Good morning. Good morning. I now call the January 22nd, 2026 administrative briefing and work session of the Marian County School Board to order at 900 a.m. Please silence your electronic devices to avoid disturbing others. Mirroring and modeling how students begin each
day, I ask that you please pause with us for a moment of silence. Please join me. I will now read the board commitment statement. We are the Marian County School District Leadership Team. When we come together to work, we are efficient, effective, and productive. Our three
most important characteristics are dedicated, transparent, and individually responsible. To work well together, we must demonstrate respect, confront reality, and be accountable. We will always put students first and we will leave a legacy of success. I'll ask the school board attorney to explain the
rules for public this public workshop. Good morning attorney powers. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Madam clerk, do we have any speakers registered? >> Not at this time. >> Not then we may continue. >> All right. Miss Martinez Young, can you please provide the proof of publication
for today's meeting? >> The notice for the January 22nd, 2026 work session was published in the Ocala Gazette on January 9th, 2025. 2026, excuse me. Proof of publication has been attached to board docs under proof of publication. >> Thank you. And I will give it over to
Dr. Brewer for her uh superintendent briefing. >> Okay. Good morning, board. Um I have an exciting announcement to make in term for our magnet school. So I'mma list out some of our recognitions we received yesterday from magnet schools of America. This year we had 12 schools
that um completed the pretty thorough it's a pretty complicated application process and eight schools were recognized and so we believe this is the most schools that we have um that have been awarded a some level of recognition. So I I would like to
announce these. We have six schools that were given the merit awards of distinction. That is Madison Street Academy, Belleview Middle School, which was a new application. Howard Middle School, which is a repeat and consecutive, North Marin Middle School, which is a repeat recognition, Danellan
High School, this is a this is their fifth year with this same award. And then North Marin High School, which also is a repeat award. We also had one school that received the Merit Award of Excellence. This is Belleview High School. This is a repeat winner of the
Merit School of Excellence um award. And this is the a new one for us. Vanguard High School. This is their first time applying. And Vanguard High School was um earned the top school of excellence merit award. So, that's a really big um
accomplishment for all of our magnet schools and we are just excited for those programs and the work they're doing for all of our students. The other um recognition I just like to say publicly, I shared this with the committee members yesterday, but the the work that the attendance boundary
advisory committee um the work they did in the last couple months was pretty impressive. They stopped everything they were doing to commit to us and they met four times including yesterday to really look at the data that we had at this point to address our utilization and our
enrollment numbers in our north end. And so I'm very excited about the recommendations that they have come forward with and Mr. White House will present that today. But we do want the committee to know that this is going to be an annual process. We understand that
each year things are changing. More developments are being um purchased and built and so this is not a one-time committee. This is going to be an annual basis committee and decisions will be
based on um new growth in the areas that our children live. And then um last but not least, we have a couple changes for our presenters and I will share those later during the referendum conversation for that presentation, but I can share
that after our first presentation today, which is the compliance inspection report. >> Awesome. Well, then we will start with the compliance inspection report. Uh I believe Miss Cynthia Barnes or uh Chief McFaten. Thank you. Good morning. I'm not Miss Barnes. She's
um out today, not feeling too well, but she did leave me with some good information. So, good morning. Good morning, Chair James, Dr. James, members of the board, uh Superintendent Dr. Brewer. Florida State Statute 10001.212
212 required the Department of Education's Office of Safe Schools to develop a Florida school safety compliance inspection report to document compliance or non-compliance with school safety requirements mandated by law or
rule in adherence to established school safety best practices to evaluate the safety, security, and emergency response of the schools. At the end of each quarter, the office of safe schools provides a report to the district school superintendent and school safety
specialist identifying the number and percentage of schools, including charter schools inspected or reinspected during that quarter and the number and percentage of schools with no school safety requirement deficiencies. The compliance inspections contain
confidential information. Therefore, to maintain the safety and security of the district, the report does not contain detailed information. The 2025 to 2026 second quarterly reports for Marian County Public Schools contains the following. The number of schools
inspected or reinspected was six. The percentage of schools inspected or reinspected uh was about 10.5%. The number of inspected schools with no school safety requirement deficiencies were six. the percentage of inspected schools with no school safety
requirement deficiencies. This quarter we met 100%. So there was no major issues. Um like I said, normally it's some type of paperwork or documentation type issues, something that could be fixed up immediately, but in this quarter here,
we were 100% but no issues. >> Thank you, Mr. McFaten. Okay. >> The lights of God just shine down on us. So we were all a little shocked here for a second. >> Yes. you know, it just it just hits sometimes. >> Very bright all of a sudden. >> 100%. >> Yeah. Yeah. But thank you, Mr. McFaten.
>> Um and we do also board uh in case you didn't hear, Mr. McFaten did share with me that we now have the push panic bar buttons um on all of these doors. So now the only doors unlocked during our scheduled meetings are the center doors for entrance into the auditorium. Obviously, all can be exited, but the
only doors for entrance are the ones in the center like we discussed previously. Um, all right. Well, thank you. And that concludes. Is there any public comment on the compliance inspection reports? All right. Hearing none, we will move on
to our referendum renewal. Um, Dr. Burr, who do you have coming forward today for our referendum renewal? >> Thank you. We have our chief financial officer, Mr. Rios Welsh. He will present. I do want to make note that we have um Brooke Huau is here today. She will provide the information on um the
art and music. on the slide it says charity. We'll do that but that was from IICROCK last week and um Melissa Connor executive director of K12 will present on the career and technical education portion. Thank you Mr. Walsh.
>> Okay, good morning board chair James Dr. Brewer. We're going to go through our referendum presentation which we actually just uh had our iicro presentation. So, some of this is going to sound uh very familiar for those in the audience that tuned
into that uh presentation. So, I'm Mr. Robert Rewells, chief financial officer for Maring County Public Schools. Today, we're going to take a clear look at how our referendum dollars are being used responsibly, transparently, and with the greatest impact for our student, staff,
and community. I'll share where we stand with our current funds, how they're being allocated, and the positive results your support has made to the district. It is very exciting to talk about this subject because it is uh
critically important uh to the district and um I'm really glad that we have so many great team members here uh that are going to be presenting uh throughout the course of the morning. So, as Dr. rural indicated Charity Cornelison will be talking about coordinator uh she's our
coordinator for physical education she'll be speaking uh to that subject matter Melissa Connor um our executive director for K K12 academics will be speaking about career and technical education Reagan Hughes media related and instructional services uh brokto
will be presenting for visual and performing arts and Mr. Mark Ingram and Dennis McFeden will be presenting on K12 academics and safe schools respectively. Okay, so let's jump into it a little bit here.
Um, just as a reminder, um, our 1m advalorum property tax was approved by voters November 8th, 2022 and became effective July 1st of 2023 running through June 30th of 2027. These funds can be used for specific
purposes like reading, PE, art, music, library, and media and vocational programs. They also help to meet class size uh requirements. Um certain certified teachers, excuse me, to retain certified teachers, pair professionals,
and support our safety, our school safety initiatives. This voter-approved funding shows just how committed our community is to quality education, safety, and enriching our learning environments. From the time the referendum funds began, including in
this year's budget, we expect to collect about $262 million in total. Our projected expenditures are about $252 million as indicated in the table in front of you.
Okay. So, the next slide here we're going to talk about is a financial overview uh where we're walking through um 14% of our total revenues um that we've received uh to date and expenditures are tracking closely at
38%. Uh this reflects solid and responsible management keeping funds aligned with our planned priorities. Slide four, uh we look at the current year budget. And for the current year, we've budgeted $42 million in total
expenditures. And these dollars are distributed across all program areas you'll see on the next few slides supporting our teachers, our students, and the essential programs that make a difference every day. Now, in the table before you, you'll
notice that we have our kindergarten professional programs, um, pair of professionals there at $5.7 million, uh, a little over $10 million for physical education, vocational programs at almost $2.5 million, and media and library at
uh, about $4.5 million. and art at around four $5.3 million, music at 5.8, and last but not least, the last two, professional development at close to $900,000, and school safety at a little
over 7 million. So, next we'll get into a historical overview. This slide shows actual expenditures by program from 2021 through the first quarter of 2526. It's helpful to see how the funding has
been used over time providing stability, consistency, and sustained support for critical instructional areas. I would like to point out if you look at the class size reduction over time, that is where the line share of these
revenues have been allocated over time at $55 million, almost double that of the next closest area, which is physical education, which I think indicates uh the priority there um in terms of making sure that instruction and our students
are receiving um the line share of the benefit. it since the referendum was renewed uh going back almost 10 years. But in looking at this data going back from 2020 to 2021.
The next slide we're going to talk about fund balance. So at the end of 2425 school year, we had an ending fund balance of $13.3 million which rolled into the 2526 year. For this year, we've budgeted the $41
million as I've indicated in revenue and expenditures at $42 million, leaving a fund balance projected at $12 million at the end of 2526. For this year, we've budgeted the $41 million and $42 million in expenditures.
And that $12 million we expect to carry forward so that we can continue and remain um have our programs uh maintain continuity uh moving forward. Uh just as a reminder, these funds are restricted
and can only be used for the purposes approved by the voters. Now, let's take a closer look at the general fund programs and then we'll hear um separately what I like to call a kind of miniature version of the district's uh referendum programs for
charter schools and we'll jump into that. Okay. So the next slide um we're going to get into um the next section really will be speaking about our kindergarten pair professionals which is critical uh
to our ability to make sure that our uh some of our youngest students are really benefiting from these dollars. The total budget at $5.7 million and we've spent about 2.6. These funds support 161 pair
professionals which is a lot of staff uh which is certainly needed um like I said for our kindergarten students. Our pair of professionals are an allowable expense under the referendum uh because they directly support student learning and classroom instruction
both which align with their educational purposes outlined in the referendum. The referendum dollars can be used to fund staffing positions and enhance instructional support, improve student outcomes, and maintain manageable class
sizes. PAR professionals play a vital role in these areas, and by assisting teachers with instruction and providing individual or small group support, helping meet the diverse learning needs of all of our students. With that, I'm going to turn it over to
Miss uh Charity Cornelison, and she's going to walk us through how these funds are supporting physical education uh this year. Good morning. It's usually afternoon when we do this. I had to wrap my head around that this morning. Uh thank you though uh very much for taking the time
to allow us to share all the amazing things that are going on in physical education. It's not often that we get to share out the return on the community's investment. Because referendum dollars fully fund physical education, our students receive highquality instruction
that is intentional, inclusive, and impactful. Here you see MCPS students participating in the stackup event in November where they helped set a Guinness World Record for the most people sport stacking at multiple locations. More than 784,000
participants worldwide and our students were part of that achievement. While the world record is exciting, the real value is in what students gained through the experience. Sport stacking develops focus, perseverance, coordination, and sportsmanship. Students practice goal
setting, learn from mistakes, and celebrate success together. These outcomes don't happen by chance. They are the result of certified physical education teachers who design lessons that engage every learner and build confidence and resilience. This is what referendum funding supports. Educators
who create meaningful learning experiences that help students succeed both in and beyond the classroom. This slide showcases the elementary soccer jamboree. I believe Miss Campbell stopped in for that. That was exciting. Another example of how physical
education builds lifelong skills. 14 Marian County elementary schools came together at the Rotary Sports Plex for an event focused on sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun. Physical education teachers served as both instructors and coaches, ensuring the environment
emphasizes respect, effort, and positive behavior, not just competition. For many students, this was their first experience participating in an organized athletic event. Physical education provides a safe space to take risks, learn how to handle changes and
challenges, and grow through both both success and adversity. These experiences help students develop confidence, perseverance, and social skills that carry into the classroom and everyday life. Again, referendum funding makes this possible by supporting the
professionals who plan, organize, and lead these highquality opportunities for students. My last slide highlights the broader community impact of physical education. By the numbers, this event included 14 elementary schools, 30 physical
education teachers and soccer coaches, 336 student athletes, 20 high school student volunteers, and more than 150 parents and spectators. We've seen higher parent attendance than ever before, which reinforces how
physical education connects schools, family, and the community. I also want to recognize our volunteers from Vanguard High School's teacher academy. Their support was essential to the success of this event. You'll see them again at our March 6 track meet. They served as outstanding role models for
our elementary students. Seeing older students lead, encourage, and give back reinforces leadership, responsibility, and the value of service. This event reflects the ripple effect of investing in physical education teachers. When we fund educators, we create opportunities
that build resilient students, foster sportsmanship, engage families, and inspire future leaders. This is the return on the investment of referendum funding, and it's one we're proud to share. Thank you. >> Thank you, Charity.
Okay, so with that, let's go into uh the numbers here a little bit. Um, so for physical education, this year's budget, like I said earlier, is a little more than $10 million with $3.9 million spent to date or about 40% through December.
These funds cover salaries, benefits uh for 106 PE teachers uh and 24 PE techs. Um, this also uh covers uh capital outlay for equipment, materials uh and supplies which is uh critical in order
for our physical education teachers to to do what they need to do and have the equipment uh to provide that level of programming for our students. The next area we're going to get into is going to be vocational programs and we're going to have Miss Melissa Connor come up and give us some updates. Thank
you. >> Thank you. Good morning. So, we are very fortunate that we offer 35 career and technical education pathways to students encompassing 14 career clusters ranging from health science to engineering. We have over 15,000 students enrolled in
these programs across our district. The referendum helps us provide the teacher unit for some of these programs and keep equipment and facilities up to date across all of the programs. Shown here are a few of our recent student events. The top picture shows Westport
engineering students on a tour of E1 in celebration of manufacturing day. We're grateful for the support of the Mid Florida Regional Manufacturing Association, which helps us coordinate tours of E1, Custom Windows, and Cardinal Glass to give students a look
at what is happening locally in the field of manufacturing. Again, the referendum helps us keep industry level equipment in our programs so we can prepare students for jobs in these fields. Career and technical student organizations are tied to specific CTE
programs. A few common ones you may be familiar with are FFA, Future Farmers of America, FBA, Future Business Leaders of America. We recently hosted 160 students at two locations in Marian County for the subdist FFA event. This these are
all leadership-based competitions such as demonstrating abilities in parliamentary procedure, etc. The winners from this event will compete at the FFA district competition this month. We also hosted the regional HOSA competition for the middle school students. HOSA or future health
professionals is a student organization that health science students participate in. We had 170 students at this competition at CF and the winners will go on to compete at the state competition this spring. Throughout the spring semester, we have many more coming.
Now, I'd like to share some recent business and industry connections we've made through our CTE programs. This is just a highlight of the many activities that took place in quarter 2. In November, through a partnership with Career Source, we hosted our annual Youth Career Expo. This event takes
place at Circle Square Cultural Center and allows 8th grade students to interact with business and industry members and explore their high school magnet options. I'm excited to share that this year 425 students attended the event.
We also highlighted Vanguard High in the fall as the site for CTE and magnet showcase. At the event, we invite community business members in to see the amazing things happening in our schools. This year, we highlighted the horiculture, vet assisting, future
educators, and digital video programs at Vanguard High. During the event, community members followed a student-led tour to see some of the hands-on learning our students are participating in daily. Finally, I'm excited to share that all of our CTE programs have local college articulation agreements. This
means that students who complete a program can potentially earn free college credit in that pathway. During quarter 2, we shared this opportunity with 351 of our high school CTE classes. The referendum funds help us provide these experiences and opportunities for
students, and we look forward to continuing to make these connections as the school year progresses. >> Thank you, Melissa. So, let's uh delve into some of the numbers. Um, I will say that I had an
opportunity to visit our vocational programs and walk around the campus there with Mr. Small Ridge and I was extremely impressed uh not only by the the facilities, the quality of the uh programming that's going on there and I think Mr. Small Ridge and his team are
doing an excellent job uh managing the dollars that that we provide and uh I wanted to mention that because I was thoroughly impressed. So, let's go into the numbers here. So, for vocational programs, uh this year's vocational budget is about $2.4 $4 million funding
about 16 vocational teachers and so far we've spent about 33 uh% of the budget and again um covering salaries, benefits, some capital outlay and purchase services. uh purchase services include our contracted work to
expand programs like our new uh avionics program which I had an opportunity to look at a really large airplane and there's a helicopter and all kind of cool stuff there um at uh a new high school and u really really impressed and I think we're we're we're kind of spot
on where we need to be uh for most of the programs um that we operate with these funds. With that, we'll jump into the next section and I'm going to ask Miss Breaking Hughes to come up and talk about what's happening in our library and media programs.
Good morning. Media specialists on each of our campuses are busy at work preparing for the upcoming Celebrate Literacy Week. This year, the state is celebrating 250 chapters of America. Celebrate Literacy Week is designed to raise awareness
about the importance of reading and to inspire Florida students and families to make reading part of their daily routines. With the support of the staff across each campus, media specialists will support and participate in different reading challenges and activities
throughout the week. Some of the ideas that have been shared with me in preparation for this great event include celebrate stories across America dress for a decade. celebrate your chapter in America's story. Guest readers highlighting American history. And these
are just a few of the great ideas. I encourage you to visit a campus during Celebrate Literacy Week, which is next week, January 26 through the 30th, to see the great things our media specialists are doing. Along with supporting statewide initiatives, our media specialists also plan and host
great events. Pictured here, Mr. and Mrs. Osley read books during a literacy event that took place at Whiting Oaks Elementary. In the other photo, you can see the media specialist has created a book display asking students to make the connection between the titles, which
happen to be 67. Creates great uh community and conversation on our campuses. All of our media specialists are hard at work supporting learning in many ways on each campus. Our community of students on each of our campuses continues to
grow, which is a blessing, but can also create challenges for our media specialists to keep current and up-to-date books and resources available to our students. With a collection of over 700 thou 700,000 books districtwide, our media
specialists will often rely on each other to request and share collections from school to school through interl loans. This process has helped provide books of interest in the hands of all of our students. Each of our schools continues to boost
circulation over month over month to continue to build that love for literacy that we all know is so valuable for our students. Finally, I would like to recognize two of our media specialists from an elementary school as well as a high school. Shelley Kersh started her career
as an educator in 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2004, Mrs. Kerr moved to Florida where she taught in Lee County for 10 years. And finally, in 2014, Miss Kerr joined MCPS where she taught at North Marian High and Lake High before
settling into her role as the media specialist at Wimina Park Elementary where she has been for the past 10 years. Throughout her time at Wimina, Miss Kerr has worked tirelessly to put quality literature into the hands of her students and families at Wimina.
Recently, Yamina transitioned from a traditional elementary school to provide a year-round program to better suit the needs of the students and families that attend Wameina. Decreasing the number of weeks in the summer has helped to prevent a loss of learning and allows the teachers and staff at Wyomina to
provide the year-round access to highquality teaching and learning. Mrs. Kerr looks forward to many more years of designing literacy programming to grow her students into lifelong readers and learners. Over the past 12 years, Miss Stove has
taken it on Oh, I apologize. Let me back up. Stephanie Stover joined MCPS in January of 2014, transitioning from law librarian to high school media specialist at North Marian High under the administrative leadership of Mr.
