--------- [Music] Heat. Heat.
[Music] Good evening and welcome. The September
9th, 2025 meeting of the Marian County School Board is called to order. Mirroring 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. James, would you read the
board commitment statement, please? Yes. We are the Marian County School District Leadership Team. When we come together to work, we are efficient, effective, and productive. Our three most important characteristics are dedicated, transparent, and individually responsible. To work well together, we
must demonstrate respect, confront reality, and be accountable. We will always put students first, and we will leave a legacy of success. Thank you. For the courtesy of those listenings to the meeting, I am requesting everyone in the audience to please turn off their electronic devices or put them on
vibrate. Later in the meeting, up to 30 minutes will be provided for individuals to address the board on matters concerning the operation of the Marian County School System or 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 a lime green form. These forms must be fully completed and received to the board clerk no later than 5:40, which I think were later. Let's say 555. We had a late start. The procedures applicable for each are
on a separate sheet. Good evening, Miss Martinez Young. Would you please call the role? Good evening, Madam Chair. Dr. Allison Campbell, District 1. Mrs. Lorie Conramed, District Two, here. Mr. Eric Cummings, District Three. Mrs. Nancy Thrower, District 4, here.
Dr. Sarah James, District 5, here. Sherea Husan Donn Dellan High School, here. Ariana Reyes, Belv High School. Here, Dr. Danielle Burr, interim superintendent, here.
Mrs. Susan Green, attorney. Dr. Brewer, who will lead us in our inspiration and pledge this evening. Thank you. And as you can see, we have an audience filled tonight. So, this is going to be an exciting time. We um I'd like to invite Mrs. Deborah RLE to the
podium. She will introduce our guest for the inspiration. And then we have um three really nice recognitions for you this evening board. But good evening, Miss RLE. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. Good evening, board chair Conrad and school board
members. Joining me at the podium this evening is Mr. Rodrik Gordon. Rodrik was one of 21 Marian County teachers who participated in the Marian County Public Schools Advanced Scholarship Program, earning a master's degree from the
University of Central Florida. During tonight's recognition a little bit later, you will hear more about that opportunity and meet the graduates of our very first cohort. But first, I would like to tell you a little bit more about Mr. Gordon. Rodrik
Gordon Senior has been a dedicated math teacher with Marian County Public Schools for over 20 years serving at Vanguard High School. For the past three years, he has taught IBM Math, helping students engage in rigorous learning and preparing them for success in higher
education. He is a proud father of two children, Rodrik J. Gordon Jr. and Ramaya G. Gordon. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Gordon has devoted more than a decade as an adjunct professor at the College of
Central Florida where he also tutors in the college reachout program supporting students for over five years. He has also provided tutoring at both CF and the University of Central Florida for over two years. Mr. Gordon enjoys
traveling and spending quality time with family and friends. He also serves as a youth leader and musician at Wula Missionary Baptist Church under the direction of Reverend Willis Kiner, pastor. With a passion for teaching,
mentoring music, and service, Mr. Gordon finds joy in helping students build confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and prepare for future future success in college and beyond. So now, I would like to give Mr. Gordon an opportunity to say a few words about his
experience at UCF. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening, chair, superintendent, schoolboard members, colleagues, and community partners. It is truly an honor to stand before you this evening to share what the UCF advanced program
adding distinctive value and notable college experience has meant to me personally and more importantly what it means for our students here in Maring County. This opportunity has added tremendous value to my professional growth and has been has given deep has given me a deep
capacity to serve, teach and inspire. Through advanced studies at the University of Central Florida, I've engaged with innovative teaching strategies, uh, cutting edge research and peer-reviewed practices that have transformed the way I tr approach the classroom. It's helped me to grow not
only as a teacher, but also as a leader, equipped me to mentor, share knowledge, and contribute more broadly to our educational community. Because of UCF Advance, I've been able to apply effective peerreview innovative instructional strategies in my teaching.
My students are no longer just memorizing and calculating. They are engaged in meaningful real world learning. They are developing critical thinking, problem solving, and resilience skills that will serve them in college, career, and life. And when
teachers grow, students grow. This program has made me a stronger teacher and a more confident leader both in the classroom and beyond. I want to express my gratitude to this board, the superintendent, UCF and all who have championed this vision. You have
invested not just in teachers but in generations of students whose futures will be brighter because of programs like this. In closing, education is the great equalizer, but only if we are willing to invest in
it. The UCF advanced program is proof of the power that of the power of that investment. When teachers rise, students rise and together our community rises. Once again, thank you for believing in us, supporting us, and helping us
advance. One teacher, one student, one future at a time. Thank you. At this time, I would like to invite everyone to please stand and join us in the pledge of 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, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You going to stick around so we can get a picture at the end?
Yes. He's part of the first recognition. Perfect. Ready? Thank you, Mr. Gordon. And so with that, our first recognition is again, Mrs. Rita will introduce um the advanced
scholarship recipients. Yes, I'm very excited about this. I have the distinct honor of recognizing this inspiring group of individuals and they're sitting right back there tonight. Um they'll be coming up here in just a minute. This is our very first
cohort of advanced scholarship recipients who proudly walked across the stage at the University of Central Florida on August 2nd with a college degree in hand. I think Mr. White House was there um with them as well. Um
advance stands for adding distinctive value and notable college experience. In the fall of 2023, we launched the advanced scholarship with the goal of empowering our employees to further their education and in turn enrich the lives of the students that they serve.
I'm proud to share that this inaugural group has exceeded all expectations. Through this opportunity, 14 of our very own teachers earned their master's degree in secondary math and seven earned their master's degree in secondary science. These 21 individuals
balanced work, study, and life with incredible determination. Their success is a testament to their resilience, passion, and commitment to education, not just for themselves, but for the students and the community that they serve. They use this experience as a way
to learn, grow, and achieve something remarkable that will have a lasting impact. We also wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to the team at the University of Central Florida. Their partnership and support were instrumental in making instrumental in making this first time
initiative a success. To our graduates, we are so proud of you. You are trailblazers and your journey will inspire others in the future. Congratulations to all of you. At this time, I would like to recognize each of the graduates. Please move to the front
of the stage as your name is called. We have several of them here this evening. Wanda Bowers. Uh Wanda is from North Marian High School. Uh Church Hill Campbell from Belleview Middle School. Luke Damon from College Park Elementary.
Tasha Denton from Maplewood Elementary. Jennifer Filman from North Marian High School, Rodri Gordon from Vanguard High School, Caitlyn Howell from Horizon Academy,
Abby Mona from Ross Prairie Elementary, Briana Buglio from North Marian High School. Kennedy Payne, Marian Oaks Elementary. Judith Rickett, North Marian High School.
Robert Schmidt, Belleview High School. Melissa Williams, Belleview Middle School. Leticia Williams, Fort King Middle. These are your We'll call the science people next, but these are your math people. They did the math track at UCF.
Congratulations. You can stay right there. And these are the students who completed the science track. Diana Fi from Westport High School. Elellanar Gileiam, Westport High School. Crystal Veles, Anthony Elementary
School. Melissa Huffman, uh, Winding Oaks Elementary School. Brenda Keane, College Park Elementary. Mattaline Vanenterter, North Maran Middle School.
and Veronica VeZ, Denellan Elementary School. Great. Congratulations to all of you gradu graduates. I just want to say um incredible that you're going back to school, working, taking care of your
families, and all of those things. The idea of going back to school right now is just mindboggling for me. So, I just want to tell you thank you so much for your commitment not only to our students but to our community. So, thank you so very much. And if you don't mind, if
you'll hold on just a second, we'd like to come down and grab a quick picture with you in to celebrate. And the principles too, what they say. They're probably like, "Oh, they thought they were going to get away with not coming down.
Miss Wade, you know that will not work. Miss Wade, will you let your student Little bit more. [Applause] As I'm as we're going to do the next recognition, I want to comment that Mrs. RLE worked really hard to um begin the process of this program. So, I want to
tell her she might I don't see where she went, but I want to say thank you to her. And also, Dr. Barner led our federal programs department which really um was a big portion of getting everything in place to make this work. So it was a collaborative effort and
we're thankful for it. Um okay, at this time we will have another exciting recognition and this is for um our most improved attendance award. So Miss um Iet Del Nodal will come to the podium and share these great recognitions.
Good evening. Thank you Dr. Brewer. Good evening, Board Chair Conrad and board members. As you know, as a district, we are very excited to share these three special attendance recognitions because we are committed to improving our chronic absenteeism rates across the district. Chronic absenteeism for our um
folks that are watching is defined by missing 10% of school days. And while sometimes that doesn't seem like a lot of days, the important thing to remember is just missing a few days is important to a student's academic career, it means that they're missing crucial instructional time. They're also missing
services. They're on campus and they're missing experiences that can help shape their future. And so we want to make sure that students are here every day and ready to learn. Miss Sherry Lauria, our attendance advocate in school and um Trin I can't even do the whole title.
our attendance advocate um and truency liaison court leaison is here to share three schools who have improved their chronic absenteeism rates for last year they had the most improvement um from all of our schools and we would like to
recognize them this evening your title's too long didn't you make it I did [Music] um I want to begin by thanking BJ Trophies for their continued partnership partership with Marian County Public
Schools and these beautiful plaques you see this evening that the schools they'll keep up on their walls forever were donated by BJ's trophies and we appreciate that and I want to begin by recognizing our elementary school and all these words tonight they were
written by the principles so all these uh shoutouts are from them this elementary school reduced their chronic absences by focusing on personal contact and building relationships This principal is so proud of her entire team and wanted to recognize their
attendance specialist Jasmine James and school counselor Amanda Orbin that worked strong and collaborated with parents to reduce the barriers they may have to getting their child to school on time and every day. In addition, the
chronic absent students were assigned a check-in and checkout for their attendance. They can earn a sticker each day they attended consecutively and earn incentives for each milestone they achieved in attendance. And it looked like it worked. Let's welcome Shady Hill
Elementary's principal, Miss Anna Strader Mallister, and her attendance team to accept their award for such a magnificent achievement. [Applause] Come on down. Price is right. Prices right when they come from the back.
