--------- GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE WORKSHOP, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY CLOSED DOOR EXECUTIVE AND RISK MANAGEMENT SESSIONS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THOSE CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS, THE BOARD WILL RETURN TO THE BOARD ROOM FOR A 4:35 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING
FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY LEASING CORPORATION AND THE 5 P.M. REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I WILL NOW CALL THE WORKSHOP TO ORDER AT 2 PP. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> DISTRICT 1 MATTHEW LANE. >> PRESENT. >> DISTRICT 2 VIRGINIA SAVIETTO. >> HERE. >> DISSTRICT 3 KAREN BRILL. >> HERE.
>> DISTRICT 4, ERICA WHITFIELD. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 5, GLORIA BRANCH. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 6, MARCIA ANDREWS. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 7, EDWIN FERGUSON. >> HERE. >> ALSO JOINING US IS SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL BUCIALG, GENERAL COUNSEL SEAN BERNARD, INSPECTOR GENERAL THERESA MICHAEL AND BOARD CLERK TONY SINCLAIR.
SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS WILL JOIN US PERIODICALLY AS DIRECTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT. I'LL NOW TURN THE MEETING OVER TO Mr. SUPERINTENDENT. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO START WITH A PREPARED STATEMENT. TODAY I'M PRESENTING 10 ITEMS FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION TO
ADOPT, REPEAL OR MODIFY BOARD POLICY. I'M RECOMMENDING EMERGENCY BOARD ACTION DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER DUE TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE POSED TO THE PUBLIC AND SIGNIFICANT FISCAL IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT THAT THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH
INTERPRETATION OF TITLE VI IN THE STUDENTS V HARVARD SUPREME COURT CASE. ON APRIL 10, 2025 I RECEIVED A DIRECTIVE FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE VI IN THE ASSURANCES OUTLINED IN THEIR COMMUNICATION. AND IS THAT WAS DUE BY APRIL 18,
2025. THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO AND COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS BASED ON THE MANDATED ASSURANCES. WE REVIEWED BOARD POLICIES TO ASSURE ALIGNMENT WITH LEGAL COMPLIANCE PRIOR TO MY FORMAL
CERTIFICATION ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. OUR REVIEWED POLICIES THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CONFERS AN ADVANTAGE OR IMPOSES A DISADVANTAGE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS-- ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASED
ON RACE, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. WE FACTOR IN THE CHARACTERISTICS WHEN ALLOCATING FINE IT RESOURCES THAT MAY BE VIEWED AS A MISALIGNMENT UNDER THE CURRENT FEDERAL INTERPRETATION. THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF A APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION IN
FEDERAL FUNDING WOULD HAVE AN IMMEDIATE AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET. JEOPARDIZING OUR ABILITY TO TRULY FULFILL OUR MISSION OF EDUCATING, AFFIRMING AND INSPIRING THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF STUDENT EDUCATION, SCHOOL OPERATIONS, THE PAYMENT OF EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND
MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, OUR TEAM HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO CONDUCT CONSISTENT AND FORMALIZED REVIEWS OF BOARD POLICY. THIS COMMITMENT IS REFLECTED IN THE INCREASED VOLUME OF POLICIES BROUGHT FORWARD FOR REVISION AND CONSIDERATION. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT BOARD
POLICIES REMAIN ALIGNED WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, AS WELL AS WITH OUR DISTRICT'S OWN PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. WE WILL CONTINUE THIS WORK AS WE MONITOR THE EVOLVING MANDATES AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES. AS WE NAVIGATE EVOLVING LEGAL
AND POLICY LANDSCAPES, OUR CORE COMMITMENT REMAINS UNCHANGED, TO EMPOWER ALL STUDENTS AND TO EDUCATE ALL STUDENTS ENSURING EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY, A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHIEF OF STAFF MISS JAMIE WYATT WHO WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE PROPOSED UPDATES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BURKE. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT STATED, EACH OF THESE POLICIES IS BEING PROPOSED FOR REVISION TO ALIGN OUR POLICIES WITH THE CURRENT
FEDERAL INTERPRETATION OF TITLE VI AND THE STUDENTS PREFERRED ADMISSIONS DECISION. SPECIFICALLY ELIMINATING LANGUAGE THAT PROVIDES AN ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE OVER ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER BASED UPON RACE, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL
ORIGIN. POLICY 1.04 UNITARY SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE PROPOSE STRIKING THE LINES 28-33 WHICH DATABASING TATE STUDENT TRANSFER BASED UPON RACE ANDETH NIS-- AND ETHNICITY.
POLICY 1.091, AUDIT COMMITTEE, HERE WE PROPOSE TO STRIKE LINES 151 THROUGH 152 WHICH ENCOURAGES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO APPOINT NOMINEES BASED UPON RACE AND ETHICKITY. -- ETHNICITY.
POLICY 3.05, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. FOR THIS POLICY, WE PROPOSED TO STRIKE LINES 11-12, LINES 34-39, LINES 53-60, WHICH ADDRESSES EMPLOYMENT EFFORTS BASED UPON RACE, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL
ORIGIN. I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT ON THIS SLIDE.
POLICY 5.0155 STUDENT REASSIGNMENT, PROPOSE THE CHANGES TO THIS POLICY ARE ON STRIKE LINES 90-92, LINE 118, LINES 124-126 LANGUAGE IN THIS POLICY IS THE SIMILAR TO THE
POLICY IN 104 AND ADDRESSES STUDENT TRANSFER BASED UPON RAITH AND ETHNICITY. POLICY 5.016 CHOICE PROCEDURES MANUAL. WE PROPOSE STRIKING LINES
943-945, WHICH PRIORITIZES THE PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL CHOICE-- SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS BASED UPON ETHNICITY. POLICY 5.60, ELIGIBILITY FOR
PARTICIPATION IN K-12 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. FOR THIS POLICY WE RECOMMEND STRIKING LINES 38-39, WHICH DIRECTS PRINCIPALS TO SELECT FACULTY ADVISERS AND STAFF BASED UPON RACE AND ETHNIC
COMPOSITION. POLICY 6.142 DIVERSITY AND BUSINESS PRACTICE, WHICH IS LISTED ON THIS SLIDE AND POLICY 6.143, DIVERSITY AND EQUITABLE UTILIZATION IN BUSINESS. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ON THE NEXT
SLIDE AND THESE POLICIES ARE INTERRELATED AND BEING RECOMMENDED FOR REPEAL DUE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCUREMENT PROTOCOLS AND BENEFITS BASED UPON RACE AND ETHNICITY. AND AGAIN, THIS IS POLICY 6.143
WHICH WAS REFERENCED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR REPEAL. REPLACING THOSE TWO PRIOR POLICIES, WE PROPOSE THE ADOPTION OF POLICY 6.134, SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM, AND THIS IS A NEW POLICY THAT
CODIFIES THE DISTRICT'S SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM, THUS EMPHASIZING ENHANCED OUTREACH AND EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN DISTRICT PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT
PROCESSES. LASTLY POLICY 7.081, NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT. WE RECOMMEND STRIKING LINES 7-9 OF THIS POLICY, WHICH AGAIN ADDRESSES EMPLOYMENT EFFORTS BASED UPON RACE AND KNICK
ETHNICITY. UPON ADOPTION OF REPEAL THESE EMERGENCY POLICIES WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE EFFECT AND REMAIN IN PLACE FOR 90 DAYS AND DURING THIS TIME, THE DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE ITS POLICY REVIEW AND WILL BRING FORWARD PROPOSED REVISIONS TO POLICIES FOR BOARD ACTION THROUGH OUR REGULAR RULE MAKING PROCESS.
AND WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED POLICY REVISIONS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANYBODY. Ms. SAVIETTO. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE
SLIDE THAT SAYS NEW POLICY 6.1434. >> YES. >> Virginia Savietto: IT SAYS QUALIFIED. CAN YOU PUT THAT SLIDE BACK UP? QUALIFIED-- BALL FIED NEW BUSINESSES? -- QUALIFIED SMALL BUSINESS?
WHAT DOES-- WHAT DOES QUALIFIED -- WHAT DOES QUALIFY A BUSINESS? >> SOY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN AN SBA PROGRAM, THE BUSINESS HAS TO BE CERTIFIED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS BY QUALIFIED. >> ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES CAN
GET QUALIFIED IF THEY FOLLOW STEPS. >> CERTIFICATION. >> Virginia Savietto: NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM OR IF THEY'RE MINORITY. DOESN'T MATTER. THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE TREATED EQUALLY. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> Virginia Savietto: THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: I DON'T SEE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH. ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. I HOPE THE REST OF THE EVENING GOES AS QUICKLY. SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO EXIT THE BOARD ROOM. THE BOARD WILL LEAVE THE BOARD
ROOM TO ATTEND THE CLOSED DOOR Part: 2
>> Karen Brill: GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I WILL NOW CALL THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M. WE STILL HAVE A QUORUM WITH SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT. JOINING US IS SUPERINTENDENT
MICHAEL BURKE, TONY SINCLAIR AND STUDENT COUNTY PRESIDENT ISABELLA MIRISOLA. SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS WILL JOIN US PERIODICALLY AS DIRECTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT. TONIGHT, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL COUGAR
CHORUS. EVERYONE WHO IS ABLE TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL BURKE.
♪O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT♪ ♪WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING♪
♪WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT♪ ♪O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED, WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING♪
♪AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR♪ ♪GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE♪
♪O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE♪ ♪O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND
THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪. [APPLAUSE]
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.
>> Karen Brill: VIEWERS AND LISTENERS CAN ACCESS THE MEETING BY WATCH ONGOING COMCAST CHANNELS 234 AND 235, U VERSE CHANNEL 99 OR THE LINK ON OUR WEB PAGE AT PALM BEACH SCHOOLS.ORG.
IN THE EVENT THE LINK IS INTERRUPTED SWITCH TO THE TV CHANNELS. ALL BOARD MEETINGS ARE RECORDING AND POSTED ON THE WEBSITE IN 24 HOURS. AND WE OFFER A LISTENING ONLY OPTION WHICH THE PUBLIC CAN
ACCESS BY CALLING. OR TOLL FREE... THE MEETING ID IS 1561, 8801124 POUND.
BOARD MEMBERS WE HAVE FOUR SETS OF MINUTES ON OUR AGENDA TO APPROVE. I WILL TAKE A MOTION. MOTION BY MS. WHITFIELD AND SECOND BY MS. BRANCH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS I HAVE SEVERAL
ITEMS TO ADD FOR GOOD CAUSE. FIRST, I HAVE P2, THE JOB DESCRIPTION, GOOD CAUSE EXISTS FOR ADDING THIS ITEM AS BOARD ACTION IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE PROPOSED JOB DESCRIPTION ALIGNS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL DIRECTIVES.
THIS ALIGNMENT IS ESSENTIALLY TO REFLECT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION AND TO MITIGATE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS THAT COULD RESULT FROM POTENTIAL FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE DIRECTIVES. ALSO I'M ADDING P3, THE PERSONNEL ADDENDUM.
GOOD CAUSE EXISTS FOR ADDING THIS ITEM SO EMPLOYEES CAN BEGIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AND I AM ADDING POL-COS ITEMS 1-10 GOOD CAUSE EXISTS DUE TO
THE SIGNIFIES CAL IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE FEDERAL INTEMPTATION OF TITLE 6 AND THE STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS VERSUS HARVARD CASE. THE SUPERINTENDENT FINDS THERE IS A NEED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC, HEALTH, SAFETY AND OR WELFARE
FOR THE REASONS STATED IN THE BOARD REPORT ON THIS ITEM. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT, DO YOU HAVE ITEMS TO WITHDRAW. >> Mike Burke: NO, MADAM CHAIR. >> Karen Brill: WE HAVE ONE ITEM PULLED AAO1, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE AN ITEM TO PULL? Mr. LANE?
>> >> Matthew Lane: I'M GOING TO PULL BRD2. >> Karen Brill: LET'S GIVE THE BOARD CLERK A MOMENT AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO REFRESH AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE -- NO. BEFORE I TAKE THE MOTION.
I DO WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT AS WELL. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE EARTH DAY PROJECT PROCLAMATION AND CONSIDERING TOMORROW IS A SCHOOL DAY AND THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE HOMEWORK AND OR EXAMS I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
FOR A MOTION TO REORDER THE AGENDA TO ALLOW THE STUDENT PUBLIC COMMENTS RELATED TO COM10 EARTH DAY PROCLAMATION TO BE HEARD BEFORE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. MOTION BY Mr. FERGUSON. AND SECONDED BY VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MS. WHITFIELD I UNDERSTAND YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AS WELL. >> A MOTION TO REORDER THE AGENDA OOC GARDENS OF HOPE AWARENESS DAY TO BE READ AND
VOTED ON AFTER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE GUESTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE IT. >> Karen Brill: MOTION BY MS. WHITFIELD, ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THAT ISING IF TO BRING US TO DISCLOSURES AND AN SENNIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY? SEEING NONE. OKAY. THAT IS GOING TO MOVE US NOW RIGHT INTO THE STUDENTS WHO I'VE ALREADY ASKED I WILL BE CALLING THEM BY THEIR FIRST NAMES AND STUDENTS WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE STATE YOUR NAME BECAUSE I AM NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO EMBARRASS YOU WITH MY PRONOUNCATION. I WILL START OFF WITH LILA, FOLLOWED BY AVA. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME UP TO
THE MICROPHONE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON I'M LILA TUBS I AM AN OITDTH GRADE STUDENT AND A MEMBER OF MY SCHOOL'S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CLUB. AS A STUDENT WHO SPENDS TIME IN
MY SCHOOL CAFETERIA I'VE NOTICED FOOD GOING TO WASTE. AN OPEN JUICE AND MILLION CARTONS ARE DISCARDED AND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF FOOD IS THROWN AWAY AS WELL. FOOD WASTE IMPACTS OUR EARTH IT DEPLETES OUR RESOURCES AND
CONTRIBUTES TO THE SURPLUS OF GREENHOUSE GASES AND IT CAN CAUSE ENVIRONMENTAL I AM PACKAGELESS. IMPACTS. THE FOOD GENERATES 32.6 MILLION CARS WORTH OF GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS. WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO RECTIFY
THIS ISSUE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COMBAT THIS DISASTER. THE REALITY IS THAT NOT ALL SCHOOLS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY ARE DOING THIS. THERE ARE GREAT DEAL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR US TO MAKE A IMPACT OF THIS FOOD WASTE I
WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE IDEA FOR ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY SHARE TABLES ARE ABLE TO PLACE MEALS ON A TABLE, ALLOWING OTHER STUDENTS TO GRAB WHEN DESIRED. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEERS AS WELL.
MANY SCHOOLS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY USE THESE SHARE TABLES WHICH PROVIDES OTHER MODELS TO FOLLOW. AS FOR CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY OR THE OR KES ADMINISTRATION OF THIS INITIATIVE, THE USDA'S IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM AND PROVIDED HEALTH GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR SCHOOLS
CONSIDERING ITS IMPLEMENTATION. SHARE TABLES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS. NEW JERSEY SAVED 12 POUNDS PER DAY. BY THE END OF THAT SCHOOL YEAR THEY PREVENTED THE WASTE OF 100,000 POUNDS OF FOOD.
CONSIDERING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS 13% THE SIZE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY THE AMOUNT WE COULD SAVE IS ASTRONOMICAL. WITH THIS IN MIND I URGE YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TABLES CAN MEAN FOR THE DISTRICT. THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO INTRODUCE A POLICY THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO DO THIS.
IT'S BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. IN AN HONOR TO SHOW HOW AWARE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IS CONSIDER MAKING SHARE TABLES A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. EFFECTS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. THANK YOU.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> HELLO. MY NAME IS AVA AND I ATTEND JUNE PER COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENTLY I SERVE AS A MEMBER OF
JUPITER'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ACADEMY WITH THE LEAD POSITION IN MY GREEN TEAM AND PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDENT CLIMATE CHANGE GROUP. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AN INCIDENT I OBSERVED DURING LUNCHTIME THROUGHOUT MY SOPHOMORE YEAR. EACH DAY AT 12:48PM THE BELL
RINGS AS HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS GATHER IN THE LUNCH ROOM I WITNESS RECYCLABLE MATERIALS BEING DISCARDED INTO GRAY NONRENEWABLE WASTE BINS. THIS LEADS ME TO WONDER, DO THE STUDENTS KNOW WHERE THEIR TRASH IS SUPPOSED TO GO? WHILE THE SCHOOL'S EQUIPPED WITH
OPTIONS MANY STUDENTS SEEM UNABLE TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY WHICH TRASH GOES IN WHICH BIN. ACCORDING TO RECYCLE COACH, ONLY 18% OF STUDENTS FELT THEY HAD A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT OF RECYCLING. EDUCATION IS A SHORT-TERM FIX TO
THIS ISSUE. WITH THE STRONG EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE BASICS OF RECYCLING RENEWABLES CAN BE CONSERVED FOR SOMETIME. THEREFORE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO PICK WHETHER THEIR PAPER ON JUICE BOX GETS THROWN INTO THE GRAY, BLUE, GREEN OR YELLOW CONTAINER. HOWEVER AWARENESS IS THE ROOT OF
THE PROBLEM. BY ENSURING STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR EFFORTS AND THE PRACTICE OF RECYCLING THEY MAY BECOME MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS OF THEIR ACTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, A STUDENT WHO KNOWS WHY AND HOW TO RECYCLE MAY START THINK BEING CREATING A COMPOST
BIN OR ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO RECYCLE. AWARENESS CREATES A SENSE OF MORALITY FOR A STUDENT AND GIVES THEM A PURPOSE TO BEAUTY TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY. THEREFORE REQUIRING ALL SCHOOLS TO COMPLY WITH THE RECYCLING SYSTEM.
WITH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS IN MIND, PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS CAN TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FOLLOW SUIT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE ALEXA AND FIN. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M ALEXA AND A STUDENT AT PALM BEACH COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.
IN ADDITION TO BEING PRESIDENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HONOR SOCIETY I AM A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT CLIMATE COALITION. EVERYDAY MILLIONS OF SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD USE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS FOR SERVING FOOD IN THE CAFETERIA FROM PLASTIC FORKS TO
SPOONS AND STRAWS TO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES AND WRAPPERS. THIS FEEDS INTO THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF PLASTIC. BEING A NON-BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL ANY PLASTIC YOU MAY USE TODAY CAN LINGER ON OUR EARTH FOR CENTURIES BEFORE IT BEGINS
TO BREAKDOWN THIS COULD MEAN IN LANDFILLS, OCEANS, FORESTS, ROADS YOU NAME IT. PLASTIC IS EVERYWHERE. THROUGH ACE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ACE MARINE THE ISSUE OF PLASTIC WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I SAW THIS IN MY DAILY LIFE THAT I COULD GRASP OF
SEVERITY OF PLASTICS EFFECTS ON THE WORLD. I STARTED OBSERVING IN PLACES WE GO DAILY FROM STREETS, SHOPPING PLAZA, SCHOOLS ANYWHERE. IF YOU STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND, YOU WILL SEE AT LEAST ONE PIECE OF PLASTIC LITTER A DAY AND THIS DOES A ACCOUNT FOR
THE PLASTICS WE CANNOT SEE IN LANDFILLS OR FORMS OF PLASTICS LIKE MICRO PLASTICS. THEY ARE PLASTICS LESS THAN FOIL MILLIMETRES AND ARE BROKEN DOWN BY UV RAYS. DESPITE THEIR SIZE THE PLASTICS HAVE A HUGE EFFECT ON OUR
ENVIRONMENT ESPECIALLY IN OUR OCEANS MAVMENT REASON LIFE CONSUMES THE PROJECTS THROUGH ACCUMULATION THESE MICRO PLASTICS CAN END UP IN THE TOOD WE EAT. BUT FOR SOME REASON WE STILL CHOOSE TO FEED INTO THIS PLASTIC USAGE.
THIS IS A BIG REASON I STRIVE TO BE AN PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR MOTHER NATURE GIVING HER A VOICE TO SHOW THE WORLD SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. EVERYTHING STARTS SOMEWHERE I JOINED THE ENVIRONMENTAL HONOR SOCIETY AND PARTICIPATED IN BEACH CLEAN UPS AND RECYCLING
EVENTS TO REDUCE THE LITTER. ONCE I HAD THE HONOR BEING CHOSEN AS PRESIDENT OF THE HONOR SOCIETY IT LED ME TO APPLY FOR A SPOT ON THE STUDENT CLIMATE COALITION TEAM AND TOOK ADVOCACY THROUGH OUR E MAGAZINE.
I'M PUSHING TO REDUCE THE SCHOOL USAGE IN CAFETERIAS. THE AMOUNT CAN BE CONSIDERED EXCESSIVE. WE LIMIT THIS WE CAN DO OUR PART AND MAKING SCHOOLS MORE ECOFRIENDLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLACE FOR OUR
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. >> HELLO. I'M FIN BUTLER I'M 14 YEARS OLD IN EIGHTH GRADER AT THE CONSERVATORY SCHOOL AND MEMBER OF OUR SCHOOL'S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CLUB.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE SCHOOL STOP USING STYROFOAM IN SCHOOL LUNCHES IT IS INFAMOUS FOR BEING BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. IT WILL NEVER DECOMPOSE AND FIND ITS WAY INTO THE OCEAN. PAPER CAN DECOMMON POSE IN THREE
TO SIX WEEKS AND CARDBOARD AROUND A YEAR. IT SEEMS LIKE A LONGTIME IT STILL DECOMMON POSES. UNDER OPTIONS STYROFOAM WILL NOT TRULY BREAKDOWN IT'S BAD FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND US. A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE AGENCY
FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY SHOWS BEING EXPOSED TO STYRENE, THE INGREDIENT IN STYROFOAM CAN USE NEWER ROW SYSTEM EFFECTS INCLUDING FEELING DRUNK, TIRED AND OFF BALANCE.
OTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND THE NATIONAL TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM, THE STYRENE IS A HUMAN CARCINOGEN OR AN ITEM THAT CAN CAUSE CANCER. YOU THINK IT WOULD ELICIT A RESPONSE BUT IT SEEMS NOT. A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS USE
STYROFOAM EVERYDAY. WHEN FOOD IS SERVED ON STYROFOAM TRAYS THE STYRENE CAN SEEP INTO THE FOOD. THE FOOD CAN BECOME A MAJOR HEALTH ISSUE IN A LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME. ONE REASON STYROFOAM IS USED IT'S CHEAP TO MAKE AND BUY BUT
WHAT IS NOT CHEAP ARE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING THE PROBLEMS IT CREATES. WE NEED TO STOP USING STYROFOAM IN SCHOOL LUNCHES THE KIDS ARE THE SAME KIDS SUFFERING THE EFFECTS FROM THIS PRODUCT. WE CAN SOLVE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM
TOGETHER BY SWITCHING TO A COMPOSTABLE TRAY IN SCHOOL LUNCHES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. SO NOW I'LL CALL THE FINAL THREE STUDENTS.
ALEX AN DROSS, DEBRA AND GLADYS. >> HELLO. I AM A SENIOR AT SUNCOAST COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL AND PRESIDENT IN MY SCHOOL'S CLIMATE ACTION CLUB AND I ASSOCIATE WITH
THE CLIMATE COALITION AND I'M HERE TO EXPLAIN FOOD WASTE AND INSECURITY PROBLEMS IN PALM BEACH. EVERY SINGLE DAY I GO TO MY FRIENDS IN THE CAFETERIA IN OUR SCHOOL AND THEN WE PICK OUT OUR SCHOOL LUNCH. FOR EXAMPLE I WANT A FULL MEAL AND ONE FRIEND THAT DOES NOT
WANT A FULL MEAL AND WANTS AN APPLE OR A SINGLE ORANGE JUICE BOX THEY GET THE DRINKS AND THEY GET THE MEAL AND THEY CHECK OUT BUT THEY THROW AWAY ALL THE FOOD. IT IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE ALL THE FOOD WASTE THAT IS THROWN AWAY AND THEN WASTED WHILE IT
CAN BE USED TO ULTIMATELY FEED THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ABOUT 2.4 BILLION BILLION PEOPLE ARE FOOD INSECURE AND TO SEE THAT ASSAULT AND BATTERY ASSAULT AND BATTERY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE WASTING THIS MUCH FOOD IS
DISHEARTENING I PROPOSE A FOOD PANTRY WHERE STUDENTS CAN DONATE AND DROP-OFF FOOD THAT THEY DO NOT EAT SUCH AS APPLES, OR ANY PACKAGED ITEM THAT IS FOOD SAFE AND IS NOT CONTAMINATED PIE ANY
GERMS. THANK YOU. BY ANY GERMS. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD EVENING I'M DEBRA. >> I'M GLADYS.