White House and Dr. Brewer. Over the last 12 years, Miss Stober has taken on additional responsibilities within the school, including se serving as the school web master, afterchool tutoring coordinator, title liaison,
academic team, book club sponsor, new teacher, academy contributor, and graduation coordinator. Helping in different roles has allowed Miss Stove better understand the student and staff needs with developing a meaningful and useful media center. Currently, Miss
Stove is working on genreing the fiction collection to help student who help support reluctant readers, boost reader book selection independence, and saves students time with the ability to locate a desired genre faster.
North Marian High's Media Center provides a balance of collegiate atmosphere and fun high school environment. It hosts a morning coffee shop, engaging students in conversation and community. North Marian High also offers a study lounge, research
resources, and computer access for all students. Miss Stove's goal is to make the media center a place that fits the needs of all students, staff, and community. Thank you. >> Thank you, Reagan. Uh so with that uh we're going to jump into the next slide
here which again goes into some of the numbers. Um and I'm really glad to hear uh Reagan's presentation on some of the staff that's joined us over the years uh to make sure that our media centers have the right support that they need and particularly uh focusing on reading. As
we know reading is critical uh to all of our students. And um when we look at these numbers and we talk about this budget of $4.4 $4 million. Um certainly the 1.7 uh that we've spent to date is right on on target at about 39%.
And overall in the district this helps to fund 49 media specialist um which is a really uh large number and these folks are doing excellent work. U these referendum dollars are crucial for our media centers. Um and these media
centers as she indicated you know they're hubs for learning uh creativity and research. And so I'm glad to report that uh this money is being well spent. With that, we're going to jump into the next area and I'm going to ask uh Miss Charity Cornelison to come back up and talk about uh visual arts and our music
programs. It was charity last week. You get me this week. Good morning. I am always thrilled to share what we are doing in the visual and performing arts. Um, this past quarter we had our 58th annual Ocala Arts Festival sponsored by Fine Arts for
Ocala. It was held October 25th and 26 at Citizen Circle in downtown Ocala. Approximately 1,800 pieces of student artwork was on display for the weekend in grades K to 12. These pieces were judged and 12 awards of merit were given for elementary, first through fifth
place for middle and high school and an overall best in show given for middle and high school students. We had seven of our elementary students placed for an award of merit. In middle school, our students placed in the fourth, third, second places and Rashny Vishnangara
from Belleview took middle school best in show. In high school, our students took fifth, third, second, first place, and Corey Taylor from Westport was our high school best and show winner. These students were all recognized at the FAFO Awards reception on November 18th at the
Apple Museum. This quarter, we also held our first annual Superintendent Choice Award. On October 24th, we held judging for this new award in conjunction with the 58th annual Ocala Arts Festival. One piece of student artwork from each participating K to2 MCPS art program was
selected by our esteemed panel of judges which included Dr. Brewer, Mr. White House, Mr. Breert, Miss Kard, and Mr. Frasier. All of the selected students were recognized at the November 11th schoolboard meeting. The final image that's displayed is by Camila Kobach
Arbanwa. She is an eighth grade student at Belleview Middle School and she was selected by the art teachers of Marian County in to represent Marian County in this year's Art in the Capital competition. Authorized by Florida statutes, Art in the Capital is a voluntary statewide visual arts
competition that allows each school district to annually hold an art competition for all students in grades 6 to 8 that attend public schools, charter schools, private schools, and home education students in Florida. The artwork was judged by a selection committee consisting of art teachers whose students did not submit work for
the competition. And Camila's piece received 81% of the votes. Her piece is currently hanging in the state capital for the duration of the 2026 legislative session. We actually just got a um an email from the state. They took a picture of it hanging
currently. So, we're excited to see that and hopefully we'll get to see it when we visit on February 11th for Marion at the Capitol. We'll be there next week. >> Oh, even better. So, you guys will get to see it in person. All right, slide number two. We have performing arts. So,
in the performing arts, we had nine of our schools from elementary to high school participate in the Ocala Arts Festival, showcasing their talents throughout the weekend at Citizen Circle. For those of you that have attended the Fine Arts for Ocala event, we know that this is one of the largest
community events in Marian County. Every year we shut down the entire downtown area and we bring in thousands of community members and from Marian County and beyond. Our artists come in from all over the nation and people will follow from all over the nation as as well. So this is an incredible opportunity for
our students to consistently perform and showcase their artwork for the broader Ocala community. Pictured on the left are five of our students from Dr. NH Jones who were selected from over 1,000 auditions to participate in the elementary allstate
ORF ensemble. Overall, 20 of our K to2 students from Belleview Middle School, Howard Middle School, Belleview High School, Forest High School, and Westport High School represented MCPS this past weekend at Florida Allstate Ensembles in Tampa. That's where I was last week. So,
we're at our FMEA state conference. It is one of the largest state conferences for music educators in the entire nation. And so we had an incredible opportunity to have those students come out, work with esteemed clinicians from all over the country, and have an opportunity to communicate and
collaborate with other students from across Florida. As well, in December, 14 of our middle and high school band programs performed at the Ocala Christmas Parade. Again, one of our largest community events. Pictured are some of our band and color guard directors. So, we have uh Britney Scoffield who's at Howard Middle School,
Nick Rearen from Liberty Middle School, Cara Brady is the color guard instructor for Forest High School, and David Jones is their band director. They work incredibly diligently to prepare their students for this 2.7 mile parade every year. And those of you that, you know, get to ride on the floats, you see right
beforehand how they're preparing in ahead of time. And, you know, they they get a chance to just play their hearts out as they walk across that parade route. And then finally, this quarter, our theater students across the county prepared to present a variety of events,
including musicals, costume, and makeup design, and their acting talents at the junior student thespians for middle school and district thespians for high school competitions. Horizon Academy received three superior and 13 excellent medals for their events at junior thespians. Belleview High School
received one superior, nine excellent, and one good rating. Vanguard High School received four superior and four excellent ratings. And Westport High School received 18 superior and 18 excellent ratings. This includes top honors for three of their entries in
duet acting, costume design, and makeup design. And their mainstage play, Radium Girls, was only one of 10 schools in the state that were asked to showcase their performance at the state thespian competition, which will happen in Tampa in March. We are continuously thankful for the
referendum dollars that allow our students and teachers to have the opportunity to pursue their passions in the arts and to develop all of the incredible skills that come along with being in the visual and performing arts. Thank you. >> Thank you, Junior. And with that, we'll
jump into uh the numbers here. And so what you have before you in slide 24 is some stacked uh charts and tables. We're going to go through these numbers. So for visual arts, uh the budget is $5.2 million. We've spent about $2 million so
far, which is right where we need to be. And again, you'll see the trend here. Most of the money, and I'll go through this in a little bit more detail later on in the presentation, uh is spent on salaries and benefits for staff. And uh for visual arts that's 55 art teachers,
12 para profofessionals and one half of a coordinator position um which they are doing excellent work. And I'm always glad to hear uh that students can you know play instruments and walk and get that two for one special uh where they get the physical education and the music
education uh with these funds. So I I love to hear that. Uh with that we're going to jump into uh music. And so, you know, for for our music programming on slide 25, again, our
budget uh is $5.7 million with $2.2 million spent to date. These funds support 56 music teachers, 12 pair of professionals, and one half of a coordinator position. And these funds help to replace instruments, which are
extremely expensive as many of you know, refresh supplies and sustain creative programs that enrich learning and inspire lifelong appreciation of the arts. With that, I'm going to ask Mr. Mark
Ingram to come up and he's going to talk about professional leadership and learning. Thank you. Good morning. I'm going to talk about the great things we use referendum funds uh for with our new teacher induction and mentoring program through professional leadership
and learning. This slide shows the update numbers for novice and early teachers since October. Overall, we've gained 19 teachers into the induction and mentoring program, which is funded through referendum funds. First year teachers all receive a
one-on-one mentor while the sitebased lead for each school supports all early career or secondyear teachers. Uh there are stipens for the sitebased leads for each mentors and all teachers attend new teacher academy trainings and mentor professional learning opportunities. Uh
they all receive a stipen for the new teacher academy. We do separate uh first year and second year early career teachers so that we're able to cover topics differently with different depth for those uh experienced teachers. Um in September that our topic
was the classroom environment really setting up and formatting your classroom having those procedures and routines. Uh in November we talked lesson plan to action plan. I got to help plan with that. That's that's really important. that gap between the planning of the lesson and the delivery of it and how
you can make changes and modify for your students and how they're receiving the lesson. In January, we talked about engagement, which we could talk about all the time. It's been a district-wide focus across the board as well. And then in March and April, we run rer we run makeup sessions for teachers who may have missed an
earlier session or who have been hired since the beginning of the year. And with this we also offer professional learning for our sitebased leads and for our mentors. In August we were able to do uh program implementation responsibilities for the program.
October we did coaching conversations as pictured. It's a great training. It really is talking about how you provide effective feedback and you help people on their path to sort of greatness to becoming really good teachers. Uh, and then in February, we kind of continue that trend with goal setting and providing feedback. Just how do we keep
everybody in that growth mindset and being able to improve their craft and really support our students do all the great things we've talked about today. Thank you. Thank you, Mark. So, for professional leadership and learning, let's look at
some of the numbers here. um at a $624,000 budget with $39,000 spent so far. Um this is a little uh less than we would expect at this point in the year, but we certainly intend that this will continue to tick up as we have uh about hit the
halfway mark here uh for the school year. Uh and these funds uh that we are spending invest directly in our educators again helping to provide training, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities. Uh this investment
um this ongoing investment, excuse me, strengthens our teaching practices, supports innovation, and ensures that staff have the leadership skills u and tools that they need every day to help our students succeed. The next area we're going to get into is
school safety. And Mr. Des Mcbad will come up and he's going to give us some words. Good morning again. The safe schools department continues to focus on prevention, preparedness, and rapid response while maintaining
compliance with statemandated school safety requirements. Referendum funds approved by the voters are used to support security personnel, safety technology, and infrastructure improvements across Marian County Public Schools. The largest share of this quarter's referendum spending supported
the school resource officer program, which continues to be the foundation of our campus security strategy. This quarter payments included uh 17,957 to Belleview Police Department, over 42,000 to the Olly Police Department,
and $768,000 to the Maring County Sheriff's Office for a total of $828,890. These funds ensure consistent daily law enforcement presence on school campuses, allowing SRO's to build relationships with students, respond quickly to
emergencies, participate in threat assessments, and provide safety education. Without referendum funding, the district would face major challenges to sustain this level of staffing or meet state safety requirements.
Additional expenditures included required pre-employment costs for a new safe schools officer with the safe schools department. Newly hired officers must go through drug screening and physical examinations prior to employment. These costs are part of a
standard onboarding procedures and ensure compliance with health and safety requirements prior to assignment to school campuses. The safe schools department also hired a crisis response coordinator in September of last year to handle emergency management for the district. This position requires the
employee to swiftly respond to locations during emergency situations. Therefore, a dedicated vehicle is required. A purchase order was submitted and that vehicle will be delivered hopefully sometime in February. The district also continued to use the Raptor visitor and
volunteer management system to support consistent visitor screening and control access across school campuses. Investments were also made to maintain and improve on the communications infrastructure for the 800 megahertz
mobile radios that were placed in all school buses and safe schools vehicles in December of 2023. A total of $48,136 was spent for a firmware upgrade to the district's radio system, ensuring reliable and secure communication
between school buses, safe school staff, and public safety partners. This upgrade improves system. This this upgrade improves system performance and long-term reliability, supporting both routine operations and emergency response.
The district would also like to recognize the contributions of Alfonso Gordon, radio station systems manager for public safety communications, whose leadership was instrumental in advancing radio system upgrades that support direct communication to local police, local public safety access points.
Although Al passed away in August of 2023, his work significantly strengthened system reliability and coverage across the district. The improvements implemented under his recommendations continue to support daily operations and emergency communication throughout Marian County
Public Schools. As a result of these investments, the district has maintained consistent safety measures, improve communications reliability, and strengthen oversight of campus access. The oversight committee continues to provide essential review and accountability of safe schools
expenditures. Rising costs related to school resource officers, contracts, and safety infrastructure remain an area of ongoing monitoring as the district continues to prioritize student and staff safety through reliable or responsible use of referendum funds. And
as we we follow a lot of the House bill proposed bills and um as you all know there's always something new on the horizon that they require us to have. So we are following some bills now that may require um
some additional safety required equipment and in doing so we oftent times have to ship and and kind of divert our intended plans to meet those state requirements. So, we are following any house bills that would have caused
us to u make any changes to our safety security plans. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dennis. I'm really pleased to hear that we can u get a lot of really good work done with
with these dollars and uh speak about school safety. um the budget, get the next slide, $6.7 million with $1.9 million spent so far. And as Dennis indicated, these dollars, you
know, are used to ensure that our schools remain safe, which is critical uh for students to be able to feel like they can come uh to school and learn. Uh and they also provide welcoming environments. These dollars um really help our students thrive every day. And
we feel like for where we are right now, uh things are looking right where they need to be, including some of those additional enhancements and modifications uh that we've done to our facilities in order to ensure that
students are safe. Okay. So, with that, we should have a section on our charter schools. You should have that in your packets. And I think this is going through the next section. So I'm going to talk through that. Uh as I mentioned earlier,
the charter schools um operate similar to uh how we operate in the sense that the areas that the charter schools um are using their portion of funds that we're legally required to pass through to them uh
track the same way because that is requirement that they cannot spend the dollars. um and any other way they have to spend it in the same way that we do just on a much smaller scale. Uh so with that um I'll get into a little bit of what that looks like. And so for our for
class size reduction, physical education, vocational programs, um library and media, art, music, and professional development and school safety. Um the total budget for the uh charter schools is $897,192
rounding up to $900,000. Uh the lion share of that is being spent on school safety at $370,000 37506. Uh professional development at $234,776.
Music at $80,000. Art at $53,000. And physical education at $158,000. With that, um I do want to remind the board that the charter schools have their own financial statements and we do
not control um how they uh allocate the funds in terms of how much money goes into what bucket. Uh we do report on what they uh provide to us. And I know that question had had come up in the past, so I want to make sure that
that's clear. >> And Mr. Rio Walsh. >> Yes, ma'am. >> If you'd like board, I' I was wondering if you'd like to pause here to ask any questions regarding the referendum as it has existed because the next part of the presentation is going to kind of get into um what life could look like
without the referendum and potentially what we could do to change language or not for for our request for the ballot. So, um, board, if I know I just have one or two quick questions about the historical referendum spending. So, if it's okay, I'd like to pause here just so we can kind of get those taken care
of before we go into the next part. >> Um, do you want me to get started, board? Okay. My only question is, um, seeing as the existing referendum fund will go through the 2627 school year,
right? Um, I would like, and we've talked about this before, but board, I would like to see if there's a majority of us who would agree. Um, I would like to see a new job description created for kindergarten paras that allows for flexibility in usage of that parah, um, throughout the school year. I know
that's something we've talked about before. Um, my hope would be that that job description is completed prior to uh at the end of the school year so that individuals who are signing up for the kindergarten par job next year understand what that job description
looks like. Um, we've had many a discourse up here previously about the fact that kindergarten paras are are vitally important in classrooms in August. And then depending on the classroom, depending on the school, depending on the principal's usage of them, there are times in which
principles and and other staff members could benefit from the instructional pair professional that is a kindergarten parah outside of the kindergarten classroom um to support students. And I would like principles to have the discretion to do that. We can all argue
back and forth about whether other duties as assigned gives that flexibility. Um I personally would love to see a kindergarten para job description which that is very clear about what the other duties could be um on a school campus if the principal chose to use them in that fashion. So, I
open it up to the board to um agree or disagree with me on that because I would like to see regardless of what the referendum looks like after next school year. We do have referendum next year. >> Dr. Ber has a comment. >> Yeah, I just want to clarify that that currently we call them a kindergarten pair professional, but they do have the
instructional pair professional job description. >> Correct. We don't have a kindergarten. So, what I'm asking is for us to have a kindergarten parah job description. That is unique to what kindergarten paras do in August through December. and then gives flexibility for them to do other things if the principal so chose
starting in January because we're hoping that kindergarteners um some of the life skills that paras are so helpful with in August have been accomplished by December. So Gordon, does anyone have thoughts on that? >> Dr. Gamble,
>> I I agree with the thought process. I am curious as we move into sightbased budgeting how much this board has previously dictated as to the requirement of the onetoone kindergarten parah how much we will continue to have a voice in that
and and so that's where my question would would arise in the data we received from Mr. White House specifically about our fast K2 percentages. We have some of our elementary schools that in their PM1
data for kindergarten students are more than 30% already there. And so, and I'm not saying that that's a great number because we want everybody to be. But I mean, if you're enrolling in kindergarten and you're already so much farther ahead just based on your school
climate and you can see that I mean it's right here. That was one of the things that was eye openening to me about this to see the schools that start at 4% versus a school that starts at 30%. And that the school that starts at 30% for kindergarten students is not a magnet
program. So I I'm curious. I I appreciate the sentiment always in favor of job descriptions. You guys know that. I think it really does paint a clear picture for anyone what they're going to be held accountable to. However, I am curious and and that's a question I'll
continue to have for Dr. Brewer as we move into sightbased budgeting. We're not going to be dictating ratios anymore to my knowledge, but maybe I'm mistaken in that. I know this board's been very vocal about the interest in kindergarten pair as being one to one. I just don't know that it will be our responsibility
any longer to have that. >> Um well, and I guess that's a question I would love to know the answer to too. Um, when we go into sitebased budgeting, can a can a seeing as this is dictated by the referendum, can a principal choose not to have kindergarten in Paris on sitebased budgeting? Mr. White House
or >> it's going to be the same as art, music, PE. Those the funds we have those funds and of course the district they're under the district's um recommendation, but those would not be positions that a principal would eliminate. Same thing
with that. we're going to recommend certain administrative type positions, um, we're we would they would not be able to remove those particular positions. >> Okay. I didn't think so. So, I think they're kind of if the referendum's paying for them, they're essentially safeguarded. So,
>> understood. I I I mean, I I get that the money's there, but I mean, the money could be spent in other ways. I I appreciate it. I I understand we've dictated that that's what they're receiving, but I think that the data is starting to show that there certainly are programs that it's not required that
we dictate that to them. So, uh I would be open to seeing some flexibility for principles in that regard if the need doesn't present itself. A a designated job description for kindergarten parah to me says that we will always and
forever have that job. And I believe that it's possible that our community will start hearing us loud and clear that we need students to come to school kindergarten ready and the need for them to be a full-time
180day position will not be as needed as it currently potentially is in some locations. I still believe it's a seasonal position. >> I agree. But that's that's the premise of my statement because I agree with you. I agree with you that by the time we get to January, there are many places
where it's not as ne it's not as needed as it was in August. So, a and if I'm off in my approach, I can totally own that. What I'm looking to accomplish is flexibility for sitebased leaders to use those instructional pair professionals for other instructional supports. For
instance, potentially at a school that is is higher with kindergarten coming in in January, instead of those teach those um those pair professionals being in the kindergarten classroom all day, they can go and do small groupoup intervention in three through five because we also
acknowledge that there's a need there. And so if I have six kindergarten units and I have six instructional pairs on my on my site, having flexibility to use them to support other students if it is appropriate for my site is what I'm looking to accomplish. And I know that other duties as assigned theoretically
accomplishes that. But then what I'm asking is from a procedural level to ensure that with the union and everyone else, we're all on the same page about how we're can use that resource to maximize what's best for students on our campuses. Um, so that that was essentially my question. I I would agree
with Dr. Campbell to a sense though that if the referendum language says reading as one of the things it can be used for, then if a principal wanted to go to um two kindergarten units to one parah, so go back to that, could they not use the
refer referendum money to buy a um CAS? >> Yeah. Anyone? >> Go ahead. We can but also I just want to makes make sure um we have one point and I just want to say one thing the because of the flexibility we have with the instructional pair professional a
principal could right now use a what we're calling a kindergarten parah in a second grade class or a third grade class. So but we can remind staff of that for that clarity. Mr. White House. >> Yes. So um two points. So one that yes
already our our principles are working with their kindergarten teachers to utilize kindergarten pairs for small groupoup instruction elsewhere. So th those are conversations they're having right now. Um but certainly we can have conversations about the JD with the with HR. Um but in terms of your question about could they utilize it for
something else. So on the sitebased budgeting uh we mark the referendum funded positions for them that these are positions we're providing for you. So if they wanted to exchange something out yes we could have a conversation. However, the impact of the budget of a CAS is double that of a kindergarten pair of professional. So, if every
school wanted to swap out their kindergarten pair of professionals for an instructional position, you're doubling the cost that we would be adding to the to the referendum budget. >> Well, their math would have to math, right? So, you're being allocated, >> let's call it $100 for these
kindergarten paras. >> So, the math would have to math. They'd have to figure that out. I mean, that's the beauty of sitebased budgeting. But I don't I don't disagree that if that if that principal wants to make that decision, I I mean I I think I'm in line with Dr. Campbell that if that principal
looks at her campus or his campus and sees that, you know, they can manage with three kindergarten pairs instead of six, well, three kindergarten pairs certainly equals an instructional coach. >> Yes. So that's it's part of the reason why we're not bringing ratios back to
the board, which we would be doing next month, is because we're not going to dictate ratios with sightbased budgeting. We have a few exceptions. You have to have a principal. You have to have a secretary. You have to have at least one guidance counselor on on campus. So we have a few requirements within sightbased budgeting, but beyond
that, we do allow a lot of flexibility. So certainly those are conversations that we can have with each principal, but the math would have to math. Absolutely. I mean, I think at least if they're aware of the ability to unit exchange like they can for other things, right? So, I mean, as long as they know that they're able to unit exchange for referendum allocated positions,
obviously they can't, you know, exchange PE for something else if P is a requirement, but if they have 2 P, if they're allocated to P or I don't know, whatever, however it would work, I would just love to see some flexibility. Is that what you're saying, Dr. Campbell? >> Yes, it is. And it actually lends itself
to yet another question in my mind. And I'm sorry we're going down a rabbit trail that is not intended for the purpose of the topic today. But we had this year kindergarten units allocated that we then had to reduce significantly by a dozen or more if I don't a couple
of dozen probably. So what did that look like from the referendum perspective? Because I'm assuming when we started we had those kindergarten paras also allocated referendum wise. Was it just money credited back to the referendum this year? I hadn't even thought of that
conversation until just now. >> Yeah. So, what we did with kindergarten pairs, we actually had a few sites where we've added kindergarten units over time. And so, we have shifted those kindergarten pairs because the positions were all full. Um, and so if it was an empty kindergarten pair position, then we could credit back to referendum, but
for the most part, they were all filled positions. So we allowed schools where possible to keep that additional position because it was funded for the referendum and they were able to utilize them to support the increased ratio that we had put on classrooms since now we're putting 20 kids in a classroom instead
of 18. Those extra bodies allowed them to be able to provide again that increased support in in kindergarten. >> Thank you. Okay board. Um any further comments? I know we haven't heard from Miss Thur or Miss Conrad regarding um the first part of the presentation.
