##VIDEO ID:igPBMFFNTas## e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e [Music] [Music] [Music] good evening and welcome to the January 28th 2025 meeting of the Maran County School Board and it's called to order mirring and modeling the way our students begin each day I ask that we observe a moment of silence at this time please join me thank you Dr Campbell would you please read the commitment statement with pleasure chair we are the Marian County School District leadership team when we come together to work we are efficient effective and productive our three most important characteristics are dedicated transparent and individually responsible to work well together we must demonstrate respect confront reality and be accountable we will always put students first we will leave a legacy of success thank you Dr Campell for the courtesy of those around you I'm requesting that everyone in the audience please turn off their electronic devices or put them on vibrate later in the meeting up to 30 minutes will be provided for individuals to address the board on matters concerning the operations of the Maran County school system or the school board only presentations to the board are limited to 5 minutes and are televised if you wish to address the board regarding a regular agenda item or matters on which the board customarily takes action you must first complete a peach form located in the lobby if you wish to address the board regarding a public hearing or a student discipline matter please complete the lime green form these forms must be fully completed and reserved by Reser received by the board clerk no later than 5:40 p.m. the procedures applicable for each of these are on a separate sheet good evening Miss Martin Martinez please call the role good evening Dr Allison Campbell District 1 here Mrs Lorie Conrad District two here Mr Eric Cummings District three Mrs Nancy thrower District Four here Dr Sarah James District 5 here Chloe cix foris high school here Carson Switzer North Marian High School here Dr Diane gullet superintendent Mr Jeremy Power School Board attorney here thank you Miss Martinez good evening Miss Boston Ellis we are grateful that you're here with us this evening filling in for Dr gullet so thank you so much for joining us this evening thank you chair and good evening board members even um Miss Boston Ellis please share information regarding who will lead our inspiration and pledge this evening I'd like to invite up Dr Brewer who'll share with us our guests for tonight good evening chair Conrad board members and Miss Boston Ellis I am excited to introduce to you two students from Vanguard High School's future Educators Academy program they're going to share the inspiration with you and lead us into the pl with the Pledge of Allegiance so at this time I have Madison Rock and John Williams here with their teacher Miss Piner again from Vanguard High School good evening my name is Madison rock thank you all so much for allowing us to be here and give this opportunity we're here from the future Educators Academy I am a senior in this program this is my third year currently I am a teachers assistant at both Madison Street Elementary and fezan Elementary throughout this program we have learned incredible things going into our community and being able to work one-on-one with both the teachers and the students getting able to like prepare ourselves for the future and really experience what we want to do going into the program I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do until Mrs AJ Miss Piner she was able to break me out of my shell and truly show me what I wanted to do by allowing me to go into the classrooms go into our community and see where we were going to be in the future thank you you good evening my name is John Williams um I am a third year in Vanguard yeah Vanguard future Educators Academy um I enjoy um about the academy oh yeah I enjoy about the um Academy um we work in them classrooms and we also tutor middle schoolers um and I love Miss AJ for for the um teaching position because she teaches us that to look beyond the work in the classroom and actually look at the students themselves and please stand for the Pledge of [Music] Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God individual with liy and justice for all will you guys will you all wait there just a minute we'd like to come take a picture with you real quick you awes Miss Boston Ellis I'm certain that we have some more recognitions this evening is that correct we certainly do i' we have two recognitions to this evening the first one we'll ask Brooke Hutto if she will please come forward and introduce students who are participating in the All State music program good evening it is my privileged to be here this evening and recognize our Maring county music students who were selected to participate in the 2025 Florida All State ensembles these students represented Maring County and their respective schools January 8th through 11th at the Florida music Education Association professional learning Conference held at the Tampa Bay Convention Center I will announce each Student's name school and what Ensemble they performed with if you are in the audience when I call your name please walk to the main platform with your music teacher if they are present and stay there until all students have been called once everyone is present we will get to take our picture we'll start with uh Marcela celano from Dr NH Jones with the elementary orph ensemble McKenzie Vickers also from Dr NH Jones Elementary orph Ensemble Jackson rabal from Belleview Middle School Middle School honor band cydney McFarland uh Howard middle school middle school all state band Elias Javan Howard middle school middle school mixed chorus Aubrey dilling Howard middle school middle school mixed chorus Aaron Chen Howard middle school middle school treble chorus Sienna res uh Reser uh Belleview High School High School honor band Vincent figuroa Bellevue High School High School concert chorus Shelby McDonald High uh Belleview High School senior high ssaa A Chorus Delila Bales bellw High School uh Senior High ssaa chorus some very long names uh Aaron low Forest High School High School concert chorus Kirsten klouse uh Forest High School High School ssaa chorus Isabelle Atkins North Maran High School High School honor band Ariana white clay Westport HIgh School High School ssaa chorus Isaac jovel Westport HIgh School High School mixed chorus and Emanuel kamacho Sanchez Westport HIgh School High School reading chorus we think these students have done an incredible job and they did a wonderful job representing Maran County we are so thankful to their directors as well for their time and effort that have been put into this um in addition to our amazing Allstate students we also had one very special recognition that took place during the FMEA conference this year for the first time ever in Marian County FMEA recognized one of our students or one of our schools and they were awarded an FMEA music enrollment award in order to qualify for this award at least 30% at the high school level and 45% at the middle school level of the entire student body must be enrolled in a music course this year Howard Middle School succeeded that amount with 53% of their student body enrolled in music courses I would like to take just a moment to recognize Miss Britney scoffield who's here this evening the band director at Howard Miss Haley Christie is their choir director and Mrs susette Parker their principal for this incredible achievement [Applause] at this time I guess we'll take a wonderful picture we are we just I know the board uh wants to share with me um share with you all that we're just so proud of you um I personally I know um Dr Campbell does I don't have any music ability at all so I'm just in awe of your accomplishments and all that you've achieved so excited for you and continue the good work and we would love to come get a picture with you so if you'll stay right there he might no yes we want our administrators to join us [Applause] okay are we ready for our second recognition yes ma'am we are ready okay Miss Rita will come forward to introduce Hammet Bowen Jr Elementary School and its representatives for being named a purple star school of Distinction good evening board chair Conrad Miss buston Ellis and board members the Florida purple star school of Distinction designation was established by the Florida legislature in 2021 and has been awarded awarded by the Department of Education to 176 schools across 14 school districts the purpose of this program is to recognize schools that support the unique needs of military families help military connected students navigate critical challenges and provide resources for military connected students when transitioning to a new school environment tonight I have the pleasure of recognizing Hammet L Bowen Jr Elementary and principal Crawford for applying for and being awarded the purple the Florida purple star school of Distinction designation the application process included the establishment of a military point of contact for the school a separate page on the school's website a transition program for military families professional learning for staff a plan for reserving 5% of seats for military students and various activities supporting military families at this time I'm honored to present Miss Crawford and her team with this recognition which signifies this remarkable achievement I would also like to invite her to share the story about Hammet elbone Jr and the inspiration behind the name of the elementary school [Applause] good evening Miss Crawford good evening normally I I'm quiet but good evening Conrad chair uh Mrs Teresa Boston Ellis and board members my name is as you heard Tracy Lynn Crawford and I am the current principal of Hammond elb Junior Elementary School this evening I have two of our leadership team members Mr Rivera one of our assistant principles of curriculum and Mrs bever our family engagement Lea is on by my side we are excited to be here and share a little bit about our school's namesake and the purple star school of Distinction designation H elb Jr El um was born in lrange Georgia on November 30th 1947 but moved to Okala at an early age he was a product of maring County Public Schools he attended oakrest Elementary School and graduated from Okala High School in 1965 he also attended Central Florida Community College before entering the Army in 1969 staff staff sergeant um Bowen served in the US Army company C second Battalion 14th Infantry 25th in in Infantry Division on June 27th 1969 staff sergeant Bowen was distinguished himself while serving as a platoon Sergeant during combat operations in vend dang Province Republic of Vietnam staff sergeant Bowen platoon was advancing on a recognizance Mission into to enemy controlled terrain when it came under the withering Crossfire of small arms and grenades from an enemy Ambush force staff sergeant Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back as the platoon was moving back an enemy grenade was thrown amid um staff sergeant Bowen and three of his men sensing the danger of his comrades he shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers staff sergeant Bowen's extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the US Army for his sacrifice he was bestowed the Medal of Honor the highest award for Valor in an action against an enemy Force which can be provided upon an individual serving in the armed services of the United States Our Hope for our students is that they honor his memory by becoming upstanding citizens who distinguish them who distinguish themselves as they become adults one way we have accomplished this was to apply for the purple star school of Distinction Dr gullet supported our efforts as as we applied for the designation the process was very comprehensive however Mr Rivera and miss bever and various District staff supported us as we completed the task Mrs bever is going to share some of the activities that we are implementing on campus to support our students especially those from military families miss bever good evening my name is Lisa bever I'm the family engagement aison and purplestar Military point of contact at Hammet elbow Jr Elementary School the military point of contact is responsible for assisting military families with student enrollment records transfer and Gathering school and community- based resources that are available in the community for military students and their families principal Crawford Mr Rivera and I worked very hard on the purple star school distinction application the purpose of the purple star school distinction designation is to re recogniz schools that support the unique needs of military families help military connected students navigate critical challenges and provide resources for military connected students when transitioning to a new school environment as part of this application process we as a school also participate in activities to support our students especially those who are from military families our school has a student Le transition program to assist military students coming into the school the program includes a student serving as transition team coordinator a military peer support system linking new military students with others at the school within two weeks of arrival and a process famili for familiarizing new students with the school campus including School leaders and upcoming events the school le transition program is um it's it's led by our safety patrols as well besides the student Le transition program we have a newly formed Club the dandelion club for purple kids led by our very own fourth grade teacher Miss Kendall Miss Crawford will elaborate on that in a little bit um hbe also hosts annual military recognition events including all staff and students in may we honor Fallen service members of the US military especially our school's namesake Hammet El Bowen Jr in November we celebrate Veterans Day Veterans Day is a wonderful opportunity to honor the brave men and women women who served in sacrificed for our country Hammet Bowen Elementary celebrates and honors all family and friends who have served in the United States military branches at our school our Veterans Day program our schools our students sing patriotic songs each grade level has their own song we have a at we have and what what does Veterans Day mean to me essay contests for grades three to five and a Veterans Day t-shirt coloring contest for our younger students in grades bpk to second grade the winners of the Veterans Day essay and poem contest will be shared and recognized Veterans for their service with spoken essays I'm excited to share this year we're going to add some more celebrations April is the month of the military child hbe will celebrate military children during the entire month of April there are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parents' service while military members serve around the world we offer forget the challenges faced by their children military families move on average every two to three years impacting military children through changing schools and support networks each year we will join the Department of Defense state and local government military serving organizations companies and private citizens in celebrating military children and the sacrifices they make we also have purple up day which is observed on April 15th purple up day is a day to wear purple show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices purple references The Joint environment of the military encompassing all service branches active duty reserved National Guard and Veterans purple combines each Branch's color into one the Air Force Navy and Coast Guard all use shades of blue the Army uses shades of green and the Marines use red the holiday was selected during the month of the military child it is an opportunity to honor military children from all branches of the military military children across the country play a significant role in schools youth organizations and communities the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension military Youth and Family program established purple up day as a way to support them it lets them know they are recognized and appreciated in society they make many sacrifices to make sure this C country is safe so deck yourself out in purple to recognize them wear purple celebrate military kids we hope all of Maran County can support purple up day and wear purple we are honored to be the first school in Marian County to earn the purple star school of Distinction designation and hope we can one day be a purple star District school of Distinction thank you Miss Crawford as she said um one of our teachers Miss Kendall is married to to a marine reservist and she has created the D the Lions Club for military children aka the purple kids its Mission as stated is to empower and support students who are affected by parents and close relatives who are connected to the military the dandelion is their designated flower because they can take root and flourish practically anywhere the wind blows them like them the military children continuously move around the world and Bloom wherever they land we hope we hope to care for our purple kids so they are successful in their future as I close quickly on our presentation I would like to thank our team for their hard work and Dr gullet and the board members for your continuous support of our school affectionately loan as hbe I'm looking forward to seeing this program grow at hbe and Hope hopefully be established at other schools within the district thank you thank you Miss Crawford if you wait just a minute I just want to tell you thank you for that beautiful presentation um just the heartfelt story um going above and beyond with your staff and your students to to celebrate a group of students that have an extra challenge um coming on to your camp so just a big thank you to you and your staff um for the extra work that you put in um to getting this honor so thank you and we want to come grab a picture with you real quick if you stay right there for said she was of course I appreciate you thanks okay board at this time we're now going to go into a recess uh a brief recess for the board of directors board leasing meeting and we are going to recess at 558 and it will take approximately five minutes for us to open into our new meeting thank you e e e e e I call to order the annual meeting of the board of directors of the Marian County Schoolboard leasing Corporation at 6:00 p.m. let the minutes reflect that the following members of the board of directors are present Dr Allison Campbell Lori K Mrs Lorie Conrad Mr Harry Cummings Mrs Nancy thrower and Dr Sarah James also in attendance is attorney Jeremy Powers the school board attorney who serves as the attorney of the leasing Corporation let the minutes also reflect that a notice of this meeting was duly published in the Ocala Gazette and that notice was provided to each board member I direct the secretary to attach a copy of the notice of the minutes of this meeting the purpose of this meeting is to obtain the Maran County School Board leasing corporations approval of res resolution 25-2 I will now call upon the leasing corporations attorney to advise the board concern concerning resolution 25.2 good evening upon the recommendation of the superintendent resolution 25-2 amends resolution 24-3 which the Maring County Schoolboard leasing Corporation approved on February 27th 2024 and will reduce the budget for three wings at Horizon Academy Elementary Hammet Bowen Jr Elementary and Maran Oaks Elementary to offset the increased cost of Southwest High School CCC AKA Southwest High School CCC thank you attorney Powers Miss Boston Ellis would you please make a recommendation for resolution 25 5-02 it is my recommendation that the Maran County School Board leasing Corporation approve resolution 252 if you wish to address the board regarding the special leasing Corporation meeting for the adoption of resolution 25-2 you must complete a peach form which is located in the lobby does anyone wish to address the board concerning the resolution 25-2 Miss Martinez no speakers thank you as previously stated the purpose of this special leas incorporation meeting is to adopt resolution 25-2 author authorizing the amendment to the projects being financed by the certificate of