>> WE ARE SEVENTH GRADERS AT TCS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR CONCERNS WITH THE USE OF STYROFOAM TRAYS AND SINGLE-USE PLASTIC IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO REPLACE THESE AND REMOVE THEM
FROM SCHOOL CAFETERIAS. STYROFOAM AND PLASTICS HAVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PEOPLE TRIED TO MINIMIZE THE USE OF THESE PRODUCTS BUT DISCOURAGED BY THE SLOW PACE OF CHANGE. BOTH ARE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THEY CAN BREAKDOWN INTO MICRO
PLASTICS. >> STYROFOAM CONTAINS CARCINOGENS SUCH AS STYRENE. IT'S LINKED TO VISION AND HEARING LOSS. CHEMICALS CAN LEECH OUT INTO THE
FOOD WHICH CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO BECOME SICK AND EXIST IN THE ENVIRONMENT FOR CENTURIES. >> AN ALTERNATIVE CAN BE PROUDS MADE FROM COMPOST WHICH IS MUCH SAFER AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ACCORDING TO ELEVATE PACKAGING USING COMPOST REDUCES
LANDFILL WASTE, FOSSIL-FUELS, MINIMIZES POLLUTION AND CUTS METHANE EMISSIONS. IT USES PLANT BASED MATERIALS THAT CANNOT HARM YOU UNLIKE STYROFOAM. >> PLASTICS AREN'T BIODEGRADABLE IT CAN TAKE 500 YEARS TO
BREAKDOWN AND BUILDUP AND THE TRASH ENVIRONMENT CHOKES MARINE LIFE, DAMAGES SOIL, POISONS GROUND WATER AND CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. >> ACCORDING TO THE EPA HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN INCLUDE GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESSES,
REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS AND CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER. AN ALTERNATIVE CAN BE BAMBOO. BAMBOO IS A SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC DUE TO THE SUSTAINABILITY AND BIODEGRADABLE NATURE. BAMBOO DECOMMON POSES REDUCING INFLUENCE.
>> AND IN CONTRAST PLASTIC RELIES ON NONRENEWABLE FOSSIL-FUELS AND TAKE UP TO CENTURIES TO DECOMMON POSE. CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO ENVIRONMENTAL HARM. BAMBOO IS DURABLE AND TOXIC FREE MAKING IT A SAFER CHOICE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND US. >> WE HOPE YOU WILL TAKE OUR
RECOMMENDATION INTO CONSIDERATION. AND MAKE THE DECISION TO PERMANENTLY REMOVE STYROFOAM IN CAFETERIAS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. SO WE DO HAVE ONE MORE STUDENT.
PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. AND STATE YOUR FULL NAME. >> MY MAIM IS MENTAL HEALTH LANNA I AM A SENIOR AT PALM
BEACH COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND A FOUR YEAR PARTICIPANT IN THE CULINARY PROGRAM HAVE CAME TOGETHER TO START A SCHOOL GARDEN. OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES FROM THE GREEN SCHOOL CHALLENGE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND REDUCE THE
COST OF PURCHASING INGREDIENTSES FOR OUR PROGRAM. AS A SENIOR IN THE CULINARY ACADEMY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING MILESTONES IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AND SERVE OUR MENU WHERE TEACHERS CAN PURCHASE MEALS DESIGNED BY STUDENTS AND ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS BUDGET LIMITATIONS. BY GROWING OUR VEGETABLES FRUITS AND HERBS WE CAN LOWER COSTS ALLOWING US TO BE MORE CREATIVE WITH OUR MEALS AND MAKE OUR PROGRAM SELF SUFFICIENT. THIS GARDEN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
ADDRESS FOOD SCARCITY. MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO ACCESS FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD. IT'S GROWING ISSUES AS STUDENTS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE WE HOPE TO EXPAND THE GARDEN TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
WE CAN HELP FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY AND PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING HABITS. WITHIN THE PROGRAM THE STANDARD IS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN. BY STARTING THE SCHOOL GARDEN WE GET TO BE HANDS ON IN CULTIVATING PRODUCE, RECYCLING
MATERIALS, COMPOSTING WASTE. AS A SENIOR IN CULINARY FOUR WE ARE TAUGHT TO PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH BEST PRACTICES BE USING ENERGY SAVING EQUIPMENT AND CONTROLLING WASTEWATER PRODUCED IN THE KITCHEN. THE LARGE ISSUE FACING CONTINUED
SUCCESS IS FUNDING. MY FRESHMAN YEAR OUR CULINARY PROGRAM TRIED TO ESTABLISH A HYDROPONIC GARDEN AND IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE INSIGNIFICANT FUNDS AND THE LACK OF RESOURCES NEEDED ESTABLISHING A NEW GARDEN IS NOT AN EASY TASK. AS THE GREATEST RESOURCE IS
WATER. OUR GARDEN HAS NO SPRINKLER SYSTEM AS ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM WOULD BE A LARGE EXPENSE. SINCE THE GARDEN'S ACCESS TO WATER WILL SUCCUMB TO THE FLORIDA SUMMER HEAT THIS MEANS OUR EFFORTS WILL BE LOST BY
PROVIDING FUNDING IT WILL REDUCE THE COST OF BUYING SUPPLIES FOR THE INGREDIENTS THAT WE USE. >> Karen Brill: ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD I THANK THE STUDENTS FOR COMING HERE IT'S NOT EASY GETTING UP IN FRONT OF US. THANK YOU FOR OUR WONDERFUL SUGGESTIONS.
Mr. SUPERINTENDENT WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING BACK TO US TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT SUGGESTIONS. WE'VE PULLED TWO ITEMS FROM THE CONCEPT AGENDA IS IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS YOU WANT PULLED? AT THIS TIME IN YOU HAVE NOT REFRESHED YOUR COMPUTERS PLEASE
DO SO AND I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION BY MS. WHITFIELD AND SECOND BY Mr. LANE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT, THAT MOVES US TO YOUR COMMENTS.
>> >> Mike Burke: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO JIN ME IN A BRIEF MOMENT OF SCIENCE IN HONOR OF THE VICTIMS AT THE RECENT TRAGEDY AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.
[MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. ON TO MY SCHEDULED COMMENTS. APRIL IS NATIONAL AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH. AND IT IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE
THE UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND TALENTS OF INDIVIDUALS AUTISM THIS MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION OF AUTISTIC STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MONTH OUR SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE VOTING ON A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL
AS AUTISM ASPECT TANS MONTH. AND CELEBRATING APRIL 2, MARKED PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY. TEAM PALM BEACH WE ARE 23,000 MEMBERS STRONG AND 1300 OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE PARAPROFESSIONALS AND THEY ARE HEROS IN OUR
SCHOOLS HELPING PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS AND CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST. THANK YOU PARAPROFESSIONALS. APRIL 7-11 IS NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK. WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WEEK AS WELL AND WE APPRECIATE THE ROLE THEY PLAY TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL SITES.
AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. STAFF SUPPORT AND RUNNING THE SCHOOL HELPS MAKE OUR PRINCIPALS SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU AP'S. AND TODAY, APRIL 23, IS ALSO ADMINISTRATIVERS PROFESSIONAL DAY. AND THAT IS ANOTHER GROUP OF TEAM PALM BEACH MEMBERS THAT
WITHOUT WE COULD NOT RUN THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU ADMINISTRATIVE I HAVE PROFESSIONALS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY OUT THERE IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW A YOUNG FOUR OR FIVE-YEAR-OLD, WE ARE STARTED OUR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION IT'S OPEN. WE ARE NOW WELCOMING THE CLASS
OF 2038. AND EVERY TIME I SAY THAT IT FREAKS ME OUT MAKES ME FEEL OLD OR SOMETHING. BUT THAT IS WHAT YOUR KINDERGARTENERS WHEN THEY WILL BE SENIORS AND GRADUATING AND A TIME FOR PARENTS OF RISING GARTERS TO -- KINDERGARTENERS ANY CHILDREN WHO
WILL BE FIVE YEARS OF AGE BY SEPTEMBER FIRST TO REGISTER. YOU CAN START THAT PROCESS ON-LINE. AND PLEASE VISIT PALM BEACH SCHOOLS.ORG,/KINDERGARTEN AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN OUR SYSTEM. I WILL WRAP IT UP HERE.
WE HAD OUR FINAL MEETING OF THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT. AND WE HAD ANOTHER GREAT GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING US THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WE BROUGHT THEM SERIOUS ISSUES AND GOT THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND FEEDBACK AND THEY ARE HELPING REALLY ELEVATE THAT STUDENT
VOICE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADIEU I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE VICE-CHAIR Mr. SANDOVAL FROM Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WILL REPORT ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN UP TO.
Mr. SANDOVAL THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM I AM A JUNIOR AT Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL SERVING ACE VICE-CHAIR OF THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY
COMMITTEE I REPRESENT STUDENT SUPERINTENDENT BURKE. THIS BOARD REPORT PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF TWO MEETINGS AND SEVERAL ACTIVITIES OUR COMMITTEE ENGAGED IN OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULAR MEETINGS. IN FEBRUARY THE COMMITTEE PARTICIPATED AS PANELISTS AT THE BOLD LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE,
COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS. ON FEBRUARY 17TH WE MET TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION SERVICES, ALONGSIDE THE STUDENT CLIMATE ASSOCIATION. SHARED STUDENT LED SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS. INCLUDING RECYCLING PROGRAMS AND
CAMPUS GARDENS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PRESENTED ON THE SKILLS FOR LEARNING AND LIFE INITIATIVE WHICH PROMOTES THE USE OF SYSTEMS MODELED AFTER THE RON CLARK ACADEMY. TO FOSTER SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND ELEMENTARY STUDENT PANEL SHARED FEEDBACK ON
THE INITIATIVE. WE CLOSED FEBRUARY BY PARTICIPATING IN A STUDENT LED CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON AMPLIFYING STUDENT VOICE. IN APRIL, THE SACK HELD THE FINAL MEETING OF THE TERM WITH STRONG ATTENDANCE AND THE
COMMITTEEMEMBERS WEARING OUR BLACK POLO SHIRTS. THE DEPARTMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION LED A PRESENTATION ON INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES SEEKING HONEST FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENTS ABOUT LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THE DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ALSO ENGAGED WITH THE COMMITTEE SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS AND ASKING FOR INPUT HOW TO BETTER PROMOTE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. THE SACK SUGGESTED STRATEGIES SUCH AS STUDENT ASSEMBLIES AND TESTIMONIALS WITH ADULTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THESE PROGRAMS. WE CONCLUDED THE MEETING BY
REFLECTING ON WAYS TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISTRICT WIDE. SUPERINTENDENT BURQA WARDED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO EACH COMMITTEEMEMBER AS THE MEETING CAME TO A CLOSE. AND OUR GRADUATING SENIORS WERE GIVEN UNIQUE TRIPLE ROPE CORDS
IN RECOGNITION OF THE DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> Mike Burke: THANK YOU. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH THE STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO PROTECT OUR PLANET AND KEEP US SUSTAINABLE I WANT TO SHARE
WE HAD A GROUP OF STUDENTS LAST YEAR THAT WAS CHALLENGING US WITH THE SAME ITEMS AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. BUT THE SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS A GOAL TO REDUCE THE NON-COMPOSTABLE MATERIALS BY 25% AND ON TRACK TO MEET THAT
GOAL ON EARTH DAY THIS WAS SYMBOLIC BUT WE HAD 806 CASES OF COMPOSTABLE FOOD TRAYS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AT THIS IT COMES DOWN TO A MATTER OF COST BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COST BEYOND THE COST OF THE TRACE AND WHAT THAT IS DOING LONG-TERM.
WE WILL KEEP WORKING ON THAT. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: Mr. LANE? >> IT >> Matthew Lane: OVER THE LAST MONTH, THE PALM BEACH NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION RECOGNIZED EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND
AWARDS OF OVER $50,000. THE ECONOMIC COUNCIL HONORED EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS NOMINATED FOR THE PRESTIGEIOUS DWYER AWARDS THEY RECOGNIZED MEDIA SPECIALISTS WHO EXCELLED AND
RETIRING AND DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN. THE ED FOUNDATION CELEBRATED THE GREAT JAMES AND HIS STAFF DID A FANTASTIC JOB HONORING SHERIFF RICK BRADSHAW AND I HAVE TO SAY OUR SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL BURKE
ROCKED THAT NIGHT. I WISH I HAD A TAPE OF THE EVENT FOR ALL OF YOU TO SEE. OUR SUPERINTENDENT GAVE ONE OF THE FUNNIEST SPEECHES I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. JAMES CAN BEAR ME OUT. Mr. BURKE STOLE THE SHOW. NOW, VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS AND I
ALSO ATTENDED THE REOPENING OF GROVE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. GROVE PARK IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A SCHOOL. IT IS AN HISTORIC COMMUNITY OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF STUDENTS' LIVES. AS ONE TEACHER PUT IT NO MATTER
HOW BAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE WHEN THEY LEAVE FOR SCHOOL THAT MORNING, NO MATTER HOW BAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE GOING TO BE WHEN THEY RETURN HOME, I HAVE THEM FOR SIX HOURS EVERYDAY. AND THAT'S WHEN I CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES. AND I WANT TO ADDRESS LEGISLATION THAT IS CURRENTLY
PENDING IN TALLAHASSEE AS PEOPLE HERE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, FLORIDA'S 46 IN THE NATION IN PER PUPIL SPENDING AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS 47TH IN THE NATION? SAT SCORES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS LAST IN ACT SCORES.
AND THE LEGISLATURE IS PROPOSED A BUDGET THAT WILL REMOVE $47 MILLION FROM OUR BUDGET IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, THEY ARE TAKING FUNDS FROM A PREMIER PROGRAMS INCLUDING OUR AP, IB, AICE, DUAL ENROLLMENT AND
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS WHICH ARE THE PROGRAMS FROM WHICH SOME OF OUR FUTURE LEADERS WILL EMERGE. IN CALCULATING THE PER PUPIL FUNDING THEY ARE USING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE COST OF LIVING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS GONE DOWN DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO I'M ASKING THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TO GO OUT AND SPEAK TO YOUR LEGISLATOR AND TELL THEM THAT WE VALUE EDUCATION IN FLORIDA. FINALLY, I'VE HELD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHOM I HOLD IN HIGH REGARD.
THIS MATTERS NOT ON OUR AGENDA AND CANNOT BE DECIDED TONIGHT, HOWEVER THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE DETAILS HOW A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WOULD WORK. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. MS. SAVIETTO.
>> Virginia Savietto: IN MARCH I WAS HONORED TO SPEAK TO THE YOUNG WOMEN AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, I SHARED PURPOSE, AND THE POWER OF LONGING HIGHLIGHTING HOW WELLNESS A SENSE OF BELONGING AND DISCOVERING PURPOSE FUEL PRODUCTIVITY, HAPPINESS AND
FULFILLMENT. JOHN LEONARD HIGH SCHOOL'S FASHION ACADEMY LED UP THE STAGE WHERE STUDENTS SHOWCASED GLOBAL CULTURES THROUGH FASHION, MUSIC AND DANCE. THE CULINARY ACADEMY ADDED FLAVOR WITH THEIR DISHES. HUGE THANKS TO MRS. ABREU, AND THE PRINCIPAL FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND TO AWARD-WINNING FASHION DESIGNER FOR MENTORING STUDENTS WITH REAL WORLD INDUSTRY SKILLS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE OUR NEXT GENERATION.
AT AVID CAREER DAY I SHARED MY EXPERIENCE AS GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY GO HAND IN HAND AND REMINDED STUDENTS ONE KEY MESSAGE THAT HAS GUIDED ME. BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
THANK YOU TO PRINCIPAL THOMAS FOR CREATING THIS MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU TO FLORIDA FOR THE INVITATION TO THE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE THAT THEY FILL WITH BILINGUAL BRILLIANCE. I WAS PROUD TO SEE PALM BEACH COUNTY REPRESENTED AND SHOUT-OUT
TO CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION FOR INSIGHTS AND Mr. CHRISTIAN WHO PICKED UP AND DROVE THIS LATINOS FROM WELLINGTON HIGH SHOUT-OUT TO MS. ANDREWS AT 5:00 A.M. ON A SATURDAY.
TO DO THEIR PERFORMANCE. AND IT WAS FULL OF ENERGY LIKE YOU WOULD SAY IT WAS FABULOUS. I MET Dr. MIGUEL, THE 12TH U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND WITNESSED A WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR HER SERVICE AND
LEADERSHIP. I ATTENDED THE LET'S MOVE CELEBRATION LED BY WILL AND HIS ENERGETIC TEAM WHO GOT US DANCING FROM THE START I HAD TO TAKE MY HIGH HEELS TO FOLLOW ALONG. AND PINE JOG ELEMENTARY FOR
PLACING THIRD AND FOURTH IN THE TOP SCHOOLS CATEGORY FOR TOTAL MINUTES LOGGED. AND THANKS TO PAULA, MANAGER OF THE WELLNESS PROMOTION TASK FORCE FOR LEADING THIS DISTRICT WIDE EFFORT BECAUSE OF HER OUR DISTRICT PLACED THIRD AMONG ALL AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY AND HAVE
TO GO FOR NUMBER ONE PLACE. PLEASE ALL REGISTER TO LOG MINUTES. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING PRINCIPAL, THE CURT LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL'S COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HE IS A YOUNG LEADER WITH A STRONG VISION FOR THE FUTURE AND IT
SHOWS. BACK TO SCHOOL. WE'RE NOT FINISHED BUT WE'RE NOW GETTING READY FOR REGISTRATION FOR THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR THAT SERVES 7,000 STUDENTS, SATURDAY JULY 6. BUT YOU MUST PREREGISTER YOUR CHILD BY MAY FIRST WE WILL HAVE
FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS, UNIFORMS, HAIRCUTS GET YOUR STUDENTS READY FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2026. AND JOIN US FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL SAFETY AND JOB FAIR FOR HIGH SCHOOL ON MAY SATURDAY MAY
17TH FROM 12-3:00 P.M. ORGANIZED BY LATIN QUARTER WHERE I AM A BOARD MEMBER WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY AND 911 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE RESCUE PLANNING ZONING AND BUILDING AND U.S. COAST GUARD AND IT'S FREE AND
OPEN TO THE FAMILY COME AND SAY HI AND THANKS TO MS. MARCIA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SERVICE AND I MADE IT BEFORE FOUR MINUTES. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. >> Erica Whitfield: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A RECENT
TRIP THAT I HAD TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY JAIL. WE HAVE A SCHOOL THAT IS THERE IN THE 12TH FLOOR OF THE JAIL IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. IT IS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE 16, 17 YEARS OLD THEY CAN BE YOUNGER
THAT IS THE AGE YOU WILL GET AND WHEN THEY ARE 18 THEY ARE NO LONGER THERE. WE PROVIDE A SCHOOL FOR THEM. WE HAVE A PRINCIPAL, WE HAVE TEACHERS. IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO VISIT. IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAD BEEN THERE TO VISIT AND I RECOMMEND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO GO.
I WAS MS. WYATT'S FIRST TIME VISITING THE STUDENTS AT THE JAIL AS WELL IT WAS FUN TO GET TO SEE THAT. THE REASON I BRING IT UP I WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IS THAT WE HAVE SIX STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE JAIL ON THE
12TH FLOOR IN SCHOOL IN AICE GENERAL PAPERS VERY HIGH LEVEL CLASS AND IT'S VERY EXCITING. THIS ACTUALLY MAKES US A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS IN SUCH A RESTRICTIVE SETTING TO HIGHER LEVEL EDUCATION CLASSES
WITH COLLEGE CREDIT. I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING WE'RE DOING THE SIX STUDENTS ARE DOING VERY WELL IN THE CLASS AND SOME MAY GO ON TO TAKE THE EXAM. WE ARE PROUD OF THEM. CONTINUING TO WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS EVEN IN SUCH A RESTRICTIVE SETTING.
I'M PROUD OF THAT AND WANTED TO TELL EVERYBODY TO VISIT. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT I'M RECEIVING AN AWARD FROM THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION FOR THEATER EDUCATION. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS AWARD I HAVE TO THANK LIZ
ELLINGTON A BOARD MEMBER AND A TEACHER AT ROYAL BEACH HIGH SCHOOL WHO NOMINATED ME FOR THIS AWARD AND IT WAS UNEXPECTED AND SWEET OF HER TO DO THAT AND NICE OF HER TO COME HERE TO RECEIVE THE AWARD. BUT I WANTED TO PUT A LOT OF
CREDIT FOR THE RECOGNITION TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO COLLEAGUES THAT WERE FORMERLY ON THE BOARD WITH US. WE VOTED TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING TOWARDS THEATER EDUCATION HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. MANY YEARS AGO, DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT PLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY GETTING TO
SEE STUDENTS ENGAGING IN THINGS OUTSIDE OF JUST ACADEMIC EDUCATION I BELIEVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEIR GROWTH AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. AND SO I'M PROUD TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD AND SO THANK YOU. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE LIZ FOR MAKING THIS EFFORT TO RECOGNIZE
ME FOR LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AND WHEN SHE COMES UP I WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK LATER. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. MS. BRANCH. >> Gloria Branch: I WAS INVITED TO HAMMOCK POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR A THANK A TEACHER
EVENT. THIS WAS JESSICA HER STUDENTS WERE SO EXCITED SHE WAS GIVEN $350 CHECK FROM OUR PARTNERS ACA. AND ANOTHER THANK A TEACHER AWARD WAS AT PEARL SUNSET ELEMENTARY AND MEGHAN MOONEY
TEACHES FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE ADVANCED MATH AND SCIENCE AND RECEIVED A $350 CHECK FROM ACA. I ATTENDED THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION EVENT ALSO THE ALUMNI AWARD WENT TO RICK BRADSHAW WHO WAS A LAKE WORTH HIGH ALUMNI AND THE BUSINESS PARTNER WAS PALM
BEACH SHERIFF AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT DID A GREAT JOB SPEAKING. THE VOLUNTEER AND BUSINESS PARTNERS AWARDS BREAKFAST WAS A SUCCESS WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND HAVE GREAT VOLUNTEERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU
MORE THAN YOU KNOW. ANOTHER EVENT WAS THE LOVE FOR LITERACY LUNCHEON ANOTHER GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER AND WE THANK KRYSTEN THE C.E.O. OF THE LITERACY COALITION FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY.
AS A PTSA MEMBER WE HAD A LUNCH FOR THE TEACHER APPRECIATION AND STAFF YESTERDAY WITH LOTS OF FOOD AND DEEARTHS. WELL -- DESSERTS AND THE STAFF, AND TEACHERS ENJOYED IT WE WANTED TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR ALL THEY
DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL. I ALSO ATTENDED AN EVENT AT WILLIAM IT, DWYER HIGH SCHOOL. Mr. LANE WAS THERE AND ERICA CAME THIS WAS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NICHOLAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ON PROJECT ADAM AN INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREPARED
INNOCENCE OUR SCHOOLS. THAT WAS A VERY, VERY WONDERFUL EVENT TO SEE AND WATCH OUR STAFF ACTUALLY DID SHOWED US HOW THE AD WORKED. AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT NATIONAL PRAYER DAY. I POINT OUT THAT MAY FIRST IS
NATIONAL PRAYER DAY AND I SUPPORT THE OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL PRAYER DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Karen Brill: Mr. FERGUSON. >> Edwin Ferguson: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AT THE BOARD MEETINGS I MISSED THE LAST ONE.
I HAD A LOT OF BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF IN TALLAHASSEE I'M VKING FOR BRIGHT FUTURES PROJECT. I'M NOT SURE WE ARE GOING TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN THIS SESSION, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH BUDGETARY COST CUTTING UP THERE. SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.
AS FAR AS THAT GOES BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR THAT THAT LAW WILL BE MODIFIED AS WE'RE SEEKING IT TO BE MODIFIED. I HAVE SLIDES FROM MY TIME IN TALLAHASSEE. SO I WAS IN TALLAHASSEE AS PART
OF THE DELEGATION FROM THE CONSORTIUM OF SCHOOL BOARDS I AM THE SECRETARY OF THAT GROUP. I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY JUST LAST WEEK TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE
WITH MEMBERS OF THE FRATERNITY, QUEUES ON THE HILL AND IT'S GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, BROTHERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT POLICY, LEGISLATIVELY AND WE MADE IT A GOOD IMPACT WHILE WE WERE THERE.
I ALSO WAS IN TALLAHASSEE AS PART OF THE FSBA LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS WELL. HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH OUR LOCAL DELEGATION AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN. SENATOR POLSKY, THAT IS A JUNIOR REP FROM MIAMI HE IS A HOOT.
SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM TAMPA BAY AND MIAMI. YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE PHOTOS AS WELL. IN REGARD TO UPLIFT COMMUNITY CLEAN UP EVENT WHICH IS IN LINE WITH WHAT THE STUDENTS WERE SPEAKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF
LIMITING POLLUTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE ARE AT PAHOKEE AND WE HAD OVER 80 PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP. I THANK MAYOR BAB AND HIS TEAM FROM THE CITY OF PAHOKEE FOR BEING GRACIOUS IN HOSTING THE EVENT. AND HAVING SAID THAT, THIS UP
COMING WEEK WE WILL BE IN WEST PALM BEACH MEETING AT THE ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STARTING AT 8:00 A.M. AND WE SHOULD RUN UNTIL ABOUT 10:30. STUDENTS IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT HERE FOR THE EVENTS. WE NORMALLY ALLOCATED THREE
HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR PARTICIPATING. CAN WE SLIDE THAT SO THEY KNOW THE LOCATION. 1220, 15TH STREET IN WEST PALM BEACH. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NEXT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, TOWN HALL THAT
MYSELF, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE AND Mr. TIERNEY WILL BE HOSTING IN BOYNTON AT THE HAITIAN BAPTIST CHURCH THIS IS A CAP STONE TO A TOWN HALL WE DID LAST YEAR. THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY FELT AS IF THEY HAD NOT BEEN ENGAGED AT A
MORE AGGRESSIVE LEVEL SO SUPERINTENDENT BURKE AGREED TO COME WITH ME LAST YEAR AND WE HEARD THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS FROM THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY AND WE'VE MADE CHANGES ON A POLICY BASIS HERE AND WE WANT TO SHARE THAT SO THEY KNOW THEIR WORDS WERE HEARD AND APPRECIATED AND
THE DISTRICT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO MATRICULATE. ON SUNDAY, THAT IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME, AT THE CHURCH ON A SUNDAY DOING A TOWN HALL THAT IS OUR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND LASTLY, MY 30 SECONDS I KNOW WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE CHANGES
TO THE POLICIES. I'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THEM, I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO. TO SEVERAL OF THE POLICIES. I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO PASS BUT IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE MATTER BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD AND I'VE SEEN THE BULLYING IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND
TALLAHASSEE AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WON'T BE BULLIED. I WILL SPEAK IN GREATER DETAIL, BUT ENOUGH WITH THE ABSURDITY. STAY AWOKE AND LET'S GET THESE THINGS CHANGED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GOOD. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS. >> Marcia Andrews: THANK YOU EVERYONE. I WANT TO SAY FIRST TO THE GROUP
FROM CONGRESS, YOUR SUNG SO WELL YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL WHAT PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE ALL ABOUT. CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR YOU WERE FABULOUS. I DO HAVE SLIDES TOO AND I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS EVERYWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOLS. I WILL RUN THROUGH THE THINGS
I'VE DONE AND THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WITH ME BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE TOUR OF PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE. AND DISTRICT SIX WHERE WE'RE OPENING UP IN AUGUST STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL
THERE AS WELL AS CITIZENS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET YOUR DENTAL WORK DONE THERE AT AT A DISCOUNT. THE GLADES YOUTH EXPLOSION EVENT WAS HELD AT WELLINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER. COUNCILMEMBER McGOVERN HERE WITH ME TONIGHT WE WERE THERE AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE
LEARNING LEADERSHIP SKILLS KIDS FROM RIVIERA BEACH AND WELLINGTON ALL ON A COUNTY CAME ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO WORK TOGETHER. AND THEN WE GOT UP THAT NEXT MORNING CLEAN UP, Mr. FERGUSON I WAS OUT THERE.
WE WERE CLEANING THOSE ROADS AND PICKING UP PAPER. WESTON PINE STUDENTS ROYAL PALM BEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WELLINGTON STUDENTS WE WERE OUT THERE MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY LOOKED GREAT. AND THE JEFFERSON'S 13TH ANNUAL
HEALTHCARE SYMPOSIUM THANK YOU SO MUCH Dr. DUNCAN WE HAD STUDENTS FROM OUR MEDICAL ACADEMY. THEY CAME AS BANKS IN INLET GROVE ALL OF THE STUDENTS GOT A CHANCE TO SEE DOCTORS, SEE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FIELDS OF MEDICINE FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AS WELL AS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THEY LOVED IT. IT IS AN ANNUAL EVENT. AND HE YES, THE COUNCIL OF THE YEAR I WAS ABLE TO BRING FLOWERS TO LOWERY, SHE WAS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR FROM WESTERN PINES AND I SAW
CAMILLE SMITH I KNEW HER WHEN SHE WAS A KID FROM CYPRUS TRAIL SHE IS THE NEW COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR THEY ARE DOING GREAT WORK. PIERCE HAMMOCK ODYSSEY OF THE MINDS, STUDENT YOU ARE ARE AWESOME.
YOU WENT TO ORLANDO YOU ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT DOES THIS WORK. YOU ARE A GREAT AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE BOARD MEETING SOON. AND YES, THANK YOU SARAH BAXTER FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR FRED, A BUILDING THAT WAS DEDICATED TO HIM.
HE DIED HE WAS THE MAYOR OF ROYAL PALM BEACH AND DID GREAT WORK. WE HAVE MAYOR HERE WITH ME TONIGHT. WE ALL GOT TOGETHER TO GET THAT BUILDING NAMED FOR HIM FOR HIS AWESOME WORK IN THE VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH. AND YES, ALL OF US WERE AT THE MEDIA ASSOCIATION GALA.
IT WAS GREAT AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS FOR THE OUTSTANDING ELEMENTARY MEDIA SERVICE AWARD, Mr. KATHY WES, WELLINGTON ELEMENTARY IN DISTRICT SIX. OUTSTANDING SECONDARY MEDIA AWARD LAURA CRUZ.
OUTSTANDING MEDIA CLERK PAULA. AND THEN WE HAD THE VOLUNTEER PARTNERS BREAKFAST IT WAS GREAT. ALL OF US WAS THERE THANK YOU BUSINESS PARTNERS. THE SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE ALL OF THE TOP SENIORS YOU WERE THERE WITH US WE CONGRATULATE YOU FOR
YOUR GREAT WORK. AND, YES, THE CREATIVE WAVES FOR THE FIRST HAITIAN BAPTIST CHURCH IN BELLE GLADE WE'RE GETTING THE JOB DONE RAISING MONEY FOR OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROBLEM AND THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THANK A
TEACHER WELLINGTON ELEMENTARY CRYSTAL. YOU WERE THE GOAT AT WELLINGTON MAKING IT HAPPEN. AND THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN BELLE GLADE SUPERINTENDENT BURKE YOU WERE WITH ME WE GOT OUT THERE AND MADE IT HAPPEN. AND LASTLY, ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE HERE FOR ME TONIGHT FROM
WELLINGTON, ROYAL PALM. BELLE GLADE. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. SO YOU CAN ALL BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF BECAUSE YOU HEAR ENOUGH OF MY VOICE I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU EVERYWHERE I I'VE BEEN. DITTO, DITTO, DITTO. I'M SORRY? >> CAN I ADD SOMETHING.
MS. SAVIETTO WAS WITH US AT THE DWYER AT PROJECT ADAM. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU EVERYWHERE I'VE BEEN I WANT TO SHARE MY SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR MAY FIRST AND THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ALTHOUGH THE ROOTS FOR THE
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER ARE JEW DAY YO CHRISTIAN IT HAS EVOLVED INTO A DAY OF REFLECTION CELEBRATED BY PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS. TO MY BOARD MEMBERS I KNOW MS. SAVIETTO EXPRESSED HER SUPPORT AT OUR PAST BOARD MEETING IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THE POLICY I SUGGEST THAT YOU ONE OF YOU SPEAK TO OUR BOARD CLERK WE CAN BRING BACK A DISCUSSION ITEM BECAUSE IT SEEMS THERE IS SUPPORT ON THIS BOARD BUT WE CANNOT MAKE A CHANGE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE POLICY.
I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT. AT EVERY BOARD MEETING REGULAR BOARD MEETING WE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REMEMBER OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY. I'M GOING TO BE ASKING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR JAMES CLARK A TEACHER MIDDLE ENGLISH
SIX TO EIGHT WHO PASSED AWAY MARCH 10TH, 2025. AND CHARLES OUTLAW HE WAS AN ASSISTANT FOOD SERVICE TO AT HL JOHNSON -- WATKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HE PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 19TH,
2025. NOW I WILL ASK EVERYBODY FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.
THAT Mr. BRING US TO COM12.
>> Karen Brill: MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ACTUALLY BEFORE WE GO INTO VOTING ON IT I WILL HAVE MS.
WHITFIELD READ IT.
MOVEMENT LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PEER COLLABORATION AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY EFFORTS GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS SO THEY MAY UTILIZE STRATEGIES THAT INCREASE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AND OFFER AVAILABILITY, SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF FRESH ORGANIC
PRODUCE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OFFER EDUCATION IN THE FORM OF COOKING GARDENING AND EATING HERBS, VEGETABLES THEREFORE MULTIPLYING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE THROUGH CLASSROOM AND GARDEN EXPERIENCES AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OFFER A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMBAT OBESITY AND FOSTER IMPROVED HEALTH WHILE CULTIVATING A APPRECIATION FOR BENEFICIAL SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH PA BELIEVES THAT EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN SAFE FOOD
PRACTICES HEALTHY EATING ENVIRONMENTS, SCHOOL GARDENS AND OUTREACH WITH THE INTENTION OF IMPROVING STUDENTS AND STAFF HEALTH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND REDUCING CHILDHOOD BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY PROCLAIM APRIL 28, 2025
AS GARDEN OF HOPE AWARENESS DAY DONE THIS 23rd DAY OF APRIL IN WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA. AND WE HAVE NADA AND LISA TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION. >> Karen Brill: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I INVOIGHT YOU TO THE FLOOR FOR A PHOTO WITH LISA AND NADA FROM GARDENS OF HOPE AND I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAY ON THE FLOOR FOR PRESENTATIONS WHERE MS. NNEKA NNOLIM WILL JOIN US FOR THE APRIL BOARD
RECOGNITIONS.
GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING CHAIR BRILL, VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. THIS EVENING WE HAVE SIX RECOGNITIONS ON THE AGENDA. WE BEGIN WITH A RECOGNITION FOR AVA KOTKIEWICZ, A TENTH GRADE STUDENT AT JUPITER COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL. SHE EARNED AN HONORABLE MENTION IN THE STUDENTS SPEAK OUT FOR CLIMATE CONTEST, A NATIONAL
COMPETITION RUN BY THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL'S CENTER FOR GREEN SCHOOLS. HER VIDEO ENTRY WAS RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GREEN SCHOOLS CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO, HELD FROM MARCH 3-4, 2025. SHE RECEIVED $400 AS THE PRIZE FOR HER HONORABLE MENTION, TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENT AND FURTHER HER SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AT HER SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS SPEAK OUT FOR CLIMATE CONTEST AIMS TO AMPLIFY
STUDENT VOICES ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND AVA'S VIDEO STOOD OUT AMONG SUBMISSIONS FROM STUDENTS ACROSS FLORIDA. THROUGH CREATIVE STORYTELLING, AVA SHARED HER PERSONAL CONNECTION TO NATURE AND THE TURNING POINT THAT IGNITED HER PASSION FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. CONGRATULATIONS TO AVA KOTKIEWICZ FOR EARNING EARNED AN
HONORABLE MENTION IN THE STUDENTS SPEAK OUT FOR CLIMATE CONTEST. LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE ARE RECOGNIZING OUR OWN DISTRICT 4 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, MS. ERICA WHITFIELD. SHE WAS NAMED THE 2024 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION FOR THEATRE EDUCATION LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR. THE AWARD IS FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHO HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THEATRE EDUCATION. MS. WHITFIELD HAS WORKED
COLLABORATIVELY TO GET DISTRICT FUNDING FOR THEATRE PROGRAMS. MS. WHITFIELD HAS SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD SINCE 2014. SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL ENSURING THE HEALTH, ACHIEVEMENT, AND SUCCESS OF CHILDREN. AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
MS. LISSEN ELLINGTON, AN ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR AT ROYAL PALM BEACH COMMUNITY HIGH WHO ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF THEATRE EDUCATION, FOR HER SUPPORT. CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. ERICA WHITFIELD FOR RECEIVING THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION FOR THEATRE EDUCATION LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM A PROUD GRADUATE OF DREYFOOS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AS THE TEETHER EDUCATOR. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION FOR THEATER EDUCATION.
OR FATE FOR SHORT. IN JULY OF 2022 I HAD A CHANCE MEETING WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ERICA WHITFIELD AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE. I WAS DOWNSTAIRS IN THE DRESSING ROOM AND GETTING READY FOR A PHOTO SHOOT MY HAIR WAS PULLED
BACK. THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL IN JULY. MS. WHITFIELD WAS GETTING A TOUR OF THE THEATER AS AT THAT TIME
NIGHTI TOOK MY SHOTS TO GO SPEAE
CAPTION TEST
MS. ANDREWS HAS SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD SINCE 2010. SHE HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION IN ADDITION TO HOLDING LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, SOCIAL, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. MARCIA ANDREWS FOR BEING HONORED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITY
SCHOOLS FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND NOW WE WILL LIKE TO WELCOME Dr. RAY HART FOR A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND I WILL BE VERY
BRIEF TO CHAIR BRILL, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE AND BOARD MEMBERS I AM THE EXECUTIVE COUPLE OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS AND ON BEHALF OF OUR 7 WILL MEMBER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE NEARLY 8 MILLION STUDENTS WE SERVE NATIONALLY, IT BRINGS ME GREAT
HONOR TO-- GREAT PLEASURE TO HONOR MARCIA ANDREWS, NOT CURRENT CURRENTLY ONLY SERVING AS THE VICE CHAIR AND SERVING THE OVER 170,000 STUDENTS THAT YOU SERVE HERE BUT SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS AND OUR NEARLY EIGHT MILLION STUDENTS AND SINCE HER TENURE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL, THE STUDENTS SHE HAS SERVED HAS TOTALED OVER 10 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION. AND I JUST WANT TO HONOR HER. I SUSPECT MANY OF YOU KNOW HER
PASSION FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DOES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SHE HAS BROUGHT THAT SAME PASSION TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SHE HAS VISITED MANY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SUPPORTED OUR STAFF AS THEY HAVE HELD SESSIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO SHARE,
IS THAT SINCE HER TENURE JOINING IN 2019, OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED HAVE CONTINUED TO CLOSE THE GAP ACADEMIC E.P.A. BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR PEERS ACROSS THE NATION BASED ON OUR
MOST RECENT NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF RECENT PROGRESS. A NUMBER OF THINGS WERE SHARED ABOUT HER BEING THE FIRST IN THE 69-YEAR HISTORY OF OUR ORGANIZATION TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS BUT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE 78 MEMBER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE HAVE, WE HAVE
SHARED A GAVEL WITH HER TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HER SERVICE, BUT I AM ALSO SHARING A PROCLAMATION, WHICH IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL NOT READ. BUT I'M SHARING A PROCLAMATION FROM THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS I PHOTO MONTAGE OF YOU WITH A NUMBER OF YOUR PEERS AND YOUR COLLEAGUES
FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT YOU SERVED WITH OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND ENTHUSIASM SO MUCH FOR A CAREER DEDICATED TO EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> AT THIS TIME ANY MEMBER EBBS
OF Mrs. ANDREWS FAMILY WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE PHOTO ARE
WELCOME TO COME FORWARD.
(INAUDIBLE) COME ON IN.
>> GRN, MY NAME IS BAGGER RECEIPT BAGLEY, I GO BY MAGGIE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT Mrs. MS. ANDREWS. THANK YOU FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. AND YOUR RECOGNITION FOR THE
COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS. I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR SPENDING 15 YEARS OF THOSE 50 YEARS WITH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. YOUR DEAD CASE AND LEADERSHIP SINCE JOINING THE CIS BOARD HAVE BEEN TRULY INSPIRING.
AND WE HOPE WHEN YOU DO RETIRE, WILL YOU NOT RETIRE FROM COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NEXT WE ARE NEXT WE ARE RECOGNIZING ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR DONATIONS TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS OF COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES FOR DISTRICT STUDENTS. THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE PROVIDES ENGAGING FIELD TRIPS TO A VARIETY OF VENUES ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY. THESE ENRICHING EXPERIENCES ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR KEY COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ENSURED THAT OUR STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN VALUABLE COMMUNITY-BASED OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH. MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN WELCOMED MORE THAN 14,000 THIRD GRADE STUDENTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR WITH NO-COST ADMISSION. THEIR $25,000 CONTRIBUTION HELPS
OFFSET THE COST OF DISTRICT YELLOW BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR THESE FIELD TRIPS, ENSURING THESE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO PALM BEACH COUNTY'S OLDEST AND LARGEST BOTANICAL GARDEN. KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSDONATED $25,000 TO SUPPORT THE NO-COST ADMISSION OF MORE THAN 13,000 FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS TO ONE OF SEVEN PERFORMANCES IN THE GRAND DREYFOOS HALL.
THEIR CONTRIBUTION FURTHER SUPPORTED THESE EXPERIENCES BY HELPING TO OFFSET THE COST OF DISTRICT YELLOW BUS TRANSPORTATION. NEXTERA ENERGY FOUNDATION IS THE CHARITABLE ARM OF FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT. THEIR $50,000 DONATION WILL HELP OFFSET THE COST OF DISTRICT YELLOW BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR TWO YEARS.
THIS WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS' FIELD TRIP TO ONE OF MANY PALM BEACH COUNTY SCIENCE OR NATURE-FOCUSED VENUES. TOGETHER, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PALM BEACHES AND TREASURE COAST AND JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH FLORIDA CONTRIBUTED $50,000 TO OFFSET THE COST OF DISTRICT YELLOW BUS
TRANSPORTATION FOR EACH SCHOOL TO INVITE ALL OF THEIR 11TH AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS TO ATTEND A CAREER FAIR HOSTED BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AT LOCAL PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THE DISTRICT EXTENDS ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE TO EACH OF THESE PARTNERS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY
AND SUPPORT. FOR MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN, THANK YOU TO: • DIANE ROBAINA ┘ ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS • AYNARI GARCIA ┘ EDUCATION SPECIALIST FOR THE KRAVIS CENTER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, THANK YOU TO: TRACY BUTLER ┘ DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
EILEEN BERMAN ┘ KRAVIS CENTER BOARD MEMBER, AND MEMBER OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. FOR NEXTERA FOUNDATION/FPL, THANK YOU TO: • KATE COTNER ┘ DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT • JULIET ROULHAC ┘ DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PALM BEACHES AND TREASURE COAST, THANK YOU TO: KATIE THOMPSON ┘ CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JUAN LOUREIRO ┘ BOARD CHAIR ERICA HENN ┘ VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF
SOUTH FLORIDA, THANK YOU TO: LAURIE SALLARULO ┘ PRESIDENT AND CEO CLAIRE AGUILERA ┘ DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NEXT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY STAFF ASSOCIATION. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR GRADUATING SENIORS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF STAFF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS IN GOOD
STANDING. I ASK EVERYBODY HOLD THEIR APPLAUSE UNTIL EACH STUDENT'S NAME HAS BEEN READ. IT'S THE ASSOCIATION'S WAY OF SUPPORTING THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY OF ITS MEMBERS' FAMILIES. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND INITIATIVE, AND FOR EARNING SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE STAFF ASSOCIATION. CAN
EVERYONE PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL EACH STUDENT'S NAME HAS BEEN READ. TO THE STUDENTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME: ANGELINA BASEL ┘ PARK VISTA COMMUNITY HIGH • EMMA BIRCH ┘ SUNCOAST COMMUNITY HIGH JALEN BURNETT ┘ SUNCOAST COMMUNITY HIGH VICTOR BUTTS JR. ┘ GLADES CENTRAL COMMUNITY HIGH KENDA DAHL ┘ WELLINGTON COMMUNITY HIGH KHLOE DAHL ┘ WELLINGTON COMMUNITY HIGH RYAN ESTES ┘ PALM BEACH GARDENS HIGH ELISSE HOWARD ┘ ALEXANDER W. DREYFOOSSCHOOL OF ARTS
JAZLYN LOVETT ┘ PALM BEACH LAKES COMMUNITY HIGH ERRYN LOWE ┘ WELLINGTON COMMUNITY HIGH AMY?MALOON ┘ ALEXANDER W. DREYFOOSSCHOOL OF ARTS? NIKOLAS MCNUTT-WILLIAMS ┘ BOYNTON BEACH COMMUNITY HIGH • MAKAYLAH?ORTIZ? ┘ PALM BEACH LAKES COMMUNITY HIGH • TRISTAN PENDAS ┘ PALM BEACH
CENTRAL HIGH ROHAN PERSAUD ┘ ROYAL PALM BEACH COMMUNITY HIGH NINA-SIMONE SIMMONDS ┘ PALM BEACH LAKES COMMUNITY HIGH • ELSIE?THROCKMORTON ┘ OLYMPIC HEIGHTS COMMUNITY HIGH LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
AND FINALLY THIS EVENING, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE FINALISTS FOR BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL, AND ALSO ANNOUNCING THE WINNER IN EACH CATEGORY. THE BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO AN OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT WHO HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THEIR PRINCIPAL FOR DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENCE.
THE AWARD WAS CREATED TO HONOR BEGINNING TEACHERS' DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S FINALISTS, AND ASK THEM TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME, AND THEN WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER. FOR BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FINALISTS: IRELAND HAGAN ┘ SANDPIPER SHORES ELEMENTARY MIKILRIYA HALE ┘ GLADE VIEW ELEMENTARY AUBREY HOLLAND ┘ JUPITER FARMS
ELEMENTARY • JESSICA MENKE ┘ FOREST HILL ELEMENTARY AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPALS FROM EACH OF THOSE SCHOOLS: MONIQUE COYLE AT SANDPIPER SHORES ELEMENTARY SHUNDRA DOWERS AT GLADE VIEW ELEMENTARY SUZANNE MATUELLA AT JUPITER FARMS ELEMENTARY SCOTT MCNICHOLS AT FOREST HILL ELEMENTARY
GREAT JOB BY EACH OF THE FINALISTS, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND THE
I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU STAY UP THERE AND ANNOUNCE THE WINNER. AND THE BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL IS IRELAND HAGAN FROM SANDPIPER SHORES ELEMENTARY! LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
NOW WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S FINALISTS FOR BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL. PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME, AND THEN WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FINALISTS: PHILIP LYNCH ┘ PALM BEACH LAKES COMMUNITY HIGH GAYLE PAMINTUAN ┘ CARVER COMMUNITY MIDDLE ISABELLA THOMPSON ┘ PALM BEACH CENTRAL HIGH
[ APPLAUSE ] AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPALS FROM EACH OF THOSE SCHOOLS: ROSALIND GRAY-MCCRAY AT PALM BEACH LAKES HIGH SHANNON GRICE AT CARVER COMMUNITY MIDDLE REGGIE MYERS AT PALM BEACH CENTRAL HIGH WONDERFUL JOB BY EACH OF THE FINALISTS, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND THE
AND THE BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IS PHILIP LYNCH FROM PALM BEACH
LAKES COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL!
NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD WHICH IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO AN OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR MENTOR TEACHER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE AWARD WAS CREATED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW MENTOR TEACHERS SUPPORT NEW EDUCATORS THROUGH NURTURING AND TEAMWORK. WE WILL START WITH THE MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. TO THE
TO THE FINALISTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME, AND THEN WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE CONGRATULATIONS TO: PAMELA ALLEN ┘ GLADE VIEW ELEMENTARY MARIE CARMICHAEL ┘ SUNRISE PARK ELEMENTARY AMY SPANO ┘ MARSH POINTE
ELEMENTARY BRANDIE SOTO ┘ BINKS FOREST ELEMENTARY AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPALS FROM EACH OF THOSE SCHOOLS: SHUNDRA DOWERS AT GLADE VIEW ELEMENTARY
KRISTEN MENSCHEL AT SUNRISE PARK ELEMENTARY RYAN SCOTT AT MARSH POINTE ELEMENTARY MICHELLA LEVY AT BINKS FOREST ELEMENTARY LET'S GIVE THE FINALISTS A BIG
ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND THE MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL IS BRANDIE SOTO FROM BINKSFOREST ELEMENTARY! PRAWS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WANT FINALISTS FOR MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL. THOSE FINALISTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME, AND THEN WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER. CONGRATULATIONS TO: CHRISTI CARTER ┘ SUNCOAST COMMUNITY HIGH MARVETT COBOURNE ┘ PALM BEACH CENTRAL HIGH VOLARE DUNBAR ┘ BOYNTON BEACH COMMUNITY HIGH AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PRINCIPALS FROM THOSE SCHOOLS: KATHYRN KOERNER AT SUNCOAST COMMUNITY HIGH REGGIE MYERS AT PALM BEACH CENTRAL HIGH DR. MOODY FULLER AT BOYNTON BEACH COMMUNITY HIGH LET'S GIVE THE FINALISTS A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND THE MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IS VOLARE DUNBAR FROM BOYNTON BEACH COMMUNITY HIGH!
[ APPLAUSE ]
BOARD CHAIR BRILL, VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THIS CONCLUDES THE RECOGNITIONS FOR APRIL. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR
ATTENTION THIS EVENING.
>> OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS, THAT'S GOING TO NOW BRING US TO OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT. Ms. ISABELLA, MIROSOLA. >> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. IT IS CRAZY TO THINK THAT NEXT
MONTH WILL BE MY LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING BUT I STILL HAVE BEEN BUSIER THAN EVER MAKING SURE OUR COUNTY IS THRIVING. I ATTENDED THE COUNTY BANQUET ON APRIL 10, WHERE NEW PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR. SHE IS IN THE CROWD HERE TODAY AND HER NAME IS ELLIE WEISS.
SHE IS OVER THERE. I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE PALM BEACH HUNGER INITIATIVE. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH RECENTLY ELECTED PRESIDENT ELORY AND THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT. NO KID HUNGRY AND OUR FOOD SERVICE TEAM TO DISCUSS NEXT
STEPS IN THE INITIATIVE. WE HAVE BEEN BRAINSTORMING MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROMOTE THE HUNGER SURVEY INCLUDING REPEATING IT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR TO GET MORE DATA AND REACH A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS WE MAY NOT HAVE REACHED THIS YEAR. WE ARE PLANNING ON HAVING FOCUS GROUPS FOR NEXT YEAR TO CREATE A MORE MEANINGFUL CONNECTION WITH
OUR SCHOOLS AND BIGGER DIFFERENCE WITH STUDENTS HELP. THESE MEETINGS WILL BE HELP UNTIL IN SHAPING THE PALM BEACH HUNGER INITIATIVE MORE THAN IT IS NOW. I WANT TO MENTION AGAIN THAT WE RECEIVED 14,654 RESPONSES TO THE PALM BEACH HUNGER INITIATIVE SURVEY.
THIS TRULY DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMUNITY'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AMONG OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE UPDATES NEXT MONTH. >> Chair Brill: THAT BRINGS US TO OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS. BOARD MEMBERS, WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACADEMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT THIS MONTH.
THERE IS ALSO NO REPORT FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT IS ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDAS. WE DO HAVE CHAIR CHARMAIN POSTEL FROM THE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY
COMMITTEE. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR BILL, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF AND EVERYONE IN YOUR RESPECTIVE PLACES. BEFORE BEGINNING THIS REPORT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR EACH MEMBER THE DDEC FOR YOUR DEDICATION.
THIS MONTH IS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS WELL AS TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS. THIS WEEK IS AFTER SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS WEEK. SO MY PERSONAL FAVORITE ERICA WENT AND SEAN HARRINGTON DOWN IN
BOCA RATON DISTRICT 5, SO A QUICK SHOUTOUT TO THEM. AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS REPORT, I JUST WANT TO SAY MY APOLOGIES FOR LAST MONTH, LIKE BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON, I WAS IN TALLAHASSEE SEVERAL WEEKS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR
CHILDREN IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES, INCLUDING THE PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO FEBRUARY REPORT IS ATTACHED TO THE MINUTES AND THE BOARD DOCS AND AS FOLLOWS, THE MARCH DDEC. ON MARCH 20, 2025, DISTRICT
DIVERSITY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE CONVENED TO DISCUSS KEY INITIATIVES REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES IMPACTING EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE DDEBC AD HOC COMMITTEE MET PRIOR TO THE MAIN DDEC MEETING
TO DEFINE HIGH IMPACT TEACHING AND REQUEST DISTRICT DATA ON STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY SCORING ON LEVEL 1 ON THE ELA AND FFA HAVE SHOWN MEASURABLE GAINS. THE SUBCOMMITTEE EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR SEARCHABLE DATA BY FACTORS SUCH AS FREE OR REDUCED
LUNCH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS STATUS TO ENSURE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS. IN THE ABSENCE OF CHIEF OF EQUITY AND WELLNESS KEITH OSWALD, Dr. DIE QANA FEDDERMAN FEATURES THE CONFERENCE HOSTED
AT ST. LUCIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENT PERSPECTIVES AND DISTRICT DECISIONS. -- DECISION MAKING EXCUSE ME. THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED TWO PRESENTATIONS. THE FIRST PRESENTED ON FACES AN INITIATIVE AIMED AT ENHANCING PARENTAL AND CAREGIVER
ENGAGEMENT IN STUDENT EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING. THE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FOSTERING COLLABORATION, PROVIDING RESOURCES AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH DISTRICT DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT INCREASED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
POSITIVELY IMPACTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND REDUCES ABSENTEEISM. WORKSHOPS UNDER FACES COVER A RANGE OF CRITICAL TOPICS, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION WHILE PARTICIPATE--
PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN STRONG, A NOTABLE GAP OF ATTENDANCE FROM HAITIAN AND PORTUGUESE SPEAKING FAMILIES WAS IDENTIFIED. MOVING FORWARD, EFFORTS WOULD BE MADE TO INCREASE OUTREACH AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THESE COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE BROADER REPRESENTATION AND SUPPORT.
ADDITIONALLY, Dr. PAUL HUTCHINS SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE FDOE ONGOING STUDY ON CONCORDANT SCORE ADJUSTMENTS. CURRENT DATA INDICATES THAT 33% OF DISTRICT STUDENTS GRADUATE
USING CONCORDANT SCORES WHERE BLACK STUDENTS AT 41%, HISPANICS AT 34%, WHITE STUDENTS AT 27% ELL ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS STUDENTS AT 54%, AND FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AT 37%.
STUDENT WITH DISABILITIES COMING IN AT 18%. MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS UTILIZED CONCORDANT SCHOOLS AT EQUAL RATES, 33% EACH ALL ACROSS. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT STUDENTS TEND TO PERFORM BETTER ON A.C.T. READING AND CLT MATH WITH ELL
STUDENTS FAVORING CLT READING OVER OTHER ASSESSMENTS. MEMBERS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE DISTRICT'S CONCORDANT SCORE REQUIREMENTS COMPARE TO COLLEGE ADMISSION CRITERIA AND INQUIRED ABOUT POST SECONDARY TRACKING OF STUDENTS AFTER GRADUATION. IT WAS NOTED THAT APPROXIMATELY
4% OF STUDENTS DO NOT RECEIVE A DIPLOMA AND THE DISTRICT DOES NOT MONITOR POSTSECONDARY GRADUATION RATES, BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON ENCOURAGED THE COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE KINDERGARTEN READINESS. THE COMMITTEE WILL ASSESS POTENTIAL NISHS IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE THE NEXT DIVERSITY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE MEETING OCCURRED IN THE BOARD ROOM THIS MORNING AT 10 A.M. SO A SUBSEQUENT REPORT WILL BE REPORTED NEXT MONTH AND
THIS CONCLUDES THE REPORT OF THE DDEC. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. GENERAL COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US. >> I DO NOT, THANK YOU. >> INSPECTOR GENERAL, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US? >> YES, I DO. RECENTLY THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTOR GENERAL VISITED PALM
BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CONDUCTED AN EVALUATION OF MY OFFICE. THERE WAS A TEAM FROM TALLAHASSEE WHO CAME DOWN AND SPENT TIME REVIEWING OUR AUDIT UNIT OUR CONTRACT AND OVERSIGHT PROCUREMENT AS WELL AS OUR INSPECTION AND EVALUATION UNIT.
THEY ALSO INTERVIEWED AND SPOKE TO QUITE A FEW OF THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT STAKE HOLD ES. APPARENTLY YOU GAVE ME A GOOD RATING I. IS NOT OFTEN THAT PEOPLE SPEAK POSITIVELY ABOUT
AUDITORS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AT THE END OF IT, WE HAVE BEEN CLEARED. WE HAD NO FINDINGS AND WE HAVE PASSED FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS BUT WE ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTOR GENERAL STANDARDS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT AUDITING AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE
BOARD AND THE WHOLE DISTRICT IN CONDUCTING OUGHT OF THE OVERSIGHT THE OFFICE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE. >> Chair: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S GOING TO BRING US,000 TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DELEGATES. I DO HAVE A FEW PEOPLE THAT I THINK HAVE LEFT SO MAYOR OF THE
VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH, JEFF HAMARA I BELIEVE HAS GONE AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON JOHN McGOVERN. AND SO MARGARET BAGLEY, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? OKAY. WELL WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. SO THAT WILL BRING US, I'M GOING TO CALL UP TWO PEOPLE AT A TIME. MABEL MELTON, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HISPANIC EDUCATION COALITION AND IS DANYA ROBERTS STILL HERE?
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. I'M MABEL MELTON, VICE CHAIR OF THE HISPANIC COALITION. IN MY BRIEF REMARKS ADD, THE HISPANIC EDUCATION COALITION FIRST WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE BOARD VICE CHAIR MARCIA ANDREWS. WE CONGRATULATE HER ON HER REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR
OF THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS WHOSE MEMBERS REPRESENT 78 OF THE LARGEST URBAN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN ALL OF AMERICA. SHE HAS BEEN A HARD WORKING MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR FENT YEARS AND THE FIRST MEMBER FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SERVE IN COUNCIL LEADERSHIP. SHE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB THERE
ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. PARENTHETICALLY BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, THE HISPANIC EDUCATION COMMISSION THANKS MS. ANDREWS FOR HER PASSION, DEDICATION AND VISIONARY PARTICIPATION WITH HEC AS THE BOARD'S LIAISON TO OUR ORGANIZATION. HER INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR FUTURE GROWTH HAVE BEEN SIMPLY INVALUABLE. I WOULD REMIND THE PUBLIC ATTENDING TODAY'S MEETING THAT NEARLY 40% OF OUR COUNCIL WIDE STUDENT BODY IS HISPANIC OR LATINO. HEC ALWAYS HAS ADVOCATED FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS FACULTY AND
ADMINISTRATORS BUT WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THOSE WHO NEED THE MOST ACADEMIC SUPPORT ENCOURAGEMENT. IT WAS IN 2021, THAT MS. ANDREWS PLANTED THE SEED TO HAVE THE NEXT SCHOOL BUILT IN THE DISTRICT NAMED AFTER Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA. AND THIS BOARD, LED BY THE
SUPERINTENDENT, AND Ms. BRILL, ERICA WHITFIELD AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, DR. ROBINSON INSON, ALEXANDRIA AYALA AND Mr. FRANK BARBERRY
AND BARBARA McQUINN VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO NAME THE SCHOOL Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA. THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT MS. ANDREWS' STEADFAST SUPPORT.
SECOND, I AM PLEASED AND PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE WE ARE AWARDING 12 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $31,500 BUT IT DOESN'T END THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST FUNDRAISER IN THE COUNTY. Dr. XAVIER GARCIA AND HE KEEPS
GETTING GIFTS SO I THINK THIS NUMBER COULD GET TO $TOUTER,000 REALLY QUICKLY-- TO 40 THROW AND FOR-- 40,000 AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ADDITION TO FOREST HILL, JOHN I. LEONARD AND HIEFER HIVE
OKAY, LAKE WORTH, WE ARE GIVING A SCHOLARSHIP TO GLADES CENTRAL COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL AND FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA. SO THIS IS REALLY EXCITING AND A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WE ARE SO, SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
DO THIS. AND MARCIA, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DANYA ROBERTS, IF YOU ARE HERE.
JAMES GAVRILOS AND FOLLOWED PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, HAVE I TO PUT THAT IN THERE. FOLLOWED BY ERICA HEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PALM BEACHES AND TREASURE COAST. >> I'M ALSO A PART TIME TALENT SCOUT FOR JIMMY FALLON AND WE
ARE RECRUITING SUPERINTENDENT BURKE TO FILL IN ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WHEN JIMMY IS ON VACATION. YOU WERE HILARIOUS THE OTHER NIGHT, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR FOR TO US PLAY A SMALL PART IN TONIGHT HONORING THE BEGINNING AND MENTOR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AT BOTH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL. THIS IS PART OF OUR GO TEACH
GRANT PROGRAM. WE PROVIDED THE 350-DOLLAR CHECKS TO EACH OF THOSE FOUR WINNERS. I BRING UP THE GO TEACH PROGRAM SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PORTAL IS NOW OPEN. WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR GO TEACH GRANTS BEGINNING LAST WEEK, ALL THE WAY UP TO AND INCLUDING AUGUST 8.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THIS YEAR WE AWARDED 86 GO TEACH GRANTS, TOTALING ABOUT $190,000. WE WOULD LOVE TO DOUBLE THAT. THE FUNDS ARE THERE. WE JUST NEED THE TEACHERS TO APPLY. SO THEY CAN GO TO THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION WEBSITE, FOLLOW THE PROMPTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO GOOD IDEA DIES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE A GRANT. WE WILL PROVIDE GRANTWRITING WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM GET THEIR IDEA ON PAPER AND GET THE PROGRAMS FUNDED. AGAIN TO UM UP, THE GO TEACH GRANT PORTAL IS OPEN. I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT
SOMETHING WE DON'T DO A LOT OF AT THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. WE ARE CURRENTLY CENTERING THREE DIFFERENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES. TOMORROW NIGHT WE WILL BE WITH HCA. THEY WILL BE AWARDING 17 SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING OR ALREADY GRADUATED STUDENTS OF
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO ARE GOING INTO THE MEDICAL CAREERS. WE ALSO FUND THE WINNER SCHOLARSHIP. WE ARE IN FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, EGRET LAKES, JUPITER, GREEN ACRES AND C.L. TURNER. THEY GET A ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP THAT WE HOLD UNTIL THEY TURN 18 THUS EARNING INTEREST AND BY THE TIME THEY BEGIN THEIR COLLEGE DAYS THAT SCHOLARSHIP HAS GROWN SOMETIMES AS HIGH AS 1500 TO 2,000. THE THIRD SCHOLARSHIP WAS STARTED THIS YEAR OUT OF TRAGEDY, MANY OF YOU KNOW KELLY SMALLRIDGE WHOSE SON TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY.
WE ARE CENTER IS THE SCHOLARSHIP IN HIS HONOR IN MEMORY AND I'M PROUD TO SAY WITH ADDITIONAL DONATION FROM OUR BOARD MEMBER KIM CHAN, THAT SCHOLARSHIP IS GOING TO BE A $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO A GRADUATE GRADUATE OF ONE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE ARE 87 APPLICANTS.
THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE. MOST OF OUR BOARD HAS STEPPED IN TO GRADE THE APPLICATIONS. SO THAT'S JUST PART OF THE WORK WE DO. ANOTHER PIECE OF THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION PUZZLE, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, CAN I START AGAIN? I'M GOING TO TAKE A MULLIGAN.
SPEAKING OF MULLIGANS... JOE SOUTH AFRICANS, DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE? JOE SANCHES. DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID. THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY OUR WORK BUT THE SUPPORT OF THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT AND PUBLICLY I I WANT TO THANK
Mr. SANCHES FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. THIS HAS GROWN FROM A HANDFUL OF CONTRACTORS WHO WANTED TO HELP OUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE SOLD OUT ALL THREE COURSES AT P.G.A. NATIONAL. ON FRIDAY THERE WILL BE ABOUT 380 GOLFERS, TEEING OFF AT 8:30. LOTS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WE WANT TO THANK MOSS CONSTRUCTION, THE PRESENTING SPONSOR. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, ANY OF OUR SENIOR ADMINISTRATION, WE INVITE TO YOU COME BY FOR LUNCH AROUND 12:30, 1:00 AT P.G.A. NATIONAL. SIMPLY TO THANK THOSE 370 VENDORS, MANY OF OUR VENDORS OF
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE ED FOUNDATION, BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO GIVE US THE RESOURCES WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK WE DO. IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A SPECIAL TREAT THIS YEAR AS YOU KNOW IT'S THE BILL MALONE GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT THAT WAS JOE SANCHES' RECOMMENDATION.
JOE'S WIDOW-- BILL'S WIDOW KATHY WILL BE THERE. IF YOU ARE FREE FRIDAY AT 12:30 OR 1:00, SWING BY P.G.A. NATIONAL, PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO MIDST MALONE AND GREET AND THANK OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO REALLY MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU. WE ARE YOUR EDUCATION
FOUNDATION. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. ERICA HEN. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M NOT ERICA HEN BUT I'M FROM JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PALM BEACHES TREASURE COAST. KATIE THOMPSON. I'M THE PROUD PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR
TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT I'M REALLY JUST HERE TO TONIGHT, CELEBRATE OUR TEAM AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THIS FABULOUS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE ARE SO WELCOMED IN ALL
THE SCHOOLS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET. BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE 1200 PLUS VOLUNTEERS THAT WE TRAIN AND BRING INTO THE CLASSROOMS ALL ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FULFILL OUR MISSION OF ENSURING THAT EVERY COUNTY WHO GRADUATES
FROM HIGH SCHOOL IS PREPARED TO BE FINANCIALLY LITERATE, TO THINK WITH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MIND SET, AND TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CAREER OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE. ALL OF OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE THAT AND I'M PROUD TO SAY, AS A GRADUATE OF THIS FABULOUS
SCHOOL SYSTEM THIS IS A FABULOUS MOMENT FOR ME TO STAND IN THE ROLE THAT I NOW HAVE AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF OUR FABULOUS SCHOOLS. IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE AND THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE YOU ALL CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT TO BRING US INTO THESE SCHOOLS AND TO WELCOME US.
YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION MEANS SO MUCH TO US AND I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR ERICA WHITFIELD TONIGHT WHO IS GOING TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT TOMORROW NIGHT AND AS PART OF A REALLY FUN EVENT TO RAISE SOME FUNDS TO HELP US CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO IN PALM BEACH COUNTY
SCHOOLS, SHE IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO SIT ON A PANEL TO FIND OUT IF ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE, INDEED SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW UP WITH HER TOMORROW BECAUSE WE WILL KNOW FOR SURE AT ABOUT THIS SAME TIME. MOSTLY TONIGHT I JUST WANTED TO THANK THOSE 1200 PLUS VOLUNTEERS
THAT WE BRING INTO OVER 100 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WE ARE DEEPLY, DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION THAT WE JUST RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BRINGING HOME THREE AWARDS TO MY DEDICATED AND INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO US AND HERE IS TO MORE
OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SYLVIA HALL.
>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WANT TO START THIS EVENING WITH OUR MISSION. OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL A REALITY BY ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL CHILDREN.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION NOW IS THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE RIGHT NOW. THERE IS SOME GOOD, BAD AND UGLY BILLS GOING ON IN HALL TASS-- IN TALLAHASSEE. SB 296, HB 261 IS A GOOD ONE,
THE START TIMES. FOR THE P.T.A. SUPPORTS THIS BILL AND THAT IS THE SCHOOL MANDATED START TIMES AND THAT WILL RETURN CONTROL OVER THE SCHEDULING TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
ONE OF THE BILLS THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD WAS THE SB 94 AND HB 759 MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE FIREARMS. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD. SOME OF THE BAD BILLS GOING
THROUGH TALLAHASSEE SB-140, HB-123 CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND THIS BILL CHANGES HOW A SCHOOL CAN BE TURNED INTO A CHARTER SCHOOL. IT LETS CITIES APPLY TO CONVERT SCHOOLS INTO CHARTER SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, THIS BILL STILL ALLOWS PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE CONVERTED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHOUT THE
CONSENT OF THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO WORK AT THE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. BOTH PAST INTO COMMITTEES. STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE BACKBONE FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNITIES.
THE P.T.A. AGAINST THIS BILL. ONE OF THE OTHER BAD BILLS IS SB-198 AND HB-1225, EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS. THIS BILL REDUCED LABOR PROTECTIONS POTENTIALLY FORCING
MINORS TO WORK LONGER HOURS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS. IT ALLOWS MINORS TO WORK MORE HOURS ESPECIALLY ON SCHOOL DAYS AND THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS ONE OF
THE REALLY UGLY BILLS IS THE HB-5001. THIS BILL IS SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYMENT CAMBRIDGE AND CTA BY 50%. IT ELIMINATES 350 MILLION TO STABILIZE THE SCHOOL BUDGET THAT
MEANS MORE OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR FAMILIES AND DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON CLASSROOMS ACROSS OUR STATE. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND PEOPLE LISTENING TO THEY CAN JOIN OUR P.T.A., THEY CAN GO AND JOIN THE STATE P.T.A. AND YOU CAN GET AND BE A PARTICIPANT OF THE P.T.A.
AND GET TO KNOW WHAT WE DO AND ALSO TO JOIN VOTERS VOICE FOR ANY ACTION ITEMS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN I WOULD LIKE TO DO AN UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL P.T.A.
RELIEF THAT WE AGRANT AND WE GOT $500 GRANT THAT WAS APPROVED AND THERE ARE FIVE SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED TO RECEIVE THIS SUPPORT. WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, WELLINGTON LANDING MIDDLE SCHOOL, PALM BEACH COUNTY
GARDENS COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, HARMON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WESTERN TIMES MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND I DO HAVE THE LAST LIST. ON MAY 15, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR ANNUAL AWARDS YEAR-END CELEBRATION.
TO CELEBRATE THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO AND THEIR VOLUNTEERS. THAT IS ALL FOR NOW. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. Mr. MAYFIELD. >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
MY NAME IS ALPHONSO MAYFIELD AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF SCIU FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICES UNIT. FOR YEARS WE HAVE STOOD AS A RELIABLE PARTNER TO THE DISTRICT IN TIMES OF CRISIS, HURRICANES PANDEMIC AND CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING. OUR MEMBERS HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN UP.
THEY HAVE DONE THE WORK THAT KEEPS OUR SCHOOLS CLEAN, SAFE AND READY FOR LEARNING. OFTEN UNSEEN BUT ALWAYS ESSENTIAL. BUT TONIGHT I COME BEFORE YOU WITH URGENCY AND DEEP CONCERN. THE REALITY IS THIS. OUR LOWEST PAID SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, BUS DRIVERS, CUSTODIANS, MAINTENANCE STAFF,
FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, EARN AN AVERAGE OF JUST $28,000 PER YEAR. PARA PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE MENTIONED EARLY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS EARN EVEN LESS WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF AROUND $23,000. LET'S BE HONEST. THESE ARE POVERTY WAGES.
THESE WORKERS ARE NOT JUST HOLDING UP OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. THEY'RE HOLDING ON BY A THREAD. AND WHILE THEIR LABOR KEEPS THIS DISTRICT RUNNING, THEY'RE BARELY SURVIVING IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE: WE ARE TOLD THESE WAGES REFLECT THE MARKET RATE,
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR THAT EXCUSE IS OFFENSIVE BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE REGION THE DISTRICT IS THE MARKET. IF YOU ARE SIMPLY FOLLOWING A BROKEN MARKET, IT SHOWS A FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHY WE ARE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE. WE ARE NOT HERE TO MAINTAIN THE
STATUS QUO. WE ARE HERE TO RAISE THE STANDARD ON TOP OF THAT, OUR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE WORKERS HAS BEEN WEAKENED UNFAIRLY UNNECESSARILY DUE TO ME TOO COMMITMENTS WITH CTA AND PBA
STRIPPING AWAY OUR BARGAINING RIGHTS, MISLEADING AND FALSE INFORMATION THAT HAS NOW JEOPARDIZED OUR ABILITY TO FIGHT FOR THE LOWEST WAGED WORKERS IN THE DISTRICT. IT'S DISAPPOINTING, ALARMING AND UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE HEAR ME.
WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE EVERY NECESSARY ACTION TO DEFEND OUR MEMBERS, THEIR DIGNITY AND THEIR RIGHT TO A LIVABLE WAGE. IF THOSE STEPS MUST BE TAKEN, THEY WILL BE TAKEN WE ARE NOT JUST ASKING FOR FAIRNESS. WE ARE DEMANDING IT.
OUR MEMBERS HAVE TRAVELED TO TALLAHASSEE... [ APPLAUSE ] >> Chair Brill: YOU ARE TAKING AWAY FROM HIS TIME. >> SHARED STORIES OF SERVICE AND STRUGGLE AND FOUGHT FOR BETTER SCHOOL FUNDING NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR EVERY STUDENT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
NOW WE ASK THE DISTRICT TO DO THE SAME. MATCH YOUR WORDS OF APPRECIATION WITH ACTION. SHOW IT IN YOUR BUDGET. SHOW IT IN YOUR PRIORITIES. BECAUSE APPRECIATION WITHOUT ACTION IS JUST LIP SERVICE. AND FINALLY, I MUST CALL OUT THE SPREAD OF FALSE AND MISLEADING
COMMUNICATION THAT MISREPRESENTS OUR UNION AND OUR MEMBERS. IT UNDERMINES TRUST, DAMAGES PARTNERSHIP AND DISRESPECTS THE VERY PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS DISTRICT WORK: IT MUST STOP. WE ARE PREPARED AS ALWAYS TO MOVE FORWARD IN PARTNERSHIP, BUT ONLY ON A FOUNDATION BUILT ON
TRUTH, RESPECT AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR EVERY WORKER AND EVERY CHILD IN THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. JANE TIERNEY BOARD MEMBER OF THE
COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. IS SHE HERE? YES, SHE IS. COME RIGHT UP.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JANE TIERNEY. I AM A BOARD MEMBER AND TONIGHT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. I AM PRESENTING THIS STATEMENT AND ENTERING IT INTO THE RECORD
ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION. THE COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DEFINES EQUITY AS EXCELLENT FOR EVERYONE. AND THAT IS OUR GOAL. WILL POLICIES YOU ARE CHANGING TODAY DID NOT CREATE EXCELLENCE OR EQUITY.
