I WILL CALLED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M. MRS. SINCLAIR, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> DISTRICT 1, MATTHEW JAY LANE. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 2, VIRGINIA
SAVIETTO. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 3, KAREN BRILL. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 4, ERICA WHITFIELD. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 5, GLORIA BRANCH. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 6, MARCIA ANDREWS. >> HERE. >> DISTRICT 7, EDWIN FERGUSON.
>> HERE. >> >> GOOD EVENING, TONIGHT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE PERFORMED BY ARMONIA DANZA, A CHOIR FROM DR. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL.
WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LED BY MATTHEW LANE.
♪O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT♪ ♪WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING♪ ♪WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS
FIGHT♪ ♪O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED, WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING♪ ♪AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR♪
♪GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE♪ ♪O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED
BANNER YET WAVE♪ ♪O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪.
[APPLAUSE] >> Matthew Lane: THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> Karen Brill: VIEWSERS AND LISTENERS CAN ACCESS THE MEETING BY EITHER CATCHING ON COMCAST CHANNELS 234 AND 235, U VERSE
CHANNEL 99 OR USING THE YouTube LINKAL PALM BEACH COUNTY.ORG. IF THE EVENT THE LINK IS INTERRUPTED SWITCH OVER TO THE TV CHANNELS. ALL BOARD MEETINGS ARE RECORDED IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND POSTED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE WITHIN 24
HOURS. I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION TO REORDER THE AGENDA MOVING THE PRESENTATIONS TO THE TOP OF THE MEETING SO THE STUDENTS CAN RETURN TO PREPARE FOR SCHOOL TOMORROW. MOTION BY Mr. LANE. SECONDED BY MS. WHITFIELD.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NNEKA NNOLIM WILL JOIN US FOR THE OCTOBER RECOGNITIONS.
GOOD EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS WE CAN ALL GO DO YOU ON THE FLOOR. >> GOOD EVENING CHAIR BRILL, VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. THIS EVENING WE HAVE THREE RECOGNITIONS ON THE AGENDA. WE BEGIN WITH A RECOGNITION FOR THE COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT FOR THEIR $80,000 DONATION THAT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE HIRING OF STAFF TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE LEARNING LOUNGE AT VILLAGE ACADEMY ON THE ART & SARA JO KOBACKER CAMPUS FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR. SERVICES
INCLUDE ASSISTING STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK, TARGETED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, TUTORING, AND MENTORING. THE DISTRICT IS GRATEFUL FOR THIS DONATION AND DEEPLY APPRECIATES THIS GENEROSITY. HERE TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: HAZEL LUCAS DR. DEANDRE POOLE. CHUCK RIDLEY GWYNN WILLIAMS TIJUANA ATKINS WILLIAMS
SUSAN LAWYER WILLIS AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE: DR. DEBRA ROBINSON, FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE COALITION AND FORMER DISTRICT 7 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. LATOYA DIXON - PRINCIPAL OF VILLAGE ACADEMY LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE] NEXT WE ARE RECOGNIZING VARIOUS WINNERS OF LIBRARY MEDIA AWARDS. SOUTH OLIVE ELEMENTARY RECEIVED THE 2025 FLORIDA POWER-LIBRARY SCHOOL AWARD FROM THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SUPERVISORS OF MEDIA. THE AWARD IS GIVEN TO
OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING STUDENT SUCCESS, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY RESOURCES. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL, DR. SAARA SAARELA-VENING AND MICHELLE DUNLAP, THE SCHOOL'S MEDIA SPECIALIST. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES EARNED AWARDS FROM THE EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING
INNOVATIVE PRACTICES THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT THE MEDIA PROGRAMS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS: CATHY WEST - RETIRED MEDIA SPECIALIST FROM WELLINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVED THE 2025 OUTSTANDING ELEMENTARY MEDIA SERVICE AWARD. LAURA CRUZ - MEDIA SPECIALIST AT WESTERN PINES MIDDLE SCHOOL
RECEIVED THE 2025 OUTSTANDING SECONDARY MEDIA SERVICE AWARD. PAULA SKOWRONEK - MEDIA CLERK AT PALM BEACH GARDENS COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVED THE 2025 OUTSTANDING SECONDARY MEDIA CLERK AWARD. DR. JENNIFER GALINDO - PRINCIPAL, POLO PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVED THE 2025
OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AWARD. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THE WINNERS FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS AND DEDICATION IN AND WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE: JAMIE WILSON - PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION, AND THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AT JERRY THOMAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHANNON CULP - VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION, AND THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AT TIMBER TRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] AND FINALLY THIS EVENING WE ARE RECOGNIZING A GROUP OF SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS WHOSE SHORT FILM ENTITLED "BABY BEE'S ADVENTURE" WON FIRST PLACE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL IN THE JIM HARBIN STUDENT
