GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO OUR HUMBLE ABODE. I WILL HAVE US ALL RISE AND I WILL HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. SO BEFORE WE BEGIN JUST A FEW
HOUSEKEEPING DETAILS. IF ANYBODY NEEDS TO USE THE RESTROOMS WHEN YOU GO OUT YOU TURN TO YOUR RIGHT AND GO THROUGH THE DOORS. AND THE RESTROOMS ARE ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT ALREADY WE HAVE COFFEE AND SOME OTHER DRINKS AND SNACKS OVER HERE.
ON MY LEFT. AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK MY BOARD MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. WE'LL START AT THE FAR END WITH MS. BRANCH. >> Gloria Branch: I AM THE BOARD
MEMBER FOR DISTRICT 5 ALL OF BOCA RATON. >> Erica Whitfield: I'M ERIKA WHITFIELD I REPRESENT DOWNTOWN WEST PALM TO DELRAY ALL OF PALM BEACH ISLAND OUT TO MILITARY.
THANK YOU, WELCOME. >> I'M MARCIA ANDREWS. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT SIX FOR THE WEST END COMMUNITIES STARTING AT LANTANA AND THE TURNPIKE AND AS WEST AS YOU CAN GO TO BELLE GLADES SOFT BAY AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN. WELCOME.
>> Mr. FERGUSON. >> >> Edwin Ferguson: EDWIN FERGUSON AND I COVER IN RIVIERA BEACH AND MEANDERS TO EAST DELRAY. >> GOOD MORNING, VIRGINIA WITH DISTRICT TWO.
MY DISTRICT IS WE'RE SITTING ON IT. WELCOME TO MY DISTRICT. I HAVE GREEN ACRES, PALM SPRINGS, UNINCORPORATED WEST PALM BEACH AND THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH. THANK YOU. >> I'M MATTHEW LANE AND I REPRESENT NORTH COUNTY.
AND MY DISTRICT STARTS AT BLUE HERON AND GOES UP TO THE COUNTY LINE. >> AND I AM KAREN BRILL AS YOU KNOW THE CHAIR, MY DISTRICT IS DISTRICT 3 I CALL MYSELF THE UNINCORPORATED BOARD MEMBER, IF YOU THINK OF IT I'M COBRA THE
ALLIANCE OF DELRAY I AM A LITTLE BIT OF WEST BOCA AND A TINY PIECE OF GREEN ACRES. BUT I HAVE A RECOLLECT TANK GOO LAR DISTRICT WEST FROM MILITARY TRAIL AND WE BUILT IN OUR SCHOOLS BEGINNING THE EAST I
HAVE THE LEAST NUMBER OF SCHOOLS. YOU SEE ME ALL OVER THE PLACE. WITH THAT I'M GOING TO ASK THE DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND I WILL -- THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND UNTIL REP SKIDMORE COMES I
WAS ASKED TO OUR DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES. IF WE CAN START. THANK YOU. >> I'M ANNE GERWIG I REPRESENT DISTRICT 3, SOUTHERN TO SHERWOOD
FOREST BLOOD ON THE EAST. PARTS OF ALL OF WELLINGTON, PARTS OF GREEN ACRES A TINY BIT OF ROYAL PALM BEACH AND UNINCORPORATED PALM BEACH COUNTY AND PROUD TO BE HERE, THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.
I AM TINA POLSKY REPRESENTING DISTRICT 30 I'M LEFT WITH A SMALL PART OF PALM BEACH COUNTY SOUTHERN HALF OF BOCA RATON AND I HAVE LARGER PORTION OF NORTHWEST BROWARD THAT MAKES UP DISTRICT 30 AND I'M HAPPY TO BE
HERE. >> I'M SENATOR LORI BERMAN AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT 26. IT IS HALF OF BOCA RATON, DELRAY BEACH, BOYNTON BEACH THE CITIES ON THE COAST HIGHLAND BEACH AND
GOING UP AND THE VILLAGE OF -- ACTUALLY HAVE THE VILLAGE OF GULF AND I GO OVER OCEAN RIDGE AND GO OVER AND I TAKE IN A LOT OF UNINCORPORATED AS WELL AS THE CITY OF WELLINGTON AND BELLE GLADE AND SOUTH BAY. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'M EDMONDS I'M PROUD TO SERVE HOUSE DISTRICT 88 WHICH ENCOMPASSES LAKE PARK, RIVIERA, WEST PALM BEACH AND ROYAL PALM BEACH. HERE WITH ME IS MY ASSISTANT RAMOS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME. >> GOOD MORNING. I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS 20 MINUTES EARLY NOT 10 MINUTES LATE SO MY APOLOGIES I'M KELLEY SKIDMORE UNINCORPORATED PORTIONS
OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. SO NO MUNICIPALITIES FOR ME. TODAY, I HAVE MY LEGISLATIVE AIDES GWEN GONE LESS AND AMY CHAMBERLAIN. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M DEBRA AND I REPRESENT
DISTRICT 89 AND WELCOME TO MY DISTRICT. I REPRESENT CENTRAL PALM BEACH COUNTY. LAKE WORTH, LAKE CLARK SHORES PALM SPRINGS, GREEN ACRES, ATLANTA, WEST PALM BEACH I HAVE ATLANTIS AND I HAVE GLENRIDGE AND CLOUD LAKE AND I HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYONE.
MY OFFICE STAFF MY TEAM IS AT THE OFFICE WORKING GETTING READY FOR COMMITTEE WEEKS NEXT WEEK. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS IN A WHILE. FOR THOSE WHO NEVER PARTICIPATED
IN ONE OF OUR JOINT MEETINGS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS JUST TURN YOUR CARD LIKE THAT. AND YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED. WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN THE MEETING OVER TO OUR FEARLESS LEADER, SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL BURKE.
>> Mike Burke: GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I WAS GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION AN UPDATE ON THE STATE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TAKE YOU THROUGH OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WHICH OUR BOARD HAS WORKSHOPPED TWO TIMES VOTED ON
AND APPROVED. WE'RE PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION. BEFORE I JUMP IN I HAVE A QUICK VIDEO WE ARE A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR SCHOOL YEAR IS OFF TO A GREAT START I WANTED TO SHARE THIS VIDEO TO SHOW YOU HOW THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WENT WHICH IS ALWAYS VERY EXCITING FOR ALL
OF US. [♪♪] >> GOOD MORNING, WELCOME. >> HUGS AND HAPPY FACES ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.
OUR A RATED DISTRICT IS CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE. SADDLE VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY COMMUNITY. OUR 183rd SCHOOL BRINGS AN ENERGY TO THE AREA AS THE COLTS
LOOK TO MAKE THEIR MARK. >> Mike Burke: I'M PROUD OF THIS SCHOOL WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY WELL DESIGNED AND THE PRINCIPAL IS ALL THE EXTRA DETAILS INTO IT. >> WYNNEBROOK ELEMENTARY IN WEST
PALM BEACH WELCOMES STUDENTS TO THE NEW MODERNIZED CAMPUS. THE SCHOOL WENT UP FROM A B TO AN A. ALSO BUMPING UP TO ACHIEVE AN A THIS YEAR THE CHIEFS OF THE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL.
PINE GROVE ELEMENTARY AND PAHOKEE ELEMENTARY. PINE JOG ELEMENTARY JUMPED TWO GRADES TO GET ITS A. ALONG WITH ROSEN WALLED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IS THE TALK OF THE TOWN IN SOUTH BAY.
>> MY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WE ARE EXCITED AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO WANT TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS OVER AGAIN. >> THE FIRST DAY IS FILLED WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES A FRESH START FOR TEACHERS TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND STUDENTS TO SHINE. THAT ENERGY WILL CARRY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR TO EDUCATE,
AFFIRM AND INSPIRE EVERY STUDENT. THAT IS ITEM SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IS YOUR BEST CHOICE. >> Mike Burke: ALL RIGHT. I COULD STOP RIGHT THERE. [APPLAUSE] ANYWAY IT WAS A GREAT FIRST DAY. YOU COULD SEE OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND MYSELF WE WERE OUT AND ABOUT
WE TRY TO VISIT AS MANY SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE. AND WE'VE HAD GOOD MOMENTUM. THE SCHOOL YEAR IS OFF TO A SMOOTH START AND WE'RE PAST THE FIRST QUARTER. I WANT TO WELCOME REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY SIMON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL THE GROUP
WHERE YOU PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY YOU REPRESENT FOR US? >> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SOUTHEAST PALM BEACH COUNTY BOCA RATON, HIGHLAND BEACH DISTRICT 91 AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. >> Mike Burke: THANKS FOR BEING HERE. YOU'VE MET MY BOSSES THESE ARE
OUR SEVEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR MISSION THAT WAS NOT CHANGED TO EDUCATE, AFFIRM AND INSPIRE EACH STUDENT AND I'M FORTUNATE GOING IN MY FIFTH YEAR AS SUPERINTENDENT AND THAT MAKES ME ONE OF THE ELDER STATESMEN. AND THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT A SCHOOL BOARD THAT REALLY SUPPORTS ME AND THEY ALWAYS PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRST AND THAT IS WHAT KEEPS US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. WE ARE A BIG DISTRICT. WE ARE 10TH LARGEST IN THE NATION. WE ARE FIFTH LARGEST IN FLORIDA WHICH SHOWS YOU HOW BIG THE
FLORIDA DISTRICTS ARE. BUT YOU HEARD IN THE VIDEO WITH THE OPENING OF SADDLE VIEW WE ARE UP TO 183 SCHOOLS OUR FOOD SERVICE IS THE BIGGEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN WE SERVE 35 MILLION MEALS A YEAR, 23,000 EMPLOYEES AND OUR WORKFORCE
SERVING 170,000 PRE-K-12 GRADE AND OUR SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS. BUT IT'S GROWN IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND IT IS, LIKE I SAID, FULLY ACCREDITED AND THEY GO THROUGH
THE SAME PROCESS AS ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE RECENT ONE IN MAY AND ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST RATING OF EXCELSIOR. ONWARD AND UPWARD FOR OUR SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE A RATED. WE ARE PROUD OF THAT WE WORK
HARD TO KEEP OUR A RATING. FEATURED IS PINE JOG WHICH YOU MAY HAVE CAUGHT THEY WENT FROM A C TO AN A INCREDIBLE JUMP IN ONE SCHOOL YEAR. THE PRINCIPAL THERE IN THE PINK DRESS RACHEL THOMAS. OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND WE ARE ONE OF 13 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE AT THAT TIME DESIGNATION. 13 OUT OF 67 HIGH PERFORMING AND WE ARE ONE OF THEM. AND 44 OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE DESIGNATED AS THE SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE. WE ARE PROUD OF THAT. AND WE HAVE NO D OR F SCHOOLS IN
PALM BEACH COUNTY. SO WE'RE PROUD OF THAT, TOO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] JUST A FEW MORE STATS. ACROSS OUR DISTRICT 71% ARE A OR B WHICH MEANS WE HAVE 29% C'S WE'RE WORKING TO RAISE UP TO AN
A OR B. WE WANT TO PROVIDE KIDS ALL OPPORTUNITIES WHETHER IT IT'S ACADEMIC, FINE ARTS I HIGHLIGHT WE HAD 13 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY LAST YEAR. AND THAT PICTURE SHOWS YOU THE
WEST BOCA RATON BULLS THEY WERE THE FOOTBALL CHAMPS. OUR GRADUATION RATE OUR DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS IS THE HIGHEST OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THIS I WANTED TO QUICK WE HAD A BIG ISSUE AND MANY OF YOU HELPED
US WITH IT WE WERE CONCERNED THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE FUNDING FOR COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT, ACE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE WELL WITH IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. WE'VE GROWN THOSE PROGRAMS. AND SO THIS CHART SHOWS YOU WE
WANT OUR KIDS TAKING RIGOROUS ACADEMICS AND THAT STARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH ADVANCED MATH, ACCELERATED IMAGE. MIDDLE SCHOOL WE CONSIDER IT ACCELERATED TAKING THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL COURSE. AND YOU CAN SEE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT'S GROWN FROM 73
TO 93% OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TAKING ONE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL COURSE THAT IS ALGEBRA AND THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WE HAVE GROWN FROM 55% TO 71% OF CURRENTLY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKING ONE COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE.
AND THAT'S ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS A LOT OF THEM TO EARN GRADUATED ELIGIBLE FOR A FULLBRIGHT FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP. IF YOU QUANTIFY THE VALUE THOSE STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE AND GO THROUGH FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE
THAT IS 71.5 MILLION IN BRIGHT FUTURE SCHOLARSHIPS OUR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT WE HAD 21,000 TAKING THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN WITH 75% PASSING AND THE TABLE SHOWS YOU HOW THE NUMBER OF ACE DIPLOMAS HAS GROWN
WE ARE THE LEADER IN NORTH AMERICA WITH THE ACE PROGRAM AND ALL THOSE DIPLOMAS GENERATE A BRIGHT FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP AND THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND THE CAP STONE GRADS THAT HAS GROWN AS WELL. WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNER IN PALM
BEACH STATE COLLEGE AND CLASS OF 25 HAD 130 GRADUATED WITH A DIPLOMA AND TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM PALM BEACH STATE. SOME OF THE LEADERS ARE LISTED. AND WE CALCULATE THAT THAT TWO YEAR DEGREE FOR THE 130 GRADS
SAVED FAMILIES 3.5 MILLION IN TUITION. THEY ARE GETTING VALUE OUT OF THAT. ON NOVEMBER FIFTH OUR SCHOOL BOARD WILL HAVE A BIG WORKSHOP ON CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR OUR BOARD AND FOCUS WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL THEY HAVE A PLAN AND ON A PATHWAY TO A HIGH WAGE JOB HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY A LOT OF THAT THE MAJORITY WILL BE HEADING TO COLLEGE. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE OFFERING PROGRAMS PARTNERING WITH PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE
AND DUAL ENROLLMENT, TWO-YEAR DEGREES AND PROGRAMS THEY GO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE. I HIGHLIGHT THE MAJOR AREAS AND THESE ARE ALL STRONG JOB SECTORS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FROM IT ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM,
HEALTHCARE, LAW, FINANCE AND BUSINESS WE ARE WALL STREET SOUTH NOW AND THAT IS BRINGING FINANCE AND TECHNOLOGY JOBS. AND I HIGHLIGHT THOSE ACROSS THE BOTTOM ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON IS ALL OF OUR CHOICE PROGRAMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WE LIKE TO HAVE A STRONG
BUSINESS PARTNER. AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE. WE HAVE WHITES CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY. JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER WITH THE MEDICAL PROGRAMS AND YOU WILL SEE THAT CONTINUE TO GROW HERE
IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. OKAY. FISCAL REALITY. FLORIDA IS LEAN IN TERMS OF EDUCATION FUNDING. SO WE ALWAYS PRESENT THIS CHART CURRENTLY BASED ON THE MOST RECENT DATA THROUGH THE NATIONAL CENTER OF EDUCATION STATISTICS FLORIDA WAS 46TH IN THE COUNTRY
OUT OF THE 50 STATES AND PALM BEACH THERE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED. AND THE OTHER THING IN THE BOX I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR VOTERS. WE HAVE A REFERENDUM IN PLACE THAT PROVIDES OPERATING REVENUE. WHEN WE FACTOR THAT IN IT
ELEVATES PALM BEACH COUNTY IF WE WERE TO BE OUR OWN STATE WE WOULD BE 37TH IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT'S CONSIDERABLE MOVEMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER IN TERMS OF CHOICE PROGRAMS AND TO PAY OUR TEACHERS A LITTLE BETTER HERE IN PALM
BEACH. WE HAVE MORE COMPETITION THAN EVER. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO LIVE UP TO OUR MOTTO TO BE YOUR BEST CHOICE AND MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES SEEK US OUT FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND WE CONTINUE TO SERVE OVER THREE QUARTERS OF THE STUDENTS IN PALM
BEACH COUNTY IN OUR DISTRICT OPERATED PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 78% TO BE PRECISE IT SHOWS YOU WE HAVE 12% GOING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEN -- 10% IN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND WITH THE VOUCHERS, THE FLORIDA
SCHOLARSHIPS, THAT'S RELATIVELY NEW AND THEY ARE SERVING ABOUT 12% OF STUDENTS. SO MOVING ON TO THE PRIORITIES, I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERY WORD I WILL TRY TO HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS AND WE WILL HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THESE.