BLACK STUDENTS ARE STILL DISPROPORTIONATELY UNDER EDUCATED. BLACK EDUCATORS DO NOT HAVE AN EQUAL CHANCE AT PROMOTION. BLACK BUSINESSES STILL DO NOT GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF CONTRACTS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUS DRIVERS CUSTODIANS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SCIU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PAY DISPROPORTIONATELY MORE FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. NEVERTHELESS, WE BELIEVE THE POLICY CODIFIES THE BELIEF SYSTEMS OF THE THE INSTITUTION
WE NOTE YOUR EMERGENCY CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE FOR 90 DAYS. AS LEGAL CHALLENGES BY OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURTS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXTEND ON A TEMPORARY BASIS THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF TODAY'S POLICY CHANGES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE LEGAL QUESTIONS ARE RESOLVED. NO MATTER THE STATUS OF THE POLICIES, WE EXPECT TO YOU WORK WITH EVEN MORE INTENTIONALITY TO MOVE THE DISTRICT TOWARDS EXCELLENCE FOR ALL TO MAKE IT A
JUST, FAIR AND EQUITABLE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THANK YOU. >> Clerk: THANK YOU. SO BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE NOW APPROACHING THE TIME CERTAIN FOR NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS. WE HAVE 14 NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE FIVE AGENDA ITEM SPEAKERS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE HERE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW US TO TAKE THE FIVE AGENDA ITEM SPEAKERS FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE NON-AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY Ms. BRARN FOLLOWED BY VICE CHAIR ANDREWS.
ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? SO WE HAVE SIX MEMBERS IN FAVOR WITH ONE MEMBER OPPOSED BEING MR. FERGUSON. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING TO OUR AGENDA ITEM SPEAKERS. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL
BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY. OUR POLICY PROVIDES THAT WE DO NOT RESPOND TO OR ENGAGE WITH OUR SPEAKERS; HOWEVER, WE DO MAKE NOTE OF YOUR ISSUES AND WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THEM. AS A REMINDER, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT. AGENDA ITEM SPEAKERS ITEMS COMMENTS MUSTED RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE AGENDA ITEM WHICH THE SPEAKER HAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS. ADDITIONALLY, ALL NON-AGENDA SPEAKER CONTINUES MUST RELATE TO
EDUCATIONALLY RELEVANT TOPICS OR THE OPERATIONS-THE-SCHOOL DISTRICT. P YOU ARE SUNT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, SPEAKERS WHOSE COMMENTS DO NOT RELATE TO THE TOPIC THAT THE SPEAKER INDICATED , OR ARE NOT OTHERWISE EDUCATIONALLY RELEVANT IS REQUIRED FOR NON-AGENDA TOPIC
SPEAKERS OR WHOSE COMMENTS DISRUPT OR INTERFERE WITH THE ORDER OF THE MEETING MAY BE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL FROM THE MEETING OR HAVING THE MICROPHONE TURNED OFF AND FORFEITING THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AT THE REMAINDER OF TODAY'S MEETING. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED ON OFF WHEN YOU SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT SO OUR FIRST TWO SPEAKERS FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS ARE ALEASH YARKS ALICIA LOUIS
FOLLOWED BY PRANTY KUMAR. COME ON UP IF YOU ARE HERE.
>> I COME TO YOU TONIGHT AS A PROUD MOTHER OF PASSIONATE ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY LEADER DEEPLY COMMITTED TO EQUALITY AND INCLUSION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT PLL, COS
POLICY 3.05, THE THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY UNDER EMERGENCY ADOPTION. THIS ISN'T JUST WORDS ON A PAPER. IT'S A STATEMENT OF VALUES. IT'S A REFLECTION OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE STRIVE TO BE I CANNOT
STRESS ENOUGH AS THE MOTHER OF A LGBTQ CHILD HOW IMPERATIVE IT IS THAT OUR CHILDREN SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN POSITION AS ROUND THEM ESPECIALLY IN POWER AND AUTHORITY. WHEN SOMEONE WALKS INTO A PUBLIC
SPACE, SHEER LOOKING FOR CONNECTION AND SAFETY. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO REFLECTS THEIR IDENTITY AND UNDERSTANDS THEIR JOURNEY REPRESENTATION IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT, IT'S LIFE AFFIRMING. IT TELLS THE CHILD YOU BELONG HERE. WE SEE YOU. WE VALUE YOU WHEN WE HAVE
DIVERSE AND INCUSIVE STAFF ACROSS RACE, GENDER IDENTITY SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND ABILITY WE ARE CREATING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH
I HAVE WITNESSES HOW ONE ADULT WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND A YOUNG PERSON'S EXPERIENCE CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTORY OF THAT PERSON--
OF THAT CHILD'S LIFE I STAND IN OPPOSITION TO THE EMERGENCY OF
THE EQUITABLE POLICY. THIS DECISION UNDERMINES THE VERY PRINCIPLES THAT SUPPORT OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WORKING TOES-- AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT VENDOR AND FOUNDER OF LIBERATION
STATION IN THE HISTORIC NORTHWEST DISTRICT, I SEE EVERYDAY HOW DEI IS NOT A BUZZ WORD AND HOW IT AUTHENTICALLY LIVES IN THE WALLS BEYOND THE BEAUTIFUL COVERS OF THE BOOKS. THEY'RE ESSENTIAL TO DISMANTLING THE INTENTIONAL OPPRESSIVE
SYSTEMS THAT HAVE LONG KEPT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FROM OPPORTUNITIES. AUTHORIZE FOES IGNORANT OR MAY NOT KNOW, DEI IS SEEING AN HONDURASORING HUMANITY IN ITS FULLEST. THERE ARE ACTIONABLE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF MANY CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR SO THAT I MAY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN WHICH I CAN SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN IN A LOVING AND SAFE SPACE. WITHOUT IN PARTNERS LIKE THE BLACK BUSINESS INVESTMENT CORP, I WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A LOAN
AFTER BEING DENIED BY BANKS WHO HELD MY MONEY BUT COULDN'T SEE MY VISION 300 MILLION IN FUNDING WILL BE DISPOSED OF AND WE WILL FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES NOW WITH THE INCREASING LOSS OF TRUST OF MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES. LIKE WE HAVE FOR MANY GENERATIONS. BUT WHAT GO YOU SHOW THAT YOU STOOD BY THE COMMUNITY AND FOUND WAYS TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES IN THE ABSENCE THAT WOULD LEAD TO SUSTAINABLE
PRACTICES? THAT TAKES TIMES BUT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DO IT. WE NEED SNACKS, THE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP. CHILD NEEDS SOMEONE TO WALK HOME WITH THEM, COMMUNITY SHOWS UP. YOUR CHILDREN AND SCHOOL COME TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER
SCHOOL, THE EATERY AND EATING CAKE, FOR EXAMPLE. YOUR TEACHERS COME TO OUR CONSULTING WORK SHOPTS BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEKING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE WORKSHOPS FROM EDUCATORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE Dr. ALICEA WYNNE AND BRIAN KNOWLES TO PREVENT EDUCATORS OF COLOR FROM BURNING
OUT IN ISOLATION, BY DISMISSING DOO E POLICIES WEARY ESSENTIALLY ASKING WHO ARE WE REALLY PROTECTING? WON'T YOU STAND IN FRONT OF A CHILD IF THEY WERE FACING HARM BECAUSE TODAY WE ARE STANDING BEHIND THEM ALLOWING THEM TO FEEL THE BRUNT OF OUR CHOICES. YOUR MISSION INCLUDES NURTURING
A POSITIVE VISION FOR STUDENTS FUTURE AND ENSURING THEY'RE PREPARED FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY BUT WHAT GLOBAL ECONOMY IF WE PERPETUATE THE SAME COLONIAL STRUCTURES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DENY THE HISTORY THAT BROUGHT US HERE? IN FACT, SMALL BUSINESSES THAT PRIORITIZE DEI ARE MORE RESILIENT, MORE INNOVATIVE AND
MORE CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. THIS ISN'T JUST GOOD MORALITY. IT'S GOOD ECONOMICS. SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE HOURS ARE THE HEART BEAT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. >> THANK YOU. CHUCK ROSE Mr. ROSE, ARE YOU
HERE IN DEDRICK STRONG AND JANE TIERNEY.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JANE TIERNEY AND I AM MAKING A PERSONAL STATEMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. FIRST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD'S AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S INTEGRITY AND LEADERSHIP FOR PREVIOUSLY ADOPTING AND
IMPLEMENTING A STRONG EQUITY STATEMENT POLICIES AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMS. >> SECONDLY, I RECOGNIZE THE INEVITABILITY OF YOUR EMERGENCY ACTION TODAY. GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE
POLITICAL DISTORTION AND CYNICAL DENIAL OF HISTORICAL CULTURAL BIASES IN THEIR CONTINUING IMPACT ON AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS. OUR POLITICIANS CRUELLY EXTORT AND THREATEN ASSAULT ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM, IMPACTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF. YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT NO CHOICE. RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THE DISTRICT REQUIRES THESE POLICIES CHANGES TONIGHT THE DEFINITION
AND MEANINGS OF WORDS MAY EVOLVE OVER TIME THROUGH GRADUAL CHANGE IN COMMON USAGE, HOWEVER, THE TERMINOLOGY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OR DEI HAS SUFFERED A DECADE LONG TARGETED
CAMPAIGN THAT HAS COMPLETELY POISONED AND CORRUPTED THE MEANING OF THESE WORDS DEI HAS BECOME A SLUR, A PRIMA FACIA JUDGMENT THAT THE SELECTION OF ANY BLACK, HISPANIC, FEMALE OR
GAY PERSON, A CANDIDATE FOR A JOB, IS NOT BASED ON MERIT. IT IS FORCED, IT IS A REVERSE RACISM CHOICE. BY THIS PERVERTED DEFINITION, ANYONE WHO IS NOT A WHITE MALE
MUST BE INCOMPETENT, COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE QUALIFIED FOR ANY POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY OR HONOR IN THIS CONDITIONING TIME, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT A WRITTEN POLICY IS ONLY A SIM
POLL OF A BELIEF SYSTEM. WE MUST CONTINUE TO ACT WITHIN AND MODEL OUR VALUES OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND EQUITY. IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND WORK LIVES, OUR CONTINUED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MORAL ACTION IS THE IMPERATIVE. >> Chair Brill: I'LL START WITH TWO NAMES AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
SO FIRST WE HAVE CARL MUHAMMAD FOLLOWED BY STEVEN ALLEN. >> FIRST I WANT TO SAY TONIGHT I WAS GIVEN THE IDEA AS IT RELTSES TO THE TOWN HALL MEETING YOU ARE PREPARING FOR THE HAITIAN
COMMUNITY. WE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOST BRIAN KNOWLES FROM YOUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY HASN'T BEEN TOLD THAT SUCH AN INJURY OCCURRED. WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY BY GOD'S
GRACE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO MISS ANDREWS AND Ms. BISHOP AND THEY AGREED THAT THERE ARE SO MANY SPLINTERS INSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE PROFESSING THAT THEY REPRESENT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US.
AND THIS IS THE TRUTH. AND WE SUGGESTED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A MAJOR TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE WE WOULD INVITE ALL OF YOU AND WE WOULD TAKE A CRITICAL ANALYTICAL LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WE DEVELOPED HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY BECAUSE MANY TIMES, MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED AND WE COME BACK IN
TRYING TO START THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT. AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TASK FORCE, I HEARD INITIALLY, I MEAN THAT YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE BUT THE ONE THAT WAS ORIGINATED, THE SUPERINTENDENT TASK FORCE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN,
PARTICULARLY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE CHILD, WE ALREADY HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENT, ALL OF THE PAPERWORK AND ALL OF THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF IT AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH IF WOULD YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE
MS. ANDREWS AND Ms. BISHOP SHOULD INVITE TO YOU COME TO RIVIERA BEACH TO HAVE A SERIOUS DIALOGUE WITH US ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. SHOULDN'T BE NOTHING COMPLICATED BUT WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME AND COME AND VISIT WITH US FLORIDA STATUTE WE ARE
NOT TRYING TO GET IT PAST MED IT HAS BEEN PASSED. A FLORIDA LAW AND IT STIPULATES THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKING PLACE AS IT RELATES TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN AND WE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT REALLY HAPPENING AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU MS. ANDREWS AND Ms. BISHOP FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO SHARE WITH US THE NEED FOR TO US FURTHER OUR RELATIONSHIP AS IT RELTSES TO THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CURRICULUM. NOW WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE POSSIBLY HIRING SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN
THAT POSITION PPT BUT LAST TIME YOU SELECTED WITHIN, THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THIS TIME, BEFORE YOU PUT SOMEONE SOME THERE, WE ARE HOPING THAT WILL YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF FEELING OF RESPECT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INVITE FOR SOMEONE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WITH MYSELF, I
HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CURRICULUM HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SINCE WE STARTED IN 1994. AND I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF INFORMATION THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU. BUT YOU ARE GOING HAVE TO HAVE THE ATTITUDE TO ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> STEVEN ALLEN. ARE YOU HERE? FOLLOWED BY JILL COLEMAN AND REBECCA SOLAMIZE. ANYBODY HERE?
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. WE HAVE ONE COMING UP FROM THE BACK. IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL ALSO LET JACOBY WATERS KNOW AND THEN FOLLOWED BY KAREN MORAN.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD I'M A MOTHER OF FOUR HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND CO-HEAD OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CHAPTER OF MOTHERS AGAINST MEDIA ADDICTION. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MAMA. MY CO-CHAIR AND I JILL COLEMAN
HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE THE BOARD ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ON THIS TOPIC. I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT JUST AS SOMEONE WHO IS AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN BUT DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUIET CRISIS UNFOLDING IN OUR CLASSROOM. ONE THAT STEALS FOCUS, FRACTURES
ATTENTION AND CRACKS AWAY AT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN EVERY DAY. THE CONSTANT UNCHECKED PRESENCE OF PHONES IN OUR SCHOOLS. THROUGHOUT THE DAY, STUDENTS CAN CARRY THESE PORTALS TO DISTRACTION IN THEIR POCKETS, SOCIAL MEDIA APPS ARE DESIGNED TO HIJACK ATTENTION AND REWARD
IMPULSIVITY. ALGORITHMS FEED THEM CONTENT THAT IS ADDICTIVE, EMOTIONALLY CHARGED AND OFTEN HARMFUL. OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT JUST DISTRACTED. THEY'RE OVERWHELMED. LET'S BE CLEAR IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A FEW OFF TASK MOMENTS. STUDIES SHOW CHILDREN SPEND OVER
A QUARTER OF THEIR TIME, OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL DAY FOCUSED ON THEIR PHONES AND YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT? A TIKTOK VIDEO OR SNAPCHAT STREAK OR LIKE ON INSTAGRAM MIGHT SEEM TRIVIAL UNTIL YOU REALIZE THOSE MOMENTS ADD UP TO
LOST LEARNING, FRACTURED CONCENTRATION AND GROWING ANXIETY. TEACHERS ARE DROWNING IN THIS. EVERY DAY THEY MUST PLAY THE ROLE OF EDUCATOR, ENFORCER, REFEREE, THEY SPEND PRECIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME REDIRECTING STUDENTS EYES AWAY FROM THE SCREENS INSTEAD OF TOWARD KNOWLEDGE. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COMPETE
WITH BILLION-DOLLAR TECH COMPANIES TO HOLD THE CHILD'S ATTENTION. THAT'S NOT THE JOB THEY SIGNED UP FOR. IT'S NOT FAIR AND IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. AND WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? WE SEE THE NUMBERS RISING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, LONELINESS. SOCIAL MEDIA CREATES A TOXIC COMPARISON CULTURE. NOT JUST A DISTRACTION.
IT'S AN EMOTIONAL BATTLEFIELD AND WHEN WE ALLOW PHONES IN CLASSROOMS, WE ARE OPENING THE DOOR TO THAT BATTLEFIELD IN THE VERY PLACE WHERE OUR STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL THE SAFEST WE CAN'T KEEP LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND PRETEND IT IS A CLASSROOM
MANAGEMENT ISSUE OR MATTER OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. OUR STUDENTS NEED STRUCTURE, PROTECTION AND THEY NEED US, THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY ENOUGH. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO ADOPT A DISTRICT WIDE POLICY PROHIBITING PHONES FROM BELL TO BELL. NOT JUST FOR A FEW CLASSROOMS,
NOT JUST DURING TESTS. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. LET'S GIVE TEACHERS THEIR CLASSROOMS BACK. LET'S GIVE STUDENTS A CHANCE TO BREATHE, TO FOCUS, TO CONNECT WITH LEARNING AND EACH OTHER WITHOUT A SCREEN IN THE WAY. LET'S BE BOLD, LET'S BE THE DISTRICT THAT PUTS OUR KIDS
FIRST. WE HAVE OFFERED ALSO TO COME AND SPEAK TO ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANY SCHOOL WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO PRESENT OUR FINDINGS AND OUR VIEWS. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU.
JACOBY. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM JACOBY WATERS. I'M THE FOUNDER C.E.O. OF YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION. YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION IS A MENTORING PROGRAM. WE MENTOR YOUNG MEN AGE 7-18.
BASED IN RIVERA PALM BEACH FLORIDA. THE REASON FOR ME BEING HERE IS TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD. WE CURRENT WILL I HAVE WORKED IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT INCLUDING TURNER POINT ACADEMY,
BETHUNE ELEMENTARY AND WE HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHN I. LEONARD HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN YOU BECOME MEMBERS OF OUR PROGRAM, WE GIVE 100% GRADUATION RATE. DURING OUR TENURE, WE HAVE HAD
15 ALUMNI THAT HAVE GIVEN BACK THEIR TIME TO CURRENT MEMBERS AND WE HAVE TREATED IT AS A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OUR YOUNG MEN IN PALM BEACH COUNTY TO BE UPSTANDING YOUNG MEN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE FIVE MORE YOUNG MEN
THAT WILL BE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL NEXT MONTH FOUR OF THEM FROM JOHN I. LEONARD AND FOUR FROM DREYFOOS HIGH SCHOOL. WE WANT TO EXTEND TO BE ABLE TO WORK MORE EXTENSIVELY WITH THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS HERE WITH YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION,
WE WANT TO BE THAT BRIDGE TO BE ABLE TO HELP FILL IN THE GAPS TO HELP, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG MEN BE SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY OUR MINORITY YOUNG MEN BE SUCCESSFUL AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN MONTH-- KAREN MORAN, MADAME CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION, OUR PRESIDENTS, OUR GOVERNOR AND EVEN LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS IN OUR
STATE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED AND HONORED THE FIRST THURSDAY OF MAY AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TO BE OBSERVED BY ALL WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE. MANY OF US HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BURKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DAY AND MAKE IT KNOWN TO THE STUDENTS SO IF THEY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS DAY, THEY WILL KNOW THAT IT IS ALLOWED AND AVAILABLE. THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT SO FAR HAS REFUSED TO MAKE IT
KNOWN SO THAT STUDENTS MAY PARTICIPATE ON THAT DAY. THE FIRST AMENDMENT WAS MEANT TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, NOT FREEDOM FROM RELIGION. I SENT YOU A CLEAR LETTER AND SHOWED YOU THAT NOWHERE IN OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS DOES IT
MENTION THE WORDS SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AND A LETTER WRITTEN ABOUT I THOMAS JEFFERSON TO THE DANBURY BAPTIST CHURCH, PRESIDENT JEFFERSON LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR BRAND OF CHRISTIANITY WOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE STATE BECAUSE THERE IS A
WALL OF SEPARATION WHERE THE GOVERNMENT CAN CANNOT PROHIBIT BUT INSTEAD PROTECT THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS SPEECH THERE IS A CLEAR BIAS IN THE TYPE OF SPEECH THAT IS ALLOWED ON OUR CAMPUSES WE HAVE ALLOWED ALL KINDS OF
NONSENSE TO BE SPOKEN IN THE HEARTS AND MIND OF OUR CHILDREN WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO KEEP GOD AND PRAYER COMPLETELY AWAY AS THE ANSWER TO THE MANY PROBLEMS FACING OUR SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY. I URGE YOU THAT WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME, SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE
TO THE SCHOOLS THAT THE STUDENTS AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE ON THEIR OWN TIME BEFORE SCHOOL IS FREE TO DO SO ARUINED THEIR FLAG POLE OR OTHER DESIGNATED AREA APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. JOHN SEA THERE THE FRIED AND IKE FOULER.
COME RIGHT UP AND STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS ISAAC. MY STORY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING TODAY UNFORTUNATELY. I HAVE A SON, ALEX TAILOR WHO IS
IN Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULD NEVER THINK I WOULD BE HERE TO AIR THE SPECIFICS OF A REFERRAL AND A SUSPENSION THAT HE GOT. BUT I FEEL THIS IS REALLY, IF ANYBODY ELSE IS A PARENT HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN, THEY
WOULD BE OUTRAGED AND THEY WOULD BE REALLY CONCERNED. I HAVE HAD FOUR KIDS GO THROUGH THE PALM BEACH SCHOOL SYSTEM. HAVE I TWINS THAT ARE 18 AND SENIORS AND ABOUT TO GRADUATE.
WE HAD AN INCIDENT AT THE MARCH 20-- ESSENTIALLY SOMETHING STARTED OUT INNOCENT, MY SON WAS BASICALLY SITTING AT LUNCH WITH A GROUP OF KIDS THAT THEY USUALLY SIT IN THE SAME TABLE. A GIRL, TWO GIRLS ACTUALLY CAME
AND SAT AT THE TABLE. MY SON ASKED THEM WHICH WAS WRONG, BUT HE ASKED THEM TO MOVE BECAUSE THE GROUP THAT SITS THERE, THEY REFUSED, AND THEY HAD SOME WORDS BACK AND FORTH. NO MAJOR EXCHANGE BUT THE GIRLS
LEFT MY SON MADE THE MISTAKE OF MOVING THEIR BACKPACK TO THE TABLE NEXT TO THEM AND THAT WAS IT. THE GIRL CAME BACK AND SHE BLEW UP. THE GIRL STARTED SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED CAFETERIA
THAT MY SON IS RACIST, REPEATEDLY. THEN SHE IMMEDIATELY POURED TOOK A CAN OF SPRITE, SHOOK IT UP AND POURED IT ALL OVER MY SON. MY SON DID THE RIGHT THING. HE ACTUALLY WALKED AWAY. HE CALMED DOWN, GOT A CHANGE OF
CLOTHES FROM HIS COACH. CAME BACK AND TEXTED HIS FRIENDS AND HIS GIRLFRIEND. HIS GIRLFRIEND CAME BACK LATER, WAS MAD, POURED A LITTLE BIT-- POURED MILK ON THE GIRL'S BACKPACK, THAT WAS NOT UNDER HIS CONTROL. MY SON-- THE GIRL ESSENTIALLY
CAME BACK, POURED ANOTHER DRINK ON MY SON AND HIS FRIENDS AND TRIED TO HIT MY SON WITH A METAL BOTTLE. THE SCHOOL-- WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE KIDS THAT WERE SITTING AT THE TABLE. THEY HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENCE RECOLLECTION AND HAVE
A DIFFERENT TESTIMONY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AS TO WHAT THE OFFICIAL REPORT SAID. ESSENTIALLY NOTHING IS MENTIONED ABOUT SOMEBODY-- JUST IMAGINE IF YOUR KID WAS AT SCHOOL BEING AND SOMEBODY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAFETERIA SCREAMED AT THEM
RACISM AND THAT YOU ARE A RACIST. HOW FAR WOULD YOU EXPECT YOUR ADMINISTRATORS TO GO TO MAKE SURE THE STATEMENT IS CORRECT AND THAT THERE ARE NO MAJOR ISSUES ARE STATED. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO-- WE HAVE
VIDEO THAT IS LOST, THAT WAS ERASED. AND...
