We are going to call this regular meeting of the Martin County School Board to order. Um, first up we have our opening prayer by Pastor Chris Jackson of Revive Church. And as he's making his way up, um, you all will notice that Superintendent Maine is not here today.
And with his permission, I'm sharing that his wife had a successful surgery and he is where he needs to be with her. And um, if you if you pray, um, it would be appreciative if you offered them for his family. So we appreciate that,
pastor. name of Jesus, we come to you in prayer. Lord, I thank you so much, Father, for this opportunity to open this meeting in prayer. I thank you for everyone who's here today. I especially thank you for an amazing
school board, for amazing, great teachers and leaders in this district. But we thank you especially for the children that they get to serve here in this district. Holy Spirit, uh I pray that you would
come and be at peace and and lead us today in every order, every decision that it would be for the kids that are served, not for ourselves or for any other reasons, but what is
best for them. We thank you that we get to do these things and uh we thank you for the family of Mr. Maine. Uh we we ask that you are
with them through this time. We thank you in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. Now do the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
nation divisible with liberty justice for all. >> Miss falls, would you call the role, please? >> Mrs. Russell, >> here. >> Mrs. Roberts. >> Mrs. Bridget, >> here.
>> Mr. Mr. Morardi >> here. >> Mrs. Powers here. >> Thank you. >> All right. And next up, we have the approval of the agenda and addendum with the following items added. Item 7.03, 18.07,
18.08. Items updated 11.02, 18.05, and 14.01. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion to approve? >> Second. I >> have a motion by Miss Pritchette, a
second by Miss Russell. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries unanimously. U moving on to the items of consent? Uh do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items pulled for
discussion? Item 4.01, item 4.04, and 9.02. Motion to accept. >> Second. I have a motion by Miss Pritchette, a second by Miss Russell. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously.
All right. Uh we don't have anything on board member discussion. Is there anything any board members want to discuss at this point in the meeting? Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on. And I want to also recognize and thank um Dr. Miller for sitting in uh for
Superintendent Maine. Welcome. Welcome up here. All right. First up, we have the Bloom Board Parah toteer program recognition by Jeff with Jeff Raymond.
Good evening, Madame Chair, uh madame deputy superintendent, members of the board, all in attendance, and those uh live on YouTube. It is my pleasure to let the board know um about a return on your investment for those who are serving on the board in 2023. Our board
made a commitment to give the opportunity to paraprofessionals in our school district who have already earned an associates degree the chance to earn a nocost bachelor's degree to become a teacher. Tonight I will be sharing with
you 12 of our very proud parrofessionals who have either crossed the finish line or one who's earning two degrees is about to. So this is a thank you to you for your commitment and this is also a chance to shine the light on some amazing teammates in our district. Um so
with that let me just put up our slideshow. So in the introduction you mentioned Bloomboard. Bloomboard is the company that facilitated this process. Um this our par profofessionals went to Lake Erie College to complete their coursework
and tonight as I shared in the opening you are going to get to see 12 of our shining power professionals who have completed their coursework in either one of two areas exceptional student education which is the number one vacancy in the state of Florida or
elementary or in the case of one both uh degrees have been earned and each of these um paras are now certified are about to be certified. So, a great milestone moment to which they will also have a graduation ceremony. Um, we're going to partner up with adult ed at the
end of the year. So, we'll invite you to that as well. But tonight, we wanted to make some noise and celebrate the following in alphabetical order. I know that their um administrators are here if they could be here. And um some of them already have been hired or are getting recruited heavily. So this could be a
recruitment opportunity for those watching, but they can only be hired in the Martin County School District. Is they have made a commitment to stay with us for at least five years in exchange for the complimentary bachelor's degree. So I'm going to read the names first and then I would love it if they could come
forward and we could take a picture. Um, but starting out from the Pinewood Elementary School, Rose Andrews earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and she is currently exploring positions here in the district. And clapping would be great. Yes, [applause]
I know. Um, as a former principal sometimes we do the honor roll and there was like this rule you couldn't clap to the end, but I would like to change that rule and clap after each one if we could. uh Miss Kiandra Bell from Pinewood Elementary who already got hired by way of Jensen Beach Elementary.
There was some recruiting going on and she's already working there um teaching third grade at Pinewood. So that's Kandra Bell. [applause] Andrea Garcia is our one and only of the Paris that's earning two degrees. She
will end up being certified in both ESSE and elementary. So, principles, get your recruitment hats on and good luck trying to reel her in. That's Andrea Garcia. [applause] A Thunderbird near and dear to my heart is Marisella Garcia Espinosa, earning
her bachelor's in elementary education. Um, and I do know Principal Norman has her eyes set on her for anyone else who may have been looking. and we to clap [applause] from South Fork High School, Maria Maroquin. Um, at Lake Erie College, they
have a fancy name for their degree in special education, which is mild to moderate intervention specialist, aka special education here in Florida. Um, she's currently exploring opportunities here in the district. Maria [applause]
Erin Murray, Crystal Lake Elementary School, um received her degree thanks to your contributions in elementary education and is also exploring opportunities here in the district. I did speak to her principal earlier today and I think they have their eyes set on
her as well. [applause] From Warfield Elementary, Angelica Perez. Um, again, fancy title for a degree in special education. And she's going to work on her certification so she could teach preK, the primary years,
pre-K through grade three. And Warfield has already committed to her, so if you had your eyes set on her, you are late to the party. Angelica Perez, [applause] Danielle Principe from Seawind Elementary. I saw her administrators here. um earned her degree in elementary
education, got certified in ESSE, K12, we're working towards um and was just hired there just very recently, I think like last week, and she's already in the classroom teaching first and second grade students. So, congratulations to [applause] another Thunderbird, Maria Ramirez
Huerta, uh will have earned actually already did earn her degree in elementary education. And Maria is looking for jobs here in our district as well. Maria Ramirez Huerta. [applause] Gloriana Tlette just got hired again return on investment by our ESE
department. I know Wilma is behind me and they have um been eager to hire this position. If you didn't know, we have a braille list as a teacher creating um documents. So, students who need to use Braille to be engaged in lessons. Um, Gloriana is answering the bell and just
got hired. So, very excited for her. [applause] Diana Vez from Citrus Grove Elementary um earned her degree in exceptional student education and she is exploring opportunities here in the Martin County School District.
[applause] And finally, also from Crystal Lake is Diana Veron. Um the ESSE degree and is also working towards an elementary K6 degree. Um and she just got hired at Crystal Lake. She's an ESE teacher currently serving K through two.