BUT SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY NOW. ABOVE ACADEMICS. WE HAVE TO BE SAFE BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING. I MENTIONED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS A BIG PART AND WE TAKE A MULTILAYERED APPROACH TO SCHOOL SAFETY AND IT TAKES FUNDING. WE SPEND THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT
WE RECEIVE THROUGH THE SAFE SCHOOLS PORTAL AND PART OF THAT REFERENDUM MAKES THAT POSSIBLE. SO WE WELCOME ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE WAY OF SECURITY TO GET THE STATE FUNDING MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. AND THEN A COUPLE THINGS THAT
WE'RE DOING WE ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS BECOMING A MAJOR CONCERN. AND THE BOARD WE'RE WORKING OUR CHAIR ASKED US TO PUT SIGNAGE UP IN OUR RESTROOMS TO ALERT STUDENTS AND IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY MAYBE A VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING OR THEY KNOW SOMEONE
WHERE TO REACH OUT FOR HELP. AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS CREATING THAT TRAINING AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO COME OUT IN DECEMBER. THIS REMAINS A CONCERN ON THE
SAFETY FRONT AND THE OTHER EMERGING ISSUE WITH THE VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS WE RECOMMEND WE MAINTAIN THE STATUTE 103.22 AND MAINTAIN THOSE CURRENT VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS YOU WILL SEE A COMMON THEME WHERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE FUNDING. AND THAT REALLY IS ACROSS THE BOARD WHETHER FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, THE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WE WANT TO EXPAND.
AND THEN THAT BOTTOM BULLET TO MAINTAIN THE PERFORMANCE BONUS FUNDING WITH THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT ACE COURSES WE SWEATED OUT THAT POTENTIAL 50% REDUCTION AND WE'RE HOPEFUL WE WILL BE AS THAT WAS RESTORED THAT THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO REMAIN IN PLACE. TEACHERS AND STAFF, WE'D LIKE TO PAY OUR TEACHERS BETTER AND WE ARE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE RIGHT NOW. AND TO BE HONEST IT'S NOT GOING THAT WELL. SO AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, THE
STATE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE $100 MILLION THROUGH THE TEACHER SALARY INCREASE. AND 100 MILLION THAT IN MY PERSONAL LIFE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NUMBER I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT BUT WHEN YOU SPREAD IT ACROSS OUR 67 DISTRICTS OUR SHARE IS 6
MILLION AND WITH 13,000 TEACHERS THAT 6 MILLION PROVIDES A 0.6% RAISE AND INFLATION IS 3% WE ARE TRYING TO DO BETTER WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO PUT A PACKAGE ON THE TABLE.
BUT WE COULD USE MORE HELP WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERIFFING TEACHER SALARIES. AND THAT BULLET WE ARE WORKING TO GROW OUR OWN TEACHERS AND WE HAVE GOOD PROGRAMS WE'RE PROUD OF WHERE WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE AND WE'RE HELPING THEM GO BACK
TO THE SCHOOL. AND THE STATE HAS INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS THAT TEACHER SHORTAGE WE WELCOME THAT HELP. FINANCE AGAIN A LOT ABOUT MONEY HERE. BUT ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF FUNDING EDUCATION IN FLORIDA IS TO REQUIRE LOCAL EFFORT THE
BIGGEST COMPONENT OF OUR MILLAGE AND THAT GETS SET THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND THE STATE BUDGET AND WE HAVE ASKED THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED THAT TO GROW WITH THE PROPERTY VALUES AND THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN BRINGING FUNDING INTO EDUCATION AND WE NEED IT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE THAT TO CONTINUE. WE ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE PROPOSALS. I KNOW THERE IS A PUSH TO PUT A QUESTION ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER TO POTENTIALLY REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES. THE HOUSE I BELIEVE UNVEILED EIGHT PROPOSALS AND I WAS GLAD
TO SEE THAT SCHOOL TAXES WERE EXEMPTED FROM ALL OF THOSE PROPOSALS. AND THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER, BECAUSE THERE IS THE REALITY THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN FLORIDA IS DEPENDENT ON PROPERTY TAX. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO
WITHOUT IT. ON THE CURRICULUM SIDE WE ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. TEXTBOOKS AND SO WE USED TO HAVE FUNDING THAT GOT ROLLED INTO BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION. WE HAD THE REQUIREMENTS TO DO THE NEW TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS BUT
WE GET $15 MILLION FOR TEXTBOOKS AND THE SCHEDULED ADOPTIONS THE STATE REQUIRES US CAN COST TWICE THAT AMOUNT $30 MILLION OR MORE. THAT IS BECOMING A BIGGER CHALLENGE EACH YEAR. AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW PROPOSAL FOR YOU, WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE LAST YEAR THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED A
LAW TO ALLOW MARCHING WAND TO SUBSTITUTE THE PE REQUIREMENT. AND THAT MAKES SENSE. OUR MARCHING BANDS SPEND A LOT OF TIME PREPARING FOR THE FOOTBALL GAMES GETTING EXERCISE AND WE HAVE STUDENTS AND CHAIR BRILL YOU BROUGHT THIS TO OUR
ATTENTION THAT PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND WE FEEL THAT RIGOROUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PE REQUIREMENT SO WE ARE PROPOSING THAT. AND PRE-K, WE HAVE HALF DAY
PRE-K PROGRAM IN FLORIDA WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BE A FULL DAY PROGRAM. WE KNOW THAT PRE-K WORKS. IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, THE STUDENTS THAT GO THROUGH A VPK PROGRAM 72% ARE SCHOOL READY. AND OVERALL, YOU SEE ABOUT 15%
OF KIDS CONSIDERED KINDERGARTEN READY AND THE STUDENTS WITH THAT PROGRAM THEY START SCHOOL THEY ARE NOT BEHIND THEY ARE READY TO GO AND THEY ARE ON A MUCH EASIER PATHWAY TO SUCCESS. SCHOOLS OF HOPE THIS IS GETTING ATTENTION AND NEWS.
THIS ONE WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ON MANY FRONTS ABOUT SCHOOLS OF HOPE. FIRST THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES OF HAVING TWO SCHOOLS RUNNING ON THE SAME CAMPUS THE BELL SCHEDULE, THINGS LIKE DISCIPLINE IF THE STUDENTS INTERMINGLE AND
IF THERE'S FIGHTS OR BAD BEHAVIOR A LOT OF CHALLENGES. BUT THEN THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IT COULD BRING TO OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE WHAT IT WAS PASSED IN THE 11TH HOUR THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS IS
THAT SCHOOLS OF HOPE CAN CO-LOCATE INTO OUR SCHOOLS AT NO COST. AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO SERVE THEM, FEED THEM, TRANSPORT THEM, CLEAN UP THE SCHOOL AFTER THEY ARE GONE FOR THE DAY AND THAT CAN DIMINISH THE RESOURCES LEFT
FOR THE STUDENTS WE ARE SERVING. WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT SHOULD BE TARGETS FOR SCHOOLS OF HOPE. BUT THERE ARE SOME. AND AGAIN WE ARE HOPING THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REVISIT THIS ISSUE. TO SEE IF IT COULD BE MORE EQUITABLE.
IF THE PRIOR LEGISLATION DID PROVIDE THAT DISTRICTS COULD NEGOTIATE AND RECOVER THEIR EXPENSES FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE HOUSED ON THEIR CAMPUSES AND WE THINK THAT IS MORE FAIR. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
TRI RAIL THE FUNDING IS IN JEOPARDY. AND WE RELY ON TRI RAIL TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS. WE HAVE COUNTY-WIDE CHOICE PROGRAMS WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING FROM BOCA AND THEY CAN JUMP OFF CLOSE TO DREYFOOS.
WE RUN BUSES FROM THE STATIONS TO GET STUDENTS TO THE SCHOOL. WE ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT AND IF THAT WERE TO GO AWAY IT WOULD CREATE REAL CHALLENGES FOR US TO CONTINUE THOSE COUNTY-WIDE PROGRAMS. AND THEN HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE.
I'M SURE WE TALK ABOUT THAT EVERY YEAR BUT WE WOULD SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR TEACHERS. AND THEN WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL STATE APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS YOU WILL SEE COMING FORWARD. WE HAVE WEST TECH WEST TECH HAD
BEEN CLOSED FOR 10 YEARS. AND MS. ANDREWS CHAMPIONED REOPENING WEST TECH IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS WE CONTINUE TO ADD MORE PROGRAMS WE HAVE A CDL PROGRAM AND NOW A CERTIFIED
TESTING SITE, ADULT STUDENTS CAN GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND GET LICENSED AND TESTED AND A WELL PAYING JOB IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY. WE HAVE PROGRAMS WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD WE ARE GOING BACK ASKING FOR THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATION AND WE HAVE ONE FOR ROOSEVELT
WHERE WE'VE HAD SUCCESS IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS GETTING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ROOSEVELT. ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY IS IN DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH. THE STUDENTS THEY SERVE ARE A VERY LOW SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO MORE TO ELEVATE THAT SCHOOL AND WE HAVE
HAD SUCCESS. THEY ROSE FROM A D TO A C. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A PROJECT BASED LEARNING PROGRAM A MUSIC PROGRAM, AND THE COMMUNITY WITH WALL STREET SOUTH AND THE BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN TRYING TO HELP US ELEVATE THOSE SCHOOLS.
WE GOT SUPPORT FOR THIS REQUEST FROM Mr. STEVEN ROSS. AND THEN JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT BY LAW WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO OUR VOTERS EVERY FOUR YEARS TO CONTINUE THIS ONE MILL LEVY ALLOWING US TO PAY OUR TEACHERS
MORE THIS FUNDS OUR REFERENDUM SUPPLEMENTS WHERE TEACHERS GET PAID BASED ON EXPERIENCE FOR ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE THE SALARY GOES UP A THOUSAND DOLLARS AT FIVE YEARS IT INCREASES TO 5,000 AND 10 OTHER MORE 10,000 ADDED TO THE SALARY. AND MOST OF OUR TEACHERS ARE
GETTING THAT 10,000 AND THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY RAISES OUR AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY TO JUST UNDER $70,000. 69,000 AND CHANGE IF THIS WERE NOT TO BE APPROVED THE AVERAGE SALARY WOULD FALL OFF 8,000 TO
SHOW YOU THE IMPACT. THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO US. BEYOND TEACHER PAY IT PAYS FOR FINE ARTS AND CHOICE PROGRAMS WE HAVE 900 FULL-TIME TEACHER POSITIONS FUNDED THROUGH THIS REFERENDUM AND WE HAVE SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES THAT THIS FIRST WENT TO VOTERS
IN 2018 IN THE WAKE OF THE TRAGEDY. WE UTILIZED THIS REFERENDUM TO SHORE-UP WE ADDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO EVERY SCHOOL AND BROUGHT IN MORE SECURITY MEASURES. IT'S BEEN WELL SUPPORTED AND WENT TO THE VOTERS IN 2022 AND I
WAS PLEASED TO SEE 74% OF THE VOTERS VOTED YES. WE HOPE TO ENJOY THE SAME SUPPORT IN 2026 AND INTERESTING WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE OUR QUESTION ON THE BALLOT THE BOARD APPROVED IT. IT'S GOING TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND ON TO THE
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS BUT WE ARE EXPECTING SOME TYPE OF STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BE ON THERE TOO TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES WE WILL BE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE AND WHAT IT'S DOING FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND SHARED WITH OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. THAT IS BIG.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION I KNOW IT WAS A LOT. I WANTED TO MOVE THROUGH AT A GOOD CLIP AND HAVE TIME FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE JOINT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WELCOME REPRESENTATIVE MEG
WEINBERGER AND ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE TO TELL EVERYBODY WHAT AREA YOU REPRESENT. >> MEG WEINBERGER I REPRESENT
DISTRICT 94 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD TO JUPITER FARMS AND THEN ALL THE INDIAN TOWN AND THEN FROM THE TURNPIKE TO THE GLADES. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. VICE-CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE SKIDMORE DO YOU WANT TO START ASKING YOUR MEMBERS WHAT
QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE FOR US AND FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS AND SENATORS, QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REMEMBER TO MOVE YOUR NAME CARD. SENATOR BERMAN? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT EXCELLENT PRESENTATION SUPERINTENDENT BURKE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. I'M GLAD WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP AND I DO HAVE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION. SO MY FIRST QUESTION AS YOU KNOW
IN THE PAST I HAVE BROUGHT BILLS ASKING THE STATE TO HAVE FREE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAMS FOR ALL STUDENTS. SO I WONDERED WHAT I THINK I'VE HEARD THERE WERE POTENTIAL CHANGES COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE BREAKFAST
AND LUNCH PROGRAM IN PALM BEACH COUNTY? >> Mike Burke: GREAT QUESTION. SO WE'VE BEEN PROUD FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ACROSS ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT THIS YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THREE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE THEY DID NOT QUALIFY. AND IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CONTINUE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BUT NEXT YEAR IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE ARE -- TO DO THAT COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY
PROGRAM YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH FAMILIES QUALIFY FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE. AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE STARTING TO DROP. SO BEFORE THIS, WE HAD TO HAVE EACH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY APPLY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT NEXT YEAR BUT IT
WILL BE SCHOOL BY SCHOOL. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS NUMBERS ARE STRONG ENOUGH AND THERE'S FINANCIAL NEED THAT WE CAN QUALIFY. BUT FOR THOSE SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY LIKE THE THREE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT WILL IN DECEMBER NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SERVE THEM FOR FREE, THOSE
SCHOOLS IT WILL BE DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY TO GO BACK AND FILL OUT THAT APPLICATION AND IT WAS NICE WHEN WE COULD SAY 100% OF EVERYTHING IS FREE ELIMINATE STIGMA AND WE HAVE WAYS TO WORK AROUND THAT, TOO. WHERE WE USE THE CASH REGISTER
WE TRY TO MAKE IT NOT NOTICEABLE BUT IT'S GREAT TO ENJOY THAT FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR ALL. BUT THE WITH THE ELIGIBILITY SLIPPING AND THE FUNDING SLIPPING A LITTLE BIT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT FOREVER. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
ON A DIFFERENT BUT IT'S SOMEWHAT RELATED, I UNDERSTAND COULD YOU
EXPLAIN ABOUT LOW ENROLLMENT I'VE BEEN HEARING PART IS SOME OF THE IMMIGRANT STUDENTS ARE AFRAID TO COME TO SCHOOL. IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN WHY THERE IS LOWER ENROLLMENT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY NOW. >> Mike Burke: THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
AND EACH YEAR WE WORK WITH THE STATE TO FORECAST OUR ENROLLMENT. AND BASED ON THE FORECASTS AND OUR OWN FORECAST WE DO IT COLLABORATIVELY WE WERE PROJECTED TO BE DOWN 400 STUDENTS AND WE GOT TO THE 11TH DAY OF SCHOOL AND WE WERE DOWN
5500 AND WE DID THE OCTOBER SURVEY AND WE SLIPPED ANOTHER 400. WE ARE DOWN 6,000 STUDENTS THE FIRST THOUGHT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS? DID WE LOSE OUR STUDENTS TO VOUCHERS? NO, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WE DID LOSE SOME AND WE WERE
ABLE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT STUDENTS WE WERE SERVING THAT NOW RECEIVE A VOUCHER AND THAT WAS OVER 1300. SO 6,000 I CAN DOCUMENT AT LEAST 1300 WENT TO FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS BUT THAT LEAVES A BIG NUMBER.
WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN WE DISAGGREGATE OUR STUDENTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS STRIKING IS HISTORICALLY PALM BEACH COUNTY HAD BEEN GROWING IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT OUR ELL ENGLISH IS NOT THE FIRST LANGUAGE AND WE COULD GROW IN
ELL. THIS YEAR WE DROPPED 1600. NORMALLY SEE A RISE WE SAW A DECLINE. I DO THINK THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THAT. WE FEEL LIKE FAMILIES HAVE MAYBE
SELF DEPORTED OR LEFT PALM BEACH COUNTY. AND I HAD TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COST OF LIVING IT IS NOT ALL IMMIGRATION SOME IS COST OF LIVING I HAVE A LOT OF HARD DATA BUT WE KNOW FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT ANY LONGER AND
MOVING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE OR OTHER STATES. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND NOT GOING TO SCHOOL. WE HAVE HAD SCHOOLS TO REENGAGE OUR FAMILIES TO REACH OUT AND KNOCK ON DOORS. AND SOME CASES THEY ARE FINDING WHERE THE FAMILIES JUST LEFT.
AND I CAN'T PUT A NUMBER ON IT BUT WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS AN ISSUE. WE ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH OUR HISPANIC PASTORS ON NOVEMBER 10TH. WE'RE TRYING TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMING TO SCHOOL. ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE
SINCE THE PANDEMIC. BUT WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET EVERYONE INTO OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE STILL HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S DOING THE KIDS A DISSERVICE. THERE IS FEAR WITH THE COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL AND WE CAN'T GUARANTEE ANYONE'S ABSOLUTE PROTECTION.
WHAT I DO TELL OUR PARENTS AND PASTORS IS THAT WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE ON OUR CAMPUS, AND THIS IS THE CASE WITH ANY SITUATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TURN OUR STUDENTS OVER TO ANY AGENCY THAT MIGHT SHOW UP. WE'VE INSTRUCTED OUR PRINCIPALS
THAT IF SOMEONE IS TO VISIT OUR SCHOOLS TO PULL THEM ASIDE AND ASK FOR PAPERWORK AND IF THERE IS A WARRANT TO CALL OUR SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL TO EVALUATE THE WARRANTS AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS YET BUT WE
ARE PREPARED IF THAT WERE TO ARISE. >> I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS I WILL ASK A FEW MORE AND I WILL LET MY COLLEAGUES COME IN. WITH REGARD TO THAT WHEN YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE WARRANTS, DOES THAT APPLY ON SCHOOL BUSES ALSO? >> YES.
IF THE STUDENTS WITH US IN THE SCHOOL OR BUS OR FIELD TRIP WE ARE LOCAL THEY ARE UNDER OUR PROTECTION. >> AND JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, DO WE ALSO KEEP INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS LEAVE A VOUCHER SCHOOL
LIKE MID-YEAR AND THEN RETURN TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DO WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS? >> Mike Burke: NO. I GUESS THE SHORT ANSWER IS PROBABLY NO. IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US. AND LAST YEAR SOME LEGISLATION
TO TRY TO BRING MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SYSTEMS TO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT IS STILL NEEDED. IT DIDN'T GET PASSED LAST YEAR. THE STATE I CAN TELL YOU IS TAKING MEASURES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATE STUDENTS. LAST YEAR WE HAD 25,000 STUDENTS
SHOWING UP WITH STEP UP FOR STUDENTS GETTING VOUCHER MONEY AND SHOWING UP ON A SCHOOL RECORD. GOING INTO THIS YEAR DOE IS BASICALLY SENDING US A LIST OF STUDENTS TO CROSS-CHECK. AND WE STARTED, I THINK, IN AUGUST WITH 22,000 ACROSS THE
STATE AND THROUGH OUR EFFORTS IT GOT WHITTLED DOWN TO 17,000 BUT IT IS STILL A CHALLENGE. AND THAT IS WHERE IT WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN RETURN TO THIS YEAR JUST TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING DOUBLE FUNDED
BECAUSE THE MONEY IS ALREADY LEAN AND THAT DID HURT US LAST YEAR. BECAUSE THE 25,000 DUPLICATE STUDENTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET PAID ONCE A MONTH OUR JUNE WIRE TRANSFER WAS SHORTED $3 MILLION BECAUSE THE STATE RAN OUT OF MONEY MORE STUDENTS THAN THEY
COUNTED ON. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE EDMONDS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS YOU ARE DOING PHENOMENAL. I LOVE BRAGGING ABOUT MY DISTRICT IN TALLAHASSEE, I DO.
THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT TALKED ABOUT EXAM CERTIFICATIONS AND WE WERE AT 75% WHICH IS GOOD. WHAT CHALLENGES ARE WE FACING TO INCREASE THAT PERCENTAGE? >> Mike Burke: YEAH. I MEAN WE'RE 75% IS STRONG.
IF YOU COMPARE TO OTHER COUNTIES WE ARE A LEADER IN THAT SPACE. BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO GET EXTRA FUNDING THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION THAT ALLOWS US TO PUT SUPPLIES AND THINGS INTO THE CLASSROOM. AS WE WANT TO GROW OUR CAREER
TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS MAKING SURE OUR TEACHERS ARE TRAINED AND HAVE THE EXPERTISE. BECAUSE WITH SOME OF THE AREAS IN THE TRADES IF YOU'RE SPECIALIZED IN CYBERSECURITY OR EVEN PLUMBING, YOU CAN COMMAND A GOOD SALARY IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR. GETTING THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES. HAVING THE FACULTY THAT CAN TEACH THOSE COURSES HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AND BE WIG TO DO IT FOR A TEACHER SALARY AND WE GET LUCKY SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE CAN FIND PEOPLE LATER IN THEIR CAREERS OR
WORKS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING AND GET TO MY AGE MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM THAT WORKS OUT SOMETIMES. BUT I WOULD SAY JUST REALLY DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO DEVELOP OUR TEACHERS TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WITH OUR STUDENTS
AND I'M PROUD OF TEAM PALM BEACH AT 75% THEY ARE DOING GOOD. IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES THAT PASS RATE IS 71 72%. IT'S DOING A LITTLE BETTER ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE. >> AND I THINK WE'RE DOING
PHENOMENAL. TWO MORE QUESTIONS. I WANTED TO KNOW HOW IS THE CELLPHONE BANNING POLICY WORKING OUT FOR K-8 AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE CARVE OUTS FOR THOSE WHO MAYBE CAREGIVERS OR HAD A MEDICAL CONDITION BUT I NEVER SAW THE LIST SO I WANTED TO
KNOW. >> Mike Burke: KNOCK ON WOOD IT'S GONE VERY SMOOTH IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING. WE FOLLOWED THE STATE LAW OUR CELLPHONES ARE BANNED AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND IN HIGH SCHOOLS WE ALLOW IT OUTSIDE THE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
WHEN SOMETHING BECOMES LAW IT MADE IT EASIER FOR US TO IMPLEMENT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF DEBATE. BUT FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM OUR LEADERS AND TEACHERS THEY WELCOME IT AND IT'S GONE WELL. AND SEEMS LIKE YOU STRUCK A BALANCE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THAT MAY HAVE MORE GOING ON IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES WITH THE AFTER SCHOOL WITH A JOB OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR PHONES. I FEEL LIKE YOU STRUCK THE RIGHT BALANCE AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR US. >> LAST QUESTION. AND I HAD A MEETING WITH THE
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN TALLAHASSEE. HE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME ABOUT FIRE ALARM DRILLS AND HOW WE DO THEM. AND IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE ONE ENTRY ACCESS POINTS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS. IF THERE IS A FIRE ALARM PULLED
THE KIDS WOULD RUN IN THAT DIRECTION. SO THEY WERE TRYING TO ARTICULATE ARE WE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE IN THERE IS A SCHOOL SHOOTING WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT HOW WE DEAL WITH FIRE ALARM DRILLS.
>> Mike Burke: YES, FIRE ALARMS HAVE BEEN MISUSED IN THOSE TRAGIC EVENTS WHERE SOMEBODY PULLED THE ALARM OR THE SMOKE, I TOURED THAT BUILDING WHERE THE TRAGEDY TOOK PLACE AND PART OF THE ISSUE WAS FROM THE GUNFIRE, AND THE DUST SHAKEN DOWN FROM
THE CEILING TILES THAT ACTIVATED THE FIRE ALARMS. BASED ON THE FIRE CODE YOU HEAR AN ALARM YOU IMMEDIATELY START THE DRILL. DUE TO THE TRAGEDIES WE HAVE TOLD OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO FIRST LOOK AROUND AND DO AN ASSESSMENT
BEFORE YOU EXECUTE THE DRILL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORCING IT WE'RE GOING A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THE FIRE CODE BUT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S WISE TO TAKE A FEW A LITTLE TIME TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND MAKE
SURE THAT THERE'S NOT SOMETHING NEFARIOUS GOING ON IN THE CAMPUS BEFORE WE MARCH OUR STUDENTS OUT INTO HARM'S WAY. >> THANKS. >> THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE GERWIG. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME,
MADAM CHAIR. A COUPLE QUESTIONS IF I MAY. THE FIRST QUESTION IS HOW HAS THE START TIME BILL REQUIREMENTS GONE WHEN WE REQUESTED AN ALLOWANCE FOR HEY, WE DID OUR BEST WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH
OUR PARENTS AND THEN WE REQUIRE THE DATA BACK HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE YOU TO PRODUCE THE DATA AND HOW IS THE PROCESS WORKING? >> Mike Burke: IT'S WORKING WELL AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AND SPONSORING THAT LEGISLATION. THAT LAW WOULD HAVE TAKEN EFFECT
THIS JULY 26. AND SO NOW WITH THE NEW LEGISLATION WE ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT A PLAN THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP OUR START TIMES THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY WANTED. WE WERE AHEAD OF THE GAME BECAUSE AS WE WERE PREPARING TO
DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE, WE GOT A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT. WE DID A LOT OF ANALYSIS. REALLY TAKING SOME OF THAT WORK WE HAD DONE TO GET THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND DEMONSTRATE THE CHALLENGES WE CAN BUNDLE THAT UP AND SUBMIT THAT TO THE STATE AS
OUR PLAN. WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT FLEXIBILITY THE LAW AFFORDS. AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DISRUPTIVE FOR MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. >> A COUPLE MORE THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU MS. ANDREWS FOR WHAT YOU DID WITH WEST TECH. I GRADUATED FROM NORTH SHORE HIGH WITH A CERTIFICATE FROM NORTH TECH EDUCATION CENTER WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. IT MADE ME MARKETABLE AND ABLE TO SUPPORT MYSELF RIGHT OUT OF
HIGH SCHOOL AND I KNOW THE BENEFIT THAT BRINGS SO I THANK YOU AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP THAT ALONG AND KEEP THAT GOING IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT WASN'T A QUESTION. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WE'RE
STRICT IN TALLAHASSEE ABOUT QUESTIONS IT HAS TO BE A QUESTION OR YOU GET YOUR HANDS SLAPPED OR RUMORS COME OUT OR SOMETHING HAPPENS DIFFERENT. SO I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE SAFETY AT WOODLANDS MIDDLE. WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE TRAGEDY THERE.
AND I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS AWARE OF IT AND WE ALL FEEL THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY RIGHT Mr. SUPERINTENDENT THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE. AND I'M WORKING ON A WAY THAT WE
CAN LOOK AT SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE SO WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN LIKE WHAT HAPPENED THERE. ANY INPUT YOU HAVE ON THAT I WILL BE WORKING ON TRYING TO DO LANDON'S LAW WHICH ANYTIME YOU HAVE A FOUR-LANE ROADWAY WITH
THAT WARRANT OF TRAFFIC DIVIDED MEDIAN A BIKE LANE WHICH IS FOR ADULT USE NOT FOR STUDENTS, AND THEN DIRECTLY NO GRASS STRIP SIDEWALK. THE GRASS LACK OF A GRASS STRIP BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE CURB PROBABLY HAD A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THAT SITUATION. SO WHATEVER IMPACT YOUR SCHOOLS CAN GIVE ME WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVER AGAIN IT IS A DIFFICULT ONE TO CHAMPION BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE HOW IT OCCURS BUT IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR US TO ALL THINK ABOUT THE ROADWAY UNIQUENESS THAT HAPPENS THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR OUR SCHOOLS. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT ON THAT. I AGREE. WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE FAMILY OF THE LOST YOUNG MAN.
I'VE GOT JOE SANCHEZ OUR SCHOOL POLICE, AS A FOLLOW-UP, WE ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND I WILL FOLLOW-UP IN WRITING IN WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE IMPLICATIONS NOT JUST FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES, IT WILL IMPACT MULTIPLE AGENCIES.