>> SUPERINTENDENT TEERN, YOU COULD PLEASE MEET WITH THE PARENT AND GET HIS INFORMATION. >> I TEACH AT YEAGER MIDDLE
SCHOOL AND HAVE FOR 18 YEARS AND TAUGHT FOR A TOTAL OF 3 IS YEARS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE ARE TOLD THAT WE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. WELL I FIND IT KNOWS SAY SOMETHING. FILE THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AT MY SCHOOL. DURING THE LAST FACULTY MEETING
OUR PRINCIPAL ASKED IF ANYONE HAD A CONCERN. WHEN I MENTIONED WE NEED MORE DILIGENCE ABOUT ENFORCING OUR BACKPACK POLICY BASICALLY CLEAR MESH BACK PACK FOR THE STUDENTS SO THEY CAN'T BRING WEAPONS, OUR PRINCIPAL SAID BASICALLY WE WILL NOT ENFORCE THIS POLICY BECAUSE PARENTS COMPLAIN THAT CLEAR AND MESH BACKPACKS WERE NOT
AVAILABLE IN STORES. OF SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND 67 LINKS ON AMAZON.COM'S FIRST PAGE OF CLEAR BACKPACKS PRICED BETWEEN 9.99 AND $43, 69 LINKS FOR MESH BACKPACKS ON AMAZON
FROM 99.99 TO 49.99 ALL DELIVERED WITHIN THREE DAYS. AS IT STANDS NOW, A STUDENT CAN WALK ON TO OUR CAMPUS, WITH AN ILLEGAL BACKPACK BY OUR OWN RULES, WITH NO CHANCE OF DETECTION OF ANY WEAPON INSIDE. WE HAVE HAD THIS POLICY FOR YEARS AND WE DON'T FOLLOW IT
NOW. WHEN I POINTED ALL THIS ILLEGAL BACKPACK IN THE GYM TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SHE SAID BASICALLY, OH I DON'T KNOW WHERE WOULD I PLACE THEM ALL. THIS KIND OF RESPONSE FOR SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IS
UNACCESSIBLE INACCEPTABLE FROM SOMEBODY IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION. THIS SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE TO ANY ADMINISTRATOR AT ANY LEVEL IN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES, ALL WE HERE IS WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED. OR WORSE, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY OF
THE VICTIMS. LET'S STOP THIS INSANITY NOW. OBVIOUSLY CLEAR MESH BACKPACKS CAN'T BE THAT HARD TO FIND SINCE 80% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE THEM IN OUR SCHOOL. SAFETY ISSUE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAT WE HAVE NO SINGLE SCHOOL CULTURE IN OUR SCHOOL.
EACH GRADE LEVEL OPERATES AS IF IT IS A TOTALLY SEPARATE SCHOOL. THUS ANY CHANCE OF STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING FOR FOLLOWING SIMPLE RULES SUCH AS THE BACKPACK RULE ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE SCHOOL WIDE. AN EASY SOLUTION WOULD BE METAL DETECTORS AT ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS
LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE. TO NOT DO THIS IS BEYOND COMMON SENSE AND INVITES MORE TRAGEDIES TO OCCUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I'M PLEADING WITH YOU LET'S GET SERIOUS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY. THANK YOU. JOHN C. FREED.
>> PAGE LEWIS FOLLOWED BY REPRESENTATIVE LAGROTH. >> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATORS AND FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IEJ PAGE LEWIS FROM DISTRICT ONE AND HERE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RECONSIDER ITS POSITION ON RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THROUGH A PROCLAMATION OR WRITTEN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. ON MAY 1, MILLIONS ACROSS OUR NATION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
SPECIFIC FAITH, WILL OBSERVE THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. THIS IS NOT A CELEBRATION EXCLUSIVE TO ONE RELIGION BUT AWE UNIFYING MOMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES PAUSE TO REFLECT, OFFER GRATITUDE AND FIND STRENGTH
THROUGH PRAYER OR MEDICATION. AMERICANS REPORT ENGAGING IN PRAYER ACROSS THE NATION EITHER PRAYER OR MEDICATION AND THE OTHER AND THOSE THAT MEDICATE-- MEDICATE-- MEDITATE-- ANYWAY,
IT'S AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR NATION'S IDENTITY AND PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING NEUTRALITY WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGION IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 2.122 PROHIBITS DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN RELIGIOUS
ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, ISSUING A PROCLAMATION OR STATEMENT RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT OF STUDENTS AND STAFF TO VOLUME VOLUNTARILY OBSERVE A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER DOES NOT VIOLATE NEUTRALITY. IN FACT, IT UPHOLDS IT. THIS REQUEST IS NO THE ABOUT
PROPOSE MOTORING A RELIGION BUT ACKNOWLEDGING AND RESPECTING THE DIVERSITY OF BELIEFS THAT MAKE UP OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. OTHER DISTRICTS SUCH AS MIAMI DADE AND BROWARD HAVE ISSUED PROCLAMATIONS FOR THIS DAY. THIS YEAR OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ALSO DID, THE
GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES IT. OUR PRESIDENT RECOGNIZES IT. SO WHY NOT OUR SCHOOL BOARD? MANY OF OUR ESTEEMED HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AND I HAVE THEIR LETTERS HERE AND YOU PROBABLY RECEIVED OA. MAILS OF THE
REPRESENTATIVES WHO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION I WON'T HAVE TIME TO READ IT BUT WE BELIEVE A SIMPLE WRITTEN STATEMENT REAFFIRMING THE RIGHTS GRANTED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND STATE LAW WOULD GO A LONG WAY IT WOULD LET STUDENTS AND STAFF KNOW THAT THEIR FREEDOM TO PRAY PRIVATELY
AND VOLUNTARILY IS RESPECTED IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT IS NO THE A POLICY SHIFT, THIS IS A REINFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS ALREADY PROTECTED. LET'S BE CLEAR WE ARE ONLY RECOGNITION THAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EXIST AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED EVEN IF A PUBLIC
SCHOOL SETTING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT MENTIONED THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TODAY ON THE BOARD. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROTH. >> THANK YOU. CHAIR BRILL, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BY THE WAY, I'M NOT REPRESENTATIVE RICK ROTH. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO KEEP MY TITLE BUT I DO HAVE A NEW TITLE, CHAIR I'M SENATE DISTRICT 26 CANDIDATE.
HOW ABOUT THAT? SO I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME, I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT OF THOUGHTS. RATHER THAN PETITION THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TALK TO ALL
THE BOARD MEMBERS, I DECIDED TO GO A DIFFERENT INTERSECTION. WE HAVE BEEN-- A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO PRINCIPALS, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO STUDENTS AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKING PRINCIPALS IF THE STUDENTS DO CONGREGATE AT THE FLAG POLE BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL TO PLEASE ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DAY
OF PRAYER. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DIVIDED COUNTRY AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, POLITICS FIRST AND I IDENTITY POLITICS. LET ME MAKE A COMMONSENSE THOUGHT.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK WITH ALL THE DIVISION AND HATE AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY. WE DO NEED MORE LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. SIMPLE LITTLE THOUGHT, WHO IS THE TWO BIGGEST ADVERSARIES OF
THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR II? JAPAN AND GERMANY. 60 YEARS LATER, WHO IS OUR BIGGEST ALLIES? GERMANY AND JAPAN. WE DID NOT HOLD THE CITIZENS OF THOSE COUNTRIES RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEIR DICTATORSHIPS. WE FORGAVE THEM WE SPENT MONEY REBUILDING THEIR ECONOMIES. THAT'S WHAT GOOD PEOPLE DO AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IT WAS IN 1952 THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMAN SIGNED INTO LAW THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THAT WAS PASSED AS A CONSTITUTIONAL RESOLUTION. NEXT THOUGHT. WE HAD AN FSU SHOOTING ON GOOD FRIDAY. YES WE NEED MORE LOVE AND MORE
FORGIVENESS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS SO THIS REALLY GOES DOWN TO A SIMPLE THOUGHT WE KNOW THAT THE STAFF AND OTHERS HAVE RECOMMENDED NOT TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. WE ARE ASKING FOR LEADERSHIP BY
SCHOOL BOARD. LAST MONTH QUOTING THE BIBLE CORINTHIANS 13:13, EVERY HUMAN CONDITION HAS FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE WE ARE COMING TO YOU ASKING KINDLY TO RECONSIDER YOUR POSITION. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. ANITA GRANT STRONG AND DEDRIC
STRONG. >> GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, CHAIR AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS ANITRA STRONG AND I'M FROM DELRAY. WHEN AND HOW DID WE CONVINCE
YOUNG BLACK CHILDREN THAT TO BE RESPECTED AND INCLUDED THEY MUST BE BROKEN AND SILENCED? FOR BLACK CHILDREN TO QUESTION ANYTHING IS SEEN TO ADMINISTRATION AS BETRAYAL. WHY DOES LEADERSHIP DEMAND BLACK STUDENTS SUBMISSION? IT'S OBVIOUS THE ONLY BLACK LIVES THAT MATTER ARE THE ONES WHO PLAY THE GAME. THE RIGHTS OF BLACK CHILDREN
HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE HANDS OF LEADERSHIP THAT VIEW THEIR VOICES AS NOISE AND THEIR EXPERIENCES AS DISPOSABLE. THE DISTRICT HAS EMPOWERED LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT. INSTEAD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S LEADERSHIP STAKEDLY SUPPORTS THE REALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT INJUSTICE FACED BY BLACK CITIZENS START EARLY IN LIFE AND USUALLY START IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OVER DISCIPLINE OF BLACK STUDENTS FOR COMMUNICATING THEIR DIFFERENCES ARE NOT ALSO ALWAYS IN THE FIRMS OF REFERRALS OR SUSPENSIONS IF BLACK STUDENTS SPEAK OUT DEFENDING THEIR WIRTH
WORTH THEY'RE MET WITH RETALIATION. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FRIDAYS AN UM HYPE HIVE UMBRELLA. THIS UMBRELLA IS REFERENCED AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES WORK IN TANDEM TO MAKE BLACK STUDENTS VOICES AND TEACHERS
DISAPPEAR FROM CLASSROOMS AND KEEP THEM IN MENTAL SLAVERY AND SUBJECTION OF EXPLOITATION. THESE POLICIES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ILLUSION, FOSTER OF SOLIDARITY WITHIN A SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY. ADMINISTRATOR DISREGARD TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE BLACK STUDENT VOICES THAT'S RIGHT SOME OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOM IS REFERRED BY MARTIN LUTHER KING AS OBNOXIOUS PEACE. IN THE WORDS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., IF PEACE MEANS ACCEPTING SECOND CLASS CITIZENSHIP, BLACK STUDENTS DON'T WANT IT. IF PEACE MEANS KEEPING THEIR MOUTHS SHUT IN THE MIDST OF
INJUSTICE AND EVIL, THEY DON'T WANT IT. IF PEACE MEANS WILLINGNESS TO BE EXPLOITED ECONOMICALLY DOMINATED POLITICALLY, HUMILIATED AND SEGREGATED, THEY DON'T WANT PEACE. A PEACE BOILED DOWN TO STAGNANT COMPLACENCY AND IF PEACE MEANS
THIS AS A PARENT OF SEVEN BLACK CHILDREN, I DON'T WANT IT EITHER. ACCOUNTABILITY IS A HARD PILL FOR SOME PEOPLE TO FOLLOW BUT ONE MILL STARTS WITH ONE. I'M NOT HERE TO PLACE BLAME WITH ANYONE BUT HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE WITH THAT WOULD I LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS WHO I HAVE PLACED AN EXPECTATION THAT THEY
WERE INCAPABLE OF FULFILL, I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY POOR JUDGMENT. APOLOGIZE. AS A PARENT AND EDUCATOR I HOPE I CAN ENCOURAGE THE BILL TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN THE LIVES OF BLACK STUDENTS.
THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: BOARD MEMBERS, THAT'S GOING TO BRING US NOW TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION BY Ms. BRANCH, SECOND BY Mr. LANE. ANY DISCUSSION?
WE DON'T HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS. THAT BRINGS US TO NEW BUSINESS. THE FIRST ITEM HAPPENS TO BE A BOARD RESOLUTION. BRD1, AND I RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-01 IN SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY WIDE
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN. MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH, JUST AS A QUICK EXPLANATION. BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS OUR RESOLUTION AND THE REASON WE ARE DOING IT IS THAT I AM WILL SCHOOL BOARD'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COORDINATION PROGRAM AND I WAS ELECTED AS THE CHAIR OF THE ISSUES FORUM AND THEN THIS IS A MOUTHFUL. THE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES COORDINATION FORUM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE KNOWN AS MCJEC.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE REPRESENTATION AT THE TABLE FOR THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLANS SO THAT YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT WILL BE ASSISTING SO CHRIS GARRISON, WHO IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED, SHE SERVES ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEES. BUT I WILL BE CHAIRING THAT AND THE COUNTY HAS ASKED AND THEY HAVE ASKED ACTUALLY, THAT ALL OF
THE PARTIES SITTING AT THE TABLE HAVE A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE COUNTY PLAN. SO THAT IS WHY, NOW WE WILL TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? POAD? MOTION CARRIES ULS. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT. ACTUALLY THIS IS MINE.
AGAIN. BRD2. AS SHOWN ON THE MEMBERSHIP LIST OF THE BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS SUBMITTED. MOTION BY, ANY MOTION IN VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, SECOND BY
Ms. SAVIETTO. YOU PULLED THIS. >> I PULLED BRD2 BECAUSE IT MAY PUT OUR FEDERAL FUNDING AT RISK. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS MR. FERGUSON. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION TO BOARD MEMBER LANE. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD PUT OUR FUNDING AT RISK. >> IT'S A LONG DISCUSSION BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS OF 14-242 AND EXECUTIVE ORDER
14.190 YOU WOULD REACH THAT CONCLUSION AS WELL. >> BECAUSE-- OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T TALK OUTSIDE SO I WANT TO YOU TO ARTICULATE TO ME WHY THIS EXISTENCE THE DDEC PUTS US AT
RISK LOSING $300 MILLION? >> YES, BOARD MEMBER. >> Edward Ferguson: WE SHOULD LOSE IT THEN IF THAT'S THE CONCLUSION THAT THE REST OF THE BOOrd REACHES. >> Chair Brill: MR. FERGUSON. UNFORTUNATELY OUR POLICY IS YOU GET TO SPEAK TWICE AND SO YOU ARE ON NUMBER THREE.
OUR POLICY ONLY ALLOWS YOU TO SPEAK TWICE ON AN ITEM THAT WE ARE VOTING ON. >> Edward Ferguson: I WAS GETTING CLARIFICATION FROM BOARD MEMBER LANE IN THAT REGARD, MADAM CHAIR. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. I JUST NEEDED CLAIFERS AS TO HOW HE CONCLUDED WHAT HE CONCLUDED.
>> Chair Brill: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION-- >> Edward Ferguson: I'M IN FAVOR. >> Chair Brill: LET'S DO THE VOTE AGAIN. ALL IN FAVOR? SNOAFD MOTION CARRIES 5-2 WITH
Mr. LANE AND Ms. BRANCH IN OPPOSITION. AND NOW Mr. SUPERINTENDENT. >> CAO DLRKS 1 I RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR 2 IS EDUCATORS TO TRAVEL OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH OF THE EDUCATORS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULED FROM JUNE TO JUNE 19
RVELGT 2025. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Mr. LANE. SECOND BY Ms. WHITFIELD. Ms. SAVIETTO, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM? >> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO READ FOR THE RECORD, SO A FEW EDUCATORS FROM THE DISTRICT WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH OF THE EDUCATORS FELLOWSHIP WHICH
IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM. THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE ATTENDED FIVE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS IN THE FELLOWSHIP CULMINATES WITH A TRIP TO POLAND AND ISRAEL. EDUCATORS WILL VISIT HISTORICAL
SITES IN POLAND AND ISRAEL, ENGAGE WE CANS PERTS AND GAIN TOOLS TO ENHANCE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION AND TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THE FELLOWSHIP STRENGTHENS THE DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION.
THIS FULLY FUNDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY SPONSORED BY THE PALM BEACH CENTER CORE ON COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM WILL FOCUS ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION AND COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM.
THIS WILL COVER TRAVEL, LODGING AND FOOD EXPENSES ENSURING NO COST TO THE DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I JUST WANT TO PAUSE AND TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU, I WAS BLESSED TO TAKE A SIMILAR TRIP
LAST YEAR THAT WAS HUMBLING AND LIFE CHANGING. BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART AND I KNOW THEY WOULD AGREE THERE IS TRULY NOTHING LIKE
WALKING THE PATH OF HISTORY TO UNDERSTAND IT'S WEIGHTS, ITS LESSONS AND URGENT READVANCED TO MUCH THANK YOU TO THE PALM BEACH CENTER FOR COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR OUR EDUCATORS. THIS IS NOT JUST A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRIP.
IT AN INVESTMENT IN THE HEART OF EDUCATION ABOUT TRUTH, EMPATHY AND REMEMBRANCE. MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO MICHAEL HOFFMAN, BRIAN SEYMOUR AND NEXT INCOMING PRESIDENT FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU TO THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR YOUR VISION CREATING THE CENTER AND CONTINUED SUPPORT. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED BY HISTORY AND GIVING OUR EDUCATORS THE
CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE HISTORY FIRSTHAND EMPOWERING THEM TO TEACH NOT JUST FACTS BUT COMPASSION, RESILIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS HOW WE ENSURE WE NEVER FORGET AND HOW WE BUILD A MORE UNDERSTANDING AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR THIS POWERFUL AND
GENERAL RUSS OPPORTUNITY. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> COM, I RECOMMEND THE BOARD PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD A SECOND BY
Ms. RANCH. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY COP I RECOMMEND THE BOARD PROCLAIM APE 2025 AS AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE MONTH. >> Clerk: MOTION BY Ms. BRANCH, SECOND BY Ms. WHITFIELD. I WILL BE READING THE
PROCLAMATION. ALL KNOW WHY. AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE MONTH APRIL 2025, WHEREAS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IS A NEUROLOGICAL DIFFERENCE THAT CAN AFFECT ANYONE REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY GENDER OR SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND
WHEREAS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AFFECTS ONE IN 44 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES AND APPROXIMATELY 44613 STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY AS OF 2022. MALES ARE ALMOST FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDER THAN FEMALES. AND WHEREAS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IS ESTIMATED TO BE THE FASTEST GROWING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THE CDC, AND AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES MONITORING, A.D.D.M., AND WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM ARE INDIVIDUALS FIRST AND FOREMOST WITH UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES. AND WHEREAS SYMPTOMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER PRESENT
THEMSELVES IN A VARIETY OF COMBINATIONS AND CAN RESULT IN LIFE LONG IMPACTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LEARN, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND UNDERSTAND VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION. AND WHEREAS EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTION AS WELL AS ONGOING
FAMILY SUPPORT FROM FAMILY DOCTORS, THERAPISTS AND EDUCATORS CAN POSITIVELY INFLUENCE PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TO ACHIEVE BETTER OUTCOMES AND A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME SO THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL AND LEAD HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES FULLY INCLUDED WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND WHEREAS THE DISTRICT PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING STUDENT CENTERED AND A PLACE WHERE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ARE
COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING SERVICES THAT MEET THE DIVERSE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF ALL OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH AUTISM. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM BEACH
COUNTY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE MONTH, DONE THIS 23rd DAY OF APRIL 2025 IN WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> Supt.Burke: COM9 I RECOMMEND THE BOARD PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS BROWPING PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Ms. BRANCH, SECOND BY Ms. SAVIETTO AND FOR THAT ONE, YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ IT?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A PERSONAL MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO THANK AN MA STEWART, THE MANAGER OF PALM BEACH COUNTY PREVENTION COALITION COALITION FOR THEIR WORK TO WORK WITH OUR STUNSZ, TEACHERS-- STUDENTS, TEACHERS
TEACHING WATER SAFENESS AND A CULTURE OF PREVENTION. PROCLAMATION DROWNING PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH APRIL 2025. WHEREAS REGARDLESS OF RACE, AGE, GENDER OR SOCIAL ECONOMIC BACKGROUND, DROWNING AND NON-FATAL DROWNING INCIDENTS CAN
OCCUR AND WHEREAS ACCIDENTAL DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AGE 1-4 IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND WHEREAS DURING 2023, 393 WATER SAFETY DROWNING PREVENTION
ACTIVITY PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED LOCALLY OF WHICH MORE THAN 31,000 PALM BEACH COUNTY RESIDENTS BENEFITED AND WHEREAS IN THE EVENT OF A LAPSE IN SUPERVISION, OTHER SAFETY FEATURES THAT LIMIT OR DELAY UNINTENDED ACCESS TO WATER IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT IN DROWNING PREVENTION, AND WHEREAS THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, PROMOTING THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAFETY AND SWIMMING LESSONS VIA EDUCATION, PALM BEACH COUNTY CAN ACHIEVE THE
GOAL OF ZERO PREVENTIBLE DROWNINGS, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVE THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS DROWNING PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH IN DONE THIS 23rd DAY OF
APRIL, 2025 IN WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA, SIGNED BY BOARD CHAIR KAREN BRILL AND SUPERINTENDENT MIKE BURKE. >> Chair Brill: ALL IN FAVOR? IN OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> Supt.Burke: COM 10 I RECOMMEND THE BOARD PROCLAIM
APRIL 22, 2025 AS EARTH DAY. >> Clerk: MOTION AND SECOND. MR. FERGUSON-- >> PROCLAMATION EARTH DAY. APRIL 22, 2025. WHEREAS EARTH DAY IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON APRIL 22 TO CELEBRATE THE ENVIRONMENT AND RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT
POLLUTION AND WHEREAS THE THEME OF EARTH DAY, 2025 IS OUR POWER OUR PLANET, EMPHASIZED NEAT TO TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE SOURCES TO PROTECT OUR PLANET AND EMPOWER OUR INHABIT ANTS AND WHEREAS EMBRACING RENEWABLE ENERGY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, COMBATS CLIMATE CHANGER AND PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND WHEREAS EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FOSTERS A COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE USE AND WHEREAS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IS DEDICATED
TO PROVIDING EDUCATION THAT EDUCATES, INSPIRES AND AFFIRMS STUDENTS TO BE INFORMED RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 22, 2025 AS EARTH DAY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMBRACING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES DONE THIS 23rd DAY OF APRIL, 2025 IN WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA. GLIK PINFALL? >> Chair Brill: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> Supt.Burke: HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY. >> MOTION BY Mr. LANE, SECOND BY MISS WHITT, I'M GOING TO READ THAT PROCLAMATION. HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY APRIL 24, 2025. WHEREAS THE HOLOCAUST WAS THE STATE SPONSORED SYSTEMIC PERSECUTION AND MURDER OF SIX
MILLION JEWS BY NAZI GERMANY AND ITS COLLABORATORS BETWEEN 1933 AND 19 WHAT, ALONG-- 1945 ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF OTHERS TARGETED FOR THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, BELIEFS OR POLITICAL VIEWS AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR PARKS THE 82nd ANNIVERSARY OF WARSAW
GHETTO UPRISING WHEN IMPRISONED POLISH JEWS MOUNTED A COURAGEOUS ACT OF RESISTANCE AGAINST THEIR NAZI OPPRESSORS AND WHEREAS ANTI-SEMITISM RISES WORLDWIDE, HOLOCAUST EDUCATION REMAINS
CRITICAL IN COMBATING HATE, MISINFORMATION AND INTOLERANCE AND WHEREAS THE DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO REMEMBERING THE HOLOCAUST AND STANDING AGAINST HATRED AND PERSECUTION IN ALL FORMS. AND WHEREAS YOM HASHOA,
HOLOCAUST REMEMBER DAYS-- RAWFT REMEMBRANCE DAY WILL BE SELL-- THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 24, 2025 AS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY YOM
HASHOAH REAFFIRMING OUR DEDICATION TO PRESERVING HISTORY, PROMOTING HUMAN DIGNITY AND FRONTING HATE WHEREVER IT OCCURS DONE THIS 2K3rd DAY OF APRIL, 2025 IN WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> Supt.Burke: THAT TAKES US TO FMPF 4 AND THE SCHOOL BOARD COUNTY OF FOR THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICE THROUGH THE OPERATION OF NEW HEALTHCARE CENTERS TO SERVE BENEFIT DEPENDENT AS AUTHORIZE THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD CHAIR TO SIGN ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. >> Chair Brill: A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH. I ACTUALLY PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I FOUND IT A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING. I DID GET A LITTLES CLARIFICATION THAT THIS IS A SIDE BY SIDE.
THERE IS NO COST TO EMPLOYEES, SO EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR UNITED HEALTHCARE PLANS, CORRECT, AND THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS PLAN. WHERE MY CONCERN COMES IN THOUGH IS THAT IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE HAVE TO BASICALLY GUARANTEE A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND SO Mr. SUPERINTENDENT, IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME, LET'S SAY I ENROLL IN THIS NEW PLAN, AND I'M A UNITED HEALTHCARE, BUT I NEVER USE THE NEW PLAN, SO I'VE JUST ENROLLED IN IT.