[applause] So before they come up, I just wanted to read these quotes which are really a thank you to you. And I think sometimes you don't always get to hear or see the return on your investment. So through their words, um, number one, thank you so much for recognizing us today for completing the PAR to pro program
through Lake Erie College. I'm honored to be here. Honestly, if it wasn't for this program, there is no way I could have finished my degree. I have four kids at home, ages 11, eight, four, and three. So trying to earn a university degree while working full-time was not
easy to accomplish. The next one, and believe me, I know because I tried more than once before. This program is what finally made it possible. It allowed me to graduate and finally step into my dream of teaching special education.
And while teaching now is different from when I was younger, forcing my siblings to sit down so I could teach them. And yes, I even used to draw on metal closets like they were my classroom whiteboards. This is so much more meaningful and rewarding. And then just
three more and then we'll bring them up. Being a paraprofessional is honestly one of the best ways to truly learn what happens in a classroom. And I can attest to that. You gain real experiences supporting students, managing behaviors, and learning the kind of things they don't always teach you in textbooks,
like how to survive a day with no prep time and someone crying over the wrong color marker. That's real testimonial. Two to go. I'm currently teaching at Seawwind Elementary and I plan to continue my education with a master's in psychology, but of course staying right
here in the Martin County School District because after everything you've invested in me, I'm basically on a lifetime contact now. And finally, thank you to the Martin County School District and to the school board for making this program possible for par professionals
like me. You didn't just help fund a degree, you helped build futures, strengthen classrooms, and turn dreams into realities. Thank you so much. So, from the voices of them, to me, [applause] um
to our new teachers, please come on up. We would love to take a photo with the board. And a huge round of applause. [applause] Oh, yeah. Head up close there. And I know Kirsty will help guide you. And congratulations
Good for you. >> [cheering] >> Thank you all. And then um Madame Chair, I would just share that Mr. remain has asked me to come back I think in April to kind of share a new possible pathway partnering with IRSC for a local grow our own program. So uh stay tuned for
that. Thank you. >> Thank you and congratulations. What a milestone to accomplish and we're just happy to be a small part of that. So congratulations and we look forward to seeing you in the classroom. Okay,
next up we have uh the Able Trust presentation. Good evening, Madame Chair, esteemed members of the board, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Miller. I'd like to take a moment to introduce um Colleen Agner. I'm state director of the Able
Trust. For those that don't know me, my name is Wilma Meica Sanchez. I'm the director of ESC. Um, the ABLE Trust was established by the Florida legislature in 1990 and the Able Trust serves as a direct support organization for Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
and is dedicated to advancing employment opportunities for Flidians with disabilities. This year, through its continued commitment to transition services and workforce development initiatives such as high school high-tech, the Able Trust is generously
presenting a $22,000 check to the Martin County School District's ESSE department. These funds would strengthen our transition and post-secary supports for our secondary ESSE students, helping prepare them for career exploration, post-secary planning, and meaningful employment after high school
opportunities. Please join me in wel welcoming Miss Agner in thanking the Able Trust for their partnership and investment in our students futures. [applause] I'm Colleen Agner and the state director of the high school hi-tech program. I want to thank you for allowing the AC
department to partner with us in our journey with the high school hi-tech program. We're excited about this partnership and look for it to be long term. >> Is it okay we could take a picture with the check? >> Of course. >> Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, next up we have uh Lana Baros for the career and technical recognition of career and technical education month. Hello, good evening chair Powers, members of the school board, and deputy superintendent Dr. Miller, colleagues
and esteemed guests. My name is Lana Baros and I am proud to serve as the coordinator of college and career readiness for the Martin County School District. Every February, I have the privilege of standing before you to celebrate and recognize the incredible work happening in our CTE programs
across the district in honor of career and technical education month. Almost 70% of our students in our comprehensive high schools take CTE courses and 85% of our seniors and CTEMIES already have at least one industry certification and our
goal is of course 100% before they graduate. Across our district right now, our K through2 students hold 9,551 Cape industry recognized credentials. Our CTE programs connect students to
real world experiences. Not only have we won $4.3 million over the last two years to upgrade and revolutionize our CTE classrooms and labs through the workforce capitalization grant. So far this school year, our students have participated in over 70 career related
school day field experiences and competitions. So this work begins in classrooms with trained in industry professionals turned teachers similar to the ones that you saw here as adults. Our CTE educators make a difference
every day and so do our our students. We had invited a student who did not make it in time today that we were going to recognize to um showcase his talents, but I'll share a little bit about him since he won't have the opportunity to share since he came in. His name is Adam
Sodto. He is a lifelong C um Martin County School District student. So he went through Pinewood uh Hidden Oaks Middle and now Martin County High School. In 8th grade, he attended one of our career exploration events and he saw some cool things on the table. So he signed up for
automotive. Since that time he has um earned nine ASE certifications in auto. He also did culinary so he earned his serve safe. He did computer science too. So he earned CompTIA and he also did
entrepreneurship and welding. He is the state gold medal winner for automotive competition at Skills USA and he also revitalized our Skill USA Skills USA chapter at Martin County High School and serves at as the vice president. So he's
quite impressive. Um he has um after graduation he will enter the military. I can't remember what branch off my top of my head but he ex exemplifies exactly what we strive for in Martin County for future ready
graduates. So leadership innovation and the courage to try something new which he turned that into a career for himself. And on behalf of the district, I am very proud that we nominated Adam and this would be a surprise for him. So if he walks in, he doesn't know yet, but
he was nominated as Martin County's presidential nominee for uh career and technical education. He represents what career and technical education is designed to do. Equip students to lead with purpose, prepare for a meaningful career, and be future ready. [snorts] So
Adam, we are very proud of you. You're not here, but we are so proud of you. Congratulations. In closing, career and technical education really does strengthen our students. It supports our economy. It ensures our community, state, and nation remain strong and
competitive, and it prepares us for our future. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] >> Okay. Okay, next up we have um Lauren Gford and Daniel Moore to talk about the school improvement and leadership
updates for our race schools. Wait. Oh, sorry about that. See you next month. [laughter] Okay, we have our student representative. Good afternoon everyone.