BUT WE WOULD WELCOME MORE SAFETY MEASURES. >> IF I MAY JUMP IN. SO THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN RIGHT ALSO THE COUNTY-WIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN I HAPPEN TO CHAIR A GROUP THAT OVERSEES THAT PLAN. WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THE
COUNTY I WILL BRING THAT UP ALSO AT THEIR MEETINGS AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE COUNTY ROADS. BECAUSE IT'S IMPERATIVE THEY ARE WORKING WITH F DOT AND WE CAN ALSO ADDRESS THAT ON A LOCAL LEVEL. AND SO I WOULD BE HAPPY AS THE SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE TO BRING THAT UP TO THE GROUP WHEN
WE MEET. >> AND JUST ONE QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THAT ONE. THANK YOU. SO MY LOOKING THE THAT SITUATION, I THINK WHAT WASN'T UNIQUE IS THAT WE HAD A BICYCLE LANE THAT IS FIVE FEET WIDE THEY
ARE SEVEN NOW IT IS A SUBSTANDARD NOW. BUT THOSE BICYCLE LANES ARE NOT SUGGESTED FOR MIDDLE OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL USE AT ALL. SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE THAT IF YOU ARE USING THOSE BICYCLE LANES ON THE
PAVEMENT, THOSE ARE FOR OUR TRIATHLETE Mr. SANCHEZ OR IF ANNE WANTS TO MAKE A MOVE TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE PHYSICALLY THOSE ARE FOR ADULTS TO USE FOR TRANSPORTATION. AND WE ARE KNOWN MOST OF US ARE KNOWN FOR MAKING BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT THOSE THINGS
THAN OUR STUDENTS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS A STANDARD POLICY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT THOSE BICYCLE LANES WITHIN PAVEMENT ON THE ROADWAYS ARE NOT AT ALL FOR OUR STUDENTS USE. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL
ABOUT THAT. >> Mike Burke: WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO MORE TO ADVOCATE FOR BOTH WALKING AND WALK, BIKE SAFETY AND PUT OUR INFORMATION WE HAVE AN EVENT WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TO SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. BUT, YEAH, WE ARE IN SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE. >> REPRESENTATIVE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS
AS WELL. PIGGY BACKING OFF OF SENATOR BERMAN'S QUESTIONS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH? >> Mike Burke: NO, I'M SORRY I DO NOT HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. AND ALSO WITH THE SNAP CUTS COMING IN NOVEMBER, IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKING ANY PRECAUTIONARY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS? BECAUSE I KNOW COUNTLESS NUMBER
OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES RELY ON THESE BENEFITS. I WENT TO DO A TOUR OF LAKE WORTH HIGH AND SAW THE WORK CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY IS DOING AND THEIR PANTRY MAY NOT SUSTAIN THE NEEDS OF THOSE CUTS. CURIOUS TO SEE IF THERE'S
EFFORTS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS DON'T GO HUNGRY WHEN THEY GO HOME? >> Mike Burke: WELL, WE CAN HELP VIA PURVEYOR OF INFORMATION TO GUIDE OUR PARENTS HOW TO APPLY. WE WILL BE DOING THAT IT HASN'T
BEEN AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE FOR US, BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH BUT WE WILL BE MORE FOCUSED ON THAT WITH THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THERE IS A BENEFIT TOO BEYOND THAT FOR OUR FUNDING AND FEDERAL
FUNDING WITH TITLE I AND WE NEED PEOPLE IT HELPS US WHEN PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE BENEFITS APPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AND IT FEEDS INTO THE FUNDING FORMULAS FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. ALSO DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE THE CURRENT NUMBER OF STUDENTS HERE
IN PALM BEACH AT THE MOMENT? >> THEY ARE STUDENTS HOMELESS IN OUR DISTRICT. >> 5200. >> Mike Burke: IT FLUCTUATES BUT IT CAN BE AS HIGH AS 6,000
HOMELESS STUDENTS. IF THAT ALIGNS WITH THE DESIGNATION BUT WE HAVE ABOUT, YEAH, 5 TO 6,000 STUDENTS A YEAR THAT EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AND IT CAN BE DIFFERENT FORMS OF HOMELESSNESS. LIKE ON A COUCH WITH A FRIEND OR LIVING IN A CAR, OR MAYBE GOING
FROM MOTEL TO MOTEL. IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE. >> ALSO YOU MENTIONED THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS BECOMING A BIGGER CONCERN OUTSIDE OF POSTERS AND THE LEGISLATION DO YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE LEGISLATURE HOW TO TACKLE THAT?
>> Mike Burke: THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRED TRAINING WE HAVE TO TRAIN OUR STAFF THIS YEAR. AND THEY TASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH CREATING THAT TRAINING COURSE BY DECEMBER FIRST. SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT TO COME OUT AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE COMPLY. THAT IS A GOOD FIRST STEP IS
TRYING TO EQUIP OUR STAFF WHERE THEY CAN DETECT WARNING SIGNS THAT HELP US IDENTIFY AND GET PEOPLE HELP. >> LAST QUESTION. I DIDN'T SEE MUCH ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS FOR THE STUDENTS HERE IN OUR DISTRICT. WHAT ARE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS MOVING FORWARD? MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE CRISIS NOW AND WE HAVE A LACK OF PROVIDERS AND ACCESS TO PSYCHIATRISTS AND PROVIDENERS OUR COUNTY. WHAT NEEDS DO YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FOR OUR STUDENTS? WE HAVE DONE A LOT TO SUPPORT THEM NOW.
BUT I DO KNOW THE NEED IS RISING >> Mike Burke: WE'VE DONE A LOT AND WE ARE FORTUNATE. I MENTIONED THE REFERENDUM ALLOWED US TO SHORE-UP WE HAVE THE PROFESSIONALS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE DO MTSS MULTITIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT.
AND WE ADDRESS STUDENTS BASED 0 AND THEIR NEED T CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS A SIT DOWN WITH A SCHOOL COUNSELOR. MIKE, YOU ARE HAVING A BAD DAY WHAT IS GOING ON? AND MAYBE IT IS ONE CONVERSATION IS ENOUGH. WE ALSO HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE MORE PRESSING NEEDS OR DIRE
NEEDS OR SOME STUDENTS WE MAY END UP HAVING TO BAKER ACT AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THEM INTO ONGOING CARE. WE HAVE CO-LOCATED THERAPISTS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH 30 DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHCARE PROVIDENERS PALM BEACH COUNTY CO-LOCATED IN
OUR SCHOOLS AND THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT ONGOING THERAPY. AS WITH MOST THINGS IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY. WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THANKS TO REFERENDUM WE ARE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN MOST DISTRICTS. AND IF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR MADE A PRIORITY TO PUT
MORE MONEY INTO MENTAL HEALTH I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT CONTINUES. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE I GO AROUND FOR A SECOND ROUND, I WANT TO MAKE SURE REP GOT HER QUESTION ASKED ABOUT SNAP BENEFITS THE CONCERN IS THAT IN NOVEMBER THE BENEFITS
ARE ENDING AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES APPLY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE APPLYING FOR IF THEY ARE NO LONGER THEY ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS THEY WON'T BE RECEIVING THEM. ARE THERE RESOURCES IN THE
COUNTY THAT YOU'RE HELPING THEM APPLY FOR? THANK YOU. >> Mike Burke: THE WELL AS FAR AS THE FOOD WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THROUGH OUR FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THIS YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
WE HAVE FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT IS A PRIORITY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. SO WE'RE ABLE IN SOME SCHOOLS STUDENTS CAN PICK UP A PACKAGE OF FOOD TO TAKE HOME FOR THE WEEKEND. AND THERE'S ROOM FOR MORE THAT
THIS FEDERAL ISSUE THE SNAP BENEFITS MAYBE STOPPING BECAUSE OF THE SHUT DOWN IS OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW. I CAN'T SAY I'M DOING ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THAT. I'M LOOKING AHEAD TO IS THAT AS WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NO
LONGER CEP ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THE DECLINING ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP BENEFITS IS A BY-PRODUCT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STEER THE FAMILIES TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH WE ARE ADEPT AT DOING THAT THAT IS HOW WE
OPERATED FOR MOST OF OUR HISTORY UNTIL SINCE THE PANDEMIC WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE CPE PROGRAM BUT WE HAVE TO WORK BACK TOWARDS THE OLD METHODOLOGY. >> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? REPRESENTATIVE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BACK TO THE TOPIC OF HOMELESSNESS I HAD A REPORT THAT ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS IS EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY CONSIDER A HIGH NUMBER OF HOMELESS
STUDENTS. COULD YOU PERHAPS EXPLAIN THE DEFINITIONS OF IT AS YOU LOOK INTO IT AND ARE THERE ANY OPTIONS FOR THESE STUDENTS TO STAY ON THE GROUNDS AS SOME BIG BOXES ALLOW RV'S TO PARK.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS THAT AND HOW CAN WE HELP IN ANYWAY. >> Mike Burke: ONE THING I'M PROUD OF OUR CHIEF OF STUDENT AND WELLNESS HE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS TO CREATE A DASHBOARD THAT WE CAN SHARE THAT SHOWS
WHERE WE HAVE HOMELESS STUDENT POPULATIONS TO TRY TO LEVERAGE WHATEVER COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE. THE McKINNEY LAW A FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT IF A STUDENT IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WE MUST ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO GO TO THE HOME SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.
IF HOMELESSNESS MEANS THEY NOW LIVE WITH AN AUNT OR UNCLE OUTSIDE YOUR SCHOOL ZONE WE PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TRYING TO LIMIT DISRUPTION TO THEIR MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO THEIR LIFE. SO THEY HAD THAT OPTION OF TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN THE SAME
SCHOOL, SHORING THEM UP WITH MORE TRANSPORTATION. AND THEN WE HAVE HOMELESS LIAISON PART OF OUR TEAM WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER AND THEY HELP BRIDGE THAT MAKE THAT CONNECTION FROM THE SCHOOLS TO THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH
COUNTY THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH HOMELESSNESS AND FIND A FAMILY SHELTER AND THAT TYPE OF THING. I'M NOT SURE I'M FULLY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. BUT WE DO HAVE RESOURCES IN PLACE. WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO COMPILE THE DATA TO BE SHARED WITH THE FOLKS ABLE TO HELP AND
TRYING TO, AGAIN, WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAKING THAT CONNECTION. >> THANK YOU. I WILL GET AHOLD OF Mr. OSWALD DOWN THE ROAD. >> Mike Burke: HE IS RIGHT OVER THERE, THE GENTLEMAN IN THE RED TIE. >> THANKS. REPRESENTATIVE. MS. WHITFIELD?
WHIT BHIT THANK YOU I WANTED TO ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT I CAN. I LOOKED UP USING OUR DASHBOARD WHICH I'M PROUD OF AND THRILLED THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT IT TOGETHER FOR REPRESENTATIVE OUR CURRENT NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE
2674 AS OF LAST NIGHT WE UPDATE EVERY NIGHT. 130 OF THOSE ARE TRULY HOMELESS WITHOUT A HOME LIVING IN A CAR OR A PARK RIGHT NOW. SO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER FOR RIGHT NOW. WE START WITH ZERO AND WORK OUR
WAY TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND COUNT HOW MANY KIDS WE CAN FIND AND MOST LIKELY OVER 6,000 AGAIN THIS YEAR MAYBE HIGHER DEPENDING HOW THINGS ARE GOING. AS FAR AS THE SNAP PROGRAM, THAT I DID GET THE NUMBERS FOR YOU ON HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE NOT FOR
SNAP FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. IT IS A FAMILY OF FOUR, MAKING $32,150 IS THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES I NEED TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT SO SHE SAID FOR FREE IT
WOULD BE 48,945 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR FOR FREE LUNCH WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. IT'S A PRETTY LOW NUMBER. WITH THE SNAP PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PEOPLE JUST NOT SIGNING UP FOR SNAP EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE AND IT IS AVAILABLE.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE FOOD BANK TO GO INTO OUR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SNAP COORDINATORS TO ASSIST OUR FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE NUMBERS UP. WE HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY TO GET OUR NUMBERS IN THAT WOULD IMPACT NEXT YEAR'S NUMBERS. IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH FAMILIES TO
SIGN UP FOR SNAP OR W.I.C. OR ANY FEDERAL PROGRAM AND GET UNDER THE GUIDELINES IF WE CAN GET THEM DONE BY FEBRUARY WE CAN HOLD ON FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH FREE FOR EVERYBODY NEXT YEAR. SO IT'S GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON THAT.
WE'RE NEEDING A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO WORK TOWARDS THAT. AND THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD DOWN HERE, FROM REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE BIKE SITUATION WE DO HAVE A BIKE TRAILER ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE CAN SEND TO SCHOOLS SO
THAT WE CAN DO TRAININGS. AND FOLLOWING THE WOODLANDS INCIDENT THEY WENT THERE AND THEY'VE TALKED TO THE STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT BIKE SAFETY. THIS IS JUST ONE TRAILER MY UNDERSTANDING. TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT OBVIOUSLY MORE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AROUND THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL BUT
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO TRAININGS WITH OUR PE TEACHERS TO TALK ABOUT TO STUDENTS ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO BIKE AND WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE EDMONDS. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR YOU
COME UP TO TALLAHASSEE TRAINING FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY DAYS I HAVE A FEW BILLS THAT I HOPE YOU CAN PASS AROUND THE CAPITOL. HISTORICALLY, ME AND SENATOR BERMAN DID THE BILL WHERE WE WANTED TO MOVE FROM THREE HOURS TO EIGHT HOURS AND THAT COSTS A
QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS. THE ROUTE I'M TAKING IS TO INCREASE THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE VPK PROVIDERS WHICH IS LESS EXPENSIVE. MY SECOND BILL IS A TEACHER PAY BILL. THIS WILL BE MY FOURTH RUNNING RUNNING THIS BILL TRYING TO
INCREASE THE BASE SALARY TO 65,000 AND THAT IS WHAT THE INCENTIVES THAT YOU OFFER HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS THE FIREARM SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH BILL. WE HAVE OPEN CARRY HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THAT MAY NOT BE GOING ANYWHERE SO THIS IS
GOING TO BE A BILL TO EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS ON THE NEW LAWS HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND FIREARMS. I HOPE YOU CAN SUPPORT THAT IN TALLAHASSEE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR BERMAN? >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
I WANT TO GO INTO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE WORST BILLS THAT WAS PASSED LAST SESSION AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT YOU AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING ABOUT IT AND WHAT TO GIVE US SOME ADVICE ALSO AND THAT IS THE BILL ABOUT
COLLOCATION INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE -- I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU AS SUPERINTENDENT ARE GOING TO BE DOING IN TALLAHASSEE AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS INFORMATION ABOUT
PROBLEM AREAS FOR YOU LIKE YOU MENTIONED THE BILL SCHEDULE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SHARED WHO GETS PRIORITY FOR LUNCH FACILITIES WHO GETS PRIORITY FOR PE FACILITIES, HOW DOES THE BUSES WORK, WHAT IF THE SCHOOLS ARE YEAR-ROUND ARE YOU REQUIRED
TO OPEN UP YOUR SCHOOLS YEAR-ROUND TO ALLOW THEM TO FUNCTION THERE? HOW THE MAINTENANCE WILL WORK. SO I KNOW WE WERE ALL REALLY A LOT OF US WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT WAS DONE AT THE LAST-MINUTE. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD ONLY BE
DONE FOR SCHOOLS D AND F SCHOOLS AND THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED IT'S EVERY SCHOOL NOW. ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GIVE US AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU THINK AND ALSO I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE LETTERS WRITTEN TO OTHER SCHOOL
DISTRICTS MENTIONING SPECIFIC SCHOOLS THAT THE SCHOOLS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. HAVE WE HAD THAT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY? AND WOULD LIKE TO START THAT DISCUSSION. BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND GOING FORWARD ABOUT THAT. >> Mike Burke: ABSOLUTELY.
