and the reason I asked that is because we could have potentially someone cut up at livestock pavilion, but the next graduation is at North Marian High
School. I'm sorry, is at Worldly Equestrian or Belleview. I'm just saying out of order where it's not the same venue, but it's still a graduation. I want to make sure that they're not showing up. >> Absolutely. >> Understood. And yes, while that trespass
if it using the example you provided, the trespass would be um good for that particular location, but we could still communicate and if that individual showed up at a new venue, then we could just reissue the trespass warning that location. >> Dr. Campbell, >> my question is about the audio at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. So,
while I understand we have a new vendor, while I understand that the audio works great with the rodeo, what the audio doesn't do potentially even at the rodeo is have monitors on the actual floor. And so, I that's the that has always
been the biggest issue. Yes, the stands can hear the student speeches, but the graduates cannot hear nor can the platform ever at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. So, that has always been Mr. Christian isn't a part of like it's you know it's an outside vendor so
like but that we have monitors on this stage so that we can hear what's happening in the room but that is not how and so I'm curious to know if our principles have addressed that aspect of the audio issue because that has always been consistent regardless of the vendor
we have never been able to hear on the floor again you're able to hear in the stands because that's the sound system they're using they're not intentional about ensuring the people on the floor are able to hear. >> Yes, ma'am. That that's a question I have not asked, but I will certainly ask
that as soon as we get out of this work session. We still have a week to go for for the livestock, so I can get >> Thank you. And if it is an additional cost, I mean, it needs to be done. That that has to be intentional because the other venues we don't have that same challenge because
the sound is provided in a different way. But in that unique venue, speakers are all to the stands and not to the floor. >> Board member Thor. >> Thank you. Um, and this is specific to the livestock pavilion. Um, since I've
been on the board, I've parked in a different area. So, I don't know if the horse officers are still being used uh as part of the security plan. Is that still part of the security plan, the mounted units? >> No, ma'am. >> They are not for for this one. No.
something to think about in the future. >> Um and I just one other thing um I had a recommendation I guess to consider from safe schools. The perspective from the stage is unique and I've now this is my
um I guess is it my third or fourth graduation? Whatever fourth graduation um there's something every time at the livestock pavilion specifically and so we don't have a radio. We don't have a way to communicate. We m might have our cell phones and we're texting. I would
love if someone from our safe schools department was camped out near the stage so that your perspective you could gain is similar to ours. There was not just one event at that graduation. There was three fights that night that all occurred that all officers missed. But
because of our perspective and maybe our ability to pay closer attention than the officers who cost $4,000 for four hours, um we were able to see these things. And so just a point of consideration potentially is someone that's from our house to be near the stage so that we
would be able to gain their attention if we saw something that we thought was concerning because often we're just kind of sitting and observing for most of the graduation and so sometimes we see things that other people don't. So just as a consideration >> and Madam Chair, let me say this because
I want to be on very clear. Um I think um our law enforcement do a tremendous job, tremendous job with the number of people that are moving through u those graduations, but it's just those couple of incidences that have happened in the
past that just cast a negative negative light on some things. So we we we we appreciate what our our law enforcement agencies do. Um It's a huge undertaking with that many people. Everybody wants to be there to celebrate their kid.
Everybody wants to be there to to, you know, to enjoy the festivities, but it was just always a couple of bad actors that just tried to ruin it for everybody. So, we we just want them to deal with that as quickly and as efficiently and as
quietly as possible so that it doesn't tarnish the image of these kids. um graduation maybe for some kids this is the last gradu first and last graduation they may ever have in life. So I I guess that's why we're probably so adamant about this conversation.
>> Absolutely. Board member Conrad. >> Yes. I just have two quick things and they're really just a share from observing over the last few graduations at the Livestock Livestock Pavilion. One thing that's really challenging for me and I don't know about the rest of the board because of course we didn't
discuss it but um as a board member and any other official that's sitting up front that tent piece is behind us. There is a lot of and I'll say riff raff going on behind that screen which is really um unsettling for
me personally. So I don't know if that's something um that you guys can maybe just keep an eye on. I think it it'll be difficult to monitor the whole time. Um, but I sure would appreciate it. And the other piece is a troublesome spot was right as everyone was coming in. I felt like um law
enforcement uh really wasn't engaged at the beginning and so people filed in and stood and gathered and chatted which held up the procession of other people coming in which then once we were ready to get started everyone was behind like
everybody was behind people couldn't get to their seat. So being proactive as people are coming into the facility, particularly the livestock pavilion, I think will save a lot of headache as we begin the program. So I just wanted to offer those two bits of information. Thank you, board member Thur.
>> And in the midst of all this important, you know, problem solving and and prevention, I do want to give a compliment to Vanguard High School. Um, in the seven years that I've been attending their graduation, well, I guess more than that because two of our boys graduated from Vanguard, the
ceremonies have been incredibly professional and and and dignified and and well controlled and lack of chaos. And I can only attribute that to really good planning and and and God's grace
and the expectation being set ahead of time of what we're all supposed to be there for. So these these conversations are sadly they have to be really important and we have to really look at the details um for the time that
societyy's in right now. And and I'm not saying this just because I'm a horse lover. I'm saying this because having mounted units does help create a peaceful situation. So, and we've got such great relationships with our with our uh horse community. So, I truly hope
that they can be incorporated um in the future. I just think it's another layer. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. I think we're good to proceed through the rest of the slides. I'm glad we were able to kind of cover that before we got into each school's specifics. So, thank you.
All right. So, our first graduation is tomorrow morning at Hillrest and that one is going to be held in the Hillrest Gymnasium at 11 o'clock. Um, this one is pretty simple. It's a small venue, small crowd. Um, Safe Schools is going to be handling the security for that. And of course, there's limited seating, so
there's not going to be a large uh population to be able to manage at that venue. Um, and as a reminder, this is Miss Manresa's final graduation at Hillrest, and we're all sad to see her go, but excited for her future as well. So, tomorrow night, we will have
Lakewear High School's graduation. This one was at the Livestock last year. It is at the Lake High School stadium this year at Lakewear High School. Um, and so that one will begin at 6 o'clock tomorrow evening. We are going to open the gates for this graduation at 4:30. Keep in mind, tomorrow is a school day.
So, our priority is going to be to clear out all of the school populations, students, and faculty that are not staying before we open the gates, which is why we're waiting until 4:30 to do so. Uh, we will have two screening access points at Lakewear High School that will be operated by both school
staff and safe schools. Um, and then again, we will make sure that our officers are strategically placed around the venue. Um, and certainly you'll see within your packets where you all should park for Lakewware High School. Any questions about that school? >> Nope.
>> No, I think you're probably good to just run through them. >> Okay. All right. Saturday morning, this Saturday will be Belleview High School at 8:00 a.m. That um the gates for that one will open at 6:00 a.m. So, it'll be nice and early. We have overflow parking available at Bellev Middle School next door. Um and also we have an agreement
with the nearby Greek Orthodox Church to use their facility if we um need the extra space as well. Again, with Belvier High School, we're going to run two screening access points with the open gate to get folks in and then making sure again our officers are strategically placed around that venue.