I am doing the high school reports today. I will start off with Martin County High School. On February 12th, MCHS welcomed over 400 eighth graders for a day in the life of a tiger, giving future Tigers an authentic look at campus life. This successful event was
made possible by our leadership, ACE, SGA, and CTE students and teachers. Looking ahead, MCHS will host its freshman showcase on February 25th, welcoming eighth grade families to explore academic programs, clubs, athletics, and school culture. MCHS
debate team closed out the season with an impressive performance showing at their or professional showing at their final regional tournament, earning multiple top placements, including a first place finish by Tonnie Whiteside. Additionally, the criminal justice
competition team earned placements in 13 events at the Florida Public Service Association South Regional Competition, demonstrating excellence across public service disciplines. Athletics also has had a standout year so far with MCHS earning six district
championships in football, boys bowling, boys swimming, girls volleyball, girls soccer, and girls basketball. An incredible accomplishment for Tiger athletics. MCHS is bringing on an exciting new sport, boys volleyball. Tryyouts have just concluded and we are
excited to see this sport grow. On February 6th, our coral program earned outstanding ratings at solo and ensemble. In the solo category, Mallerie Goddard earned a superior rating and Sierra Favors achieved an excellent
rating. In the duet category, Cadence Fertino and Olivia Sherman, sorry if I pronounced that wrong, Sherman earned a superior. Both our barberhop ensemble and chamber choir earned a superior rating. Congratulations to all of our
solo events in coral ensemble artists. Over 150 students were recognized for reaching proficiency between PM1 and PM2, highlighting significant student growth and perseverance. The leadership class recently held their Valentine's lunch festival, bringing students of all
grades together to participate in themed games, win prizes, and spread school spirit. Finally, for MCHS, the Sunshine Committee recognized Mr. Joe Neri as teacher of the month for his dedication, kindness, and positive impact on the Tiger community. Next up, I have South
Fork High School. South Park High School is excited to launch its new boys volleyball team and is proud of the young men who stepped up to become the program's first athletes. These students are settling or setting the foundation for the team while representing South Fork both on and off the court. The
community is invited to support them at their first home game on March 3rd at 6 pm. South Fork's Coral Solo and Ensemble students delivering an outstanding performance with 10 of the 14 acts earning superior ratings and advancing to state. South Fork was honored to host
this event, welcoming over 300 students, directors, and families to campus. A special thank you goes to the custodial staff for ensuring a clean, welcoming environment for all guests. Many of these talented performers can also be seen in Hayestown opening next week.
Spotlight on career and technical programs at South Fork High School. The FFA horse evaluation team earned an eighth place finish at the state Florida fair, securing a trip to the state finals in March. In addition, 42 students successfully passed the
certified veterinary assistant exam, making an important career milestone. The Barkery Club has been highly productive, serving over 400 beverages to staff and producing 134 bags of dog treats this year. Supporting college and
career readiness, AVID teachers Jennifer Morel and Shelley Toule recently participated in a leadership workshop with the United States Marine Corpse, bringing lessons in teamwork, resilience, and problem solving back to their classrooms.
And finally, for Jensen Beach High School, on January 28th, over 60 Falcons were recognized at the quarter 2 student of the quarter breakfast. These students were nominated by teachers for exemplifying hard work and what it means to soar like a falcon. JBHS students are
also preparing to showcase their talents across academics and the arts. The Odyssey of the Mind Club will compete at the regional level on February 28th. The drama department will present its spring musical, Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, from February 26th to March
1st. The math department continues to excel with JBHS ranking number one in South Florida for the fourth consecutive week in the stock market game, outperforming the S&P 500 among more than 2,000 teams.
Science National Honor Society students from JBHS visited Jensen Beach Elementary this month to lead 20 hands-on science demonstrations for fifth grade students. The JBHS students shared their passion for science while reinforcing key fifth grade science concepts, creating an engaging and
meaningful learning experience for both groups. This collaboration strengthened connections across grade levels and is hoped to become a yearly tradition. 22 students participated in the Treasure Coast Honor Band and Orchestra and 15 students earned superior or excellent
ratings at the FBA solo and ensemble festival with three advancing to the state level. The JBHS Jazz program also earned straight superior ratings at the district Jazz MPA, marking its 18th consecutive year achieving this
distinction. Thank you all. >> Thank you very much. Okay, next up we have our district update with Kirsty Jerine or Mark Cowles. >> Far less attractive aversion. Sorry
about [laughter] that. Disappointing everybody. Did we want to bring Adam? He just rolled in. He was uh >> Oh, that's Yes, I'm aologize. That's okay. He was out cooking a pot of sauce and changing oil at the same time apparently. So, he's here. >> Lana, if you want to come up and make a
quick introduction. Thank you. I don't know how much Adam heard, but I do think he went got stuck in traffic, went down the wrong turn, or the his car did, and then he jumped a fence, so he might be parked over there. But he is here, and we are so grateful. He really has a
tremendous work ethic. And so, you actually were nominated as our um presidential nominee for career and technical education to represent our school district this year. [applause] >> Thank you. So, Adam did prepare a little bit to
share with you about his experience and why he um CTE has impacted his life. >> Uh good evening members of the board, vice chair and chair. My apologies for my tardiness. Yeah, I should uh be a little less dependent on my GPS.
Um so, yeah, I'm the current uh Martin County High School Skills USA and National Technical Honor Society uh president and vice president, respectively. Uh, and I don't think I can overstate the impact that the clubs and my general programs of interest have
uh had on me. Um, you know, it's it's worked its way into my career now. Uh, I'm a technician at a local independent shop. Um, you know, like I said, these clubs have been great. I've loved the the support from the school, from the district. Um, they've absolutely changed
who I am. They've made me a more professional person. they've made me more uh fluent in my technical uh interest and I just wanted to thank you all so much for for supporting us in the way that you do and I I really want to see it continue. I want to see it expand
and uh you know I am thankful for the improvements that the school has seen in in the recent years the years that I've been there uh at least I find that the equipment has definitely improved in terms of quality. So, I do want you to know that, you know, the allocation of funding is being noticed absolutely as a
student and it's it's definitely it's going where it needs to go. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Congratulations. [applause] >> Uh I have been advised to let you know of my plans after graduation. I am joining the army. [applause]
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you for allowing him to come up. >> Yep. >> Come on up, Lana. You get in the picture, too. Sorry. [applause] Now, Mark Cowell's for a district update.
>> Yeah, so thankful I get to follow him. That's going to be a little difficult to live up to. Uh, good afternoon, Madam Chair. Uh, members of the board, Deputy Superintendent Miller, uh, Nicole, Diane, Mr. George, Delaney,
you go. All right, everybody in here, everybody watching online, it's my pleasure to give the district update. Uh, February 2026. We're going to call it February 2026 AD after Derek as we're doing a >> He's probably watching. Hey, Derek, how you doing? [laughter]
Up first, I want to remind everybody that we have our Black History Month celebration this Saturday, uh, February 21st at Steuart Middle School. Uh, thank you to Dr. Chris Jones for agreeing to host this event this year. Huge thanks to Shemica Forbes and
Dr. Anita Caswell for helping in their organization. Thanks to the students, teachers, and staff in advance for their upcoming performances and presentations. Sure to be a great day. Doors open at 8:30 for people to come in with a 900 a.m. scheduled start. Uh, Anita Mcnite
and the NAACP helped us secure Georgia Boys and Ethel's famous wings. They'll be selling their delicious wings on site, so that's an opportunity to get out there. Uh, also up there, you'll see, if you haven't uh, done so already, please check out the February podcast hosted by our very own Kirsty Germaine, our new coordinator for community
relations and public outreach. So, congratulations to you, Kirsty. Kirsty hosted school district employees Dr. Kimberly McCarti and Joshua Perry. They talked about their family's rich history and contributions to the Martin County School District. So, it's a great podcast. Uh, every time she puts
something out, uh, if you've watched it, watch it again. If you haven't had a chance, get to it. Big shout out to South Fork High School's Natalie Williams. She was nominated for the 2026 National History Day Teacher of the Year. Huge award. Um,
Natalie brought back the history fair to Martin County School District about four years ago. We hadn't done it in 20 years. uh it wasn't funded, it wasn't talked about. She came in, she said, "We're doing it." I told her no, she kept doing it. Um so, you just can't tell her no, she's going to find a way
around it. So, I just say we'll make it work. So, she's done a great job of bringing the the uh fair back to us and she's being rightly recognized and um she will be recognized at the Florida History Day up in Tallahassee in May and find out if she wins this national award
later that month. So, good luck to Natalie and thank her for everything she does for our district and especially with the history fair. WPEC CBS12 featured one of our amazing educators, Cassie Melhot from Steuart Middle School. She was the Martin County
School um Martin County School's middle school teacher of the year. So, let's watch this feature. Well, it is time for another teacher feature here on Arc, Florida, where we highlight teachers and other educators within our local school districts who are going above and beyond.