participation series 2024 approved by the Marian County Schoolboard leasing Corporation under resolution 24-3 do I have a motion to adopt resolution 25-2 thank you thank you Reverend Cummings thank you Dr Campbell is there any discussion yes thank you chair um I'll be voting no on this um they really there was no reason for any delay that contributed to the need for this resolution so it's a will be a ceremonial name most likely but I will be voting okay thank you board member thrower any other discussion okay okay hearing and seeing none all those in favor say I I I those opposed nay right motion passes 41 there being no further matters to come before the board may I have a motion to adjourn thank you Reverend Cummings second uh thank you board member thrower all those in favor say I I I motion passes 0 this meeting is adjourned at 604 load is that correct another e e uh we are reconvening at 605 good evening Miss Boston Ellis please make a recommendation on this evening Schoolboard meeting agenda certainly I recommend approval of the agenda for the January 28th 2025 school board meeting with the materials in the board packet those materials distributed to board members at the meeting and the audio recording included as a part of the official record of the meeting with the exception of items d9.1 D 19.2 d 19.3 d 19.4 d 19.5 d 19.6 d 19.7 and D1 19.8 that have been placed under discussion and item D 20.1 that has been pulled and placed under discussion pulled agenda items thank you Miss Boston Ellis may I have a motion on the cfo's recommendation motion to approve thank you Dr James May I have a second second thank you Reverend Cummings all those in favor say I I motion passes 5 z may I have a motion to approve the minutes for the December 12th 2024 administrative briefing and work session motion to approve thank you Dr Campbell second thank you Dr James are there any additions or corrections to the meetings to the minutes at this time hearing and seeing none all those in favor say I I I motion passes 5 may I have a motion to approve the minutes for the December 13th 202 4 special school board meeting motion to approve the minutes thank you board member thrower may I have a second second thank you Dr James is there any discussion or Corrections um on the minutes okay hearing and seeing none all those in favor say I I I motion passes 5 Z Miss Martinez please provide the proof of publication for tonight's Schoolboard meeting the notice for the January 28th 2025 Schoolboard meeting ran in the Ocala Gazette on January 17th 2025 the proof of publication has been attached in board duxon to proof of publication thank you good evening attorney Powers pleas please explain the rules governing persons who wish to address the school board this evening thank you madam chair in compliance with Section 2860 one14 of Florida Statutes the school board has adopted uniform procedures for public speakers who wish to speak at this evening's meeting either regarding one of today's agenda items or a matter relating to the operations of the school district these procedures will ensure the public has a reasonable opportunity to be heard on school board and School District matters a written summary of these procedures are available from the table in the lobby these procedures excuse me public speaker forms are also located on the same table the completed forms were due to the school board's clerk no later than 5:40 p.m. this evening speakers will be called called prior to the business portion of the school board's meeting in the order of receipt by the school board clerk before you begin speaking please State your full name for the record and spell your last name each speaker will have a certain allotted amount of time typically this allotted amount of time is five minutes however if there are more than five persons who wish to speak the board May seek consensus to limit each speaker's time the board allots a 30 minute period of portion or portion for time portion for uh speaking when the speaker has one minute remaining the speaker will receive a visual notice to complete his or her comments speakers may not yield their time to other people speakers and meeting attendees are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner therefore verbal attacks and profanity excuse me are strictly prohibited pursuant to the procedures for public comments item six speakers are not to identify specific individuals other than themselves or their child unless a statement is provided 24 hours in advance the board is here to listen to your comments only you may be directed to an administrative staff member following the conclusion of your comments for further assistance to address your concerns if there are matters dealing with student discipline including expulsions they'll be scheduled at the conclusion of the televised portion of the meeting parents May address Schoolboard regarding a discipline matter at that time to ensure student privacy only a parent or Guardian may use a student's first or last name identifying references to or identification of other students or their families is also strictly prohibited a speaker's speech does not reflect the endorsement sponsorship position or expression of the school district thank you for your attention to the board's requirements here that that concludes my explanatory remarks thank you attorney Powers Miss Martinez do we have any speakers this evening yes Madam chair we have to total of 24 speakers okay um board do you want to have a little discussion um about usually our time liit is limit is five minutes um anybody like to make a recommendation like to yes thank you um I remember when we had a huge group of people for um the book concerns discussion and we decided then as a board to allow the five minutes um from what I remember because people had come from a long ways and a lot of folks have prepared their comments to last the five minutes and I know we sat here and listened for a lot longer than 30 minutes that time so with the level of uh concern that I see in this audience tonight I think that I would recommend that we keep to the five minutes but keep to the five minutes for everybody mam chair thank you uh board member thrower I appreciate your comments yes and your recommendation yes and I I certainly appreciate the recommendation for sure I am remembering it a little differently I do believe we did the three minutes I I because we had if I'm not mistaken 45 or 50 speakers I remember keeping the tally they were exactly right down the middle we had half on one side of the aisle and half on the other side of the aisle and I believe we did go to the to the three minutes for those but it still went an hour and a half of of which is what we're looking at re Cummings I I would concur with u former M that um you see the number of people that are here you see the passion that's in the room and I think you ought to a lot the um ample time for them to speak their mind and I think that's the just thing to do on this okay thank you Reverend Cummings Dr James whatever is the pleasure of the board okay then I'm hearing um we have a recommendation with for five minutes that most members board members agree on and so so um we will go with five minutes and I think we have one speaker that is has a separate topic then the others so can they please uh go first for each speaker as you approach again remember to speak uh clearly into the microphone state your name for the record and spell your name so that we can keep track of that also there will be a timer which will tell you how much time you have please do not go over I have to be the bad guy who tells you that your time is expired right when you're in the middle of a good sentence um also um as we go through please from the audience if you have somebody often makes a very very good point um just so we can hear what everyone's having to say and doesn't disrupt our microphones and other people hearing please no you know other discussion or clapping or something like that from the audience for whatever the position is okay um and that's about all so we'll take our first Speaker mam chair are we going to hear that one first yes okay I just one quick question just to be respectful of our student board members time I also want to ensure that they are aware that this meeting is probably going to be four hours or longer so okay perfect just just wanting to be respectful understanding you have busy lives if you have testing tomorrow or anything that would be okay perfect all right thank Youk all right student board members yes M thrower maybe attorney Powers will want to explain the lights so that they know okay um on the podium when you approach you will see there's a green yellow and red light the green light means you're good to go and begin speaking yellow light means I think it's a one minute warning and then the uh red light means you're out of time you got to stop talking okay so um uh also if you watch the screens above you um my understanding is it should actually have a countdown timer for you so you know how much time you have certainly don't have to take the full time just don't go over thanks very much all right thank you attorney powers for the extended explanation and we're ready to get started Mr Bob Schaefer uh hello I'm Bob schaer and that's spelled s c h a f r um first of all I want to thank the board for allowing me to speak this evening and I also want to thank all of you for everything that you do I know it's I know it's not an easy job um I am a uh a volunteer um cross country and track coach at Vanguard for the last 16 years and the reason I'm here is that over the last four or five years um the scheduling of athletic competitions um has really started to fall on major holidays which is very difficult for families and to give you an extreme example of that um this year our district meet um is scheduled on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter now if you've ever been to a high school track meet um they started about 9:00 a.m. and they ended about 8:00 at night so that pretty much takes out the whole weekend and um as you all know I mean Easter is the most important day on the Christian calendar and a time when families get together and uh uh and and there just seems to be a propensity to schedule athletic events at that time now you might say well maybe the students could just boycott it and not go well it's the district meet and they have to go to the district meet to qualify for the regional meet and then the regional meet for state so it's it's not optional um for them for them not to attend so um what I'm asking you and I don't know if this falls under your Authority or not but if you could look at some kind of policy where in Maran County we didn't have athletic competitions on the weekend of a major holiday um I because because right now they're being scheduled independently and there's no policy guiding that as that's happening so I leave that I leave that with all of you thank you yes thank you Mr Bobby James good afternoon afternoon to the board and to melis and to all of you Bobby James J A mes I think somebody's upated familiar with that name I'm here to talk with you about common sense now and when I say Common Sense I've been on the board three times I've been in the school system about 35 times I've dealt with kids almost 70 years so I want you to listen because I know you have some tough decisions make but I want to just share this with you I'm going to talk to you about fezan school built in 1868 it is a a beacon of a community the same is with Anthony same is with Spar now you have some tough decision because you have to make some decisions about fean in these schools if you're going to make them in certain Cate categories then you need to investigate all of the areas if you trying to save money then then look at 8 Street Elementary that's a small school why we're not looking at looking at combining those schools with South oala because I will tell you this you looked at all these kids that were standing there how many of them was from the North End of the county a school is more than just brick and mortar a school is where people come together how many of these kids would have had the opportunity to to participate in programs if they were not at if they they were not after school or during some period of time so I want you to think about what we're talking about as a principal of a school and I was principal of that school I know that there's a lot of things that go on in that community that the school is the major reason that it is occurring I don't think you really looked at the history of President School president school had a post office it had it had doitor and all of that and you say well let's make it a museum well we made a mum over at Howard come on guys let's don't let's don't let's don't do it this way by coming up with these excuses like let's make a museum let's make it a health care center why not we make it a school why not make it a a charter school you got one that's failing why why why are we not thinking about this have you have you all had the opportunity to invite all of the people from fean and come out and meet with them and sit down and talk with us about what is occurring are we sitting behind the closed doors and saying I can do this because I'm elected so let's be careful about that because kids that's why you're not here you know I had some reservations about coming and sitting up in the County Commission office because the school district has always been its own boss and when you sit up in people building you pay for it you pay for it in some way you pay for it by the being influenced because if you're looking at just saving money then you're not really being part of the mission of the school system the school system is for kids you going to have more people down in the south in the county because that's where they're going but by the same token you got some kids over here that just as invaluable and just as important so when I think of you having this meeting about closing these schools have you talked with the community and how it will affect the kids when I think in terms of this y'all realize how cold it was it was cold but do you know it take it almost an hour for those kids to go from ell Park estate if they were going to uh reic they would be standing out there it take an hour but how long they have to stand before the bus count for a lot of you that have never experienced that that is the truth when I think in terms of what we're talking about when I I refer to Fe and school we're talking about an institution something where people have grown to love and that's part of their the institution now what I want to say to you guys y'all need to get back on your own and get back to your own place because if you standing over here you're going to be giving away something and you may say well I ain't giving away nothing you giving away something thank you thank you Mr [Applause] James M chair can we at least thank Mr James our former board member um because he is one of our former board members uh I would say one of our um season and he gave you his resume but thank you Mr James for coming out tonight J Mr derome gamble our board chair to miss Boston Ellis to the entire District board my name is Jerome gamble j r o NE G MBL I am the President of Maran County branch of the NAACP and along with a lot of the folks here today we come out of a genuine concern for the detrimental closing of schools that have historically served significant minority populations in our counties the move mes that are before us represent an effort that will destroy the history and Legacy of these institutions in the black community the closing of black schools since the late 1960s have had a devastating effect on black life and black culture in Maran County more than many of you may be aware and here we are on the eve of Black History Month and we are considering continuing efforts to diminish the history of people of color in our community I'd like to coign all of those things that brother James said but just let me close with this thought that before this decision is made share the facts and the figures which have led to this recommendation and secondly what options have been considered to prevent the closing of these schools and the adverse effect that it will have on our community and thirdly if the decision is made to close these schools what efforts will be made to preserve the history and the Legacy that these institutions have built in the black community thank you so much thank you Mr [Applause] gamble Mr leard Candler good afternoon and thank you to the members of the board can you please state your name for the record my name is Reverend Leroy s Chandler c h n d l e r thank you thank you for this opportunity I am a member of fezan high school Centennial class of 1968 a very proud uh member of that class and these words that I would speak to you please hear them because they are from my heart uh not to castigate anyone but all of us that are truly knowledgeable of our history in America are reminded in times like these of the constant robbing stealing and taking away whether legal or illegal the things that black Americans and other people of color hold sacred and dear right right down to our very lives it reminds us that slave ships of America were never done away with or dismantled they were simply moved from the water onto the land new location but the same results peasant in Academy peasant in high school and now fendon Elementary School is one of the last vestiges of a Time and a place of learning that represented our own culture affectionately embraced by both the teachers and the students but America is showing again that her spots of slavery and inequality which by the way made feend in necessary in the first place has not changed or faded away and it would appear that any element or structure or book that reflects such times in our history is to be done away with as much as possible America says however but we will do for you as we have done in other places such as Black Wall Street in Tulsa Oklahoma where their lives were disrupted by the loss of homes businesses churches schools and even communities to say nothing of their very lives we will erect for you a museum so that you can see that which has been taken from you oh but by the way once again you will have to pay a fee in order to be able to see what they have taken my question to you will there ever be a voice of the establishment that will say that's it we've taken enough already thank you thank you R [Applause] CH Larry Johnson hello good evening my name is Larry Johnson how you doing good and how are you doing doing well sir good to see you last name spelled j o h n s and the reason why I'm here tonight is because of what's going on at f president now let me give y'all a brief history president Elementary has an amazing history in 1868 on the very same grounds it is currently stands local freed African-American families established a school during Reconstruction Era after the Civil War the Union School as it was called then continued to grow reflecting the needs for black students education racial segregation in the Deep South a wealthy Boston man named ferninand fernan fezen recognized the cultural role of the school could be played in reconstruction in the end he helped built the School a twostory building and found educational support for the students ferdinan died and was buried on the school's grounds in 18 99 the school changed its name to Ferguson Academy and an industrial school for the honors and in his honor a year prior president's death the school promoted Joseph L Willie a two principal Mr Willie was a fif University graduate and became practice lawyer before answering the call to do more at the a Christian teacher now one thing about it by y'all don't know about Mr Willie he came to oel and mysteriously disappeared I don't know if y'all know about that and I don't know if it was told to y'all today but y'all got to realize this school has a deep deep history out there in that country and closing that school is going to affect a lot of people believe it or not it's going to affect the people that work there it's going to affect the kids and it's going to affect the parents it may not matter to y'all cuz y'all don't live there and may not matter to y'all because y'all are not people of color but we have a