Mhm. Up front. I said it feels like the price is right. You guys coming all the way down for the back, but then I'm I'm dating myself when I say that. Okay. Okay. We're going to move on to our middle school. While we have our winners stay up here, we're going to get a
picture. This school's efforts last year incorporated everyone at the school. The teachers dedicated themselves to building a welcoming environment. Teachers worked hard to be relational while talking to students about their progress. their attendance clerk Kirsten
Cabales, attendance specialist Pam Pickkins, homeschool liaison, Gloria Robinson, and school counselors TC Sap and Heather Howard work tirelessly to contact parents, make home visits, find resources, and do whatever
it takes to make it possible for the students to come to school. The staff and teachers were and are relentless when it comes to their students success in school. Let's welcome Howard Middle School's principal, Miss Susette Parker, and her attendance team to accept their
award for doing such a fantastic job. When they say it takes a village, it takes a village. All right, you guys. Congrats. She's coming. Mhm. This high school reduced their chronic
absences by being intentional about building rapport and relationships with both students and families so that everyone felt supported and connected to the school community. They created the catchup cafe where parents can sit down with an administrator or counselor to
review their child's progress and better understand attendance expectations and graduation requirements. Their team monitored attendance daily through spreadsheets by grade level. so they could quickly identify students at risk and intervene before the problem grew. Counselors, teachers, and administrators
worked together to mentor and support students while also making sure families were involved through regular communication. They also created student incentive systems to recognize and celebrate improvement. Let's welcome North Marian High School principal James Johnson and his attendance team to
accept the award for a job well done. We had a good turnout, too. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I love that they're wearing the same shirts. It's so nice. Did you get yours yet, Dr. Burr? Yes. Friday night. That's it.
Okay. Thank you. I just briefly want to say um really thank you is not enough. I see so many familiar faces in front of me and attendance is a high priority um for this board. It's a legislative priority for us also and but we know that you are the boots on the ground.
You're doing the work every every single day. So, I just want to say how much we appreciate your hard work and effort in helping get our students to school. And we know that it's built on relationships and the time that you take um to get to know and meet with
your students and help them be excited to get to school. So, we just appreciate you so much. And if you hold one second, we want to come down and celebrate with you. Are you ready? [Applause] All right, Chair Conrad, before we um introduce the ne the last recognition, I
want to introduce our two student board representatives and share a few things about both of those. Fantastic. So, we have Ariana Reyes is um Belleview High School senior. She is a Cambridge diploma candidate and is an in intricral member of the ACE ambassador team at
Belleview High School. She is also an active member of the National Honor Society, the student government, and the health occupation students of America club. So, we're excited to have her. Um, I also would like to introduce Sherea Hussein Danny Ram is a senior at
Danellan High School. She is a part of the marching and concert bands serving as an exemplary leader with the title of drum major. She is also part of the dual enrollment program and will and will graduate with both her AA degree and her high school diploma at the same time.
She is also part of the national honor society, the student government, the Cambridge Ace program, and the varsity volleyball team. So, both great leaders on their campuses, and we're excited to have them join us tonight. So, at this time, we would like to I would like to
introduce Mr. Corey Taylor. Um, and he will provide our final recognition of the evening. Good evening, board chair Conrad, members of the board, and interim superintendent, Dr. Brewer. Thank you for the opportunity to stand before you
tonight. In January 2024, Florida law introduced a new standard for school safety, the Florida harm prevention and threat management model. This model provided a systematic fact-based process uh to identify threatening or concerning
behaviors, assess potential risks, and put interventions and supports in place to protect students while helping them thrive. Marian County Public Schools is fully aligned with these requirements. Today, every MCPS campus has a trained
school-based threat management team. A team of dedicated administrative, instructional, mental health, and law enforcement professionals who stand on the front lines of prevention and protection. Their work is both critical and too often unseen. They operate
quietly in the background, gathering facts, weighing circumstances, collaborating across disciplines, and making thoughtful, sometimes difficult decisions, all in service of keeping our school safe, supportive, and ready for learning. This mission is not glamorous,
and it is certainly not easy. They take on this vital work in addition to their regular responsibilities, demonstrating a level of dedication and professionalism that too often goes unrecognized. Yet, their actions can prevent harm.
Their actions can redirect a young person's path and ultimately strengthen the safety net around our entire community. I'm reminded of a remark once made by Circuit Court Judge Willard Pope who said, "The world is quick to point out when we heir, but very seldom is
quick to point out when a positive impression is made." Those words struck a chord with me. Since then, I've made it my personal mission to be the kind of person who takes time to recognize others, not only for what they do, but for how well they do it. And tonight, we
pause to do exactly that. Through the newly launched threat management recognition program, we spotlight the exceptional contributions of our team members. From meticulous documentation, and adherence to the Florida model to extraordinary collaboration, innovation,
timeliness, and leadership. Each award tells a story of someone going above and beyond embodying the best of what threat management should be. You may notice that our award presenters this evening are students from our very own MCPS
campuses. That is not by accident. It is a powerful reminder that everything that our threat management teams do. Every meeting, every decision, every act of care ultimately touches the lives of our children first. It is only fitting that
our students play a role in honoring those who work tirelessly to keep them safe. I encourage you to remember that this work may not make headlines, but it does change lives. It safeguards classrooms and it absolutely deserves to
be celebrated. It's my privilege to present seven awards, each described in your program guide that honor outstanding contributions of the honores this evening. The anchor award is presented to Susan Williams.
The architect award is presented to Billy Farro. The Maestro Award is presented to Lindseay Copelan, Margaret Forner, Julie Martin, Misty Gwyn, Jason McNolte, Ivonne Santana Crespbow, and Sarah
Shrader. The Steart Award is presented to Courtney Hul. The Torchbearer Award is presented to principles Sarah Dobs and Ginger Cruz. The Sherlock Award is presented to
Cynthia Jones and Lindseay Copelan. [Applause] Finally, we recognize dedicated stakeholders whose efforts strengthen our mission of safer schools through their action, advocacy, and support. for
their help launching this this recognition program. The first champion award is presented to Marian County Public Education Foundation Executive Board members Megan Magamo, John David Seilera, Karen Hatch, Jennifer Hatchet, Michael
Mills, and Chris Yansy. and for their steadfast encouragement and inspiring a collective commitment to safety. The second champion award is presented to Maring County School Board members, Chair Lori Conrad, Vice Chair Reverend Eric Cumins, Dr. Allison
Campbell, Dr. Sarah James, Nancy Thrower, and interim superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer. Thank you. They want to say something, Mr. Taylor. I I cannot say it any better than you have already said it. You just
said it so beautifully. We appreciate again so many familiar faces. Um a large task that takes a lot of time uh to keep our students and our school community safe. So we're just really grateful for the work that you do every single day to
keep our students safe. So we just appreciate you so much and we want to come down and celebrate with you. We have this Of course. Of course. Everybody's leaving us. I know.
All the good all the good stuff. Yes. Okay. We still have a few more things to celebrate. We're going to move on to um recognizing donations. We have $1,100 in tangible items, backpacks, school
supplies, and lunch boxes to Dr. NH Jones Elementary School from the Marian County Veterans Council to be used for student needs. Thank you um to the Marian County Veterans Council. We appreciate you. $1,500 to Belleview Middle School from the VFW Belleview
Memorial Post 8083 to support Belleview Middle School's robotics club. Thank you, VFW. um memorial post. $1,000 to North Marian High School from the Marian County Children's Alliance to support North Marian High School
Students Against Drunk Driving program. Thank you to the Children's Alliance for that generous donation. $2,000 to Den Denellan Elementary School from the Women's Club of Denellan to cover the cost of the 2025 2026 student planners with any remaining funds to be
used for the supplies for students and staff. Thank you to the Women's Club of Denellan. $12,730.36 in tangible items. Three glass whiteboards, two Apple iPads, two iPad pencils with cases, eight Dell computer
monitors, two wagon carts, one Dell precision computer, three Dell laptops, one conference camera, two Dell keyboards, to the safe schools department from the Marian County Sheriff's Department. Thank you so much to the sheriff's department. Um, we sure
do appreciate their partnership. Dr. Brewer, I'll turn it back over to you for approval of the agenda. I recommend approval of the agenda for the September 9th, 2025 school board meeting with the materials in the board packet, those materials distributed to
board members at the meeting, and the audio recording included as part of the official record of the meeting with the exception of items D25.1, D25.2, 2, D25.3 and D25.4.
These items have been placed under discussion regular agenda items and item C19.1 that has been completely withdrawn from this evening's agenda. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. May I have a motion on the superintendent's recommendation? Motion to approve. Second.
Thank you, Dr. James. Thank you, Miss Thrower. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes 40. Miss Martinez, would you please pro provide the proof of publication for tonight's school board meeting?
The notice for the September 9th, 2025 schoolboard meeting ran in the Ocala Gazette on August 29th, 2025. The proof of publication has been attached in board ducks under proof of publication. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the minutes for the July 29th, 2025 special school board agenda um to
receive the tenative budget? May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second. Thank you, Dr. James. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Hearing none, all those in favor say I. I.
Motion passes. I four zero. All right. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. May I have a motion to approve the minutes for the August 7th, 2025 administrative briefing and work session? And May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Dr. James.
Second. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Hearing and seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 40. That was closer, Reverend Cummings. We're getting closer.