AND SO HOW DO WE MONITOR THE FIDELITY? I MEAN WE CAN HAVE EMPLOYEES JUST SIGN UP AND NEVER USE IT. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING SOME BANG FOR OUR BUCKS? EXPWHRS MADAM CHAIR, THE PREMISE OF YOUR QUESTION IS CORRECT. WE ARE, BY GOING INTO THIS
CONTRACT, WE ARE BASICALLY GUARANTEEING PAYMENT FOR 4,000 EMPLOYEES TO UTILIZE PEOPLE ONE. IT'S 160 PER MONTH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND GETS YOU TO A TOTAL COST OF 7.68 MILLION. WE-- THIS IS SOMING WE HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT FOR OVER A YEAR. WHEN WENT THROUGH COALITION BARGAINING LAST YEAR. WE EXPLORED THE POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP AS A WAY TO SAVE COST NOT JUST FOR THE EMPLOYEE BUT THE DISTRICT EATS HEALTH INSURANCE FUND AND WEAN THEN WE TOOK A STEP BACK TO WATCH THE CONTRACT USED BY OTHER DISTRICTS
, ORANGE COUNTY TO OUR NORTH AND THEY WERE-- THEY HAD NO TROUBLE REACHING THE 4,000 THRESHOLDS AND OUR DISTRICT IS COMPARABLE SIZE. WE ARE CONFIDENT THE PROGRAM WILL BE ATTRACTIVE TO EMPLOYEES BECAUSE ONCE THEY UTILIZE PEOPLE HEALTH 1, THERE IS NO CO-PAYS
THAT THEY HAVE TO GET LAB WORK OR MRI, IT'S NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. SO WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL HIT THAT TARGET AND THEN WE ALSO MONITOR THE ENROLLMENT AND IF THE EMPLOYEES SIGN UP FOR IT BUT THEN THEY'RE NOT ACTIVE AND NOT AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THE SERVICE, WE WILL UNENROLL THEM.
SO THAT WE ARE NO LOCKER-- LONGER PAY ARE FOR THEM. THE VENDOR IS GOING TO HELP US MONITOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE GOING OUTSIDE OF THE PEOPLE HEALTH ONE FOR VARIOUS SERVICES OR TESTS OR LAB WORK AND JUST BRINGING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION AFTERWARDS THAT THEY COULD HAVE
SAVED THEMSELVES A CO-PAY HAD THEY TAKEN ADVANTAGE FOR WHAT THEY'RE ENROLLED FOR. THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR US BUT WITH THE COST OF RISING HEALTHCARE CLAIMS WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD STEP TO TRY TO REDUCE OUR COST OVER THE LONG-TERM AND TRY TO AVOID THE NECESSITY OF HAVING TO GO BACK
AND INCREASE OUR PREMIUMS ON BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND DISTRICT SIDE. >> Chair Brill: SO I'M GOING TO GIVE A FOLLOWUP AND SO MY QUICK FOLLOWUP IS THAT SO THIS IS COSTING US $7.68 MILLION AND SO I'M NOT AGAINST IT BECAUSE I
THINK THE PREMISE IS GOOD. WHERE EMPLOYEES WON'T HAVE CO-PAYS BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BEING USED WITH FIDELITY. SO I WANT US TO SEE HOW WE CAN MONITOR THAT. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN, ON A MONTHLY BASIS. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
HAVE ENROLLED, AND THEN I NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY MONITORING WHETHER THEY'RE ACTUALLY USING IT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY USING IT, I JUST-- ANYBODY CAN ENROLL. BUT YOU KNOW, WE SIT IN OUR MEETINGS ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND
ABOUT EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND $7.6 MILLION, IF IT IS NOT BEING USED WITH FIDELITY CAN GO AN AWFULLY LONG WAY. SO THAT'S MY CMENT. Ms. BRANCH. >> I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. AND I GOT A LOT OF THEM ANSWERED BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MINE.
AND Ms. FED ERIC AND Ms. BOLTON SAID THEY WILL WATCH THE UTILIZATION OF IT. IF IT IS NOT BEING USED, WE ARE OUT, CORRECT? SO WE HAVE AN OUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO WATCH THE UTILIZATION OF IT TO SEE WHO IS USING IT AND WHO IS NOT BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME QUESTION.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUT IF IT IS NOT BEING USED. SO THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER. >> Chair Brill: MISS SAF YET SO. >> IF WE ARE GOING TO MONITOR, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A TRIAL SESSION, A TRIAL TIME? ARE WE GOING SAY IF IT DOESN'T
WORK OUT FOR A YEAR, IS IT A YEAR CONTRACT AND THEN WE WILL SAY IS IT WORTH THE MORE THAN AGAIN SO IF NOT WE USE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> THIS IS A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT. IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY
OF SWIX. THE COMPANY WILL HAVE TO HIRE THE STAFF AND WE WILL BE BUSY MAKING EMPLOYEE AS WEAR OF IT AND GETTING THEM ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM A LOT OF WORK TO DO FROM THIS POINT FORWARD TO JANUARY 1 JUST TO PROVIDE CONTEXT OUR
HEALTH CLAIMS TOTAL OVER $200 MILLION A YEAR. AND I KNOW 7.6 MILLION IS A BIG NUMBER. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE CONTEXT AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY PERHAPS TO OVERALL REDUCE OUR COST OF CLAIMS. WE THINK ITS A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR AND WE HAVE THE BUILT
IF THE FIRST YEAR DOES NOT GO WELL UP TO OUR EXPECTATIONS, WE CAN TERMINATE THE CONTRACT FOR CONVENIENCE. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE TEAM AND COME BACK WITH WHAT WE CAN DO. WITH HIPPA REQUIREMENTS WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS
PERSON DID X, Y AND Z BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THE CLAIM DATA COMING IN AND LIKE WE DO WITH OUR CURRENT PROVIDERS AND GET YOU SOMETHING THAT ANSWERS THOSE QUESTIONS. >> Chair Brill: SO Mr. SUPERINTENDENT I'M NOT GOING TO ASK ANYONE TO VIOLATE
HIPPA BUT I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW. WE ARE NOT ASKING WHICH EMPLOYEES ARE USING IT AND WHICH ONES ARE NOT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW NUMBER ONE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE ENROLLED AND I WANT SOMEONE TO BE MONITORING WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO IT EVERY THREE MONTHS , JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
TO KEEP AN EYE ON MAKING SURE SOMEHOW THAT THEY'RE USING IT BECAUSE JUST TO HAVE THEM SIGN UP FOR IT AND SPEND THAT MONEY, TO ME, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN THE END, IT WILL HELP EMPLOYEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR TEACHERS, THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS WOULD
LIKE THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR ME 7.68 MILLION IS A BIG NUMBER. >> THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A GREAT
MARKETING WITHIN OUR EMPLOYEES, PUT IT IN DIFFERENT PLACES, BATHROOMS, ENGLISH SPANISH FOR THE CUSTODIALS AND SOMETIMES IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING WE DON'T USE IT, RIGHT? AND WE ARE AFRAID TO EVEN ASK FOR SO THE MESSAGE HAS TO BE TO THE POINT, TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE
TO, YOU KNOW, SO OUR EMPLOYEES WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, WANT TO USE IT, WHO IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TEACH THEM OR TRAIN THEM OR, YOU KNOW, AND THEN IF WE HAVE IT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE MAYBE SOME
OF OUR WORKERS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EMAIL SO MUCH, SO I WOULD REALLY PUSH FOR GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STAFF, 23,000, 28,000. >> Supt.Burke: ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTIONS AND
THE QUESTIONS. I'VE SAID I WANT TO BE THE FIRST FIRST ONE TO ENROLL AND I WILL HOPEFULLY SEE MY HEALTH IMPROVE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD WITH THAT INFORMATION. >> Clerk: Ms. BRANCH. >> THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, ALSO WAS THE MARKETING, GETTING THE WORD OUT SO PEOPLE WOULD
KNOW, WHICH I AGREE WITH YOU 100% ON THAT. WE ARE NOT PAYING, I UNDERSTAND -- WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM THE 7.6 UP FRONT AND WE ARE NOT. IT'S A MONTHLY PAYMENT OVER 12 MONTHS AND I THINK OUR BIGGEST BENEFIT IS WE HAVE A LOT OF
CLAIMS AND THIS IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU, HEATHER FOREANSWERING AND Ms. BOLTON AND THE C.E.O. FOR ANSWERING ALL OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. >> Chair Brill: VICE CHAIR ANDREWS. >> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HELP OUR STAFF, BUT WITH PAYING THAT KIND OF MONEY, I KNOW WE DO HAVE
I A COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. I THINK THE VENDOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE WORK AT THAT TIME WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE ARE PAYING THIS KIND OF MONEY, I DO EXPECT FOR THEM TO MARKET IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THIS CONTRACT GOING. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. >> Chair Brill: ALL IN FAVOR?
ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> Supt.Burke: THAT TAKES TO US PTHE, I RECOMMEND THE BOARD SUPPORT THE JOB DESCRIPTION AS SUBMITTED. >> Chair Brill: MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> Supt.Burke: I RECOMMEND THE SCHOOL BOARD-- >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? , OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> Supt.Burke: BEFORE WE GET INTO THE POLICIES, I HAVE A STATEMENT TO READ INTO THE RECORD.
I RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPT A PROPOSED EMERGENCY REVISION TO POLICIES 1.04, 1.091, 3.05, 5.015, 5.016, 7.081, THE REPEAL
OF POLICY 6.142 AND POLICY 6.143 AND ADOPTION OF 6.1434 DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE POSTED TO THE PUBLIC AND THE SIGNIFICANT FEDERALS IMPLICATIONS CENSORED WITH FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE FEDERAL INTERPRETATION OF THE
TITLE VI AND THE STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS V HARVARD SUPREME COURT CASE. THE BOARD IS TAKING ONLY THE ACTION NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THIS IMMEDIATE DANGER REQUIRES EMERGENCY ACTION AND PROCEDURE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE MANDELA POLICY IS FAIR UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE REASONS STATED IN THE ATTACHMENT. THAT TAKES US TO POLLCOS 1. I PROPOSE THE BOARD ADOPT POLICY 1.04 UNITARY SCHOOL DISTRICT. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Ms. BRANCH SECOND BY MEDICINES
WHITT. ANY DISCUSSION IN MR. FERGUSON. >> Edward Ferguson: I WILL BE VOTING IN OPPOSITION OF IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY AND SEVERAL OF THE OTHER ONES. WHAT I DIDN'T SAY TO YOU ALL IS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO STAND FIRM ON.
I IMAGINE THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOU IF NOT ALL OF YOU WILL VOTE IN FAVOR IN FEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL WITH HOLD $300 MILLION WHICH IS ROUGHLY 10% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE NSBA IN ATLANTA ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO, I NOTICED THIS SPIRIT OF
FEAR THAT ITSELF PERMEATING MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IT'S SAD BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, WHICH IS PUTTING FORTH THE BEST POLICY FOR OUR CHILDREN WE HAVE CHILDREN LEADING THE ADULTS RIGHT NOW IN DC
RESPECTIVELY, THEY ARE. WE AS A BOARD SAID YEARS AGO THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, PARAGRAPH 7, THE MAJORITY TO MINORITY
TRANSFER RULE, WE PUT THIS IN THE POLICY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN AND WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVELY CARPETED BAGGER IN D.C. SAYING NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE. TO HELL WITH YOUR CHILDREN. I 15 NO, THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S GOING TO BE HERE.
I'M DEFINITELY VOTING IN OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGE TO THIS POLICY AS WELL AS SEVERAL OF THE OTHER ONES BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST LONG-TERM. THINK THIS THROUGH. AND THEY MAY DO IT BUT IT WOULD BE TEXTBOOK SITUATION OF CUTTING YOUR NOSE OFF TO SPITE YOUR FACE.
IF WE DON'T IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES AND BOARD MEMBER LANE, CLEARLY STATED HIS CONCERNS FOR MAINTAINING THE DDEC BECAUSE HE BELIEVES AND THAT IS HIS UPON AND I CAN'T SAY HE IS NECESSARILY WRONG THAT WE MIGHT END UP LOSING PART OR ALL OF OUR
FEDERAL FUNDING BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU ARE FOOL ENOUGH TO PULL OUR FEDERAL FUNDING, THE SAME PERSONS WHO PUT YOU IN OFFICE ARE GOING TO SEE YOU OUT OF OFFICE BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? THEY HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING TITLE I FUNDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. ALL THOSE MONIES THAT WE RELY ON
TO MAKE THIS MACHINE HUM, A LOT OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE SUFFERING IF YOU PULL THAT $300 MILLION. SO YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T PLAY THAT GAME OF CHICKEN. I DON'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF FEAR. IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, LET'S DO IT. I'M NOT AFRAID OF THEM PULLING THE MONEY BECAUSE A GREATER MAJORITY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS
ARE GOING TO LOSE OUT IF THEY PULL THE $300 MILLION AND WOULD I SAY YOU FOOL, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? SO I THINK WE ARE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT AND I SEE IT IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO I'M NOT LIKE BROW BEATING US TO SAY WE ARE
THE ONLY ONES DOING IT BUT WE ARE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT LETTING CHILDREN LEAD THE ADULTS WE ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN REGARD TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS MANDATED BY OUR STATE CONSTITUTION. I SEE THAT THERE IS CLEARLY A POLITICAL PLAY HERE TO FURTHER
WATER DOWN TO FRACTIONALIZE PUBLIC EDUCATION WHERE THE VALUE IS SO LOW THAT PEOPLE SAY I GUESS I WILL GO TO A CHARTER SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOL OR JUST HOME SCHOOL. BUT HISTORICALLY WE KNOW THAT OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM RUNS
CIRCLES AROUND NEARLY ANY OTHER PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOL. NAME ME FIVE THAT OPERATE AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. YOU CAN'T. I AM WILLING TO STAND ON THE LINE IN THIS REGARD AND IT MAY NOT BE-- I MAY BE MAKING A TARGET OF MYSELF BUT I DIDN'T
EXPECT TO BE HERE FOREVER ANYWAY. I'M GOING DO WHAT I WAS ASKED TO DO BY MY CONSTITUENTS WHILE I CAN DO IT AND THIS FOOLISHNESS THAT WE ARE HAVING TO CAPITULATE TO, I CAN'T TACITLY SUPPORT SO FOR THAT REASON I'M VOTING IN POP OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGES. >> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
YOU HAVE GONE OVER THE TIME THAT WE ARE ALLOW-- ALLOTTED. >> Edward Ferguson: WE SHOULD BE BUT I'M GOING TO FINISH MY THOUGHT. >> Chair Brill: GENERAL COUNSEL WAS TIMING. DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW MR. FERGUSON TO CONTINUE.
Mr. LANE, AND VICE CHAIR, ANDREWS SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WITH SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED. Ms. BRANCH. SO YOU MAY CONTINUE SO WE ARE ALL FAVOR. WE'RE LETTING YOU SPEAK.
>> Edward Ferguson: I'M GOING TO BE A LIGHTNING ROD. I DON'T NEED YOU ALL-- I'M PRETTY SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE THESE SAME SENTIMENTS I'M GOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I'M SEEING BOARD MEMBERS AND TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS SCARE OUT OF THEIR PANTS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
CHILDREN LEADING THE ADULTS AND MY CHILDREN DON'T RULE MY HOUSE. AS I SAID BEFORE, I DARE THEM TO PULL THE $300 MILLION AND SEE WHERE IT GETS YOU. FOR THAT REASON I'M VOTING IN OPPOSITION TO ALL OF THESE. I UNDERSTAND SUPERINTENDENT WHY YOU ARE DOING IT BUT I VOTE IN OPPOSITION TO IT.
I DARE THEM TO PULL THE $300 MILLION. THANK YOU. GLIK ANY OTHER COMMENTS. >> Chair Brill: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION.
>> POHL-CROS2 I PROPOSE THE BOARD ADOPT THE EMERGENCY REVISIONS TO POLICY 1.091 AUDIT COMMITTEE. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY MEDICINES BRANCH SECOND BY Ms. WHITFIELD. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH
MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> Supt.Burke: COS 3, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY. >> Clerk: MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD SECOND BY Ms. BRARN. ANY DISUTION? DISCUSSION MR. FERGUSON. >> Edward Ferguson: THIS IS A
TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF THE ABSURDITY THAT WE ARE ENTERTAINING HERE. LOOK AT SECTION 5 DISPARITY STUDY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE SCALES HAVE BEEN TILTED IN OPPOSITION TO MINORITY, PARTICULARLY BLACK
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT'S HISTORIC. THAT'S NOT EVEN SOMETHING WE ARE DEBATING AT THIS POINT. AND SO WE DID WHAT ANY REASONABLE MINDED GOVERNING BODY WOULD DO MANY YEARS AGO AND SAID HEY, LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE OUR THUMB OFF THE SCALE
AND GIVE ACCESS TO A VERY DISPARAGED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE BLACK COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S GOOD FOR BUSINESS WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK AND THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN A VERY WEAK LINK.
BAD BUSINESS FOR US TO AS FIX YAT-- ASPHYXIATE THE BLACK OR HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO ECONOMICALLILY THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL MAY VOTE FOR FEAR OF THE GOVERNMENT
PULLING THE 300 BUT I SAY CALL THEIR BLUFF. WE HAVE SEEN, WHEN YOU HIT THE BULLY, THE BULLY TUCKS TAIL AND RUN. I DARE THE BULLY TO PULL THEIR 300 MILLION AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAND WITH ME IN THAT REGARD AND VOTE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
EMERGENCY CHANGES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EMERGENCY. THEY WILL BE PERMANENT UNTIL THE ADULTS TAKE OVER THEIR POSITION AS THE LEADERS OF THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. Ms. BRANCH. >> VICE CHAIR McQUINN I'M NOT
VOTING-- >> Gloria Branch: I'M NOT VOALING IN FEAR OF THESE POLICIES. >> Chair Brill: MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. I HAVE GENERAL COUNSEL SITTING WITH ME BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP TO OUR POLICY. I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF AND
WE WILL IN THE FUTURE, BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL HAVE THE CLOCK FOR THREE MINUTES. >> Edward Ferguson: YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. BUT I SAID WHAT I SAID AND SOMETIMES I WILL BREAK PROTOCOL. PROTOCOL IS BROKE BY THE CRAP WE ARE HAVING TO VOTE ON RIGHT NOW RESPECTFULLY BUT I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT ADHERING TO THE TIME.
IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO VIOLATE OUR PROTOCOL. >> Chair Brill: Mr. SUPERINTEN DENT. >> COS4 I RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPT THE EMERGENCY REVISIONS TO POLICY 5.015 STUDENT REASSIGNMENT. >> Chair Brill: MOTION AND SECOND. MI DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> Supt.Burke: I RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPT EMERGENCY REVISIONS TO POLICY 5.016 CHOICE SCHOOLS AND PROGRAM. >> Chair Brill: MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. MR. FERGUSON, WHO YOU ARE YOU VOTING? >> Edward Ferguson: NO. I'M VOTING IN OPPOSITION GLICK MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> Supt.Burke: I RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPT PROPROCEEDSED
EMERGENCY REVISIONS TO POLICY 5.60 LELGBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN K-12 EXTRA DRINK LAR ACTIVITY. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH
MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> Supt.Burke: I RECOMMEND THE BOARD REFEEL VIEFORT AND BUSINESS PRACTICES. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD, SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH. ANY DISCUSSION? MR. FERGUSON, YES, I SEE YOU ARE READY. >> Edward Ferguson: THIS ENTIRE
POLICY IS BEING ERASED FROM THE ANNALS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS IS ABSURD, CHILDREN LEADING THE ADULTS. NOW BOARD MEMBER BRANCH, YOU SAID YOU ARE NOT VOTING IN FEAR. LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION. DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOOD FOR US TO REDACT FROM OUR POLICIES?
>> Gloria Branch: YES. >> Edward Ferguson: THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. WE ARE ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM. >> Gloria Branch: THAT'S OKAY. >> Edward Ferguson: I KNOW IT'S OKAY BECAUSE IT'S WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE. I DARE THE GOVERNMENT TO PULL OUR $300 MILLION. SEE WHAT IT GETS THEM. I IMPLORE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ABSURD, AND THAT WE ARE IN A
THEATER OF THE ABSURD, STAND UP AND DON'T CAPITULATE TO THIS CHILD LIKE POLICIES THAT ARE COMING OUT FROM DC AND THROUGH TALLAHASSEE. IT'S DISRUPTING PUBLIC EDUCATION. THAT IS OUR TRUE CALL. SOMEONE SAID, MADE A POINT ABOUT
THE POLITICALIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. YEAH, LET'S STOP LETTING IT HAPPEN. CHILDREN ARE LEADING ADULTS WE HAVE TO STOP THIS. THIS IS ABSURD. BOARD MEMBER BRANCH, I LOVE YOU BUT IN THIS REGARD, I'M THE HATFIELD TO YOUR McCOY THIS
THAT REGARD. I GUESS IT WILL BE THAT WAY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO NOT VOTE FOR STRIKING POLICY 6.142. THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME THAT WENT INTO THIS. IT WAS NOT THE MOST POP-- POPULAR BUT WE DID IT.
I SAY WE HOLD TRUE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. MOST OF US HAVE AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS WHO SUPPORT THIS. I SAID MOST OF US. I DON'T KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THAT REGARD BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT DISTRICT. I CAN TELL YOU AS A PERSON THEY
WOULD HAVE ME VOTE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS AND I THINK A GREATER MAJORITY OF YOU HAVE THE SIMILAR AMOUNT OF CONSTITUENTS WHO WOULD SAY DON'T VOTE TO STRIKE 6.142 AND THE SUBSEQUENT POLICIES THAT MAY BE GETTING STRUCK HERE SHORTLY. AGAIN I DARE THE GOVERNMENT TO
PULL OUR $300 MILLION. THEY WILL NOT DO IT. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> COS I RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVED THE PROPOSED EMERGENCY
REPEAL OF POLICY 6.143, DIVERSITY AND EQUITABLE UTILIZATION IN BBS. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELDMENT SECOND BY VICE CHAIR ANDREWS. ANY DISCUSSION? MR. FERGUSON. >> Edward Ferguson: SO AGAIN I DON'T WANT TO WAY WE ARE WHITE WASHING HISTORY BUT DEFINITELY
WASHING HISTORY. LOOK AT POLICY 6.14 PC, 1995 WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, WAY BACK IN 1995, WE CONCLUDED THAT MARKET AREA INDUSTRY AREA PRACTICES IN CONSTRUCTION, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, YOU ALL
CAN READ THE REST OF IT WAS NOT WHAT IT NEEDED TO BE AND THAT WE NEEDED TO TO IMPROVE THAT SITUATION: Mr. JOHNSON MAY HAVE BEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT BACK THEN EVEN THEN WE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO DO BETTER BECAUSE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. AND NOW WE ARE JUST GOING TO 30
YEARS LATER BECAUSE OF THESE CHILDREN IN D.C., WANT TO SAY OKAY, WE WON'T DO IT. CALL THEIR BLUFF. STOP LETTING THE BULLY BULLY YOU. IT'S DISRUPTIVE TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. CANCEROUS TO MOST OF OUR
COMMUNITIES APPARENTLY NOT ALL OF THEM BUT AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT. AND I SAY NO I DON'T LIVE IN FEAR. I'M GOING TO VOTE THIS DOWN AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS IS ABSURD STOP CRABBING AND
BELLY ACHING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECT YOU TO DO. GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE. GET OFF YOUR BUT AND GO TO SACK MEETING AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS GO TO THE STATEHOUSE, SENATE AND HOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE, GO TO D.C., LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL.
STOP HAVING THIS SMALL FAK FACSIMILE OF PEOPLE REPRESENT FALLACIES ON YOUR BELAUGH AS IF IT WERE FACT BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S NOT. DON'T SIT BY AND WATCH LIFE PASS YOU BY. GET UP, BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND SEIZE THE DAY. AND VOTE THIS TYPE OF GARBAGE DOWN.
THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> Supt.Burke: I RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPTED EMERGENCY POLICY 6.1434 SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
PROGRAM. >> Chair Brill: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH. ANY DISCUSSION? MR. FERGUSON. >> Edward Ferguson: SO THE CHILDREN WOULD HAVE US IMPLEMENT A POLICY THAT WOULD-- THERE WAS
A STAND STANDARD THAT SUPERINTENDENT BURKE SAID EARLIER, SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES-- I FORGOT THE ACTUAL PHRASEOLOGY THAT YOU USED SUPERINTENDENT BUT TO THE EFFECT THAT IF THE POLICY HURTS OR DOESN'T HELP, WHAT WAS THAT STANDARD WE WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT? >> Supt.Burke: TO IDENTIFY POLICIES FOR RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY? WE YES. >> Supt.Burke: WE WORKED WITH THE TEAM AND LOOKED AT THE CERTIFICATION THE HAVE I TO SIGN OFF ON BEHALF OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, AND IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE HARVARD SUPREME COURT
RULING ENTITLE 6 BASICALLY BOILS DOWN IF YOU HAVE POLICY THAT WOULD PROVIDE A PREFERENCE FOR ANY PERSON BASED ON THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN, THAT YOU CAN BE FOUND TO BE, YOU KNOW, NON-COMPLIANT WITH THE
FEDERAL INTERPRETATION. THAT CERTIFICATION. I YOU THIS-- IN THIS DAYS WE
VOTED TO REPEAL THE DIVERSITY EQUITABLE UTILIZATION OF BUSINESS AND NOW THIS IS TO ADOPT A NEW SBE POLICY. IN PRACTICE, WE HAVE BEEN WITH AN SBE PROGRAM SINCE 2017. THAT POLICY DOES DATE BACK TO 1995.