history here and we got to maintain it and if we don't maintain it y'all not going to help us maintain it we're going to maintain it anyway the legal way so only thing we're here down here to ask you guys is just to help help prevent this going on we already done lost a lot you know how much history we done lost all these schools look at Dr n Jones this man was killed and y'all named the school after peasant is all what we got and sooner or later and I mean sooner or later y'all got to realize black history is American history and don't y'all forget that thank you Mr Johnson [Applause] Lea Jenkins good evening good evening I'm Loretta Pompei Jenkins Jenkins spelled j n k i n s superintendent gutl herin Conrad and other members of the board on the Marquee of one of our schools there is a question being raised here that question says that that statement says and it reads an institution of learning since 1868 that means that this institution of learning has been around for over 150 years plus the outside walls of this structure tells you a story by just looking at it those bricks that are in gratiate the front of that school they were put there by probably the men uh who were the sons of slaves That's History that's history that not only we recognize and know of but we want our children and our children's children to know that history that's Legacy and it should be preserved from fezan Academy and down the educational ladder to now fezan Elementary and time would not permit me to go down that historical ladder with you but there are some things that I need to say fidan it's historic bidan it has a legacy it has survived many struggles educationally and financially the School continues to live in the heart of so many people young and old of course I realize that it's old maintenance upkeep and probably some other factors have led to a possible decision that something else must happen at vent Elementary as a former principal of feed Elementary I realized that some hard decisions must be made at times decisions that you have to keep out emotions uh they can't enter into that equation but bezden is a landmark here in Maran County Fen is listed on the historical register of historic sites and places that might not matter to some people but to us it matters those who have an affection for fident I implore you to study long and hard about the future of this school I'm married to a 1959 graduate of bezdan high school an institution of learning since n since 1868 that's something and that's history that's Legacy thank you Miss [Applause] Jenkins Abigail Rose McCoy good evening ladies and gentlemen my name is Abigail Rose McCoy r o e- MCC y I am the vice president of the Maring County NAACP youth Council and the great great granddaughter of Thomas B Ward today I stand before you to advocate for the continuation of Fant Elementary School a Cornerstone of our community and a beacon of educational Excellence since the founding in 1868 president's Origins are deeply rooted in the in the post Civil War reconstruction era established by local fre africanamerican families seeking education and empowerment over the years it has evolved from a humble Log Cabin into a distinguished institution we see today thanks to the unwavering support of philanthropists like f Frederick feran president and Andrew Carnegie this school's historical significance is undeniable recognized on the national register of historic places president stands as a testament to our nation's progress and commitment to equality beyond beyond its Rich history Fant Elementary serves as an essential educational hub for children closing this institution would not only erase a vital chapter of our heritage but also but also the disruption of education for our students forcing them to commute to a to a distance in schools and frag and fragmenting our tightnit community let us honor the legacy of those who built and nourished fidant by ensuring its doors remain open by doing so we we preserve our shared history and continue to provide a nurturing environment where future Generations can learn grow and Thrive thank you thank you Miss McCoy April Rose McCoy hello my name is April Rose McCoy that's R o- MCC y I am standing here representing the Marian County Educational support staff that works here in Maring County I'm speaking tonight against the proposed closure of Fez Elementary School though kellar Banner reported several years ago that Fant was founded a few years after the Civil War Union was his name it weathered Florida's segregation movement eventually becoming fee Elementary with the help of none other than Andrew Carney after Lincoln's emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves Frank K donated one acre Plantation Land This is how Union started being financed by Thomas B Ward becoming the first school for blacks 1890 a wealthy philanthropist comes along Mr ferine Stone fnet from Boston and he stumbles across the school he was amazed at how dedicated these a African-Americans wanted to learn until he ended up investing in the school which is where we see fmet now fmet one of the oldest in the State of Florida that has been continuously operating for black students vant is the only one that is still operating it is also one of the oldest in the nation in 1994 as we have heard already it was named to the National register of historic places and this is what you are ready to tear down you want to turn it into a daycare Museum or sell it to be whatever it is this is what we do with history today there is no other school with this history in May and County not even Eighth Street has as many years over 150 years years of education it is an important part of mar County's history what a shame it would be to lose this historical gy we urge the board to not rush into any decision without the imput of your community you say you serve the community you're here for our youth you're here for the staff getting rid of history can destroy a people in the words of our Maring County first black black Schoolboard member Mr Bobby James he quoted feasant school is a school that thought the unthinkable and did the impossible for 150 years keep feasant open for your children to attend at this historical school with great pride keep the school open for the staff who work there to work there with pride it will be an honor to work at fees don't be like other places in Florida and close history get rid of African-American history I ask that you stand up stand out make a difference be we have the oldest running school for African-Americans right here in Mar County thank you thank you m McCoy Linda Ward good evening good evening I am Linda Ward intern president of fezan Elementary parent teacher organization our PTO l i n d a w a r d it's hard following your relatives those are my relatives April and Abigail I had a prepared speech but I'm emotional coming behind them trying to preserve Legacy it was Abigail's great great grandfather Thomas Ward but it's my grandfather great-grandfather who helped start Thomas B Ward who have start and built fident help to build Fel along with the community you're talking about ripping the hearts out of a family if you go along with findy to CL school I'm off my paper now from the heart I want you to deep go down in the pits of your intestinal fortitude and just say God give me the strength to do the right thing look at it from my stand and to turn to school was you spoke with pride in maintaining rdit because some of you probably had um husbands children whomever toutin reic but you I understand you expanded that you rebuilt that made it pretty okay expanded reic and there's fident do the same thing with f and when I heard the the suggestion to make it into a state park for black history that Crush do the right thing God bless you thank you Miss [Applause] Ward Joseph mcbad senior Conor chair good evening board members I am Reverend Dr Joe mcfaden Senor a proud product of fezen High School class of 1969 mcfaden is spelled MC f a d d n this is my third time addressing this August body I was elected president of the fezan school alumni association July 2011 I addressed the Maron County School Board August 25th 2011 I address the school board again October 2011 and I brought to your attention many of you probably not were not sitting where you're sitting uh and I would just like to read my last letter to the school board and then I'm going to make some observations and I have a couple recommendations be advised that I Jo mcpon Senor represent the officers and members of the above Alumni Association that's presid School L Association we merely are some of the state holders who have seriously have serious interest in keeping our schools open schools especially the fean school clearly we intend to strive vigorously and resolutely to ensure that Maran County School Board honor you better get this honor the agreement tied excuse me tied to the sale of the property when it was acquired from the ama ama stand for the American missionary Association who sold the property to Maring County 1951 moreover we would like to see full disclosure of the cost factors surrounding the idea of savings a a financial spreadsheet was printed concerning the cost factors of presan and many of us did not agree with it and we wrote asking for explanations and I'm still waiting 14 years later uh I want to I want to deviate from this uh to save some of my five minutes I'm here tonight because I got the phone call about a daycare center a museum our health center I know that you can't close Phan into a deck do you I know that you you can't change president into a museum do you I also know that you cannot change it into a health center do you there's a special attachment to the sale when the AMA sold the property because there's a special attachment attached to the sale the ama8 reduced the cost of the property because Marin County said we will earmark presiden to serve as a vocational school for Negroes are y'all listening to me so any deviation from a vocational school for Negroes uh we are called black now they don't you don't call us Negroes anymore uh I want you to understand that there's a special agreement attached to the sale of the property I'm not going to repeat some of the speakers before me concerning prent at Stone president I I don't need to do that but I I would like to say this President early on had a faculty of young white women from the Northeast and from Florida who taught at the Academy I'm just reading from the minutes that I I have I've I've done my homework we have done our homework your time has expired five minutes yes sir already yes sir yes sir as I take my seat I want to say to you find the money thank you Mr [Applause] MC Miss Martinez I was wondering if we could call two uh speakers up at a time I would save us the transition time um if we could do that moving forward I'd appreciate it thank you Annie Harvey next and then Doren br the board I'm Annie Alexander Harvey that's Alexander a l e x a n d r hyphen Harvey h a r v y I'm a native of Maron County my elementary and secondary education was at fendon During the period of segregation I am an alumnist of fendon in the class of 1964 I just want to share with you a few points for you to consider consider as you deliberate on the plans finances and needs of our students particularly in North County District 5 an expressed idea is to offline fendon to Reddit call you to save on cost well first a little history and why it's best to continue to invest in fendon the Maron County School District is probably one of the few school districts in Florida that have a school that has been providing education continuously since the late 1800s and is listed in the National Registry of historic places in fact of the 33 historic places place listings here in Maran County it's the only one that's operating in the capacity for which it was started 157 years ago Ferdinand Stone fessenden of Boston Massachusetts was the benefactor to our first building he deed the school to the American missionary Association of the Congregational Church it served as Fantan Academy a private boarding school until the 1950s my mother Vera Alexander who taught here in Maron County a guidance counselor and all she attended and so did her siblings Julia McMahan Annie Williams John mclin and many green who served as supervisor of Elementary education here in Maron County I'm proud to say that my grandfather JW mclan and his brother James Bud mclin helped build the administration building in 1909 using those Florida coina Rock that make it so unique all of this was certainly made possible by funds from the philanthropists angre Carnegie so we're nationally uh known in a way by the way in West Newton Massachusetts another fesan school it's an independent day and boarding school it was started in 1903 and it's operating currently and it was named after the brother of Ferdinand Stone fesan his name was Frederick J feston these people gave money for Education my point FES Fon is historic nationally recognized and is currently currently as I understand operating at near full capacity student demographics are pretty much representative of the population of the communities it served or in its Zone The Faculty staff and administration they're doing a great job I haven't heard otherwise so why disrupt the students at a school that is performing well and meeting District expectations maintenance of facilities has been going on since 1950 53 surely it's been a part of the budget boards Through The Bu through the decades have had this discussion and have decided to continue instruction why should we have to come back year after year to help you understand that it is necessary and it is needed there is no logical rationale for feston to more effectively serve in any other capacity than as a school first of all because of its rural isolated location it was chosen to serve for educational purposes in that it it it used to be a campus that was very beautiful the county kind of took away some of its beauty the treelined uh driveway and all of the thing and there were dormitories there there were three residences on that facility that the county took away uh that was the the the dining hall and the residents for single faculty all of those things that was all there on that academy uh grounds but we still now have uh a location that is is nice and Serene people from who attended fan Academy from other states come by they drive through they like to remember what was there and they make it a part of their trip when they come to Florida from other states to drive through and and and remember my plea for you well let me mention Ric call you since that was the other option even though it's a newer facility it's operating at less than half capacity it would appear that efforts should be made to determine why this is so at ready and come up with more realistic options for reic not at the demise of fendon your time is expired thank you my plea to you is for you to keep the commitment that you made thank you Miss Harvey also Lamar B Boatright thank you board members my name is Dorian McCrae I'm MC capital r AE I would like to say how the communities will miss these schools they have been such a such a um part of the community and to have these schools closed will be devastating to the Anthony and feston these are communities that have valued education since the late 1800s and our hopes are for the strength and the purpose of these communities to educate their young thank you thank you [Applause] Sierra Kramer good evening good evening to the board and everybody here tonight I'm representing president High School class of 1966 we've heard a lot about history can you can you hear me clearly and can you spell your last spell your last name please oh I'm sorry excuse me l a r m o n d is my first name b o a t w r i g HT is my last name boat right thank you we we've talked about the history and everything how fee and all started school grounds and all that and where I guess Ferdinand Mr fezan is buried which is a monument there where he was buried and lay at rest I'm concerned about the historic thing here that we that we need need to be thinking about what it all [Music] represents about our heritage the black Heritage in this County you I've seen a lot of changes over the years in different areas but right now we're talking about fezan Once Upon a Time was fezan Academy then it was a fezan Elementary all the way through high school when I graduated it inil from from the beginning to graduation and now it's an elementary school but I'm concerned about the idea that's been already mentioned that the fact that this is a historical School I mean because look at how long it's been there 1868 until now and and we have this issue standing before us about whether or not it should stay open we need to be more compassionate toward the africanamerican people our heritage our Legacy and I just think that the people who are going to make a decision on this should consider the fact that you be hurting a lot of people who have already expressed themselves tonight concerning why this school should remain in operation should remain open and not be turned into a a daycare center or whatever other options that they've suggested and like I said it's already been mentioned about the historical part about it so I don't need to reiterate that but my concerns are emotional I think we need to consider how people feel as far as the heritage in this County you know I mean and it has a strong strong beginning here and I rest my case on that thank you thank you Mr [Applause] V Sierra Kramer and Karen Kramer Just Karen Just Karen Just Karen Kramer c m r good afternoon board members here Mrs Conrad and Mrs Boston Ellis I'm speaking on behalf of Anthony Elementary School I consider myself like an Anthony oldie family because my husband was uh in the last graduating class of Anthony high school and then his son finished in elementary school there and then his his girls are both attended and have finished Anthony Elementary School and son and it and their parents his uh their mom also attended Anthony Elementary School so I do feel like I've been around a long time and I my last 17 years of teaching before I retired were at Anthony Elementary School very special years to me and and that's why I'm so proud of my granddaughters that are attending now I feel the need to respond to the special born meeting that was held last weekend last week to address a concern for the voiceless a strong community that is being silenced I thought that only happened in a dictatorship but no it's happening right here in Maran County Anthony Elementary School has been the Cornerstone St of our community and I want to emphasize Community for many decades serving our community not only as an educational institution but as a Gathering Place for families to celebrate its Rich history as and just like seitan it has a very rich history is deeply inter intertwined with our community and many residents have fond memories of their time here as well as aspiration for future generations to benefit from the unique environment it provided or provides but those who live in our community will not get that option for our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren to attend their Community School the school board and this is specific members have made a decision based on their desires and wholehearted support to close two schools in the North End to help financially support new schools on the south side of Maran County with no regard for the community in which the schools serve is not okay Dr James Lori Conrad and Dr Campbell have made their desires known to close the schools without input from the community shame on you you only want to listen to the Comm Community after you close the schools to determine what the community wants to do with the closed school where is the community's opportunity to voice an opinion we don't have one because the adults are making hard decisions that only affect the adults with big emotions you would like you see would like you I you would like us to believe that students are not affected when in fact the students would be excited to attend a school that is newer and fresher so are we to believe that we should teach our students uh our future I'm sorry so are we to believe that we should teach our students our future that the past doesn't matter that the culture and Community come in second