May I have a motion to approve the minutes for the August 12th, 2025 board of directors leasing corporation meeting? May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second. Thank you, Dr. James. Are there any addition or corrections to the minutes?
Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor say, "I." I. I. Motion passes 40. All right. Good evening again, Attorney Green, please explain the rules governing persons who wish to address the school board this evening. Thank you. Good evening. In compliance
with section 286.0114 0114 of the Florida statues. The the school board has adopted uniform procedures for public speakers who wish to speak at this evening's meeting, either with regard to one of today's agenda items or
a matter that relates 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.
Public speaker forms are also located on the same table. The completed forms were due to the school board's clerk no later than 5:55 p.m. This evening, speakers will be called prior to the business portion of the school board's meeting
and the order of receipt by the school board clerk. Before you begin speaking, please state your full name for the record and spell your last name. Each speaker will have five minutes. However, if there are more than five persons who wish to speak to the board, if who wish
to speak, the board may seek consensus to limit each speaker's time to three minutes. When the speaker has one minute remaining, the speaker will receive a visual notice to complete his or her comments. Speakers may not yield their time to other people. Speakers and
meeting attendees are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Therefore, verbal attacks and profanity are strictly prohibited pursuant to the procedures for public comments. Item six, speakers are not to identify specific individuals other than
themselves or their child unless the statement is provided 24 hours in advance. The board is here to listen to your comments only. You may be directed to administrative staff following the conclusion of your comments for further assistance to address your concerns. If
there are matters dealing with student discipline, including expulsions, they will be scheduled at the conclusion of the televised portion of this meeting. Parents may address the board 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 or identifying references of other students and or their families are strictly prohibited. A speaker speech does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of
the school district. Thank you. This concludes my remarks. Thank you, Miss Green. Miss Martinez Young, do we have any speakers this evening? No, Madam Chair. We got them all got them out of the way early this time, the first meeting. Okay. May I have a motion
to approve consent agenda items C10.1 through C22.5 with the exception of items D25.1, D25.2, D25.3, and D25.4 that have been placed under discussion regular agenda items
and item C19.1 which has been completely withdrawn from the agenda. May I have a motion? Motion to approve the consent agenda. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second. Thank you, Dr. James. All those in favor say I. I. I. I.
Motion passes. 40. Before addressing expulsion matters, I wish to acknowledge that board members have received the alternative placement list for students through August 4th, 2025. Miss Martinez Young, are there any parents who have submitted a timely request to speak on their child's disciplinary matter?
No, Madam Chair. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the expulsion of student JD26-003E with off-campus virtual learning for the first and second quarters of the 2025 2026 school year. May I have a motion? Motion to approve.
So move. Thank you, Dr. James. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 4. Moving on to discussion, regular agenda items. May I have a motion to approve the agreement
with CMS Imaging Incorporated. May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second. Thank you, Dr. James. Dr. Brewer, you have some information regarding this item. Yes, ma'am. And we have direct our director of Marian Technical College. He
has a new title. We changed the name of that this year. He is coming to the podium to provide brief remarks on the agreement with CMS imaging incorporated. Good evening, Mr. Small Ridge. Good evening. Um, Superintendent, Dr.
Brewer, Board Chair Conrad, board members. A few months back, I think you guys might remember I came and talked to you a little bit about our radiologic technology program moving forward to offer an associate of science degree in
radiography. Well, this CMS purchase is part of that plan. Um, we're going to we're going to add a live radiology lab at MTC. And the largest part of this project is the actual purchaseing of the three pieces of equipment. Two permanently
mounted um X-ray m tech or machines I guess is the best way to describe them and then a portable one that the students can learn on. And when we were looking at doing this uh project, we we talked about the hospitals that our students go to for clinicals use two
particular brands or types of um X-ray machines um imaging machines. So, we're looking at purchasing the best that is out there and what our students are going to get hired into and and need to be familiar with. So, we would have the most up-to-date lab in in Marian County
um especially against our competitors. And we would offer our students um instead of just clinical time on real machines, they would use real machines to use what I call medical mannequins. There's probably a better name for that. I think they're called phantoms. they can actually take real images and
practice seeing if they're taking the proper type of images because if they don't do it properly, they can see it immediately. And so, not only will they have their clinical experiences, they'll have the hands-on experiences at the at the college. So, what I learned from going through my other building projects
was that if um we separate out the the actual equipment, buy it separately from giving it to the builder, not only do we save the tax money from owner direct purchasing, we can also save the 8% that we would pay the builder to handle that, which is not necessary, and we also can
reduce the amount of contingency money that we need. So, this purchase being done separately is a little different, but the buildout part of it is roughly 300,000. This is just under 600,000 for the equipment and we have the money from fund balance from being frugal and
saving our money. So, the money's there and we just need the permission to move forward with the purchase and we're going to save a lot of money and have a really good lab. Right. Thank you so much, Mr. Smallidge. Board, do you have any comments? Yes, Dr. D. Just something brief. Um, I think Mr. Mr. Smarge and I talked about this
probably I it's been almost a year ago now. You've been working on it. Yes. And um diligently working on it and seeing a vision to impact. And so looking at the big picture and truly how we're going to get to a place where our students have access to quality education, secondary post-secary
education right here in the Marian County public school community. Um and you know I welcome competition. I think it's wonderful. And so, you know, that yes, there are other programs similar to this within the Marian County community and we're going to offer a program and other schools will offer a program as
well. And I think students will have opportunity for choice, which is something we love in the state of Florida. And I'm confident that the program we offer at MTC is going to be exceptional and it's going to meet our students exactly where they are. So, I'm looking forward to it. Thank you. It It's actually already in place. We're we're just going to offer a
twist to it. instead of just being a certificate program, there'll be a second track to go for the AS degree. We're right in the middle of that. And even if for some strange reason we didn't get that totally approved, we still need the live lab because we're already very successful. We're the only tech college in Florida that has this
program grandfathered in. So this is part of keeping it with our accreditation is that they really wanted us to have a live lab. So we're finally had the money in the bank to do it. And also just to elaborate that potential for the AS program also expands an opportunity for more students to be able to participate in the program.
Absolutely. Because then our high school students can go into dual enrollment. They can take the prerexs in high school, go right into the program and graduate two years later with their AS in and radiography. Absolutely. And so I just think the ability to expand what we offer within our own um our own educational community
right here in Maring County Public Schools is exceptional. So I'm looking forward to the continued growth. I am too. Thank you. Very good. Thank you, Dr. James, anything else further? Okay, we're excited. Thank you um for that information. Um board, all those in favor say I.
I. I. Motion passes 4. Thank you, Mr. Small Ridge. May I have a motion to approve the district managed turnaround plan step one for Oakrest Elementary School for the 2025 2026 school year? May I have a motion?
Motion to approve. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second. Thank you, Dr. James. Dr. Brewer, you have some information on this item you'd like to share. Yes. Yes, ma'am. We have Mr. Lamar Rember. He's the area superintendent for region one.
He supervises Oakrest Elementary and he's going to provide brief remarks this evening about the district turnaround plan and um and he'll be available for questions if you have any. Thank you, Mr. Rbert. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. Good evening, board chair Conrad and school board
members. The top is our district managed turnaround option plan for Oakrest Elementary. This plan that is presented for your approval was constructed after comprehensive review of historical school performance data to address the school's consecutive D-grades. Data was disagregated by subject grade level and
subgroup performance with additional metrics to analyze attendance and discipline trends over the past three years. In response to the analysis, an action plan was created and the highlights are appointing Sarah Dobs, a proven school leader with a track record of successful turnaround experience,
staffing the school with certified, experienced and effective instructors, including 16 reading endorsed teachers, ongoing progress monitoring through local and state assessments, weekly data review with the central office team to create plans of action to address the
data, support from the Bureau of School Improvement at least twice a month, coaching, supporting and monitoring teachers and delivering standardsbased instruction to all students through highly effective instructional practices in all grades and content areas every day. Improving classroom and school
environment to decrease the number of discipline referrals. Improving classroom and school environment through PBIS and attendance initiatives to reduce the number of chronically absent students. There's already signs of early success as Oakrest is hovering around 95% daily average attendance. So, we're
very proud of that. um holding monthly meetings for the attendance response committee composed of business partners, community outreach, district, and school-based members to target strategies for increased engagement and attendance. Once approved, Dr. Brewer will present this targeted improvement
plan to the state board of education on September 24th, 2025. Thank you, Mr. Re Board. I open it up for um any questions. Yes, I'll just uh make a comment. Um thank you, Mr. Rembert, and thank you, Dr.