I have just really just a couple of questions and really also just a couple of comments. >> Um is I did have a question about the balance Mr. Rios Welsh the fund balance is that um statute driven or
we have a number that we're comfortable with. >> Uh so I'm going to get into a little bit more of that in the okay next portion of the presentation. >> That's great. I'll wait to get the answer for that. >> Yeah. I mean, as far as the the fund
balance goes, you know, specifically for um $13 million or so that we see, that's where we feel very comfortable with that. So, that's certainly not an issue. That's where we're projecting and we feel like that puts us in a good position going into next year for this this particular aspect.
>> Thank you very much. Um, I did want to um a question I had about uh the circul the circulation in the media center. And so I'm super excited for the elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools that um we highlighted for what
their circulation is. But I, if you don't mind, I'd like a list of what the circulation is um at each school. I'm just interested if that coordinates with um their success as we're looking at their assessment data right now. if the
circulation of reading and and reading in the library. Yes. And Melissa's saying yes, we have that data. Um I just I would like to see if there's a correlation there. Um you know, we we want our students to be reading all the time. I want to see what the numbers are
um in each media center um and what their reading scores are. >> Yeah, we can certainly provide that information. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Um ne on the next time we do this can we add the charter school slide into the presentation so that we have that as
part of >> Yes ma'am certainly and we can provide that um to you guys um after the meeting so you have that as a reference that's usually part of the uh regular IRA presentation uh but due to the length we wanted to >> okay
>> um exclude it this time just for time purposes but thank you we can get that to you >> yes and and I can appreciate that and And lastly, I just want to say um as we've reviewed each of these areas that the referendum covers, I'm just so grateful to the community. Um every piece that we've talked about plays an
intricral part uh in educating our young people. And so from kindergarten paras, who I'm extremely passionate about, to PE, art, music to safe schools, all of those things are just so important um to educating the young people of Marian County. And I think it b benefits Marian
County overall because as future citizens of our community um they will be well real well wellrounded and so just again so thankful um that Marian County supports public education and that's all I have. >> Absolutely.
>> Or member did you have any comments? Uh, yes. I'll I'll make them brief because I know we're trying to keep moving, but um there is it's very rare that we get 100% approval on anything. And I will say that I have yet, knock on wood, to
receive any complaint about increasing our uh vocational, career, and technical education offerings. It's what I continue to hear uh is the most important um that we do a great job and have done a great job for many years on
the college prep track but having a variety of ways to reach students so when they leave us they are on a path seems to continue to receive unanimous support. That being said uh providing the level of quality and also uh the
volume is expensive. You know, someone just mentioned, you know, the helicopter and the airplane and and we do get things donated, but there's also a lot of uh materials and and machines that we don't get donated that have to be paid for. So, it's so easy to see the return
on on that investment. So, my my hat continues to be off to everyone involved in that. Um just quickly on the conversation with um kindergarten pairs uh in the trenches, I think the kindergarten pairs have always been
pulled to uh cover other needs, especially during the pandemic, you know, um if the kindergarten teacher happened to be out, you know, because they were sicker on quarantine, that pair became a teacher, as did so many others. So, I would just draw a little caution. I love flexibility. I love
choices. Um, but until I see some real solid data that our readiness is through the roof, I would just continue to encourage us to be laser focused on that early childhood support. So, I'll just leave that right there.
>> Uh, board member Conrad. >> Um, I my thoughts align um with Miss Throwers there. Um, I too am all in support of flexibility. Um, but you know, I have a heart for for our earliest learners. And so, um, while we
may have a few sites where our five and six year olds, um, can operate in a classroom with one teacher, I think the majority of our schools still lean heavily on their parents um, to run
reading centers, to run math centers, um, to help get in kids back and forth to the clinic and go home. all of those things. And so, while there may be a few schools um that don't need that after December,
um I'm very hesitant uh about to have that discussion further because Miss Thrower is right. They are already pulled when it gets close to testing season. When somebody's sick, they're already um using those paras. I I don't
want to say on a day-to-day basis, but but they're getting pulled and that that teacher, that CLA classroom loses that support um for the day or for the week, whatever that looks like. And the instruction is not the same. And um you know, we've been looking at um the data
for our earliest learners and we know there are large gaps in our students that are coming into kindergarten. So, I just, you know, I don't I want don't want to take the short route. um because we're pulling from our kindergarteners
or our our prekers, you know, in there to help the fourth and fifth graders. Well, it's helping right now, but in the long run, um we're going to cut ourselves short. So, I do have cons some concerns about that. Um, I do want to make um that
literacy um development in the kindergarten realm still a priority because I think if we catch them early, that's our best chance for each student to be successful. >> All right. Um, Dr. Cable, did you have anything else you wanted to add on this
first section? >> No. >> I did. We land on whether or not we want a kindergarten parent job description. I think that's what >> No. Yeah, I think I think we said it's it's being accomplished in the regular JD, so that's fine. I don't that's that's fine with me. I do think we are um not in the seeing as there are four
of us here today. We have not landed on um a discussion on sitebased budgeting and impro and unfixing um that referendum expenditure. So I think that that will have to be a further conversation for a later date. >> All right. So Mr. Re, I'll give it back
to you to keep going. Thank you. And we appreciate the uh great questions uh and commentary. Um the administration fully understands how vitally important the referendum funding and is very thankful to the voters of Marian County for
supporting it over the years. U with that we're going to jump into a couple of questions. Um during the last iteration or renewal of the referendum, um I went back through and and looked at some uh some videos and and commentary. And so I tried to make sure I had some
historical uh context um and discussing some of these questions. Uh and so the first question that we uh want to make uh uh clear uh with the board um is that if you look at the budget, what are we able to absorb into our general fund um
our general fund budget or or other budgets uh that we have that we're currently funding uh with referendum? And I think that's somewhat of a rhetorical question u but I think it is very important to point that out. And so the next uh slide is going to kind of
again uh level set a little bit uh and walk us through what our total revenues uh are looking like at $41.2 million which I mentioned earlier on in the presentation. And then if you look at that breakdown which is really um
where I want to focus is how how much of these dollars in terms of uh the total makeup 78% is going towards salary and benefits and we talked about par professionals we talked about uh arts and media and
physical education and all the lovely things that we're doing. Um this is a heavily uh dependent area on personal services and so we just want to make sure that we emphasize uh that to the voters that they are getting um a very
good value for the dollars um that they are contributing to uh the referendum. Um the other portion or 22% of that as you can see in the schedule at about $9.2 million
um are for those other items um you know the equipment the capital outlay those those items that we talked about earlier uh which helped to round us out. The other piece um that I I I want to bring up um is this question around well
what if we did half a mill um and looking at some scenarios um really touching on if we were uh to take this away or the voters did not approve it, what would be the impact on the budget? And so you'll see there at
the bottom of the schedule um that the uh half a mill there at 20.6 million dollars or about half of what we've seen um and our current revenue projection for this year. And so that tracks according to what we would expect
to see. And conceptually we understand that over time property values and appreciation of property uh which the school board does not control has increased. Uh and so we have seen an uptick uh in revenues um from its onset
uh where it's originally uh started and then seen that uh increase uh over time which uh really helps to um support the narrative around the total amount of dollars that we would expect to receive over the the last five years or so. Uh
and so that's that's that's really important to point that out. The next slide um I'm going to walk you through is a schedule where we really want to try to um focus in on our current or our original budget as
approved by the board uh and the um projected ending fund balance um and what that would look like if we were uh to not have the available resources from referendum. And that's really important
uh because I think it uh typifies uh how um structurally intertwined uh the school board has now become uh dependent on referendum dollars uh in terms of historically restoring uh some
of the um austerity measures that were taken in previous years under previous boards uh in which the board has inherited some of those uh decisions obviously which by no stretch of the imagination are easy decisions uh but
were decisions nonetheless. Uh and the referendum has enabled the board uh to restore a lot of those uh programs and services uh that we've talked about today in order to really provide an enriching uh learning environment for
our students beyond uh the basics of reading, math um and all of the the core subjects. uh with those other areas uh as well that we've discussed. So if you look at the schedule starting from uh the top from the orange up, I'll just
direct you to the bottom there um where we have the 6.74% which is the 7% target uh for overall fund balance um that we are projecting for uh this year. Now, I will go back and and and say that our
beginning fund balance is uh typically driven um year-over-year by our vacancy rate. Uh not only for our teachers, but central staff, custodials uh and all of our staff uh in aggregate uh have helped to provide that uh level of cushion,
including um uh the increase in property value um that we've received. generally speaking. That being said, I will also mention, excuse me, that we have several um
reserved areas uh for these funds for fund balance that um we are one legally required uh and two uh that the board uh has put policies in place in order to ensure that we have a rainy day fund uh
in order to uh make sure that we are solvent and that we can uh pay our bills. Um and that is uh critically important in terms of our financial condition ratio. Uh with that, you'll see all of those areas listed out,
including the million dollars for uh purchases uh for items that have not yet been allocated to our schools or departments. And then it goes through and we talk about the uh $7 million uh and committed that the board has
requested uh that we put aside. We also have $2 million for FES and FTE audit adjustments, which is key. We just got the results not too uh long ago um from the state related to an audit adjustment. And so we know that we need
to set aside uh money for that. Uh last but certainly not least, is the 3% requirement that the state um um requires that we uh keep on hand at the $15 million mark. And then lastly, the unassigned other, which again helps us
to round out our fund balance and our reserve at that target of 7%. With that being said, our unassigned fund balance um would be 4.64% which is really just looking at the unassigned 3% and unassigned other. Now
I will also mention that the requirement from DOE is 3%. Um as you all very well know and um if it goes below 2% um we have to uh start making cuts. They require that we make cuts. If it's below
three or between uh two and three um we have to provide a plan for how we will address that. So, I just wanted to uh remind the board of that our auditors have typically
uh drawn a line in the sand of around 5% for a target fund balance. Um our credit rating agencies um usually recommend 10%. Which is a very lofty um goal but is um certainly
uh appropriate. And as you can see from the projection for this year, um we are uh certainly trying to uh make some ground there to ensure that we can get as close to that number as possible. Um not withstanding some of the um
austerity measures that had to be taken last fiscal year in order to balance the budget. The bottom half of the schedule is really that first scenario where we look at that uh full mill. And effectively what this is doing is uh
we are trying to articulate um the impact of if the referendum did not pass uh what that does to fund balance. And as you can see from the schedule um the end result uh does not look good. We are
talking about um 1.6 six overall uh fund balance in the negative uh because you are taking away almost $42 million uh in revenue and we have um expenses
embedded expenses now uh with these teachers uh which total I believe 49 uh3 total positions um that we are supporting. And so the point of the schedule is to really
emphasize uh how critically important it is um that we talk about the great work that we're doing um that we're being transparent and that we are doing exactly uh what we promised the voters we would do with the funds that they
have given us to Steuart. And they are having a tremendously positive impact on our student performance. And so taking that away uh would certainly be not a good thing and it would put the school
district uh in a position uh where we obviously would not want to be. Um with that I'll I'll pause uh just for any questions um on this particular schedule and then the next schedule is effectively the same uh setup uh just at
half a mill. >> Member Thor. >> Thank you. Um, I appreciate being able to respond before it leaves my mind and and and speaking as as a taxpayer um, as we all are sitting up here and
mentioning that the money is being used as intended is, you know, obviously really important. And it just made me wonder, I know that we have our ICROC bylaws and I remember in the past anyway when Mike Gonzalez would get up and
share uh you know our ICROC chair, he was the chair for multiple years share uh how the committee feels we're doing in terms of accountability and and compliance. So, I just pulled up I think it was board member Campbell that up helped update
these a few years ago, the the bylaws and I'm looking at, you know, number 10 B and that they'll the IROC meets four times a year and and annually render a written report to the school board containing comments on the school board's compliance with the ballot
language and that this report should be kept on file in the board clerk's office, online with the school district's website, and made available to the public upon request. And I'm bringing this up in detail because as we move into what sounds like we're going to be asking our community again, you
know, to support this, I think it's integral um to the uh the ask, you know, to make sure that, you know, we're getting these these updates and that they really reflect and match, you know,
all the areas of of the referendum pieces. So, that was my first thing. And then the second thing is is that it's really helped us that home values have continued to increase. You know, we had a pretty great spike, but from what I read, I think just yesterday, you know, home values are starting to stabilize
now. So, I don't think that we can necessarily count on uh what we have been able to count on um in that respect. And then the other thing is is that I don't think anyone that lived here during that time really wants to go back to where we were during the Great Recession. you know, we were in the tank
and not having art, music, and PE in any kind of productive way, I don't think anyone agrees is what's best for kids. So, we we did need to restore those programs and but now I think we've moved into a phase of wanting to grow and and
enhance. I I'll point back to vocational and career and technical education. Uh, I'd love to see the number of and right now it's 35 of these pathways. You know what? How many pathways have we had before in in previous years? Probably not nearly as many. I know we didn't
have an equinim pathway until I got on the board. And I'm proud of that. And and and we need to be very proud. And to your point of of telling our story, it reminds me when we ran the the half mill, we invited the media. We invited community members in to see the need.
And when we have these magnet showcases and and things like that, uh now is definitely the time to put that pedal to the metal even more about getting the media invited and and getting community members invited so that they can see, you know, the return on investment because from this taxpayers's
perspective, the return on investment has been tremendous and something to really be proud of as as a community. I just continue to be so thankful um to be part of that community that has supported this. That was a lot. Sorry. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Campbell.
>> Thank you. So, there there are a couple of of factors here that for those who haven't been following along with this understanding, I mean, notably, I was one who was questioning even before,
what does it look like if we do a half mill? What does it look like? Because if if our taxpayers just look at the chart that you did uh the slide two and seeing that in 2016 20 201617
we got 16 million and then last year it's 41 mill you know we're projecting 41 million people noticeably would say my tax dollar what what are you doing with that extra $30 million over the course of the last 10 years right and obviously we had a wonderful
presentation we have great IROC that they uh are ensuring that we're spending the dollars correctly, all of that. But taxes are taxes and money is money and every dollar that's coming out of somebody's pocket, they're going to feel it. I I think there's a couple of other
factors that first of all a couple of years ago it was this board that decided that we would fully fund art music PE out of the referendum because in 2016 when that board determined to go out for that ballot initiative
they had been cut in half and so we were using the language that we're restoring those and we used that language for six years or so that we've restored those and it was is funding half of those um salaries for each of those different levels.