place to newer and fresher is that what we want to teach our children I don't think think so I think we want to have our students stand up for what we believe in exercise our voice and demand that you listen shame on you for not valuing the community we deserve better we deserve to be heard our community matters thank you thank you m Miss Miss Martinez can I have a moment please uh attorney Powers would you please just brief ly review um um the guidelines regarding speakers and names nth nth paragraph please that's just specifically directed to one of the Schoolboard rules are we're not to address um individual Speakers by name so um whether that was a staff member if it's somebody that's not present it's a a student or if it's one of the board members you're here to address the board as a whole not to call out an individual board member for a decision made so if you want to make a or or for a comment that's made if you wish to address the board just please direct your comments to the board as a whole thank you thank you attorney Powers Miss Martinez James Carter and James Glover good evening good evening James Carter uh last name c a r t r um I hate to expound on what's already been said about the feelings of the community because it's pretty apparent I'm I'm sure and I don't need to reiterate that but I'm going to tell you from my heart I didn't prepare anything I have a picture on this phone of me sitting on the steps of Anthony high school when I was three years old my hair is still the same color Okay that was 1950 I was three years old I was a drop in at that school the 12th grade school that's how it was the school was not closed I went in and out at my own free will I sat in the classrooms with the students there I got sent to the principal before I ever start a school that's how how we work in our community the community was the school and the school was our community haven't seen her since she was at anth as a principal uh so I don't know how long you have to be there in that school to get out because I've been in the last 18 years u in that school doing Good News Bible club and the club the room I'm in right now was my third grade classroom when they put the portable there in 1955 so I know the history of the school and I know the people my daddy graduated in 1940 there and so I know the family of one of the men who hauled the mortar that they baked the bricks on the school ground to make that Auditorium there when the floor roted out of the auditorium few years ago and you had to cancel some other Schools project I forget which one to reflor that Auditorium gymnasium it was our gymnasium when I went to school there but you know that wood didn't have to be hauled away the people of the community came out out and picked up all that rotted wood and took it home as a memory and that's how it is in our community with our school just please think about what you're doing I was with a walk through a group came from your school boarders and maintenance people to evaluate the school and they asked me to walk through with them a year or so ago and I was under the impression this was to make a list of things to fix so that the school could continue and how this made I was when I heard that no never mind that we're just going to close the school I went to the 10th grade and then the high school the 12th grade school when they closed it and made North Maran High School I was the first student council president of North Maran High School in the new school and so I know how it was when things fell apart as a high school but we still had a school we still had a heart and the children were there and we maintained that I said okay that's all right we still have the school but now I see the possibility and that's the heart of our community the Women's Club works with the school the restaurant supports the trunk Retreat the the community is part of the school and so just think about it that's all I'm asking okay thank thank you Mr [Applause] Carter James Glover and Lori Wrangle good evening good evening board members and board chair yes I'm a product of H FID and oh I'm sorry my name is James J M S midle naal L last name Glover L over ER like Danny thank you sir but now I'd like to say tonight first off there's a move in this great nation right now to do away with certain beliefs in our country certain areas that we've come from under the Dei situation in this great nation we cannot afford to have these schools did away with in that fashion I also bought the book of the history and I've heard so many folk tonight reference U Mr Ferdinand and others this is a history that was compiled by poor average Black Folk in this community my mother being one my grandma and all them and some of the speakers that's come here tonight their relatives um we got to preserve history Dei cannot and should not do away with everything that we as a group of people of this great state and Nation have hoped to build I'm also a product professionally of fean having did a career in law enforcement itself and the Mary County public school system and as a business owner in this community so I know when it comes to money that's kind of you got to look and square things up sometimes but I wish the board would look and reconsider everything they've done I've heard so many eloquent speakers tonight look at other ways that you can do and not destroy history that has been recorded in this great County we have students like myself a product of that great school my mother my grandma they were all products of Fez so let's not let's not let that school go the way that some folk have decided to make it go and also before I close i' like to say Anthony also I worked there in the uh educational setting from years ago and I would like to say that school too needs to be preserved You're Building all the getting ready to build all these schools down South County cut it back put some money up there and those two schools that's what we need to do you were elected officials they represent us so let's pull the scoff off the table if need be and let's readdress it don't do away with either one of those schools fean or Anthony thank you thank you Mr [Applause] Glover Martin Smith good evening I'm Lori Rangel uh l a u r i e class name is r a n g e l i Am the music teacher at Anthony Elementary of in my 20th year there and um I'm actually in the classroom that Jimmy uses that Jimmy went to school in in 1955 so it's um as as Jimmy and um Karen Kramer said it's a long history but I'm looking at just the present right now um Anthony's a special place I drive anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic to get there every day I have three elementary schools that have had openings for music teachers over the years that are 5 minutes from my house I've stayed at Anthony because that Community is special and um and I'm sure it's the same way with with fezan but um as some other people have said Anthony school is sort of the center of the community a lot of our families don't have transportation they walk to school they walk to the school events we had a mother come with five children doesn't have a car and walked to one of our school events and brought all five of her kids um if you move them to reic she can't come she doesn't have transportation so then she can no longer be involved in her school that her kids attend um it it's a long it's a long drive it's a long drive to reic from Anthony for some of our parents and especially if they have one car or no vehicle at home um a couple of the parents have asked me I work in the car line the morning what's going on I heard they're shutting our school down I said I I hope not I said they've talked about it before but I said it's you know I don't know and they there's a lot of concern there's a lot of concern with the community and I just kind of feel like some other people have said If This Were in the heart of oala in some of the other um uh areas I don't think we'd be having this discussion seems like the [Applause] north seems like the North End has has most the majority of their families living at or under the poverty level and we're forgotten and we can be dismissed and it's happened time and time again with school repairs we're always last on the list to get repairs um and now that's simple solution oh well those are the these people appear you know they don't they don't vote all the time and you know they don't they don't hobnob you know at these little Gallas and festivals you know down at downtown so we can forget about them and just shut their school down it doesn't matter well these kids these people care these teachers care you I've I've worked worked with Karen Kramer for years anytime there's a need at our school with a child or a staff member within 24 hours they have what they need teachers go out and buy them you know food clothes out of their own Pockets because they're invested in these children and invested in this community um we have kids coming back from the Middle School saying you know I wish I was back at my Sal at at Anthony it was a nice small safe school and I just it's so overwhelming going to the bigger schools and being with all these other kids you know and there's so many kids I wish I could be back at Anthony where where that was home to me that was my family um bigger and newer is not better I've been married to my husband for 31 years I'm not trading them in anytime soon I'm going to keep them around for a while I'm sure there's better looking and you know better attitudes out there but I'm going to keep them around just like I think you ought to keep these schools around and keep these schools around for these communities thank you thank [Applause] you Bishop James David Stockton good evening good evening thank you for allowing me bo uh to have this opportunity Martin M Smith SMI and I come here tonight as uh a pastor p as a u concerned individual and uh on behalf of the members that I pastor at Progressive Union because listen to all of this that is has been said Progressive Union amen sits adjacent to vent Elementary me as a business owner also have found the heart to support fezan Elementary because after being a pastor there learning uh the rich history I did have brothers and sisters who graduated from there uh when it was in high school but tonight I reach out to you tonight and asking you to hear the voices that have spoken from their heart even for Anthony that school we know that they're look older schools but the love that these School brings in the community is more than a new school and asking you to take notes that these people and I know by dealing with Fez and looking at the alumni when I was bringing them a golf cart how excited they was because they they and they they reach out to everyone to try to keep fezan going that's how much they love it they could be doing other things they're retired but they spend their efforts and their their finances trying to help Fe just like at Anthony we asking you tonight to have a heart of compassion as God would have us to have one toward another these people are crying out to you as elected officials to hear them tonight and remember that they are expecting you to help them stay in their communities and not have to travel so far to have their kids educated and the memories of those who graduated from those school that they will be able to bring their grandchildren great grandchildren say this is where I came from this is where I was educated look at the rich history and they be able to tell them of it these are the things that have been echoed tonight don't forget them have a heart have the compassion to say that I hear you I hear the community I believe that we can do something to help them stay and continue to educate that's the key educate those in their Community please tonight remember the voices that have spoken tonight reason with yourselves tonight that God has placed you in a position to make some serious decisions but make the right one okay thank you thank you Mr [Applause] Smith good evening chair Conrad to Austin Ellis who serving in the absence of our superintendent to all the board members I'm Bishop James David Stockton Stockton spelled St o c k t o n hello um I know that you have a lot of work still yet to do tonight so I will not bore you with a long uh litany list of reasons why we're here last week there was a work session and like so many in this room we read we we watch we can see we can hear and the question was posed our questions was posed in regards to the future of Community Schools historical Community Schools the question because some people would say well why are we really talking about it tonight it's not on the agenda it's not on the agenda but it was put in the atmosphere and because it was put in the atmosphere you have the result and the outcry of voices in the room on tonight we don't want to wait till something is decided then we come and react we're showing you tonight that we're proactively passionate about the future of our centers of higher education it's interesting also to me that all of these schools if I'm correct are in the same district same Community same area a area that many of others have talked about have been overlooked and sometimes forgotten because the focus of the development of our County seemingly is in other areas but there's a history in this area of schools that we have you heard the cries tonight you heard the passion tonight of course y'all know I'm a preacher and um I'm always reminded of scripture and everything that I do that's what keeps me out of trouble and uh the Bible tells us a story about a ping of stones that placed seemingly nowhere yeah it doesn't really make sense while this pile of stones are here but the question has been placed and mandated on these Stones so when future Generations ask what meaneth these Stones someone can cry out this is what God has done for us when nothing else seemed to be uh available to us when there was no other way that God still makes a way for one of these institutions over 150 years ago God made a way for a group of people who were considered half human uneducable was just recently considered property to develop an institution of higher education to mold the minds many people might not see fezan many people might not ever make it to spar many people might not make it to Anthony but to those who grow up in those communities and have historical roots in those communities every time they come back for family reunion or block party or some other wonderful Festival that the community might have or just maybe you want to just take your children back like my father took us back to the coal mines that they grew up in and had to deal with in West Virginia and McDow County they'll pass a school it might look older and it might not look as contemporary and modern as so many other places but some child will say why are you bringing us here and a parent will be able to say because I was educated here the grandparents were possibly educated here the great-grandparents were educated here there's some in this room can go back as far as say that their great great great plus grandfather was the first uh principal or the first director or we are friends our family and our our blood is in this building you know we helped carry away the rotten wood from one Auditorium n understand this this room is fill of filled of people who are all passionate about a group of schools from the same district we're emotional tonight but we'll be be voters tomorrow it's important that we understand what effects this could make on a whole Community thank you I'm Bishop James David stock thank you rever [Applause] stock is that our last speaker okay board would you prefer to take a five minute recess or are you ready to move on pleasure of the board mind taking a recess okay we're going to take a brief five minute recess and we'll be back to um finish our business thank you e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e back to our seats please do I have audio we make our way back to our seats please it's not yeah it's not okay let's all make our way back to our seats please please all right everybody let's make our way back to our seats meeting's about to begin I'm just waiting for our screen right yeah I had that we had six more one apparently okay we are returning from reset at 7:40 and it was brought to my attention that we have a few speakers uh that might have been missed so uh Miss Martinez you have one paper with a name on it Evette Anderson good afternoon chairman and board members my name is IET Anderson a n d r s o n to tonight you've heard of the legacy of fezan you've heard about Anthony Elementary I am a product of Anthony Elementary until Spar Elementary was built and then we moved over I reside in Spar but I went to school in Anthony but tonight I'm not here about the history I want both schools to stay open if my mom was alive she would be here fighting for her fee and tigers but tonight I'm here to fight for my granddaughter I am an advocate for a child that has special needs she has been bounced from reic because they could not meet her needs she went to W minina Park and due to her severity of autism and seizures and the lack of her processing now they moved her to a mod curriculum which is now housed at bezan high school I stand tonight to say I refuse to continue to have my grandchild bounced from place to place I want history to stand you made an opening statement about Legacy and if you're going to have a Le Legacy and a successful Legacy then you can't take away the arm or the leg you got to have the whole body to operate and that will be your community tonight I employ instead of looking over North Side Pride come join us we got the stank house out there with Wagner uh cows at North Mar High School we the horse capital of America but what I'm saying today is and even in the field that I work in in child welfare a lot of our kids go to uh feine because of the special needs F our legislature to get where a teacher can be a teacher my granddaughter is 10 she can't read at this time like she should but I've been told she Henry but music is her thing we need to consider the education of our children the people that have a heart and a compassion to work with them because let me tell you something until you step in my shoes the autistic child and you don't know what you're gonna get every day but she can tell you every step there is at bidan elementary and lead her class every every day to that cafeteria and she thinks she's a staff member I applaud everyone that works with her they may have been a f but not a c give them a chance to improve help them get the resources and the tools that they need you can keep History Alive by employing and helping those who have the desire and the compassion and giving them the authority to be who they need to be in that classroom that's by going to our legislature you never know those that are unable to travel I've transported kids from Brooksville to okel school until you walk the mile in somebody else's shoes until you have that child that you love with all you got and know that they're facing a challenge but yet there's somebody who's willing to work and give all that they have have don't shut the door cuz I'm going to Advocate I'm going to fight you can't do anything without the left hand or the right hand you got to come together have a heart of compassion hear me with your physical ears hear me with your heart don't walk move out of emotion but move out of the necessity to continue to have communities that are make Maron County great again thank you Miss [Music] Anderson okay Miss Martinez am I correct in that we do not have any more forms we do not okay is there anyone in the audience that um thinks that they filled out a form and was not called okay all right I think we are finished with um public comment board we're going to um move into informational items uh before we do that real quick I just want to say thank you uh to everyone that came tonight I appreciate your your input um your passion uh for the schools that are that are being discussed and so just commend you for being here uh tonight and sharing your legacy and your story with the board so thank you uh moving on to item 8.1 uh informational item the school district used a construction management delivery method including a guaranteed maximum price to perform construction work on the following projects to allow