>> CBS12 News reporter Danny Travis takes us to the Martin County School District where our next teacher feature shows her students daily that the choices they decide to make now shape their futures. Our next teacher feature brings us here to Stewart Middle School where outside
of Cassie Melhot's classroom where she teaches 8th grade social studies. Now, has been a teacher for 10 years, six here at Steuart Middle School. Now, Cassie is known for her student collaboration lessons shaping her students futures, which ultimately led
to her winning the school district's 2025 middle school teacher of the year. So, let's go see why. >> What do we have? Fourth page. Six years here in middle school. What is
it about this age range that draws you to teaching them? >> Middle schoolers are exactly how it sounds. They're right in the middle. Um, they don't really understand yet if they want to grow up or they want to stay like these cute little elementary kids
that are just going to be happy all the time. And I really love the connections that I make with my students and the fact that they're able to feel like they can grow. And just the fact that they always tell me all the time, "Thank you for being you." and thank you for teaching us and thank you for helping
me. It's the positive affirmation that I get from the kids that really makes me love middle school as a whole. Um, it also helps to know that I'm helping shape the future of not only students but Americans because it's civics.
>> So, I want to talk about shaping the future of your students for a second. Obviously, that's very important especially for this age range. How do you go about that? I try to focus on key skills that are really going to just make them successful in everyday life.
So whether they're going to go on to college or not, everywhere you work in your entire life, you're going to have to take a piece of paper and file it properly. So I'm really big on organization. Um I mean, we can look around my room and just see that I'm a like a like a stickler for organization.
Um, so the kids utilize what we call in Marin County an avid binder where they're really really successful with just finding and locating where things belong, putting them back and being responsible for their work. Um, it's also really successful in the fact that
we are a tested subject um, in civics. So at the end of the year where review is not all held on me, it's actually held on them. They use the material over and over and over again to help them be successful. It's all about ownership and the skills and making connections and
being able to pe speak publicly or any kind of skill that's going to make them successful for the rest of their lives. >> After watching you teach this lesson just a second ago, I could also tell that you're big on student collaboration and you were doing that a lot with your students. How does that help them learn
a little bit better? >> We do a lot of like right there learning is what it's called. Going back to those key skills that help them be successful in the future. You're not always going to want to work with your best friend. Um you're going to have to work with people that you might not always get
along with. Again, it's all skills to make them better in the future. >> You were just nominated as the 2025 Martin County School District Middle School Teacher of the Year, which is incredible. Congratulations. But what is it about your teaching that got you
there? I really think it's about building relationships with the students. Um I will say like this year this is a brand new group of students and I feel like I've already um built those relationships that you might not have when you follow the kids over and over again. For example, um all the
teacher of the year stuff that's been going on. I was a little tired. I got a little sick this week. Um and on Monday I actually took the day off um which I almost never do. And yesterday, um, as soon as I walked in the door, "Miss Mailhot, where were you? Miss Mailhot,
where were you?" asking me all of these questions and all that kind of stuff. And then I actually got, um, a letter from a student who was super upset I wasn't here on Monday. Um, and that student actually like poured her art out to me saying like, "Thank you for being
the teacher you are, and I I I want to just say the student's name, but I know I can't." Um, and she was basically like, "Sometimes school feels like a place I don't want to be. I'm gonna probably start crying right now. Um, it sometimes feels like a place that I don't want to be, but thank you for
making me feel noticed and seen and making me feel special in your class every day. So, because of that, like it's it's an absolute honor. The kids are really what makes me happy to be um Martin County's middle school teacher of the year."