What's happened since then? I think a couple of things for historical perspective for the community to understand. First of all, we all know what happened with Marjorie Stoneman Douglas and how school safety has become heightened. like we have an an item on
our agenda coming up uh next week that we will be voting on potentially to have AI weapons detection. It's in the agenda. You can go look at it and check it out yourself. But so we're the things that we've had to do over the course of the last five to six years when it comes
to school safety has been significantly increased compared to what we ever did in 2016 whenever this went out. The other thing that I think people don't focus on enough is in 2020, our governor dictated that we all raise our teacher
salaries. So, it wasn't the same. I'm I'm actively trying to get board docs to find me that collective bargaining agreement from back in like 171 18. I I I'm still trying to find it. I want to know what that salary schedule said, what our beginning teacher salary was at
that time compared to what it is today. Because while the governor is dictating that the beginning teacher salary is $47,500, we as Marian County have said our beginning teacher salary is $50,000 because we want to make sure that's competitive, that we can hire great,
highly qualified educators to come in. But what it used to be was less than 40,000. And I don't know exactly how much less than 40,000 but just that increase alone we're talking $10,000 for a teacher and you we're funding
however many you know 200 plus 300 some of these are are um significant numbers are teachers so you know 50 art teachers 50 music teachers 50 u media specialists all all of that PE teachers so we're talking several hundred and those are
things that have been put on us grateful for because our educators need to be receiving that kind of pay. They need to have a livable wage and I'm not going to say that that is a livable wage but I think that's something that as to as we continue on this narrative for people to
really understand the historical perspective. Additionally, in 2020 whenever I uh a little bit before that where our state voted in the $15 minimum wage that some people still aren't even aware was voted in and it was in a progression that the businesses had the
opportunity to go year by year to add. We had the mandate immediately that we had to jump from, I think, $11 to 15 immediately. And and so there were some mandates that came on us as school districts that were unique and we've
certainly meet met all of those challenges headon. But when we're talking really historical perspective, I think it's important to show the full picture as to why these dollars have increased, as to why these dollars have
needed to increase, and how we've kept up with pace as to ensuring that all of these programs are continuing to be impactful for our students. So again, from that fiscal conservative perspective, I was one that would say,
how how in the why why in the world has it continue? We know why it's gone up. Property values have gone up, but what can we do to reduce that taxpayer burden? And and I think it's just important to say what our students are receiving and how we can truly help
every student succeed is ensuring that they have PE and soccer opportunities and they have the opportunity to have visual and performing arts. They have the opportunities to have wonderful media specialists and our media specialists are required to review every single book that's in every single
school. Now that wasn't something that was h. So there just lots of things that we have been put that have been put on us through the years that I am so grateful that Marian County taxpayers voted in this referendum in 2016 to
allow us to be able to fulfill these needs. But secondarily, it's almost that we were giving strategy ahead of the game, potentially not even realizing what was to come. And so, the fact that we've
been able to hit some of the these things headon and even advancing them is because of the voters that have voted this in. and as we determine what we're going to continue to do, my hope is they'll continue to hear and see the need.
>> Thank you. Did any other board members have comments regarding this first slide for Mr. Rios Walsh? I know I have some remarks, but I think I'm going to save it until we get to the end on what we're going to what we're looking to do. So, I'll save mine for then. Uh, board member Thor, >> it's going to be a lot quicker than what
I just did. And and that is thank you for mentioning the um partially funded mandates. Um, board member Campbell, uh, you know, we're not going to skimp on safety. We're going to do our best not to skimp on salaries. Um, but we're only
allocated, you know, we get these allocations, you know, from the state. Well, if that's not enough, then where does that money come from? Fund balance. If we don't have enough money in fund balance, then where does that money come from? That's when we go to the voters and and present the need and and and
at least then they know. And I think that that is going to be pivotal coming into this season that the communication is is is really strong, you know, as as to the why. >> Thanks. >> Okay. So, I'll let you continue.
>> Thank you. And we really appreciate the questions. Uh Dr. Campbell, we'll we'll get you some information uh so comparatively we can look at pre and post u referendum going back to 2020. So, we'll we'll get there for you.
Okay. So um as I indicated um the next slide is going to look at half a mill. So it's basically the exact same uh setup uh as previously uh walked through. And uh here again um projected
ending fund balance at 6.74% uh or almost 7% uh for the original budget for 2526 with half a mill. It's it's half the amount. Um and so effectively um if we were to um look at taking away um at
least 50% of the current projected revenues um that would put us um in a little bit of a better uh uh position. Uh but certainly not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination. Um if
looking down under the orange uh section of the schedule, uh you'll see that 20 million uh 20.9 million uh coming out in revenue, which would leave us with a sizable um deficit there for the
unassigned other at 12.7 or almost 12.8 million. And so although we would be able to um meet our 3% um statemandated uh requirement
and uh some of our other uh reserves um we would we would not be where we really want to be in terms of unassigned fund balance. Uh that would put us at about 047 which is not something that the administration would would recommend.
And so these two schedules um looking at them comparatively with the full mill and half a mill are really to articulate um how um important uh the work is that we're doing with referendum funding and what its financial impact is on the
bigger picture for the school board. The last question um that we have are other ways to fund um the the breakdown or reabsorption uh and reimagining what other opportunities there are uh with the uh language that
exist and some of our um ability to to to look at areas that we feel um are really important for us. And so uh with that I think Mr. White House is going to come up and he's going to speak to a subject that came up a little earlier which I'm actually glad to hear about
which is early learning. >> Thank you, Mr. Bos. So, the last piece we have on here is our proposed language for the new referendum for the 2026 November ballot which would run from 2027 to 2031. Um,
and so you'll see the language on here is very similar to what we had on the last referendum initiative. The change that we are recommending is to remove the language for class size and replace that with early learning. And I think this board has made clear their commitment to focusing on early learning
and adding that language in there uh would allow us to look at some possible expansion with early learning classroom units across the district um and also helping to support our cost of um our VPK classrooms. >> Okay. Uh guess you're kicking the ball
back to us, right? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, um board, we can see the language here. Obviously, Mr. White House has um effectively articulated removing class size based on honestly the fact that we we are pretty much already did that this year. Um and
looking at budget forecasts, the way I understand it, this is going to be probably a new reality for us, at least for a little bit. And so, um, I can I can see the necessity to remove class size as a language item because it doesn't appear that's going to be able to be a priority for us for a while from
a budgetary perspective. So, I think we'll start with board. How do you feel about um removal of class size? Um, let's just start there if that's okay. >> Member throw. >> Sure. >> My first one is is that years ago when
class size was mandated, there was a fine if you didn't meet class size. Would you just provide a brief update on what the state rules are at this point with class size? >> Yes. So the the statutory requirement of class size ratio still exists. However, the state has removed the financial penalty. So we still report we still
have to provide feedback to the state anytime our we have classrooms that go over that um as a schoolwide average. Remember because we are controlled enrollment, we report that as a schoolwide average, not a classroom by classroom. When we originally started with class size amendment, we actually reported every single classroom and
every classroom on your campus had to be below that threshold. Um so that rule has changed a little bit, but even with our adjustment of ratios, when we reported um FTE survey data, we had very few schools that were over um the class size limit.
>> Thank you for that clarification. And with moving towards sightbased budgeting, it does provide an opportunity and it makes sense to me for those class-siz decisions to have the opportunity to be made, you know, in the trenches. You know, what's your student
population? What do you need? What's it going to take to make that happen? So, while it's scary to think about removing it, and again, this is going to be a communication opportunity for the community that no, we're not going to have, you know, 50 kids stacked in a in an English class or, you know, whatever
the example is so that they really understand, >> right? The rest of the board, how do you feel about the removal of class size language? I get a thumbs up from Dr. Campbell and a thumbs up from board member Conrad. So, we're in agreement with removing class size. Uh now how do we feel about adding early learning?
>> Feel great. >> Gonna jump on the table and scream. >> All right. >> I certainly uh enjoy the uh prioritization of early learning myself. So it looks like we are in agreement that adding early learning to the language um has value and importance
with the board. Board, how do we feel about keeping everything else the same? >> I just have one question. >> Or member Conrad. Um, I've just thought of this several times as we've gone through conversation throughout the year. Has there been any discussion about adding athletics to this? It's
it's a topic that or an area that we are always short. We're because we are so far behind um in the athletics in Marian County. Was that discussed at all? Have you all talked about it as a priority? You know, the board made a $2 million commitment. Um, I just think about I I
think we're at eight years to replace turf fields and tracks. And so if we had referendum that could commit 2 million, we could do that in four years. And so I didn't know if you guys tossed that around at all or not. >> So yes, so we've we have talked about
that for quite a few years. And what you'll see in the ballot language, which is what we originally started with, is that we promised the taxpayers this was going to be used for operational expenses and not capital expenses. um which if we were to make that shift. Obviously, we would have to change this language, but I think when we first
started this in 2014, that's really what got voters on board was that we needed it for operational costs. We weren't trying to build buildings or do, you know, hard fixtures. We needed people. We needed people and we needed resources for our campuses. Um so, we we can
certainly get the athletic resources out of there. Um, and we did talk with IICRO at the last meeting about using referendum funding to purchase some athletic resources for South Marian High School as that's a brand new school that's opening up that's going to require a lot of athletic equipment and they agree that that was meeting the
language of um of the referendum. And so we we have a little bit of flexibility, but just not with any capital improvements. >> Thank you, Mr. White House, for clarifying. I appreciate it. And also to your point, because I don't disagree with you, but I don't think we should change the language either because I
think that is what gets people on board. Um, most athletic equipment is also equipment that can be used for physical education. >> Yes. >> So is that is that the workaround there for purchasing some equipment related expenses?
>> Yes. which was our interpretation and and we ran it by the IROC committee just to make sure that they also held that same interpretation which they did feel that that was a a valid expense following the the referendum language. >> Okay. Uh so board um further conversation about the language as it's
presented. >> Good. >> Okay. Board member Conrad's good. Dr. Campbell, >> I I I think I'm good. I my question I guess would just be about the professional development part of how
we continue to allocate those resources and it's always the smallest pie piece of the pie. We understand that and I I guess that's where we're doing the retaining the state certified teachers and pair of professionals and that's how we're we're pulling that off. I I'm
curious though as we think about this in the future and as we pursue this gifted language and all of that potentially helping with the certification the endorsements and and maybe those kinds of things can come out of this as well
instead of professional. Anyway, I'm I'm just I'm kind of thinking ahead if we were to see this in the future what that would look like. I I think we can still accomplish some of the things out of the way the language reads if you're interpreting the same way I'm >> Yes. And and I would strongly encourage
that we keep that in there mainly because we're uncertain still about the future of title two and so title two covers a lot of our professional development needs and we actually do reimburse teachers for adding um certifications and endorsements using title two funds um which has been a past practice and and will continue as long
as the funds exist. But we're still we still have not received any notification about next year if we're going to receive title 2 funds um from the federal level. And so keeping that language in there at least adds a place where we could try to absorb some of those needs from the referendum funding. >> Right. Yeah. No, I Yes. And at the
federal level when we were advocating for that and lobbying for it, there wasn't a huge indicator that it was coming. uh the misperception of what the dollars were being used for, I think was a a big piece that needs to continue to be a
part of our advocacy at the federal level. But, uh, no, I like I I was talking myself into and out of the the how we're doing that. Uh, but I think retaining state certified teachers and pair professionals is still the language that needs to be there. >> Board member third, did you have
comments on the language as it's presented? U just saying that retaining state certified teachers in my mind would be hopefully being able to fund some uh certifications and things for teachers that are going on the gifted track and and and others that would
certainly help with with retention if they weren't having to pay for that out of their own pocket. And um just reflecting back uh as far as 2012, you know, we knew then that we were in bad shape when it came to the budget and and
and capital expenditures, you know, deferred maintenance, all of that. And we ran, you know, a half mill for capital and and a half mill for operating. And just looking and it failed sadly. Um but but just looking back at the ballot language, this is how
far we've come. that uh was saying that no uh portion of the operating no portion of this millillage used for salary increases and we kind and you know history is a good teacher. How did we get where we
are with having trouble getting teachers you know so uh I'm really appreciate you attorney powers for putting together this um packet from a while ago. So, I've I've held on to it and have referred back to it because again, that's part of the conversation to the
community. Uh it's not like we haven't been bringing it forward. It's just that there's been a lot of things that have impacted us, but we're not going to let that get in our way of educating kids successfully. >> Okay. And thank you guys. And I will add I'm uncomfortable with the language as
presented as well. Um my closing comments about what this looks like would be that I would love um we're talking nine months right now less than nine
months until the election. Um what I I agree with board I believe board member Thrower talked about when we did the sales tax campaign um the tour of sorts to paint the picture of what it's doing. I think that is incredibly helpful making a video series and and all of
that. But I also would like a I would like a as a board member, I would like a canned understanding of what happens if it doesn't pass because I want to be able to tell voters what we will lose and because it may not be as
pure as losing everything that's in this bucket because some of this stuff we got to pay for, right? there's there's some security stuff that has to get paid for and there's PE and and there are things that have to get done. So, as a board member from an operational perspective,
what I would like to understand is in the 2728 school year, what will that look like to a parent if this does not pass? Because to me, as a parent myself, that testimony probably would be very inspiring and very enlightening. And so
my hope would be between um operations and I don't know if the CP will be involved in those conversations. I see Miss McCall here from the CP, but I would hope that we can really work on a very set messaging that is consistent among all of us as well as anyone in the
community to really truly understand what it what what it will look like if not because that is always the message I hear back from people who are adverse to the referendum is you should figure out how to pay for it yourselves. And so um Certainly, as someone who will be
campaigning um this season, I would like to be able to articulate what will be lost because it's we don't just have like a secret stash back back in the back room. So, something will be lost um to move the money around. And so, I'd love to understand that. Uh board, any
any final comments on the referendum? >> Just uh two quick comments. Obviously, we have to be careful how we present information because it's not um our role. Uh but the information we can present is exactly what's been presented
today and showing what has been happening with the dollars as well as what will go away without the 41 plus million dollars. I was able to get my board docs finally got to the number just for clarification sake. I found the
2017 2018 CBA agreement with the Marian Education Association and the starting teacher salary at that time in 1718 was $28,200. So the 2025 2026 number that we just approved the other day is 50,000. So
that alone uh almost $12,000 difference in just one teacher compared to what it was whenever this was originally approved I think is helpful to understand. 20. I would have never guessed 28. >> I'm sorry. I said third. I said 38.
>> I say 28. >> Oh my goodness. I was like, there's >> I'm so sorry. >> I because in my kit the number was 28. >> So you said 28 and I was like I heard you say 36 and that threw me off. $38,200.
>> That 38,000. No, it's almost $12,000 difference. >> So I did say that part, right? >> How many teachers? You know, that's the thing. It's Yes. >> Sorry if I misspoke, but >> Oh, no. You're okay. >> I got the number >> and benefits. Good for you. >> Board, any um closing remarks regarding
the referendum? >> No. Okay. I want to open it up for public comment on the referendum. >> A lot of people have been forward in their seats. Someone come down and seat. >> All right. Well, hearing no public comment, um Dr. Brewer, I think you have
um the board's consensus and the referendum and moving forward and we look forward to the partnership with I'm assuming the C um in championing and helping us get this across the finish line for our community. >> All right, we will move on to item 6.1 which is the Marian 250. I believe Miss
Connor is going to come forward. She >> will. Okay. Okay, so no money talk, so we can just get excited about good stuff now. Um, America 250 is the nationwide initiative to celebrate the United States 250th
birthday by commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This effort is designed to inspire Americans to reflect on our nation's history, honor the contributions of its people, and strengthen civic engagement.
It includes educational programs, community events, service projects, partnerships across state and local organizations, all working together to create a grassroots celebration of America's past, present, and future. Right here in Marian County, we're going
to join in the celebration as well. Miss Conrad and I serve on the executive steering committee for Marian 250, our local initiative. While the committee continues finalizing plans, I do want to share how Marian County Public Schools
will participate in this year's theme of liberty lives here. So, you heard Braen talk earlier about red, white, and blue, read, white, and blue and the literacy week next week. That's just the beginning. Vanguard High School drum
line. They already started in partnership with the county. They delivered an outstanding performance yesterday at the C breakfast where the board of county commissioners and chairs Alec unveiled several upcoming America 250 events. Marrying at the Capitol Day is February
11th. You all know uh MCPS has been invited to be the feature presentation at Marion at the Capitol Day. 99 students from Shady Hill Harmony will perform on the Capitol steps showcasing their incredible talent. We also
anticipate remarks from Dr. Brewer and just maybe a teacher of the year highlighting the value of public education in Marian County. Liberty lessons throughout February and March. To commemorate this historic
year, we're going to launch a series of seven Liberty lessons each Wednesday throughout February and March where schools will be encouraged to share their activities using the hashtag of Miriam celebrates 250. Student art contest, an allcount art
competition will open soon centered on that theme of Liberty Lives here. We'll have one winner from each level, elementary, middle, and high. and they will receive a cash prize generously sponsored by Marian 250 partners. Marian County Day, Saturday, March 28th,
will be hosted over here at McFerson. And this family-friendly event will include the art contest judging, JOTC drill demonstrations, and a drum line battle of the bands with our local high schools. The winning drum line will
receive a cash prize as well and the opportunity to help lead the potential Patriot Parade planned for July 4th. The county will soon announce plans for a spectacular simultaneous fireworks celebration in four corners of our county and it'll be a great finale to
this year's celebration. We're grateful and excited for this opportunity to highlight our students and to demonstrate Marian County Public Schools commitment to commemorating America and Marian 250. >> Thank you, Miss Connor. Um board, any
comments about America 250? >> I just have a comment. >> Yep. >> Real quick comment. Miss Connor, I just want to thank you particularly and Miss Huau. Um, when I look at our executive committee outline, MCPS, MCPS, MCPS,
MCPS, um, it's been a a a good lift, but it's also been a heavy lift. And so, I just want to thank you. And Miss Hu was here earlier, so I'm sorry that I'm missing um, you know, recognition there. But I just really appreciate um, you all stepping in and really getting these. It
was a tight timeline um, board. It It was quick. They had a lot of work to do. they did all the work. Um, so I just want to say thank you. Um, the drum line for from Vanguard yesterday was fabulous. They did a phenomenal job. It was very inspiring. Just so proud of our
students um and the work that that they do, you know, um each and every day. So, thank you for that. I know um Marion at the Capitol be fabulous. I'm looking forward to that. And anything else? Anybody want to have something to share?
>> I Yeah, that's great. Yep. We're excited. >> We're excited. >> Rock on. Any public comment on Marian 250. >> All right. Hearing none. Board, I want to take a 10-minute break for us to um just take a few minutes for ourselves and we will get back at 11:05 to start
the ABAC update. All right. Okay. We are going to go into a brief recess at 10:55. All right, we are back at 11:05. Looking look at us being timely. All right, we are going to move on to the ABAC or the attendance boundary advisory committee
update and I welcome Mr. White House to the podium. >> Thank you, chair. Good morning again, board members. Dr. Brewer. Uh we like to provide an update from our attendance boundary advisory committee that has been hard at work the last couple of months and um certainly the lion share
of that work has been Mr. Ays. So I want to give him a lot of credit for what he's done behind the scenes and I'm going to try not to disappoint him with my presentation this morning. So as we start back with talking about our goals for the north end of the county.
Um things that we discussed previously were making sure that we had efficient utilization of those elementary schools in the north end that we're trying to decrease operation costs where possible providing for our student needs. And then the last one was hopefully in the process be able to find um a different
facility for our Bridgeway students other than where they are currently residing. So, the timeline for this, as you'll recall, on the 11th, we had the resolution um approved by the board for us to develop the attendance boundary advisory committee. Um, and thank you
all for submitting very quickly your nominations for that committee and uh we were able to get that pulled together and to work very quickly. So we met right before Thanksgiving break for the first time on the 21st um with that group just to outline what the expectations were for the committee,
share a lot of initial data just for them to digest over the break um understanding that we would do a lot of the discussion at our follow-up meetings in December and then scheduled our two follow-up meetings that we came back and talked through. Um so on the 9th we came back talked through a number of items.
