The schoolboard meeting will begin in one minute. Please take your seats. Again, the schoolboard meeting will begin in one minute. [Music]
Good evening and welcome. The October 28th, 2025 meeting of the Marian County School Board is called to order. Usually at this time we take uh a moment of silence, but I would like to invite you if you are a faith-based person um
and you'd like to take the next minute or so to pray um during this time um uh there was a tragedy as most of you know yesterday for Marian County Public Schools um that affected a lot of our community. And so if you would like to
take this minute um and be in prayer with me, I just would like to invite you to do that. Thank you. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to invite Dr. Campbell to read our board commitment statement. >> Thank you, chair. We are the Marian County School District Leadership Team.
When we come together to work, we are efficient, effective, and productive. Our three most important characteristics are dedicated, transparent, and individually responsible. To work well together, we must demonstrate respect, confront reality, and be accountable. We
will always put students first. We will leave a legacy of success. Thank you. For the courtesy of those listening to the meeting, I'm requesting that everyone in the audience to please turn off their electronic devices or put them on vibrate. Later in the meeting,
up to 30 minutes will be provided for individuals to address the board on matters concerning the operation of the Marian County School System or School Board. Only presentations to the board are limited to five minutes and are televised. If you wish to address the board
regarding a regular agenda item or matters on which the board customarily takes action, you must first complete a peach form located in the lobby. If you wish to address the board regarding a public hearing or a student discipline matter, please complete a
lime green form. These forms must be completed and received to the board clerk no later than 5:40 p.m. The procedures applicable for each are on a separate sheet. Good evening, Miss Martinez Young. Would you please call the role? >> Good evening, Madam Chair. Dr. Allison
Campbell, District 1, >> here. >> Mrs. Lorie Conrad, District 2, >> here. >> Eric Cummings, District Three, >> here. >> Mrs. Nancy Thrower, District 4, >> here. >> Dr. Sarah James, District 5, >> here. >> Shariah Hussein Donnie Ram, Denellan High School,
>> here. >> Ariana Reyes, Belleview High School, >> here. >> Dr. Danielle Brewer, interim superintendent, >> here. >> Mr. Jeremy Powers, school board attorney. >> Here. Thank you, Miss Martinez Young. Dr. Brewer, who will share our inspiration and pledge this evening.
>> Thank you. Good evening. We I would like to introduce Mr. Lamar Rimbert, who will come to the podium to introduce our incredibly special guest this evening. Um, and he will share a few words about our guest. >> Thank you, Dr. Brewer. Good evening, board chair Conrad and members of the
board. Tonight, in recognition of Disability Awareness Month, we are proud to highlight one of the most remarkable schools in our district. A place where compassion, expertise, and dedication come together every single day. Established in 1971, the Hillrest School
serves students in grades 6 through 12 who have the most profound needs in our community. Hillrest is often described as a magical place, but there's no snap of a finger or wave of a wand that makes the magic happen. That magic is built through years of hard work, steadfast
leadership, and a culture that values every student and every staff member. Under the guidance of Lori Menresa, the principal has led this school for 25 years, Hillrest continues to set the standard for what it means to truly serve all children. Her intentional
approach to creating the right culture and systems is what makes this school thrive. The assistant principal Cindy Lowe, the staff and students at Hillrest are a reflection of Miss Manresa's vision. Please join me in welcoming Lori Manessa and Cindy Low who will intro
introduce us to some special staff members and students that will lead us in tonight's inspiration and pledge. >> Thank you so much. Well, that was quite the introduction. Hello everyone, board chair board members and Dr. Brewer. Thank you for the invitation for us to uh lead in the
inspiration and the pledge. I have the honor today to introduce our teacher of the year and our rookie teacher of the year. First, our teacher of the year is Anita Henry. She started at Hillrest in 2014. She started as a special needs parah for a very complex young man and
it didn't take her long to realize, I can do this. I love what I do. And two years later, she was a teacher for some of our most involved students. Um, she did that for a couple of years and then due to the referendum we had the honor of having an art program and Miss Henry
came to me and said,"I want to teach art." And I said, "Get certified." And she did. Um, just in time, just in time to open our art program. And if you have not visited our art show, it is quite an amazing um quite an amazing opportunity
for our students to showcase their talent. So, I'm going to welcome Miss Anita Henry. Good evening, esteemed members of the school board. I'd first like to thank you for the opportunity to speak about a topic that affects millions of people worldwide and is close to my heart,
disability awareness. During my research, I discovered that an estimated 16% of the global population lives with some form of disability. And this number is expected to rise. Shockingly, around 150 million children
with disabilities will never attend school. I feel this highlights the need for not only awareness but change. One sign significant barrier individuals with disabilities face is social stigma.
the negative attitudes and beliefs that disability can lead disability can lead to social exclusion impacting a person's well-being and access to invaluable resources. The stigma is not merely an abstract concept. It manifests in daily
interactions and perceptions profoundly impacting lives the lives of those affected. It is crucial for all of us to recognize that stigma is something we can change each of us on a personal level. Research indicates that negative
attitudes toward disabilities are the second largest barrier to acceptance with the first being a lack of information. However, there are programs that have proven to be successful initiatives like the Special Olympics. Collaborative
leadership programs and work study opportunities have shown to benefit both youth with and without disabilities. These programs foster essential social and emotional skills that everyone needs to succeed. Understanding these
statistics and their implications is vital for all of us who strive for a more welcoming society. Hillrest serves exceptional students, each of whom faces social stigma. At Hillrest, we embrace the belief that different is not less
and to try is everything. Many of our students have achieved remarkable success in their lives by securing gainful employment through work study programs, earning honorable awards and recognitions for their many talents, and competing in Special Olympic events like
track, equestrian, and swimming, and that is just to name a few. Our school provides numerous opportunities for students to showcase their talents and achievements, fostering a sense of belonging and helping to crush those barriers created
by social stigma. By engaging in open conversations about disability, we can create an environment where those who are typically excluded feel welcome. This is the essence of disability awareness initiatives, encouraging
meaningful dialogue and understanding. Needing accommodations does not diminish a person's dignity, respect, or right to pursue happiness. Access is about acknowledging that every individual has the right to pursue their goals and participate fully in society to the best
of their abilities. Together, we can build a community where individuals with disabilities feel valued, seen, and included. I hope that disability awareness will encourage you to engage in conversations with those who may be feeling the weight
of social stigma. Listen actively, offer assistance, and take meaningful action. Individuals with disabilities deserve to keep going. Okay. Individuals with disabilities deserve to
live in a supportive world that includes them rather than excludes them. Together, we can cultivate a community where everyone, regardless of ability, can live with dignity, respect, and opportunities. As Mark Twain wisely said, kindness is a
language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Let's unite as a community in kindness and tackle those misconceptions to make a real lasting difference in the lives of our students both with and without disabilities.
Thank you. [Applause] And that's why she's teacher of the year. Now I have the privilege to introduce our rookie teacher of the year and that's Miss Stephanie Stevens. And Miss Stevens started with us just recently last school year. She came from
the private sector private schools and was teaching private school students and then thought let me try on the public side of the school system. So she started with us as a paraprofessional and within six months she became a teacher at Hillrest and that's how quickly when you want something you make
it happen and she did. Here is Miss Stephanie Stevens. [Applause] Good evening. I would just like to start by saying how grateful I am to be here tonight and to be part of a community that believes in every child's
potential. I'm excited to share a little bit about why I love what I do and why special education means so much to me. I've always known that I wanted to work with kids. Even when I wasn't sure exactly what my role would be, I knew that helping children grow and learn was
something that I was just meant to do. I knew that being around kids brought out the best in me. I love their energy and their honesty and the way that they see the world. I just wasn't quite sure what that would look like for me career-wise until I found Special Education. The first time I stepped into a
classroom for kids with special needs, I felt something click for me. There was a warmth there. It was a mix of laughter and focus and encouragement that filled the room and I knew that this was going to be my path. What really drew me to special education was the heart of it.
It was the relationships, the creativity, and the chance to make learning meaningful in a way that fits every single student. Special education so showed me a side of teaching that goes deeper. It's about celebrating progress in all forms, not just grades
or milestones, but the moments of confidence and independence that build over time. Every day, I get the privilege of watching incredible things happen in my classroom. They might seem small to someone else, but to us, they're huge. Things like a student
correctly identifying the letters of the alphabet for the first time, or asking for help in a full sentence instead of just one word, or remembering the correct steps to take when cleaning up an activity. Those moments remind me why I love what I do. They remind me that growth doesn't have to be big or doesn't
have to be flashy to be meaningful. Since stepping into this work, it has impacted my life in ways I never expected. My students have completely changed how I see the world. They inspire me every day. And every time I see one of them light up with pride because they've accomplished something
that they once thought was impossible, I'm reminded of why this work matters so deeply. In our school and in our class, we cheer each other on. We laugh a lot throughout our day and we have a lot of joyful moments. In the midst of having fun, we're constantly learning. We're
learning life skills. how to share, how to communicate, how to handle frustration, and how to celebrate each other's wins. And I like to think that the laughter and the fun moments aren't necessarily a break from the learning, but it's part of the learning. Those are the moments where confidence grows in
our students and where relationships are built. My students have taught me a lot of patience. They've taught me what pure joy looks like. They've shown me every day what resilience looks like. Every single one of them has a story worth celebrating and I just feel very lucky
to be a small part of their story. Being in special education has made me a better person. It's taught me to slow down a little bit and to notice small victories and to lead with patience and empathy. And it's reminded me that success looks different for every person. I'm so grateful to be a part of
Hillrest where inclusion isn't just something that's talked about, but it's something practiced daily. Special education is where my heart is. And being surrounded by my students reminds me every day that teaching is about so much more than what one might assume. It's about building confidence,
celebrating growth, and believing in every child. Thank you so much. And now I will turn the time over to Miss Slow. >> Thank you, Miss Stevens. And good evening. My name is Cindy Lowe and I am the proud assistant principal at Hillrest School and it's my privilege to
introduce to you three of our exceptional, incredible students. We have with us tonight with the help of their parents, Miss Hannah Schneider, a seventh grade student. We have Rowan Teal, one of our 10th
grade students, and Stevie Olsen, who is going to be a graduating senior, who is propping up Mrs. Manresa. Yes, you're doing great. These students are so excited tonight to be able to lead us in the Pledge of
Allegiance. If you would please stand as we prepare to lead the pledge. That's right. We got our hands over our hearts. >> The microphone. >> I've got the microphone. >> Are you ready? >> Yes. >> Okay. Start.