>> I think that tells us everything we need to know. Is that note? We're going to just let cut it off right there because they can't go any further than what you just saw. She really is authentic and amazing. As you saw and we had a couple really intense nights of uh spelling competition last
week. We held the 2026 Martin County School District in Lilian a Dori Spellingbe. We started off at the elementary level night one. The winner was Jackson Quirros from Bessie Creek. He won it with the word hyperventilated. Um after 10 rounds, runner-ups were Isabelle Johnson from Treasure Coast
Classical Academy and Sheriff Fisk from Seawind Elementary. And at the middle school level, it was Alan Patkin taking home the top honor from Anderson Middle School after 14 rounds with the word lacrosse. Nicholas Thelgis from Hidden Oaks and Logan Olsen Fer also from
Anderson Middle. They were finished up as the runner-ups. Like I said, 14 rounds in. And uh 47 years later, I'm going to say it again. I I was in my own little elementary spelling bee. I think I should have been allowed to advance. I spelled cool with a K. And there was a
reason I did that. And I somebody else said earlier today that the parents were talking about that. They said Kool-Aid. That wasn't exactly where I got the cool from. It was a little bit different from a little habit my grandmother had. But I'm still bitter. Yes, you can see it. And uh but anyway, congratulations to
those guys that won. And anybody else that competed, take a look on the screen. That's everywhere. You can connect with us and get information about this A-rated amazing district. Thank you very much. Sorry for not being Kirsty. >> Thank you very much. And um Mr. Cows,
just so you know, I also was in the spelling be representing Indiantown Middle School as a fifth grader and made it to the county spelling be. It's so exciting. and our very own Amy Pritchette. Um, board member Pritchette was the annunciator
um for the elementary both. So, what a fun day. >> Well, congratulations on your success. I was there about 38 seconds in my be. So, >> Oh, sorry. >> Probably need you more. >> Okay. Uh, next up we have our superintendent update and I'm assuming
Dr. Tracy Miller. >> Are you doing it? >> Yes, I she's doing it. Yes, that is why I did not do the district update. So, good afternoon, Madame Chair, members of the board. I'm Curtis Germaine, coordinator of public information and
community relations, and I'm happy to present you the superintendent's update for this month. On January 29th, the Martin County School District proudly recognized more than a hundred students who earned a perfect score on one or more state
assessments during the 2024 2025 school year. We were proud to honor students from elementary, middle, and high schools across our district during a special ceremony attended by families, school leaders, and district administrators right here in this very room. A perfect score represents true
academic mastery and reflects not only the dedication of our students, but also the strength of instruction in our classrooms and the support of families at home. This achievement reflects the strong academic culture taking place across the Martin County School District each day where students are achieving at
the highest levels and educators helping them reach their full potential. We are incredibly proud of these students and the collective effort that makes these achievements like this possible. The 42nd annual Russell Holloway Track Meet once again brought together our
elementary students for a day of competition, teamwork, and school pride. Even with some unusually cold Florida weather, we all brave that weather that morning. Um, student athletes from across the district compete in running, jumping, and field events, continuing a
long-standing Martin County tradition that celebrates both acetic achievement and sportsmanship. For the fifth consecutive year, Citrus Grove Elementary School earned the title of overall champion, followed by Jensen Beach Elementary in second place, and JD
Parker in third. JD Parker was also awarded the Cheryl Hubard sport Cheryl Hubard sportsmanship trophy recognizing outstanding character and teamwork throughout the event. I know throughout the day uh we heard about the great sportsmanship coming from the JD athlete
JDP athletes like giving high fives and congratulating their other uh competitors on the field. This event reflects the strong sense of community across the Martin County School District where students support one another, represent their schools with pride, and learn lessons that extend far beyond the
field. It's an event they will always look back on seeing fellow students on the field and the stands filled with their families and administrators cheering them on. We are very grateful to our schoolboard members, staff, coaches, volunteers, and families who continue to make this tradition possible
for our students. As en open or as enrollment continues for the 202627 school year, our elementary schools recently welcomed future families during this year's kindergarten kickoff events. With a kindergarten debut theme,
campuses truly rolled out the red carpet, opening their doors to give incoming students and families their their first look at what learning, support, and community feel like in our A-rated district. Families connected with teachers and school leaders, explored classrooms, and began the
transition from VPK and early learning programs into kindergarten, an important first step in a child's educational journey. Participation across our schools was strong, reflecting continued growth in both kindergarten interest and our VPK programs, where enrollment
continues to trend upward and more families are choosing to begin their child's education here in Martin County. These events are more about more are about more than registration. They set the tone for partnership, communication, and customer service from a family's
very first interaction with our district. And tonight, we would like to share a short video featuring Warfield Elementary that gives families a glimpse of what kindergarten looks like inside our schools. >> Welcome to kindergarten.
>> Hello, I'm Miss Ferns and I teach kindergarten at Warfield Elementary. A typical day for a kindergarten student, we welcome them, we greet them every morning. We start off with our community circle and building our classroom family. We'll go over many rules and
expectations. Let's do our classroom family promise. Number one, >> be kind to everyone. >> Of course, we always have our core subjects. We have phonics, reading, math, writing, and science. So, we
learned this is the letter I. And I says I like How can Carlos show the number of leaves he collected? >> We are engaging them all day long with movement, physical movement, singing
songs. Um, with the writing they use, they're using whiteboards with their markers. They have their tile boards with their letters, learning their letters and sounds. We do exclia core five. Onl math and reading.
>> In the beginning of the year, I know students are learning. It's a whole new ball game. Um, but as the year goes on, they will be learning to do a lot of things on their own. We have onetoone laptop devices. So, each student has
their own laptop. They're learning how to log on by themselves. Um, being responsible for their own learning. is also something that they are learning to be as independent learners. Of course, kindergarten students will also
be able to experience. They will go to lunch every day, recess on the playground daily, and go to related arts such as music, [music] >> art, PE, and computer lab.
>> My favorite part of kindergarten is is related arts. We're not just teaching academics with reading and writing and phonics and math. It's also we're teaching about showing empathy and showing kindness and how to be a friend.
>> Thank you for joining us in kindergarten. And of course, as a reminder, enrollment for both VPK and kindergarten is now open, and we encourage families to complete the process through the focus parent portal. You can always find more
uh more information on our website at martinschools.org. And continuing with our open enrollment focus, our three comprehensive high schools are hosting freshman preview nights this month with Jensen Beach High School kicking things off tomorrow evening. These events give incoming nth
grade families the opportunity to explore the many pathways available to our students from specialty programs and rigorous academics to career and technical opportunities as well as the clubs and activities that help students discover their interests and prepare for life after graduation. Freshman preview
nights are open to any family interested in learning more about what our high schools have to offer, regardless of where they live. And while we've highlighted enrollment for VPK and kindergarten tonight, enrollment is open for all grade levels, including our high
schools. Stay tuned as our middle schools will soon be welcoming families for upcoming sixth grade preview events as well. That's all I have for you. Thank you. Okay. Uh board members, are there any questions on the other information only
reports listed? Okay, seeing none, uh we have no board member information share unless there is something any board member wants to share at this time. Okay, we'll go ahead and start public comment. We're a little bit early. Um it'll looks like we'll go
beyond five o'clock. So hopefully everybody will um be here by five if they want to say anything. All right. Citizen input is vital to the improvement of our district. Most times your remarks may be listened to without comment from the board members or
superintendent. This does not mean they are heard with any less intensity or concern. Where appropriate, the superintendent and staff will investigate your comments and report back to you and the board with an answer. We thank you for taking the time and having the concern to make our district better. Your presentation to
the board should not exceed three minutes. Letters or statements from others not present can be given to our clerk who will be sure that each school board member and the superintendent receive a copy. To keep our record straight and authentic, our policy does not permit you to read statements of
others into the record. Um, our first speaker is Carol Anne Kolinsky. Good evening. My name is Caroline Kolinsky. For a total of seven years, I have served the Martin County School District. Currently, I work as athletic secretary at South Fork High School.