They requested some additional data pieces just based on their conversation that we were able to then provide again um for our conversation on the 16th. And then ultimately the goal was to settle on a recommendation um by the 16th because we knew for any type of resoning
to happen for next school year we had to move quickly or else Mr. would be up against the wall trying to get it done in time. So um we were able to come back with a recommendation which we'll share with you this morning. So, the committee reviewed enrollment
data and housing data for the north end schools, what we've collected to this point, um, just to be able to make an informed decision about what we're projecting for future enrollments and student populations in that area. Um, with that discussion, we also said if we can, as we're talking about the north
end, try to figure out something we can do with Bridgeway, it would be ideal. Um, but the the initial charge was to make sure that we had a a proposal for balancing our north end schools. Um and with that discussion we also talked about the possible combination of Spar and Anthony which we have shared with
the board in the past um as a potential to reduce some of our operating costs. So the recommendation from the committee was to balance enrollment um with Reddit collar spar Anthony and Ocala Springs. Um and so we'll share what those look
like in just a moment. That was the one place that the committee felt very comfortable with. Again, we had a lot of conversation about Bridgeway, but at um at this point in time, the the committee was not comfortable making recommendation. They felt this was the most um logical place for them to start
and where they felt we could have the easiest conversation. Um and so the the other recommendation was again looking at that plan to combine Spar and Anthony knowing that um not only could we provide something good for the north end, but also would help us reduce some
of those operating costs. So, here's the attendance boundary map that you see for the different schools um outlined there. And then the colored areas are the different quadrants that we identified um for clusters of students that we could look at to try
and move some zones um when identifying those regions, we try to look for natural barriers um that would allow us to create um groups of students that make sense for conversation. Um and so essentially what we're looking at in our proposal to move um the zones is A and B
up there which is Citra um moving Citra over to Reic Collier which there is a direct route from Citra right over to Reic which makes transportation easy um and Mr. Oanic did participate in each of the committee meetings as a um an expert
just to be able to answer questions that they have. Um section D there, which is the part north of Anthony, would shift up to Spar, um and allow us to add some more students north that way. And then continuing that northward shift, uh we
would move section O, which is currently um students that are scheduled to go to Aala Springs, and we would move them up to Anthony. And then you'll also see one of those auxiliary zones that were from the old Evergreen. We had that auxiliary zone originally was um traveling to
Spar. Um and at the time Spar was the only option that we could use because Anthony was a D and so we couldn't place students at that school. So for years we've been driving those kids past Anthony to get to Spar. Um and so the committee felt it made sense to bring them a little bit closer to home and
shift them to Anthony so that they weren't not they were not driving by that school every day. So you'll see here with the enrollment numbers um the current um 80day count that we had for this school year is that first column for each of those schools.
You'll see under the school name we have the school capacity as reported on their fish for brick and mortar capacity. Um and so you'll see the percent of that capacity that's being utilized as of the 80day count. the current students in zone. This is if every student that was
living in the attendance zone actually attended the school, which is what we have to plan for when when looking at attendance zones. Uh you can see what the capacity would be at each of those schools. The proposed zone moves. So in black are the additions, in red would be
the change. So we would be removing those areas from the school and then shifting them to the other school which I highlight on the last slide. And then you'll see the proposed new zone totals as zoned uh for each of the schools. So
we are able to fill retic up a good bit more moving the students from Citra over. We are uh when you look at Ocala Springs it looks heavy but again that's the as zoned all those students don't actually attend. So essentially what we're doing for Ocala Springs is taking about 80 or so students um out of their
attendance zone which would help some of their overcrowding. um acknowledging that SPAR is still um low. When we look at the balancing, part of the discussion of the committee was leaving SPAR low if the board does move forward with a new Spar Anthony build allows us the ability
to build onsite while school is in operation because we could keep all the students in one part of the campus very easily. And then when we combine the schools together, you'd see we'd be at about 650 students, which as you all know is that sweet spot for operating costs for elementary schools. Um, which
would allow us to build a a smaller scaled down version of what we have in Winding Oaks and Ross Prairie. Um, and and allow us to operate that at a much better cost. So the timeline if the board um agrees with our recommendation in February and
March we would hold community meetings for each of the affected school attendance zones. Um in March we would then have a rule development work session and then April the rule making and the vote for the board. And then by May we would have parent notification
going out so parents knew what school their child would be attending based on those new zones for the new school year. So again, as I think Dr. Brewer mentioned at the very beginning, we are going to continue to meet as a committee. So this is going to be an ongoing conversation, not just
continuing to look at Bridgeway Academy, but looking at all of our attendance zones. So we know that we've only talked about our north end schools, but we need to continue to examine not only all of our elementary schools, but our middle school attendance boundaries. U we just adjusted high school with the opening of a new high school, but certainly as
numbers fluctuate and increase over time, we want to make sure that we're nimble and we continue to have conversations about those attendance zones for all of our schools. Um so this group was great to work with. They asked a lot of great questions. They're very excited to to keep having conversations and and to really be a part of the work
that we're doing to make sure that we provide great opportunities for all of our students in well-managed schools. and I'll pause that point. >> Great. Thank you. Well, board, we have a lot to discuss. Um, I have just one I
think starting point if that's okay and the pleasure of the board. Mr. White House, you said something that I think I'd like to correct. You said if the board agrees to build a new Spar Elementary, and in my opinion,
we shall not put 248 students as zoned in a school unless there is an intention of accommodation because we have deemed it very financially irresponsible to operate in that fashion. So, uh, I would like to
say that this only works for me if that the second half, um, of your statement is a win and not an if. Uh, I realize that's not necessarily your purview, but it could be ours. And so, I'll say it. Um, I am not at all comfortable with
making a school zoned for that many students, 248 as zoned, which is not even how many will attend. um unless we are committed to opening a new school in whatever that is one two years whatever that timeline looks like but a very near and immediate future which puts us in a
financially strong position um so I'll start with that and then the other thing I would say is uh it causes me heartburn because if in fact we are building a new school taking students who theoretically have been going to spar since kindergarten
who are now third grade and then or second grade and sending giving them to Anthony for two years to then go back to spar um also causes me pause. So those are the two components there that um cause me pause but I think we need to um my recommendation board is that we're
having a holistic conversation about the entire plan which is not just resoning but also a school because absent of one or the other I know for me I'm not on board with this plan. >> So chair I just wanted to correct something there. So we're our plan is to move from Anthony up to Spar and then
pulling from Ocala Springs up to Anthony. So when the combination happens, what will actually happen is the students who are left at Anthony would then rejoin their peers in the new Spar Anthony combination. So they would not go north and then back south. It would be half going north now, the other
half following north later with the new school. >> I understand what I'm saying is the students who are on the auxiliary zone F. >> Yes, >> that's who I'm talking about. >> I got you. F has been going to SPAR for the last four years and now they're gonna get reszoned to Anthony and then they're gonna go back to SPAR.
>> And the auxiliary zones are something we're going to have to keep talking about with the ABAC as we go forward because we only addressed one, but there's certainly other auxiliary zones right now and and we can re even examine this group again to look at future plans for getting them closer to home and not necessarily still keeping them on the
north end. >> Yes. So any so I won't die on the auxiliary zone hill, but I do think it's pretty we're going to certainly hear from parents who have their kid has been going to SPAR and they're going to wind up back at Spar if we build a new school in two years then like they're like why can't their kid just stay at SPAR? So
that's just something that um I certainly would want to discuss and link. So uh I guess those are my opening remarks. Board I open it up board member Thor. >> Yes. Uh thank you. And I was sitting here celebrating in my head that we were
you know taking this step um because it's been a long long time since there's been attention um to the north end and you know the growth has been uneven. There's just been a lot a lot of factors
in relation to that including you know evergreen closing. So I am glad to see this as as a first step. um it position it positions us better for the future and not knowing exactly what the future
is going to hold. So I would be hesitant to couple this with the mandate that we're going to build a combination school because you hate to overpromise and underdel especially in two years. So I I
draw caution a little bit to that. I am in support of this as as it's currently written. I want to say great job to the attendance committee for you know getting on it so quickly and working collaboratively according to everything that I have heard. Um I I will say that
there's opportunity here uh to include city officials. um if I think that there is appetite for that and we do have city kids that you know uh possibly do participate in choice programs you know up there. So I think that if we're going
to include elected officials in the conversation that you know maybe consider including all of them um and give them the opportunity to say thanks or no thanks. Uh, the only other thing I wanted to say and and this just jumped into my mind as I was reading on the I
think it's the second slide um and it's really just because of the one team, one mission and and helping every student succeed. I would offer that and it's semantics maybe because they're all important but I would offer that the number one goal always needs to be to provide for
students needs. Obviously we want to do that in an efficient manner but but to me that's always going to be number one you know provide for the students needs efficiently in any area. So it was just something that jumped out at me and
wanted to share >> certainly >> what I've got. Thanks. >> Um a board member Conrad or board member Campbell. >> Go ahead. Excuse me. Um, I'm excited to see this come forward. Um, I am very appreciative
uh to the committee that came to task right away um and showed up for several uh meetings um before we went on Christmas break. Um I was excited also to have different area experts um in the room. Um I agree with Miss Thrower. I'd
like I'd like for at least the city and the county to have a seat at the table. I know that the county denied um that opportunity, but even if it is a staff member. Um you know, um I'd like to offer a personal invitation just in the
face that we value their opinion. Um not that they have to vote or or anything else, but just to have a seat at the table. And so I also would like to encourage um them to join us or for us to give them the invitation. again. Um, this has just been a long time coming
and I know that it's going to be painful. Um, it always is when you are u moving zones and moving schools and I always put myself um in that position. What does that feel like as a parent or you know um for your child to have to
switch schools. So don't make these decisions lightly. Um, but these decisions have been put off for a long time and so we we are going to have to um we're going to have to make some decisions, move forward uh so we can we
can get further along in the process. So, thank you for your work uh in this and for the committee's work. >> I guess can I just ask a clarifying question to board member Conrad real quick? Um, and maybe you're not prepared to speak
on it yet, but board member Thorough kind of spoke to both components and so you I don't think you offered a remark regarding um the combination the intention of combination and the forward planning on that. >> Um I think it's highly likely um that's
where we're headed at least that's how I feel in the conversation from the board. Is that what you're asking me? >> Um yes. So the remark I had made was that as we're seeing at forom and these have been conversations the board has had for at least a year now we're not financially solvent by having schools
operate with 200 200 plus 200 300 400 students and so this plan as presented still has two schools that will be financially rellyant on the district supplementing their their um income of sorts to operate. And so this plan as
presented, it will not put us in any better financial position than we are right now. Like essentially nothing will change. And so unless there is an intention to do some level of combination, whatever that looks like, whether that's a new school, that's a partial build, it's
throwing portables up at SPAR, I don't I don't really know how we get there, but unless the plan comes with that, which I can respect the board member thrower says A doesn't necessarily equal B, but I think in this instance, I know for me, I'm not prepared to to do reszone when
the purpose of re how can I go out to my constituents and say the purpose of resoning is to be more financially responsible. Well, this is not more financially responsible if this is the end goal. It will put us it we we are seemingly in the same position. So, there has to be some and and our sales
tax plan has that outline. So, I can respect board members thrower saying we don't want to promise things we can't deliver, but the sales tax plan is essentially the plan that is the um we rep prioritizing our sales tax plan is the guarantee because that money is
coming regardless. So, that is essentially the way to validate where we go with it. Um, but I will just say I I I can't get on board with a resoning that doesn't solve the problem we intended for it to solve. So, I just
wanted to if you had a take on what you wanted after the resoning. That was my question. >> Um, you know, I I can only say what what I think and what I what I feel as a board member, and that's I feel like we're headed in that direction. Can I promise it? No, I cannot. But that is my
my intention. Um is that we are moving in that direction. I also want to point out and I know I just Mr. White House shared I'm thankful this this committee came together, but we need a long range plan. We need to be looking at and I
know we're looking at this section right now because it's where we have the most struggle with capacity, but we need a a long range plan that encompasses the whole district and it needs to be systematic. My ask has been, okay, we're going to look at this. We're going to
evaluate and we're going to move forward. What's our next step? And so, Dr. James, to your point, I think that's a piece that's missing to this conversation is what are our next steps? Respectfully, I think staff is waiting on us to tell
them. I mean, I don't want to speak for Mr. White House and Dr. Brewer, but they're waiting on us to make a decision on on what we do next, I think. But Dr. Campbell, do you you have remarks, I'm sure. >> So, what I believe this proposal starts
to solve is our vacancy rate at Reddit Collier Elementary. So, I mean, I I understand the concern of having a school with 248 students. That is not going to be an answer that
I'm going to be on board with either. U However, I I was excited that we're at least trying to start solving the Reddit Collier issue and I'm not trying to reopen a can of things that we don't need to even consider. But the other North End school
that's not on this is Fezendon and it's potentially because we said don't touch Fezendon but they are at 97% capacity and they are a North End school. So uh that I I understand why potentially that wasn't
discussed. Uh but it I I struggle with that not even being a part of the potential conversation that the attendance boundary committee had. >> So I can address that. Dr. Okay. Well, we did look at Fezdan. Um, when you look at where the students live in the Fezdan
zone, the bulk of them either live right around Fezdan or they live just uh west of I75. So, there was not an easy way for us to pull a large group of kids away from Fezdan towards Reic without pulling all those kids who are right
around the Fezden school north. Yeah, we where our pockets of of students are is just going to be different than where our schools are built. And so that's when I look at the map that that you have here, which ironically is is labeled option one. So
I'm assuming that the attendance boundary committee had a couple of options and this just happens to be the one. Uh it's still named option one for us. But the the thing that's interesting to me is essentially students who live right around Anthony are now going to go
to Spar and students who live right around Spar are now going to go to Reic. And so that's going to be difficult for families to understand. However, it's just kind of the nature of where everybody is. And so with some of those kids in that section B, it's like either
you're going to head uh west to Reddit Collier or you're going to head east to Fort McCoy. and it's not really going to help you one way or the other. So, I mean, I we could put some of them in Fort McCoy. I mean, we have space there, too. So,
to answer your main point, though, Dr. James, I I am not I'm not comfortable with saying today that we are going to replace
some of the other priorities that we have where the higher populations of students are. Um, for example, if we were to do a Spar Anthony over a Belleview Elementary Belleview Santos, I I'm going to disagree with that. Um, I don't know
that that's what's being >> No, I mean that's not even plausible. We've already Belleview where like >> Right. So, >> right. So, I I think part of that question though is so what do we if we were to move this up, right? What is it
that we move down? And I respect that district 5 needs to have some capital money coming out of that sales tax. I don't know that it's at the elementary level is where I want to put it. And I'm just going to be frank on that. We know what our birth rate numbers look like.
And and if I'm putting money somewhere in the north side, it probably will be where the most students can be served, which would be at the middle or high school levels because that's where they all come together. So that's where I am on it. I I don't know what that means
for this answer. We do need to solve this Reddit Collier issue. We do need to figure out where all these kids could go. Could they all just go to Spar? No, because we >> I mean, so I mean >> I but I so I would counter that to say like honestly I say we buy portables and put portables at Spar. We cannot
financially continue to operate this way and that has been the crux of my approach on this since I got on the board. what we are doing is financially irresponsible. We cannot continue to operate with two and three and 400 students at schools. It's just it does
not make financial sense. And so while it is we not ideal, I would stand by let's buy portables and put portables at SPAR and maxim and figure out a little bit of capital improvement at SPAR to make it make sense so that they have the
facilities they need to serve a population of 600 students and just do it and move the kids and be done with it. But we cannot continue this. This plan is a plan to fail if it does not have intention to do something different
later. Because there's not not a bunch of people are moving into Spar, y'all. It's not like it's not like SPAR's population is just going to magically grow. Two, three years from now, we're going to look up and go, "Well, we just lost $1.5 million a year for a couple
years." And now all of a sudden we're going to have to reszone the north end again because we can't continue to sustain losing millions of dollars a year at every school. So I I agree with you that the things SPAR would need today if we were to just
not give them a brand new school and not, you know, give them the model that's Ross Prairie and and Winding Oaks and about to be Belleview, but they had some capital improvements there. I don't know what uh the cost would be. They
need expansion of their media center, >> cafeteria, >> and cafeteria. Those are the two things that they absolutely need. >> Well, instructional classrooms. >> Well, med media, we can do instructional classrooms with portables potentially. But media center, I mean, it looks like we could potentially walk out knock out
a wall and just figure out how to make that be expanded as opposed to create a brand new one. And I see Miss Usher like with her hand on her head because we're talking but uh and and then the cafeteria. I mean those are just spaces that absolutely have to be expanded for us to be able to do any kind of
combination there whatsoever. I am comfortable with us figuring out what that looks like to the tune of potentially 5 to10 million or something. I am not comfortable with a 30 to$40 million new school there. >> So and and I I guess we're having open
discourse board. I hope that's okay with everybody and feel free to jump in. But um my my heart wants a new school on the north end and I believe wholeheartedly that the north end deserves its portion of the sales tax. However, as a financial steward, one of five financial
stewards to this billion dollar budget, this is not going to work for me. And so if the common ground for right now is that Spar and Anthony combined immediately and we figure out what needs to happen from a capital perspective this summer, I guess to make it
functional space for August, then that's what I'm willing to get behind to make it a functional space. Um, and certainly, you know, if I called Dr. all day right now. She'd probably she's probably listening just shaking in her
boots. But Dr. Campbell's not wrong. The media center needs attention. The cafeteria has to be addressed to be able to seat more students. Um the the PE multi-purpose area is less than ideal for indoor PE. Um the art and music are
served in a portable. So there has to be some level of like improvement there to be able to deliver at least to that that many more students. And then there's a necessity for classroom portables. Um, I also would offer the new buildings that were built in like the 90s, which were
like are supposed to be two classrooms, but are being used as one because they have false walls. Theoretically, we could put up some real walls potentially that would then allow for maybe eight more classrooms because I think on the fish report it it reads as
is it a 16? There's 16 classrooms probably in those two buildings. Um, I could be wrong, but I think there's technically 16 classrooms, but they're really used as like eightish because the false walls are not functional. Um, anyone who's taught in a classroom with false walls knows there's it's not you
can't teach. So, potentially throwing up some real walls and creating some actual functional space would be able to problem solve away some portables. Um, but that would be a plan that I could get on board with because ultimately what I see is that the ABAC says they
want Spar and Anthony together. That is what I hear from what the ABAC found. But unless the board is going to make a financial commitment, we can't get there. And so we have to navigate what that's going to look like from a board perspective to get us across the finish line to make this decision.