I KNOW WE WORK WITH CAPITAL CITY CONSULTING ON AND THEY WORK WITH FADS THE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION AND THEY CREATED A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES LIKE 20 PLUS CHALLENGES HOW YOU OPERATE TWO SCHOOLS ON ONE CAMPUS.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT. WE ARE WORKING TO WITH OUR SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES OF LOW-PERFORMING WHICH THE LAW CHANGED ON THAT, TOO. THE CRITERIA WAS CHANGED AND NOW
YOU WENT TO HAVING A COUPLE SCHOOLS CONSIDERED LOW-PERFORMING AND NOW THERE'S 250 PLUS ACROSS THE STATE AND THEY CAN BE A OR B SCHOOLS AND STILL FALL INTO THE DEFINITION. WE WANT FIRST TO FILL OUR SCHOOLS UP WITH OUR STUDENTS AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
COLLOCATION. WE HAVE VULNERABILITIES. WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY WE TALKED ABOUT VPK AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS THERE MAYBE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LEASE A PORTION OF OUR SPACE TO A HIGH QUALITY VPK PROVIDER AND THAT
WOULD SERVE OUR STUDENTS WELL. WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS. I GUESS, SO YOU WANT ME TO SHARE THE CHALLENGES THE COLLOCATION PROVIDES? AS FAR AS THE LETTERS, THERE ARE LETTERS SENT TO MY COLLEAGUES
AROUND THE STATE SENT BY THE ACADEMY RUN BY THE ACADEMIC CHARTER SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMPANY I DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER TO DATE. I UNDERSTAND THE RULEMAKING DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL
NOVEMBER 11TH ANY LETTER WE GET NOVEMBER 11TH FORWARD WE WILL NEED TO RESPOND TO AND THERE IS ABILITY FOR US TO OBJECT IF WE CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT WHY WE DON'T BELIEVE COLLOCATION WOULD FIT ON THAT CAMPUS. ONE OF MY CONCERNS WITH IT IS
WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE CAPACITY, THEY ARE LOOKING STRICTLY AT OUR FISH REPORTS WHAT THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT FOR, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THOSE SCHOOLS. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A PRE-K PROGRAM THAT MAY NOT BE
RECOGNIZED. OR IF YOU HAVE A SCHOOL WITH A LARGE ESE POPULATION CLASSROOMS CAN BE BUILT FOR 25 STUDENTS BUT WE ARE SERVING 9 TO 10 STUDENTS WE HAVE ADULTS PROVIDING THERAPY AND SERVICES.
WE WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE LETTERS AND WE WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE THEM. WE WILL BE ON THE CLOCK TO RESPOND WITH ANY POTENTIAL OBJECTION. THANKS. >> MEMBERS BEFORE I TURN THE
MEETING OVER, I'M SORRY. SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE HER MEMBERS. AND MEMBERS AND SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVE EDMONDS GAVE ME A GREAT IDEA IF YOU HAVE PRIORITIES THAT YOU THINK COULD BE IMPORTANT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
IN YOUR BILLS THAT YOU ARE FILING THIS YEAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THOSE PRIORITIES. >> THANK YOU. AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY ACCOMMODATING I APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT AND HELPS
IT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN IMPLEMENT THE BILLS THAT ARE PASSED. SO I HAVE A CONSTITUENT REACHED OUT REGARDING RECESS AND HER CHILD IS NOT GOING OUT OFTEN AND I GUESS THE RESPONSE WAS BECAUSE OF THE HEAT INDEX.
I GREW UP IN FLORIDA SO SOMEHOW WE SURVIVED WHAT ARE WE DOING WHEN -- WHAT IS THE STANDARD AND ALSO WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL NOTIFYING THE FAMILIES? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THE KIDS OUT TO PLAY. >> Mike Burke: I DON'T DISAGREE
THE ISSUE AND WE'RE STARTING TO GET INTO THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE IT IS LESS OF AN ISSUE WHEN WE START SCHOOL IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND IT'S BRUTALLY HOT THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT WHEN THE HEAT RISES HEAT INDEX HITS A CERTAIN LEVEL THAT WE'RE NOT
PERMITTED TO GO OUTDOORS. THE SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT IS INDOOR RECESS AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE HALLWAYS OR THE CLASSROOM. AND WE DO ENCOURAGE WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO GET UP, GET ACTIVE, GET MOVING AROUND. GET SOME LEVEL OF RECESS.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE PARENTS FELT TEACHERS WERE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB MAYBE THEY WERE SEDENTARY IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE REINFORCED THE MESSAGING WITH THE PRINCIPALS IF YOU CAN'T GET OUTSIDE, THEN MAKE SURE YOU
ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT RESEMBLES RECESS WITH INSIDE YOUR FACILITY. WE ARE KIND OF CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO LAWS WITH THE RECESS REQUIREMENT AND THE ZACHARY MARTIN WAS THERE TO PROTECT ANYONE FROM HAVING A HEALTH EMERGENCY OR TRAGEDY. >> ONE MORE. THANK YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE CAN DO IF THERE IS A FIX MAYBE THERE IS A HAPPY MEDIUM. ALSO, LANDON'S LAW I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE RUNNING THAT BILL. I HAD THE FAMILY AND THE
GRANDMOTHER AND SPOKE WITH THEM AND I HAD ALSO SPOKE WITH F DOT AND THEY HAVE LIKE A STANDARD THAT THEY SUGGEST FOR THE SCHOOLS FOR BIKE PATHS BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT THEY IMPLEMENT.
HOW DO YOU GUYS DECIDE WHAT IS A SAFE BIKE PATH? IS IT PER EACH SCHOOL? THE DISTRICT? IF F DOT HAS A RECOMMENDATION BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT IT? >> Mike Burke: WE WORK CLOSELY
WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE BUILD SCHOOL AND WE COLLABORATE ON THE ENTRANCES AND THE ROADWAYS AND HOW THE PEOPLE ACCESS OUR SCHOOLS BUT WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH ABILITY TO WE ARE NOT BUILDING BIKE LANES OR ROADS OR SIDEWALKS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
IT TAKES COLLABORATION AND WE WORK WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY. WE HAVE A GROUP Mr. SANCHEZ AND HIS TEAM THAT MEET MONTHLY TO JUST TRY TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES ARISING. WITH SCHOOLS GENERALLY BRING TRAFFIC ON ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
TIMES AND SOME OF IT IS UNAVOLLEYBALL AID. UNAVOIDABLE. BUT WE TRY TO VET THE ISSUES AND DO THE BEST WE CAN WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. >> SO IS Mr. SANCHEZ'S TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BIKE PATHS?
HOW DOES THAT? >> Mike Burke: WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOLS. AND THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES AND THE DOT PROVIDE THE ROADWAYS THAT GET TO THE SCHOOLS. >> I SPOKE WITH I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING WHEN I SPOKE TO F DOT
THEY SUGGEST THE BIKE PATHS AND YOU GUYS DECIDE WHAT TO DO. SOME SORT OF MISCOMMUNICATION. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE BIKE PATH FOR THE STUDENTS NOT THE BIKE PATH THAT IS ON THE ROADWAY?
THE SPECIFIC BIKE PATH THAT IS ADOPTED BY THE SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ARRIVING TO SCHOOL BY BICYCLE NOT THE PART THAT F DOT HAS CONTROL OVER. >> Mike Burke: I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE QUESTION WE KIND OF OWN
THE LAND OUR SCHOOL SITS ON. >> I WALKED SOME OF THE SCHOOLS AND I GREW UP IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND IF KIDS LIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE AND NOW REQUIRED TO WALK OR TAKE A BIKE THE SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE SURE WHATEVER PATH THEY ARE ON IS SAFE. AND SINCE THEY ARE NOT FORCED TO DO YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE. I'M JUST ASKING LIKE I SAID F DOT SUGGESTS THEY HAVE A PLAN BUT THEY DON'T FORCE IT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ADULT
BIKE PATH BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN BIKE PATH. >> Mike Burke: SO IN FLORIDA WE HAVE AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION THERE IS TWO-MILE REQUIREMENT IF STUDENTS LIVE BEYOND TWO MILES WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION. WITHIN TWO MILES THE PARENTS CAN DRIVE THEM, WALK, RAO RIDE THEIR
BIKE. BUT WE ARE NOT BUILDING BIKE PATHS OR WE ARE NOT MARKING UP THE COUNTY'S ROADS SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CARVE OUT OUR OWN LANE FOR OUR KIDS. WE HAVE TO WORK WITH FAMILIES TO COACH THEM ON BICYCLE AND WALKING SAFETY AND WE COLLABORATE WITH THE CITIES AND
COUNTY. BUT IT'S BEYOND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. >> ALL RIGHT. REPRESENTATIVE? LET'S HEAR YOUR PRIORITIES. >> I ACTUALLY HAVE A TITLE 6 BILL TO CREATE STATE-WIDE
COORDINATORS FOR K-12 AND FOR HIGHER-ED AND I'M WORKING WITH SENATOR PULASKI ON THAT. AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR I WOULD LIKE TO SEND IT YOUR WAY AND GET YOUR THOUGHTS. I'M WORKING ON A PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH BILL WHICH WILL
HELP WITH EARLY INTERVENTION IMPERATIVE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND ACTUALLY WITH OUR BOARD MEMBER ERIKA WHITFIELD WE ARE WORKING ON FUNDING FOR A POOL BECAUSE LAKE WORTH LOST A COMMUNITY AND A SCHOOL POOL. WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A
COMMUNITY POOL. I THINK SHE WILL EXPAND MORE ON THAT TOO. >> THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THINGS I'M WORKING ON. ONE I DON'T THINK I WILL FILE A
BILL BECAUSE I WAS TOLD ABOUT I DON'T KNOW OVER HALF OF THE REPS HAVE BROUGHT IT UP. THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY. THE SCHOOL SUPPLY SALES TAX HOLIDAY COMES AT A TIME THAT IS A LITTLE BIT LATE FOR OUR MOMS
AND OUR DADS AND OUR PROVIDERS. SO I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS IF MOVING THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY FROM JULY 20TH TO APRIL 20TH -- AUGUST 20TH WHICH WOULD BE 30 DAYS. BUT I KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE
CONFUSING IT'S EASIER TO SAY ONE MONTH. BUT SCHOOL STARTS VERY EARLY. SO THE MOMS WERE COMPLAINING TO ME, MY FRIENDS THAT THEY COULD USE MORE TIME TO GET THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES TOGETHER. BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MANY, MANY MEMBERS
I WON'T HAVE TO USE A BILL SLOT FOR THAT. UNINPUT ON THAT TIMING WHAT WORKS FOR YOU? >> Mike Burke: OUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS TYPICALLY AUGUST 12TH OR WITHIN A DAY OR TWO. THAT MAKES SENSE FAMILIES DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE
LAST-MINUTE THE SELECTIONS DWINDLE. MAYBE PUTTING MORE TIME ON THE AUGUST 12TH SCHOOL START DATE WOULD MAKE SENSE. >> AND STATE-WIDE THE EARLIER SCHOOL THAT STARTED WAS AUGUST 6TH. SO AGAIN, YOU HAD LIKE FIVE DAYS
FOR THOSE FOLKS. I THINK IT WILL GET DONE. AND I JUST WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INPUT. >> ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION DO THE SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR LISTS AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS ON THOSE
DATES? THE LIST OF SUPPLIES REQUIRED FOR THE CLASSROOMS? >> THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BUT I BELIEVE IT'S WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE DATES I'M TALKING ABOUT. YES. BECAUSE THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT WAS A QUESTION WHY DID THEY DO
IT THAT WAY. BUT THEY SAID NO. AND IT'S NOT A NEW PROCESS. I'M HOPING WE CAN GET IT TO BE MORE USER FRIENDLY WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS TEACHER RECERTIFICATION THE PROCESS CAN BE CONFUSING FOR
TEACHERS WHOSE CERTIFICATION LAPSED. I'VE HAD SEVERAL REACH OUT TO ME INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS OF LEGISLATORS WHO TRIED THAT PROCESS AND GIVEN UP AND WALKED AWAY. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN TEACHING AND GOT AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE ON TEACHER
PAY AND NOW THEY CAN AND WANT TO COME BACK IN AND ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS THEY ARE GIVING UP AND WALKING AWAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR ARE FOR THEM TO KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED AND THEY CAN DO IT WHILE THEY ARE TEACHING AND HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOLS. ANY INPUT ON THAT WOULD BE VERY
MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mike Burke: THANK YOU. >> AND LET'S WELCOME SENATOR BERNARD. IF YOU WOULD TAKE A MINUTE TO DESCRIBE YOUR DISTRICT AND INTRODUCE ANY STAFF YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH YOU AND WE ARE CURRENTLY TALKING ABOUT ANY
EDUCATION PRIORITIES AS BILLS THAT WE ARE WANTING TO TALK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ABOUT. >> GOOD MORNING MACK BERNARD STATE SENATOR FOR DISTRICT 24. THIS IS PROBABLY MY FOURTH EVENT FOR THIS MORNING. SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR BEING
LATE. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING DISTRICT 24 STARTS IN THE TOWN OF NORTH PALM BEACH AND IT COVERS A LITTLE BIT OF PALM BEACH GARDENS AND GOES DOWN TO THE BOYNTON BEACH LINE I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TO HEAR SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FOR THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. >> WELL, MADAM CHAIR I THINK THAT'S IT. ONE LAST CALL ANY MEMBERS OR SENATORS WANT TO DISCUSS PRIORITIES? REPRESENTATIVE I DID NOT SEE YOUR CARD.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TWO THINGS TO BRING UP. I WANTED TO POINT OUT IN CASE YOU HEAR OF THIS NEXT YEAR, I GOT CALLS TWO CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO NOTED THAT THE SALES TAX HOLIDAYS WERE NOT BEING HONORED BY ONE PARTICULAR
ON-LINE VENDOR. AND THEY HAD PROOF BASED ON RECEIPTS. SO I CALLED OUR C.F.O. RIGHT AWAY AND HE PUT SOMEONE ON IT. SO IF WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT THAT NEXT YEAR, IT JUST IT
WAS A BIG VENDOR WE WOULD BE AWARE OF THAT AND SECONDLY I HOPE TO FILE A BILL WHICH WOULD WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MS. BRILL PERTAINING TO THE PE CREDITS AND ALLOWING THOSE STUDENTS WHO ENGAGE IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SPECIFICALLY TO UTILIZE THOSE AS PE CREDITS WE ARE TRYING TO WORKOUT A FEW DETAILS LIKE DO YOU RUN ONE RACE AND THAT IS YOUR YEAR'S CREDIT? VERSUS DO YOU COMPETE EVERY OTHER WEEKEND. WE HAVE THAT TO WORKOUT BUT I WOULD BE HONORED TO HEAR ANYONE'S INPUT IT WOULD BE FAIR
SINCE STUDENTS IN MARCHING BAND AND THAT MIGHT EXCEED SOMETIMES THE ACTUAL SPORTS EVENT WHAT THE BAND MEMBERS PUT OUT IN PHYSICAL EXERTION I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANYONE'S INPUT ON THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MEMBERS AND
SENATORS I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT INPUT AND THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. WE APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU. >> Karen Brill: MOVE TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE THAT WILL LEAD INTO MY FIRST COMMENTS TO OPEN THIS UP. FIRST I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF
IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM BUT ONE SPECIAL PERSON I WANT TO RECOGNIZE IS MS. RITA, OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST AND ALSO SHE IS OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT HELPS WITH THE BILLS THAT ALL OF YOU ARE WORKING ON AND COORDINATING.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK HER FOR HER HARD WORK SHE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP ALL OF US. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AND TO NOW BEFORE I GO AROUND WITH ALL MY BOARD MEMBERS I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE SENATOR BERMAN
AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE REVISION TO FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.423A, THE BILL HAVING TO DO WITH PHYSICAL EDUCATION. SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THIS GREW OUT OF PARENTS WHO CAME TO ME WE HAVE ADAPTIVE PE IT IS A BIG STRUGGLE FOR THEM. AND HAVING A CHILD WHO WHEN HE WAS YOUNG PARTICIPATED IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS, EVERY WEEK THEY WENT AND THEY PRACTICED AND
THEN THEY HAD THEIR EVENTS. I THINK THIS IS A VERY NONPARTISAN FEEL GOOD BILL SO I THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR MOVING THAT FORWARD. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALWAYS ASKING FOR MONEY. WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO GO AROUND TO MY BOARD MEMBERS THEY WILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS AND ASK SOME OF YOU QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MS. BRANCH. >> Gloria Branch: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.