the district to purchase materials through the owner direct purchase process to save sales tax the construction manager needs to return the funds to the owner via deductive change order the superintendent has signed and approved the change orders per board board policy 6345 the superintendent is authorized to approve and execute any Construction contract change order that will increase the Construction contract by $25,000 or less or that will decrease the Construction contract amount provided the approval will be in her judgment in the best interest of the board such change orders will be binding upon execution by the superintendent the superintendent shall report each change order that she approved to the board at the board meeting that follows her approval the superintendent's approval of the change orders will be entered into the official minutes of the board meeting amendment number one to the construction manager contract guaranteed maximum price for equipment early procurement related to construction of new Elementary School W change order number 7 amendment number one project 24-1 1 this purchase will allow the district to save approximately $1,583 1877 in sales tax 8.2 amendment number one to the construction manager contract guaranteed maximum price for labor and materials related to construction of new 16 classroom Edition at Liberty Middle School change order number two amendment number one project 24-1 03 this purchase will allow the district to save approximately $537 7039 in sales tax 8.3 amendment number three to the construction manager contract guaranteed maximum price for labor and materials consisting of interior construction related to construction of new Elementary X Change order 9 amendment number three project 24-12 this purchase will allow the district to save approximately $ 34,50 4 in sales tax total sales tax savings $98,400 30 cents the school district used a construction management delivery method including a guaranteed maximum price to perform construction work on the following projects there were unused funds on the projects since the projects were delivered using a construction management delivery with a GMP format unused dollars regardless of of the item are returned to the owner the unspent monies will be returned to the owner via change order which will close the financial books on these projects the superintendent has signed and approved the change order per Bo board policy 6345 the superintendent is authorized to approve and execute any Construction contract change order that will increase the con Construction contract by $25,000 or less or that will decrease the Construction contract amount provided that approval shall be in her judgment in the best interest of the board such change orders shall be binding upon execution by the superintendent the superintendent shall report each change order that she approves to the board that the board meeting that the board meeting that follows her approval the superintendent's approval of the change order shall be entered in the official minutes of the board meeting 8.4 construction of heating ventilation air conditioning system for the gymnasium at fezan elementary score change order number one work authorization number 35 project 23-15 unused funds $12,597.28 number 37 project 24-100 unused funds $433,000 42 8.6 heating ventilating air conditioning system upgrades for oakrest elementary school change order one work authorization 33 project 23-18 unused funds $ 27,578 total unused funds $581,000 $581,000 111 board this concludes the informational items for today's meeting we are now going to move on to consent agenda may I have a motion to approve consent agena items c1.12 c6.2 with the exception of items d9.1 D1 19.2 d193 D1 19.4 d19 .5 D1 19.6 D1 19.7 and D1 19.8 that have been placed under discussion regular agenda items and item D 21.1 that has been placed under discussion pulled agenda items May I have a motion so move thank you Reverend Cummings may have a second second thank you board member thrower all those in favor say I I I motion passes 5 Z before addressing expulsion matters I wish to acknowledge that the board members have received the alternative placement list for students through December 13th 2024 Miss Martinez are there any parents who have submitted a timely request to speak on their child's disciplinary matter no Madam chair thank you Miss Martinez may I have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD 25- 134e JD 25- 135e jd2 -136 e JD 25-41 JD 25142 jd21 143e JD 25144 jd21 145 JD 2546 jd21 147e JD 2548 jd21 151e jd21 56e JD 25157 for the remainder of the 2024 2025 school year and the first and second quarters of the 2025 2026 school year may I have a motion so move thank you Reverend Cummings second thank you Dr Campbell all those in favor say I those opposed motion passes 5 may I have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD 25-140 e and JD 25149 with off campus virtual learning for the remainder of the 2024 2025 school year and the first and second quarters of the 2025 2026 school year may I have a motion motion to approve thank you Dr Campbell second can you reread the numbers you said sorry JD 214e and JD 25149 I was I'm just pausing because I I think the items that you pulled are at the end they are at the end but I also see3 in the board um I when I'm looking at the board packet and 153 is pulled for discussion off air but I'm seeing 153 unless what I'm looking at is not updated I'm seeing 53 in the board packet I realized you didn't say it in the script but um okay so I don't I don't know if if she didn't say it then it doesn't matter but it's I'm refreshing my screen but so 153 is included in the information that was sent to us but it's not included um when I I mean certainly somebody else can look at the attorney powers can you give us some guidance I I would have to look at it as you are um so I'm looking at the board I just refreshed I'm looking at the board meeting item 18.2 has JD 25153 packet showing as an attachment but JD 25153 is a is also showing as a pulled agenda item for off air so I appreciate that the script did not read JD 25153 from a practical stand Point are we voting on what the chair said or are we voting on what's in board dos Mr Blackman do you have any input insight into that the the items I I don't know which items you brought forward for I'm just talking about from a semantic standpoint if the item is uploaded and it's listed I mean Dr cell do you know what I'm trying to say I see it it's listed as a pulled item no but air but on 18.2 it is listed right I see what you're saying and so I just want to ensure that while the script did not say JD 25153 the board packet which I'm looking at for item 18.2 has item JD 25153 if I had caught this earlier certainly I would have addressed it but okay so to clarify which we are voting the the script R has indicated that the motion to approve the expulsion was for jd21 140e and JD 25149 corre correct okay but that's not what is loaded in Bardock so are we safe to vote on what I read so I don't know which ones are being brought forward I don't have I don't have the packet 153 was removed from this item and moved later it is now item 22 4 okay so it's it's it's at another location it is at another location yes okay so when you're voting you would be voting on the two for this location 140 and 149 that's fine I all I was saying I wanted to ensure that it it's listed at obviously included in item 18.2 um and so I wanted to make sure that we were not going to be making a vote on it right now haphazardly because it is listed here in board dos okay thank you for that clarification we have a motion by um Dr Campbell can I have a second I'll second it thank uh thank you Dr James all those in favor say I M chair M chair can we just make sure that we State for the record with Clarity that we're only voting on jd2 I will be happy to I will be happy to reread it thank you so may I have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD 25-140 and JD 25-49 with off-campus virtual learning for the remainder of the 20 24 2025 school year and the first and second quarters of the 2025 2026 school year I have a motion by Dr Campbell and a second by Dr James that good Reverend Cummings yes okay thank you all those in favor say I I motion passes 5 Z moving on to regular agenda items the purpose of this meeting is to adopt resolution 25-3 authorizing and and amendment to project being financed by the certificate of participation series 2024 this resolution amends resolution 24-1 board approved on February 27th 2024 removing the budget for three wings at Horizon Academy hamut Bowen Jr Elementary and Maran Oaks Elementary to offset the increased cost of high school CCC AKA Southwest High School CCC may I have a motion to approve the resolution 25-3 authorizing an amendment to the projects being financed by the certificate of participation series 2024 may I have a motion motion to approve uh thank you Dr James May I have a second okay here we are again at the lease Incorporation ation we modified this in order for us to be able to uh move forward with the certificates participation um correct and there was quite um intensive conversation that the whole board participated in earlier previous to this yes ma'am and so by lack of a second the motion would then die can the chair second chair cannot not second unless she passes the gab pass it to Reverend Cummings a second second motion has been made um and properly second first for question all in favor signify by I it's discussion item you're supposed to ask Miss he doesn't yeah he doesn't have okay Miss Boston Ellis Miss Boston Ellis do you have any you'd like to share on this item um I would only reiterate that this is an amendment to a previous uh resolution and what we are trying to do is remove move the three Wings Horizon Academy Hammet Bowen and Marion Oaks Elementary and this will offset the additional cost of the high school CCC thank you Miss Boston Ellis um Vice chair Cummings can um I'd like Miss Boston Ellis to remind the board including myself what the intome meeting we had earlier today did the leasing Corporation meeting you approved it as a part of the leasing Corp because this is a certificate of participation um we have two organizations we have the school board as well as the leasing port and you have to vote on this items in in both of those settings understood what are the implications for the board approving it in the lease incorporation meeting and not approving it tonight I would have to defer to attorney powers on that okay I look forward to someone providing the board with some clarity if if it's not approved if the board fails to approve the resolution then it would have to be brought back at another time by uh we'd have to go through the certificat participation uh again in order to experience the closure this is this is a different Factor than was just discussed that everybody had debate and discussion on tonight there are other items involved here so the leasing Corp meeting this has nothing to do with the the stuff that was discussed tonight I understand I'm I'm commenting on the chair had just said we had had significant discussion on not tonight another day okay on another day I understand so if we were to if we were to vote with the leasing Corp but then not to vote here to approve the the resolution then the two would nullify each other so we would not be able to proceed forward and we'd have to bring this back to the board at another time causing additional delays at high school CCC correct correct okay Vice chair Cummings ma'am so um I will vote in favor of this item my reason for pause is was because as you all are well aware I have recused myself multiple times from all items that name the chosen construction management group that has been chosen for high school CCC in this particular case nowhere in this document is the chosen construction management contract mentioned it simply mentions the amounts for each entity and so because of that I will be voting in favor thank you Dr Campell I made maintain my stance from earlier tonight on the lease incorporation vote the only reason why we're doing this is due to completely unnecessary delays um previously I'll be vo I would just like to acknowledge that if we don't approve this we continue on the delays like I said it'll proa my vote will largely likely be ceremonial and let me go on the record because this is the school that's in my district um we've had delays um unnecessary delays so I do want us to go ahead and move forward with this we ready for a vote we're ready for a vote all in favor signify by I I I post have the same sign nay pass is 41 passor G back to the chair find a solution okay may I have a motion to renew bid 4 024 ah fres produce for Food Service term contract may I have a motion motion to approve thank you Dr Campbell I have a second a second thank you Dr James Miss Boston Ellis do you have information you'd like to share with us regarding this item thank you chair Conrad this is a very large dollar amount approximately $1.75 million Miss ly Taylor is here to provide additional information on this item good evening good evening uh school board members good evening Miss Boston Alis the food and nutrition services department request permission to utilize the first renewal option for bid 4024 ah fresh produce for Food Service term contract which provides quality fresh produce delivered consistently at comp competitive pricing food and nutrition services is committed to ensuring that all students have access to fresh healthy fruits and vegetables no matter the cost we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy nutritious food 1.7 million is certainly a huge cost but there are several factors that affect the rising cost for this renewal bid Transportation fuel cost weather conditions such as drought freezing temperatures excessive rainfall as well as increases in labor wages weather events resulting in crop pilers can drastically affect food supply and increased vulnerabilities for crops like citrus and varieties of fruits and vegetables this can result in a shortage that drives food prices higher a primary supporting vendor is pisi's produce and Specialty Foods of St Petersburg Florida the resources needed for this renewal is 1.7 1,750,000 and this is an annual estimate by approving this renewal food and nutrition services will continue to provide fresh quality produce to school cafeterias delivered consistently at competitive pricing this renewal will also provide students and staff with healthier School environment by providing healthier food choices that will have long lasting health and academic outcomes additionally it will continue to support District compliance with the 2010 healthy hunger-free kids act fresh fruit and vses program and the farm to school program thank you board any discussion okay seeing and hearing none all those in favor say I I those uh any opposed motion passes 5 Z thank you may I have a motion to approve the request for proposal 4079 ah and resulting agreement for sanitation and cleaning supply System Program may I have a motion move thank you Reverend Cummings second thank you you board member thrower Miss Boston Ellis do you have information on this item for us tonight yes we have just a little bit more information and Miss Taylor will will provide additional uh information on this item this is an RFP uh and it is new for us uh 96,97 good evening again good evening again request for proposal 4079 ah was issued to engage a company to provide sanitation and cleaning supply System Program invitations to submit proposals was sent to vendors within vend vending the RFP was advertised publicly on the purchasing Department's website as well two proposals were received members of the evaluation committee individually reviewed and scored the proposals a contract was then drafted sorry the scoring provided was then tab at the evaluation meeting a contract was then provide was then drafted and negotiated with the highest ranked firm food and nutrition services is excited to share information about sanitech Services RFP the vendor that was selected to provide a district with the sanit sanitation and cleaning supply System Program sanitech systems develop and supplies sanitation and Food Systems specifically tailored for K through 12 school nutrition departments across the Southern United States the products and services offered a design exclusively for schooled cafeterias in addition to providing pre-measured colorcoded and userfriendly cleaning supplies the system includes delivery ongoing site training installation and documentation for each of our cafeterias every month technicians will visit all cafeterias to supply necessary sanitation products offer training and provide assistance to ensure full compliance with all safety and sanitation objectives set by the our food and nutrition Department sanitex system is designed to standardize and organize sanitation products and processes in kitens every employee will understand and follow the same sanitation procedures all necessary including ooser approved dispensers spray ERS instructional materials wall charts protective equipment and other supplies are included in this service complete inventory management is also included the sanitech RFP for sanitation and Supply program will lead to a comprehensive safety and sanitation program for all our cafeterias this initiative aims to enhance food safety for students in Maran County public schools by ensuring that all staff receive proper training and follow a standardized sanitation protocol throughout the district thank you Miss Taylor for is there any discussion questions or comments okay seeing and hearing none all those in favor say I I any opposed motion passes 5 thank you may I have a motion to approve the request for proposal 4104 RC and resulting agreement for district dist fiber Services may I have a motion so move thank you Reverend Cummings may I have a second second thank you Dr James Miss Boston Ellis do you have some information for us regarding this item yes we do chair Conrad this item is also a large dollar amount approximately 6.96 million for fiber optic Services Mr Ben vudi is here to provide additional information good evening Mr Ben vudi good evening board chair Conrad Vice J Cummings board members and Miss Boston Ellis uh this evening we are requesting your approval for the award of proposal RFP 4104 RC to the city of Okala Florida doing business is Okala fiber Network this RFP was issued to secure fiber services for the district and was publicly advertised by the district through uh and through eate in the databas we Sorry We additionally we invited vendors to participate um through using our purchasing database and the vendor link after individual reviews and scoring of the evaluation committee the highest ranked firm was selected and the contract was negotiated the original term effective upon final signatures begins on July 1st 2025 and will run through June 30th 2030 with an option to renew the annual expenditure is 1, 392,000 over a 5-year term totaling 6, 960,000 however the district can receive approximately 90% of its cost back through eate Revenue significantly reducing the financial impact reliable fiber infrastructure is essential for the district's operational educational needs it secures fast secure and uninterrupted internet connectivity for classrooms enabling teachers to deliver engaging technology Rich lessons and supporting students access to digital learning tools additionally fiber Services power critical administrative functions from communication systems to data management insuring smooth districtwide operations this infrastructure also supports future growth including expanding bandwidth needs the integration of new technologies and enhanced connectivity for cloud-based applications approving this agreement will position the district to meet both current and future demands creating a scalable foundation for long-term success thank you for your consideration thank you Mr Ben vudi board any discussion Oh attorney Powers I just wanted to say a particular thank you to Mr Ben benoni and Mr Collins we had to work quite a bit on this on this contract on this project and uh they were they pulled a lot of hours working on this this was not a simple one so okay thank you that was very professional and very well done thank you