Though that title is a gross misrepresentation of my daily duties, I am here to ask each of you, is this district truly committed to compensating employees for the actual value they bring, or are we content with the
revolving door of burnout? For 18 months, I have advocated asking for fair compensation for our district's three athletic secretaries. We are not office workers. We are the engines of the athletic department. On any given day, I
am a travel coordinator for 22 different sports, an accountant managing complex budgets and gate receipts, an event planner and a compliance liaison, a recognition specialist and the primary face of our department. Despite this
relentless scope of work, I am compensated the same as all level four secretaries. My pay is 1686 an hour. This isn't just about me. It's a district-wide failure to value the responsibilities put upon us. As I began
to investigate a lead VPK role, teaching teaching role, I learned this district pays lead VPK teachers only four cents more than the assistant requiring only a high school diploma. This lack of recognition has consequences. If I leave
South Fork, I will be they will be on their eighth athletic secretary in 12 years. That is 150% turnover rate. You cannot build excellence on a foundation of constant instability. Our coaches have taken our current
programs to district, regional, and state championships. This success happens when the administrative pressure is lightened by strong support within the athletic department. If you introduce a new untrained secretary into athletic
department, you are placing an unsustainable burden on our athletic director and the coaches, jeopardizing the momentum of our student athletes. Burnout ripples down. It hurts the students. It hurts the program and it
hurts this district's reputation. I show up every day with energy and pride, but pride does not pay the bills. I am asking for two specific actions. Rename the position to athletic assistant athletic director to reflect the true
professional scope. Adjust the compensation to a fair, livable wage that acknowledges our specialized skills. I want to keep serving South Fork, but I will not do so at the expense of my own worth. I'm asking you to set a new standard of respect and
recognition before my resignation date. Show us we are valued not with words, but with a paycheck. that matches our performance. Thank you. And I did put together booklets that you can tell me where I can leave them for each of you. >> Um, you can >> on the table.
>> Yeah, right here with um >> Thank Thank you. Um, next up is Duncan Herd, followed by Jennifer Powers. >> Good evening. Uh, my name is Duncan Herd. I am the
board chair of the Martin Arts Foundation. And the first thing I want to say to you tonight is thank you. Uh when I assumed the position of board chair a little less than a year and a half ago, I
immediately went to Nancy, our CEO, and then later to the full board, um saying that I was tired of talking about the old Steuart High School project, that it was time to stop talking and to start doing. And I get
the sense that you all feel much the same way. So I want to thank all who have been involved in getting us to this point. To date, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to pro for this
project. Uh much of this has already been spent on engineering studies and preliminary architectural plans. We have a detailed business plan in place and our fundraising goals go beyond the
multi-million dollar renovation of the building and include several years of projected operating expenses after the ribbon is cut. Multiple donors have expressed that they are looking forward to engaging in conversations with us about significant
gifts to help fund this project as soon as we have certainty about the lease terms. Our current estimates for capital investment total over $22 million for the school buildings for their renovation and with
approximately 5 million of that for the first two 1950 building classrooms at the front of the of the of the property. The balance of the campaign will include funds for reserves to fund the initial operating expenses that I just
mentioned, future maintenance and equipment replacement, as well as to um offset the cost of scholarships. We anticipate providing school students and artists, plus professional staffing and furniture fixtures and equipment costs.
And in total, we anticipate a capital campaign with a goal of $30 million. I want to highlight the importance of seeing the result of the appraisal you've recently secured on the land and buildings. [clears throat] Our focus is on purchasing within the
first few years since in our conversations with donors, they are more favorable to supporting the project with a purchase rather than a lease. Uh, so I'm here tonight to encourage you to work through the few remaining questions and clarifications with us so
that we can get this to both of our boards. At this point, it's really down to a few housekeeping items. I want to thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Jennifer Powers, followed by Laura Dervin. >> Good evening. My name is Jennifer Powers
and I have the privilege of serving as vice chair of Martin Arts Foundation. I'm here tonight to express our strong support for finalizing the lease agreement with an option to purchase for the old Steuart High School property. This project carries significant
momentum with within our community. It represents not only the preservation of an important historic landmark, but also the creation of a vibrant arts and cultural center that will serve residents for generations. One of the greatest challenges we faced
in advancing this vision has been the absence of final terms to share with our donors. We are close, very close, but we cannot move forward without your partnership. The ability to speak confidently about the structure of this
agreement is essential to securing the commitments and philanthropic support needed. Importantly, the inclusion of a purchase option has already transformed our conversations with potential supporters in an extremely positive way.
Donors want clarity, certainty, and a long-term plan they can invest in. With your commitment to this agreement, we can finally bring that clarity to the community and begin building the support this project deserves. We we respectfully urge the board to
move toward a timely finalization of the lease and purchase option. Doing so will unlock the opportunity for us to begin securing advanced commitments that will make this transformational project possible. Thank you. Thank you for your time and consideration.
>> Thank you, Laura Dervin. Followed by Ellis Smith. >> Good evening. I'm Laura Deran. I teach digital media at Martin County High School and I am here tonight to um celebrate CTE month. I've brought a few
students with me. You've already heard from um our allstar Adam there. But um CTE has had such a tremendous impact on our students and I want you to hear directly from them. I also want to
take a moment to thank Lana Baros for her continued support and leadership and and the board for supporting CTE. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ella. Smith, followed by Taylor Gibson.
Um, hello Madame Chair, Madame Deputy Superintendent, and members of the board. Today I want to speak about CTE. I would not be the same person I am today without my CT photography class. The ability to express myself creatively has been life-changing, helping me build
meaningful relationships and better understand who I am. It has also opened doors to job opportunities and new experiences, pushing myself outside my comfort zone and connecting with others. That spirit of growth is exactly what organizations like Skills USA and Nths
are all about. Without without Skills USA, I would not have met Taylor over there and I would never have experienced the trip of a lifetime or had the opportunity to attend nationals with support from the district. I am incredibly grateful to Miss Duran and to
the leaders of clubs like of these who invest in CTE and the students like me. My one wish as a graduating senior is to give the same opportunities for those wanting to follow the same path. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Taylor Gibson followed by Devin Katty. Good evening everyone and I want to say thank you to Ella for the shout out. I love meeting you too. Um
uh so my name is Taylor Gibson and I'm an 11th grade student at Martin County High School in the photography program. The moment I realized the program mattered was when I became employed at my school for taking pictures for their events. It truly showed me the impact my
photos had on other people and what I was capable of. One experience that stood out to me was being able to take pictures for the first time at my school's football game. Seeing how happy people were that I was taking pictures of them made me extremely passionate about my program. I did not expect to
learn so much about every aspect of the camera, but with the help of my amazing teacher, I was able to learn so much and really put in what she has taught me into a lot of my work. With my program, I have been able to receive medals from things such as Skills USA and