Brewer for just bringing the team to the community meeting the other night. I will say it wasn't much of a community meeting. There was only a couple of parents there. But you can look at that two ways. And the way I choose to look at it is that principal Dobs is known as
being a wonderful not only AP when assistant principal when she was at Oakrest, but also her great work out at East Marian. Um, if the community was not comfortable with what with how school opened at Oakrest this year, I can guarantee you they would have been
there and they were not. And to me that was just a statement uh that they are comfortable where their children are going. Uh, you already mentioned that the attendance is exceeding their goal. Um, it's 92% almost every day. It's 95
96%. uh they are hitting on all cylinders and it just continues to be my hope and prayer moving forward that with with high need schools that we know that we have we have to figure out a way to um maintain the level of of support. We've
seen what happens when the support is withdrawn. Um there's it just doesn't work when you have such a multitude of needs at at some of our schools. So that'll be a task, you know, for for all of us moving forward. um how we can allocate to make sure these schools
continue to rise, but I'm just so excited to for this school year and um it's already a lot of fun, which I'll comment on later. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else from the board? Okay, Mr. Rebert, I just want to add if you would please share my gratitude um
for the work and the time that's gone into getting this off to a great start this year and just really appreciate it. Um you know, teaching is a hard job every day. um but they have some extra challenges that they're facing and just really excited about the information and
the data that's coming forward already. So, thank you very much. Thank you for your support. All right, if there's no other comments, I'll call the vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. Motion passes 40. Thank you. Uh may I
have a motion to approve the fresh fruit and vegetable program grant award? May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second by Dr. James. Dr. Brewer, you have some information for us regarding this item. Yes, ma'am. I do. And we had there was
um an error in the lobby waiting room area for our public request form to speak. And so I I would like to ask after we do this next discussion item if we can have one of the forms um submitted given to Miss Martinez Young
so that per that public um that community member can speak to the board. Um but at this time we'll continue with our discussion items and that um I would like to ask Miss Ramona Belchure. She's our supervisor of food and nutrition
services to come to the podium to um provide brief remarks on the fresh fruit and vegetable grant program. Good evening, Madame Chair Conrad, board members, and Dr. Brewer. Tonight, I am requesting permission to accept the fresh fruit and vegetable program grant
for the amount of $899,850 awarded by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This wonderful grant brings funding to the elementary schools aimed at introducing our young learners to a colorful variety of exotic fresh fruits and vegetables.
With this program, elementary students have the opportunity to taste different fruits and veggies twice a week, making healthy eating fun and engaging. Plus, teachers will be equipped with fun educational materials that showcase interesting facts and nutritional
information about each of the items, creating a great opportunity for learning together. We do love seeing the curiosity of the students as they try new flavors. Thank you for your support of this important initiative. I believe the fresh fruit and vegetable program
will enhance our students nutrition education and foster healthy eating habits. I'll open it up if you have any questions. All right. Thank you so much. We appreciate um the information board. Any questions or comments? Just one quick question. Oh, sure.
Um what could we do in the future to try to incentivize other schools to participate beyond the ones that are listed here? Well, I know there was a lot of movement this year for the um so with principles moving, we are going to be putting more
information out. Maybe with new principles on board, they may not be aware of what the program is. So through our connections, we will put information out there. We also send in weekly highlights. So we're going to do a little more highlighting on our fresh
fruit fruit and vegetable program so we can encourage participation. We are doing really good. We are servicing over 11,000 students, which is a little bit over 50% of our elementary students are being exposed to this program. Yes. I
mean, I selfishly I see my own children's school is not listed here. So, I would love for opportunities for it to be expanded to as many possible elementary schools as possible. Um because I I mean getting them an opportunity to experience foods that they may not be able to experience at home is is always so important.
Yes, I agree. Thank you, Dr. James. Anyone else? Okay, seeing no more comments, I'll call the vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 4 zero. Okay, we'll pause
here for our public speaker. Thank you, Chair Jamie Niswanger. Hello, my name is Jamie Niswonger. Last name is N- A S W O N G E R. So, I'm coming in to speak. Yesterday,
98, my student was intentionally hit in the face by another classmate. This would be the VPK program. It should still follow the same standards as Maring County Public Schools. I did try to address the situation with the school.
I've been kind of blackwalled. I came in after Caroline. The principal was in a meeting. I called. The principal said, "Well, some parents don't train their kids and it's our job to train them." Well, my student should not be a training tool.
How many kids do you hit before you learn not to hit? How many people's kids do you allow to get hit? The student was not only not disciplined, but he was he remained in the classroom, he was never removed. So, you taught this this VPK
class, they learned by watching. You taught a VPK class of kids, it's okay to hit because my kid was hit. They learned, oh, you stay in the classroom. You're not removed. You're not pulled out. There was no no repercussions for that
student's actions. I requested a no contact order. I've been blackwalled. My kid went to school today. How did I know he was safe? How did I know that kid was not in the classroom next to him? I don't know where that kid sits versus where my child sits. I'm not there all
day. I expect you as a school board to keep my child safe. I expect that school's principal, her children in that school to be her number one priority. I understand you have meetings, but when you have situations arise, those need to
be addressed. I've been talked to by other school officials who tell me the principal's working on it. Well, based on my conversation with her yesterday, she's not working on it. She doesn't care. It's just a process of learning. And well, maybe that child learned and maybe they didn't. Maybe they'll hit
somebody next week. Will he have the same consequences? Will he just stay in that classroom and continue to hit kids? I mean, it's very scary when we talk about discipline. I've heard many meetings up here and your policies look great. You know, this is our policy. We're making everything
uniform. Uniform. Uniform. It's not uniform. It's based on what any individual perceives at a school. Everything is different from one school to the next. There's no set in stone. Kids are treated differently. Everybody's treated differently and we
need to change that. By policy, everybody's treated the same. Your policies look great on the books. They read great. They're not implemented the way they're written. There needs to be something to make sure that every policy that's written is being implemented the
same across your district. And that no kid I mean, if a kid's hit or physically assaulted in a school, they should not be placed back in the same class with that student. At least this immediately after. How do you think a kid feels? These are young children.
I mean, I don't know where a kid would learn that. I mean, it's not like we're running on the playground and we whacked a child. You know, that's an accident. Accidents happen. Accidents we grow from. We live and we learn. We can't, you know, that's just that's kids being
kids. But to go up to snatch something out of somebody's hand and to close your fist and punch a child in the face, that's not an accident. That is a deliberate act of violence. Doesn't matter if you're four years old, 5 years old, 10, 15, or 17. If you do a
deliberate act of violence, it needs to be punished the same. And your principles need to care. Your principles, this should be their top priority. every student in their school should be a top priority. And I don't feel that my student is you
probably took that student probably stayed in that classroom because the mama had to work. Well, you know, I don't care about the mama's work schedule. I also had to work. But had I been told that that student was staying in that classroom, I personally would leave work and go get my kid. My kid
could have went home so that could kid could have stayed in school. But as a parent, I was not made aware that you were leaving that child in the classroom. I'm not asking to know what their individual discipline is. But as a parent, I do feel I had the right to be informed that you were leaving that student in the classroom.
And you guys are lacking on your communication. Communication is a big issue. And as the other commenter said before, discipline in this district really struggles because we let these kids get away at four and we're going to let this kid get away at 5, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. and wow, now they're in middle school and they're completely out
of control. And then we're going to try to discipline them. It doesn't work that way. Four years old, if you do something, you're disciplined. 5 years old, six years old, maybe they'll learn, maybe they'll stop, maybe they won't. But we need to do something and it needs to change. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Okay, board. After um board comments, we're going to move on to item D25.4. May I have a motion to approve the request for proposal 4140RC and resulting agreement for
superintendent search services? May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Mr. Thrower. Second. Thank you, Dr. James. um board since Attorney Powers is not here today um I'll just share briefly a
little bit of information and um that is after um if this is approved this evening uh he and I will get together and email out um a timeline because I know it was a concern of the board um because we have two board members that were not able to be a part of that
conversation. So, that is our next step. Um, and when Attorney Powers return, we'll be sending out more information to you. Any other questions or comments? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor say I.
I. I. I. Motion passes. 40. Thank you so much, board. We're now going to move on to meeting reminders. The next administrative briefing and work session is scheduled for September 18th at 9:00 a.m. There will be a special school
board meeting on September 23rd at 700 a.m. The next school board meeting is scheduled for September 23rd at 5:30 p.m. And there will be a school capital outlay tax oversight committee meeting on September 24th at 400 PM here at MTI
board. Now we're going to move into board comments. Miss Martinez Young. Yes, Madam Chair. I have two um board members, I have your packets ready for the November 3rd for your legislative day. Um it'll be on the board packet on October 14th. If you are going to
cancel, I need to know by October 31st in order to get the refund on that. And then the FSBA uh is out for the winter conference December 2nd through the 5th. Those of you that do want to attend, please let me know as open registration
will be no September 17th at 2 PM and as we know that fills up quickly and and you're moved over to the Overflow Hotel. So just let me know by the 16th and that way I can try to be one of the first ones to get you reserved in the hotel at the Hyatt.
Chair, I just have a quick question. Yes. Um when will we know when we if we have meetings on the Monday for legislative week in Tallahassee? I don't know. I think that's I haven't heard anything from Dr. King. I haven't heard no agenda.
Um Okay. I just maybe we could bring that up in the next work session or we could just touch base on that to try to firm that up. Um I don't intend to stay the night in Tallahassee and just drive up for the day on Tuesday. Um but if we're going to have a day full of meetings on Monday, then certainly I'd want to be able to be present. And if I
remember the conversation, some of the conversation, um the hope was to have some on that after first afternoon and then a full day the next, but I didn't hear if that's happened or not. So, um I'll work on getting more information for you on that. Anything else, Miss Martinez?