board any other comments okay all right with that being said no other comments we're ready to take a vote board all those in favor say I I I any opposed motion passes 5 thank you Mr Ben vudi thank you it's okay um may I have a motion to approve piggyback agreement with Miller Electric compy Company may I have a motion someone thank you Reverend Cummings may I have a second second thank you board member thrower Miss Boston Ellis do you have some information on this item thank you chair Conrad this item totaling 200,000 will permit mcps to purchase Access Control Hardware at competitive pricing Mr Ben vudi and Mr mcfat are available to provide additional details good evening again yeah welcome back yeah uh this evening we're uh requesting approval for a piggyback agreement utilizing the existing city of St Augustine PW 202-10 with Miller Electric Company of Jacksonville Florida this agreement will enable the district to engage a trusted vendor to implement site access control and Security Solutions the agreement will support the implementation of a comprehensive site access control system across the district standardizing and enhancing entry protocols key features of the systems include controlled access points visitor management system Sy and a badge based employee access to ensure a secure and efficient approach to campus security this agreement shall not exceed 200,000 at this time I'd like to invite Mr provide some additional information thank you good evening Mr mcfaden good good evening long night yes it is um although we um we're this initial agreement is for $200,000 we just wanted to let the board be aware that once we move forward and start developing plans and Implement a plan of Safety and Security for our district we will uh eventually move to provide access control for the entire district and with that being said obviously this amount of funding is going to greatly increase so we are asking that this board be prepared for that allow us to put together a plan between ourselves the safe schools Department technology and other stakeholders within the district to implement a solid plan that will allow us to add Access Control to all of our schools but it has to be strategically done um within again the best practices for all of our schools so that we can have all of them with distance access control something that is new to the district for the most part on a large scale so just be prepared to have further conversations about it thank you Mr mcad any other conversation from the board okay hearing none all those in favor say I I I any opposed all right motion passes 5 may I have a motion to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the Maran education support professionals and the school board of Maran County 2024 to 2027 may I have a motion motion to approve uh thank you board member thrower second second uh thank you Dr James Miss Boston Ellis do you have some information on this item thank you chair Conrad this item represents approximately $1.34 million and reflects the agreed upon changes between the Marian educational support professionals and the Maran County Public Schools bargaining teams Miss Morant is available to address any questions you may have okay Miss morand are you coming forward or you just want to see if we have any questions okay Bo do we have any questions on this item okay seeing none we will go ahead and vote all those in favor say I I I any opposed motion passes 5 may I have a motion to approve amendment number one to the construction management contract guaranteed maximum price for Mass grading early equipment procurement and building foundations shell and site work related to construction of new high school CCC change order number two amendment number one project 24-105 may I have a motion motion to approve okay thank you Dr James uh second by Reverend Cummings thank you Miss bonellis do we have more information on this item yes I would like to request that Miss bmach come forward and she will is available to provide further details this is revising the or Regional construction timeline for high school CCC good evening for for Conrad Vice chair Cummings Boston Alis um we all aware of the diff different factors that cause some delays and we couldn't start construction as we originally planned um the contractor will focus definitely on the classroom buildings the cafeteria the auditorium we will focus on opening the school for August 26 that the students can start school and we're just asking for a Time extension um for the auditorium building of 104 days and this a substantial completion for that building then for October 26 no 29 2026 okay thank you am I correct in my notes that there's discussion and then just coming to consensus on this item is that correct that that's on the maps okay I think I think I'm missing a piece here okay so um thank you Miss bomach Board any discussion on this item I just for clarification attorney Powers you and I spoke but spoken about this but just for Community because again this is mentioning uh this is a detailed information with the construction manager but it is not a difference in price and it is only a timeline that is changing then I can vote on this one I believe so this one says in our board packet it does not have a fiscal impact uh on this particular scenario because it is just a timeline change so for that I can vote on this one and I will vote in favor I'm sorry you will vote in favor okay sorry I missed the end of what you said yes board member thrower thank you um I have I'm referencing um our work session that we did on November 21st first uh 2024 and I'm having a hard time understanding how U increasing the timeline doesn't come with a cost because on this handout that we got on November 21st of 2024 it's there's an item here subcontractor overtime uh at the cost of 9,300 th000 estimated cost increase so I can't imagine that uh there would be no cost to this so I guess I just need a little help with that explanation the contractor provided a guaranteed maximum price um to complete that project and they are standing by that guaranteed maximum price so they're basically granting us some Grace yes that's admirable glad we selected it thank you okay any other board comments okay seeing and hearing none all those in favor say I I any opposed all right motion passes five Z okay this is a discussion item only uh requesting a consensus on either map options High School CCC proposed attendance Zone options Miss Boston Ellis will you give us um some information on this item yes thank you chair Conrad the board added this item uh to further discuss the proposed attendance Zone options Mr SS is available to answer any questions you may recall option A is the original map that was presented during the Thursday work session and option b is a change that was made moving Forest High School students to Lake we uh High School Zone H so that all addresses are outside the two mile area of farest high school and again Mr SS is here to and available to answer any questions okay thank you Miss Boston Ellis uh Mr s is there anything you want to share with us up front just that you have the maps and the same we've had discussion last Thursday yes and these maps are just as a request as an option can be the only change is that move of the hor Zone outside the two mile okay yes Dr Campbell chair thank you I I had shared this with Mr SS but obviously it's not something that he could bring back to the board because it was just my idea I just wanted to chat with you all about it uh in looking at both of the maps while and also just driving Baseline mayor camp this morning uh I I question and this would be also so for future conversations as we potentially look to rezoning Middle Schools when lakee middle is then out in Silver Spring Shores in a year or two from now I wonder if we used and this actually this idea came from aun mber if we used the greenway as the natural barrier there and I know that map a still has a portion of the houses to the east of the greenway in that Forest Zone and then we're having even fewer of or more of them well more of them in the forest Zone in map B uh but as we continue to need to have natural barriers whether they be streets or what have you the greenway is the Green Way and there aren't very many students walking or riding bikes from the east side of Baseline to Forest High School and that was the purpose of the two miles I understand I also had Mr SS and Mr O stanic actually pull some numbers really quickly that I think everybody has seen today as far as how many students are being busted because we even have a hub stop in the Magnolia areas that is definitely within two miles and and so that if we're using that as a consideration I wanted to see how many students are already within two miles that're receiving transportation and so we we got those numbers today um I'm I'm just curious Bor I know it's not we don't have an option C and it wasn't something we were focused on the other things I think um the other day so I'm my apologies for not bringing this up then but is there any appetite for considering the greenway as being a natural barrier for Forest High School and anything east of the greenway in Silver Spring Shores going to Lake we high would um I think Mr s has them with him he said he but I but if anybody else is is interested in that I I don't for the purposes of the record can you please define what the greenway is sure well the greenway is the is the actual on the map it's the white portion that will never have development in it so that would be the natural barrier that I would see so there are still homes to the east of Baseline Road that are north of the sheriff's work Farm I guess the almonds and some of those down through there those are most likely Beyond two miles I would say once I'm I'm believing that I I didn't do the map on that but the area I'm speaking about specifically is the greenway leading into Silver Spring Shores so we were talking on Thursday about Southeast 64th Avenue Road and what we were going to do about that neighborhood on Southeast 64th Avenue Road Southeast 64th Avenue Road dead ends into the greenway and so if we actually use the greenway as opposed to that road we wouldn't be splitting any neighborhood in that Shores area because is that I'm sorry go ahead is that the road that has was Wings of Faith Church yes I let me let me say something there um there are a lot of people that moved into that area specifically for their kids could go to so you change that barrier you going to push out that move because that was the bound those were the boundaries well we're about to move it one way or the other because 64th Avenue Road isn't the full barrier I mean it kind of is it kind of isn't um because 64th Avenue road right now on either one of these two options is going to be used as a delineation marking and so right now those students that live to the east of 64th Avenue Road will be excluded based on the Maps we're about to discuss to the the ones on the wings of Faith Fellowship side no but then the ones across the street that that's what we're looking at that that it's the tan area on these Maps um and if I'm not explaining it correctly Mr SS please help me but the original map option A uses 64th Avenue Road as that delineation line and then we talked about it for map B to actually be that we would move that so that two miles would be the the yeah in order to accomplish the two M we come down 64th Avenue and then hit Pine Run Road is the new delineation for option b so that's the only change from option A to option b is we now use pine run which ensures that all addresses are outside the two milone and and the purpose is that is just sharing with the public we don't get any funding for students that we bus within the two M zone is that correct or I I don't want to speak for transportation but this individual's per understanding is correct okay if it's within the two M Zone we do not receive funding so any busing we do due to HUB stops or extra stops we do not receive funding right and since the funding we receive for transportation overall is about half of what we need that really is I know it sounds like something small but every little piece that we take on um that we're not provided funding for is another challenge you know we present to Transportation correct in in to the best of your knowledge to the best of my knowledge thank you Mr SS uh Mr thank you um Mr S I was just wondering um what your recommendation is now we have option a option b and a possible option C my initial recommendation was map a option A was my initial recommendation um due to conversation from the board we presented option b which moved them all outside to I don't necessarily have a recommendation for going with the other options I mean there's good argument for both sides for that um I do have student counts for current as zones and attending in those different areas but again my original option recommendation was option A and but I gave you option b to move forward because that was a board request thank you and just for the the record um I think it's important for the public to understand because people might be asking well you know why are we doing these these Hub stops and and not getting any money for those students knowing the strains we have on transportation and maybe that's a trans Transportation question that would be a transportation question but I believe it's you know it was in the best interest of the Safety and Security the student thank you that's what I wanted to hear thank you any other discussion comments um yeah I don't um I don't I'm not really settled with a choice um I guess I guess the best way to put it is I don't like either option it doesn't mean that I can't make a decision tonight but I'm not really overwhelmed with either option I feel discontent with setting a zoning pattern so close to a high school um understanding they can't safely walk there but proximity has value and when your home is so close I mean you're going to hear the football games at night and your kid can't go to that school that I I don't that brings me discontent can I add one clarification what we're asking for tonight is consensus to move forward with the process we're not voting or approving on any zoning plan the next step in the process is to present this to the community sure have Community input meetings we will then at that point come back and remember have rule development work sessions where we will present all extra data any extra data that the board wants that we can have time then we present that and then we have scheduled a second rule development work session that if the board at that work session decides well we want to see this change we could come back and at that point we would receive consensus to do the public hearing tonight is just consensus to move forward in the process but we had to pick a map tonight we thought we had to pick them map yes you do you have to pick them M A or B so if I use the word vote I I I use that um in justest I was what I was saying was that I feel discontent with either option and so I'm I'm not incredibly so on either so understanding that we're not making a hard decision tonight I can go with the pleasure of whatever the majority of the board is because I feel a level of discontent from both uh and I feel uncomfortable with having a zoning pattern less than two miles from a school so my choice if I were to pick one would be option b for the pure fact that I think it at least provides that level of protection thank you Reverend Cummings Madam chair um we had extensive discussion on this uh last week at the work session and uh Mr Aris again did say that he was looking for a consensus to proceed um so that we could get more information so I'm fine with him proceeding um getting the consensus from us the proceeding because as he stated the community is going to have opportunity give their input we're not voting on a specific plan tonight so I would I would be in favor of going with the recommendation their he and allowing them to proceed forward okay and what map Choice it it doesn't matter what it matap chice he he said let's proceed no whatever hey that was the one that you gave yes all right uh I'll just share that this is not easy and I don't I would love to have the perfect solution I think that we definitely have demonstrated to the community that there's been a lot of conversation a lot of map checking thinking this through um you know pondering your recommendation which was map a uh one way or another this is going to be difficult for some families and and to the individual families that this ends up being very difficult for you know my my heart goes out to them already um anytime you do a rezoning you know you wish you could have a 100% approval and every single house in every single neighborhood ends up happy and and if there's a way to do that then it hasn't been presented and if there was I believe it would have been presented so I'm prepared to go forward with um option A that's what you presented to us that's your recommendation from your seat of expertise and all the updated everything and so that's where I am um since there's not an appetite to talk about the greenway I will also go with option a uh mainly because that is a very defined line and you can say Southeast 64th Avenue Road is the line and that makes it clean and easier for families to understand east side goes one way west side goes the other okay thank you for sharing uh my preference would have been uh Plan B but I hear the consensus is for uh map a and so Mr SS I think you have the answer you need all right thank you sir okay moving down um pulled agenda items May I have a motion to approve the Personnel items 2024 2025 fiscal year may I have a motion move thank you Reverend Cummings may have a second second uh thank you Dr Campbell Dr James you pulled this item to have further discussion uh just to notify the board I will not be voting on the item yes ma'am I just have a question and it's a more of a procedural question so I'm not sure if if this is attorney Powers Miss Martinez even chair Conrad I'm not really sure um this board docks for this board meeting was published with this item already being listed as a pulled item from a board member and in the past as serving as chair and I'm sure you served in agenda review and and the others of us who've been in a genda review the other board members usually are not privy to information that is going to be in the board meeting so I'm unsure how an i how the entire agenda was published with a board member already pulling an item off of the agenda so I'm not sure how that happened I normally procedurally that's something that happens after the the whole agenda is published I can speak to that okay I knew an individual's name was going to be in this board Personnel packet and so I knew that I shouldn't vote on it because I had noticed because I know them that their name was going to be in the packet and I contacted Miss Morant to ensure that I got the right packet because I thought it was actually the packet before this in our previous board meeting it was not she confirmed it would be in this packet and so I said please make sure this item is placed in discussion whenever it gets placed was not my care but I simply said it needed to be in discussion so that I could properly recuse myself okay okay well proactive I mean it was a procedural question I I just had never seen an agenda published with an item already pulled because the rest of the board had not seen the agenda to know to pull an item so uh yeah and to for the record I didn't see the Personnel packet all I knew was that a name was going to be in the Personnel packet confirmed by Miss Morant and I knew that I should not vote on that item thank you I it was again just a procedural question I had not seen something like that being published that way before okay any further discussion any other board members okay all those in favor say I I I motion passes four Z one one for recusal 4 Z 4 4 Z 4 Z okay thank you all right we are down to board committee reports and concerns reminder reminder that we will be back at MTI for board meetings and work sessions um board there will be some discussion at our work next work session um on that topic uh so we have that to look forward to the next administrative briefing and work session is scheduled for February 6th 2025 