AND I'VE TALKED TO Mr. BURKE ABOUT THIS AND ON THE DAIS WHEN I WAS SUBSTITUTE TEACHING EVERYDAY, ALL GRADES AND NOW WHEN I'M VOLUNTEERING THERE IS A LOT OF WASTED FOOD BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH I BELIEVE IT IS THEY REQUIRE TO TAKE A
JUICE AND MILK AND WE USEDDED TO HAVE A TABLE WHERE HELPING HANDS MY SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD PICK IT UP. I THINK EVERYBODY GETS FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AND SOME KIDS BRING THEIR LUNCH AND THEY ARE GETTING LUNCH BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF WASTE. A LOT. AND Mr. BURKE AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ALSO. I WANT TO PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR. BACK IN THE DAY THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT IT ON A TABLE AND I DON'T
KNOW IF THEY CAN. I WANTED TO PUT THAT ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR. BECAUSE YOU OFFER FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH TO EVERYBODY SOME KIDS ARE BRINGING LUNCH AND THEY ARE GETTING FOOD AND NOT EATING IT. IT IS A CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF WASTE JUST IN
GENERAL FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. BUT OVERALL, WE COULD MAYBE BE GIVING THAT STUFF TO FOOD KITCHENS. I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. >> Mike Burke: WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE TEAM TO CURB THAT WASTE AND DUE TO FOOD SHARING TABLES.
>> DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REQUIRE? BURKE BRK THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. >> Mike Burke: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REQUIRES THAT MEAL TO BE A WELL-BALANCED MEAL, A FRUIT AND JUICE, MILK, IT'S MILK OR JUICE BUT FOUR OR FIVE COMPONENTS AND SOMETIMES THE
STUDENTS AREN'T INTERESTED IN EATING ALL OF THOSE. AND FOR US TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE FEEL WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE COMPLETE MEAL AND IT IS A MATTER OF RECOVERING THE BANANA THAT DOESN'T GET EATEN OR THE APPLE IT IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE.
YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST TO RAISE THE CONCERN WE'RE SEEING TOO MUCH FOOD GET TOSSED AND WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT WAYS TO CURB THAT WASTE. >> Gloria Branch: IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK AT. I DID HAVE SOMEONE CALL ME
WEINBERGER ABOUT THE RECESS ONE PERSON CALLED WHEN I WAS A SUBSTITUTE LET'S GO OUTSIDE AND FIND ROCKS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. I THINK MAYBE JUST TALKING TO THE TEACHERS MORE AND TRYING TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING AND NOT SIT IN FRONT OF A SCREEN.
LUCKILY IT'S ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER IT'S HOT OUT THERE. THANK YOU. >> MS. WHITFIELD. >> Erica Whitfield: THANK YOU SO MUCH. FIRST I THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TOGETHER THIS IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE AND I'M GRATEFUL YOU CAME TO SEE OUR BUILDING AND LISTEN TO US
ABOUT OUR CONCERNS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN TALLAHASSEE AT LEAST PALM BEACH COUNTY DAYS. I WANTED TO MENTION FROM THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID AND ARE PRIORITIES. I LOVE THE IDEA OF MOVING THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY UP I HAVE TO
JUMP ON THAT AS A MOM I WAITED FOR SALES TAX AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT INCLUDING CLOTHES. LIKE HARD TO FIND JEAN SIZES AFTER THE SALES TAX BECAUSE JEANS THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS YOU COULD PURCHASE THAT YOU COULD NOT FIT IN.
MOVING IT UP WOULD BE WONDERFUL BEFORE EVERYTHING IS SOLD OUT. AND THE POOL, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ME. WE HAVE FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTED TO REPLACE THE POOL AND FUNDING THAT THE CITY
ALLOCATED FOR THE POOL AND SUPPORT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THIS AS WELL. I DO THINK WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO WE WILL BE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT FROM OTHER SOURCES POTENTIALLY THE LEGISLATURE, BUT ALSO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IS CRUCIAL THAT WE HAVE
THE ABILITY FOR KIDS TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY. I WANTED TO JUST MENTION MY FAVORITE ONE AS ALWAYS IS PRE-K VPK FUNDING. I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA YOU SEE EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT READING SCORES.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE SCHOOLS WE ARE DOING BETTER THAN MANY URBAN DISTRICTS WITH OUR READING SCORES BUT STILL ON AVERAGE AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE WE ARE HALF OF THE KIDS READING ON GRADE LEVEL WHEN WE ARE LOOKING. AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE REALLY
SMALL WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. ONE IN EVERY TWO KIDS IS NOT ENOUGH AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT IS BY GETTING KIDS INTO VPK EARLY WHEN WE LOOK AT STUDENTS NOT PARTICIPATED IN VPK THEY ARE SHOWING UP TO THE KINDERGARTENS JUST BEHIND FROM THE FIRST DAY.
AND THAT IS FRUSTRATING FOR OUR TEACHERS AND IT IS NOT CONTRIBUTING TO CHILDREN READING ON TIME. SO I THINK TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE STATE AS A WHOLE THIS IS A PLACE TO PUT MONEY TO REALLY FOCUS GETTING KIDS INTO SCHOOL SYSTEM EARLY AND IT WILL PAY
DVDS IN OUR -- DIVIDENDS IN OUR ECONOMY AND SEEING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE READING SCORES AND THEN THE ABILITY TO GET JOBS. IT WILL IMPACT EVERYTHING AND THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN DO IN EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR IT BECAUSE WE THINK THIS
IS THE THING THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT I THINK I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> Karen Brill: VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS. >> Marcia Andrews: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE MEETINGS
AND I MUST TELL YOU WHEN I SEE YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE CONNECT BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE GROUND LOOKING AT OUR NEEDS AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY TO REPRESENTATIVE GERWIG YOU ARE
AWESOME THE START TIMES WAS A BIG DEAL WE WERE WORRIED AND YOU MADE IT HAPPEN BUT WE SAW YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AND I WILL MAKE THIS CHANGE. AND REPRESENTATIVE WEINBERGER I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE IN THE GLADES AND I TALK ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME COMING HERE IS GOOD BUT WE
NEED TO BE ON THE GROUP TALKING EVERYDAY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE BIKE PATHS AND THE CHILDREN WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK TO SCHOOL WITH WELLINGTON ELEMENTARY RECENTLY AND THE KIDS WALKING SO MANY CHILDREN ARE ON THEIR BIKES OR WALKING.
AND IT'S ROUGH OUT THERE. AND SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION. WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE CITIES, WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AS WELL AS THE STATE, WE'VE GOT IT FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THAT CORRECTED BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM AGAIN. AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH. WE HAVE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE'RE STILL SUFFERING. OUR CHILDREN STILL HAVE A NEED THIS IS WHY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THERE IS A BIG ATTENDANCE PROBLEM WITH THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN
ARE SAFE. WHEN WE HEAR THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING AND THEY ARE GETTING IMPACTED MENTAL HEALTH Mr. OSWALD YOUR WORK IN THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL WITH THE BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS IN THE ROOMS CO-LOCATED SERVICES. BUT THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES NEED TO KNOW WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND WE HAVE TO GO TO THE HOMES AND TALK TO THE PARENTS AND LET THEM KNOW THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE OKAY. WE WANT THEM IN SCHOOL AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THE CELLPHONE POLICY WAS A BIG DEAL. IT JUST ROLLED VERY SMOOTHLY WITHIN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY
SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IS KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE AND FOCUS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND OFF OF THE TELEPHONE THE CELLPHONES THAT HAS BEEN A BIG DEAL. I THINK ALL OF THE PIECES ARE GOOD WITH THE SNAP BENEFITS WE
HAVE A WONDERFUL SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT HERE WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES BUT OUR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES COME IN AT 4:00 A.M. AND THEY HAVE BREAKFAST READY, LUNCH, AS WELL AS ON HOLIDAYS TO DO THE THINGS
NECESSARY FOR CHILDREN TO EAT. WE JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITHIN OUR ABILITIES TO DO THINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES THE CHILDREN ARE FED FAMILIES KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE FED.
AND LASTLY I WANT TO SAY THAT WEST TECH HAS BEEN GREAT FOR ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE YOU STARTED ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO LOOKING AT PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE COLLEGE AND OR CAREER READY WITH TECHNICAL SKILLS AND
TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. AND YOU BROUGHT THE BACON HOME EACH TIME. WHEN WE LOOK AT WEST TECHNICAL EDUCATION, NORTH TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER WE HAVE SOUTH TECH A CONVERSION CHARTER PLUS OUR DELRAY FULL SERVICE CENTER
I'M INVITING YOU TO TAKE A WALK THROUGH TO SEE THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE. YOU WILL SAY WOW. WE'RE DOING IT. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN TO BE ACADEMICALLY READY AND ABLE TO SAY THAT I CAN WALK INTO THE WORLD AND BE A SUCCESS AND THAT
IS WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WITH US OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU. IN TALLAHASSEE, HERE AT HOME AND MY PHONE AND YOUR PHONE CALLS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR US TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU.
>> Karen Brill: Mr. FERGUSON? >> Edwin Ferguson: SO AGAIN I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID WELCOME TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WE HAVE HAD THIS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IT'S REFRESHING. I ONLY HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT I
WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL AND BOARD FIELD I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR EARLIER EDUCATION. SHE SAID THAT IN HER WAY. BUT I KNOW THAT REP EDMONDS
STATED IT IS A FISCAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF HAVING UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR OUR STUDENTS BUT WE NEED TO CHOP THE TREE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP STRENGTHEN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS NOT PROPERLY
PREPARED. IF YOU ARE NOT STARTING SCHOOL PREPARED IT'S CHALLENGING FOR YOU TO MEET THE METRICS. THE REP STATED SHE SECURED CERTIFICATION FROM NORTH SHORE NORTH TECH WHILE YOU WERE A STUDENT AT NORTH SHORE.
I THOUGHT I WAS LISTENING TO YOU THERE. YEAH, WE WANT THAT TO BE THE STANDARD FOR OUR GREATER NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS IF NOT 100%, 98, 99, 97 WE HAVE TO WORK ON THAT AS FAR AS THAT GOES. SCHOOL SAFETY THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT I ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH A PROPONENT OF SINCE STONE MAN DOUGLAS WE HAVE METAL DETECTORS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HOPE WAS THE MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY LEVEL AS WELL AND PART OF THE REASON WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO IT
WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES IN PART BECAUSE OF THE VOUCHERS. THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO PUSH ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY I THINK IT'S BAD BUSINESS FOR US AS A STATE. AND AS A COUNTRY TO CONTINUE TO PARTITION PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE
SPENDING POWER GOES DOWN AND THE VALUE OF YOUR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WILL BE DIMINISHED AND IT INCREASES THE RISK OF DANGERS ON CAMPUSES. OPEN CARRY IS NOT THE REASON FOR THAT. WE DIDN'T HAVE OPEN CARRY BEFORE NOW AND WHAT HAPPENED AT STONE MAN DOUGLAS THERE WAS NOT OPEN
CARRY IN COLORADO AND NONE IN CONNECTICUT. BUT I DO THINK WE NEED MORE MORE ACTIVE IN TERMS OF PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MAKE NO MISTAKE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR A GREAT MAJORITY OF STUDENTS HERE IN PALM BEACH TO THE EXTENT WE
CONTINUE TO SIPHON OFF DOLLARS FOR THE SMALL CHARTER SCHOOLS I JUST THINK THAT IS VERY UNFLORIDIAN AND UNAMERICAN. TO THE EXTENT IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF OUR RESIDENTS I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT MORE SAFETY MEASURES AND PROTOCOLS IN PLACE AND THE VOUCHERS ARE NOT AGAIN RESULTING IN THE PARTITIONING AND EXITING OF MONIES. OUR RECORD IS OUR RECORD.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN SAY THAT THERE'S ANY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT PERFORMS BETTER THAN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AGAIN IT IS UNAND TRO VERTED AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA THEY ALSO CAN MEET THE TEST IN TERMS OF ARE WE
PROVIDING A BETTER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS ON AVERAGE COMPARED TO ANY CHARTER SCHOOL FROM WHEREVER I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT I WILL STOP TALKING ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL AND HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU IN TALLAHASSEE.
>> Karen Brill: Mr. SAVIETTO. >> Virginia Savietto: I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE THANK YOU. SO MANY FAMILIAR FACES ALL AROUND. THANK YOU AGAIN. SO I HAVE A FEW THINGS, OF COURSE. BIKE PATH IN WOODLAND TRAGEDY I WILL COMBINE THEM BOTH.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO Mr. BURKE FOR A FEW MONTHS ABOUT STARTING A CAMPAIGN SOMETHING CALLED STARTS AT HOME. WE CAN DO THAT IN HAITIAN TOO. WE NEED I UTILIZED MY SON HE IS 14 A FRESHMAN IN FORESTDALE HIGH
SCHOOL AND USE HIM A GUINEA PIG I ASK HIM ABOUT THINGS HE HEARD OR KNOW. HE HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO MAYBE WALKING. HE NEVER WALKS BUT I ALWAYS THINK ONE DAY HE HAS TO WALK.