Thank you, Madam. All right. Thank you for organizing that. Um Attorney Green, no comments. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much, Dr. Brewer. Yes, of course. I have a few things. Um today we had our first um administrative well we had our elementary principal meeting and so we were able to share a
couple highlights. So I wanted to also bring um the board into the loop of what I what we shared. Um Dr. Curley was able to share what he presented last week during his work session and he shared that 86% of our students in Marian County never received one referral last
year for student discipline. So when we when we think about the work that the code of student conduct does and our administrators for enforcing that work and setting expectations, we're really pleased um with that number. So 86% and that was for last school year. So we're really um and we're looking forward to
even improving that even more this school year. Um today was day 21 for the majority of our schools other than a colon and of course Wamina Park. We had 46,000 students 46096
enrolled. Um, and so we I want to just share this with you. Our high schools are 189 over projection. So we're not losing students in high school. They are coming and we're really proud of what we're able to offer the students because of the hard work um that our career and
technical education courses offer plus our, as I've stated before, our advanced curriculum. Um, our middle school students are 20. We have 21 students below the projection. Elementary, we have 149 below the projection, but
overall we're still over um by 19 students and that is unlike any other district in the state of Florida. So, we um continue to welcome students and we knew this week we would receive more because it's after Labor Day. So, we welcome them and we're excited that they
choose Marian County Public Schools. Um I also shared with the the principal today that I visited all the schools as you know and um and now we're on round two. So we're really looking at the evidence that we're seeing through from our high quality instruction utilizing
our early warning indicators for grouping um and the attendance. So we already shared so many good things about attendance today, but I saw something that I thought was a really neat phrase and it was attendance matters more than ever. We know that. But it's more than
grades. It's missed when they're not in school. It's missed friendships and it's missed opportunities. So I think when we think of attendance sometimes we think you have to get there, you have to get there for grades, but it's more than that. It's that social experience and missed friendship. So I um I want to
share that because it's great to c all of the celebrating with attendance is just exciting. Um on a on another note, as we all know, we had an incident yesterday that impacted um one of our elementary schools. And I I want to recognize and thank the students that
saw something and said something. And that's that's important and that has to be our focus at all times is recognizing the students that do the right thing. Um and because of their efforts, our students um on that school bus were safe. And so we we can't say that
enough. And we continue to encourage you if you say if you see something say something. Um and also to highlight and just praise that bus driver. The bus driver and we will have other recognitions for that bus driver. But that bus driver followed all of the
protocols and did what was necessary to get um to get law enforcement involved quickly. They were there this morning when we met with law enforcement. They were there within seconds. And so when we think of um that tremendous work, that's why our students were safe today
or yesterday. So, and we thank the College Park Elementary um schoolbased team for um making personal phone calls to all of the families that were on the bus to make sure they were all notified directly from the College Park staff. And then of course, our automated Sky
Alerts messaging went out to the College Park community, school community at 9:30 yesterday morning. So, we appreciate everyone that did the right thing yesterday and made the right choices. So, that's all my comments this evening. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. We're gonna give
our student representatives an opportunity to share if they would like. Um, Sharia, is that right? Say it. Say it. Sherea. Okay. Sherea, we'd like to hear from you. Hello. Oh my god. Wait, this is so
weird. Okay. So, the first comment I had was like from the beginning of the meeting talking to you. Oh, into the mic. Okay. Um, he's not here anymore, but I did have a couple questions for him. Um, so my first
question was, how does university differ from high school and how will your uh knowledge impact the students? Obviously, I can't get that answer, but you can email him. I'll give you his email. Okay. And then my second question was
how was balancing education obviously like a higher level education and adult life because I know that's a lot more different than being a teenager and being in high school. Um for Denellan with the absences I know
I've heard a lot of um our office members talk like front office members talk about how We implemented this new system of three tardies each semester. Like if
you're once that third tardy hits, like you get a referral, I'm pretty sure. I'm not sure. I'm never late. So, we're glad to hear that. Yes. Um but I know from a lot of people in our school and I've seen personally um
our school is really full. Like really really full. Um, but I know that new high school is being built, but I think the tardy system is really helping. Um, it's nice to see a bunch of people in my last year. Even though I only have three classes, it's nice to see a bunch of
people that I will miss. Right. Thank you so much. We're we're grateful that you shared um those things specifically from your school and and you know what you're seeing there because a lot of times we talk about attendance but we don't get to talk so much about tardies because we're just
trying to get kids to school. So um thank you for sharing that. It's so important. Okay. And next Ariana. Um, sorry. I would like to take this moment, I think they're all left, but to
again say thank you to the threat safety team members. I can speak from as a member of Belleview High School, like our team is very good. Like, we've had so many incidences that many students don't even know because of the team just takes care of them smoothly and
diligently. And I would just like to appreciate that even though they're not here. Also, I'd like to talk about an issue that many people, including myself, have faced and I've heard about just from members of the school is that I don't
feel like gets enough awareness is the burnout that many high schoolers feel. And this can come from overworked and overload of homework or stress from outside of school life. But I feel like it should be talked about more because I
feel like many students just rant to the other friends, but they don't go to the counselors or teachers that could help them face with that. Especially as a senior coming up with college applications and all that stress along with the homework I have and clubs and a job, it can be overwhelming sometimes.
And sometimes you feel like you can't reach out to people that you can to help with you. And that also affects the attendance. People just get so overwhelmed they just need breaks and they miss more and more school. And once you just miss one, it just is like a domino effect.
So I just feel like maybe some programs or something awareness can just be brought to that issue. Very good. All right. Thank you so much. We appreciate you both taking time out of speaking of burnout. um you know that you all are taking time out to be with
here with us this evening and we find great value um in hearing you know through student voices what the challenges are. So thank you so much both for taking time to be here with us tonight. Reverend Cummings, are you still with us?
I am. No comments. No comments. Okay. Well, thank you for calling in and being with us this evening. Dr. James, thank you. So, I do have a few things I wanted to touch on tonight. So, I'll start with um some of the public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Um
there was multiple individuals who shared that they reside in District 5 and their neighbors of mine on the north end. And so, um I I just kind of wanted to touch on some of the things that were shared. I myself am a parent who utilizes school choice and does not go to my zone school
on the north end, but goes to a school in town that's a school choice program for both of my daughters that are school age. And I love the program that we're able to participate in. And I think that there is continued work to do across the district to improve the services we're
providing. But I I I think it's important to acknowledge that this is far beyond what Marian County Public Schools can do for a child who may or may not show up when they're five. We have a community effort that
needs to take place to ensure that students are prepared for kindergarten. Um speaking about seven, I believe the number was seven students who were not potty trained in a classroom of 30. I'm familiar with exactly the teacher she's speaking about. Thankfully now she has
uh I believe 20 students in her class which is class size now but she did have 30 I think she was up to 32 for a couple of days and I'm familiar with that particular situation and to her credit she's very right the only reason that teacher was able to sustain any level of
normaly is because she's a veteran teacher but children showing up to kindergarten we can't we can't deny them a free appropriate education we have to take those children in arms wide open and help them be best prepared prepared for kindergarten while they are in
kindergarten. We have to build the plane while we're flying it because that child is showing up to us not prepared to learn. And that is going to take a community effort. The community has to start taking accountability for making sure that our children are prepared for
kindergarten. Personally, this is something that I am incredibly passionate about and I serve our community. making sure that I'm trying to prepare every child I come in contact with from birth through age five to be prepared for kindergarten. But we have to connect with our families. We have to continue our outreach. We have to
partner with the Early Learning Coalition and all of the other programs that are within our community, Watch Me Grow, to make sure that children are ready to walk in the doors um September 1st if they are 5 years old. And so we have found ourselves in quite a
conundrum specifically postcoid. things look different now in a kindergarten classroom than they did five years ago. I taught kindergarten in 2021 um sorry 2011 and it looks completely different from 2011 to what it looks like now. Um
and so it is very important that as a community we continue to dig into and find the roots of this systematical issue that we are experiencing so that we can then have kindergarteners who are ready to learn, ready to grow and socially and emotionally are prepared to learn and and have the rigor of
kindergarten and we can then continue to strengthen them into readers and learners so that they can be successful students and then sit up here getting an AA degree and a high school diploma at the same time their senior year. And so I I I I give credit to the community
comment and it's very valid. Everything that was shared is very valid, but that the solution doesn't lie right here because if they do not come to us until they're five and they come to us unprepared, we have a lot of groundwork to cover. So my hope is that as a community we're going to continue to
problem solve how to address this systematically so we can provide a better product coming into kindergarten and then we can blossom that product through to their senior year. Um I wanted to talk a little bit about um I wanted to give credit to Mr. Ays. He
gets a lot of he gets a lot of slack and he gets a lot of hate at the end of the school year every year when he gives projections because not everybody loves his numbers. but he does generally do a very good job of projecting we are where we are going to go with enrollment and
so um as Dr. Brewer just shared he was pretty much spot on. Now schools may fluctuate from school site to school site but overall as a district we are very close to where he said we would be and his team said we would be and I just wanted to acknowledge the work that he does as a very small department to
project where we will go. Um I want to also mention and just follow up the community comment regarding the code of conduct. The code of conduct is a document that is for VPK uh all the way through age 12 or grade 12. And furthermore, VPK is a choice program.