>> I I also and to the republic from which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[Applause] >> Miss Manresa, if you will hold just a second, we'd like to come down and celebrate with you. Scoot in two inches. That's all I need. There you go. Perfect. Here we go.
One, two, three. Couple more. I say yes. >> Thank you. [Applause] does have good hair though. >> Happy Halloween. Okay, Dr. Brewer, that's a hard act to follow, but we're going to move on to
recognitions. >> Yes, that was simply wonderful. >> Yes, it was. >> I would like now to ask Mr. Ben White House to come to the podium for our recognition portion of the agenda. >> Good evening. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. And good evening, board chair and school
board members. Our Maring County Public Schools team is made up of some very special people. We just saw a few here tonight. Many of whom are unsung heroes who go about their job every day impacting lives. So, it's great when we come across a story of an employee who goes above and beyond
to help a student and we can take a moment to recognize them and thank them for their outstanding work. Tonight, I would like to recognize Mrs. Pam Pickkins, an attendance specialist with our mental health and wellness department. Earlier this year, Miss Pickkins took an extra step to help a
homeschool student get back on track by connecting the student with Marion Acceleration Academy and working out a plan for success. That student has now completed all of his eighth grade credits and is back on track towards a high school diploma. Miss
[Applause] Miss Pickins seized the opportunity to re-engage a student who otherwise would have been left behind and put him on a path toward success. Miss Delal shared that Miss Pickkins makes a lasting impact with every family
she connects with. She does her work with heart and relentless dedication each and every day. We are honored to recognize Miss Pickkins tonight and proud to call her a member of our team. Miss Pickkins. Good evening. Good evening to Dr.
Brewer, to the chair, to each of you that's here tonight. I'm honored. I'm grateful. And I got Mai here with me. Come on, Mai.
When I first met him on April 7th, there was something special about this young man. I just I don't know what it is. I just felt this compelling this compelment to just work with him. Um, some of you may know I lost my son
almost four years ago and heeded me so much of him, his demeanor, his attitude and I just say, "Lord, I don't know what it is about this young man, but I'm going to do what you say do." So I told Mai, I said, "Listen, you are going to
finish. you can do this and you will do this and I will be in your face. And he said, "Yes, ma'am." And my son was a truck driver. I said, "Even I would go to the ends of the earth to even pay for your schooling if you want to be a truck driver. So whatever I can
do, I will do." And I got a email and this is where we at. It's 12 of us in our office. And we work so hard with these kids. And I want what's best for all our Marian County school kids. I've always said as a Marian County employee,
I want our district to be a a district. I want all our kids to be successful. And that's why I'm so compassionate. Parents may think that I'm mean, but I'm not. But your kids are my kids. So when I speak, I speak because I love. I speak
out of love. And this is why I'm here with Mai tonight because I want him to let you all know what he had to do to get where he's at today. It wasn't easy easy. He went through surgery and everything, but he did it. So, Mai, tell them what you did, baby.
>> Um, at first, um, I really didn't know, uh, what to do. I wasn't really focused, but We lost it. gave him a second to get his thoughts together. Anyhow,
>> um so I wasn't really like as focused as I should be like at the start, but I um I got back on track. I actually started uh working hard like practicing on my work. I know what I want to do. I want
to I want to finish school. So, I'm that's what I'm determined to do. >> Okay. [Applause] >> This honor tonight and this honor to I'm I'm honored to be here. Thank y'all so much. That's it. That's all I have to say.
>> Okay. Miss Pickkins, we just want to say thank you for your dedication. um to the students of Marian County. Thank you for the team of people that work with you every day to help get these students um back on track. We are grateful for your
passion and your commitment um to help them get across the finish line. So, if you don't mind, we'd love to come down and celebrate with you for just a moment. I want to take a picture. I want to be celebrating. We want her to be celebrated. This is our
Can we All right, here we go. And one, two, three. Couple more. Everybody's looking right here. And good. I feel like that's a um you know like when you're working in an office and you're like it's very quiet today.
Right. Chair Conrad, I have one more recognition. >> Okay. >> Um, I'd like Mr. White House to share with you because tonight is a special evening because you are serving as our chair for the last board meeting. So, Mr. White House, go ahead.
>> Yes, ma'am. So >> you made me cry and thank everybody. >> So Miss Kra, just from the from the whole team, we'd just like to share our appreciation for your dedication, your leadership um of serving as board chair for the last year. You you've been
inspirational to us. You always come with a warm message. Um you're supportive of everything that we do and we just can't say enough how much we appreciate the opportunity to get to work with you. Um and thank you for your dedication to Marian County Public Schools. and we would just like to provide you with a a quick token of our
appreciation for your service. >> And of course, we would like a picture. >> They want a picture. >> Should I come down? >> Yes. >> Come up to me. >> Just you or >> Yeah. Just coming up. >> All of us. >> All of us can come up here. >> Okay. This is your picture. You tell us
what you want. >> Yeah, I know. >> Oh, sure. Okay. >> Okay. >> Just so you know, my mom and dad are gonna just love this. >> Of course they are. >> They They think we want our students in with us.
>> Yes. Yes. Student board members. Come on, Elena. Come in. >> Yes. >> You You work with me every day. >> You don't worry about us. You're the center of attention. >> Oh, yeah. Powers.
>> Yes. Powers. Come on in. >> Sorry. I was looking to the left. >> He has to He has to put up with >> your face. >> This looks official. >> Computer screen down. >> It's all right. All right.
>> Thank you very much. Okay, thank you team for that very sweet um and unexpected recognition. Um I have some things to share but they're coming at the end of the meeting. So um with that we will move on. We're going to go
on to um recognizing some donations. We have school supply items valued at $1,621.99 cents to Ross Prairie Elementary School from Ad Morgan to support various programs, efforts, groups, andor clubs.
We have a $5,000 donation to Belleview Middle School from Judson Reed for the principal discretionary fund. So, thank you uh both for those generous donations. Dr. Brewer. >> Okay. Thank you. I recommend approval of the agenda for the October 28, 2025
school board meeting with the materials in the board packet, those materials distributed to board members at the meeting, and the audio recording included as part of the official record of the meeting with the exception of items D27.1, D27.2,
and D27.3 that have been placed under discussion regular agenda items. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. May I have a motion on the superintendent's recommendation? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James. All those in favor say I.
>> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes. 5. >> Miss Martinez Young, would you please provide the proof of publication for tonight's school board meeting? >> October 28,2 Thank you. May I have a motion to
approve the minutes for the September 18th, 2025 administrative briefing and work session? >> Motion to approve this September 18th minutes. >> Thank you, Miss Thrower. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. James. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes?
Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. 5-0. May I have a motion to approve the minutes for the September 23rd, 2025 school board meeting? May I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Dr. James. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Are there any
additions or corrections to the minutes? Seeing none, all those in favor say, "I." >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. 50. Good evening, Attorney Powers. If you'll please explain the rules governing persons who wish to address the board
this evening. >> Good evening and thank you. Alliance with section 286.0114 0114 of Florida statutes. Excuse me. The school board has adopted uniform procedures for public speakers who wish to speak at tonight's evening
tonight at this evening's meeting either regarding one of today's agenda items or a matter relating to the operations of the school district. These procedures will ensure that the public has a reasonable opportunity to be heard on school board and school district matters. A written summary of these
procedures are available from the table in the lobby. Public speaker forms are also located on the same table. The completed forms were due to the school board's clerk no later than 5:40 p.m. This evening, speakers will be called prior to the business portion of the
school board's meeting in the order of receipt by the school board clerk. Before you begin speaking, please state your full name for the record and spell your last name. Each speaker will have five minutes. However, if there are more than five persons who wish to speak, the board may seek consensus to limit each
speaker's time to three minutes. When the speaker has one minute remaining, the speaker will receive a visual notice to complete his or her comments. Speakers may not yield their time to other people. Speakers and meeting attendees are expected to conduct themselves in a
respectful manner. Therefore, verbal attacks and profanity are strictly prohibited pursuant to the procedures for public comments. Item six, speakers are not to identify specific individuals other than themselves or their child unless the statement is provided 24
hours in advance. The board is here to listen to your comments only. You may be directed to an administrative staff member following the conclusion of your comments for further assistance to address your concerns. If there are matters dealing with student discipline, including
expulsions, they'll be scheduled at the conclusion of the televised portion of the meeting. Parents may address the board regarding a disciplinary matter at that time. To ensure student privacy, only a parent or guardian may use a student's first or last name.
Identifying references of other students and/or their families are also strictly prohibited. A speaker speech does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the school district. Thank you for your attention to the board's requirements. Madam
Chair, that concludes my explanatory remarks. >> Thank you, Attorney Powers. Miss Martinez Young, do we have any speakers this evening? >> Madam Chair, we had two speakers that sent in to address the board, so I'm not sure if they're here. So, let me go ahead and call their names. Ross Davis
>> and Dana Fish. Okay. >> Uh, Mr. Doug Oswall, please. >> Good evening, Mr. Rose. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, board members, uh, superintendent. I'm Buddy Oswald, OSWALD,
4304 Southeast Fifth Street, Ocala. Thank you for the opportunity to uh speak tonight and thank you for the opportunity to put this at the first first part of the agenda. I spoke at the
county commission and the city council meeting last uh week and they're not nearly as accommodating of public comment as y'all are. So, thank you very much. One of the fundamental goals of public
schools is to provide students with the skills to exercise their responsibilities as citizens in our democracy. I commend the board and the staff for its commitment to civic education through among other activities
support for the we the people program. I agree with Justice Brandise that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people. Accordingly, public discussion is our
civic duty. Our freedom and our democracy requires courageous and self-reliant citizens to regularly engage in challenging discussions.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts over the last few decades, we seem to have lost this skill both as a community and a nation, resulting in partisan divide that fuels
anger, division, and frustration. If we truly wish to secure the blessings of liberty for our children and our grandchildren, we must find a way to repair this breach.