Denellan High School will be next Thursday at 6 PM. Um, this one again is a school day, so our priority will be clearing out the school traffic first before we open up the gates, but we will open gates at 4:15 for this graduation. Uh we do have additional parking
available at Denellan Elementary next door if we run out of space at the high school stadium parking area. Uh we will also run two screening access points for this one. And then making sure our officers know their strategic location for this venue.
Vanguard High School will be next Friday. That's our first one at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. Uh it starts at 800 am and the gates will open at 6 am. That's a teacher work day for us. Um so we will not have any students because students final day will be next
Thursday. Uh this year we have access to some enhanced parking at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. It's through gate 5 which is back behind the pavilion where the new development is back there. Uh we did not have access to it last year. They have granted us access to park there for overflow. So,
we're excited to have more parking available, which will hopefully help clear the facility out faster, too, if we don't have everybody congregated um into one spot. We are going to run two screening access points at the livestock pavilion. They will be at the main entry to the livestock uh facing the street where we're going to funnel everybody
through. If you I'm sure you all know the layout of the livestock pavilion, but we are going to be barricading strategically some of the areas closer to where the animal holdings are to make sure we funnel all of the traffic flow of folks around to the front. So, even those that park in the back will be directed all the way to the front of the
gates to be able to enter into the facility through our screening access points. North Mar High School will be next Friday evening also at the Livestock Pavilion. That's a 700 p.m. graduation. We're opening gates at 5:00. So, we'll have ample time in between those graduations to clear out everybody and
get reset for the next graduation. Um, same layout as we did for the Vanguard. So, that one should be hopefully just another rehearsal for us. Force High School is going to be Saturday, May 30th, next Saturday, and that one starts at 8:00 a.m. at the
World Equestrian Center. That's the first of our two graduations that are taking place at Wet this year. Um, we will start opening gates at 6 a.m. And we know Forest High School starts to crowd that place up right at 6:00 a.m. So, we'll make sure we have folks there early. Uh we have quite a few district
staff that have volunteered to come out and support at WEC for both those graduations to make sure that we have ample adults to be able to funnel traffic flow. Um we do have parking attendants available from Wack um on golf carts that will be assisting law enforcement with the parking setup to
make sure that we get folks parked quickly and into the venue. Uh we are going to run four screening access points at Wack and we're going to funnel. Again, this is going to require um a lot of effort on our part to make sure we have successfully barricaded because, you know, Wet has quite a few entry points from all different angles.
U but we are going to have those blocked off and funnel people around to our four access points. Um and we obviously have double the access points here because of the size of the venue and because of the size of the crowd and we want to make sure we get everybody screened and in before 8 a.m.
Westport will be the second one at WC. Note, this is an earlier time. It's typically been a six o'clock graduation. It's a five o'clock graduation. This time, hopefully, fingers crossed, we get ahead of the thunderstorms this year, as that's been our bugaboo the last few graduations with Westport. Um, same
setup. We'll be opening gates at 3:00 for this one. Also running those four access point screenings um for folks at the main stadium entrance. And then Marian Technical College is going to be June 15th at 6 PM. That's at the First Baptist Church again. and Safe
Schools will provide our security and support for that venue as well. Again, this is an all adult graduation. And then our last one of the year is going to be our summer graduation, which we had a great attendance last year. We're excited to be able to offer this again this summer right here in this
very venue. Uh will be Thursday, July 23rd at 6 PM. Uh we invite all of our schools to participate. So, any of our students that finish up during summer school and meet the requirements of graduation will be eligible to participate and safe schools will handle our security. Um, and just as a reminder
one more time, I think we've said it at least 35 times this year, certificates of completion do not walk this year. Um, and so that's been certainly a point of communication for our schools throughout the year that any of our students who don't meet those qualifications will not participate. It will only be standard
graduates who have met all the requirements for graduation. And with that, I'll certainly answer any other questions. >> All right. I open it up to the board for any further remarks. Reverend Cummings. >> Um, Mr. White House, thank you. Thank you for this. Um, I just have a question
about that summer graduation. Um, students that will graduate over the summer, are there are they wearing their schools? >> Yes. So, they will they will wear their school cap and gown and receive a diploma from their school. And it was really exciting last year. We had all
the colors represented last year. We sit them together by their base school and so that they can all come up as a a class from their school together. >> And and I asked that because that's an incentive for, you know, a kid that may not got over the finish line to still push because they will still be
recognized from their school. So they can still say I graduated from this high school and it's not >> anything else. So thank you. >> Absolutely. Uh Clown. >> Yes. Um Mr. Mr. White House, I just wanted if you would share a message with our um high school administrators. The
board had been asking for several years not to have doubled up graduations um because we're all really active and want to participate and so this year we don't have any that are doubled up and so just want to say we really appreciate that. I know that was a sacrifice for someone,
you know, didn't get the exact time and place that they wanted. So just thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Um, we've we've already mapped out next year's graduations to include South Mar High School. We'll share that in the future once we get past these graduations. >> Wonderful. Board member Thor, you had something. >> Uh, yes. Just uh, thank you all, you
know, for your great work. There's so much to negotiate and and broker and and you want to make everybody happy if you can or at least grudgingly accepting of the reasons why they're not happy. So, um, that's very appreciated. Um, when did we start doing the summer
graduations? I feel like it's been a few years now. >> Yes, it has been a few years. I'd have to >> This will be year three. >> There you go. >> Three. Yes. I'm just so glad that that has been incorporated and become a thing. And and you never know if it's going to be a thing until you see who
shows up and it and more and more are coming. And it really is an honorable graduation. It's not just an also ran. And that's so important for the kids to know that, you know, you're going to get a stage. Just get it done. and we'll be there to celebrate you.
>> Absolutely. >> And Reverend Cummings, >> one more question. And we do have a rainy day planned for each graduation alternative. Um I just remember a couple years ago, parent just went off just
like we we we control a lot of things, but we don't control the rain or the weather. and it was just that was the one at Westport I mean at um Wet and we ended up doing the graduation inside. Um what's our alter alternate if we're at a
school or at live well livestock is okay. >> So we we certainly have rainy day plans for each one the the caveat to that which we saw with Westport last year is when it looks nice when we're starting graduation and then all of a sudden halfway through an hourlong graduation the clouds come out of nowhere and
starts to rain. At that point, we just have to proceed and press on because trying to scramble and relocate everybody at that point would be would be way too complicated. But at Wet, we do have the indoor facility, the Arena 1, which is where the graduates gather. It is set up and staged for graduation.
So, if it was a total wash out, our first plan of action is to wait it out um and delay the graduation as long as we can. But, if it gets to a point where it doesn't look like the rain's going to cease, we would have an opportunity at Wack to be able to do the graduation inside. Obviously, the view is not as
good because it's not staggered stage seating. It's a flat across seating all the way across, but they do have jumbotrons available um for you to be able to see your graduates. At each of the schools where we're graduating, it's the same deal. We would have to wait it out. Um you know, we there is
possibility of graduating in the stage and you could do, you know, broadcasting through classrooms. It's never been appealing for us. Um, typically for schools, if it looks like a wash out, if we can and we can't get it in that day, we try to come back the next morning and and do it first thing in the morning.