>> So chair y interject for a moment. So, I just want to go back to what our proposal was in the fall for the Spar Anthony combination. I know it's been a minute since we talked about it. Um, so we actually have some cost savings that we had dedicated from sales tax for um our Denellon program that we are no
longer going to utilize because we're going to do our own evaluation of of what the needs are for that campus. And we also scaled back on the Belleview, the new Belleview um building because one of the buildings is so new, we're not going to tear it down. We were actually able to scale back on the design which saved us some more money in
sales tax. So combining those two savings and delaying the Denellan campus by one year we would have enough funds to build the new Spar Anthony campus and keep the newer building that's already at Spar to be able to move Fiddler's
over from the Fiddler spot over into the Spar campus in that new building to take care of both of those issues simultaneously. >> Thank you for the perspective. Yeah. Goes into the next I guess next presentation. >> A board member there
timeline for what you just proposed. >> 20 I got to look at Miss 28 29 >> 2028. >> We're bleeding into our next presentation here. So I got to call reinforcements. >> Well, but I think we need the information to be able to make an informed decision. >> Yes. Um did the Nellan Middle High
School when we presented it to you in the five-year capital plan, we had it opening in 2030. If we did do what Mr. White House said, we have three million right now that we were going to do a study for Denellan that we can put towards this project and we're because
we are keeping two buildings at Belleview Elementary because of the new Belleview centers, we'll get savings from there. So if we push back the Danellan Middle to 31, we can open a new Spore Anthony in 29.
>> In 29. Okay. >> All right. um because and that's really important to have that timeline which helps me a lot in terms of what to advocate for here because I also want to honor the the
attendance you know committee and and and their hard work and looking at taking pressure off of Ocala Springs getting some students to reic you know accomplishes what's been proposed. Um, we also can't lose sight of the fact that that whole area up there, it's it's
unique. It's unique geographically. It's unique in culture. Uh, so as we make these, you know, sharp pencil decisions, which are also very important, it's also just as important to keep a good eye on um the reality, you
know, of of what's up there. I don't know if the rest of you got the same text as I did right before Christmas about a new multifamily development that apparently has already been approved up in um district 5. Did you guys get that same?
>> I mean it's not approved in this bar. >> Right. I I didn't get the uh exact location but it district five which is large you know geographically. So if anyone thinks that development's not coming to that area, it it's not coming as fast as the southwest, which is, you
know, clearly our biggest challenge right now. Um but but it is coming. Um, so again, I I think that taking the the step and this is exactly back to where we started, you know, with an eye towards
getting the Spar Anthony combination going. Um, I see that, you know, on this slide. I got a little spooked when I heard, okay, it's going to be, you know, done in in two years. You know, it we just have to be careful about what we're
promising here. And um so that's that's where I'll leave it. >> So Dr. Campbell, I >> I mean, and I completely respect the direction we're going. A new Spar Anthony combo, whatever. I I'm still pulling that back a little bit just to
say I I I agree SPAR, let's combine Spar and Anthony. I don't need know that it needs to be a a complete brand new school. What I don't want to have happen, I don't want to be the board that chose to build one of our newest schools in a location where we are in
this exact same situation five, six, seven years from now when birth rates in Marian County are tanking. They have across the world. We know that where people are not moving there. I I don't want to be the board that chose to put a 20 to30 million dollar brand new
building in an area that there's 200 kids and and potentially that's the future we're going in. We know yesterday with the county commission presentation, you all have seen the urban growth boundary. While they may have approved something also district five for the county is different than district five
for the school board. It's her dis anyway. So I'm not sure exactly where the development is. The district five county commissioner gave us that information. But district five for >> mean that it wasn't district five. >> I don't know because I'm not certain exactly. I didn't look to see exactly
where the development was going. I'm just saying their district five is different than our district 5. >> Well, and and all of the schools we're talking about right now are actually in district four for the county commission. So because district four for the county commission essentially encompasses Anthony Spar, everything on the right
side of 75, the east side of 75. So, so anyway, I I just I want to reiterate, I agree we need to put some of those sales tax dollars on the north side. I think there are ways that we can do that differently, more creatively than a brand new school, but that is just not
wise fiscal sense for us to build something one of our beautiful new model schools. We're dealing with that right now. The whole reason we're having a conversation about REDIC is because prior to us building a new school in Southwest, new elementary schools in Southwest that was one of the newest
school I mean it's it really is one of our newest schools and and it was built in the 80s because the school district wasn't building forever. That's why we're not talking about closing right at Collier. >> Yes. >> So I just I don't and I don't disagree with you, Dr. Campbell. Like I mean
yeah, my dream is to have a brand new school. I think I as someone who resides in the community, I I'm I will stand by that testimony. But I also totally understand that the dynamic of the the five board members is that we have to compromise and we have to have the
things that are most important to us and we also have to realize that we have to come to a commonality. And I what you're saying to me is very valid because I certainly wouldn't want to be a board member who finishes my eight years and then you know my kids are in high school and I'm sitting as a community member looking at conversations about closing
what is a brand new school. So I don't disagree with you and I think that's a very valid testament. But what I would want to see is staff start figuring out how to get us there. But we as a board need to agree that we're going to get there because otherwise I'm I I can just
say for me and I'm only one vote but I'm not agreeing to a reszoning and I think I heard Dr. Campbell say the same thing of 248 students unless there is an intentionality behind a combination because we cannot sustain it
thor intentionality for continued improvement up there. I can get behind what that ends up looking like. I think that staff deserves the opportunity to digest what we've regurgitated to them and and give us, you know, some some
options. Um, I see some head nods from some important people. So maybe maybe we're not going to get there in today's conversation that that we know that there is continued need up there. What that looks like is also to be continued. Um, and
for now I want to honor the work and the intention of the attendance boundary committee. That's what we put them together for. And let's start moving. You know, let's at least take that step. >> Yeah. As a board, >> we know it's needed. >> Yes. What I would say is by the time we vote on a reasonzoning, which I think is
in May, right? Is that what the timeline said? >> April. >> Okay. Rulem is in April in three months from now, right? >> Essentially, >> yes. by the time we do rulemaking as a board member, I want to know what the plan is.
That that would be something that I would request of what is the plan because I I don't know that I'm behind um what could be a permanent 248 student max enrollment that because that's as zoned. So that's something I would need as a
board member by the time we get to rule making >> and the reality of when that can be brought back if if that's it's >> and that is the purpose of the rule making and so I and our community meetings will be very beneficial those start in February so February and March
we'll be in the community listening getting input so we'll be able to pro provide that to Dr. Campbell >> Dr. Campbell. >> So, I was going I'm going to talk about this at the end, but um just in a couple weeks, we'll also school choice window will close. And I'm also going to be
interested in knowing how many of these students are applying to come out of zone. We we already know we have the current inzone student versus what the enrollment is. And so, but I'm also interested in knowing how many of those students are interested in in driving to
get out of the zone and what that looks like. uh because they know if they were doing a school choice they would they would be going elsewhere. I also want to respect what the committee has done. I can get behind the Reddit Collier and the Ocala Springs recommendations the A
and B and the G and O. We just got to figure out the DF like like we got to figure out the rest. Um I I don't I because I I don't want all of this work that they've put in to go to for not and and and they've they've met
three times on a very uh aggressive time schedule and we we have to fix the Reddit Collier issue. I think AM does it. >> So but my question would be we have to fix the Reddit Collier because of schools of hope. Respectfully, Spar Elementary was a very
low C and so last year and so are we not theoretically opening ourselves up to the same exact problem at Spar that we have at Reic right now because schools of hope then if if Spar is is still a C
then okay but if they are not still a C then we are theoretically exposing ourselves to the same threat that we have right now. So, we're just robbing Peter to pay Paul with problems and that's that's what I'm trying to avoid because yes, we are solving the
reticer problem and reddic is a a much more a much more preserved campus. So, let's fill it up 100. I totally agree, but if we're just exposed because if we have a plan, then we can go to the state and say, "Yeah, because it's two years, we got to do the modifications and then
right, but if we don't have a plan, then we're just leaving ourselves just as open We're also talking about offlining the uh Fiddler's building and moving that to Spar. >> So maybe that could occur.
>> Yeah, >> it's in the next >> to protect >> to protect that. >> Dr. Campbell. >> So my only question about these community meetings coming up in February. So we've all been to these community meetings and historically what the community meeting has is the map of here's what's going to happen. But what we're asking for is the community
meeting to actually help formulate the plan. I just want to make sure that we're on the same page there because every time these community meetings happen, it's like this is what's happening. And so that I don't think is what we're asking for this time around. I'm on board with what's happening as long as what happens after what happens
is is is planned because this plan is the plan and this is what what the community meetings would have. But then there's a slide missing that says in 2027 or in 2028 based on revitalization of Spar's
campus, Anthony and Spar then combine. Like that is essentially what's missing. And so yes, this is what would be as part of the presented plan because we all say this is what needs to happen. And I don't disagree with the shortterm
248 and 410 if the, you know, two-year or three-year plan involves solving that problem. Hold up now. It's right on. Slide five. Committee recommendation. Balance enrollment between Reddic, Spar, Anthony, and Ocala Springs. Plan for a combination of Spar and Anthony in the
new in the near future to reduce operating costs. That's intention there. how what the timeline is and how that actually looks and what might go there first. I'm thinking of fiddlers again, you know, to provide some protective cushion against schools of hope while we're getting the rest of it all going.
You know, that's to be determined and I think we owe it to to staff to, you know, bring us back. >> Yes. >> Which plan is >> and that's all I'm saying is by the time we get to rule making in April, I would feel more comfortable with the decision understanding what's coming next. That's
as that's how I feel as a board member voting on the rulemaking. >> Dr. Campbell, did you have any further thoughts? >> I mean, I I agree with with all the thought process of combining SPAR and Anthony, but I have already gone on the record and will continue to do so. I do not believe that needs to be a 30 or $40
million new school. >> Board member Conrad, >> I'm on board with um bringing a more solidified plan to us by April. Um, I think that the steps are in place. We
just need we just need to get to the finish line. >> Or member Thor, >> a more solidified plan in in April and I look forward to seeing it, making my best decision then.
>> Okay. Does that round up what you need, Mr. White House? I >> think we got what we need. >> Okie dokie. >> Yep. Is there any public comment on the ABAC update? >> I'd like to comment. >> It's nice to have this conversation though when we know so many of our
districts nearby are just today having closure closure of school conversations. So I I know this is difficult and it's uncomfortable for even our community members, but we are not having a closure conversation. We're looking at ways to
combine schools and fill the schools with capacity. So, thank you for your conversation and your input today. >> Yep. >> And I want to say thank you Dr. Brewer um and chair for the opportunity to converse and remind the public this is the only opportunity we have to have
these conversations. So, >> yes, together aboard me. >> Brainstorming in public is what I call that. >> It's not always fun. >> Well, and to Dr. to's point, you know, while we have some difficult conversations that we will continue to have as boards, like Orange County is today talking about closing seven
schools. >> So, our our biggest concerns are some other districts like that would be like a blip on the radar. And so, I feel grateful that we are in the position we are in and it could be a lot worse. And so, um, for that position, I know I am
grateful and the ABAC has done tremendous work. Um, and I obviously we kind of started that a little late. So, I'm hopeful that the timeline for their meetings will obviously be more um appropriately scheduled for Mr. Ayes's purpose for the reszoning and just
understanding what that looks like because this is obviously a tighter timeline than we would traditionally. Um, Burmer, >> just finally, I wanted to acknowledge that we do have at least one member of the ABAC here in the audience. Two. Two. I I see Mr. McConico. I see
>> Dr. Dawson. Dr. Dawson. Hey, Dr. Dawson. So, that's that's great. Thank you. >> Um I can't remember if I asked for public comment. >> You did. >> I did. Okay. All right. Well, hearing none, um board, do you want to take a quick break or would you like to just move into site utilization? >> Let's go on. Okay.
>> Utilize some sites. >> Okay. So, then we will move on to um site utilization uh item 8.1 and it's an update on a variety of sites across the district. Dr. Bur, thank you. Good um morning,
Chair James, board members, you all asked that we bring to you the site utilization for vac um upcoming vacated sites. So today we'll focus on five. These five are
the technology information service property and that site should be available by January 2027. Thank you. The Belleview Santos Elementary School site which should be vacated by August 28th.
The um Fiddler's Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource. We are looking for direction from the board on the use of that site. We just had a discussion at Anthony Elementary School D and what should be done with that site. So this will just
follow that and Wake Clair Lake Middle School that will be available August 2028. So these are the sites we're focusing on. Mr. Xavier Bolertie is our new planning manager. He will provide information on these sites. It is at the
pleasure of the board if you all want to discuss each site after he presents each site or you want to go through the entire PowerPoint and then discuss it afterwards. So >> board, what would be your preference? Do you want to discuss each site as
presented or wait until the end? >> I would prefer to go through the whole >> Okay, let's do the whole thing. >> All right. Thank you. So I Mr. Bertie, >> thank you Miss Usher for the introduction. uh happy to make my first presentation to the school board today.
Today we'll be covering some potential vacated sites. Uh potential future vacated sites. I'm going to emphasize potential. I know there's a lot of discussion and a lot of moving pieces that we need to consider. Uh Miss Usher gave us a little rundown of what we're going to be covering. Uh so we'll just
dive in. So we'll start off with a little property dis uh a little disclaimer from the property appraisers office. Most of the data that we're going to present today comes from the property appraiser and it's public information collected primarily for property tax purposes.
It's provided for general reference only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for a licensed appraisal, title search, or land survey. What you see on this slide is the important disclaimer that greets you on a property appraiser website. So, just take the values that you'll see with caution.
Uh here are two definitions that I just want to offer. their distinctions. Uh for the most part, you'll see that these two values are similar, but in some cases, they may differ. The definitions outlined on this slide help explain why those differences occur. So, total just
value is the total market or just value of the entire parcel for assessment purposes. And a total assessed value is the total assessed value of the entire parcel excluding any impact from amendment 10, the 10% cap and or agricultural class uh classifications
for assessment purposes. And just a reminder, uh these are not formal appraisal values, but values from the Marian County Property Appraiser. So we we'll start off with the current technology and information services property located east of downtown Ocala.
The new technology and information services site is expected to be completed at the end of this year in December 2026 at the old Phoenix site uh with this site that you see on the slide to be vacated shortly after. While this parcel is divided up into three
geometries today, we're only focusing on the northern portion where we have the old school board building and the current technology and information services building. Uh that portion in the north is just over one acre and based on the proportionate size has an assessed value of $823,000
and a total just value of $928,000. Now we'll talk about the Belleview Santosa Elementary School. Uh, and I'll just offer up some context that was discussed previously, but the new Lakew Weir Middle School campus is expected to open in August 2027 during construction
of the combined Belleview and Belleview Santos Elementary School campus. Belleview Elementary School students will be temporarily housed at the current Lake Weir Middle School site, which we'll talk about a little in a little bit. Uh, this site, the Belleview Santos Elementary School, is expected to
be vacated in August 2028. This parcel is 16.6 6 acres and has an assessed and total value of 5.8 million. And just to note that this site is located on a major arterial South US Highway 441. Now we have Fiddler Springs. It's
currently occupied as we know and has no expected vacation date. The site encompasses 20 acres and also houses our zone 2 bus compound which you can see north of the two uh older buildings. It has an assessed and total just value of
1.4 million. Where we do have the two fiddler buildings, that area is more or less 4 acres and it is fenced off from our busy yard. So now we have the elementary school site that I know we just had some discussion on and as we know we are in
the process of attendance boundary changes. Uh this might be a possible vacated site in August 2029 if an Anthony Spar combination campus is realized. The site has a little over eight acres and has an assessed and
total just value of 2.8 million. The last potential vacated site is the current Lake Weir Middle School campus. Just to remind everyone, the new Lakewear Middle School campus is expected to open in August 2027 and Belleview Elementary School students
would be temporarily housed here while the combined Belleview and Belleview Santos is constructed. Just to note, the replacement site for the new Lakew Weir Middle School was acquired through eminent domain and in the taking it was stated that this campus was in really bad shape and should be demolished. the
site. This site could potentially serve as a site for a new VPK VPK early center as uh there has been some dis discussion. >> We don't mean to laugh at you, but it's just so it's just so sad. So, we're laughing instead of crying. Sorry, we're
not laughing at you. >> Yeah, I understand. >> It was another board another time. >> U so those are the five sites uh that are, you know, we have future potential vacation. Um, at this point, are there any questions or directives for staff?
>> I know I have a question for attorney Powers more than you. Um, I know that we had discussed previously timely talking about listing properties that the board wants to list so that we are not like the warehouse sitting for essentially almost a year with an empty
property that we could have been using that money to um, problem solve our our capital necessities. So my question would be specifically regarding um a which is the technology and information services property. I would like to know
a board first if it is the um pleasure of the majority of the board um to start the discussion around what we do next. What are we listing? Are we putting it out to bid? How are we going about this? I'd like to um I'd like to get the board's take on that. And then of course attorney powers
>> board member thrower >> um with the technology and information services building proper property is that to include the old school board building. >> Yes. >> Okay. Just wanted to confirm >> that's what this slide has. >> It's the the front building just the back.
>> The whole block. Yeah. The whole block. >> So it's one partial number but it's divided up into those three geometries. We're talking about that northern uh most uh portion which you see in the right hand photo. >> Yep. So the entire block which includes the old central elementary as well as all of the data stuff behind it. >> Okay. All right. That's what I thought.
Just wanted to confirm because once it's out there then we're going to start hearing from the historic preservation folks and you know hops and so on. So you know just want to put it out there that there's going to be people that are going to show a lot of interest in the historical preservation of that spot
>> and they may or may not then want to make a a fair and good bid. Um, that's what the process would allow, right? I think that's what I'm looking to understand from attorney powers is if the board is interested, which I'd like to hear from everyone and because we're we're talking now we're essentially 11
months out from vacating. So, it took us like eight or nine months to sell the warehouse. So, I would love to like start if we know that that's the direction we want to go. I'd love to start the process. But, I think let's hear from the whole board maybe attorney powers before board member Conrad or
Campbell. Let me ask you, is this just uh this one property that you're looking at right now? >> Yes. Yeah. >> If you're just talking about one property, then what I would need is for f for facilities to identify that property specifically. So, we'll need to uh make an announcement that it's not
suitable for educational purposes or use. And then from there, we would um begin the process of a confidential appraisal. Um, and then the board could decide based on that what it wanted to
do moving forward for either a bid process or another form of sale. >> Well, I don't want to do what we did. So, that's what I know. But, Dr. Campbell, >> bid thing. >> So, that's where my question is them saying it's not
for educational use. I I mean the district the whole district >> current form it's no longer >> current form >> no longer suitable for educational purposes it doesn't mean that with a lot of >> sure um but then where does that place
us also because it actually was a former school as opposed to the central warehouse that was just a big open space. This was a former school. Where does that put us with charter schools having first right of refusal? Well, the board would have to declare that it's
that it's that it's not um usable for a educational purpose for our purposes. >> Okay? >> Someone else then chooses to um have that right of first refusal, they would be able to to do so. >> Okay? Because that that's the other
piece that plays into this. Uh but yes, I am absolutely all for selling it or at least giving first right of refusal at the Yep. >> beginning starting the process. starting the process on that one piece of property. Absolutely. >> Or member Conrad. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I think what I hear from the
board that's present today is we want to start the process um to to get the ball rolling on this parcel. >> Copy that. >> Okay. I do think we will want to have deeper discussion about how we sell it if we do intend to sell it.