Braver Angels is a national organization whose mission is to do exactly that. Strengthen our democracy by encouraging and facilitating conversations across the political divide.
This is accomplished through a variety of activities and workshops, all of which are structured with specific rules and procedures designed to promote civil dialogue. I've spoken with the Florida coordinator
and we are launching an Ocala Marian County Braver Angels Alliance with a navigating difficult conversations workshop. The workshop will be held at the main office of the public library on
Wednesday, November 12th at 5:30. I invite each of you and members of the audience to join us. I will send you an email with the details and a link to the Braver Angels website for more
information. As a philosopher Mortimer Adler was fond of saying, "Let us engage in the serious business of discussing our differences so that together we can discover the
truth and perhaps preserve our liberty and our democracy." Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Rose. Kristen Angel.
>> Good evening members. My name is Kirsten Angel. I live at 2055 Southeast 50th Terrace, Ocala, Florida 34480. And tonight I want to just remind um everyone a topic that we um thankfully
heard about tonight through the presentations and recognitions that we that we observed here at the school board. One of the most important members of the classroom is the teacher. The teacher knows if a child is not
doing well in school. A teacher knows if a child is got has some issues going on at home that are preventing the child from doing well in school. A teacher knows if a child's being tardy and not attending school when they should or not
being in the classroom when they should. Um the teacher is is one of the most important people um in my opinion in the in the classroom and they're also very important when they have student teacher principal evaluations of a particular
child and and everyone in those roles needs to remember that the teacher plays a very very important role in those in those meetings and I hope that all not only schoolboard members but those who might apply to be the superintendent of
the school. We'll keep that in mind that the teacher plays a very very important role and they should be listened to um and and kept in mind when you're taking into account their decisions at those meetings. Thank you very much. I
appreciate the time to speak to you all. >> Thank you, Miss Angel. >> Miss Martinez Young, does that conclude our speakers? >> Yes, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Board, we're moving on to item 9.1, a public hearing. May I have a motion to
adopt the 2025 to 2027 district safety and loss prevention manual? May I have a motion? >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. >> Second. >> Uh, thank you, Dr. Campbell. >> Dr. Brewer.
>> The primary goal of the safety and loss prevention program manual is to assist in providing a safe and healthy environment for students, employees, and all who visit district facilities, and to prevent student and employee accidents causing injuries and illnesses. Monetary savings are realized
by reducing costly accidental injuries due to effective safety programs. >> Thank you, Dr. Brewer. I declare a public hearing. Is there anyone present who wishes to address the 2025 through the 2027 district safety
and loss preventual prevention manual? Okay, seeing none, is there any discussion among the board? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes 5. Moving
on to item 10.1, information. The school district used a construction management delivery method, including a guaranteed maximum price to perform construction work on this project. There were unused funds on the project. Since the project was delivered using a
construction management delivery with a GMP format, unused artless dollars, regardless of the item, are returned to the owner. The unspent monies will be returned to the owner via change order, which will close the financial books on this project. The superintendent has
signed and approved the change order per board policy 6345. The superintendent is authorized to approve and execute any construction contract change order that will increase the construction contract by $25,000
or less or that will decrease the construction contract amount. provided that approval shall be in her judgment in the best interest of the board. Such change orders shall be binding upon execution by the superintendent or designate. The superintendent shall
report each change order that she approved to the board at the board meeting that follows her approval. The superintendent appro superintendent's approval of the change order shall be entered into the official minutes of the school board meeting. Item 10.1,
construction of ADA chairlift and ramps at Fezedan Elementary School. Order number three, work authorization number 10, project 23-103. The cost of this change order is a deductive amount of $21,16.91.
Item 10.2. The school district uses a construction management delivery method, including a guaranteed maximum price to perform construction work on this project. In order to allow the district to purchase materials through the owner direct purchase process to save sales tax, the
construction manager needs to return the funds to the owner via this deductive change order. This purchase will allow the district to save approximately $6,51149 in sales tax. The superintendent has signed and approved the change order.
Per board policy 6345, the superintendent is authorized to approve and execute any construction contract change order that will increase the construction contract by $25,000 or less or that decreases the construction contract amount. Provided that approval
shall be in her in her judgment in the best interest of the board, such change order shall be binding upon execution by the superintendent. The superintendent shall report each change order that she approves to the board at the board meeting follow that follows her
approval. The superintendent's approval of the change order shall be entered into the official official minutes of the board meeting. Item 10.2 guaranteed maximum price for Oyola Middle School new new gymnasium change order number eight amendment number one project
24-109. The sales tax saving is $6,51149. This concludes ourformational items. And with that, we'll move on uh to consent agenda items. May I have a motion to approve consent agenda items C12.1
through C24.1 with the exception of items D27.1, D720, D27.2, 2 and D27.3 that have been placed under discussion regular agenda items. May I have a motion? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Okay. So, Reverend Cummings, who was a second? >> Okay, Dr. Campbell. All right. Thank you guys. Um, all those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes. 5. Thank you. Um, moving
on to alternative placement. Before addressing expulsion matters, I wish to acknowledge that board members have received the alternative placement list for students through September 25th, 2025. Miss Martinez Young, are there any parents who have submitted a timely request to speak on their child's
disciplinary matter? >> No, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD26-017 for 45 days from the date of the incident with services? May I have a motion? Motion to approve.
>> Thank you, Dr. James. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Campbell. >> Yes. >> Before we vote, I I feel like I remember receiving an email that there was a clerical error and the 45 days from the date of incident with services was going to be corrected.
>> I think it was just a cover sheet. Um, >> well, that was for a different item. It wasn't for this item. >> It wasn't for this. Okay. I just wanted to make sure before we move forward and voted. >> So, we're good. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good to go. All right. Thank you for double checking. Um, are you ready to vote? >> Oh, yes. >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. I.
>> Any opposed? Motion passes. 5-0. >> May I have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD26-023 JD26-025 JD26-026 JD26-28E JD26-30.
for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year and the first quarter of the 2026 2027 school year. May I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Dr. James. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. >> All those in favor say I.
>> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. 5-0. may have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD26-022E JD26-024 with off-campus virtual learning for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year
and the first quarter of the 2026 2027 school year. May I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Dr. James. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes 5. Moving
on to discussion, regular agenda items. May I have a motion to approve amendment number one to the construction management contract guaranteed maximum price for construction of new middle school DD Lakewir Middle School project 24-13. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings.
>> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Thrower. Dr. Campbell, would you like to have further discussion on this item? >> I didn't pull this one. I believe Miss Usher's coming to to share. I think it's Dr. for your >> Yes, Miss Miss. Yes, Sher Conrad. Miss Usher is here to provide more
information on this. We pulled this item just to make sure that the community was aware of the GMP for this project. >> Okay. Thank you. I thought there was also some concern in the wording, so I just wanted to give you the opportunity to share that if needed. Okay.
>> So, you want we'll let Miss Usher um present. Thank you, Miss Usher, for your patience and then we'll open it up to Dr. King. >> All right. Thank you, >> Dr. Brewer. Good evening, Chair Conrad, board members. The item before you is for the guaranteed maximum price for the Lakeway Middle School replacement. The
GMP cost is 62,698,86.77. When we borrowed the certificate of oper um of participation for schools, we put 65 million in for this project. I'm very pleased that the GMP is at 62 million and the cost is coming in less than what
was proposed at the um at 410. No, it's at $42 a square foot, which is great. The substantial completion date is scheduled for May 2027 with work starting in November. The general area
is about 152,000 square feet. The the constru the construction manager is Scanska. The architect is Harvard Jolly PBK and um we hope to do some direct purchase about 12 million and save some
money. It is a 22 uh period project so it's much different than elementary school which is only about 12 million and as we mentioned we do have some concerns regarding our permit and breaking ground. the talking to the contractor, he was hoping to start in
November so we can have our opening in 2027. We're still on track to do this. And even if it's pushed back a couple months, we can still meet our opening date. If anything changes, I'll certainly apprise the board to make sure you all are updated with the schedule if
it has to be extended. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much, Miss Usher. While Miss Usher is in front of us, does the board have any questions they'd like to ask? Yes, Dr. James. >> Thank you. Um I just have I'm not concerned about the GMP, the total price. Um I appreciate Miss Asher's
comments with that and it is coming in under budget which is um wonderful. Um which is a new which is a new projection for us because historically most of our projects have been incredibly underbudgeted and then we've had to move money around. My concern is more with
the general conditions. Um, so when I was looking reviewing the GMP document, uh, if you go to page 13 or 14 in the document and total up the staff, the number that the staff comes to, um,
is listed as 3.132144 uh, and 40. But the math on that, I will use my own term. The math is not mathing. The math on that is actually 31 uh 3,50,35392. So you're sure it could be a clerical
error. My concern is that in the GMP amendment two, which we are approving, we are approving a general conditions for the number that's indicated on page 14, which is not an accurate number based on what's presented on page 14.