We've done that at Westport a few times. Um, when it was just a total wash out, and there was nothing we could do. But our our first course of action is to wait. It's Florida, it rains, 30 minutes later stops raining, and we move on. >> Yeah. I think the biggest thing is for that is the length of time it takes to
get those kids crossed. Um, some schools, they're calling names, and it's Mhm. >> And you know, and in some schools it's like >> watching paint dry. So I think they kind of need to kind of have a system of how to get get them across fast. >> Westport probably calls names faster
than anybody. They just have 750 graduates. So it takes a long time even with two people going back and forth reading names and read them, but they they run a clip. >> Yes. The efficiency is certainly um different for different schools. Correct. So
>> absolutely. Okay. Okay. Well, is there any further board comment on our graduation update? >> Is >> Thank you, Mr. White House. >> And I want to say too, thank you to Mr. Taylor for this comprehensive packet that we got. Um, it has all of our directions. It has visuals. It has our
parking pass. And I feel confident that we are all prepared to um have wonderful participation from the board's perspective for graduation. So, thank you for that. Is there any public comment on graduation? All right. Hearing none, our next item
is 7.1 Booster Stadium. Mr. White House, you're still the guy. >> Get comfortable here. >> Stool have some water. >> So um so again, this is a topic that we've talked about for um most of the
year. We've brought several presentations um really kind of talked about where this could potentially go. Um today we'd like to bring to you an update in design um and also an ask of how we could get this moving um at a
much faster pace if it's the board's uh pleasure to be able to move with this program soon. So again, just to recap why we need it, Booster Stadium is over 50 years old. We've done very little work to improve the facility at that site. Um it really
needs desperately new locker rooms, new restrooms. The concession facilities need to be completely redone. Um, and we certainly could benefit from upgraded playing surfaces, which we know we're starting to do now at our new high school and at Westport High School. And so, we know that's a a future benefit to
us as well. Um, and upgrades to the road systems. You all, I'm sure you all have been there and you understand the gravel roads that we have are are difficult to maintain. Um and so we've got a lot of challenges at that site. Um that will require a good bit of money to be able
to uh get that facility in a positive working order and make it a community piece for the city of Ocala um that can be cherished for generations to come. So I wanted to give you a quick glimpse of what could be possible. uh we
partnered with Monarch Designs concepts to be able to look at how we could really imagine this stadium uh for the price range that we were expecting. Um and I think that's the big thing for us. So we met with them uh last week. We actually looked at quite a few high
school stadium options um including quite a few in Texas um to get some visual concepts of what this could look like for us at Booster Stadium. trying to put together a world-class venue um that would be for us to be accessible for hosting state championships and
ultimately to be able to rent out this facility for future use as a revenue generating resource for the school district and hopefully a a community partnership with the city of Ocala as well um to benefit all of our community. Um and so you'll see the quick redesign
there that we've done. Uh, one of the things that we looked at already with our cost for this facility is switching from concrete bleachers to metal bleachers, which is about a $5 million cost savings for us. Um, we've always kind of pictured metal bleachers as they
are now. But when we looked at some of the Texas high school football stadiums that use metal bleachers, they're just absolutely gorgeous the way they've been able to to design those. And so we we were able to take that concept and and put together this visual in front of you. So you'll see we we're targeting
8,000 seats. So even balance 4,000 seats on either side of that venue. Um again the turf field rubberized track which would make us accessible for us to host state championships for football, soccer, track and field. Um we've also talked previously about the potential for a semi-pro soccer league being able
to lease the facility from us. Um and so all of those are still possibilities with this design. So the estimated cost for the stadium is about 25 million. Um Monarch put the their estimate somewhere between 20 and 30 million just depending on um the
level of playing field that we want, the level of track surface that we want, what the current construction costs are at the time. Um certainly part of our work if we do move forward with this would be to really get into the nitty-gritty and look at what we really need and where we need to scale back to make sure that we stay within uh what
we're anticipating for our cost. So, our request, if the board is willing to move forward, is to fund 20 of the 25 million through a bond, through certificate of participation, and then allow us to be able to start a capital campaign to try and generate the other 5 million. Um, I
think what we've talked about internally is 25 million is a huge price tag to try and generate that amount of funding from just the community. Um, but if we have a starting point with what we're willing to invest from the board's perspective and we show that we're ready to start moving on this, I think it's going to be
a lot easier for us to then be able to start a capital campaign with that head start and really start to generate some public interest um in building this new stadium. And so we would start that capital campaign in the fall with the target of trying to raise all of those
funds by next summer while we're doing the design concept um totally for the price out and then be able to hopefully get started on the construction for the following school year. Um which would then of course require us to find an alternative playing location for Vanguard High School for that school
year while the construction takes place. So this would include installing the artificial turf field and synthetic track. Um, also making sure that we have adequate seating capacity for both our needs for the state um, hosting and for potentially having a semi-pro soccer
league that would generate some revenue. Um, and certainly one of the benefits to us is it does reduce some existing expenses that we have um, specifically for facility maintenance for that for booster stadium itself, but also as we've talked now with graduation. This is a potential great graduation venue
for us that will be of no cost um that we could use for future graduations. So that's the quick sum of it and I will certainly answer any questions you may have. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. White House. Um who would like to kick it off? Board member Thrower.
>> I would love to kick off the stadium conversation. Um you know, some things are really worth waiting for. The the timing has to be right. uh the funding resources have to be available. The community's appetite needs to be, you know, wet for
it and and I truly believe that it's we're in the sweet spot finally. So, this is really exciting. Um, one of the questions that I I do have
and I think this is the the hinge for the success of this project is over and over and over what I am hearing from the community is that they are over the top supportive as long as it is accessible.
>> Yes, ma'am. So you'll see that um I listed in the next steps um if approved. One of the things that I'm going to do next is to reach out to the city of Ocala, reach out to Pete Lee and and see if we can talk about an interlocal agreement and what that could look like for shared use. I know Miss Usher has
shared with us several interlocal agreements from Palm Beach County that they've done with sports complexes between the city and the school district just as kind of a framework of what this could look like. Um and so yes, I I see this the potential benefit down the road of this being um a community resource.
Certainly we have the first right of refusal with that facility since it's our facility. So the priority would go to our events taking place there. But then beyond that, um the potential is there to be able to open this up as a a recreational facility. similar for just as a comparison to um
city >> excuse me um you know like Jervy Gant and and other places. So if someone wants to get up with the 5 a.m. run club and go over there and do their thing um that that it would be available and I
would imagine doing public partnership agreement is going to require attorneys. Um, and I know that that we have the best man for the job sitting to my right here. Uh, I also
know that um that the city is is aware of of this project. They're probably waiting for for the ask and and so I really love the the timeline as well. It it sounds like we've got the
exuberance to really kick this off and it's always great to see Megan Magamal in the audience and something tells me she's going to be a big part of this project. That's all I have. Thanks. >> Thank you. Who else has comments?
>> Dr. Campbell. >> Sure. So, I first of all, thank you. Uh I appreciate that you have definitely looked to Texas because that's where they build build things big for high schools. So,
uh that it I I'm grateful for that. So much of this is is really on the right track. I So, what I gathered is we're planning to have a capital campaign for about nine months to raise $5
million. I pulled up our schoolboard policy 7250 because while it's titled commemoration of school facilities, it doesn't really speak to f to other naming opportunities and you're probably well aware of that.