So, I feel confident that our school teams are going to work to make sure that we're addressing any parent concerns about behavior in VPK. But it is a choice program. VPK is a very soughtafter program specifically in the public school system because it's a full day free program. uh and if children are unable to meet our expectations um their
enrollment is you know conditionary based on their participation and the behavior that they bring to the classroom. So I just wanted to make sure that was mentioned. Uh and lastly I just wanted to touch base about the incident from yesterday. Personally I did a little bit of reach out uh to Chief
Balkan with the Ocala Police Department and had a conversation because I wanted to understand where does the accountability lie. Um, we have a lot of conversation online, social media about who should be accountable for a nine-year-old making a really poor choice. And so, I think it's important
to note, and this was something that I learned today, and I wanted to share with the board. In the spirit of legislative priorities, most certainly this wouldn't be one we take on, but again, as a community, I think it could be something we discuss. Um, Florida statute 790.174
is talks about the safe storage of firearms. And specifically when you look in here, uh, and this is speaking to where a, um, a minor is likely to gain access. Essentially, it says, um, shall keep the firearm in a securely locked
box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or shall secure with a trigger lock except if the person's carrying it or it's close within proximity. And so when you get into the weeds in this, it becomes very clear that what we would
consider a safe and secure place for a firearm where a minor would be is not actually outlined in state statute. And so um what we would all collectively, I'm sure, agree to which is like a safe that's locked by a code or by a
fingerprint behind a lock and key. uh this statute does not implement that same structure and I think that uh and Chief Balkan agreed that there's work to do in this particular statute. So as a community
I'm hopeful that we can continue to have conversation about how to strengthen statutes like this so that we can make sure that we're doing everything possible as a community again to ensure that students do not have access to weapons. um because ultimately no adult
was charged uh in yesterday's event and there are you know things that will come out about that but students still found access to a weapon and so I think it's important to make sure that we as a community are strengthening how we secure our weapons and make sure that our students do not
have access to them but I am so I'm so proud of the students who saw something and said something and ultimately that is what it comes down to is if you see someone making a poor choice, you use your voice to advocate on your behalf. And that bus driver followed all of our
protocols and Mr. McFaten's work in the last couple of years to get those emergency radios and so that we have really strengthened our security so that we can have timely responses to emergencies. And I'm just proud of the work that we did and I'm saddened by the choice of that student. And um I'm
hopeful that as a community we're going to continue to make improvements for students having access to things like that so that we can have a safer community. So with that I will close the night out for my comments. Thank you. Thank you so much Dr. James. Miss Thrower. Um thank you Chair Conrad. I'm going to
start with the student board members. Uh welcome again and thank you so much for being up here. Um, you are part of an advocacy group and other student board members that have come before you have
spoken very passionately about the need for increased uh not only increased availability of mental health services but increased use of them. And that really ties in with attendance and tardies because if you're struggling and
then you're late to school or god forbid don't come at all then you're missing the opportunity to connect with a guidance counselor to connect with a teacher who cares to connect with a social worker to connect with a school psychologist to connect with a there's a lot of connections that can be made if
you're in school often enough to to utilize them. Uh so that is one of the many reasons why this board is so passionate about attendance globally. Um it is our number one legislative priority. We're working to advocate to
change state statute which hasn't even really been reviewed probably since 1980 which is like ancient history to you guys. Um which seems strange I will say but fact of the matter is times were different then than what they are now.
And it is high time that we confront reality from the top of the state all the way down to the classroom for what the needs are. And so please know that you continue to be heard. Um we are working or maybe it's already happened.
There's so many good things happening. Sometimes it's hard to keep track looking at a career pathway for students like yourselves that are interested in going into the mental health field and having that be a dual enrollment opportunity. Uh so please know that you
are heard, seen, and so appreciated. I've loved what you said about uh tardies because there is no state statute at all about that. So it really is um up to us uh as a district to come up with some strategies to really
encourage kids to not be tardy. And of course, the one thing we'll hear a lot from parents was, "Well, the bus is late every day." Well, we have a special code for that, and it's code B. So, a student is not going to be held accountable, you know, for being targeted because the bus is late. But in the end, um we want
every student to experience while they're in school what it may be like as they move forward into uh young further into young adulthood. And being late to school is not going to cut it when you start working. And I think that one of you is already working. Is that you?
Yes. So, you understand what I'm saying, right? you know, you're expected to to be at work and to be able to get along with people and to be willing to learn and do your job to the best of your ability. So, we're doing all we can as a district
to provide those opportunities to mirror um you know what it's going to be like in the quote unquote real world, which certainly has its challenges as as board member James alluded to. Um, and so we are doing all we can to try to position
our youth so that when you get out there, you will be have the same energy and vibrancy and sense of urgency to continue to improve things because I don't think at this point right now too many people are really satisfied with the way a lot of things are going. You
know, I'll just say that as a global statement, but to me that's just an opportunity for great change. So, I'm really looking forward to that happening. So, thank you again for being with us. Um, I wanted to shout out to Oakrest just because of the great work that they are are doing that's already
been acknowledged. Uh, they're very much about the big three. Uh, the students will are very much able to say exactly what the big three are. Do what's right. Do your best. Treat others the way you want to be treated. I had the opportunity to hand out some ices, which of course kids love. And it was it was
hot last week or I don't know, the days go by fast. I think it was last Friday. And the the kids were just they were able to say that right off the bat and they knew they hadn't gotten any uh referrals and they knew all about do what's right, do your best, treat others the way you want to be treated. I could
really see them as they were waiting on the blue line. You know, they were they were calm, they were courteous, they were respectful, they were doing all of the things that that young people need to learn how to do to be able to get along in life. So visiting our schools is is the highlight of of the jobs, you
know, that we have. It makes sitting up here and and taking arrows and sometimes having really hard conversations worth it because it's all about you guys. That's all I have for tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Um board, I have just a couple things to share with
you and I'll try to keep them um brief. First, I wanted to stop start off by um thanking Mrs. Green for joining us this evening. Um Attorney Powers is not here. uh he had an emergency come up and so we're just really grateful on such short
notice you were able to fill in. So thank you so much for being here with us um tonight. And with that um I wanted to share with you that there was an upward meeting scheduled yesterday. Um it is being rescheduled and I wanted to share
with you that all parties were relieved. Um there was quite a bit of work I guess to do this round of discussion and so everyone was happy to have another week to um work on the contract which is where what I believe they're working on
currently. Um in our consent agenda agenda tonight we do have high school CCC is South Marian High. So that was exciting. I look forward um to that as that school is coming together. Dr. Brewer, you did a quick video the other
day that you shared. So, it was exciting. The walls are up and and things are really really happening. Um, I also wanted to say, you know, Dr. Brewer shared earlier about the 86% of students that have not received a
referral. Um, and thinking about um our donation that we received from the sheriff's department um this evening. And I, you know, Dr. James mentioned her conversation with Chief Balkan and I just really am grateful for our community, the community partnerships
that we have um the open communication uh and the work to keep our students in our community safe. So, I just wanted to highlight that um and let our community know how grateful um I am for all the things that they do um from donations to
communications and all of those partnerships. Um, I also want to say Monday is Miss Thrower's birthday. So, happy birthday. It's coming up real soon. I won't see you before then, I don't think. So, I wanted to tell you happy birthday. Also, this coming week is Give for Marian, um, which is not a a
Marian County Public Schools activity, um, but when I look at all of the nonprofits that participate and give for Marian, so many of them support our students, um, and our staff. And so I just wanted to give a shout out. Um if
you're looking at doing some donations that'll be live next week. I believe it's Tuesday and Wednesday the 16th and 17th and board. With that that's all I have um to share with you this evening. If there is no further business I'll
take a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Thank you Miss Thrower. Thank you Dr. James. All those in favor say I. I. I I'm going to call it 30. This meeting is adjourned at 7:22. Thank you, board, and
thank you, staff. Part: 2
[Music]
Good evening. The September 9th, 2025 special meeting of the Marian County School Board is called to order. Mirroring 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.
Good evening, Miss Thrower. Would you read our board commitment statement? Good evening, chair comrade. Absolutely. We are the Maring County School District Leadership Team. When we come together to work, we are efficient, effective,
and productive. Our three most important characteristics are dedicated, transparent, and individually responsible. To work well together, we must demonstrate respect, confront reality, and be accountable. We will always put students first, and we will
leave a legacy of success. Thank you, Miss Thrower. For the courtesy of those listening to the meeting, I am requesting everyone in the audience to please remove their hats and turn off their electronic devices or put them on vibrate. Good morning. Good evening. Miss Martinez Young, would you please call the role?
Dr. Allison Campbell, District 1. Mrs. Lorie Conrad, District 2, here. Mr. Eric Cummings, District Three, here. Mrs. Nancy Thrower, District 4, here. Dr. Sarah James, District 5, here. Dr. Danielle Brewer, interim superintendent, here. and attorney Susan Green
here. Thank you, Miss Martinez Young. Um, would you please join me in standing for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Good evening, Dr. Brewer. I'll turn it over to you. Okay. Good evening. I recommend approval of the agenda for the September 9th special school board meeting with the
materials in the board packet, those materials distributed to board members at the meeting, and the audio recording included as part of the official record of the meeting. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. May I have a motion on the superintendent's recommendation? Motion to approve the agenda. Thank you, Miss Thrower.
Second. Thank you, Dr. James. All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Three zero. Miss Martinez Young, please provide the proof of publication. The notice for the September 9th, 2025 special schoolboard meeting was
published in the Ocala Gazette on August 29th, 2025. Proof of publication has been attached in board ducks under proof of publication. Thank you. The purpose of the meeting is to hold public hearings on the final millages and budget for the 2025 2026
fiscal year. The budget process involves public hearings to be held in the following order. A rolled back rate computation and tenative budget amend to conform to final budget. B resolution determining revenues and
millages levied resolution number 25-11. and C resolution adopting final budget resolution number 25-12. If you wish to address the board regarding one of the public hearings, there is a special form to be completed
on which you will need to select the appropriate area or areas of concern. I now recognize the attorney to address the rules governing this special school board meeting. Good evening, Mrs. Green. Thank you. In in compliance with section
286114 of the Florida statutes, the school board has adopted uniform procedures for public speakers who wish to speak at this evening's meeting, either with regard to 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 at the school board and school district matters. A written summary of these procedures are available from the table in the lobby.
Public speaker forms are also located on the same table. The completed forms were due to the school board's clerk no later than 5:10 p.m. This evening, speakers will be called prior to the business portion of the school board meeting in
the order of receipt by the school board clerk. Before you begin speaking, please state your full name for the record and also spell your last name. Each speaker will have five minutes of time. However, if there are more than five persons who
wish to speak, the board may seek consensus to limit each speaker's time to three minutes. When the speaker has one minute remaining, the speaker will receive a visual notice from me to complete his or her comments. Speakers may not yield their time to other
people. Speakers and meeting attendees are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Therefore, verbal attacks and profanity are strictly prohibited pursuant to the procedures for public comment. Item six. Speakers
are not to identify specific individuals other than themselves or their child unless the statement is provided 24 hours in advance. The board is here to listen to your comments only. You may be directed to an administrative staff member following the conclusion of your
comments for further assistance to address your concerns. A speaker speech does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the school district. Thank you for your attention to the board requirements.