Furthermore, beyond that, page 13 and 14 out outline two pages of general conditions which total somewhere like 5.2 million, I believe. Uh 5.39 million, but the contract is only indicating general conditions for 3.1 million. Um
so that's another area where I I have concern. And then finally, I do believe that the cost for staff being at 3.15 million uh for a school that is coming in at this price is significantly higher
than schools that we have seen completion recently including Winding Oaks and Ross Prairie. So those are my concerns board. My question would be for the attorney about the legality of the number being inaccurate at on um on page
two, item 2.4 and it not being reflective of the actual mathematical number that's on page 14. >> If it's inaccurate, we're going to have to amend it. Um the amendment at this point appears to duplicate another
inaccuracy. So I would say that um I mean, the legality of if we amend something with an inaccuracy is that we've got to then amend it to with a corrective action at a future point. So,
>> okay. I mean, the number is not when you add all those numbers up on page 14, they do not equal 3,132,14. >> Madam Chair, may I can I address the board? There is a small difference in those condition and because it is the
contra's mistake contractor's mistake we will benefit from it because we will get the lower of the two costs and I've been talking to the contractor they realize they made a mistake it's a really minor amount and they will honor the lower
amount so okay my my concern lies in Stan's board that I believe 13 and 14 out and They're titled page 13 is titled general conditions and requirements and 2.4 is
titled general conditions. And so my concern is that the total for page 13 and 14 is $5.39 million. And I believe that's what we're on the hook for for general conditions. Yet 2.4 only says 3.13 million, which even if it's just
3.13 million, it is still significantly higher than it is for other projects that we have recently finished. It's not about the number of staff, it's about the cost of the staff. Similar staff to other projects we've completed recently, but the cost is significantly more. As
an example, Winding Oaks was $48 million GMP and they spent just south of two million on staff. So, this is only $14 million more for a project and we're spending um you know, essentially over a million dollars more. So, proportionally
that it doesn't seem to track for me. So, those are my concerns. board. I wanted to make you all aware of them balls in your all court. >> Okay. What um board do you want to um comment? >> Comment from the board.
>> Dr. Brewer. >> Yes, Miss Usher. >> On the general conditions, there are two category. You have staff and staff is 3.1 million. Then you have general requirements which is 2.3 million. So
when you put them together, the total general condition is 5.3. So the GMP is 100% accurate there. You cannot compare an elementary school with a middle school. The elementary school duration for those superintendent and assistant
superintendent on staff was 12 months. Staff on this middle school, it's for 22 months. So it's not a direct correlation. You have different expertise. This is a middle school. We have special programs, special areas. We
have a gymnasium. So you cannot say you cross multiply and divide. It is not a direct relation when you look at the scope and the elementary school. So the general conditions are correct. It is the requirement and the staff, the 3.1
and the 2 something. And I reviewed this GMP several times and I was pleasantly surprised at how much it came in at. And I even told the um contractor that talking to him and he said yes and that's when he said we came in under
what we presented to you. When we won this project we were at 410. Now we're at 42. So we're saving money. And when you look at the GMP, it incorporates not just the general conditions, but all the other special needs for a middle school
versus an elementary school. And the time frame for that general condition for staff is almost twice as long as the general condition for staff for an elementary school. Okay. >> Just wanted to clarify that. >> Thank you, Miss Usher, for those clarifications.
Board, >> anything further? Okay, Dr. Campbell, did you have anything that you wanted to add to the conversation? >> The only thing I wanted to add is something I've said anecdotally to folks that are saying the federal government
shutdown isn't impacting my life and I'm saying it actually is impacting Marian County Public Schools way of work because in order for us to break ground on that middle school, we have to have a letter from the US uh Fish and Wildlife Administration and they have to kind of
has to get two signatures. We're waiting on both of them, one in Jacksonville, one in Atlanta, and then the government has to reopen before that can even start. And then once we get both of those signatures, then a 30-day window happens and we pay a fine and we can break ground. So, um it it's something
that we're hoping to get our Congress um congressmen and senators involved with, but there's nothing they can do at this juncture until the federal government reopens for there to be staff to do the things that I just indicated. So, that's all I want to Thank you so much for your assistance with this.
>> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Campbell. All right, board. Without um if there's no further discussion, um I'm going to go ahead and call the vote. Um all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. 5-0.
Uh moving on to item D27.2. May I have a motion to approve the guaranteed maximum price for the Denellan High School roof replacement cafeteria and culinary arts project 25-102. May I have a motion? >> Motion to approve.
>> Thank you, Miss Thrower. Uh, thank you, Reverend Cummings. Um, Dr. Brewer. >> Yes, I'll have Miss Usher um explain this GM this project again. This is for our Denellan High School culinary space that we've had conversations about
before and the dollar amount for this one is 652,000 and she will explain more about this project. >> Thank you Dr. Brewer. Chair Conrad, board members again. You all have already approved this project. It was in the 2024 2025 capital plan and you all
approved 950,000 last year from the millillage for this. Now, when we price it out, it's now at 652,000, which is good. The reason we need to do it because the roof is leaking and our
maintenance department has patched it so many times and if it continues to leak, it will lead to a whole lot more problems as mold and more destruction. So, it has to be done. The money is in place. This is just to approve the project and that's why it's before you
this evening for 652,000 so we can proceed with it. >> Thank you Miss Usher Usher. Um board open it up for questions or comments. >> Yeah, madam chair. This is something that's been ongoing the patching at that um at Dunell's High School's cafeteria.
Um we can't keep kicking the can down the road. We have some done other students here on the board tonight and I'm sure they would agree it's time. It's beyond time. >> So, let's get it done. >> Okay. All right. Um board will take a vote. All those in favor say I.
>> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. 5-0. May I have a mo motion to approve the standard agreement with Tutors Who Care Corporation? May I have a motion? >> So move. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. Second. Second.
>> Thank you, Dr. James. Dr. Brewer, you have some information um regarding this item. >> Yes, ma'am. Mr. White House will um provide brief remarks. Um something that is important to note on this particular um agreement is it states September as
the start date as a board member has um brought to my attention and we are aware of that. It just took a little bit of time to get this agreement um through the process, but we are ready once you approve it this evening. we're ready to begin um this service for these three
schools, but Mr. White House can provide additional comments. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. And good evening, Gim board. Tutors Who Care is a tutoring company contracted to support afterchool learning in math and English language arts for students at Oakrest Elementary, Stanton, Wearsdale, and Wyoming Park Elementary. Students
will be identified for support by school administrators based on fast data. Tutoring will occur one to two times per week for 90 minutes. All tutors are current or former teachers who will focus on supporting the curriculum at each school. The expected outcomes include improved performance on
standardized tests, improved attendance, and improved behaviors. The funding source for this is the unified school improvement grant. >> All right. Thank you very much. Um Mr. White House um board. I had asked for us to have a little um information presented on this item because we've had
so much discussion recently on mentoring and tutoring and all of those things. So, I wanted um that to be uh shared publicly. So, is there any other questions or comments you'd like on this item? Miss Thrower. >> Thank you. And and thank you, Dr.
Brewer, for just um confirming the the September date because that was confusing to me when I reviewed the agenda. Um, when it comes to the the tutoring services, this is coming from UNICEF funds, right? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And with the UNICEF funds, um, I just
want to make sure I'm clear, the principles have a lot of discretion as to how they feel is best to spend these funds to help improve the school grade. >> Right. >> Correct. Yes. But we also have to have the UNICEF budget approved by the Department of Education for these
schools and and so it does go through a vetting process. Great. Um because we've had, as the chair uh shared, you know, we've had some pretty spirited conversation about um different med men mentoring programs and my position has always been do my
best to stay out of the way of the folks that are really doing the work and try not to micromanage it too much. So, I'm really comfortable with the process as it is described because it's initiated by the folks that are tasked with raising school grade in these fragile
schools and the plan is approved by the state. So, that's good enough for me. I just wanted to make that point. >> Thank you, Mr. Thrower. Madam Chair, um when I when I looked at this agreement um and the schools that this is going to service, I understood that the fragility
of the schools and those students and obviously um when the administrators at those schools feel that they need some extra to help get these kids over the hump. Um I felt that this was necessary. So if they feel that it's necessary, I
think we need to be in agreement with those because they know what they need. >> Agree. I I was just going to share briefly uh the benefit to being a turnaround school is the influx of money that comes into a school
to help support and sustain the efforts to turn it around. The downfall to that is that when the turnaround occurs because the resources were needed, the resources then leave. And so it's about creating the sustainability. And so we look at a
school like East Marian where Miss Doss formerly was. They had lots of resources poured in. She used them very well and what we see now at East Marian overall is a pretty good track. They are the train is running on a pretty good track. Um which is exactly what we want to see
happen. We have but we it requires putting the right people in the right places. And so I just think it's incredibly important to remember that these are these funds are essentially annual. You know sometimes we'll have unis money for a couple years. uh it just kind of depends on the
circumstance, but ultimately they expire and when they expire there's no funding source to backfill it. And so there is a lot of value in having the right people like Miss Dobs in the right place to use funds like this for for a school like
Oakrest to get it turned around, get the ship sailing in the right direction, and then create some sustainable efforts to be able to go forward in future school years. So, I just wanted to make sure that point got highlighted. >> Thank you. Yes, Dr. Campbell. >> Thank you and grateful that you all have put this before us this evening. I I
want to ensure that as we continue to have these conversations that we not use the words tutoring and mentoring interchangeably. I understand that this particular organization is going to provide both, but they are first a tutoring organization made up of
teachers who are providing academic support. And that is quite different than the other conversations that we've had of late about mentoring programs. Mentoring is not responsible for academic support. And that is a very strong delineation that I want to ensure we're not using those two words
interchangeably. So, um, but I'm I'm grateful to have this opportunity to to reinforce these schools based on what the principles have found. This wonderful organization is going to help us with that. So, thank you. >> All right. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> Something that's been very successful
with fragile schools um being able to get the um community partnership grant. I think I said that correctly. Um, College Park has been the beneficiary of that for a while now. Um, I remember writing a letter of support for
Principal Dobs when she was at East Marian. Um, it took two years to get it, but you know, we got it. Um, I hope we can get something like I hope we can get that at at Oakrest if Principal Dove feels like that's what's needed there
because it is all about the sustainability and it's almost never the one magic I don't want to say bullet these days. the magic piece. The magic piece, it is
the the combined efforts and the strategic deployment of those combined efforts and leaders that stay and inspire the teachers and free up the teachers to do their jobs and support the heck out of them that that makes it
happen. So, um, I'm just grateful that we have a variety of approaches and that we have the talented leaders that are willing to do this even extra lift because being in
publication, being in public education right now and leading public education certainly is full of satisfactions and great challenges. So, um, I just really strongly believe that continues to be really important to make sure that we're listening to the people that are in the
trenches, asking the questions, and supporting the heck out of their work. >> I'm ready to vote. >> Right. Thank you. Anything further? Okay, with that, we will call the vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes 5-0. Thank
you. Um, board, at this time, we'll move on to meeting reminders. An administrative briefing and work session is scheduled for October 31st, 2025 at 9:00 am. I did have one question on this. Did we have a hard stop on this time >> for Friday?