That causes me pause a bit honestly because as the overseers of all the money, my question about the capital campaign
is who runs it and who puts in the dollar amounts for those naming opportunities. Is it the board needs to discuss if you want to be named whatever booster stadium, it's this amount of money for this time
frame, year-over-year, you're paying it or is it the district gets to figure that out and we just cash the checks and that that's and I that you probably are already having those conversations. I saw you look at attorney Blackman in the process. So we have never had a
different opportunity to consider this policy outside of just schools. >> Yes. >> Could you expand maybe he can you expand a little bit on your conversations? >> Yes. So uh Attorney Blackman, Miss Mag and I have already met to talk about this. We've we've pulled together some
ideas. We were hoping Neiola might have a template that had some a little bit more concise or a little bit more expansive language than what we have right now. They don't. So we're going to get back together. Um, as soon as the board agrees that this is the direction we want to go so that we can put together a more comprehensive board
policy on naming, what the what the funding thresholds would be for naming rights, uh, what that looks like in the future. And so, that would be a policy we would bring back for the board to be able to review. >> Okay. All right. That that's terrific. I mean, I'm certain there are other districts that have them. They just may not use NE. I know Valuchia, for
example, they don't use Niola. They just voted last week to use Niola. So, they would have a policy somehow that's established and they certainly have buildings named after people. >> Yes, we have a few that we've looked at to give us some ideas. >> Right. Right. So, uh that that is I I
just want to ensure we have all of that hashed out and knowing before you get your name on something there uh that that this board gets to weigh in a bit on what that looks like. Um and thank you for being here, Miss Magal. already kind of got a nod from another board
member at one time when something like this was talked about. I I'm curious about the capacity of the public ed foundation to manage a capital campaign. I don't know if she wants to speak speak to that or if you want to speak to that. I know that has been conversation in the past and capacity is a challenge. I
know. So, >> yes. So, we would manage it internally as a school district. Um we've already had an initial meeting just to kind of talk about the framework of what this would look like. Um the foundation would be kind of our holding for the funds as as the opportunity to make the donation
through the foundation which would really be the extent of their involvement. Although certainly we welcome this magnetic brain power to our group to be able to just talk through ideas of what this can look like but this is something that we would manage as a school district. >> Okay. Sure. that that's helpful to know
and understanding the capacity issues but also understanding you have the ability to to be the custodian of the funds so that tax donations can can have tax deductions can happen for people. So um I'm trying to think of any that those are the two main concerns that I had. I
know we're going to at least address on the upcoming slide about the moving of the CDL program potentially. Uh but in order for this to be that revenue generating facility that our our district can
really take advantage of, it has to be all that this is imagined to be at this point. I think 8,000 seats is the sweet spot. I know we talked about 10,000. I don't know that we need to get to that size. So I everything about this so far
conceptually I I think is the direction that while I am not ever a big fan of taking out another loan to do something like this and we're calling I'm calling it a loan. It's certificate of participation a bond uh I I I am in
favor of doing something like that that again is revenue generating for generations to come and that makes a ton of sense to me. Thank you. Um, Reverend Cummings, did you have an opportunity to talk yet or did you have comments?
>> Okay, board member Conrad. >> I just have two um quick questions. U Mr. White House and one, thank you for the presentation. It's very exciting. Um, and I think there it'll be something you'll have to bring back to me, so I'm not looking for an answer right now. But one, I'm interested in what booster stad
Stadium property is worth right now. Um, I think it's important that that's included in the conversation. Um, and then two, I would be interested in numbers of what we anticipate a ballpark figure revenue per year, like annually. What do we think we'll be able to bring
in with this facility? And that and that's those are my two concerns. >> Certainly. >> Can I say something? >> Uh, sure. >> Um, you want to go first? >> Okay. Um, Mr. Tucker is working closely with other athletic directors around the state on what they are using for their
fees for certain events. So that number will be helpful too just to give us an idea of what will what will we be able to generate for renting the track or the other facilities. >> Thank you. >> Uh and so I haven't been able to discuss
and share my remarks yet. So I love the idea of a revitalized booster stadium. My yes to a new booster stadium comes only if it is a facility available to the community. That means that we have a agreement with the city of Okala and we have some level
of someone else managing opening a facility at 5 a.m. So Brick City Park is an example of a park, right? People go, they run, they do run clubs there. Um, I don't there are gates, but I I've never been there at 5 am, so I can't tell you whether someone unlocks the gate at 5 am
or not at Brook City Park specifically, but I know that the streets are blocked. So, I think probably yes. We don't have the capacity to run a parks and recreation department in Marian County Public Schools. So, my yes to this $25
million ask comes with the also that it will be a fully functional community asset. Um and and truly like my yes is limited to that. So if we are not able to figure that out then I am not interested in
fully funding this project to this capacity. Um I don't think that it would be equitable to the other schools that need the revitalization as well. Um if it's simply still just going to be boosters stadium or Vanguard Stadium. our community is screaming for access to
a facility like this for a variety of purposes that many of which are revenue generating for our community. Um but also for recreation and um I want to be able to figure out how to make that happen and I think we will like I don't think it's not going to happen but we
have to work through those details um for me to feel confident moving forward. So for me I know the big question is are we going to are we agreeing to the money? Um, and that's the question before the board and I would like for us all to be able to give a clear statement to Mr. White House on that. Um, my
understanding and my question would be is this something a bond we're going to seek independently or are we going to wait till the conversation in July regarding um the bigger operations conversation that may include components that were previously presented as part of this bond to then have a greater
conversation about a bond amount. So I would like to understand that um so that I you know is this just a piece to the larger conversation. Um and then I would want to nail down someus um and some interlocal agreements with
the city before we move forward. That'd be what something as a board member I would want to see. >> Dr. Campbell. So, you said something that I I don't disagree with with most of what you said with the exception of
calling it Vanguard Stadium. So, I know that it currently is called Booster Stadium because the funds were raised by Forest and Vanguard boosters back decades and decades ago. The way I see this revitalization is this is a Marian
County Public Schools asset that Vanguard happens to play at. Oh, I agree with you. >> So, I I just want to ensure I I >> that's what I'm saying is I don't want it to just be Vanguard Stadium anymore. >> Oh, absolutely. Similar to how we've operated the gymnasium on this campus.