WHEN WE HAD THOSE PROGRAMS WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY, THAT WERE RACED BASED, WHERE YOU COULD DO MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS PROGRAMS. TO HAVE THE PROGRAMS, HAVE YOU TO PROVE A DISPARITY EXISTED WITH A DISPARITY STUDY. WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS PARTICULARLY IN OUR CONSTRUCTION
ARENA, WE BRING A MONTHLY PURCHASING REPORT THAT CAN SHOW WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND OUR SB PROGRAM IS HAVING 134 SUCCESS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIVERSE GROUP. SO WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S REALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THE ONLY THING WE CAN HAVE IS RACE NEUTRAL
PROGRAMS AND THAT'S WHAT I'M RECOMMEND. >> Edward Ferguson: THIS GOES BEYOND THAT, DOES IT NOT. YOU DIDN'T MENTION SEX AND WE TALK ABOUT WOMEN AND MINORITIES. WOMEN ARE CONSIDERED A MIN MINORITY FOR THE TOPIC WE WERE DISCUSSING. THIS NEW CHANGE IN POLICY WOULD
ALSO-- WE ARE ALSO NOT SAYING WE ARE GIVING ANY PARTICULAR EXTRA CONSIDERATION TO FEMALES, CORRECT? >> Supt.Burke: CORRECT. >> Edward Ferguson: THIS IS NOT GOOD. AGAIN, A HISTORICALLY DISPARAGED GROUP ARE WOMEN.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD DOUBT THAT. CERTAINLY NOT MANY OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE HOW HEAVY HANDED AND BOYS CLUB UPPER ECHELON LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN OVER TIME SO NOW YOU ARE SAYING AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. CALL THEIR IMLUF BLUFF BECAUSE THEY'LL REALIZE THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BENEFITED MY DAUGHTER. I HAVE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR MY DAUGHTER. YOU MEAN I'M STOPPING THAT FROM HAPPENING. YEAH, IDIOT, YOU ARE. YES. YOU ARE. WE SHOULD NOT VOTE THIS. I RAIL-- I GUESS I'M A GAMBLER. I REALLY WANT TO CALL THEIR
BLUFF AND I KNOW YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT BY EVIDENCE OF YOUR PAST VOTES, BUT YEAH, WE ARE NOT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY HERE AS A BOARD AND I UNDERSTAND MANY OF YOUR REASONS WHY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE OTHERS BUT THAT'S FINE BUT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LET CHILDREN
LEAD US. WE ARE THE ADULTS. WE ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. THIS IS TOO MUCH. >> Supt.Burke: I RESPECT YOUR POSITION AS A BOARD MEMBER. I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH VOTE FOR EVERYONE AND WE ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A
FEARFUL PERSON MYSELF. I NEED TO LOOK AT THE DISTRICTED AND THEIR FINANCES AND I FELT LIKE THE THREAT WAS REAL EXPWHRS Mr. SUPERINTENDENT I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M NOT CRITICIZING THESE IN THAT REGARD. AS FAR AS THAT GOES.
BUT AGAIN, THIS KIND OF BULLY ESSENTIALLY POLITICS, WE SHOULD ONLY BE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKERS WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AS ADULTS AND HOPEFULLY THEIR FAMILIES IN THE FUTURE AND NOW IT'S TURNED ON THEIR HEAD.
FRACTIONALIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS TERRIBLE. I DON'T CARE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT WHETHER THE TAX OR NOT TAX OR THIS OR THAT, MEDICAID MEDICARE. EDUCATION IS A FOUNDATIONAL PIECE. THOSE WHO START AHEAD TEND TO
STAY AHEAD, THOSE WHO START BEHIND TEND TO STAY BEHIND. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, THE WAY TO HELP THOSE WHO START BEHIND TO CATCH UP IS TO GIVE THEM TOP NOTCH EDUCATION. WE ARE THEIR BEST CHOICE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR THE GREATER MAJORITY OF STUDENTS. AND THIS, AGAIN,-- WE NEED TO
NOT-- WE SHOULD NOT CAPITULATE. I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS SUPERINTENDENT, BUT WE SHOULD LET THEM-- WE SHOULD LET THEM DO IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I PROMISE THEY WILL FLIP FLOP LIKE ALL THESE SILLY TARIFFS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED ONE DAY AND FLIPPED OFF THE NEXT. EXACT SAME THING.
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S ME. YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED IF I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO IT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE GOT IN D.C. AND NOT IN TALLAHASSEE RESPECTFULLY. I'VE SEEN IT. A BUNCH OF SCARED CHILDREN UP THERE BEING BULLIES.
THERE IS NO NUANCE TO THIS. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES 6 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED WITH
MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. >> COS 10 I RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPT PROPOSED EMERGENCY REVISIONS TO 308CY 7.081 NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT GLICK MOTION BY Ms. BRANCH SECOND BY Ms. WHITFIELD. ANY SUBSTITUTION? ALL IN FAVOR?
OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES 6-1 WITH MR. FERGUSON IN OPPOSITION. THAT WILL NOW BRING US OVER TO OUR BOARD DISCUSSION ITEM.
BDIS Mr. SAVIETTO. >> Virginia Savietto: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LAKE WORTH HIGH
SCHOOL SWIMMING POOL. >> Chair Brill: IT'S YOUR DISCUSSION SO YOU NEED TO BRING FORWARD WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY. >> Virginia Savietto: I WANT TO KNOW A FEW THINGS, YOU KNOW, SO I WENT TO LAKE WORTH HIGH. I DON'T REPRESENT BUT IT WILL
ALTS BE IN MY HEART SO I WANT TO KNOW, I DON'T THINK I'M CLEAR ON HOW WE LET IT GO SINCE WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT WE HAD A POOL. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE REFERENDUM MONEY THAT WE HAD FOR 10 YEARS.
ALLOCATION SALES TAX AND THE REFERENDUM. WE ALSO MAINTAINED IT. WHEN DID WE SAY WE WERE GOING TO STOP MAINTAINING IT? I WAS REALLY SAD AND UPSET TO FIND THROUGH THE PALM BEACH POST THAT YOU KNOW, IT WAS FULL OF
(INAUDIBLE) I GRAN AS-- IGUANA AS. THEY DON'T INVADE THE POOL. I HAVE ONE IN THE HO AF. THEY DON'T COME NEAR THE POOL. I'M FRUSTRATED IN THE LIGHT THAT WE HAD TWO DROWNINGS THIS WEEKEND ONE IN LAKE WORTH BEACH
AND ONE IN BROWARD, WHICH HAPPENED IN BROWARD BUT IT WAS ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, AND THE ONE IN LAKE WORTH BEACH, THE TWO CHILDREN THAT SURVIVED, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO-- THEY GO TO LAKE WORTH MIDDLE.
AND I WENT THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS MANY YEARS AGO AND MY COUSIN AND I WERE AT A POOL AND WE-- SHE DROWNED AND IT WAS 45 YEARS AGO. SHE WAS 5, I WAS 5. I STILL REMEMBER. IT CAUSED A LOT OF DRAMA. A LOT OF DRAMA. AND I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, LAKE
WORDS HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT THE ONLY SCHOOL WITH A POOL. BOCA RATON HAS A POOL, AND WE HAVE, IF ANYTHING, WE HAVE MORE CHILDREN NOW THAN EVER. SO I FEEL THAT LAKE WORTH IS VERY NEAR TO MY DISTRICT AS WELL
AND I DON'T WANT TO LET GO OF THAT POOL OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO TAKE SWIMMING CLASSES. I KNOW AS A SINGLE MOM IT WAS REALLY HARD TO PAY FOR A CLASS FOR LUCA WHEN HE WAS LITTLE.
WE WENT TO THE YMCA IN PALM SPRINGS. IT IS NOT THERE. IT WAS THE MOST AFFORDABLE ONE I COULD AFFORD THREE THREE YEARS IN A TIME THAT I COULD GO AND WE ARE TAKING THE POOL, WE DON'T HAVE LAKE WORTH BEACH POOL, WE DON'T HAVE A POOL FOR OUR PEOPLE
TO ENJOY. OUR STUDENTS AND MAYBE THE COMMUNITY TO USE IT FOR SWIMMING CLASSES AND I'M JUST CONFUSED BECAUSE ICE LIKE-- BECAUSE WE WERE LIKE WE WERE MAINTAINING IT FOREVER AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY OR WHAT
HAPPENED? SOMEBODY FORGOT WE HAD A POOL IN LAKE WORTH? BOCA HIGH SCHOOL HAS A POOL. WHO MAINTAINS THAT? HOW MUCH IS IT ALLOCATED TO MAINTAIN THAT SCHOOL? WHAT HAPPENED TO LAKEWORTH HIGH SCHOOL? HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO FIX IT
, REFURBISH IT, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE? I MEAN IF WE-- I DON'T DO BUDGETS AND I DON'T DO MAINTAIN MAINTAINING, JUST Mr. JOE SANCHES DOES. DON'T WE CARRY EVERY YEAR MONEY AND SAY WELL THIS SCHOOL HAS A
POOL. IT ALWAYS NEEDS MAINTAINING. WHY WOULD WE LET GIT? AND ALWAYS WAS PART OF THE BUDGET TO MAINTAIN IT. WHEN DID IT STOP BEING PART OF THE BUDGET TO MAINTAIN IT? I HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND I CAN'T ASK ANYBODY.
I CAN'T ASK PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, TO Ms. WHITD WHAT SHE THINKS UNLESS I BRING IT TOO LIGHT AND -- TO LIGHT AND I KNOW THE PRINCIPAL DOESN'T WANT TO LET GO OF THE POOL. AND I DON'T WANT TO LET GO OF THE POOL.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT OLYMPIC, SO KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO COMPETE BUT WE CAN PARTNER WITH, I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, PALM BEACH COUNTY RECREATION AND PALM BEACH. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT POOLS SOMEWHERE MAYBE BUT NOBODY KNOWS.
I WANT TO KNOW A PLAN, SOMETHING CONCRETE. I DENT WANT ANYMORE CHILDREN-- I DON'T WANT ANYMORE CHILDREN TO DROWN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TEACHING OR, YOU KNOW, AND THIS MONTH IS PREVENTION,
YOU KNOW, DROWNING PREVENTION. NEXT MONTH IS NATIONAL DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH. MOWM WHO ARE-- HOW MANY MORE CHILDREN HAVE DO DROWN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT NEAR HER DISTRICT. IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN OTHER
DISTRICTS. SO I WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE POOL. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING. >> Chair Brill: BEFORE I CALL ON THE OTHER PEOPLE I'LL WILL HAVE Mr. BURKE COMMENT. >> Supt.Burke: THE POOL AT LAKE WORTH HIGH IS RELATIVELY UNIQUE.
WE HAVE TWO IN THE THAN TIRE DISTRICT, ONE AT BOCA HIGHBUILT IN THE 2000S CONSIDERABLY NEWER. THE POOL AT LAKE WORTH WAS BUILT IN THE 60s AND HAD SOME FAILURES, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WOULD NOT KEEP THE POOL IN SERVICE.
SO WE WERE KIND OF FORCED TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT POOL. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE POOL DEMOLISHED. WE ARE WORKING TO GET A BID IN PLACE FOR THAT WORK. AND WE HAVE ALSO, Mr. SANCHES HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TO BE PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO WORK WITH
THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH AND I CAN LET Ms. WHITFIELD SPEAK FOR HERSELF ON THAT. BUT I JUST WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH IS NOW WITHOUT TWO POOLS. WE ARE LOSING THE POOL AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND THEIR OWN POOL DOWN BY THE PIER HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS WORKING THROUGH THAT. AND THERE IS INTEREST IN BUILDING OLYMPIC SIZE POOL ON THE SITE TO BE DETERMINED. MAYBE PERHAPS ONE OF THEIR PARKS AND WE HAVE EXPRESSED A WILL ISNESS TO BE PART OF THAT SO AT THAT TIME WE COULD UTILIZE THE POOL FOR OUR STUDENTS AND IN THE
INTERIM, WE HAVE WORKED AS PALM BEACH COUNTY PARKS AND REC TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS AT LAKEWORTH HIGH SCHOOL HAVE ACCESS TO A COUNTY POOL. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU, Ms. WHITFIELD. >> Erica Whitfield: I'M GLAD
Ms. SAVIETTO BROUGHT THIS UP. THIS IS A SUBJECT NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. LIKE HAVING MY CHILDREN IN LAKE WORTH AND I USED TO GO TO THE LAKE WORTH POOL ON THE BEACH WITH MY DAUGHTER, THE ONE THAT IS 17, WHEN SHE WAS LIKE 2. AND IT HASN'T BEEN AROUND IN A VERY LONG TIME. THIS IS A MASSIVE ISSUE FOR THE
CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH. THIS IS CAUSED MORE DISSENT AND MORE ISSUES WITHIN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME. THE DROWNING ISSUES, FIRST I WANT TO SAY I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR COUSIN. THAT IS A REALLY HARD THING TO DO; TO DEAL WITH.
THE DROWNING ISSUES, THE ROANT RECENT RIP TIDE ISSUES WE HAD IN LAKE WORTH LOSING PEOPLE THERE HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD. I THINK YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE DROWNING PREVENTION COALITION, SOMING I HAVE BEEN REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME. I USED TO GO AND TEACH KIDS TO
SWIM IN THE LAKE WORTH POOL. WITH ANNA STEWART. AND LAKE WORTH BEACH HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THIS ISSUE THUS FAR. I THINK WHAT THE AREA OF THE LAKE WORTH BEACH NEEDS IS AN AQUATIC COMPLEX. I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING BIG. WE NEED SOMETHING THAT CAN DRAW IN PEOPLE AND OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT
ON THE COMMISSION OF LAKE WORTH BEACH BUT AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE AREA AND REPRESENTS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT CAN SHOW-- THAT WE CAN SHOW TO THE COMMUNITY AS THIS IS WHAT AN AQUATIC COMPLEX
NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE. NEEDS TO BE OLYMPIC SIZE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOLS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO LAKE WORTH HIGH SO KIDS COULD WALK TO IT AND IT COULD BE A PLACE WHERE WE REALLY ARE TEACHING THE COMMUNITY HOW TO SWIM AND BEING ABLE TOE DRAW IN FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF PORE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN THERE-- A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. THE POOL AT LAKEWORTH HIGH SCHOOL I HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS OVER THE YEARS. BEGGED AND PLEADED FOR MANY YEARS TO TRY TO KEEP THE POOL GOING AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT Mr. SANCHES WAS ABLE TO DO FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
WE DID KEEP IT UP FOR AS LONG AS WE COULD BUT THAT POOL IS JUST-- IT REALLY DOESN'T FIT THE NEEDS TO PUT A TON OF MONEY NIGHT, I THINK DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT THIS POINT. BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A VERY SMALL POOL AND IT-- I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF FUNDS. IF WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER, WE
SHOULD PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO OR IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT MONEY INTO A POOL, WE SHOULD PARTNER WITH THE CITY OR MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK THAT WE CAN. THAT'S SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT. I'M FOLLOWING IT. I HAVE HAD MANY MEETINGS WITH CITY STAFF AND WITH OUR STAFF TO
TRY TO DISCUSS THIS. AND SEE HOW WE CAN BEST DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES BUT I THINK THE BEST SOLUTION FOR RIGHT NOW IS THE JOHN PRINCE PARK SOLUTION WHICH IS THE STUDENTS CAN GO THERE UNTIL WE CAN GET SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER IN PLACE BUT I LOVE THAT YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT
THIS BECAUSE I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I WANT TO SEE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNER IN A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THAT COMMUNITY. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU, MR. FERGUSON. >> BOARD MEMBER SAVIETTO, DO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD FROM BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD IN
REGARD TO THE STEPS LAKE WORTH IS TAKING TO MAKE SWIMMING AVAILABLE. >> JAF WHO IS TAKE THE INITIATIVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXCITED SOUNDS GRIET BUT BY WHEN? BY-- >> Edward Ferguson: I COULD ENCOURAGE TO YOU SHOW UP AND SPEAK AT A CITY COMMISSION
MEETING IN LAKE WORTH. BUT BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD LAS JUST SAID THIS IS SOMETHING SHE HAS BEEN ADVOCATING AS WELL. HAVE YOU TWO SUPER FRIENDS ON THAT ISSUE INCREASES THE CHANCES OF THAT HAPPENING. SERIOUSLY THOUGH. I THINK-- WHEN I HAVE AN ISSUE
THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND I'M ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE COMPARED TO ME, I'M NO LONGER THE NEOPHYTE HERE. YOU GO TO THE CITY COMMISSIONS AND EXPRESS WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE AND ADVOCATE FOR IT TO HELP MOVE THIS ALONG. SO BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD SOUNDS
LIKE SHE HAS BEEN THE LONE RANGER UP UNTIL NOW FROM OUR BOARD AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OR LIMITS YOU BOTH ADVOCATING WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSIONERS IN LAKE WORTH AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SWIMMING, STRAINING OR DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF DROWNING BY WAY OF MAKING SURE A GREATER NUMBER OF
CHILDREN IN THE CITY CAN SWIM. SO I THINK THE TWO OF YOU CLEARLY COULD AND SHOULD KIND OF PUSH THIS ISSUE ALONG BUT I THOUGHT I HEARD BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD SAID SHE HAS IT OUT OF THE FORMATIVE PHASE AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FINANCING IT
AND MAYBE YOU CAN HELP PUSH THE TIMELINE ISSUE. >> I DON'T WANT TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WELL IT'S THE CITY, WELL IT'S THE COUNTY. IT COULD BE THE DISTRICT. WHOSE IS IT. WHO HAS THE BALL. IT'S NOT OURS. IT'S YOURS. AND I HAVE SEEN THAT IN GOVERNMENT A LOT.
ALL THESE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND AGENCIES COME ALONG AND SO IT WOULD BE VERY NICE AND I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH, YOU KNOW, JENNIFER FROM PARKS AND RECREATION, NOT SO MUCH WITH THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM BUT I MEAN OF COURSE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO TAKE PART OF IT OR, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT MONEY BECAUSE IF WE HAD MONEY TO REFURBISH OR MAINTAIN IT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WHAT UNDERSTAND 20 MONEY? WHERE DID IT GO? IT WAS ALLOCATED 59 ONE POINT.
-- IT WAS ALLOCATED AT ONE POINT. BOCA HIGH SCHOOL DOES IT HAVE MONEY TO BE MAINTAINED? AFTER A BIEL WHAT HAPPENS? DOES IT DISAPPEAR. WHAT PS TO THE MONEY ALLOCATED ON AN ITEM THAT SAYS BOCA HIGH SCHOOL POOL? WHAT HAPPENED TO LAKE WORTH
HIGH, THE MONEY THAT WENT TO THAT SCHOOL-- >> THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE. SO AGAIN, IF YOU ARE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR IT, ADVOCATE FOR IT WHO CARES WHY IT DIDN'T GET DONE TO THIS POINT. YOU SEEM HOT ABOUT IT. THAT'S GREAT. SEE IT THROUGH. YOU HAVE AN ALLY WITH BOARD WHEB WHEN IT FEED. I SUPPORT IT.
I ADVOCATE FOR IT BECAUSE THAT'S AN ISSUE IN DISTRICT 7 IN TERMS OF DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM GETTING IN WATER AND FINDING THEMSELVES IN A COMPROMISES SITUATION. >> Virginia Savietto: THAT'S FINE ABOUT THE MOVING FORWARD, IT WOULD BE LIKE WHY DID IT HAPPEN?
I'LL ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ASK A LOT OF WHYS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF MY CAREER, BUT LIKE I'M NOT SATISFIED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND AND I WROTE IT DOWN, Mr. BURKE, WE ARE GOING TO DEMOLISH IT. IT WAS NO LONGER GOOD TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WHY? I WONDER WHY IN OUR DISTRICT, HER STRICTER AND MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, WE CAN DO SO MUCH IN THE FUTURE BUT WHY DID WE GET IT TO HAPPEN. WHY? I DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE TO
HAPPEN IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT HURT OUR STUDENTS, OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMOWNT AT LARGE BECAUSE OF-- OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE BECAUSE OF LACK OF WHAT? GLIK JUST GLICK I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET THOSE ANSWERS TONIGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO MEET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, MAYBE
WITH Mr. SANCHES TO FIND OUT THE HISTORY BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE ARE DEMOLISHING THE POOL THAT'S THERE. SO I AGREE WITH MR. FERGUSON. I THINK YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR ADVOCACY TO THE PROPER PEOPLE AND TELL THEM HOW CONCERNED YOU ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY MADE THE DECISION THAT THE POOL IS
BEING DEMOLISHED. WE ARE GETTING BIDS. THAT HAS DONE SO WE CAN'T KEEP LOOKING BACKWARDS AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SAT IN AND HEARD ABOUT THE DIRE STRAITS FOR OUR BUDGET AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND ALSO.
SO Ms. WHITFIELD... >> Erica Whitfield: I WILL QUICKLY TRY TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT. I KNOW BEE HAVE SUCH A LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION SO I DON'T WANT TO OVERWHELM WITH DETAILS BUT THE CITY DOES HAVE MONEY ALLOCATED TO TORE THIS. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY HAVE IS WOEFULLY SHORT OF WHAT THEY NEED
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WHEN WE MET WITH JENNIFER, SHE QUOTED US AROUND $29 MILLION FOR WHAT THE POOL IS CURRENTLY COSTING THE COUNTY TO PUT IN AT
THE TIMED IT WAS AN ACCURATE DOFT. THERE NEEDS TO BE SO MUCH MORE MONEY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN A VIABLE WAY THE MONEY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS HUGE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING WITH THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I DO SUPPORT TEARING DOWN THE POOL IN ITS CURRENT STATE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S IN A GOOD SITUATION AND I DON'T THINK IT FITS OUR NEEDS. IT'S VERY SMALL. IT DOESN'T FIT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE. SO I PERSONALLY AGREE WITH YOU, MR. FERGUSON. WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, I WOULD
REALLY LOVE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MIAMI FELLOW BOARD MEMBER TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH AND CONTINUE TO CONVERSATION. BUT WE DO HAVE SOME PROPOSALS THAT HAVE COME IN, OBVIOUSLY NOT ME, THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH IS GETTING THESE PROPOSALS AND THAT COMMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THEM BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT IS PART OF THE PROPOSALS IS AN AQUATIC COMPLEX SO WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT I HOPE SOMEONE WILL EDUCATE YOU ON BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE ME BUT IT IS-- THERE ARE SOME IRONS IN THE FIRE. I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS GOING TO
HAPPEN. SO I THINK WE NEED TO COVER OUR TIME FROM NOW UNTIL THEN BUT THERE ARE THIS SUBMISSION THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED ABOUT. >> Chair Brill: THANK YOU. BEFORE I GO TO VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, JUST KNOW THAT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL WILL SPEAK TO BOTH OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU MAINTAIN SUNSHINE AND THAT
IN YOUR ADVOCACY SO THAT YOU ARE NOT PUTTING YOURSELVES IN HARM'S WAY IF YOU MAKE ANY PROMISES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO BRING SOMETHING BACK, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL COUNSEL WILL GIVE YOU SOME CLEAR DIRECTION ON SUNSHINE. MS. ANDREWS. >> YES. >> Marcia Andrews: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER, BOTH OF YOU. YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO GET IT TO HAPPEN. BUT GROVE EMPLET SCHOOL IS PART NEVER WITH IS PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE CHILDREN SERVICE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE SWIMMING LESSONS, AGAIN THIS
YEAR FOR THE CHILDREN WITHIN OUR GLADES REGION AND THEY GO TO PIONEER PARK SCHOOL SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHILE WE ARE WAITING ON ALL OF THIS TO MATERIALIZE, WE JUST HAVE TO DO SOME PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE COUNTY OFFICIALS, PARKS AND
RECREATION AND GET SOME SWIMMING LESSONS AND SOME SUPPORT TO GET THESE CHILDREN INVOLVED BECAUSE WATER IS EVERYWHERE. LAKE WORTH, YOU ARE RIGHT THERE TO THE INTERCOASTAL LIKE THE GLADES IS THERE TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT KIDS DO GET
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM. GLICK THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYMORE DISCUSSION ON THIS? OKAY. SEEING NONE. LY NOW TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. MOTION BY EVERYBODY. BUT A MOTION BY Mr. LANE SECOND BY Ms. BRANCH. THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION?
ACTUALLY, VICE CHAIR ANDREWS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. >> Marcia Andrews: I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. SOMETIMES LONGEVITY MEANS SOMETHING. WE LOST Dr. OTILA DuBOSE, MAYBE ALL OF YOU DON'T KNOW HER BUT SHE WOOS A VALUABLE MEMBER OF TEAM PALM BEACH FOR SO MANY YEARS. WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE HER
HERE ON MAY 7 AND THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE SUNDAY. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN GET WITH ME. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO Mr. SANCHES AND THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE FAMILY BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER FORGET THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID THE WORK HERE TO GET TO US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
A LOT OF THESE POLICIES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT WAS IN HER DEPARTMENT. SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. >> Chair Brill: A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. ANYMORE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GO HOME EVERYBODY.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.