BACK IN MAY AND Mr. BURKE KNOWS BECAUSE I CALLED HIM AFTER IT HAPPENED I COULDN'T BREATHE I LIVE ON FOREST HILL, SO IT WAS 2:00 I WAS ON HARVARD HILL HEADING SOUTH NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC BUT IT CAN GET HEAVY.
THERE WERE A FEW LITTLE BOYS WALKING FROM SCHOOL AND I'M THINKING PINE JOG A MILE AWAY. VERY TINY ONE OF THEM I WAS DRIVING AND ONE OF THEM FALLS AND FALLS ON THE GROUND ON TO THE STREET. BECAUSE BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK IT
WAS LIKE THIS MUCH GRASS AND THE STREET AND I'M LOOKING THANKS GOD I WAS NOT ON THE PHONE I SWERVED AND THE KID BOUNCED BACK UP AND I COULDN'T BREATHE. BECAUSE IN A MOMENT, I COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE PARENTS WHERE IT WAS THE KID'S FAULT IT
COULD HAVE BEEN ME. IT WAS FAR AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL WE CAN'T ZONE THE WHOLE COUNTY. BUT WE NEED TO START SOMETHING AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT EDUCATION EVEN THE KIDS THAT DON'T WALK NEED TO KNOW HOW TO WALK BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THAT
BOY THAT WILL BE A LITTLE MORE OF A PLAYFUL BOY THAT MAY PUSH AND BE FUNNY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OTHER ONE GETS PUSHED, TOO. AND ANYWAY, ALL OF THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER IN DOING SOMETHING
AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE IT BRINGS OUR KIDS THE EDUCATION OF SAFETY, SAFETY WHEN YOU WALK WHEN YOU BIKE WHEN YOU WALK WITH OTHERS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ENTAILS BUT WE NEED A SYSTEM FOR THAT.
AGAIN ALMOST I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULD HAVE HIT A KID. THAT BRINGS ME TO A.I. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN APPLICATION SYSTEM THAT I KNOW BECAUSE I WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND SOME OF YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS. COMMISSIONER WISE HAS BEEN
LEADING A.I. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AT CO-CHAIR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING GREAT. ONE OF THE INITIATIVES IS TO HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE THE PERSON A FAMILY CAN FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IN THE A.I. SYSTEM,
CAN SAY YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS, FOR THIS, FOR THIS. BECAUSE APPLICATIONS ARE VERY OVERWHELMING. NOT ONLY FOR HISPANIC FAMILIES MY DISTRICT YOUR DISTRICT, BUT PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT READ AND WRITE OR SINGLE MOMS LIKE ME
LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO BE READING A LOT OF APPLICATIONS. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SYSTEM THAT IS FRIENDLY THAT ONCE YOU APPLY FOR ONE OR JUST APPLY, THE SYSTEM TELLS YOU YOU QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN THINGS. THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.
BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES MAY NOT BE APPLYING BECAUSE OF FEAR. SO WHICH I WILL SPEAK IN A SECOND. BUT FEAR OF APPLYING PUT IN YOUR INFORMATION, MAYBE YOUR KIDS WERE BORN HERE. THEY APPLY THEY CAN GET
ASSISTANCE BUT YOU WEREN'T BORN HERE SO WE NEED AN A.I. APPLICATION SYSTEM. VPK EVERYBODY MENTIONED IT I LIVED IT. LUCA WAS THREE WHEN HE WAS IN FOUR YEARS OLD. I HAD TO TAKE HIM I WANTED TO
TAKE HIM TO VPK FROM 8-11. I TOOK MY LUNCH BREAK TO RUN TO THE SCHOOL PICK HIM UP AND TAKE HIM TO THE BABYSITTER AND RUN BACK TO WORK. HOW FEASIBLE IS THAT? THAT WAS MY LUNCH FOR THE WHOLE YEAR IT WAS PICKING UP LUCA AND
TAKING HIM THANK GOD I LIVE ON THE FOREST HILL CORRIDOR IT WORKED BUT I WAS STRESSED OUT FOR A MONTH TO LUCA COULD GET THE THREE HOURS. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE STUDENT GETTING THE EDUCATION BUT THINK ABOUT THE PARENTS THAT NEEDS TO TAKE THEM AND PICK THEM UP IF WE
WANT THEM TO BE READY THEY NEED TO BE THERE THE ENTIRE DAY. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY WHY ARE WE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE SOMETHING FOR KIDS TO SLEEP A NAP? IF SOME OF THE KIDS NEED TO SLEEP A NAP THE TEACHERS ARE
DOING WORK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE TEACHERS TEACHING VPK AND THEY PROBABLY NEED THAT 30 MINUTES OF SILENCE TO CONCENTRATE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY OR NEXT DAY. SO LET'S THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TALK TO PEOPLE THAT LIVED THE VPK.
IT IS SORRY TO SAY I RUN FOR LEGISLATURE BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT VPK TALK TO PARENTS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE CHAIR BRILL. DON'T WRITE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE HAVING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE
IT DOESN'T SERVE US. LOWER ATTENDANCE. YES. AND I WILL TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION. STATE REPRESENTATIVE WAS WITH ME
AND [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ALL OF THAT. AND IT WAS AWFUL.
I HAD TO TRANSLATE AND HAD TO GET INTO ALL THAT EMOTIONAL SIDE AND I APPRECIATE IT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEN YOU HAD TO DRIVE SEVEN HOURS WE CANNOT IGNORE THAT IMMIGRATION IS A BIG FACTOR. SAT THE STATE LEVEL I GET IT.
BUT I'VE TALKED TO CONGRESSWOMAN McCORMICK AND WE NEED THE HELP I UNDERSTAND ABOUT IMMIGRATION BUT THE FEAR THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH NOW WE HAVE NOT LIVED IT BEFORE. AND IT IS A BIG FACTOR. WE'VE HAD FOUND A COUPLE OF KIDS
THAT WERE THERE FOR A FEW DAYS HIDING IN A CLOSET BECAUSE THE PARENTS WERE TAKEN. WE HAVE RECENTLY A STUDENT WHOSE MOM WAS DEPORTED TO HER COUNTRY AND THE DAD WAS DEPORTED AND THE KID WAS LEFT BEHIND HERE. SO THESE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES
OF HUNDREDS. THESE ARE REAL FEARS. WE'RE LIVING THEM. WE HAVE TO BE COMPASSIONATE UNLESS YOU HAVE NOT LIVED THROUGH IMMIGRATION AND THE FEAR THAT CAUSES IF KIDS ASKING THE PARENTS MOMMY WHAT DO I DO IF I COME HOME AND YOU ARE NOT THERE?
THESE ARE REAL FEARS. ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO AND SPEAK UP ABOUT IT, PLEASE DO. BECAUSE YOU KNOW LIKE Mr. BURKE SAID WE ARE BY NOW WE HAVE LAWS THAT PROTECT THE KIDS INSIDE THE SCHOOLS WE CANNOT PROTECT THEM OUTSIDE BUT WE
CANNOT LIVE WITH THE FEAR IN OUR SCHOOLS. KIDS ARE NOW BULLYING OTHER SCHOOLS SAYING I'M GOING TO CALL I.C.E. ON YOU. BULLYING IS BAD ENOUGH AND TO USE I.C.E. AS ANOTHER PART OF BULLIES. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT IMMIGRATION IS CAUSING BY NOW
THAT VERY DEAR TO MY HEART THAT WE NEED ALL THE ALLIES JUST TO SEE HOW AWFUL IT'S GOING TO MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO GO UP THE ROOF BECAUSE IT IS A REAL, REAL FEAR. IN THAT ALSO HAS AFFECTED OUR ADULT EDUCATION.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY PARENTS GOING TO STUDY ENGLISH AND WE'VE LOST 20 SOMETHING POSITIONS HERE WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD TPS PAYING TAXES AND WORKING BECAUSE THE TPS WERE TAKEN AWAY IT IS
AFFECTING US ON ALL LEVELS AND IT'S CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WITH ALL OF THAT, AGAIN, WE NEED A CAMPAIGN FOR SAFETY, AN ANCIENT APPLICATION FOR SYSTEM FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS, VPK
WHICH IN THE LOWER ATTENDANCE BETWEEN IMMIGRATION AND THAT'S WRAPS IT UP, THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: WILL LANE. >> Matthew Lane: THANK YOU. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO BE WITH SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND WELCOME.
AND I KNOW I'VE WORKED WITH THE REPS ON AN IMPORTANT BILL TO PRESERVE OUR AP AND ACE FUNDING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THAT. ADDITIONALLY, YOU CAN SEE HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO HAVE MIKE
BURQAS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE PRESENTATION. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MIKE AS OUR LEADER. THE PRIORITY THAT I HAVE IS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 40% OF OUR KIDS AREN'T GOING TO
GO TO COLLEGE. AT THE SAME TIME IN THE TRADES, CARPENTERS PLUMBERS ELECTRICIANS ARE AGING OUT. AND WE AS A BOARD ARE WORKING ON MAKING IT SO THAT WE SERVE THAT 40%. WE NEED TO TEST THEM AND FIND
OUT WHAT THE APTITUDES ARE AND MAKE IT SO WHEN THEY GRADUATE THEY WILL HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO GO OUT AND GET JOBS. WHEN I SHAKE HANDS WITH THOSE PEOPLE I DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE I FAILED THEM. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE WORKSHOPPING THIS WEEK. AND COMING UP WITH A
PRESENTATION AS TO HOW WE INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT. FINALITYLY IN TERMS OF BUDGETING, I HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH CIVICS AT THE LAKE PARK LIBRARY TO THE KIDS. AND AS PART OF THAT I DECIDED TO
LET THEM FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. AND I TOLD THEM THAT WE'RE 46TH IN THE NATION PER STUDENT FUNDING WE ARE BEHIND THANKS TO Mr. BURKE'S PRESENTATION WE ARE BEHIND ARKANSAS, KENTUCKY AND LOUISIANA IN OUR FUNDING.
AND I SAID HERE IS OUR SITUATION. I HAVE $100 TO SPEND. AND I NEED YOU TO HELP ME. AS A BOARD MEMBER AND DEPUTIZE YOU. MY TEACHERS NEED MORE MONEY TO LIVE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
IT'S VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE. TO I GIVE THE MONEY TO THEM? MY POLICE OFFICERS NEED MORE MONEY OR THEY WILL GO SOME PLACE ELSE AND THEY NEED TO BE THERE TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN.
MY SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS MY CAFETERIA WORKERS THEY ARE BARELY SURVIVING. THEY DESPERATELY NEED THE MONEY. BUT I'VE ONLY GOT $100. WHO GETS WHAT? THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: BEFORE I ENTER
AND GIVE YOU MY COMMENTS I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OUT TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE SPECIAL IN THE ROOM AND THAT IS OUR BOARD CLERK TONY SINCLAIR WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR US. AND HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ALL OF US. I KNOW SHE GETS EMBARRASSED WHEN
WE MENTION HER BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. I'M GOING TO JUMP IN WITH A COUPLE THINGS ON OUR PRIORITY LIST. I KNOW THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT TOUCHY STATE-WIDE. BUT IT'S FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.22 THE CHILDHOOD VACCINES.
THE CHILDHOOD VACCINES ALMOST EVERYONE IF NOT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS HAD CHILDHOOD VACCINES AND THERE ARE TWO EXEMPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AS WELL AS FOR HEALTH REASONS. BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, AT THE STATES THAT HAVE ELIMINATED
VACCINES YOU HEAR ABOUT THE ILLNESS, YOU HEAR ABOUT THE DEATHS. AND WE NEED THE HERD IMMUNITY IT PROTECTS OUR STUDENTS AND PROTECTS OUR TEACHERS IT PROTECTS OUR EMPLOYEES. I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A TOPIC THAT A LOT OF SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE BEEN WILLING TO TALK ABOUT.
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO JUMP IN ON THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE WERE GROUND ZERO FOR JEFFREY EPSTEIN. ALL OF US KNOW IT WAS OUR STUDENTS THAT WERE ABUSED AND WE
CAN DO SOMETHING IN RECOMMENDING ACTIONS STATE-WIDE BACK IN THE DAY YEARS AGO, I KNOW WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND YOU SEE THE BUMPER STICKERS HOW IS MY DRIVING ON THE BUSES THAT CAME TO ME FROM A CONSTITUENT WHEN WE GOT THE BOARD AGREED TO PUT THEM ON THE
BUSS IT HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY IN REPORTING ANY TYPES OF DRIVING THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. BUT THAT BACK THEN IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE SLOSBERG WHO STOOD BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND GOT THAT TO BE RECOMMENDED STATE-WIDE FOR ALL THE OTHER
SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT FORWARD. MY BOARD HAS BEEN TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE ABOUT HAVING POSTERS THAT ARE DEVELOPMENTAL APPROPRIATE, QR CODE THE NUMBER THE STUDENTS CAN CALL IN PRIVATE
PLACES WHETHER THE RESTROOM OR THE LOCKER ROOM OR THE CLASSROOM LEARNING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE DOWN THE PHONE NUMBER WITH YOUR PEERS LOOKING AT YOU. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND
FINALLY TO PIGGY BACK ON WHAT Mr. LANE SAID, YOU KNOW, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, THE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS WE KNOW WE DO NOT FUND THE STATE DOES NOT FUND OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AS WELL AS WE NEED.
OUR TEACHERS THEY STRUGGLE WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GIVE THEM THE TYPE OF SALARY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO. MY SON IS A SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE WORKER HE WORKS TWO JOBS. HE IS LUCKY IF HE BREAKS 30,000
HE MAKES UNDER 20,000 AS A SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE WORKER I TELL HIM ONE DAY YOUR MOM IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR HIGHER JOBS BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM OUR BUS DRIVERS, MAINTENANCE
WORKERS, FOOT SERVICE WORKERS OUR TEACHERS. THEY ARE CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS. AND SO FINALLY, IN MY CLOSING, I, TOO, WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION WORKS SO CLOSELY WITH
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD ALL OF YOU, I KNOW, WANT THE BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. I KNOW WHEN I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE NOT LIKE US. WHERE PEOPLE JUST HATE EACH
OTHER. IT'S TERRIBLE. AND YET, WE ALL WORK AS A TEAM BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL SO THANK YOU. I WILL TURN THE MICROPHONE BACK OVER TO REPRESENTATIVE SKIDMORE. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU TO ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THIS GREAT
CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION. AND TO WE USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME. I HOPE THIS IS THE START OF REINSTATING THIS IMPORTANT MEETING. THE STATISTICAL DATA WE RECEIVE IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE GO
ABOUT MAKING OUR DECISIONS IN TALLAHASSEE AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THAT IN OUR BACK POCKET. FOR THOSE MEMBERS AND SENATORS WHO DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK OR WANT TO MAKE CLOSING REMARKS I'M HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
SENATOR BERNARD. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH MADAM CHAIR I WANT TO COMMENT REGARDING SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. IN REGARDS TO THE POOL, BOARD MEMBER WHITFIELD I HOPE THAT EITHER THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH
BEACH THAT WE CAN FILE AN APPROPRIATIONS DURING THIS SESSION THAT WAY WE CAN ASSIST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE CITY TO DO THIS POOL TO HELP THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY. IN REGARDS TO THE PRE-K FUNDING
UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS SOMETHING WE DO HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO GET THE FUNDING. I'M HOPING THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS IN THE FUTURE TO DO LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO REALLY BRING THE CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERY KID GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT HEADSTART. IN REGARDS TO THE BIKE PATHS THAT WAS MENTIONED, I KNOW THE COUNTY IS DOING THE COUNTY-WIDE
TRANSPORTATION MASSIVE PLAN AND I'M HOPING THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THERE IS A PERFECT ZONE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE AS THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT MASS TRANSPORTATION PLAN
THAT THE BIKE PATH IS ALSO ADDRESSED. IN REGARDS TO A.I. WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT YOU KNOW, FIRST INFUSING A.I. WITHIN ADMINISTRATION, AND ALSO IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WHETHER THE KID'S LEARNING IN REGARDS TO
A.I. AND WHAT I'M HOPING BOARD MEMBER LANE IS THAT IN REGARD TOSCA REAR TECHNICAL EDUCATION I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHEN THE KIDS GRADUATE THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE ACCESS TO TRACK THEM THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS THAT MAYBE NECESSARY.