It is a Marian County Public School asset that Oyola just happened to have to play all of their games until we had a gym. So, u that that's one one piece to this. I I respect the thought of
obviously having a interlocal agreement with the city of Ocala, their parks and w to work with us in in that capacity. Interestingly, Brick City is actually a Marian County park, not a city of Ocala park. So, that actually is kind of a question to then ask if the city isn't
willing to or whatever, then maybe we pursue the county to even though it is in the city, Brick City is a county park. So, I don't know if you all were aware of that, but that actually falls under the Marian County purview. So, I just want to make sure we're we're not limiting the conversations that we're having there. And maybe it's a
multi-governmental interlocal agreement and we all three have some kind of shared aspect to that. Uh but again I I want to ensure that we continue to focus on this being revenue generating and the more we get into
interlocal agreements then there will be cost savings and cost benefits to other governmental agencies and I want to ensure that we are getting the biggest bang for the buck on that. So I don't want to think that just because we have an interlocal agreement with another
governmental entity that they get get to use it for free too. So, um, perhaps it kind of depends on what all is being asked of them and potentially it's a number of events per year or something that they can use it for free. I there there's just a lot of opportunity there
for how that can be set up. >> I think we have to work through that, right? Because what I'm looking at is ultimately if someone else is going to open this this park, because that's what it will be is a park, a stadium that's a stadium that's inside of a park every day at 5 a.m. as an example. There's a valuation for that. and I don't want to
have to pay for that service but I want to be able to offer a service in lie of that right and so um figuring that out and massaging that through interlocal conversations um and in our technical working group I think is the best place to have those conversations but I think for me I want to I want to know where
we're going to be able to land tangibly so that we're not all invested and then we get to the end and it all falls apart and now we don't have a resource that the community can use. So that's what I'm trying to avoid. Reverend Cummings.
>> So I do um feel that this needs to move forward, but I also feel that it needs to move forward in collaboration with everyone. >> This is not all us thing because it it has the potential to um generate
revenue. It has the potential to benefit uh the county as a whole. So um but I do feel that if we're moving forward we're the controlling factor >> no matter what we're the controlling factor with the necessary with the necessary in local agreements um I think
the cost of this is is it's a huge cost but between all the entities in this county um playing a part in >> I found this >> ra raising these parks I'm sorry >> you must have said something that
sounded like Siri >> must have must have that. I think that all of us have a part to play with us having the biggest interest in it. It's not Vanguard's stadium. We It came Booster Stadium came out the 60s because uh they moved from
Webfield and all that stuff, but we need to make sure that Vanguard has a home to play in. >> Absolutely. >> They'll have the nicest home, >> right? So, but I'm I'm in agreement that we need to do it in a collaborative function throughout the county. >> Or member Thor, I see you leaning
forward. >> Thank you. Um the community just really wants to know is is this going to be a go? And there's a lot of details that need to be worked
out. The most important thing I I think I would like to know is as far as the bonding process is concerned, would we be able to get a letter of confirmation saying yes, Marian County Public Schools absolutely
would qualify for this amount of money, you know, when we once we request it. But to know that that that the $20 million is going to be available that that we can check off the list because in my mind that's what's going to
inspire people to come up with the other five million and hopefully even a little more than that. So that's the first thing on my list. Um, the second thing on my list is that the community has been asking and pleading for a place to be proud of
that's for the local kids and for the local community. And this checks that box, the accessibility in terms of the location just can't be beat. So therefore, it is our task as as community leaders to work together on
making it accessible. >> Yep. And I think we can figure it out. I >> I know we can figure it out. And the third thing I will say is that um every high school has the a stadium um except
for Vanguard. And I completely agree with the with the vision of this being for everybody and also the home of the Vanguard Knights. >> Yes. Agreed. So, let's just do a real
quick. Um, are we all in agreement that we want to um we're willing to bond the 20 million to do this project? >> It'll make us a lot of money. Yes. >> Okay. So, I hear a yes from all of us that we want to move forward. Um, the second part to that question is, are we
moving forward now with that or are we waiting until the July conversation to come up with a final number for what we would what your ask is for us to bond? >> So, I can certainly get Mr. Welsh to respond to that a little more eloquently, but I I think part of his work is going to be um looking for the
the total amount that we could bond and then if we need to pair that down after our July presentation, we certainly can. Um but that process is going to take four to six months before we can really get a a final here's what we've got. Um so we have plenty of time now with board
consensus that I can start working on the interlocal agreement process. we can start making sure we've got a really good solid capital campaign plan and start rolling that out um in the fall. >> Okay. Do we feel comfortable with that board? Yes. Board member Thrower, you had something.
>> Oh, it consensus first, right? So, yes, I feel comfortable with that. I just then wanted to share something quick. >> Yeah, I think where I think I saw all the headshake. So, Dr. Campbell, >> yeah, I just I wanted to say absolutely move forward with it. um five million
capital campaign, but if we get five million, don't stop there because every dollar that we raise means taxpayer dollars are not having to go to fund this certificate of participation. So, the more aggressive that capital
campaign can be, the better. Multi-year agreements, all of that in place, uh can just really get this off the ground. I'm excited about the potential. or member thorough, you had something. >> Yes, just a quick acknowledgement. When I think of protecting the board's
interests, I obviously think of attorney powers, but I also didn't want to leave out attorney Blackman because he's going to be a big part of this. And I neglected to mention your name specifically earlier, but don't think I wasn't thinking of you. >> Thank you. And just I did receive um
I've been in communication with Mr. Torres, who's leads some running efforts in our community, and he's been very vocal, and he's really um appreciative of the board's willingness to have these discussions, but also um very interested in being a supporter of capital
campaigns and fundraising. So, um board, what I hear from all of us is a yes to proceed with this project and what it's going to take to get it done. Is that correct? All right. So, that's what you hear, Dr. Burr. >> Thank you. All right. So, um, is there
any more board comment on this item? All right. And is there any public comment on this item? All right. Well, hearing none, we're gonna Yes. >> Since you mentioned public comment on this item, Mr. Del Tour, um, he shared that, of course, this is the one time of
a planned family vacation. He's out of town and he was so sad that he couldn't be here to to share his support and willingness for the Capitol campaign. He's already shared some names that I've shared with staff. So yeah, he's all about it. Very exciting. >> All about it. And I'm, you know, um my
daughter is learning to love running, so I guess I'm going to learn to love running, too. So maybe will be a big big part of me running at Booster the future of Booster Stadium. So um All right. Well, then we will move into item 8.1, which is the board real discussion. Attorney Powers, I think you're taking the lead on this.
>> Yes, ma'am. Uh so we've had some discussion amongst the board about the possibility of hiring a realtor uh on an ongoing basis under contract to manage some of our schoolboard property sales and marketing. Um so in an effort to
find more about how we would go about doing that, we looked at RFPs from other counties um and requests for proposal is the right thing to do and what I would recommend in this case so that we can select um you know it needs to be open
for bid but uh then the question is what do we want it to look like? And that's an op that's an open topic for board discussion. um what services do we want provided? Uh what scope of work? I will indicate to you that I've um reviewed um a few of
these and the one that I settled on that is the most um that I would like to see in the contract most comprehensive was Bvard County. Bvard County does have a contract with a realtor which I believe hits all of the marks that we have. Um
it gives us quite a bit of interesting um quite a bit of uh coverage on a number of topics and of course the contract is something that is negotiated finally after a request for proposal is
entered. However, um the scope of services I was impressed with with Bvard counties. That's a matter of public record. So I looked it up. It um applies the scope of work is for marketing and sale of select district properties which may include vacant property or property
with buildings. That's the primary scope of work. Uh assisting the district in finding compatible collocation uses for underutilized district facilities. Identifying and facilitating acquisition of property that may meet the district's school or operational needs. That's a
secondary scope of work if they need it. um and general real estate consulting services um if they need be um as an ancillary scope of work. Now, one of my immediate questions when I was looking at this is how do we deal with the
number of factors that we have where we don't necessarily need a realtor to engage on a project, but we need some advice from a realtor. And the way that Bvard County's contract handles that is to um there are five hours per month that are just included as free uh
consultation with a realtor um which I believe would be more than adequate for most needs unless we had a serious um project. And then above that there's an hourly rate which I think is is is overall fair. I believe that is something also that we could uh probably
manage to replicate through the services of an RFP. Um, now as to the actual sale of properties and projects, that's going to be subject to a commission. What that commission is going to be is depending upon market forces and depending upon
the local. Um, in Bvard County, there was a 4% commission and it was a sorry, 4.25% commission and it was 4% for anything over 1 million. So, um, what we land on for that number is all
subject to contract negotiation after an RFP. I did reach out to Mr. Collins, who's our request for proposal expert on this matter. Um, he's he's actually um out until he's going to be out until after June 10th.