Scholastics, which I could never have imagined I would be able to do. I was also able to attain my certifications in Adobe and Photoshop. I would never have been able to do all of this if I had not joined this program. Because of this program, I now plan to use photography
as a side job and a hobby in in the future. This will help me become more widespread among people and do what I love. I'd like to thank everyone and Miss Borrows for continuing to support CTE. Overall, CTE gives students skills, confidence, and direction. And because
of programs like this, students like me feel ready for what comes next. Thank you. >> Thank you, Devin. uh Kate followed by Christopher Collins. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Devin Kra and I'm a student at Martin County
High School. I'm in 12th grade. Um my program is digital video technology and it's soon to be the digital media program and this program matters to me less as a place where I can create uh the school news or the short films, but rather where I can surround myself with
individuals that have the same passion as myself. This has opened opportunities that allow me to have friends that push myself to be constantly a better person. By implicating myself into this environment, I've been able to work on my own achievements and goals. I've been
awarded the opportunity to represent Martin County High School and the communications for Pathfinder for the for the Pathfinder scholarship. I've also been able to build up on my confidence by being a school-wise nude schoolwide news anchor to become a better door-to-d dooror salesman for my
own business. I would like to thank everyone for giving me your time and support for CTE programs in our county. Thank you. >> Thank you. And first, I do want to recognize Mayor Chris Collins who is with the city of Stewart. I'm first recognizing him as
one of our local elected officials. Welcome to the Martin County School Board. And now I will introduce Christopher Collins as a member of the public speaking. >> I'm not used to being on a timer, so this is going to be [clears throat] hard here. Um, first of all, good evening,
chair, vice chair, board members. Thank you for public comment. I wasn't sure if item eight, which is what I actually wanted to talk about, if this was the appropriate time or to wait for item eight. I don't know procedurally how you guys >> 1808. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Is now the time or should I wait? Now's
>> the time. Fantastic. Okay. So, I'll be quick. Uh there there exists within the city a unique opportunity with the halfsent sales tax. Uh I am here as one of five. I'm not representing the board as a whole, but where you all are at
with that property, um with the leases, I'll cut to the chase. Uh at least as one of five, I want to buy that property and I want to make it a park. I don't know if you are about to sign a long-term lease with Martin Arts, but my
goal if there was any interest in selling this property because we have quite a bit of money to invest into park space, um environmental conservation, infrastructure, these kinds of things. uh if you were so interested in going
potentially in this direction would be not signing a long-term lease and potentially discussing this with uh city staff and I would bring this up at our next meeting because we just so happened to uh by the grace of God be discussing what we want to spend our millions of
dollars on um in the next couple of meetings. So, I wanted to offer up an opportunity if it pleased the board, if it, you know, I'm not exactly sure how to navigate this, but I wanted to at least signal some interest from me as
one of five and potentially at our next board meeting. Uh, when I bring it up, there could be interest from our board to purchase this property. So, I'm not going to be answering any questions, right, because it's public comment. But, u I'll be communicating uh
with Mr. Maine and hopefully hearing how you all feel about this and if there is interest, but my one ask would be to please not sign a long-term lease right now uh as that may create a hiccup. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys for everything you're
doing. It's a long day and I appreciate your your resilience. So, good to see you again. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Okay. That um that wraps up public comment. We are moving on to our actiononly items. Um item 4.01 which was pulled
from the consent agenda. Miss Roberts. >> Thank you. Um Carter, I'm looking specifically in the general fund under 5,000-600. the capital outlay adjustment for 66
something thousand which your budget note says that you adjusted the workforce development capital grant budget to match the actual award letter. So, and I think that corresponds back to 3316 as a revenue source, but when you're
reducing the expense, I didn't see you reducing the revenue. So, if you can at some point um just give us the rollouts for those two strips, I think that would give us the information that we would need for that. Thank you. And I'll move approval of 4.01.
>> Second. >> Have a motion by Miss Roberts, a second by Dr. Morardi. Are all those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 4.04. Uh Miss Roberts.
>> 4.04. 04. Um, hang on. Yeah, 4.04. The surplus property I'm seeing um a Ford F550 walk-in van that we purchased in 2019
for $70,000 that's now obsolete. Yes, ma'am. Um the item was acquired in 2019 as noted on the agenda item. Um page 43 of our caffer um lays out our depreciation
schedule which is straight line between five and and and seven 10 years. This vehicle has been in service for seven years. But we do have um other operational issues uh with with the vehicle at this point um that the vehicle has actually been sitting there
for almost a year and um our intent at this point is to um have the board declared surplus. We will be able to put that online to our auction website with a reserve. um don't want to say what the reserve publicly is, but it would be close to similar to what we what we
acquired it for, but there are several operational issues with the vehicle at this time that makes it obsolete. >> And who what department was this van assigned to? >> So, this was assigned to the the um purchasing department and then we tried to um donate it, if you will, to other
departments which could not use it. Um the chassis especially on the vehicle cannot hold the weight especially for large deliveries. So the vehicle at this time is is not operation not efficient enough for the operations for what we need it for. >> Okay. Um, just so I just want to state
that if we're purchasing a $70,000 vehicle, um, at some point in time, I think we need to look into that better because I think it should be able to get more than seven years of of use and then be getting rid of it. I mean, so just as
just so, you know, as as we're pushing forward other vehicles, etc., which would be in the capital budget if you could be sure that you give us more information about those items rather than less so that this doesn't happen again. >> Yes, ma'am. We'll do. >> Thank you. I'll move a >> second.
>> I have a motion by Miss Roberts, a second by Dr. Morardi. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 9.02 um which was our minutes of our last board meeting. Dr. Morardi.
>> Item 9.02 2, our January 26th regular school board meeting. I was looking through the minutes, page six of nine. Uh there's a motion on 18.02 to it says to remove the portables and restore the
parking lot area. I believe when we discussed this and I went back and looked at the video that basically the motion was just to remove the portables and then we would come back and look about what we're going to do with the parking lot area. Um, so I think that
just needs to be amended to just say to remove the portables, unless there's something else we wanted to add in there. >> Yeah, I I I just recall that it was um when we say restore, meaning moving the portables restores that parking that's
underneath it. Um, but we were going to come back with so I that's fine to clarify it without because the the cost of the whole repaving, redoing, reworking was going to come back to us. So, >> right. So, >> so I think it could be confusing. >> Right. So, if we could just clean that
up and just take out and restore the parking lot area and we'll bring that back. Um, and then I would move approval uh 9.02 with that change. >> I'll second your uh motion to approve 9.02 with the change on that item 1802.
>> Have a motion by Dr. Moriardia, second by Miss Roberts. All those in favor? I I >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Okay, moving on. Item 18.01. There is no schoolboard travel to approve. 18.02 is the staffing plan. Are there any
questions from the board on the this item? Seeing none, do I have a motion? >> Motion to approve 18.02. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Miss Pritchette, a second by Miss Russell. All those in favor? >> I.
>> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.03, which is requis excuse me, requisitions to be approved for purchase orders over a 100,000. Are there any questions from the board? >> Second. >> I have a motion by Miss Roberts, a
second by Miss Pritchette. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.04 is an amendment to our 2526 code of student conduct. Are there any questions on the board?