>> Friday. >> I said I'm going to be leaving at 5:00 to go trick-or- treat with my team. >> Okay. So, better be done by then anyway. I'm hopeful. >> We have a hard stop. That's what it is. I'm leaving at 5 for >> Okay. All right. Just checking because I could only remember um part of that conversation. Thank you, Dr. James. Um
we have an administrative briefing and work session. is scheduled for November 6th at 9:00 a.m. The school board organizational meeting is scheduled for November 11th at 5:00 p.m. followed by a board of directors meeting and a regular school board meeting at 5:30 p.m. And we
will move into board comments. Miss Martinez Young >> thing, Madam Chair, thank you. >> Attorney Powers. >> Board members, I will be getting with each of you individually to go over some um of our uh housing discussion
documents. Um and uh I will look forward to meeting with each of you individually or having a phone conversation with you over the course of the next several days. >> Okay. Thank you, Attorney Powers. Um Dr. Brewer. >> Yes, ma'am. Um as you shared at the beginning of this meeting, one of our
students, Shannon Rushing, died yesterday in a tragic accident. Um, and I emailed our staff, the entire Marian County faculty yesterday, and I shared with them while Marian County is growing, we still remain a close-knit community where many people are connected on a daily basis. That means
we live, work, play, and we hurt together. And I want to remind our community and continued staff members to keep Shannon's family in your thoughts and prayers um as we and we remember all those that were involved in yesterday's
um tragic event. I have two other items that are unrelated. There was an item in the consent agenda this evening that I wanted just to bring awareness about because we are incredibly grateful. The agreement for the network cable installation services is um was a bid
that will support all district cabling projects including um an upcoming project at DJJ and it also will support our Danellan High School internet access to the fieldhouse and I know personally
since 2005 that has been a concern and years before that. So, we're incredibly grateful for this um renewal bid this evening. And so, I would just wanted to comment about that. And I can only imagine if Mr. Martin was still here um that he would be clapping out loud. So,
you you can let him know ahead of time. Um, I also want to take a moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to exploring ways that we can make the best possible use for our school facilities, especially as we continue seeing underutilized schools based on our
student enrollment. Several months ago, you asked us to present options regarding schools in the north side area, particularly in elementary schools with lower enrollment relative to capacity. We completed that review and understood your clear direction not to
move forward with moving Forom Early Learning Academy. You then asked us to explore the possibility of relocating Madison Street Academy and to gather feedback from staff and families through a public survey. We followed that guidance and after carefully reviewing
the data, feedback, and logistical considerations, it's just clear that relocating Madison Street Academy would not be feasible or fiscally responsible. As you know, the school was intentionally designed and constructed as a magnet program in its current
location under specific federal requirements. We truly appreciate your continued engagement and thoughtful input throughout this process. As we move forward, which we will present additional ideas to you at the work session on November the 6th, we welcome
your ideas and insights on how we can continue to make the most of our existing classroom space and plan wisely for future needs. Together, our goal remains to be responsible and effective stewards of the public funds entrusted to us through property taxes, referendums, and sales tax revenues.
That's all my comments for this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Brewer. We're going to now um we're so glad our student representatives are here. They've been waiting all evening. So, um we'll open it up to I hope I can say this at least
remotely close. Um, Miss Hussein Dana Ram >> close. You can correct me if you want to go to the mic. >> Hussein Danny Ram. >> Okay. All right. >> You want to share comments from this evening's meeting?
>> Okay. So, first, I'm so glad that the leak and the internet problem was mentioned. I'm so happy to see that even though I am a senior and I am leaving that there's some positive changes happening in my school um which is going to be
very beneficial to the safety of other members of my school. Um, some things that I have in my notes are that the mental health and the recognition
and the student that came up and shared his story. I thought that was really sweet and really nice. Um, even though it was only one, I know a lot of students who could use um, a role model like her. Um, I know
that there was some points in my life where I could have used a role model like her. I just think it's super nice to see that there's people in the Marian County School in general and people that work here make such a positive impact in our
community. >> Thank you so much. All right, Miss Ray. Um, I would like to take this time to bring to attention some things I've something I've noticed at my school,
which is the divide between students in AP classes and the regular track students. I've always seen since I was freshman, like this divide, especially between the students themselves, there's no like fluidity between the two. And
even teachers, there's always comments made between like them mentioning the regular track students and the advanced track students. And I even noticed them in clubs and extracurriculars. I've always noticed that regular track students are always less involved. And
so I just think that it brings down the morale of the school, the culture, and I think that if we maybe bring some programs that can make them collaborate more, that would benefit like the morale, the culture, and just the environment of the school because
there's always like this disconnect between the two. So maybe some programs like that would be beneficial. >> I love that. All right. Thank you so much. We really appreciate you all spending your evening with us and we
find your val your input very valuable. So, thank you for being here with us this evening. Dr. Campbell, >> thank you. Yes, thank you. I love that our students are here and I always appreciate the insights that you bring because it helps us keep focused and
centered on what matters and how we can potentially make systemic changes u in your schools from your eyes. So, thank you very much for being here with us and I know we'll see you both again at different times throughout the school year. So, a couple of things from this evening. I was grateful that we started
the evening with the inspiration and pledge from members from Hillrest. We are very familiar with the amazing impact that our our team has at Hillrest and the students that are there uh and they impact us on a regular basis. But
just this past year during legislation uh the 2025 legislative session, House Bill 447 became Florida Statute 10003.4205, which now says that disability history and awareness instruction must take
place in every public school in October every year. And so I'm grateful that Dr. Brewer, you brought them to highlight that this evening. Uh I have said for a really long time at being a sibling of a developmentally and intellectually
disabled sister that it's difficult whenever a whole group of people that we heard tonight is 16% of the population is unable to speak up for themselves in the way that everyone else can. And so I'm grateful for the legislators that
put forth this bill and have now enshrined this so that we'll be adopting policy as well that that mirrors this uh that this will be something that is is important and we need to consider it just as important as every other awareness month that we have and there are lots and there are lots of things
that we have to do through policy and through statute. Um, but I think the more we are able to really provide history and awareness instruction to our students, it will allow us to raise a more compassionate and considerate
population and a more compassionate and considerate community and um that starts in our schools. So, I I'm just grateful for that this evening. Also, in the consent agenda, we approved a perfect audit for Wyoming Park Elementary. So, kudos to Wyoming team. Uh, also in the
consent agenda, we approved board member travel for our annual FSBA and FADS joint conference in December. There apparently because we approved it will only be three of us attending that conference. Uh, two that the district pays for and in my leadership role with
the Florida School Boards Association, all of my fees for the next two years are paid for. Um so I just wanted to personally express just a little bit of disappointment in uh the fact that we won't have all five board members present for that conference. It has
provided specific and unique professional development for us as well as opportunities for camaraderie uh and and things like that. Um, I also understand that we had board members that decided not to renew their Florida School Board Association memberships
this year that seemed to coincide with my announcement as being president-elect of the Florida School Boards Association, though I understand it was under the guise of of budget issues. Um, but beginning in June, I'm just going to make a public statement. Being the first ever Florida School Board Association
president for Marian County, I would hope that we will have um full membership from this board in support. Uh there was a meeting I know last week that was held FSBA held with chairs of school boards and any that were
non-members were not actually going to be able to be allowed to participate. So, uh, just making that statement, I I just wanted to say I hope that it will be considered, uh, potentially for chairs moving forward at least to be members of FSBA as a way of work moving
forward. Um, however that needs to look. I I just wanted to make that statement. I also wanted to share board I I intend to bring to our next work session or at least potentially have it sent out to you all. I've updated a list that I've kind of done every year. uh of the
schools that we represent with the numbers of students that each board member represents. I just want you to see the list. In times past, I've presented solutions to how we might be able to fix it. I don't want to do that. I just want to give you the list and let you see it. And then let's determine if
there are changes to be made. I will tell you right now that district 1, which is the district seat that I am in, I represent 8,415 students. District 2 is 8,928 students. District three represents
17,112 students. District 4 represents 5571 students and district 5,996 students. So, I will be um making sure that you all receive this and if
potentially at our organizational meeting, we wanted to have additional conversation or if there's another time appropriate, if another board member is interested, clearly I've been the only one for the last five years, but if at least a couple of other board members are interested in at least having the conversation, then I welcome that. And
finally, uh we will be attending u meetings in Tallahassee on Monday and Tuesday next week. So far, I can tell you that the schedule that we have so far has our first meeting beginning on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. However, the
Tuesday committee schedule will not be out until tomorrow. So, we don't know exactly what that will look like and if and we're still waiting to hear from three representatives specifically. We're also going to be meeting with the staff members of um potentially the
education chairs and and those folks and we're still working on getting those calendared uh based on when the committee schedule comes out. So at this point I can tell you that our first meeting begins at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, but we are waiting on three representatives and so expect a new
update tomorrow afternoon from Jessica Janice. And how many meetings do we have scheduled now versus how many do we intend to get scheduled? >> So currently we have Rep. Chamberlain at 10 and Rep. Henson at 12:30. We expect to have Rep. Grow, Senator Mlan, and
Rep. Sap scheduled sometime over the course of those two days. Representative Gentry will not be in town for the time that we're going to be there. Uh we are also trying to get the staff from the Senate Education Committee and the staff from the House Education Committee. So
potentially five to six additional meetings that have not yet made it on the schedule. >> And when do you think we can have a firm schedule? >> Tomorrow afternoon is the hope because the the um committee schedule will come out >> like probably at 5:00 today. So I got
this update and so they're going to have to try and schedule around the committees that came out today at 5:00. So um next week's committee for Tuesday um came out today. So, this was the update I received just before our meeting from Jessica and hopefully she
will have as much information for us tomorrow afternoon as possible. And I believe that concludes my remarks and you all have already spoken about the tragedy that occurred yesterday in our district. Um, and so I certainly am grateful chair that we were able to hold
a prayer for the family and those involved uh at the beginning of the meeting. So, thank you for the respect of that. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Miss Thrower, >> thank you. And gosh, I was taking some notes at the beginning and it's like there's been a lot going on. So, I guess
I'll just start uh for what's about to happen and then work my way back and when I get tired of talking, I'll stop. Um on something that's always very exciting to me because it's so good for kids, especially our fourth graders, as I know uh you know very well. Uh Cheer Conrad
is the Black Stallion Reading Project. They're uh getting a leg up on literacy fundraiser is November 6th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Conway Arabians up in Mkenopi. Another beautiful farm like uh Goldmark that we visited earlier this
fall. It's just to be on a property like that is exciting enough. to know that folks that uh are just 100% in the horse industry are so supportive of our students and so supportive of our students literacy and trying to find different ways to help interest them in
the horse industry. There's a lot of opportunity in that. So I'm very much looking forward to that. Um it struck me earlier when Hillrest presented that uh the statement was shared that 150 million students with disabilities will never
attend school. What a waste, you know. Um it's just incredible. And I can say this because I worked at Hillrest for 14 years before I came on the school board. the capacity that students have at that school to not only learn so much
themselves but inspire so much in others. So I hope as we continue to move along in society, we continue to look for more and more ways to make students feel welcome, you know, whoever they are. Um I know the community will be happy to know that our instructional
calendar uh will be discussed also at the November 6th work session. It will be covering two years again. It's already on our website. I think it's on the landing page for people to review and everyone's always glad to get that uh get that approved. It'll be scheduled
for a board vote January 13th so people can make all their important plans and everything that they like to do. I I know that our policies work session is Friday, which is also Halloween. And since we know we have at least one board member that's going to be leaving directly to go trick-or-treating, I
suggest we all dress festive. I will be >> like it. >> I like it. >> Yeah. Um this Thursday at Marian Technical College, I'm really excited about this one because career technical education vocational is what got me through high school. And it has been
such a pleasure over the last seven years to see that not just the expansion, the explosion of opportunities for students to leave high school with a career path or at least a good job uh and then not have to drown in debt um should they choose to go to
college. You know, if if you're already a phabotamist or you're already a CNA and you get a job at a hospital, then you can get a lot of help with your education to continue. and also so many other fields. So, our ribbon cutting for our new aviation uh program is Thursday.