After that time, he'll be prepared to assist with an RFP. We will need to the RFPs that I saw from other um districts, they're very varied, very varied, sorry. They're they're they're widely varying
and um we will need to create our own RFP that kind of lays out the kind of contract we're looking for. Um so that is going to take a little bit of a little bit of work and a little bit of focus to get it right because you know, garbage in, garbage out. We want to make sure that our RFP is one that gives us
the kind of um information that we or the kind of potential contracts that we um that we want. Um, but I wanted to open this up for board discussion um to indicate any um thoughts you have on the matter
because the my recommendation if the board wants for us to hire a realtor. My recommendation is to closely follow Bvard's contract um structure. Not necessarily exactly, but the the contract structure. I would want to
closely follow that. Um, and I would want to seek an RFP to do it. Now, um, I've given you some of the generalized structure of Bvard's um, but I wanted to allow the board to communicate their thoughts, ideas, um, so I can absorb
that, take it in, and be better informed when I begin the process of working with Mr. Collins on an RFP if that's what we choose. um and begin the process of negotiating a contract or or preparing contract terms. >> Thank you, Attorney Powers, for your
perspective. So, board, I open it up for discussion. Does anyone want to lead us off? I think I'll just say I think what you've shared is good. I think especially if there's another district um doing it and it's working. Um,
I think being a small town, even though we're getting so big, has its pluses and its minuses. And as we get into this season where we have some land and and buildings we may want to get rid of, I want to make sure that we're doing it in a manner in which is as clean as possible. I think we all have a little
heartburn about the sale of the warehouse um, for a variety of reasons. It was kind of our first go at it in quite some time as well. And so we learned some lessons and I just want to personally make sure that we have a really clean approach going into further opportunities. So I appreciate what you
said. To me it sounds like we would need a work session with Mr. Collins to kind of go through what we would want to see in an RFP. And so presuming where we land today, I think that would be the next step is to schedule Mr. Collins to come before us and us hash out what we would want to see in an RFP. But um I
open it up for the board to share. Whoever Dr. Ambusher. >> Okay. >> I think we should follow the recommendation of the attorney. If that's we we're talking about getting rid of property and having future sales and stuff. Let's go ahead and set this
thing up the right but set up the right way. >> Yes. >> And that way we we're clean all the time. >> Okay. Uh board member Thor, you had something. >> Go ahead, Bo Campbell. >> Okay. Um, I first of all, I was grateful to all my many friends around the state
when I put this question out to say how many of you have attorneys that you have, real estate at or excuse me, real realtors that you have. How many of them were willing to share? And I I sent several several counties and Bard was
one of them. So, I'm certain that it'll be really easy to get their RFP that they have in place, too. Uh and and many districts have had realtors on contract somehow for for several years. And so I
guess they've just been more landrich or they've just been in, you know, well certainly they've had the funds to be able to do things with their property and and we now do. So, uh, grateful for that and I I look forward to further conversation about how we can get that
RFP in place that mirrors that Bvard contract because if it's comfortable for you, it's comfortable for me. >> Love it. >> And I very much appreciate your input, Dr. Campbell, because I I I looked at uh several individual contracts and several RFPs. And then surprisingly, the ones
that you were locating and sending to me were ones that I had not yet located. So, it gave me a very wide um a very wide base. Well, when board members are excited to share, then that's usually the >> right. That's the ones that are going to be the good ones, >> right? >> Okay. Board member there.
>> Thank you. I too am I'm am comfortable with Attorney P's recommendation and and having a formalized professional uh to guide us with a
caveat when that time comes. Um, I think that it's critically important before we engage a realtor that we have a very solid vision from the city about
what their intentions are, what their aspirations are in terms of the continued development of the downtown area. uh those projects will will make a difference. um at least in my opinion. Um,
I was hoping at the the latest meeting, joint meeting of elected officials, that more than the Marian County School Board would have made presentations about, you know, what they have cooking and um updates on projects and what type of
projects, what style of projects, what age demographic, you know, they're uh trying to encourage when it comes to um continuing to grow downtown because that for me would help guide us
and what we would eventually decide to keep or sell. We know that it is an expensive v venture to be busing kids all over this county. And the more students that we
have close to where they live being able to walk and bike safely, which brings me to another point. Um there's just so much opportunity for more collaboration so that we really know so that the city
really knows what what we're trying to do and that we really know what the the city's trying to do. And I don't know if that's a conversation for the the technical working group and then have it be presented, you know, to to the board. However that happens,
I would say that it's critical that it does happen because there's opportunities to to collaborate on on all kinds of things. There's been a lot of conversation about sidewalks for for life life-threatening
reasons. And you know, maybe there's opportunity even in that venue. Some if the city's building something industrial, it means that they really don't need sidewalks around a warehouse. Maybe there could be a sidewalk bank where then those funds would go towards sidewalks where where we need them for
the safety of our kids. >> Yeah. >> But but those conversations need um need a space to take place. Well, to your point, I think if we have an RF, if we're going to have a work session about the RFP, I want city and county to have representation at that
work session to be a part of the discussion because that RFP and the realer that we would choose from that RFP, there are things that are unique to city development and county development that I would want that that realer, whoever we're hiring to be able to articulate to and work towards and be
aligned with. Right? I don't want to hire a realer who um maybe doesn't agree with the city's comprehensive plan because we just had Pete Lee here to describe the city's comprehensive plan, right? And so um if we're going to work well with our community partners and and
talk about going back to our last conversation, Booster Stadium, right, and and all working together for bettering of the community, then I want to make sure when we sell real estate that we're trying our best to at least acknowledge the needs for our our our government partners. So, I know my
request would be that um in a work session with Mr. Collins that the city and the county both had representation here to articulate what they would want to see as part of that. That's something that I would love to to to have here um as a way for them as a community member
to add thoughts and perspective personally. That's my thought on that. I don't know if if you guys have thoughts on it or board member throw because I piggybacked off you, but >> that might be a technical working group meeting topic. I I I don't know. That's
um uh I would just say we would still have a need to retain outside counsel or have me reviewing outside counsel if there was comp complex title services that needed to happen. Um,
but I I I do I do have some concerns that we can we need to make sure within our RFP that whomever despite our relatively small county
status as opposed to, you know, the top five. Um, that we have some specific someone. Uh the requirements include that that someone has experience uh within the
field of dealing with public property sales and sales related to school properties because those are items which statutoily have different requirements than just selling a local piece of real estate or a local commercial real estate or something like that.