>> Move approval of the amendment? >> Second. >> Have a motion by Miss Roberts, a second by Miss Pritchette. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.05, which is approval of recommended award
of invitation to bid number 300012627, gym acoustical enhancement project at Jensen Beach High School and Martin County High School. Are there any questions? I have a question. Um, just to clarify, so this this will not be taken care of before the graduation. Is
that correct? >> That's correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> A motion. Do we have I'll move approval? >> Second. >> Have a motion by Miss Roberts, a second by Miss Pritchette. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.06
06 is a employee termination um in it ID number 30004593. Are there any questions for our attorney? If if you have a question, it should be directed to our attorney is what I'm
saying. But okay. Do I have a motion? >> I I have a question. Okay. >> I don't have anything except this one page. all that I have. Dr. Miller, do you have the ability to talk to Mrs. Roberts regarding this issue?
>> Well, I know Miss Richardson here. So, if we need to take a quick break um because this is not something that we would talk about. >> Sure. I'm just I I just don't have any. >> So, let's um let's take a five minute break and get your questions answered and you're comfortable and then
>> Thank you. Okay, we are going to resume our meeting. Um, item 18.06. Um I have a motion by Miss Roberts, a second by Miss Pritchette. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed?
Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.07 is the MCA Millage memorandum of understanding. I just want to say a quick thank you for um to the union and their leadership and Kelly Coleman that we have we very promptly reached a an
agreement on how those millage funds will be um spent and we're very um I think the bore I can speak for the board in saying that the collaboration and sitting together was really a breath of fresh air and we're really appreciative
of the union and their collaboration on getting this and getting the this result very quickly. So, do I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Miss Russell, a second by Dr. Morardi. All those in
favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.08 is the Art Foundation's second request to extend the 30-day lease execution period.
Do I have any questions or comments about the request, >> Miss Pritchette? >> Um, I'm happy to extend the lease, but I would like to know what the value of the property is before we enter into any binding agreement.
>> Yeah, this is um what we're voting on today is simply an extension of the negotiation period. essentially um the the actual lease once it's finalized will come back to the board for approval. Um I still have some concerns
with some of the language that is in the lease and that's not in the lease. So I think we need to work that out between now and um whenever however much time we're going to have you know if we're going to approve any of that time. So
that >> then I'll make a motion toend Okay. Any discussion? Okay. I have a motion by Miss Bridgetette, a second by Miss Roberts. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously.
Thank you. Okay. Um this is we're moving on to our public hearing of our uh policies. I will first um ask if there's anyone from the public who would like to comment on any of the policies. Items
20.01 01 through 20.18. Okay, seeing none, um are there any school board member questions on any of these policies? This is our final hearing on these. These will be adopted once we vote on
them. Um so the pleasure of the board if we take them each one by one or if you would like to approve them at one time. if you could read the numbers into the record with the description. >> Okay. >> The following um policies
are being recommended for approval. Uh 0155 committees 1121.01 3121.014121.01 background screening and employment history checks. 1213 3213 4213 Student Supervision and
Welfare 2125 School Advisory Councils for School Improvement and Accountability. 2423 Career Tech Career and Technical Education Workbased Opportunities. This is a new policy.
3139 Educator Misconduct. 3430.03 03 sick leave, also known as compassionate leave. Policy 5136, wireless communication devices. 5223
absences for religious instruction. 5410.01 promotion, acceleration, placement, and retention. 6105 Authorization to use faximile signature.
6661 Purchase of Instructional Materials. 7540.02 Web Content Apps and Services. 8452 Automated External Defi DefiLills.
8462 Student Abuse, Abandonment, and Neglect. 8470 Registered Sexual Predators and Sex Offenders. 8475 criminal background screening for
contractor access and 92000 volunteers. Move approval. >> I have a motion to approve items 20.01 through 20.08 by Miss Roberts, a second by Miss
Pritchette. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Alrighty, we're moving along. is open to the board. Do you guys have anything, Miss Roberts? I want to congratulate all the perfect
score recipients and also those that participated in the elementary and middle school spelling bees. Thank the families, students um and administrators who participated in the Russell Holloway track meet. Thank you to for the arts council for including so many students in Artsfest.
And I would also extend appreciation to the energy and enthusiasm at JD Parker for their kindergarten openhouse. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well, Miss Pitchett, Dr. Morardi. >> Couple things. Um, I want to commend the
city of Stewart, uh, the county, Indiantown, and the school district for a great joint meeting this morning. Uh I feel like probably for the first time in a while that we really started to get some things done and have some good lively discussion. So um I was
questioning the value of those meetings even though they're in statute, but uh I was pleasantly surprised at um a very well-run meeting and um a lot of good discussion back and forth. In particular, we've talked here about um
putting a school zone in at Citrus Grove Elementary, and it was great to hear that the the county was going to take that up on a future agenda. So, uh good meeting there. Um the Reach Center, there is a new hub for
adult education and aviation called the Reach Center, which stands for reimagining education and career help. I was able to tour this facility with the superintendent um just a week or two ago and I was incredibly impressed at this
facility and um what it could do for pathways for young adults and um I would encourage uh the district staff to get to know more about the facility and see if this is something that the school district can um be a partner in because I think
it would be a great great spot for us. And finally, um, there was an athletic secretary that gave public comment earlier, and I don't really know all the details of that, but I was wondering if we could get some more clarification on
what that was because she seemed to have a very passionate plea and made some excellent points, and I'd like to know more about that and see if uh there's anything we could do with the district. Thanks so much. Oh, um I know that uh Superintendent
Maine did send an email about specifically about that issue and um it is something that we have to negotiate with the with the union that that position is a member of our ask me union. Um so it's not until ask me
through bargaining um presents something we don't really have anything to act on. So that would have to come out come to fruition through the negotiation process. And I don't know if the union has been notified or not. Um Mr. Raymond, I don't know if you can weigh
in on that, if the union is aware of this or if they're going to take this up. >> Sure. Um thus far, the union has not brought it to our attention. Um but we are still negotiating with ASME for the current contract year, so we'll be prepared to speak to it and then I can
provide um Dr. Morardi with some compensation data. um information. I see there's some in this packet, but there's also comps when we look at our neighbors in our various school districts. Um and also taking into account number of days work and things of that nature. So um I
will follow up. >> Thank you. And um I I thought we had a a decent discussion today about the safety at Citrus Grove Elementary, but one of the things I think we also need to discuss
as across all the municipalities is ebikes. I know we brought that up. We were talking about our policy. I would really like to hear in the future from our sheriff and from our local other local law enforcement, the um city of
Stewart chief to see what how they feel, what they're doing, how we can augment um what they're trying to uh accomplish within their jur jurisdictions and if there's something as we set our policy regarding ebikes, what that looks like
to make sure that it's um you know consistent with what they're trying to do in the communities that they serve. Miss Roberts, >> I think that's scheduled for the March workshop. Is that correct? >> Um, and I know that um I have spoken to
Terry Harmon about it who's doing some research, too. >> Okay, seeing no more business before this board, this meeting is adjourned.