So, hopefully all of us will be able to make it because that's pretty exciting. It it was born as a result of an allocation that we got from the state, which uh makes it really critically important to have the facetime with our legislators. And I think that what we've asked for all along has been so
foundational to student success that they're listening. and we've had some wins with that and our legislative priorities have landed a few of them also on the FSBA platform which gives us a wider voice. So, thank you uh board member Campbell for your continued
advocacy and your active efforts. FSBA is is that arm and and I think that you've done a great job to uh make sure that we're included at the highest level. So, that's appreciated. Uh tomorrow, speaking of attendance, because I always like to speak of
attendance, uh we have our recognition for most improved uh secondary. It's at >> I mean, I got a little I got a little nervous because I was like, wait a minute. This wasn't supposed to be a secret >> surprise. I know. I just thought that
>> I was thinking about a different recognition, but >> I know >> they know we're coming, right? Okay, good. >> At Horizon Academy, I said there was a lot going on. That's not the best. >> Yeah, that's right. That's right. And I don't want to be the one didn't want to
be the one to do that. Um, our attendance response committees have at our specific schools have made so much impact. Um, for King's attendance response committee was today. Um, Oakrest was on Monday. I think it was Monday. Yes. And also had a chance to go
back later in the day to uh do a little dancing at their no party. No tardy glow stick dance party. in the afternoon and and and the kids know do what's right, do your best, treat others the way you want to be treated. You know, they are internalizing the reasons why it's so important to come to school and they're
getting to have a little opportunity to have a good time with each other as a as a benefit. So, that's that's just so much fun to be a part of it. And that was sandwiched between our leadership MCPS leadership miring county public schools was at Vanguard uh this week
which is also a school I'm proud to represent and I know our CFO is here in the audience uh Mr. Walsh, you did a great job sharing uh the complexities of our funding formula uh with the participants in leadership MCPS to help
them understand, you know, what all goes into uh financing and and making everything happen from, you know, toilet paper to IB. So, great job, sir. I appreciated your your presentation. I know the rest of
the group did, too. Um yes, thank you, Dr. Brewer for uh speaking about uh the Madison and and Forom and just all of the related pieces to better you utilizing our schools and and also just as important is making
sure that we're looking everywhere we can to make sure that every individual student has a path to be able to get a good education. And sometimes the challenging conversations result in outcomes and ideas and awarenesses that wouldn't have occurred otherwise. And
and one of those is is that I'm also proud to represent Ward Highlands Elementary School. It is an ace elementary school and through that conversation about you know Madison and forom figured out that we have kids that we are still busing across town to get
to an school when there's one that they could walk to. So, I'm really looking forward to continued conversation about how students from that area can be incorporated, especially in their much younger years, so that they can get on a great path. I think that it hits uh it
hits a home run in terms of our commitment to each and every student and also being fiscally responsible and being willing to have continued conversations as they take us along. So that was uh something that I really felt
was important to highlight. Uh we had our first code of student conduct meeting that was a varied and spirited yet very organized group. Dr. Curley did a great job keeping us all uh on point and uh focused and our next meeting is
in November. So we're working away on that. Um, I guess maybe the last thing I'll share is that Bridgeway Academy, our alternative school, continues to just make such strides as a result of an attendance response committee. We now
have a uh business partner. It is Shereice Rivers Foundation called the Grilled Cheese Foundation. And the story behind that is uh Miss Rivers overcame herself a lot of challenges and it had to do with with someone noticing a very
small grilled cheese sandwich about to be divided between four people and making sure that there was more than one grilled cheese on that table. And she never forgot that. And now that she's successful, she's giving back um to Bridgeway in a huge way. Our uh teacher
work day was last Friday and the teachers were all treated to appreciation and a great breakfast. It was not grilled cheese, it was a lot of other things, but it was just so appreciated and and very very uplifting. So great to be part of that as well. So,
if anyone is saying anything different about uh the challenges that we have and and we know that we have them, um please offer to share some of the many exciting things that are happening in our public schools and the tremendous amount of support that we continue to receive from
the community that we simply could not do what we do without them. So, those are my comments for tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Throw. Reverend Cummings. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I got several things. So, this is probably going to be the one time that you guys get tired of
me tonight because um very seldom do I bring about a bunch of things to to the board, but I do want to address several things. Um I do want to um address um Miss Manessa and uh Hillrest. I think all of us u we
attend Hillrest's uh graduation every year. We realized the um benefit of having a school like Hillrest in our in our district because they uh they address so many needs and they hit that
that uh group of students that oftent times are overlooked that are are just not given the the attention that they should. You all know I have a special needs son that graduated from Hillrest and um I thank I thank God for
them and what he got from them and every time we pass by that school he still refers to it as his school and it is his school because every time I pass by Forest High School I say that's my school even though this is my high school I still refer to it. So it tells
me that that the same pride that I had in my high school he has in his. And so it's important that we uh celebrate those those students over there. It's important that we continue to pour into that school and that we show that school
the same love as all the other schools in this district. That was number one. Number two is I want to um was Miss Pickkins when she came up with the young man. Um I remember when she lost her son, her I know her and her husband
personally and it was it was tragic. But in the midst of that tragedy, she was able to pull out a rose in this student that she dealt with on tonight. And um as she said, she saw her son in him. And oftent times we have educators that do
the same thing. They seek something in these kids and they pour into them. And we have so many wonderful, dedicated uh educators that do that same thing day in and day out. Miss Piggins just happened to be one tonight that we recognize, but I want to
give kudos to all of our our district uh teachers and paras and all our staff that do the same thing every day. There are so many kids that have benefited from the relationships that they've gotten from different people within our schools district. Whether they were the
uh teacher, whether they were a parent, you you would never know that it could even be a custodian or a bus driver or someone that makes a difference in these kids' life. And so I appreciate that um for what Miss Pickkins does. But I also on another level with Miss Pickkins um I
see what else she's doing with attendance. I see what she's doing in in truency court and I I had the opportunity to be in truency court on last Friday with uh attorney powers mal. Um I am I
am I am pleased to see how the judicial system is addressing um these truency issues. When parents realize that this is not a game, when they realize that these kids have to have their butts in
the seats and it's their responsibility to get these kids to school, um it makes a difference. It's something that has happened far too long, Miss Thor, where it wasn't being addressed. It was being kind of kicked down the road and and um just overlooked. But when kids miss 30
days of school out of 180 day school year, that's a problem. Um to me when they miss 25 that's a problem. Um so I'm I'm loving to see the fact that um attorney powers mal
um Miss Pickkins and others are are going to court putting things in place to get these kids in school to make sure they're in school. I'm glad to see that the judicial system is holding um parents account because this this is
what I've always said. a child that's a elementary kid, if they're not going to school, that's not the student. That's a that's parents not making them get up get their butt up and go to school. And I know there's many
reasons maybe the parents go to work early in the morning. I know all that, but as a parent, you have to put things in place to make sure these kids get to school. And if there's issues where we um we need to assist and I heard that last week. I've heard it in other times I've been in court um in truency court
where if we need to do something with transportation or whatever it is. Um I I I I spoke to one parent that was um coming out last week. She was she was pissed with you. She was she was highly with you. And it was more because of
something that she didn't do. And it was simply she didn't turn in the letters of of excused absences. And I had a conversation with say, "Hey, if you do this and do this and I'll we can we can kind of help because this and you were willing to drop just just need the letters." So we we we truency court is
doing what it needs to do. Let me say that. And we need to make sure that um we get them if if if they're going to miss days, we need to get them in that process faster if it's going to turn the situation around. So that's I'm I'm off of that one. But that was that was one that I was
like, "Hey, I get tired of seeing these these kids, these little kids when parents are standing there saying, "Well, they just want to go to school." Well, that was never an option. Certain things were not optional when I was growing up. School, church, chores, homework, not
optional. As long as I stayed under their roof, ate their food, breathe their air, I had to do what they said. So, so, so some of y'all probably grew up like I did, but um or or didn't. But hey, that's that was just the rules. And then the third thing I I I look forward
I thank Mr. Oswald for coming forward today. I look forward to u attending that meeting on the on the on the 12th, I think he said November at the um library. We do need to have a way to have public uh have conversations across
varied platforms very partisan parties or whatever political parties whatever it is. We got to get back to just talking as a community. you got to get back to just talking and not yelling uh and not um pushing an agenda but talking
because when you talk you can come you can figure out where there's there's commonality and there's some commonality I believe in most people somewhere there's some commonality so I look forward to that conversation my my fourth comment and I'm almost I
feel like I'm going to give a sermon today y'all because I'm I'm lining up my points I feel like I'm f to do one Um um this the student our student student representative she addressed something that um
that has been long um something I've always said for a long time um where there's a um divide between certain groups of kids based on their where they are as far as academically and how
they're perceived in the schools. And that is something that is something that has happened for ages. And I I can say that because I was one of those kids that um that got pulled out because I was supposedly smart. And to be
designated that and then there's other kids that they designate as something else. That's that does create a divide. That does create division within schools. And I don't think it's I I never thought that it was something intentional, but I think it was something that happened um just based on
at when I was in school. Um uh the um I can't they they called us it kids and I don't know why they call us it. All I can ever think of is they thought we were intelligent or something like that. >> Intellectually talented. >> That's what it was. That's I can remember it. That's exactly what it was.