MEDIA FESTIVAL. THE FILM IS NOW UP FOR THE STATE AWARD. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MS. JENNIFER MCCOMAS, THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AT ALLAMANDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE STUDENTS CREATED A STORYBOARD, WROTE THE SCRIPT, AND ALSO DID THE FILMING AND EDITING. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN CREATING
THIS SHORT FILM, AND FOR THEIR TO THE STUDENTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME: JACOB BAILEY - INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE. AIELYN DEAN - BAK MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. LINCOLN HARDEN - BAK MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. JOSIE KINGSTON - BAK MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. ISABELLA MENDEZ - WATSON B. DUNCAN MIDDLE. KENNEDY MILLS - BAK MIDDLE
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS LILA SAAKE - WATSON B. DUNCAN MIDDLE. SNIGDHA SRI SOMA - INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] BOARD CHAIR BRILL, VICE CHAIR ANDREWS, BOARD MEMBERS,
SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THIS CONCLUDES THE RECOGNITIONS FOR OCTOBER. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR
ATTENTION THIS EVENING. >> Karen Brill: BOARD MEMBERS THAT WILL BRING US BACK TO OUR
AGENDA. WE DO NOT HAVE MINUTES TO APPROVE. I HAVE ONE ITEM TO ADD FOR GOOD CAUSE. IF MY COMPUTER WILL ALLOW ME TO. OKAY. I'M ADDING P2, PERSONNEN IN
ADDENDUM GOOD CAUSE EXISTS SO EMPLOYEES CAN BEGIN IN THEIR NEW POSITIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT DO YOU HAVE ITEMS TO WITHDRAW? >> Mike Burke: YES, OPS2. >> Karen Brill: BOARD MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ITEMS YOU WISH TO PULL?
SEEING NONE. DO WE HAVE DISCLOSURES OR ABSTENTIONS? SEEING NONE. THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD COMMENTS. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT. I'M MOVING WAY TOO FAST BECAUSE
WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE. GET'S GET A POSITION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA -- THE AGENDA. MOTION BY MS. ANDREWS AND SECONDED BY MS. BRANCH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR ANY OPPOSED?
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED. >> Mike Burke: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT OCTOBER IS NATIONAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S MOTION AND WE ALL KNOW THE GREATEST MOST IMPORTANT VARIABLE IN THE CLASSROOM IS THE TEACHER THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS BUT BEHIND OUR TEACHERS IS PRINCIPALS THEY PLAY
AN IMPORTANT ROLE AND HAVE DEMANDING JOBS AND DO AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PALM BEACH COUNTY MANAGING THEIR SCHOOLS AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN FOR JOINING OUR SCHOOLS. THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN ACADEMICALLY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. YOU PROBABLY HEARD WE ARE A RATED THERE IS A SUBTLE REMINDER BEHIND THE DAIS BUT THIS
DESIGNATION IS HIGH PERFORMING IS IMPORTANT. OF 67 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA 13 RECEIVED THIS DESIGNATION SO WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EACH YEAR WILL DESIGNATE SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE. AND WE HAVE 44 OF OUR SCHOOLS
HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT RECEIVED THIS ENGLISH DISTINGUISHED DESIGNATION. THIS NOT EASY TO GET. THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE IN THE TOP 80 PERCENTILE FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE. AND, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE 44 WILL SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT PALM BEACH COUNTY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS WE ARE IN OCTOBER. EACH OCTOBER WE HAVE OUR ANNUALLY SHOWCASE OF SCHOOLS AND PATHWAYS TO POSSIBILITIES. WE WILL BE ADDING ANY CHOICE PROGRAMS ON OCTOBER 28TH THE THE
SOUTH FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FAMILIES TO COME OUT. WE HAVE 330 CHOICE PROGRAMS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE ON HAND AND HAVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL TABLES IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAMILIES TO EN INTERACT WITH SCHOOL LEADERS AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR NEXT YEAR FOR YOUR CHILDREN. THE APPLICATION PROCESS STARTS NOVEMBER 3. AND LASTLY, I'M PROUD OF OUR OWN VICE-CHAIR MARCIA ANDREWS AND MS. ANDREWS IS UP FOR THE AWARD
CALLED THE GREENGARDER IN AWARD IT RECOGNIZES A BOARD MEMBER FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO URBAN EDUCATION AND MS. ANDREWS IS ONE OF FOUR FINALISTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO THIS IS A -- YEAH, LET'S HEAR IT. [APPLAUSE]
WE ALL KNOW MS. ANDREWS IS A STAR IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE HER RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. A TESTAMENT TO HER LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATE AND FITTING TO RECOGNIZE MS. ANDREWS WRAPPED UP SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF SCHOOLS.