That concludes my remarks. Thank you, Miss Green. Miss Martinez Young, do we have any speakers this evening? Yes, Madam Chair. Dana Coffin. Hi, my name is Dana Coffin. I'm from 150 West Highway, 329, Citra, Florida. Um,
I'm here to address the increase in the property taxes and what that's going on. Um, just kind I know everyone's saying that our populations are increasing, student populations increasing. It is increasing, but it's nowhere near increasing the amount that actual
population increased before precoid numbers to end of 2024. Our total population in Marian County is about 69,000. The student population is around 2700. Now, that doesn't even account for the 2700 doesn't even account for people
that were actually born here during COVID because they'll be entering school now. So, that number means that our school population in the public school system is actually declining. And I know where they're going because they're all going to the private school system because you cannot get in there. And they're going there because the public
school system is not being maintained. And at the same time, you're asking taxpayers repeatedly to pay more and more for a declining product. I'm very passionate about my child's education. I'm ve my children go to a private school, but I can also tell you what is going on at their public school in every
grade level because I want desperately to put them in one, but I will not sacrifice their education to do so. If I had put my now 13-year-old daughter in the school on district 4 in kindergarten, she wouldn't have had a teacher for two months. They didn't have a teacher for two months and then they went through three that year. Followed
up in first grade, she would have had two different teachers. That's not sustainable education. My youngest, who's now seven, if I she had started first grade in the school she's districted for right down the road, which I would love to send her to, she would have walked into a classroom of
more than 30 students. Four aren't potty trained. Four cannot speak English or understand it. And only nine are reading at grade level. That's how much I research my child's education because I want to use your system, but it doesn't work. There is value in the public
school system, but it's not sustainable to keep asking the taxpayers for more money when the product is failing the students. those nine students that are in that classroom she's supposed to be in in my district that can read at at grade level, how do you think they're
going to perform every day when their when their teacher is literally having someone not potty trained wet their pants in their classroom every day and it's allowed to continue. That's not sustainable education. And that's not just her classroom. That's
not a one-off. It took a veteran teacher going to that school threatening to quit before that problem was addressed with the class size. It's not sustainable. And it's really ignorant to keep asking the taxpayers to keep funding something that is failing
our student population. We're at capacity, but we've got 33% that are in the red on your pie chart that are chronically not even there. Our graduation rate is like 67 70%. Our
reading levels are at 47%. Same with math. I want to use your system, but you guys have to acknowledge asking for more money for a system that's not performing is not sustainable and it's really disrespectful to the taxpayers that are
also working to pay bills. I pay to send my kids to private school. My husband and I are sacrificing to do that because the schools in our district are not performing up to standards and him and I went to all of them and we support them. We donate to them. We are very involved
in our local schools. We just can't use them. And asking us as taxpayers to pay more and more every year for something that we can't even use is really disgusting and not sustainable. And we're I'm not the only one that feels like this. You guys can look at the
enrollment numbers yourselves. All across Florida, everyone was rep was reporting their school systems. Admissions this year are dropping. Hillsboro is shutting down what 30 plus schools this year because their population is declining.
Just because people send their kids to private schools doesn't mean they don't want to use your schools. But we will not use these schools if they're not up to standards in order to prepare our children for what they need to do. I'm not sacrificing that for my kids.
I want to use your system. It needs to be fixed. Money's not going to fix it. There are no consequences. There's no repercussions for actions. I'm sorry. If you are not potty trained by the age of six, you should not be allowed in a classroom. It's disrupting.
I don't think there's anyone that's going to argue with that. It shouldn't be allowed. That's just basic. We could start with fighting and you're not allowed to do three strikes anymore. That's the problem at the middle school that I'm zoned for. No consequences has let the education system fall completely
apart. Thank you for your time. Thank you. No other speakers. Madam Chair, thank you. Before proceeding the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget hearings, we need to finalize the
fiscal year 2024 2025 budget. May I have a motion to approve the final budget resolution number 10 for the fiscal year 2024 2025. Motion to approve the final budget resolution. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Second.
Thank you, Dr. James. Is there any discussion on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 4. May I have a motion to approve the monthly financial report for the year
ending June 2025. May I have a motion? Motion. Thank you, Dr. James. Second. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Is there any discussion on this item? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. I.
I. Motion passes. 40. The chair recognizes interim superintendent Dr. Brewer to begin the budget public hearing process. Good evening, Dr. Brewer. Good evening. The total millage to be
levied is greater than the rolled back rate by 5.64%. The required local effort mill rate is greater than the rollback rate by 5.59%. Each school board participating in the state allocation of funds for the
current operation of schools must levy the millage set for its required local effort from property taxes. As a result of work sessions held by the board since the adoption of the tenative budget of 1 billion285,32,143
on July 29th, 2025. The following changes have been made and have been incorporated into the proposed final budget. Major changes net increase and decrease in revenue due to and the
general fund operating transfers from capital projects for portable leases and adult education MTC workforce development grant cape funds career and professional education and the beginning fund balance in capital projects PICO
grant funds special revenue federal PEL grant and title one Unisig net increase and decrease in expenditures due to general fund operating salary and benefit changes,
portable leases, auditing contracts, and the general fund adult education, salary and benefits, MTC refurbishment projects, MTC's new mechanics building, CAPE funds career and professional education,
MTC workforce development grant, grant, general fund referendum, the charter school allocations in capital projects, the high school CCC carryover, new elementary school, now named Ross Prairie carryover, new elementary school
Winding Oaks carryover, the new Oyola Middle School gymnasium carryover, the Denellan High School HVAC carryover, and other carryover projects. and the special revenue for food services, salary and benefits, farm-to-school hub,
freezer cooler projects, additional food costs, and in special revenue other title one UNICEG, federal pale grants, other miscellaneous grants, changes in fund balance due to the actual revenue
and expenditures recorded in July for the prior fiscal year. The following attachments have been added to the rolled back computation. The memo changes from tenative to final budget. The certification and compliance, public
hearing certification, fiscal year 2025 2026 final budget publication to be published on Marian County Public website on September 10th, 2025. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. May I have a motion on the superintendent's
recommendation that the board amend the adopted tenative budget to con to conform to the proposed final budget for the fiscal year 2025 2026. May I have a motion? Motion to approve, Dr. James. Thank you.
Second. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thrower. This is a public hearing. Does anybody wish to address the board concerning the rolled back rate andor the amended tentative budget? No, Madam Chair.
Oh, okay. You have someone in the audience. I'd like to address. Hold on. Hold on. Okay. Hold on just a minute. Ma'am C I'd like to request if you will get a green form. It's out in the front and submit
that so we'll have your name and then you can come to the podium because I'm not going to be able to hear you from back there. Yeah, let's have her come up and then she can complete the form from Kevin afterwards. Is that okay? Kevin, do you have a form first of all? Okay, thank you. Would you grab two? I
think. Thank you so much, Mr. Christian. My name is Patricia Williams. I am from Pennsylvania. We are new residents here. you've already stolen from us when we brought two cars here. We had four. We got rid of two because I had one that I had to give give up because you charged
us $500. Where's that money going? Okay. Last year my taxes here and I haven't been here a year. My taxes were $2,397.73. You want to move that up to $4,17.39. I also have a a residence in Somerfield
because I have a handicapped grandson that and I have a very sick daughter that's going to be living there. She's actually on her way here as we speak. She is going to be going into dialysis. You are stealing from people that don't have the money to give to you. You have
to bring that into some of your attention and for you know I don't know where's this money going. It was not this bad in Pennsylvania and we had a lot more residents. We had a lot better school system from my understanding, from me hearing what
everybody else is saying about your school system. And I am we are forced to put our gr my grandson which will be 16. He'll be in high school, 11th grade. We are forced to put him in public school because we can't afford anything more. We may have to give up one of our homes
here and live with them in a two-bedroom house. That's going to be impossible. You have to think about the seniors and if the seniors aren't going to speak up, I am. Thank you very much. Miss Williams. Miss Miss Williams, would you grab a um
green card from Mr. Christian? Thank you. My name is Pam Garbig. G A R B I G. I live in Citra. And I apologize for not knowing the protocol on being able to speak, but when I saw my tax bill and I told my husband, I said, "This is
getting ridiculous. We are seniors and our income is social security and a little bit of rental income from some rental properties, and we don't have the income that we used to. We have no children in school. So, I'm I apologize for not knowing the the in-n-outs of the
school system here, but there's got to be some sort of exemption for seniors that don't have kids in school. For instance, this save our homes portability nonexemption 10% cap benefit or other
exemptions that seniors that now have a reduced income that their properties are paid for but we're just getting killed with taxes. And like I said, I agree with that woman. She's very upset. Florida is used to be
a very reasonably priced state. The the the the wages are not that much, but the cost of living here is getting so high and the uh the pay is not equalizing the amount of money it costs to buy things today. And when you're on a limited
income and you got your property paid for and then your taxes just keep going up and up and up, there's got to be some sort of way to help the seniors that are on limited income because we don't have the income that I used to. I usually never even looked at these. I just paid them. But now that I have to budget my
money and I've got the other rental properties that I can't homestead, there's got to be some sort of relief for the seniors. Thank you. Thank you very much, I was I was hopeful that maybe we could provide a little context for how much we
can control with the rate. Um, and I know board member I don't want to put you on the spot, but board member Thor has done a good job of explaining it before, but I would give it to Dr. Campbell if she were here, but we are um and and I'll I'll give to another board member if we can just maybe share a little context.