>> So they're all things we need >> Absolutely. And I think that's for a greater conversation about the RFP. Right. And so right now what we're looking to kind of get to is does the board want to move forward with a work session with Mr. Collins to really have a greater conversation about it. I think is the goal of of today. Right. Board
member Conrad, did you >> I do that's what I want to do. >> Okay. So I think what I hear is we want to move forward with a conversation about it. Is that would that be an accurate statement? Board member Thorough. How do you how do you feel? I >> I continue to agree that that we need
the position. I think it makes all kinds of sense. I also continue to believe that that the a conversation and a real understanding of how we're going to work
together to make sure that anything any property that we own within the city is going to be um kept or not kept.
due to understanding of what each entity is intending to do. Yeah, I fully agree with you. >> And however we get there, whether that's an interlocal meeting, the you know the um technical working group, whether
that's them in our public work session, I don't know, but let's figure out how to make it happen because I totally agree with you that that is what we all have to be on the same page in the same book having the same conversation, >> right? >> Because it's our community. We're all
living here. And so I I want I'm fully in agreement with you. Dr. Campbell, do you feel comfortable moving forward with a um our a workshop to discuss the specifics for an RFP? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> So I hear um that we will move forward
and we'll get on a future work session agenda to discuss the RFP. >> I'm I'm sorry since I missed a little bit of the conversation uh with asking partners from the city and the county to be a part of the conversation. we are we're gonna figure out whether that's in
the technical working group or that's in a public workshop. So, I think we're going to let the attorneys and staff kind of figure out the best ways for us to make sure that all of our community partners are we're all holding hands together. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> All right. Any other board comment on this?
Re she did. She she's Yep. >> Yep. All right. Any other um public comment? All right. Hearing none, we're going to round out to our final item, which should be quick board, which is the 9.1 FZden adjacent land use. Attorney Powers, back to you.
>> Yes, ma'am. Um, so I sat down to prepare what, um, I would say started out to be something like a letter of objection, um, which is standard among with with special use permits or things like that where you you articulate the areas that
your interested party has some uh, objection to. Now, in this case, there's a special use permit uh for a facility that's located about 800 yards from Denellan. It is currently already zoned for heavy industrial use.
>> Sorry, feezan. My apologies. >> We're having railroad ties flashbacks. >> I was exactly. So, um, Fezidan. So, um, it's the the facility is located approximately 800 yards from Fezitan.
Uh, public notice was provided in mid to I think April 16th um of the special use permit application. Um, and then of course adjacent land owners or anyone within a 300 foot of the property
boundaries was given specific specified notice. We learned of it slightly and shortly thereafter um and I began preparing everything I could to find out more about it. Um I did a public records request to get this the uh special use
permit um to get all of the application materials and also the staff summary and report materials um and uh forwarded those to the board for their purview or for their review. And I say it started out to be a letter
of objection because I started looking at what what the potentials were. And of course I articulated some of those in my letter. I did write a letter to Mr. Odum uh um he is uh he's one of the staff who
makes the recommendations. His actual title I is I think transportation um uh transportation planner but he's a project planner. Um, I found Mr. Odum to be extremely well-versed and extremely
helpful. Um, I spoke to him on the phone, got as much information as I could. Um, then began reading through all of the materials, made sure there was nothing else that I needed to review. Um, of course, in my letter to him, it had indicated that here are the
concerns. They're not objections necessarily, but they are concerns. and my concerns were for not only known and disclosed but also unknown or potentially undisclosed risks to our students, our staff, the local environment. Um, and in as you would
expect some of those uh this this plant needs to be described just a little bit. Currently, it is a composting site or it will be uh a slurry compost site which will be there's there's going to be wood chips, animal bedding, manure, mulch,
all kinds of things like that that uh it's already permitted for and that's a standard use. It's already anticipated under land uh under the land development code. Those are um that's just a general part of heavy actually even sometimes medium industrial.
Um in this case the proposal would be to add one element. Now currently if you have mo mulch, compost, tree debris, vegetative debris, bedding, animal manure, all stuff like that, you can um then also add
corn stalks, agricultural waste, any vegetative debris, things like that to it. um the more you add and the more finely it's it's chopped up, it helps to make the compost work better and and dissolve more quickly. Um just like if
you were composting in your backyard, the special use permit, however, calls for a depackaging facility. It's it's located be located on a transfer station on the property. The transfer station would be essentially a sealed unit. It
would have train trains within it. All depackaging would be right there within that uh that structure and then it the depackaging would be food waste essentially food waste which contains some packaging that's still attached to
it. They would depackage it within that facility. Then they would take that the the food waste, put it into sealed tanks and make a slurry. That slurry would then be I don't know if the proper term sprayed, but it would be placed onto the
moltros to assist with composting. Um, and that would be the anticipated project that this company would be doing. Um, it doesn't seem that this is uh because of a need to dispose of the
food waste, which would be easy enough to dispose of in a number of ways. it does seem that it's a means of um improving the composting process and the mulch production process. So that's that's a little bit about what the facility looks to do. Of course, the
concerns are are there potential respiratory hazards? Are there potential groundwater intrusion hazards? Are there potential health hazards? Especially given that um we have a school that's 800 yards away. Now 800 yards is still
It's a fair distance, but of course we can anticipate students, staff, and everyone else has to pass by it. I come from a generation where every time I drove into Ocala from the north side, I had to drive over the bridge. And any of you who drove over the bridge before
probably, I don't know, the 2000s would know what an experience that was. And you know, my grandfather would always have the same quote. He'd say, "Does somebody forget to brush their teeth?" You know, because of the odor and the smell. And that was always >> a sight. >> Oh yeah. And and that stayed that way
for many many years. Okay. >> How Patty High still smells like Cal Patty High. >> There you go. And that's it's a dairy Van Wagner dairy. And essentially it's the same kind of microbial processes going on there. Um however in the difference between that and this is that
um this facility I was very impressed with the staff report. Now, this is not a report by the um by the applicant. This is a report by staff. Staff researched staff did uh a lot of
environmental classification. Um, and what they looked at is essentially they're looking to have this facility and that the their their staff plan and the conditions of the permit would essentially be no order no odor to be
permitted beyond the boundary of the properties. Essentially that would be because the um the transfer station would be the only place where the slurry is is actually going to be treated and which would be the source of the majority of the odor. And that transfer
station is about 300 ft back on the property. And it would also have to have um uh scrubbers ways of dealing with odor. And if there were any notice of odor outside the property or generated any complaints, the growth management
director would actually take that up and immediately require within 10 days an action plan to increase filtration or increase um removal of odor and or shutdown of the facility until such time as that can be uh figured out. In
addition as to groundwater, they're looking at drilling two um at least two monitoring wells. Um groundwater apparently travels in an upstream and a downstream direction. And that would be uh to monitor any of the um phosphates,
the other pollutants that can be in the groundwater and and make sure that there's not an increase or decrease in those. Um, specifically, I did have a discussion with Mr. ODM regarding the