at 9 a.m. there's a school board meeting scheduled for February 11th 2025 at 5:30 p.m. and a special school board meeting scheduled for February February 20th 2025 at 7 a.m. the following administrative briefing and work session is scheduled for February 20th 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and the following school board meeting is scheduled for February 25th 2025 at 5:30 p.m. um at this time we'll be having uh board comments and concerns Miss Martinez welome Madam chair okay thank you attorney Powers just a reminder you all should have received an invite for uh truy court that is coming up on this Friday it's going to be at 9:00 am courtroom 2C um you're welcome to attend and I hope that you do um those are generally once a month though we don't always have consistently uh they are consistently on a Friday um which during the summer my office stays open when uh we're still everyone else is closed on on Friday um so that we can handle specifically treny Court um if you have any questions we can uh I'll have extra packets available so that you can kind of follow along with what's going on um and also if you arrive a few minutes early if we have a moment I'll introduce you to uh judge king and allow you to speak with him briefly and um if you stick around longer we can um speak afterwards as well just so he can we can all explain to you more about how we've been running the program success has been had so far and we're hoping that it will continue thank you okay thank you attorney Powers Miss Boston Ellis nothing further all right thank you Miss Boston Ellis for joining us tonight it's been my pleasure um board member thrower chair can I ask you to do the students oh I'm sorry I did I actually made that mistake last time so thank you Reverend Cummings for um bringing that to my attention student board members Carson would you like to share comments yes uh F first again I just wanted to say that I was glad to be here I know there was a little bit more discussion from the public today which was actually pretty interesting to see I loved hearing what people said who didn't actually have uh you know a place on this board so it was cool to see that uh just a couple things that were happening at North Maran today was the FCA breakfast I saw many of you guys there uh I was able to speak and I'm glad to say that we had very generous donors so FCA is looking like it'll be able to provide many huddles which are uh very impactful to students which I shared this morning um as well as uh at North Maran we had last Friday we had our career day which is where we bring in many guest speakers we had over 50 in classes to talk about uh opportunities for students in Maran County I'm pretty sure Dr James's husband was there heard he was and at the lunchtime during the career day they all have a table so 27 different um 27 different companies were represented by a table there so uh many students got to maybe sign up I know people who went with the Navy people who went with the Army um people who signed up with the firemen so it's just an awesome opportunity that happens uh as well as last night we had our freshman showcase which is where incoming freshmen that are going to be they're eighth graders now but they will be ninth uh in nth grade this next uh fall semester uh we we got to show them what extracurricular activities we had as well as the clubs and the athletic coaches so what they got to participate in and we got many people signing up as well as they could go get priority scheduling for their classes which is pretty helpful uh also just a shout out to our North Maran ecoin Science Program which is the only equin science program in the country they are they were selling selling their Thoroughbred cult tonight at OBS which is something they do every year and it's very uh it's very impactful for the program and it's a very big part of what the students do and finally I did again miss the basketball game tonight against North Bon Vanguard which is always a fun game to watch so I'm sure the boys had a great time and uh again I was just glad to be here and glad to learn from you guys thank thank you so much we appreciate your your input so very much um Chloe hi thanks for having me today um I'm going to get started with just discussing what went on in the meeting um I think that the main issue that was proposed that you guys are addressing very well is Marian County is growing rapidly and we're getting tons of new families moving here that are enjoying the school board's benefits as well as the um County's benefits as well um and I think that's where a lot of the issues are arising especially with the schools um seeing our community come up especially with the people who are connected to Anthony and um a present and um hearing them speak about it I believe that if we look toward our past to see our future I think that is really important when we're moving forward with the growth of Maran County um to add on to that with um Forest High School and the issue of overcrowding I know you guys are addressing that with the rezoning um it is an issue and I believe the quality of students education will improve if you're able to limit the amount of students in classrooms we are over capacity right now and um we're doing fine but uh I I think students will get a better quality of Education as for transportation um I live close to Magnolia and I know a lot of students use the buses that you guys provide as complimentary uh marry Camp is very dangerous to cross especially at 3:00 every day uh it's busy I would not want to walk alongside the road there or across the street there absolutely not um yeah no thank you uh so the buses there we really do appreciate those and students do utilize them so I just want to draw to you all's attention um um as well as what's going on at Forest High School uh so yesterday we had our RC Mass inspection from headquarters uh a lady from DC came down uh with her boss actually and uh we got graded on that we ended up getting um super high grade we got a 98.5 out of 100 so we're very proud to announce that um as well as North Maran and bellie theirs is coming up later in the week so we wish the best of luck to them uh but we had a great time all of our students got repres presented well and we were very happy about that um I know uh you mentioned a career showcase coming up uh we have that tomorrow in our um in our gym and that's going to help students get to see uh career ideas that they could get into and help them motivate them to either employ en list or uh enroll After High School um also tonight uh I was so sad I had to miss this but uh we had our uh CCAP Expo for all of the incoming freshmen we usually have about 500 freshman attend and all of our clubs come out all of our special programs come out and uh it's always a great time you'll see kids waving pool noodles trying to get them hyped up and uh it's a great opportunity for students to meet uh students who have taken the AP classes and really get a chance to F out the program so really excited about that and we're looking forward to some more great things in the future thank you thank you so much okay now Board number thrower thank you um May I defer I'm still trying to get my notes together absolutely absolutely um Dr Cell I no no that's F I can go I'm I'm pretty pretty well set on what I want to say okay so I did want to if anybody is still watching after three and a half hours uh tomorrow is an early release day that's usually something Dr gett says so tomorrow and Kevin's excited that I said that tomorrow is an early release day so remember students go home two hours earlier I'm not Kevin Christian but this is my voice saying the script two hours earlier so please make preparation in advance so that you will ensure that your student gets home safely uh it's also the day that Belleview High School senior a students are leaving for their senior trip to DC New York and Philadelphia um my senior is heading out and I'm doing all the senior things so as a point of privilege as a mom of a senior we had the golf banquet we've had the basketball night it's like lots of things happening senior thing and it's I'm not going to get emotional about that okay moving on congratulations to Dr NH Jones for their perfect AUD I to ask you to let me do that oh I'm so sorry well why you won't let me do my own scho because perfect audits are a big deal to me and always have been and you guys know that so we all can talk about them they are all our school they are all I understand but perfect audits also are something we all need to care about um Carson mentioned the FCA breakfast it was a pleasure today to be able to attend the fellowship of Christian athletes breakfast with so many of our students and coaches and Community leaders and philanthropy IST and Community activists and I know the board we were grateful that not only Carson our student representative to the board currently was on the student panel but Shawn Martin our student representative to the board in the most uh recent quarter was the moderator of the student panel so I was like hey our student for members Rock we were really proud to see you guys in action and um it really was great and for my kids to be there too as uh student athletes we're just I'm really grateful for all the things that FCA does and The Rock and what they have kind of done in tandem on a lot of things um and then I'll I'll kind of close my thoughts with some of what was already discussed earlier this evening I find it a bit ironic and a bit interesting that on the same date that we received notice of a pause of federal dollars we're having significant conversations in my mind for the sole reason of financial reasons so procedurally the school board can only have discussion about any ideas or recommendations publicly procedurally we can only have them publicly at no time can any school board member have discussion about District the school district individually with another Schoolboard member any conversation about anything that relates to the school district can only happen in public this evening many of the comments were made as if this board has already made a decision on our elementary schools on the North side when in actuality the conversation only began five days ago when many ideas were presented that day including one I had not considered of making oakrest a K8 seemed to have been left out of tonight but there were lots of ideas that were presented and again the school board can only share our ideas publicly many comments were also made expressing displeasure for some of the ideas proposed those ideas which haven't been fully developed or presented as a defined plan again ideas that were only presented five days ago as starting points of discussion here are some facts that remain apart from all of the wonderful things we heard this evening here are some facts that remain the school district is about to open two new elementary schools at 2.5 million each in operating costs we have no new Revenue to open these schools all monies we receive are based on our district student population we will have the same number of students and the same amount of funding regardless of the number of schools we use to educate them the fiscally responsible thing to do as the school board manages the budget for the district is to have a conversation about how and where those dollars could be found or made up those conclude my comments thank you Dr Campell Reverend Cummings okay Dr James sure uh thank you Bard I uh want to start we started the night with our recognitions Miss Piner and the students callor AJ was here I want to just uh boast for a second on the the one ful program that she runs at Vanguard I employ a Vanguard graduate who came out of that program and is one of my top uh teachers at one of my preschools chestney she is a wonderful employee but she's a wonderful teacher and she learned so much in our schools and I wanted to give AJ Miss Piner the recognition she deserves for the program that she has running at her um School in Vanguard I wanted to I was going to talk about North Maran High's career day either way so I appreciate the conversation getting started my husband was a speaker he is a graduate of North Maran and his his entire family tree is graduates of North Maran actually I think it goes back to Okala high but I'm an implant so I don't know all of the but I think his grandfather was an Okala High student prior to the uh North Marian High being built but either way my husband always finds pride in being able to go back and share his testimony and I think one of the things he said was this good old country boy from reic is now an A business owner and he talks about ownership and Entrepreneurship and how those students can see their walk and potentially um opportunities that they may not see handy in that moment but that that opportunity is there and through Maring County Public Schools we are affording students that opportunity um I wanted to mention too my mty Ellie who is a North Maran high school student was a part of the OBS sale today and so she sent me a picture showing pride of this the horse that we were able to sell at OBS today so shout out to Ellie and the team that was able to work all day yesterday and today at OBS uh to represent uh Mary County public school as well I am super proud of the work FCA is doing in our schools I have been honored with the opportunity to lead an FCA coaches huddle uh at papy's place which was mentioned tonight one of the small quaint restaurants at the four-way stop and Anthony and I get the opportunity to have fellowship with coaches from North Maran high school once a month and we talk about FCA but we also talk about North End stuff and we talk about coaching and needs they have on their campus and it has really been an honor to be able to facilitate conversations around FCA and just be an opportunity for them to share concerns they may have or desires they have um dreams of new pickle ball courts and all kinds of stuff so it's it's really an honor to be able to be a part of those conversations I wanted to make mention and I'm just hopeful that going forward we'll see a change in the exposion packets that are with virtual learning and Dr Campbell can help me with the language there but the packets that are uploaded for tonight's meeting still said the word with out services in bold um and I I we changed the language so I'm just looking for the board to receive communication um in the coming days about is there going to be a change in language in those packets and if there's not going to be a change of language maybe an explanation for why I'm just looking to kind of see because we I feel like we landed on um and Dr Campbell I would let you say it but with with education with off-campus virtual learning so I'm just wondering why the without is in all caps and bold instead of saying with off-campus virtual learning in those exposion packets um and so just looking for an answer on that and uh I Dr Campbell you did a very good job of articulating the thoughts that I have for tonight my I moved here 12 13 years ago 12 years ago to Maran County I met met a good old country boy who grew up in reic and I identify as a Northend resident I live a quarter mile from Anthony Elementary School and my husband's lineage is long standing on the North End I will do what is best for our students today tomorrow and every day as an elected official and as a proud Community member of the northin and I look forward to this board having continued conversation about options that could be available for us to be the most fiscally responsible board members uh and in saying that we had had conversation about setting a special board meeting I would like for this board if chair if you're willing for us to uh understanding Dr G is not here tonight I would like potentially for us to pick a few dates in the month of February understanding some Tallahassee constraints and other things so that um it's hard for this board as Dr Campbell mentioned we don't have a lot of opportunity to have public discourse and we won't talk again publicly until uh SE nine days from now and so I would like if the chair is willing for this board to maybe pick a few dates in February where we would be able to have discourse um understanding that I know February 10th is the first that comes to mind but understanding that Dr Campbell has Coalition that morning at 9:30 but maybe when the Coalition was over we could have um a work session obviously the agenda item would only be this item is the way I received the conversation the last time we had it so chair I'll let you take over I'm concluding my comments there but if you would want to engage in a conversation about date setting thank you um I do think that would be wise uh for us to set a separate work session um because there's obviously a lot of conversation to have um Dr Campbell how does your calendar look on that morning because we all most most of us do have Coalition also on our calendars that morning we would need to have our meeting beginning at 11: just to give Miss Martinez and myself plenty of time to conclude our meeting and be wherever we need to be um so 11 o'clock that day would be the earliest but I don't know if it the rest of the board is available as well um on February 10 board member Brower would the 10th and Reverend Cummings if you'll check your calendars the 10th at 11 o'clock work for you and would this just to confirm would this be a board meeting or a work session s yes I'm available and we obviously don't have dr's calendar right if if I may yes we did Begin work on yesterday um but we did not have a definitive date to be finished and we all have our homework to go back and do so um I would ask that we going to hold off until Dr gullet returns and that was going to be my request to that um seeing that um we did State last week that we were going to bring this back to a work session um and since the superintendent is not here and we did ask for some specific things to be brought forward that that would be an opportunity for us to allow them to give us several dates not just one but several dates to see what works let's pick several dates and then yeah you said that um to give us several dates and then also that gives us proper time to be able to advertise that and again get community input so those work sessions can we not pick a few dates and take them to Dr gullet so that the team can then know a few dates that this board is willing and able to meet so that they can expeditiously pick a date and we can move forward that's my request yeah I I think that would be wise I think it would be wise for us at least then when um Dr gullet has conversation with cabinet then they'll know what the availability of is the board let me have the board clerk recite for us what the advertising requirement would be it's going to be a 7-Day advertisement requirement but um we just a even if we did it as a special work session we can still reduce the amount of time that needs to be advertised but because of the lead up to actually get it into the paper in order to do that it would have to be tomorrow by noon for February if it was going to be the 10th the 10th correct okay so let's look down the calendar um let's look at a couple other dates 18th and the 19th would be two other recommendations I would have we have a work session on the 20th but the 18th and the N the 17th is President's Day so we're closed but I would offer the 18th and the 19th as potential the 19th is good for me okay board member thrower for some reason February 19th I have fsba in my calendar one o'clock I thought it was I think it's the 20th 20th yeah is that for the crown meeting yes m okay so somehow that land okay yes the 19th is fine okay Reverend Cummings 19th all right and Dr James JY said that was good so miss Boston Ellis February 19th would be another option um if that is conducive to with Dr gullit's calendar and the work of the team and what about the 21st we're looking at that week that's a Friday I could make that work I'm getting consensus down here and the 21st I am I'm out all day so forcy court or just okay I think on the 20th uh we have the RSM and I believe Dr gullet will not be here on that corre day that's right she's out but I'm not sure if she's out that no I don't have her out is the 21st I think she'll be here and we can't go longer on that the 20th