Sure. But the only the only reason it is more is because the property value increased, which is not we don't own that. As the school board, we have a fixed rate. There is um and maybe one of our employees could come forward and share,
Mr. or Rio Welsh or Miss Kayla could come forward, but we we we have no control over that rate at all. That is a property value increase that you're then seeing on your tax bill. Um there's nothing Yes, ma'am. So, what I would say is that
this is more of a formality. Um but we have no control over the rate as it's being implemented. And so exemptions and those other things are for the county commission, the property appraiser. Those are things outside of the the
scope of what we can control as the school board. Is that where I would need to go to petition to see if I qualify for an exemption based on income for seniors and non property or homestead? The state of
Texas hasated uh for seniors that the homestead has gone up as well as the uh Yes. Yes, ma'am. So, yes, ma'am. And so, I'm sorry, chair. This I I just I want everyone in the audience to understand that there's nothing we can do about the
rate that is set on your tax bill because that is beyond the scope of the work of the school board. Oh, yes, ma'am. Absolutely. Yes. So, the the property appraiser, the property appraiser um and the tax collector and the county commission's
office would be an office in the community. Um their compound is it's all very conveniently located together and they would be able to provide context about exemptions and ways to capitalize on how to save the most money on your tax bill. So, I just wanted to provide
that context since I know we have a couple people in the audience who are new to Florida and Florida's system is a little bit different than in other states. So, sorry chair for taking that. Um, I'll add one comment to that. We've we've had several work sessions um spent a lot of time going over over the budget
and what goes into the budget. So, I'd encourage you, it's available on YouTube. If you'd like to go back um and watch, I think Mr. Welchure, we've had three three meetings on um three work sessions on the budget and and how it comes together and what is what it's
spent on. Um so, with that, we'll move on. Thank you, Dr. James. Do we have one more speaker, Miss Martinez, or that was it? I don't have any more forms. Okay. Okay. You ready? Ready to vote
the Oh, just a second. Tom Ree, does this body deal with the millage relative to property taxes? because it it's very clearly here. My major question is how can the market value of
your home fall and the taxes relative to mileage rise? It doesn't make any sense to me. If your property value decreases, how can the property tax on the millillage increase? Okay, we have a a staff meth Mr. Welch.
Would you mind answering his question? Yeah, we good to move forward. Good evening, Madame Chair, uh board members, members of the community, and interim superintendent uh Brewer. Thank you for the questions. Uh these
questions are um very complicated in nature, and we understand and anticipated that there would certainly be quite a few questions today. uh given that the tax bills just went out, uh I would like to say that to the gentleman's question regarding increased
uh millage rates uh as it relates to maybe decreased property value, uh that it is on a case-byase basis and looking at how the county tax assessor assesses uh property value and that the millage rate uh is uh what it is. However, that
that's not necessarily going to be indicative of how an individual property owner is going to be impacted by that rate. And so, there's going to be a lot of variance in that depending on what part of the county that you live in. And so, we understand that it's a very
sensitive topic. Um, but we are committed to spending the resources that the taxpayers are providing to the school district in a prudent and efficient manner. I hope that goes some way. And I also would like to direct
members of the community uh as the uh chair Conrad mentioned to YouTube and the other resources that we have available uh so that the community can uh do a deep dive and educate themselves on some of these previous work sessions that that we've had and a lot of
community members have participated in in the past. Thank you so much, Mr. Welsh. We appreciate you coming forward um to speak. Do we have any other speakers at this time? Okay. Have you filled out a green form, ma'am? Okay. If you could please grab
one. If you if you are planning on speaking anytime during this meeting, there are green forms available um in the lobby. Uh it would help us out greatly if you'd go ahead and fill those out and turn them in so um we can keep this uh
session rolling. I apologize. says, "I was tardy this evening due to the rain and traffic." Yeah, that's okay. We're happy to see you anyway. Made it here. Um, I just wanted to be clear. Is is this board um will this is
this does you you mentioned that you don't have any control over the rates? Does this board not set the millage rates for the public school taxes? It it's assigned on the difference, correct? who who determines the millage
rates for the public school taxes. I would defer to our CFO to give specific specific items. So, the reason that we're seeing an increase is not because of a rate we set because essentially the state neutralizes that rate, but because
of a property value increase. Dr. James, if I may, I I think these questions need to be directed to staff at to follow up because this is not supposed to be a question answer. um portion of our meeting. Well, my my comments are irrelevant if you don't yourself vote. Are you voting
tonight on the higher mill rate versus the roll back millage rate that was listed on the trim notices? Is that that is what you'll be voting on? Is that correct? Yes. You can give you can give comments, but we can't we're not supposed to
participate in a dialogue. Okay. and it's present. You present your concerns to us and then a staff member will walk with you to the back of the room. They'll answer your questions so we can move on to the next. Okay. Then my general comments then are just that I I also attended the meeting
at the county supervisors um the county supervisors meeting last week and they had very similar statements to what you all are saying that they really don't have any they're not raising the millage rates. They're just voting to keep the millage rates
where they were rather than going back to the roll back rates. Also, please see the county appraiser to talk about the higher um appraisal rates. I just want to make sure that each of you as I was attempting to make sure
that each of the county commissioners is aware that the situation that Marian County is in where property rates or property values have increased dramatically and at the same time mill rates continue to be voted at or at higher rates than they have been
previously rather than going to roll back rates is creating an unsustainable situation for property owners in the community. I haven't talked to a single neighbor or a single member of the community who has not had to make difficult decisions about their own
personal household budgets this year. Very difficult decisions. And we can see and observe that there are property values cooling and lowering in the county as well. In um the early 2000s, I was a property owner in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and
property values there at the time were doing very much what they've been doing here in Marian County the last several years. And as a result, the the taxes the tax base grew rapidly. And the response of the local government to that rapid
increase in the tax base simply due to the higher values of homes was to lower millage rates. And that ended up being a very preient, very intelligent thing to do because when the market cooled and property values started decreasing,
the the market in that area made a swifter recovery than other area governments who chose to seize the moment and increase continue to vote on higher millage rates in tangent in tandem with the increased property
values. So that c that community wasn't hit as hard as a lot of the other communities when the inevitable business cycle of falling home values occurred. They were able to better recover. Their schools stayed in better shape. They
were better able to handle their budgets. So that's what I would like to do is to just educate everyone who has the power to be voting on these mill rates that you need to look around at the community observe that households are making huge cuts right now. They're
reigning it in and I would urge our local government to do the same. Ma'am, for the record, if you could please state your name and spell your Sure. My name is Marissa Nance. My last name is NE.
Thank you. Okay, Miss Martinez Young, did you receive any more? No, Madam Chair. Okay. Thank you. Is there any further discussion from the board? Uh, not right now. Okay, Miss Thrower.
Just something that I wanted to share. Um, the budget is huge and it is complicated. Um, and when people get their tax bills, that's when they're going to see it and then begin to to feel it. Uh,
we have a part in that. Um, I also wanted to make sure I pointed out that within our budget, at least 50 million of it is just pass through. Um, which makes our budget look larger than than
it is obviously. And secondly, Florida is still um way near the bottom in salaries and our budget is 70% salaries and benefits and we're still nowhere
close to being able to pay our fantastic teachers and everyone else truly what they deserve to be able to do what they need to do in their households. Um, everyone sitting up here, that includes
me as a taxpayer as well. So, I'll just say for myself, I'm not happy about this. There's a lot I agree with with what I just heard. Um, but my conundrum is making sure that we
stay competitive wage-wise, and be able to still pay our bills, have healthy reserves, and keep everything rolling. So, uh, those are my comments. I intend to, uh, vote for this budget tonight. Um, but I agree that as we move
forward as a community, we have got to get a lot more serious, real, and have conversations a lot earlier with the community on how it's impacting. That's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Dr. Jr. Stick. Reverend
Cummings, did you have anything you wanted to add? Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um board will call the vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. All right. Motion passes 40. Dr. Brewer,
I turn it back over to you. The school board of Marian County, Florida proposes a total millage rate of 6.320, which is greater than the rolled back rate of 5.9823 mills by 5.64%. 64%.
I recommend that the board adopt resolution 2511 determining revenue and millages to be levied for fiscal year 2025 2026. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. May I have a motion on the superintendent's recommendation that the board adopt
resolution 25-11 determining revenues and millages levied for fiscal year 2526. May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. James. Second by Reverend Cummings. Thank you.
This is a public hearing. Does anyone wish to address the board concerning the millages? Miss, do we have any papers for um to speak on millages? No, Madam Chair. Right. Thank you. Seeing none, um
yes, discussion for um the board. Any discussion for the board? Yep. I would just say it's it's already been said. Very good. All right. Any other discussion? Okay. Seeing none, all those in favor
say I. I. I. I. Passes 40. I recommend the board adopt resolution 2512 affirming the final budget for fiscal year 2526. 2025 2026 in the
amount of 1 bill311,822,727. Thank you. Dr. Brewer may have a motion on the superintendent's recommendation that the board adopt resolution 25-12 affirming the final budget for fiscal year 2025 2026 in the amount of 1
bill311,822,727. May I have a motion? Motion to approve. Thank you, Miss Thrower. May I have a second? Second. Thank you, Dr. James. This is a public hearing. Does anyone wish to address the board concerning the final budget?
No, Madam Chair. Okay. Any discussion from the board? Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. Motion passes 4.
May I have a motion to acknowledge, receipt, and approve the annual fi financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025? May I have a motion? Motion to approve financial report. Right. Thank you, Miss Thrower. And a second from Reverend Cummings. Um board,
is there any discussion on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. I. I. Motion passes 4. There being no further business at this time, may I have a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Thank you, Reverend Cummings. All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. You say I four 40. This meeting is adjourned at 5:39.
Thank you, Reverend Cummings.