Thank you, Alison. You must have been an IT kid, too. So >> I told him Pat and typically it was >> and they had us and uh we were not always doing things with other kids. We were always uh we had our own at at when I was at NH Jones, we had our own
portables. We had our own things and and it was just different. And so sometimes that that can be discouraging to other kids that see those types of things and see that divide. And I'm hoping I've been praying for years that that we be
conscious of those things. Um there's a school there's a school I won't say the school but it's a school that they call the kids uh they call some of the students IB kids and they al called other kids neighborhood kids. >> Nibs. >> Nibs. Yeah. >> Not IB. >> Yeah. Not IB. And and all those types of
things. those those types of uh stigmas and and monikers go on these kids and it it does not sit well um in the psyche of of the development of a student because I feel that I feel and Kirsten you you you you were in school and I was so I
think you probably remember some of these things and uh it does not sit well in the development of how kids perceive themselves as they're going forward. So, um, this that's something that I I'm glad you brought that forward tonight to address. That was very insightful and
very um very needful. My final thing and I'll be through. So, y'all know preachers have five closings, right? Madam Chair and members of the board, on on last evening, on last evening, they held a special city council meeting in
the city of Dunellan um to address a stinky, nasty, deadly, dangerous situation that's been happening right up under our nose. And so tonight, and I I kind of briefly chatted with uh Attorney Powers about this. I am respectfully
requesting that this Marian County School Board would formally join me in opposition to the application that was submitted by Trackline Rail LLC to store, shred, grind, or dispose of creasset treated railroad ties in the
Dunelan area, specifically in the Cadmier community, which is a historically and predominantly African-American neighborhood that sits directly adjacent to the Rainbow River. This proposal poses serious public health risk and environmental dangers.
The planned site would bring toxic emissions, airborne contaminants, and hazardous runoff into close proximity to family homes, school-aged children, and one of Maring County's most valuable ecological resources. We know the impact of environmental
hazards does uh does not fall equally. Communities like Chadmmy have too often been asked to carry the burden of decisions they did not make. decisions that compromise health, dignity, safety, and generational home place. We cannot allow history repeat itself here. On
last evening, the Dunellan City Council moved in unified opposition, and I fully expect that the Marian County Board of County Commissioners, um, Chair Bryant was there to take a similar stance. So I'm asking that this board will stand with them and with the families that we
serve because our responsibility is not only to educate the children is also to protect the environments that they must grow up in. This board has always stood for the well-being of students and communities. So tonight I'm asking that we continue to do so. I request that the board would adopt a formal statement of
opposition to track Line Rail LLC project in Dutland and that we will ask attorney Powers to draft um this type of resolution of document for the board to transmit that position to the Florida Department of Educa, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the
Maring County Commission. And um I feel that this will be a moment for unity, clarity, and moral leadership for our community. Uh I did talk with Chair Bryant on last night about this and uh told her that I would be bringing this to our board for some type of consensus.
Um I have talked to others uh other government entities and I expect the same thing is going to happen from all of them in this county in this city to stand in unison with um Danella but more specifically the Chatmire community. They talked about um one of the aspects
that I heard in the meeting that was talked about so much last night was the protection of the Rainbow River which is truly a uh valuable resource. Uh we know that it is a valuable resource um and something that we don't want to lose but
um outside of the the water was about the people capital. >> That concludes my comments. >> Can I ask a clarifying question? >> Yes ma'am. as I've been following this too and it's my understanding that uh Chair Bryan at least has reported has already been out there and that they've
been stockpiling those uh railroad ties. I mean, big piles of them kind of on the down low and um you know, it wasn't something I expected you to bring up tonight, but it I've certainly been following it and I see tremendous value
in a unified uh response of of opposition. Um, it would certainly seem to make more sense to have that kind of disposal being done in an already industrial uh zoned area far away from
our watersheds. Uh, I mean, we need fresh water to live and humans are about the only ones that degrade what you need to stay alive. So, you've got my signature >> board. Do you want to chime in while we're on this discussion, Dr. Gamble, I
>> I mean I I was unaware of the issue. So, thank you for bringing it forward and I would be in full support of that as well. This board has taken that kind of action before. We we did that on the last railroad issue that was coming through the city limits. Didn't our our
letter didn't make it in time is what I'll just say. Uh but I would be in full support of of something to that nature. Right. >> I would be in support too. I don't know all the details, but I did I have read several articles about it. So I'd be in support. >> Currently there's about there's
thousands and thousands of railroad ties that are sit back of of the neighborhood and they've snuck them in from Newberry. Um they're on a 14-day limit. Um code enforcement has been there to address
the issue. Um, you do know and and this is the thing with situations like that. Even though they're just on top of the ground right now and they're saying they haven't disposed of anything, >> um, those that creole. So, if it catches on fire, it's it's going to be like a a
bloom, >> right? And it rained yesterday. And so, guess what? Those those chemicals are going into the into the ground right now. And you have people that have gardens in the neighborhood and all types of things. kids playing. Um, it's
it's just a bad bad situation and and it could it could affect Marian County for generations generations to come. Um, just generations to come. >> So, from here board, I will with your
consensus, I'll coordinate with Reverend Cummings um prepare a draft resolution in opposition. I'll attempt to mirror those models that have already been expressed by other agencies and uh then I'll bring that uh as soon as I can. I I
would I may be able to have that ready for the board's review at our session on Friday. Um and then from there it would just need board signatures. >> Yes. Um and and I say that because um that's a good time because city council
meets on it next Tuesday. Just as a point of clarification, if if the Denellan city council voted no on it, where is it going to the county commission? >> Well, because the actual stuff sits outside of the prop outside of city limits.
>> It's a county >> It's county >> county issue. Sites originally, were there not? >> Right. >> Okay. So, it's a county commission vote, >> right? >> Okay. Do we know when it's on their agenda? >> Tuesday. >> It's on Tuesday night's agenda. >> Tuesday morning. >> Tuesday morning's agenda. Yes. Okay.