because we need to get to another fsba meeting right otherwise we could just theoretically do it then but okay I think that's good three dates yes that we've we um well the 10th is essentially shot unless we want to instruct Miss Martinez to pay for the publication and then we're holding the spot and if the team doesn't we decide not to proceed then but we've at least safeguarded the publication so I guess that would be up for the board to decide what about Monday February 24th as an alternative date um because I don't think it you know to spend the money to publish and trying to reach Dr gullet and for the 10th I just that seems very tight how about February Monday February 24th is our third date all right I'm good with the 24th the 24th is fine as well I'm only available until 11 o'clock that day until 11 until 11 so I could do 8 to 11 yeah I mean we could start whenever okay the the 24th and not the 10th instead of the 10th yes okay all right sorry that was actually pretty good for this this team it usually so clarifying that's two dates and have been selected 24th and the 19th and the 2 and the 21st we're just going to do it without isn't here the 21st right so are we gonna have a is that what you said I am not I'm not here I'm in Gainesville on the 21st so okay so 19th and 24th would be the okay 19 24 okay do we need one more I I mean I think it's good and this is if I if I sorry if I reflect back to our conversation from last Thursday I don't recall any participation from the superintendent so I it seems like she has has handed this to the board to lead the discussion on I mean to lead the discussion yes but we also gave directives to multiple members of her staff that I know she has since had conver as Miss absolutely but what I'm saying is if the Dr gullet were not to be available I do not think it would be completely off the table for someone of our senior executive cabinet to sit in her place she I mean there was no participation from Dr gullet in the conversation last THS and so her staff will come prepared to present to the board but it seems as if the board has been task with this discussion so I'm uncomfortable with that first of all we're making a decision without her even sitting here and secondly it was brought up it was the first time anyone on sitting up here heard about it so let's let's I would say let's make sure we course correct and get this right moving forward and I don't think getting it right includes leaving the superintendent out of it well it's not the first time she'd heard about it I can I can say that with testimony because of my personal conversations that I've had for the last two years well I stand by what I just said I do think I do think Madam chair to do the right thing to make sure everything is done decent order we wait on the superintendent and not rush it let's let's be she has she has a position need to respect that position allow her to be here okay thank you Miss Boston ALS we have two dates that you will check on yes ma'am yes okay thank you all right the times that the board selected for the 19th and 24th would both be 8 o00 the the 24 for the 19th for the right go the 24th you have correct okay thank you attorney Powers all right M thrower thank you um yes as speaking of of Dr Dr gullet I just would ask that everyone um keep her in in prayer um without you know sharing too much the only reason why she's not here tonight is is due to a family emergency uh with a child so um would encourage everyone to lift her and her family up in prayer it's it's it's a tough time and and we know the Lord will provide um I also just wanted to extend congratulations again to Dr um she is part of the Tak stock and children mentoring program and it was her uh student that she's been mentoring the last two years at lakee high school young lady named marcinda who is pretty incredible on the saxophone is she is she is when we walked in um the uh band class was doing a pretty Jazzy Jazz um a piece and marcinda was doing a a solo and if that wasn't enough to capture My ATT attention um once she was presented with this leadership award where correct me if I'm wrong but I think only six students in the whole state of Florida Kevin Christen is nodding so I got that right are are presented with this prestigious award which is upwards of at least $4,000 um towards college and and merenda is a young lady where like so many of the rest of us you know money doesn't come easy so that was really really cool and and coming from Lake Weare high school too you know um we don't always hear about a lot of things out that way just like we don't always hear a lot of things about other schools that are out certain ways so it just was really a great celebration so congratulations to merenda and congratulations to Dr gullet obviously your mentoring and and support from so many others has paid off for merenda can't wait to see the great things that she does um moving on I I just did want to acknowledge the all state music program um we had a bunch of students come up uh this evening and and get acknowledged you know the talent of our kids is just incredible and and the reason why they're developing their talents is because they have so many opportunities and so I'm proud of of for the time so far that I've served on this board and with other board members that are here and other board members that weren't when I first got started to really begin to look at expand um under Dr Go's Direction Career Technical education uh music ecoin which of course very close to my heart as a horse girl a horse capital of the world we don't have a horse program what's up with that you know it just seemed so easy but we had never had it before so really great things um to celebrate um when it comes to the conversation about um feein I'm reminded of of the term um haste lays waste uh we spent a lot of time here tonight uh hearing from people that were really riled up and I think to myself well how could have this been done differently you know how could the ideas been presented or the connections been made with the Alumni Association the Anthony women's group to say Hey you know we've we've got some things on our minds and and we want to hear from you I think that that would have opened the conversation in in a very different way um it pains me to hear and read oh here we go again Ban's being targeted and that's the truth that is what I have witnessed has happened over so many years and I think to myself you know if if more people really knew the history of feinin then maybe they would have a different perspective um I know I do and I'm grateful and I'm proud to have a school like fezan as part of Marian County to me that's just really worth preserving and then I thought to myself it's the opportunities for for property are always numerous um and I'm not saying they don't warrant discussion but then I thought to myself myself I used to live ride across the street from Fort King like where Fort King was and a lot of time and effort and and and commitment was made to make Fort King Fort King again there wasn't time and effort made to make it into something else so that kind of resonated with me and I think it just goes to show you when you get a group of very committed people together you can really do a great job of of preserving history and one thing I I learned tonight was that I I was aware that it came into Maran County Public Schools possession so to speak because it was struggling you know financially and so I believe the goal was was to then make sure that fan was going to remain fezan and at that point it was mentioned as a vocational school and now it's an elementary school so I hope we're still in compliance with what that sales agreement said good question um because I see tremendous value and always have in Career and Technical education and so it would be my expectation and and hope and and prayer I don't know that I really think of myself at all as the voice of the establishment but if some people perceive me to be that way then then you have my voice to support conversation that preserves the essence of what fezan is all about while still being able to make decisions that will move this District forward in a continued fiscally responsible way and I'm looking at you Teresa Boston Ellis you're our CFO and maybe it's a God thing that you're up here tonight because it is and I understand it is about recurring costs and it is about finding the money to in a very limited pot and but if we're committed truly to each and every child then I've seen it over and over again we we managed to find a way and I think that the reason why we found ways Through The Years with other difficult challenges is that we came together we saw the same vision of the same Accord went forward got funding um you know Bim was put in 1994 on the national register of historic places I would think that that would open us up for a many funding opportunities and the Carnegie Foundation I believe is still alive and well and there's what sounds like a partner School up in Mass Mett which is something else I learned tonight so where there is a will there's a way there's also quite a bit of property out there still did I hear that it was 150 acres is that correct okay so there's there's opportunity there um and I just think that we haven't quite talked it through yet and and it is clear that as as board members we don't get to talk you know outside of the public so the the conversation has been opened it certainly has been opened um but it's far from over so those are my comments for tonight I'd like to thank everyone for coming out tonight I'd like to thank everyone for hanging in there um I also want to mention Anthony Elementary School it was great to see uh Miss McCrae and Miss Kramer and Miss Rangel you know uh beloved teachers that I've known for a long time um hearing the the passion and the compassion for the schools that's kind of what made me think and it was um mentioned by another board member I Flo the idea the other day amongst other ideas um considering maybe a K8 for Oak Crest because at Anthony same thing smaller nurturing uh stability consistency and kids will come back and tell you what they need you know they they missed Anthony because they felt safe secure there they felt loved wouldn't it be great to offer o crash potentially that same opportunity where 100% because I know from Stephen aers if he's still here 100% of the kids at oakrest are zon for Vanguard which is right down the street look at what a great opportunity that is and already is for our elementary middle to you know partner with Vanguard and and get ready and you know uh call it the young Knights program I don't know what we call it we'd ask the community what to call it but there's just so much opportunity if you really think in terms of what's best for kids and continue to that have that be the beacon and maintain the Legacy in history that is just so incredibly significant and unique in Maran County so those are my comments for tonight thank you for letting me wait because it took a while to pull that all together and and share it thank you thank you thank you very much uh board member thrower Reverend Cummings thank you madam chair um first I want to I want to start by um stating that um on yesterday that was yesterday today is Tuesday yesterday we had a good time over at Madison Street recognizing your daughter's teacher we saw um enthusiasm in the classroom when when we have teachers that are are going above and beyond the Call of Duty kids are engaged classroom is engaged the school is engaged and um we appreciate um her for the um efforts that she's put into that class and we saw we saw the kids and how they were excited about what was going on and then this morning um had the opportunity to go over to the the FCA uh breakfast at the church of the Springs I want to thank all those um that helped to put that on um very very um the panel did an excellent job some of them could be comedians um but it was very good it was a nice nice breakfast um atmosphere tonight um tonight we saw the community uh rally around the subject we heard passionate please about two of our community schools that's on the North side Anthony Elementary that's in downtown ethy and then we heard about uh FNA Elementary that's in the gr Metropolis of zuper Florida and uh and on last week this board this board in a work session last Thursday um veered down a a pathway that I felt that we should not have veered down I do think that there has to be conversations but this we been into an area discussion that I felt was not beneficial or healthy at that time due to the history and the legacy of both these schools at that time I reminded this board that when we snatch the Band-Aid off that under the Band-Aid that there is a wound and that wound goes back Generations tonight we saw the effects of the Band-Aid being snatched off to be honest with you I don't think any of us felt comfortable in how all of that proceeded and happen on tonight I do believe and understand that um both of these schools have a rich Legacy and Heritage both of these schools go back generations and have made a huge impact in both of their communities respectively but I wholeheartly believe that both of these schools have value extreme value not as a museums not as apartments for teachers not as um daycare centers not as community centers I see them as having value as institutions of Education I say that because the mission for both of those schools both of those entities was for education and we as a board have a obligation to be fiscally responsible to do the right thing but our initial obligation is for educ education first and foremost education for all kids no matter what part of the county they in whe they're North Side Southeast side Southwest South whatever every kid we say it every week about how important education is for those kids to have a proper education of children you have to take in consideration history you have to take in consideration Legacy and you have to take in consideration Heritage and you must always take in consideration culture if you want to have proper outcomes as we've said we want better outcomes then we have to look at totality of things and not just what's always a number I I was on this board a few years ago and some of these same people that came here tonight may please board member Thor you were here too it hasn't lessened it's only gotten stronger and if we don't have the right approach when we have conversations it's not going to be good it's not always what we say but it's how you approach the conversation so I'm hoping that as we move forward cuz cuz I was going to ask that we also set dates to um have a conversation I'm hoping that as we move forward with conversations that we don't make blanket statements and say we're going to do this and then we'll bring the community in afterwards because that was one of the things that kept coming to me since Thursday Community is a part is a vital part of whatever decisions are going to be made for both of those schools um as you can hear it's not just fean it's not just the African-American history of fezan but it's both schools vzan and Anthony so it's not a it's not I don't want to just say it's a black black white issue it's an issue about history it's it's an issue about culture it's about respecting the past and it's about making sure that we do the right thing for all the right reasons and that we celebrate those things that have been accomplished um there was a lot said tonight that I can agree with and shake my head to because I come from a a culture where I see my history being erased that's important that my history is not erased as a father as a grandfather I want to be able to do the same thing that I heard many of these speakers spoke tonight to be able to go somewhere and say this is the place that I went to this is the place where I got educated I have that option right now because um Dr NH Jones is still there I don't have that option with college park because the college park that I went to is no longer College Park College of Central Florida I have that option right now with aola because Iola is still there and I have that option to say that for high school because Forest High School is now MTI we have to take in consideration all of the things that have been said tonight and we need to make sure that when we move forward we move forward with um as as um the person whose seat I hold now the first Speaker tonight as Mr James said we need to move forward with common sense and make sure that whenever we move forward with common sense that we're doing the best thing for all students for this District concludes my comments thank you Reverend Cummings um I I just want to start uh my comments uh with a few thank yous uh this last week uh thank you Miss Martinez and Mr Powers and M Boston Ellis there was a lot of going back and figuring out and working on how tonight was going to go and um getting it organized and to do it in the most efficient manner that we could and so thank you all for working um diligently to get all of the I'll say Kinks um IR ironed out of getting getting through this u double meeting we'll say this evening so thank you all um for your dedication to to helping us get the work done um I just I also want want to say one more time I know Dr gallet shared this at our last meeting but um thank you to the County Commissioners for allowing us to use this facility um it it really has been a pleasure uh to be in this space and just really grateful for the opportunity to use it and be here uh be in in this um environment uh also want to say uh we did have a thank thank a teacher yesterday Reverend Cummings mentioned at Madison Street it really is a fabulous um event just right under underneath the golden apple um activity for the teachers and everyone at the school uh who receives that so if you haven't filled out a than a teacher um card QR code or submitted one I would like to encourage you to and I'd also like to thank uh HCA hospital and the public Ed foundation for all of their work um in getting all those nominations organized and sorted through and then um lifting up our teachers uh once a month with a celebration for the work that they do with our students each and every day um I have a couple quick things I want to uh run through and a few reminders uh don't forget the golden apple um gala this coming week weekend um I know everybody's excited it's always a big event and a great celebration so I'm looking forward to hearing about that um I'm really excited about literacy week our schools are participating in this week I had um the opportunity which I know many of you had have but I was at D dellan elementary school this morning it was just really joyfill experience and so I will have to confess Miss kard came through with a team of people I immediately felt like I was my formal observation but they didn't they didn't stay too long and I did I did get to enjoy my time um with the students we had we had a very nice time and and I enjoyed um being invited into their classroom so that was super great um I can't wait to hear about all the other activities uh that are happening in our schools this week um last week I forgot to mention we had a really great tour uh of the bus garage and the work that's done um in the main bus garage particularly that's where we were just really exceptional um we got a tour of the of the facility and it it's the cleanest shop I've ever seen in my life and my dad had a shop his shop was hope he's not listening my mom is always listening but my dad so it it's just spotless um it's really um the work that they do is amazing so I just wanted to give a shout out to that that team and the work that they do uh Elementary Honor Choir is tomorrow night at the Riley art center if you don't have anything on I'd love to see you there um technical working group met last week and we are going to meet board I think it's already on your calendar for March 12th it'll be at the livestock Pavilion so hopefully you all have that date already on your calendar and I think that might be it for me so just a lot of great things going on in Maran County a lot of things to celebrate um I'm just always amazed at all the great things that are going on on each of our campuses uh and with that at this time the board is going to go into recess at 9:28 p.m. for the off a portion of the board meeting [Music]