>> Yeah. And and I would point out to the board, there were three times along the way that your attorney said, "We should do it this way instead." And the board had a lot of discussion and the board wanted to do it in the way the board devised. Sometimes it's best to leave
this to your attorney and the uh outside counsel who's professional at it rather than trying to and I know there were problems with outside counsel and some of the folks that they chose as well. However, that wasn't the path that we
were going down initially. Initially, we were going down a path that would result in a clean sale. >> Yes. And so, I think a separate work session agenda item where we discuss um in the in the notsodistant future the processes that we would like to explore for listing this particular parcel would
be super helpful. We don't need to get into the details. >> I will come with a strong recommendation of what that purpose should be and then if not, I'll let you all do your chef work. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, that was my only comment regarding the items. I do think um I'd love to be able to do this well and set
a precedent so that then theoretically closing to the conclusion of selling this, we could then talk about Belleview and etc. and kind of just keep the process rolling. Um, so I know that's something that I would love to be able to do, but for me the only one I really had a question about right now. Um, I
mean I guess obviously the Fiddler's property we can have discussion about if there's if this I hadn't even thought about the building at Spar that board member Thrower brought up, but if we could is what was the square footage? Um, it's escaping me now, but what was the square footage that they wanted? Um,
Fiddlers >> 20,000. I thought >> the difference between um Fiddler's currently has like 10 classroom and a big conference room and I think they would like to rep um replicate that >> the space we have right now at reic in
that old building >> I think what what we're talking about is spar. So if we reszone SPAR and we had essentially that new classroom building I'm sorry to interrupt you but that new classroom building at Spar with the decreased student enrollment the new classroom building would not be needed I think was what and
>> it'll be the capacity at SPAR right now is 410 the enrollment is 228 so it'll be like 200 >> um yes what I'm saying is how many square feet and this would maybe be a staff a staff question to come back to the board with >> I will have to look >> but how many square feet is the newer
building that was built in the 90s at Spar elementary and would that be suitable for fiddlers because I know board members throw a thought pattern on that was to circumvent a schools of hope situation. Um could we talk about that? I also know that the um that that wing
is on the far east side of the campus and so um theoretically we could probably navigate separate entrances etc there. So it would it's not like it's in the middle of Spar's campus. So from a functionality standpoint it might make sense. >> Sure. James, are you meaning to um
vacate ourselves to that premises also? I mean, you you want to sell that? >> Well, only if fiddlers can fit into the spar, but yes. I mean, if fiddlers >> the board agrees. >> Well, I mean, yeah, I'm not queen, but what I'm saying is I think what I at least heard >> this need to be something that's added to the list of property.
>> We're not there yet. We're not there yet. >> Yeah, I don't think we're there yet. I mean, we can be, but we need to understand if if building I don't know the building number. We we did we did have this conversation and we believe he needs 10 classrooms. It would be able to fit into the sparse space.
>> I think so um Dr. Brewer, but I the square footage um Dr. James I do not know right off. So it's something I'll have to come back with. >> My guess would be that it would also fit based on based on having been in both places. So >> we'll bring that. >> But it'd be good to know because I think I mean the rest of the board do you want
to weigh in on Fiddler's moving into Spar's collocation situation? Um, board member Conrad, >> I think it's a great idea if it if it will fit, which it's sounding like we think it will fit, but we need a definite. >> Yes. And Dr. Campbell, did you have a thought on that? >> Um, I I just appreciate understanding
where our bus depots are also and that it's on the same property and just ensuring that transportation doesn't have any need for that building at all ever. Then, uh, that would be the only other question that I would have about that specific location. But I would be fine with moving forward and selling
that if we don't have any need for that ever from transportation. >> Have we started the roof project at Fiddler yet? >> Thank God. Okay. Because certainly it would be very >> We have not. It's um we have it budgeted at 360,000 but we really do need to start it. So we're waiting for a
direction. Um so we haven't started as yet. I think based on the conversation today, I think we need to try to hold off because if we're going to move fiddlers, if Spar is really only going to have 250 kids next year and we really do have space for them and like if all of those things are going to happen, then then there's no reason to put a
roof on a building unless of course it would be contingent upon a sale, but I don't think that would be necessary personally. So that that's my thought on that. >> I agree. >> Okay. >> So those were the two items on this list that I had questions about right now. Board member uh Dr. Campbell,
>> the only other question I have is I really would like a little bit more elaboration on imminent domain and and what that's going to prevent us from doing on that campus in the future. I know it came up >> campus >> Lakeware Middle School >> doesn't prevent us from doing anything.
The fact that we use utilized imminent domain once the property has been pulled from imminent domain, we convert it to a public purpose, it's still under a public purpose for some period of time. uh well for the duration of our possession of it. Now, if we then choose
to um to turn around and and sell that property, um there we still can sell our property. Um it's no longer serving as an educational purpose. Now, if there were if it were within a certain time frame, and I'll have to get with statute
to find out what that is. If it were in a certain certain time frame and we were essentially flipping properties like that using imminent domain, of course that would not be acceptable. So um but in I don't envision that being a problem in this scenario
>> and we we would have condemned it back 20 years ago or something whenever the original sales tax went into effect. >> Yeah, >> we're not flipping anything. >> Yeah. >> Um Dr. James, it was eminent domain in 2019 and um as attorney Powers said, it's correct. Nothing is wrong with the
property. Just reading through the case, it just says that the building was in such deplorable state that we had to eminate it. We could not use it and had to eminate eminent domain the other side to be able to build a replacement. But the property we can do whatever we want
to do with it. Okay, that that was the only other question that I had about >> or member fair. Did you >> It's like is history repeating itself here? Because isn't that how Forest High School here turned into Forest High School on Mary Camp little bit? >> Yes. Yes.
>> You know, it's deplorable and yet here we sit. >> It is. But I don't know that we purchased the property that forest >> too deplorable. It must be the domain. I I don't know that that happened. That the imminent domain was because we purchased the property in Silver Spring Shores. >> Yeah. and that it's the imminent domain for and so that's how that happened. I I
don't know how we obtained the property that Forest High School sits on now, but I don't think it was imminent domain. It was deplorable conditions that this that this building >> still is >> and we still have hundreds of students on this campus. Okay. >> Okay. >> So, board the first few slides there
that were discussed, are there any other further discussions? To recap, we talked about going ahead and initiating the process for listing um A and then understanding um if C will fit into SPAR and if so then talking that through to
impact as well after that information is gathered. >> Is that a good summary? And I'll just need from facilities whatever property records we have. And very specifically would have helped us a lot on the warehouse if we had had maintenance records and any any prior records of our interactions with the property. What we
got back from the time from facilities and it wasn't nobody here is currently um on staff that that was there at the time. We had a warehouse that we had had for a very long time and we couldn't provide any data really whatsoever on how it had been used or what inspections had been
done or even how it was built. So, um uh any data we have on the property that will help that'll then determine our next step as to whether we want to get a confidential appraisal uh initially out of the gate or whether we just want to open up to an open bid process.
>> All right. Uh board member, >> thank you. Just to to clarify on the Fiddler Springs, it it says the acreage is 20 acres >> and the building I know is not doesn't cover the 20 acres. >> Yeah. >> So,
>> right. So, the entire parcel is 20 acres, but if you look at the fenced in portion where you have the two buildings, that's the south the southern end of the parcel, that's about four acres. >> Okay. So, >> more and this is using property appraiser uh values. These are not surveys, >> right? So, we would be looking at
selling the building in the four acres, not >> or the whole thing. >> Uh, from what I understand, transportation utilizes the the busy yard, and it's an important asset to the to the school district. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. So, we would just be we I I think that we'd have to talk about that further, but yes, it would be just
talking about the front part there, >> right? So, we can't begin to think that we would be making the amount of money that's listed as the assessed. Oh, I mean 20 with everything. >> I mean, that's just a property appraiser value, too. >> Right. Right. Heard. But again, we'd be
looking at a building in four, not >> Yes. And I agree with board member Thorougher. I don't think we can get rid of the the transportation, right, >> asset, >> right? Okay. Just wanted to clarify that. I'm good. >> I think you're good to move forward. >> Great. So, we also inventoried other
vacant sites owned by the school board and identified a list of 12 parcels that have no existing buildings. This is just to offer y'all a an inventory to uh for informed discussion. So, when you see the word extension in the site name, that indicates the vacant parcel is
directly adjacent to an existing school site. Uh this list is provided as anformational inventory only. does not speak to the suitability suitability of any site for development. At the board's direction, we can conduct in additional
investigation and analysis as needed. So, here's a map of Marian County with those 12 sites indicated in red. Uh, if you hold down control, if you're using a PC, and you click the map, you'll ask access an embedded link to an interactive web map we created. Uh, and
if you focus your attention on the top right hand corner of that of that web app, you'll see a control panel that will help you navigate the 12 exhibits. There's one master exhibit showing a very similar map to what you see here and then the 12 exhibits uh showing you the 12 different parcels. At the board's
pleasure, I can walk us through the 12 parcels or I can conclude this presentation if the board would like to peru peruse the maps on their own. Uh you can also follow through the web app or with the screenshots I included at the end of the presentation after this slide
>> or do you want need him um or desire to go through every single item or what is your pleasure? >> I mean I don't think I don't need a debrief of every item. I mean realistically we also are not able as to your point most if not all are
unsuitable for um further building. >> I think more more investigation would be yeah needed. >> Yeah I see as being informationational for now. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I agree >> Dr. Campbell. >> And and I I agree. I mean I think that
if we wanted to go as the board property by property and just saying okay we don't need to have extensive conversation on that moving on. I like the eighth street parking lot for example I would say um I don't know that we can touch that you know so so I mean
I think that there are u there might be value in us at least having very brief conversation on each one of these properties >> one by one >> uh but I don't know that it necessarily we don't need staff presentation on it necessarily um because all the details
already included here which this interactive map is so spectacular I was so grateful to receive it thank you >> of course I hope It offers you all context when you uh zoom in into a parcel at least you can zoom out and see how it relates to our other school uh board properties.
>> Absolutely. And so board for for the pleasure of the rest of us we'll go through slide by slide. I can lead it real quick just to be um efficient. Um let's talk about the Anthony North extension. Any comments, questions or concerns? All right.
Hearing none. Eighth Street parking lot. We obviously know there's nowhere else for them to park. So, >> right, I I mean it it is interesting and helpful to know that it is school district property. I actually had a community member reach out to me a couple years ago asking me about it, thinking that we were parking on city
land. I I don't even know just the way we park on it. We're just not taking good care of it and like all these things that um people in the historic district tend to have concerns about. So, but we're keeping that piece in my opinion. We certainly don't have a place
for people to park otherwise. So >> that's my understanding. >> Um Fezden North Extension. We already know we have more land than we could ever need at Fezden. And apparently we have more than we even thought we needed. >> So my question about this, we were told we have 30 some odd acres I think at
Feezond or do you have the total of the whole property? >> I thought it was in the hundreds. >> That's on me. >> Um it is 20 plus that 10 so it's 30. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I thought at one point it was like more than a hundred acres, but
>> that may be an old um stat, but regardless, it's it's more than 30 acres. So um back to the old vision that I presented long ago, that's ample space to build those dormitories that used to
be there and make it a state park. that would be an immersive state park experience and would be the special needs shelter and all of the things but that just will continue to float out there in the atmosphere
>> to the state far beyond our purview >> as well and keeping in mind if I may that we just received a presentation that is at 97% capacity so you know if Ocala Park states and those parts of um Marian County continue
to grow there may very well be a need to expand >> potentially. >> Um, Fort McCoy North Extension >> 8.67 acres. >> Okay.
Uh, Northwest Transportation Hub South Extension 15 acres. All right. Dr. Campbell, did you have something? >> Not really. I I mean I building a new transportation hub's expensive, so we're not even going to u explore that at this
point. And I don't at some point I I do think it provides a little bit of value just to say I mean it's not it can't be a school site. 14 acres isn't big enough for a school site. >> It is >> perhaps an elementary. Miss Usher is
saying >> um for the standard elementary school at 880 to 900 it is recommended 15 acres. >> So >> okay well looking at the bigger picture and seeing what the and Fezington and anyway that I'm not saying that we need a a new
school in Northwest but >> it's an interesting location. Okay moving reic north. >> This one's an interesting one. >> God bless. So, the school board owns a single family lot on a mostly undeveloped street in a subdivision in Reic. This is north of uh the Reic
Collier Elementary. >> Can we just sell this one? I'd love to just sell this one. I mean, I know it's not worth much, but like >> I mean, why do we have it? Like, >> I guess is it going to cost us more to sell it than it would even I mean, >> well, so this is not a formal appraisal.
One um two, uh still figuring out when the school board obtained this property. Uh, I've gotten to the records in the 70s where it went to the county. Still trying to investigate when it came to us. >> Okay. I mean, realistically, a quarter acre in Reic is probably not worth much
at all. >> Assessed value is $850. >> Well, I mean, it's not probably $850, but a quarter acre in Reic is not worth a bunch. I mean, an acre on the north end these days is going for about 20 to $30,000. Um, that's what that's what the real world is paying for an acre on the north
end. whether that's, you know, will reflected somewhere. I can tell you that's what it's going for. Um, but certainly, uh, maybe not in a quick little neighborhood in Reic. So, >> that's that's kind of what I saw when I was trying to look at comparables. >> I don't I don't even know how much it
would cost to to sell it. So, >> I wonder why we needed it. >> It's weird. >> It feels like it was a land swap. Like, there was something that they needed of ours and that just happened to be a vacant spot that they had. But >> where is the new Reic Park in comparison to this? So, I wonder I I guess I'd have
>> you zoom out. If you're on the web app, if you zoom out, you can if you know how it looks on a satellite image, you can kind of get your context that way. >> I'd have to look because you know they've just put a new park in Reic. So, I don't know if this is near the Reic Park, but
I'd have to look. Let's see. Oh, I think it's like right behind the park. It's probably It was probably a landslap. Dr. to your point. Um, how how what is the um how old are these images
this like is this a live map? >> That's a good question. I would have to look I would have to look at that >> because the park just opened recently, but it's not directly behind the park, but it's probably really close to the park. So, that was you're that's probably what it was because the county owned the
land. It was the old um sheriff uh MCSO location is where the park is now, >> right? So, the county has some land up there that was for the sheriff's office back in the day. So, if I had to guess, but I could ask my kin folk because my kin folk would definitely be able to
tell you. So, I can talk to I can talk to the lineage in Readic and Fairfield and tell you what it was probably. Um, all right. Any other comments on Reic North? >> Okay. Uh, Saddlewood North Extension. >> Uh, yeah, I this is valuable property,
especially now that that road has become fourlaned there. Um, three acres you can't do a ton with, but you can do a little bit. I would be interested in, if I'm the only board member, so be it, but I would be interested in exploring what that would look like to sell that.
We I mean, it it's full of trees right now. It's not like we have people parking there. Granted, it would be helpful if it was cleared and we had staff parking. >> Where are we though? >> But it's uh that's that's the only I I mean I think that this is potentially
more valuable today than it was a year ago. >> It probably will be more valuable in five years than it is right now, too, based on what's happening there. Um >> potentially. >> So, I mean, I don't disagree with Dr. Campbell. I'd be interested to see it. um
how much it would appraise for I don't think I think it's too far away for parking. I mean it fun fun functionally speaking I don't know that it would and honestly the side parking lot of Saddlewood is big enough nobody just want nobody wants to park there because it's an it's an odd way to get into the campus but that we have more than enough
parking at Saddlewood just nobody wants to park where we have more than enough parking and this is only adjacent to the park place where people know where where nobody wants to park so um I don't know that that would solve that particular problem but >> okay I'm glad you said that Dr. James
because when I pull up there, there's always cars kind of like at Westport, you know, they pull on the side of the road and all up in there. >> Yeah. But that's just because they don't want to park in the bus loop and then walk around because of the functionality of it all. >> Especially when we went to single point of entry. So, when we weren't single
point of entry, I'm sure if we go back to if we were to ask Miss Lepira what things were like back in 2018, she would probably have a different perspective. But once we did single point of entry uh and we forced people through um a common entrance, it really impacted where
people like to park. So >> So and back to your other question about how old this map is, the housing complex that is built across the street is just a pile of dirt on this. So that gives you some context.
>> Well, and I don't see the playground either. So that parcel that kind of that what would I probably would call with what three acres or so that's built out with the playground right just north of Saddlewood. I pass it every Sunday for church is the only reason I know. But there's a little playground and then it looks like a little parking lot of
sorts. I don't know exactly who owns that. It might be the neighborhood's little parking lot but um playground. But anyhow, I would I would love to know how much if we're if we're in the business of getting appraisals. Um, I don't I know that cost a little bit of money, but I would be interested in knowing how much this is worth. Um, I
don't know if that's the pleasure of the rest of the board, but I certainly um if we're if we're doing it for item A, which is uh obviously the technology in Central Elementary School, I'd be interested in getting an appraisal for this land. >> Chairman James, Mr. Welch just told me
that the risk management department is conducting appraisals of all our school sites. I don't know if the one with the north extension should we include the contiguous property in those appraisals because right now it would just be saddlewood. It would not incorporate the three acres but he just mentioned that
his risk management is conducting appraisals right now for school sites. >> Oh well I would say certainly if we're doing the work already and everything that has an extension like they're already out there. They can just tag along the other parts. It's obviously a separate parcel but they can
do that right? I mean, they can do anything we pay them to do. That's what I know the answer to be. >> Yeah. Just to speak on that a little bit, um, we can certainly make sure that any of the other adjacent parcels or kind of parcels floating out there are included. Uh, we'll get with facilities,
but that that work is underway. So, it's actually very timely and I think that would help to inform exactly um what we're talking about here today. So, >> perfect. >> And I have some more information to share, but we'll wait on another another session for that. >> Okay. So, then we'll get an appraisal for that. Um, so moving on to the Marion
Oaks Elementary site. This is the obviously the one that has been tossed around as a K8 or some kind of other potential new development. At least that, you know, taking it back a couple years. That's been the conversation. Um, that is what this parcel is, I'm pretty
sure. Any thoughts, board? >> Yeah, we don't need to give up any land in Marion Oaks. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We have um literally nothing on Southeast Mary Road, >> which is That's feels like another trade. >> Yes,
>> it's so small. I I included that in the title just because it it's 06 acres. It's also landlocked. Uh I've reached out to our friends in the county seeing what's the viability of the site if any. Uh it's a very very small parcel in an
undeveloped area uh you know in in the county unincorporated area. >> A tent on it probably not. >> Is it Silver Spring Shores? Like is it because that's Locust Place Court. I >> Let me go to the big map. >> This one's number 10.