Thank you, >> Reverend Cummings. Does that wrap up your >> That concludes all my Don't Was that enough? >> That was enough. We glad to hear. >> Yes. All right. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. Dr. James, >> thank you. Uh, I have a few things and
then I'm going to read something that I prepared for tonight. Um, but I want to start. I was able to do a couple school visits um throughout the last couple of weeks as I'm typically do. And one of the schools I had the pleasure of visiting was Bridgeway. So we at in public comment were um offered an
opportunity to come spend some time and so I took up that opportunity and spent the morning here um maybe a week or so ago and um I actually got to teach English for a little bit which is a story for another time. But um what I
found was a really special place and I know that there was so much haste around taking back our alternative programs last August. Uh and really the way we went about it was not ideal but where we are now is such a special place and what
we are doing is such a special such a special thing. Um and I got opportunity to sit in their leadership meeting. We had some discussions and Dr. Dr. Curley and I have had brief discussions kind of and I encouraged him to maybe create a alternative learning task force of sorts
that includes Bridgeway leadership because I think they have some really formative ideas about um the transition from off-campus virtual bridgeway base the fluidity between them and I think that their voice needs I know their
voice needs to be heard in the the conversations and I don't want to be I don't want to put ourselves in a situation where we have been before where we have people who are unrelated to the day-to-day operations making decisions for the people who are living the day-to-day. So, um Dr. Curley and I talked about that and I do think that I
see that happening for sure in the near future. Um so, uh attendance response committees are in full task force. I think Miss Dobs is probably the one that started it a couple years ago, but truly it has just grown and flourished and now we have attendance recognitions. I have
to give the north side some pride and some props today. We got to go to Fort McCoy for the elementary recognition and to North Marian High School for the high school recognition which was wonderful to see attendance um which is historically not been the best on the north end. Um, East Marian obviously was
probably the um the highlight of our focus um historically over the last few years and we've just seen such a turnaround in attendance on the north end and I'm really proud of the work that we're doing and those um individuals who sit in those family engagement liaison or whatever we're
calling them these days in those positions. they are the ones that are really going out and beating the streets and having conversations and knocking on doors uh and having those personal relationships with parents which is really what turns around ahead of truency court because we we figure out what is the barrier how can we help you
and so I just want to give recognition to both of those schools because they're doing tremendous work as are all of our schools um board I wanted to remind you um I was in an FCA board subcommittee meeting yesterday um afternoon and we were obviously discing the tragedy from
yesterday morning. And so there's a prayer at the poll which I forwarded to Dr. Brewer who forwarded to you. I will probably be coming in a little late um because of school drop off, but it is starting promptly at 7:50 at Forest High School. Prayer at the poll to um their
FCA uh and Jesus club are going to just be spending some time praying for families impacted by the tragedy from yesterday. So, I just wanted to make sure you guys all saw that in your inboxes. Um Dr. Dr. Campbell brought up FSBA. Uh, and I, you know, don't have anything prepared and so I don't really
want to get into the nitty-gritty for me right now, but I'm more than willing to have a conversation about it when I'm more prepared. Um, my I stand by my thought pattern on FSBA for this year, which was budgetary related. Certainly has nothing to do with Dr. Campbell or
your leadership at all. Um, but I think that for me there is also a bigger disconnection between some of the past leadership and could be future leadership outside of Dr. Campbell at FSBA that are not aligned with how I see
things in education in the state of Florida. And for now, I'll just leave it at that um because I don't really want to get into the meat and potatoes of it. But like I said, if we want to have a more um longer discourse on it, I'm more than willing to have those discussions. Absolutely. Um, so, uh, I'll finish with
some of my prepared comments and then I'll be done. Chair, 12 days ago, I offered a recommendation in the spirit of school consolidation that many of the board showed agreement with. In fact, another board member had a similar idea. What many don't realize is that as board members, we don't discuss these ideas or
recommendations outside of public meetings. It's against the law. Following that recommendation, our staff, led by interim superintendent Dr. Brewer worked very hard to develop data to determine the viability of that request. Ultimately, they made the determination that the move was not
feasible. Staff continue to explore options for maximizing school facility utilization, and we'll hear more next Thursday in our work session. As a board member, my expectation is to see a long-term master plan that is data driven, which will
address our systemic budgetary capacity needs across the district. Schools of Hope has only accelerated the discussion and necessary actions that previous boards were unwilling to tackle because as you can see it required many moving parts and thoughtful consideration.
As discussions continue and plans take shape, I am committed to working as a partner to strengthen our district overall, all 46 plus thousand students and their families while also representing all taxpayers who financially support public education, including the many who do not have
children enrolled in our system. My ask to the community is this. I may be an elected official, but I am also a business partner, mom to elementary age children, and a wife. The behavior on social media, mostly
last week, was so heinous and truly heartbreaking. I have never watched adults behave so horribly from such a close distance. I witnessed teachers at the school I financially support degrade my business and family name publicly.
My husband and I had true concern for the safety of our children. All because of the behavior of adults. I am committed to transparency. I always have been. I am committed to talking this out publicly. I am committed to
answering every single email and every single phone call just as I did these last 12 days. I really hope that the communities we impact with decisions that will be made in the future find it in their hearts to have constructive and productive conversations both in person
and online as a community. Let's stay committed to our focus of being one team and one mission who helps every student succeed. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. James. um board, I have um several um items just to share with
you or update with you and then I also have um a statement to share just because I didn't realize this was my last meeting. So, you guys surprised me. I didn't think it was on anybody else's radar but mine. So, I I do have something I just some thanks and gratitude I want to share um at the end.
So, I'll try to do that um quickly. Um a few things from consent agenda that I wanted to highlight. Um tonight we had eight internal audits. One received a perfect audit and yes congratulations to Wyoming Park uh Miss Hunt and Miss Hughes as a secretary. So did want to
say that but I do continue to have concern about um our audits and and getting those um in line. I also wanted to share that um on consent agenda the College Park sign replacement is in the works and so that's exciting because
it's been damaged for quite some time. And so I believe the completion date on that is January 30th. So just really um looking forward to that for that school. Um this morning I had the pleasure of attending the public ed education foundation meeting and so there's a few
things I wanted to remind you about. Um November 15th which we had a presentation on uh put your phone down day was shared again. Um just make sure you have that on your calendar. Uh January 31st is the Golden Apple Gala. I
will tell you I am kneede in grading or scoring not really grading but scoring uh golden apple portfolios and so there was a total of 54 of them. I have four left to do tonight. Um but with that Dr. Kimble I wanted to share that I will not be able to attend Tallahassee next week
with my commitment with Golden Apple. We are doing interviews next week and so um I hate to miss that. Um it's just a super busy time of year. Um, I also wanted to share that we are in need of some take stock mentors. So, if you or
people you know um connect to any of these schools, I just wanted to share them with you. We're looking for uh one female mentor at Denellan High School, a male mentor for Lakeer High School, a female mentor for North Marian High
School, a male mentor for Ocala Charter High School, and two female mentors for Westport High School. So, if any of those in your circle have asked about mentoring or interested in mentoring, uh please share that information
uh with them. Um, I also wanted to share that every school has a business partner. I thought that was something to celebrate. Really excited about that. And then, um, real quickly, I I I was jotting in as Dr. Campbell was sharing. Um, I I just wanted to say, um, it
sounds like there was some hurt feelings there and that you have my full support going in as as um, president-elect and president. And so for me it was uh the challenge of our financial crunch, you know, when we were cutting numbers. And
so my hope is also to be part of FSBA as you um lead us as presidents. So um I hope that that puts you at ease a little bit and that you feel uh the support that you deserve from this board. Um Reverend Cummings, I also wanted to comment on one thing you shared tonight.
Um, and it was about um talking with each other and and working things out. And I just want to highlight uh something that I've learned over the years that another really important part of that is listening. We really have to take the time to listen.
Even if we disagree, listen and learn where the other person is coming from so that we can better understand it. Um so just wanted to add that um to um the conversation. Um I too uh Sherice Rivers I wanted to
share her partnership and the commitment to Bridgeway Academy. It was a beautiful um and celebratory lunchon. Everybody was excited. Um for me it was kind of a full circle uh moment. um it wasn't about me at all, but Shereice um her
daughter and son came through NH Jones and so I taught their children in kindergarten and first grade. So that was it was just really special to me. Um and we see that happen all of the time in our community. Those those partnerships um come back around. So just really excited and I think uh
Bridgeway is lucky um to have that partnership. Um, I also wanted to thank uh Donna Crest with HDG Legacy for for provide pro providing our lunch to principles for the principal appreciation um
lunchon this month. So, just really some special things that the public ed foundation does. You know, we always know they're supporting our students, they're supporting our staff, um all of those great things um that are happening all the time. So, just really um grateful for that.
Uh to do. Let's see. Okay, I'm ready to switch over to my notes and you have to bear with me a little bit. A little bit of as repetitive because like I said, I wasn't this was not on my radar. Um, tonight is my last board meeting where I will serve you as a chair even though we
have two work sessions before a new chair is selected and I felt there was this was the most appropriate time to reflect and share my gratitude. As I close out my time in this position, I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to the community. Your commitment and
support to our schools and our students have been second to none. From the support we receive from our local nonprofits, to our faith-based teams, and to our school business partnerships. We are grateful for you and know that education as we know it would look very
different without your commitment to the children of Marian County. And we thank you. In addition, I feel a heightened sense of gratitude to the voters and for their approval of the halfsent sales tax, the voter approved referendum, and also the reinstatement of impact fees.
Your commitment helps us provide the best education possible for all students. Um, again, the district leadership team is here. Um, can't name all of the names because there's quite a few of you here. But at our last agenda review, I wasn't
I wasn't aware that I wasn't going to get to meet with you again. And so, I just want to thank you all for coming um and showing up for agenda review, prepared, willing to ask questions, um help solve problems, and I just appreciate the work that you do. We have
our teachers and our admins on school campuses um doing the work for our students every day, but there's a whole team of people here um at the district level that are supporting our teachers and our students um moving forward. So,
I just wanted to thank you for your thoughtful planning, your daily problem solving, and the continuous data collection um that the board asks of you. uh your dedication turns the vision into the reality for our students.
A short statement, even though there's quite more to say, I want to say thank you to Attorney Powers and Miss Terry uh for providing consistent oversight and trusted guidance for always being available. Uh you keep us in compliance
um as we make decisions on behalf of the district. So, thank you um and your team for the work to keep us moving and plugging in the right direction safely and legally. Dr. Brewer, I want to thank you for your passion, not just for our
students, but for our staff members. One of my favorite things about being a board member and visiting campuses with you is the people that know know you and have stories to share about not just within themselves but with their family
members. And so you have a a a spirit about you, a willingness to listen. And I love your mindset um for building successful teams because I think this job is bigger than one person. It's just really turned into something
challenging. Miss Martinez Young, thank you for everything to you that you do behind the scenes to keep us moving forward forward. She coordinates, she organizes, she uploaded uploads documents, she makes corrections, and she ensures that
our deadlines are met. And probably I've been one of her more challenging um board chairs to have to work with, but she keep she kept me on the straight and narrow and and we got it done. So just want to thank you for your patience um and dedication for that because many
times she was answering me after hours. Um finally to my fellow board members I want to thank you for your unwavering dedication. I ask that in this upcoming year with difficult decisions ahead of us. You remember that we repres represent 46,000 students but our
commitment is not only to them. It is to not just to the district but to the community that we serve. and they are depending on us to get it right. I'm proud to have spent the year serving alongside you and it's been an honor and a privilege to serve as your chair.
Thank you for entrusting me with this responsibility. There is no further business. I will ask for a motion to adjurnn. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. >> Thank you, Miss Thrower. All those in favor? I I >> I motion passes 5 and this meeting is
adjourned at 7:36. Thank you very much board.