THAT WE COULD USE A.I. TO DO THAT. SO I THINK THAT THESE ARE GREAT ISSUES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU IN TALLAHASSEE. AND THE LAST ISSUE THAT'S WEIGHING ON OUR MIND AS THE ISSUE OF PROPERTY TAXES.
AND SO WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT WHATEVER DECISIONS WE MAKE IN TALLAHASSEE THAT WE PROTECT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY IN TALLAHASSEE. THANKS. >> SENATOR? >> THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN QUIET SO FAR. SAVING IT UP. NO. I WANT TO FIRST START BY SAYING I'M THE PROUD MOTHER OF TWO STUDENTS IN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BOTH OF MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE MEDICAL ACADEMY AND RECENTLY IS PLANNING TO BECOME A DOCTOR AND
IS EXCELLING IN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT IS WHERE IT BEGAN. AS MS. BRILL POINTED OUT, IT'S HARD WHEN WE GO TO TALLAHASSEE AND HEAR THE NEGATIVE STUFF ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE DO AND THAT IS WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING WE SHOULD HAVE AND THE VOUCHER PROGRAM BECAUSE EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT LIKE YOURS EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DELEGATION. THIS IS MY EIGHTH YEAR AND THIS IS HOW IT'S BEEN FROM THE
BEGINNING I FELT WELCOME AND WORKED WITH YOU FROM DAY ONE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE NOW WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE WE ALL SUFFER FROM IT. I ALSO AM PROUD OF ALL THE AREAS
THAT I'VE REPRESENTED IN THOSE EIGHT YEARS BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING AND THINGS I'VE LOST SOME OF THE AREAS I USED TO REPRESENT AND I'M PROUD OF THE WESTERN DISTRICTS TO HEAR HOW FAR SOME OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE COME REALLY MAKES ME VERY PROUD AND WEST TECH AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THERE'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT ISN'T REALLY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT I WAS SO CONCERNED TO HEAR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY THAT HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS RECEIVING VOUCHER MONEY
BUT NOT ALL. I THINK ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT RECEIVE VOUCHER MONEY BECAUSE THERE IS A SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE HERE WE ARE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE SHOULDN'T GET VOUCHER MONEY BECAUSE HE DISAGREES WITH THE PHILOSOPHY AND HE SAID MUSLIM
SCHOOLS. SO AS SOMEONE OF THE JEWISH FAITH, I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT WE ALL IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWING ALL SCHOOLS TO HAVE THE VOUCHER MONEY THEN THEY SHOULD
ALL NOT DISCRIMINATE, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FACED WITH. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE STATE SHOULD NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A PARTICULAR RELIGION. LET'S BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT. I FULLY AGREE ABOUT THE VACCINES. AND I THINK TO ALL MY MEMBERS OF
MY DELEGATION ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS IN TALLAHASSEE. WE NEED LEGISLATION TO SAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS. I THINK THE ONES EMBEDDED IN THE STATUTE MIGHT BE SAFE BECAUSE I
DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE STOMACH TO OVERTURN THOSE. BUT THE ONES THAT THE ARE PART OF THE RULEMAKING AUTHORITY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THAT IS NOT OKAY. AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE ON US AND I'M LOOKING AT ALL OF US TO FIGHT IT AND WE MAY NEED TO COME UP WITH LEGISLATION THAT STOPS
IT IN ITS TRACKS BECAUSE VACCINES SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL. AS A PARENT IN A TOWN HALL, I HELD THE OTHER NIGHT SAID TO ME CAN WE BE INFORMED IF STUDENTS IN OUR STUDENTS CLASS DON'T GET THE VACCINES? AND I SAID I SINCERELY DOUBT
THAT WOULD BE BUT I WILL DO AN AMENDMENT AND THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA. IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE A IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CHILD IN SCHOOL AND OTHER STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING THE VACCINES AND MEASLES WILL COME BACK IT WAS IN BROWARD.
FOR THE ELDERLY FOR THOSE OF US WITH CANCER TREATMENTS, OUR IMMUNITIES COULD BE GONE FROM THE VACCINES WE HAD AS CHILDREN. AND SO LET'S THINK ABOUT EVERYONE ON THIS. AND LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN AS A LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.
BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE NOT AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS ISSUE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. MS. SAVIETTO THANK YOU FOR DESCRIBING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN IMMIGRANT IN THE COUNTRY AND THE FEAR. THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE UNDER YOUR CONTROL.
I THINK IT'S JUST SO PATHETIC THAT STUDENTS ARE AFRAID TO COME TO SCHOOL. PUBLIC SCHOOL IS THE GATEWAY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM ISN'T THAT WHAT WE WANT? PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO SCHOOL THE ADULTS SHOULD GET THE EDUCATION WE ARE OFFERING AND THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE PASSED
ON IMMIGRATION AND THE ATTITUDES THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE IS WHAT IS CONTRIBUTING. WE ALL AS A DELEGATION CAN DO BETTER AND SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JUST CONTINUING TO RUN AN A RATED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DO SO
WELL AND I PROMISE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT YOU IN TALLAHASSEE. THANK YOU. >> REPRESENTATIVE WEINBERGER YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> A QUICK QUESTION. SO WITH A.I. I DON'T KNOW WHO I SHOULD DIRECT IT TO, I HAVE
HEARD THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE WHERE STUDENTS ARE LACKING UTILIZING A.I. DO WE DO THAT IN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS SO THEY DON'T FALL BEHIND BUT YOU ARE ABLE TO TARGET WHERE THEY ARE LACKING? >> WELL, WITH A.I. A COUPLE
PARTS TO MY ANSWER. WE ARE BRINGING A NEW A.I. POLICY TO OUR BOARD NOVEMBER 5. AND NOT A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DONE THAT IT'S RELATIVELY NEW TO USE IT LIKE IN AN ETHICAL MANNER AND WE TAKE ADVANTAGE AS A TOOL FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GET KNOWLEDGEABLE
ABOUT AND WE HAVE HAD A PROGRAM IN PLACE CALLED CON MIG GO A A.I. STUDENT TUTOR AND TEACHER VERSION WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MADE FROM THE
NICKELSON FOUNDATION HE IS PAYING HALF THE COST. TO YOUR QUESTION TRACKING STUDENTS AND HOW THEY ARE DOING WE DO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF POWER AND DASHBOARDS AND OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AND HER TEAM AND PRINCIPALS AND SUPERVISORS THE
STATE HAS GONE TO THE PROGRESS MONITORING TESTING WE HAVE PM ONE, PM2, PM3 WE HAVE DATA WE'RE USING AND LOOKING TO SEE WHICH STUDENTS ARE ON TRACK AND. WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT A.I. TO THAT YET. I DO SEE THAT ABILITY.
AND I THINK WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT BUT I WOULD SAY WE'RE DIPPING OUR TOE IN THE WATER WHEN IT COMES TO ANCIENT AND TRYING TO GO ABOUT IT IN A SAFE MANNER THAT WAS THE ATTRACTION BECAUSE THE CONTENT COMES FROM CON ACADEMY A TRUSTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION SO WE
DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE KIDS GETTING MISINFORMATION. BUT OUR BOARD HAS BEEN WISE. THEY SAID WE NEED A POLICY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND WE HAVE A STRATEGIC INITIATIVE HOW WE CAN USE A.I. MORE IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND ALSO
AS A LARGE BUSINESS. AS OVER $5 BILLION ENTITY. CAN WE HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE WITHIN HR, TRANSPORTATION YOU NAME IT. WE ARE A CLIENT OF SERVICE NOW WHICH YOU MAY HAVE HEARD SERVICE NOW IS A LEADER IN A.I. SPACE
AND THERE WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THE GOVERNOR WAS IN TOWN TO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL BE OFFERING OPENING A OFFICE HERE IN DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH THEM WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM SPONSOR A CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROBABLY MORE
THAN YOU WANTED TO HEAR BUT IT IS AN EXCITING TOPIC. THANKS. >> ANY OTHER MEMBERS OR SENATORS? I WILL GO AND THEN I WILL RECOGNIZE SUPERINTENDENT BURKE FOR HIS CLOSING REMARKS. SO IN TERMS OF A.I., I THINK
IT'S INTERESTING THAT IT IS MORPHING MONTH BY MONTH. WHAT WAS CAPABLE SIX MONTHS AGO IS NOW BEYOND THAT CAPABILITY. AND A.I. CAN ACTUALLY WRITE CODE. SO AN INDIVIDUAL CAN JUST PUT IN
A PROMPT INTO GOOGLE TO YOUR POINT, MEMBER SAVIETTO, YOU COULD LITERALLY PUT INTO A PROMPT THAT YOU WANT AN APP THAT CAN COLLATE ALL THE INFORMATION ON ELIGIBILITY OF RESOURCES BASED ON THE CRITERIA YOU CAN
ALMOST DO IT YOURSELF NOW. I SAY THAT TO SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS.
NOT JUST FOR THE FUTURE, BUT FOR HOW THEY ARE LEARNING AND HOW THEY ARE WRITING. AND HOW WE CAN LOOK AT THE INTERACTION OF THOSE TWO THINGS. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS TRI RAIL MY DAUGHTER
MARY ALICE WAS A DREYFOOS GRADUATE AND TRI RAIL SAVED HER LIFE FOR THE FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR. WE OFTEN HAD TO CALL THE OFFICE AND HELP HER FRIENDS FIND THEIR INSTRUMENTS THEY LEFT ON THE TRAIN WHEN IN MIAMI.
SO I JUST WANT TO TELL OUR DELEGATION HOW IMPORTANT TRI RAIL IS TO THE STUDENTS IN SOUTH COUNTY ESPECIALLY AND THAT WE COLLECTIVELY SUPPORT THE CONTINUED FUNDING. AND THEN ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE A DENTAL SCREENING BILL.
WE WERE APPROACHED BY SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE THOSE SCREENINGS THAT THERE IS NOT CLARITY WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS AROUND THE STATE WHETHER IT IS AN OPT-IN OR OPT-OUT SCREENING. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WITH THE
CHANGES IN FLUORIDE THROUGHOUT OUR STATE THAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GET THE SCREENING AND IT IS AN OPT-OUT POLICY AND SCHOOL BOARDS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND Mr. SUPERINTENDENT, I TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> Mike Burke: THANK YOU,
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. HEY, I APPRECIATE THE NICE REMARKS THAT YOU'VE MADE AND I GET TO BE THE FRONT MAN AND BRAG ABOUT OUR DISTRICT BUT WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM I WILL LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUES HERE. OVER TO THE FRONT TABLE IN THE
FAR RIGHT, IN THE BLUE SUIT THAT IS JAMIE WISE OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS GIVE US A WAVE, WYATT AND NEXT IS YOLANDA MORGAN CHIEF OF STAFF. AND BEHIND IS SHAWN COOLEY OUR CHIEF OF STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUR GENERAL COUNCIL SHAWNTOYIA BERNARD AND IF THAT NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR IT IS SHE IS THE WIFE OF SENATOR BERNARD. SHE WORKS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OVERSEES THE GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE. AND KEITH OSWALD CHIEF OF
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND SWINGING OVER TO THE BACK ROW, Mr. TIM CUBE RICK CHIEF OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST AND OUR CHIEF SARAH MOONEY DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN OUR SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OVERSEES ALL CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SERVICE. AND THERESA MICHAELS OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL AND REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND YOU KNOW VICKY NOLAN WHO MADE TODAY POSSIBLE AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUE TO THE RIGHT TO GET THAT A RATING IT TAKES OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF AND GORDON LONGHOFER REPRESENTS OUR CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL TIE.
SO A COUPLE CLOSING THOUGHTS. I BROUGHT WITH ME THE OLDEST BOOK OF FLORIDA SCHOOL LAW WE TAKE THE WORK YOU DO SERIOUSLY WE ABIDE BY THE LAWS AND THIS WAS THE 2010 EDITION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE THICKNESS IT'S 818 PAGES EXCLUDING THE INDEX.
I DON'T HAVE THE 25 VERSION BUT I HAVE THE 24. AND 2024 VERSION IT'S 1330 PAGES. OVER THAT 14-YEAR SPAN WE GREW 512 PAGES OR 62% THAT IS A LOT OF LEGISLATION. PUTTING THEM TOGETHER YOU CAN SEE THE PHYSICAL DIFFERENCE IN THE WEIGHT.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU DON'T FEEL COMPELLED WE HAVE TO CREATE ANOTHER 500 PAGES THIS IS A LOT. EACH YEAR WHEN THE SESSION CONCLUDES WE WORK ALL SUMMER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE READY TO ABYE-BYE THE NEW LAWS THIS IS A LOT OF LEGISLATION IF I WAS
RUNNING A PRIVATE SCHOOL, I THINK I WOULD HAVE 15, 20 PAGES NOT 1300. SO I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE PUT A ONE-PAGER YOUR PRESENTATION IS IN THE FOLDER BUT WE HAVE A GLOSSY ONE PAGER THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BOARD'S
PRIORITIES WE WILL BE PASSING THEM AROUND IN THE CAPITOL FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY DAYS AND THE MAIN THING IT'S HARD TO HANG ON TO THE PAPERWORK PLEASE REACH OUT. I'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS HAPPY TO SHARE MY CELLPHONE NUMBER AND IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES
DON'T HESITATE TO CALL OR TEXT AND I WILL GET YOU THE INFORMATION. IF I DON'T KNOW IT I WILL WORK WITH MY TEAM AND GET YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS YOU CAN IN TALLAHASSEE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME. WE WELCOME THIS PARTNERSHIP WE
HAVE. I THINK PALM BEACH COUNTY IS IN A UNIQUE GREAT POSITION THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF COLLABORATION ACROSS THE AISLE AND EVERYONE VALUES WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> Mr. BURKE I WOULD LIKE IF
YOUR TEAM CAN E-MAIL THAT YOUR PRESENTATION TO ALL THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. >> Mike Burke: ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. CO-CHAIRS THAT DOES IT FOR ME.