>> It's tough to >> You can't even actually see it if you zoom out too far. >> I know. Okay. I was just trying to figure out what what is like how close it is to some of the other things. It It again feels like >> Oh, it's way It's almost like weird. >> Okay. That's
>> it's it's out there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. It is. >> It's out there and it's it's in a very undeveloped area. Very wooded. We would need to take our our hiking boots, maybe a machete >> to get to it. >> How bizarre. Okay. Well,
>> all right. Um and then Sunrise >> depository. >> Yeah. No, don't even mention the words of sand. >> Use it for a field trip research area. There's probably some covert tortoises there and >> Yeah. Scrub J's and >> Oh yeah, place to live. It's only6
acres. >> Sunrise extension research. >> Interesting. >> Sunrise extension looks like essentially the perimeter around Sunrise. >> Yeah, but there's houses that are separating Sunrise from the extension.
>> Yeah, this is a collection of parcels and it's it's an interesting kind of grouping of parcels here. But this is kind of how that back entrance of Sunrise you like essentially come through the neighborhood which is kind of how this is probably all panned out because that's why they don't like
to use I remember when we were talking about adding portables a year and a half ago and it was we essentially have that back entrance that is just like well it's going to be essentially what the high school looks like >> but but neighborhood ends and the the
school begins. Well, I mean, but they could be sold off in separate parcels is I mean, this is all like residential. All I I don't know. I'm just if you the the one section to the what is that? I
don't even know to the right of all of Sunrise where you can see where the blue of Sunrise ends and then these strange red ones. But you've got three houses there in a culde-sac on this drawing any I mean on this picture anyway. So like all of those other red essentially would
be like individual parcels for homes. I don't know if that's >> what it looks like. >> There's certainly no viability in us building anything else in any of those >> vertical and horizontal lines of and Mary maybe Marian Oak's lots aren't
that pricey right now either and so maybe we just hold on to this. But I don't see any reason why eventually that couldn't be sold and sold and parcled off into individual lots because that's all that's going to be viable for.
>> Yes, I would um I would agree because certainly there's nothing we're going to do with it. So from a security perspective, it felt fine to do because right now it's kind of a nice tree barrier of sorts. Um, and I board I think I was wrong because that that the
other parcel is not the K8 that I had said because the the 12 acres in Marin Oaks is not the K8. The the next slide is the K. >> Yeah, the the other one was a potential elementary site if we needed another one. >> Yes, I had this mixed up. But anything else with Sunrise Extension? I mean, I guess we're going to be waiting
essentially on these appraisals regardless and then the board can determine which ones we want to hear. Maybe we can get a recap of once we get the appraisals. So, we could get kind of like a a 2.0 of this that includes the appraised value or no, that's we wouldn't talk about the appraised value
publicly. >> Well, I'm assuming that for our appraisal purposes that we're having on all properties that that is likely going to be made public. Um, what I would do is if we were looking at development and targeting a particular commercial um
portion of the real estate market that we get three appraisals and then pick the middle one. that was true of larger, highly significant properties, prominent properties, not so much properties that are, you know, smaller. So, it's
>> a choice for you to make. >> Well, well, I think I think the board wants to get clarification um on what I've heard the board say is we'd be interested in having a conversation about a few of these different extension pieces and selling them off since they deem no purpose to us. And so in in a
being good financial stewards, our hope is that we're we're trying to liquidate as many assets that will bring us no value. So um I think what I'd like to summarize board when we get to the end of this is which ones we'd like to move forward with understanding what's our next steps in addition to a which is
what we identified at the beginning of the presentation so that whatever needs to happen between the appraisals and the one two three and all the things we can have some understanding on. Right? Does that work for you board? Okay. Okay. So, let's finish Sunrise Extension and then we have the Marian K8 site which
um obviously I think we've all said we need to hold on to. >> Do you want more information on Sunrise? >> I think I'm going to keep >> I'm going to summarize it, but yes. Yes. >> Yeah. On the Sunrise extension, I I agree with you. the piece of property or the piece of this parcel that
essentially is treelined that runs parallel to Southwest 149th Street. But I think the sections that run kind of I don't know in this funny little shape that almost looks like a a hook that
that is running parallel to Southwest 43rd Terrace Road. I would be interested in knowing if there's value in just those because I can't imagine why we would want to own something on the other side of property. So, I agree with the tree line completely, but separating
this parcel out into that's probably what an acre and two acres at least there of potentially individual sites. So, um >> yes. So, I'll I'll I'll summarize us. I'll rapid fire summar summarize this
when we're done. Okay. um Marian Oaks K8 site. I think we all probably agree we don't need to touch that. >> Nope. >> Uh I do want to point out that this uh so it's been discussed as a K8 site, but I uh that there's one developed parcel right in the middle and it has a single family home. Um
>> I see that >> already there and unfortunately it's sold recently. Uh but just >> and that's on our parcel. No, >> no, it is it is a privatelyowned parcel. So just just to give the board a heads up. So, we own every parcel around it except that one parcel.
>> Yeah, that's what it looks like. >> That's going to be like that person who like refused to sell and they built a highway around them. >> Yes. >> For the love of the green grass. >> What did you say? >> Are there any other parcels in there
that we need to own that we don't currently? I mean, I >> There are some on the edges that perhaps would create more of a contiguous shape. Uh, but that's the one that's kind of >> smack dab in the middle. >> I mean, the positive here is 77 acres is a lot of land. So, like there's a lot of
room for manipulation there. But >> wow. >> That's why we needed a planner. >> That's part for the course. >> You wouldn't have allowed that to happen. I believe that in you. You would have been paying attention to everything that the county was approving and all the things. >> Hope so. But there must have been a
reason why we didn't acquire that up at the time. Oh my goodness. Okay. >> Okay. And then the Vanguard North extension. Any comments, board? I think for now we need to hold on to it. Um >> yeah, >> I think that we still have things to do
in town that we need to figure out, >> right? >> So, um Okay, I'm going to go back and recap us. So, um, starting with slide number 12, the Anthony North extension, um, were we wanting to know more about a
value and selling or were we just holding it for now? >> I I this board member thinks we hold it until we figure out what we're doing with Spar Anthony and then we do it all together. >> Sounds good. Uh, 8th Street parking lot. I I remember us saying no way Jose on
anything there. Fezden North Extension, not doing anything with that right now. Fort McCoy, um, North Extension Board, um, I don't see us with our rapid development in Fort McCoy. Would you like to know more about what it would
look like to sell this parcel? >> Yes. Yes. I I do question at some point, does all of the land value that we have go into like our overall credit rating? because that's a part of the so at some
point some of this >> well yeah I mean 44 thou I mean if it's only if we're I mean I agree if we're talking about like 77 acres and um you know hundreds of millions of dollars in value then maybe but I think these oneoffs every penny
counts but you know it's not going to make that big of an impact so do you want to understand Fort McCoy more or no yes orthrower >> I think it's good to get information before we just say, "Hey, you know, we want to sell it." >> Oh, yes. No, what I'm saying though is some of these appraisals, if if we are
at all thinking we want to list it and have a conversation about selling it, the way I understand it is those appraisals don't need to be public, right? >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, if we are even going to consider a conversation about it, then we need to preserve it from going
public. That's what I'm trying to just accomplish. So, do you how do we feel about Fort McCoy? >> It's landlock. I mean like I don't unless anyway it's a very odd parcel like I don't sure why not but I I mean it unless the person who owns the parcel in front of
it wants to purchase it. That's >> they may Yeah, you never know. I mean they might. >> So we'll we'll hold back Fort McCoy's appraisal so that the board can have further discussion about Fort McCoy's north extension. Uh the transportation hub um south extension I believe there
was we're not going to do anything with that right now. >> Correct. >> Reic north um I believe we wanted to um understand its evaluation and potentially moving forward with selling that small parcel.
Saddlewood North Extension. We wanted to understand its evaluation and potential sale of that parcel. Southeast Marian Oaks Elementary site holding uh we are going to hold the um nature
conservatory uh in southeast Mary road >> and hope all the sand skinks go here >> hope can be a new home for gopher tortoises uh the sunrise extension we'd like to understand its evaluation and potential for sale and we will hold the K8 site for
southwest Marian oaks >> our friend and and holding the Vanguard site. >> Uh just to point out with the Vanguard uh north extension, there is uh some flood planes uh in in that property. >> Yeah, it's a little wet.
>> A little wet. >> It's going to need some ground work if we do anything there. Okay. Well, that um wraps up our site utilization update. Thank you for doing a very thorough um job with that and welcome to the team. Thank you all.
>> Um board, any further comments on this before we go to public comment? >> Okay. Uh any public comment on site utilization? All right. Hearing none, Dr. Brew, did you have anything to add before we move on to um meeting reminders and board comments? Anything about the site
utilization? I didn't come to you. >> I I wanted to recognize two requests that I heard from the board today for us to bring back to you. um is the circulation numbers for in the media centers compared to school grade data. We'll bring that back to you. Also, the
ICROC report from the quarterly meeting. So, I have noted both of those items that we will bring back. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to meeting reminders, a special school board meeting is scheduled for January 27th, 2026. No, not a special, just a school board meeting. I apologize. Additionally, a
special schoolboard meeting is scheduled for um that is not true. There is no more special school board meeting scheduled for February 5th at this point. Um >> and there will not be a special school board meeting February 5th. So recognizing board we're going to our new process which is if there is a necessity
for the meeting, it will be communicated and published at the time of of um necessity. Uh there will be an administrative briefing and work session on February 5th at 900 a.m. Moving into board comments. Attorney Powers, anything for me? >> Nothing from legal. Thank you. Okay,
Miss Martina Jang and Dr. Bur, anything further? >> All right, Dr. Campbell. >> Uh, just I had already mentioned about school choice applications and since Mr. Ays is here, he can hear this in person. Uh, I I am interested in in getting that
data for us. I know that we it just helps us understand future planning for additional programming that we might need. I wrote down specifically ask about school choice applications. I'm interested in knowing by program, by school, and even by address that the
current applicants are trying to come from. Um, so all of that and then by the current school that that if we have that current school that that applicant is coming from. Um, even if they're not coming from a Marian County public
school. Okay, perfect. So I I I can tell you again what those were. I'll Okay, perfect. So I I think that'll be helpful again for us uh to see who all is coming to us and what that looks like and uh which schools continue to have enormous
weight lists and which schools don't and are there programs specifically that have longer weight lists all of that from a school choice perspective and since that window closes very soon uh interested in that. And then the only other comment that I had is just the reminder board. I know that you all know
this, but for the public with Tallahassee being uh we are in state legislation time frame and everything is moving forward with session. Next board meeting which is January 27th coming up
on Tuesday. I will be in Tallahassee already. Florida Schoolboard Association Day in the Legislature happens that week and um some of my responsibilities will be starting on Tuesday evening and so I intend to do that one telephonically as
you all are already aware and then the um uh board meeting immediately following that and the first one in February will also be a time that I'm in Tallahassee. Uh that one is the day before the Marian County date, right? I'm I'm just double-checking my dates
and you will remember that uh we brought that up during the organizational meeting when I said do we want to change that meeting date and we said we would address it at the time and so we're addressing it at the time. I will be uh present and I believe another board member may be as well representing the
school board at the Marian County elected officials dinner the even on that Tuesday evening. Believe that dinner doesn't start until 7 or 7:30 so we should be able to participate telephonically separately but telephonically um as well for that meeting. So just an unfortunate
circumstance just session the way it is and our responsibilities and what we try to do to try and push forth legislation that really impacts every student in the state in addition to students in Marian County. I can assure our community that we are very active and very vocal on
legislative issues and that was one of the first things I realized as a schoolboard member. There were lots of things that I had in mind to change and the best way you can change them is in Tallahassee. And so that's why we have been so active and vocal and we'll continue to do so and u looking forward
to having continued advocacy with you all in Tallahassee next week. Thank you. >> All right, board member Conrad. >> Thank you. Um just that I will not be here on the evening of the 27th. Um I will also be in Tallahassee. um just
been working on the committee with America 250 and so I'll be there for for that and that's all I have chair that's on February 10th. >> You're talking about February 10th. >> February 10th. >> No, I'm talking about January. >> So then because you're also not planning to participate on the 10th.
>> Hold on. January 27th schoolboard meeting, but also will be in Tallahassee with the board on the 28th. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> Is that right? Do I have it in my calendar? Correct. If you're going to day in the legislature. Yes. >> Yes. >> So the 28th is is the
>> day in the legislature. >> Okay. Thank you. I I was reading it um backwards. And then the 11th. Is that correct? >> The 11th is the Marian County days and the dinner is before. So it's the 10th. Correct. All right. Thank you. >> Um >> I just need I need you to confirm. I'm
sorry. Because three board members have to be present for us to have a meeting. So I just want to make sure I get confirmation. Um and obviously Reverend Cummings is not here right now. Um, and so we do not have access to his schedule, but we cannot have meetings if there are not three bodies in these seats. So, um, I don't want to speak for
Reverend Cummings in his schedule. I certainly would not attempt to do that. But, um, our next meeting is next Tuesday, >> January 27th. >> January 27th. And so, >> I would be here the 27th. >> Okay.
>> Yes. >> So, we have three for sure. However, on the 10th, which I can get into, um, because because we are visiting with legislators on Thursday, the 29th, >> correct? >> But my responsibilities in Tallahassee begin on Tuesday. >> Absolutely. I was just making sure that it was clear that we're not visiting
with legislators on the 28th. We're visiting with legislators on the 29th. >> Yes. Okay. So, um, we do have to discuss and we I came in my comments, but we do need to discuss February 10th, um, >> February 10th. Tuesday, February 10th.
>> Essentially, the only discussion is to ensure that Reverend Cummings will be present for the meeting. If you're going to be present for the meeting and I'm going to be present for the meeting, then we're good. But if Reverend Cummings is not present for the meeting, then we have no meeting. >> Correct. >> So, I just >> I will be here. >> So, um
>> in the creek. >> So, and we just transparently all need to understand like if for some reason Reverend Cummings can't be here, then one of you has to come stay back or we're canceling the meeting. >> I will Dr. J. Okay. If um um it is it really is my pleasure to go and be part of the the dinner and the celebration,
but I do not want the work of the district to stop. So if he is not going to be here, I will be here. >> Okay. Well, then that solves it. >> Okay. >> Okay. Did you have any other comments? >> No, that's good. Thank you. >> Uh board members are >> um just briefly, we have so many great
things that are happening, so many great things, you know, coming up. I'm always excited for literacy week. It's become a tradition to visit Mr. Braden's class and read to his kindergarten class, which I don't get to hang out a lot with kindergarteners. So, it's always so much fun. And he always gives me a heads up. He's like, "Oh, this is a very active
class this year." And last year, I exercised them all to the point where they wanted to sit down and be quiet. So, I guess it worked out. Um, but it's just a really fun time. And, uh, leadership MCPS is going to be at uh, Maplewood and Hillrest soon, both
in my district, both very near and dear to my heart. So, I look forward to stopping in and and and thanking all the folks that participate in that and that are willing to donate their time and talent and treasure to find out, you know, who we are and what we do. So, I'll leave it for that for today. It's
been a really good spirited meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, so I will be brief as well. I my question um would be for Thursday the 29th, Dr. Campbell, do we have an agenda yet for meeting with legislators? >> Jessica Janice was speaking with her on
what's today? Thursday. uh Tuesday I believe she was putting in all of the requests. The committee um assign or committee meetings had won't come out until tomorrow and so we should have something a little bit more concrete at least by first of the week but u I
requested that they be between 10 and 5 but that's so we'll just kind of so that way that would give plenty of time for people to um get there. Also, if you are participating a day in the legislature, there is a a coffee that morning with legislators to come by from like 8 to
10. So, that's why I said potentially from 10:00 to 5:00, but we'll just wait and see what their committee meetings scheduled, but she knows she's working on it. >> Okay. Wonderful. Um uh and then we've covered the meetings for the next two meetings just to ensure we have three bodies present. Uh my only comment for
Dr. Brewer, Mr. the White House. Um, one of the things we discussed today when we were talking about sitebased budgeting, and honestly, I don't remember how we got on the conversation, but um, we talked about ratios a little bit, uh, when referendum, that's when we it came up. And so, um, Mr. White House had
mentioned we weren't going to be receiving any information on ratios seeing as we're going to sitebased budgeting. And one of the things I remembered that I know for sure I, but I think um other board members were strong champions of was strengthening our ESSE
ratios because there was a real heartburn around um the necessity to get to that, you know, two or three adults to seven to 10
kids. We even went as far as regulating how many kids were in each classroom, etc. And what I heard Mr. White House say was that um staff was going to be laying some expectations for certain things
like principles, guidance counselors, clerks. Uh I if I if I'm in the minority here, then that's fine. But as a board member, I would like to know I'd like to at least know what those expectations you're lining out are. But then I would also
like to know what's our plan because there is no law about ESSE ratios that I'm aware of, >> right? Uh, and so I have a little maybe a lot pause and hesitation
around taking up guard rails on something that I think since I've been a board member, we have worked very diligently to attempt to preserve because we understand just how challenging those classrooms are. And
the hope would be that the principal who's doing cybased budgeting respects um respects the guard rail. But I also know as a business owner myself when you when you start looking at it and you start cutting things and
you got to trim the fat and you got to figure out what's going and what's staying, you start weighing things out. And as a board, I know this board member has at least pause around allowing ESC ratios to be on the chopping block of
things to trim. So, um, again, if I'm in the minority on that, that's okay, but I I it causes me pause. So, if any Dr. Ber >> Yeah, I'd just like to comment. I I think we just have to be real careful with giving this ownership to the
principles to make the best decisions for their school with sightbased budgeting and giving them too many expectations and requirements because then it takes away their their responsibility as a school leader. But I do appreciate what you
just said and I believe our principles understand and truly value the work of the instructional pair professional or the inclusion teacher in the classroom. So, I I don't believe that's unreasonable for us to give um a range or a basic expectation to ensure all of
our students with disabilities needs are met, >> especially because some of them probably have ratios set in their IEPs. >> Correct. >> And so, I mean, we have to adhere to their legally. And so, if they're if a kid is a a one to four in their IEP, then, you know, we can't put ourselves
in positions where we're member thrower. >> Yes. and and that was going to be my comment that the IEP, you know, drives that. And then also reality and and I think what the reality is is that we continue to look and and try to recruit
as many uh wonderful ESSE teachers and and pair professionals as we can find and and support them so they don't leave. Um when your campus is being turned upside down, that's not something that any administrator, you know, would want. So, I would like to think that
they would prioritize that naturally. Plus, with the added protections of the individualized education plan, we should be okay. But it never hurts to say it, you know, from the data deis, you know, we we see you, we feel you, we hear you, you know, if if you don't have the money or you don't think you have the money,
ask your, you know, area superintendent for support and uh speak with um Anna Williams Jones. And you know, >> I just wanted to make sure at least I have articulated >> we've really prioritized that as a board. And so I I I not that anyone's going to intentionally put it by the
wayside, but when when budgets get tight, it gets really it gets things get hard and if something's got to go, you know, and and I just I I just want to make sure that's on the the the front mind of um our principles as they're going into the season, a new season, a
first season for almost all of us in sightbased budgeting and taking ownership of that because I agree with Dr. Brewer. Um certainly the more restrictions we put in the less opportunity we get for autonomy and that's not what I'm trying to do but I I do just want to identify what I see is certainly something that's very
important. So um that is going to conclude all of my comments uh and that will conclude the business for today's work session. There being no further uh comment we will uh adjourn this meeting at 12:52.