fact that currently the amounts, and I did include this in my letter as well. Those amounts are not articulated. They're not specified. Um, I like specificity, as does anyone when they're dealing with something as serious as a environmental concern. Um, and he did say that those are something they're
continuing to work on. There will be a supplement to the staff report. um and um that it will further outline those issues in some my determination when I reviewed based on the staff report based
on everything from the permit itself is that I I don't anticipate this to be something that we uh have alarm as a property owner of school board as schoolboard Maring County or um as an
advocate for our students and staff. It certainly doesn't look like it's anticipated to be and I believe there are probably a number of both industrial or non-industrial uses that could be occurring on that property which would be um far more likely to cause concern
um including simple agricultural things. So, um that being said, um everyone can share different opinions on it and members of the fees community or fees community or nearby community may have their own opinions on it and may very
well vocally choose to go speak to the county commission regarding that. Um and it would be perfectly acceptable and okay for each member of the board to have their own opinions based on those factors as well. My recommendation, however, though, is to take no further
action to announce any unified uh board consensus or an action such as generating a resolution at this time. So, >> I stand ready to answer any questions you may have. >> All right. Well, board, do we have remarks regarding Mr. Attorney Powers
remarks? Reverend Cummings. So you're saying you you said use the term slurry and I'm I'm I'm just going to be a little bit >> different term other than slurry. Other than slurry is this
changing um you know what squeal is correct? >> Yeah. >> Is that is that the same thing? Because that's what it sounds like to me. and squeal has a a odor and it has some residual effects that >> I couldn't speak to that because I don't
know. What I do know is that um that the condition of the dairy that's across the street from North Marian High School, for example, if this facility, which is 800 yards away, not 80 feet away,
>> the if the condition of this facility generated anything near that, the conditions that are outlined in their special use permit are would absolutely shut it down. Um, so it's and it's a
it's pretty specific. I mean, they they outline they outline high odor standards. And essentially what Mr. ODM's indication was is they would expect to be able to stand at the border of that property and not detect
any any odor. Now, I don't know if that's ultimately going to be the case. It's going to be a mild odor, it's a background odor, an odor you go nose blind to. I have no idea, but that is that is the anticipation. So, um, you
know, I I I definitely think that that 800 yards is still a fair distance away, but it's it's of interest to our students and staff. Sure. And residents. >> Anything else, Reverend Cummings? >> Okay. Board member Thur, did you have
anything? I know you had asked for us to have this discussion. >> Yes. Uh and and thank you attorney Powers for your good work on this um you know up to current. I know um from
speaking to some community members that the one of the big concerns was as this rotten food is being brought in, how long will it be sitting out there before it begins its process?
And what will that do in terms of of smell and and and rats and and you name it? Because once it's turned into the the slurry or the swill. Yeah, I thought that was kind of a interesting term.
At that point, it's probably not where the concern would lie. Uh at least not from parts of the community that I have heard from. It's more about how many trucks are going to be coming in there, you know, how long is this stuff going to sit out and, you know, 98
degrees with 98% humidity, you know, those kinds of things. I I do agree that Mr. Odin presented a great synopsis and your recommendation is to kind of hold for the school board right now and continue to monitor and know that the,
you know, that the community knows that we are aware and and monitoring it. So, I guess that's where I am today. >> Okay. Any other board comments on this? I feel confident with the attorney's perspective um and taking your lead on how to handle it attorney powers
personally. Did anyone else want to share remarks? Okay. Any public comment on the Fez adjacent land use item? All right. Hearing none, I'm going to move into meeting reminders. A school board meeting is scheduled for May 26th
at 5:30m and a capital school um capital outlay certex oversight committee meeting is scheduled for June 3rd at 4 p.m. And then there's a briefing and work session June 4th at 9:00 a.m. and board for your awareness I will not be present at that meeting and um vice
chair comra will be taking the lead for that meeting. We will go into board committee reports and comments. Anything from the clerk's office? >> No, madam chair. >> All right. Anything from the attorney's office? >> I think you've heard enough from me today. >> We sure have. Thank you for your perspective. Um Dr. Brewer,
>> nothing additional. Thank you. >> Okay. Board member Thorougher >> just to quickly um please continue kids just keep your head in the game. You know, what was not acceptable all year
is not acceptable at the end of the year. you know, don't sabotage yourself for God's sake. Um, we want to continue to see the relative calm and and peace across all of our schools and and begin to look forward to celebrating what
we're seeing as as great results beginning to roll in from a lot of hard work. Looking forward to having all that confirmed and having the same people that started with us and any newcomers finish with us strong. So that's all I have.
>> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. >> My encouragement to our students, make good choices. Make good choices. >> Dr. Campbell, >> I just had two quick things. First of all, board just wanting to draw your attention to an email we received
yesterday from Lena Farmer in Bvard County, who is uh the administrative assistant there. It's the Central Florida Public School Board Coalition detail on how AI procedures are occurring all around the state in the Central Florida public school boards.
And uh we have some information we shared and so that that's a part of that. Also in that is the comprehensive data analysis of all the Central Florida Public School Boards. It is helpful for us to see how we compare in many categories to our peers that are close
to us. So, please just take a a quick look at that. And uh other than what fellow board members have already said about graduation, I did just want to highlight one other quick thing since we talked about athletic facilities today. As we continue to expand our middle
school athletics, I know that the middle school track events occur on their championships, their all all that they do, their big meets and everything happen on the campus where there really
is only one middle school official track which is at Belleview Middle School. They don't have lights, so that means it has to happen over multiple days. So, just having a keen eye to what that looks like. Uh, you know, I'm always going to be focused on athletic
facilities, but we also understand that Belleview High School does not have a track. So, they use the middle school's track. So, as we continue to have this conversation about athletic facilities and equity among our high school facilities and what that looks like, I
know it will be a huge undertaking for us to put a track actually at Belleview High School, that's a whole separate conversation. Uh but for us to even think about what that looks like for Belleview Middle School to be essentially the high school's track and
to not have lights on it, that just puts a damper on how they're able to deliver those um programs for students. So that's all I had. Chair, thank you. >> Okay, Vice Chair Conrad. >> Thank you. I just have one quick thing. I um yesterday we participated in um we
the people. It was just a fabulous e evening. Um, I wish all of our elementary schools could participate. Um, I know it's a lot of work. Uh, thank you. Let's see if I can get Oakrest, Saddlewood, Maplewood, South Ocala College,
>> and College Park. Uh, we had great representation. Um, their schools, their teachers, their kids, uh, the administrators, everyone was there to celebrate the hard work that they did. It was really enjoyable. And so, I look forward to that program growing. Also a
shout out to Buddy Oswald who wears many hats and supports um many initiatives at Marian County Public Schools. So just thank you to him. Thank you, chair. >> Thank you. All right. And I will wrap it up by saying we have four more wakeups. Memorial Day is Monday and we have four
more wakeups. We count wakeups in my house. So not days, but just how many more times you got to wake up and do it. So four more school wakeups before the end of the year. Everybody stay focused, stay strong, and um it's a busy couple of weeks for everyone. Late nights and
um we're all in it to win it and I'm looking forward to hearing some updates about our data in the coming weeks um because everything is sounding incredibly positive. So with that, I will and there being no further business, we will adjourn this work session at 11:36. Thank you.