SHE WAS THE CHAIR. AND WE'RE ROOTING FOR HER. THE AWARDS CEREMONIES WILL BE NEXT WEEK AND HOPING SHE WILL BRING HOME THE AWARD AND IT COMES WITH A HIGH DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. EVERYONE SHOULD BE CHEERING FOR
MS. ANDREWS IT'S GREAT FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. Mr. LANE? >> >> Matthew Lane: I WANT TO BEGIN BY WELCOMING ALL OF YOU INCLUDING MANY OF YOU WHO ARE MY FRIENDS TO THE A RATED SCHOOL
DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. AS YOU HEARD, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECENTLY DESIGNATED OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AS ONE OF THE ACADEMICALLY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE HAVE A 96% GRADUATION RATE,
WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE OF ANY OF THE SEVEN LARGE HE HAVE URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE DATE -- STATE OF FLORIDA. EVERY YEAR, THE 23,000 PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE AT THE DECISION
TRICK DEDICATE OUR LIVES TO MAKING SURE THAT YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR LIVES. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. FIRST, I ALTHOUGH START WITHED EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
FOR THOSE OF WHO YOU DON'T KNOW SINCE ITS INCEPTION, OUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $8.6 MILLION OF SCHOOL SUPPOSE PLAYS TO NEEDY CHILDREN, INCLUDING PENS, PENCILS, PAPER, BACKPACKS, AND CRAYONS TO CHILDREN WHO DON'T
HAVE THEM. TWO WEEKS AGO, OVER 2,000 PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S HEROS IN EDUCATION AWARD THE MOST EVER IN THE 11 YEAR HISTORY OF THIS EVENT. 127 PALM BEACH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THIS
EVENT. AND APPROXIMATELY 40 MASCOTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHOOL MASCOT RACE. THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION RAISED MORE THAN $121,000 TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
AND THE IRON MAN AWARD GOES TO OUR OWN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER VIRGINIA WHO VIRGINIA SAVIETTO RAN THE ENTIRE 5K COURSE. [APPLAUSE] AS ALWAYS OF YOU KNOW, CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS MY
PASSION. 40% OF OUR STUDENTS AREN'T GOING TO COLLEGE AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRADES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CARPENTERS, PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS ARE AGING OUT. MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE THE 40% OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE SKILLS
WHEN THEY GRADUATE TO FILL THESE JOBS. AND TOWARD THAT END -- [APPLAUSE] 2 WEEKS AGO WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR WITH OVER 137 EXHIBITORS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS PARTICIPATING.
CREDIT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL EVENT GOES TO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT JAMIE WYATT AND CHIEF OFFICER MARIA BISHOP. FINALLY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORK OF THE PALM BEACH NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. WE MET AND RECEIVED A
PRESENTATION OF PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE BY THE CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA WHO DISCUSSED THE CHALLENGES FACED BY GIRLS IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT. AND HOW WE AS EDUCATORS CAN HELP THEM MEET THESE CHALLENGES. THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING HERE AT
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILDREN, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO PERFORM THE SACRED DUTY TO THE 17 SO,000 CHILDREN WHOSE FUTURE HAS BEEN PLACED INTO OUR HANDS.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. MS. SAVIETTO. >> Virginia Savietto: I HAD A BLAST AT THIS YEAR'S HAT'S OFF EVENT HONORING THE NONPROFITS AND PEOPLE WHO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY EVERYDAY. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE JAMES
GAVRILOS FROM THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AND HIS TEAM ALONGSIDE SUPERINTENDENT BURKE AND KRISTEN. EDUCATION CONNECTS US ALL IT IS THE FOUNDATION AND REASONS SO MANY NONPROFITS DO WHAT THEY DO. THIS YEAR WAS NONPROFITS 21ST
ANNIVERSARY THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED TRAINING CERTIFICATION AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT BUILDS STRONGER MORE EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY. AS A BOARD MEMBER OF NONPROFITS FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE HONOREES AND GIVE A SPECIAL
SHUTOUT TO TAMMY FIELDS A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. WHAT A FUN CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE HOSTED BY FAMILY IMPACT THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE CAME DRESSED IN OUR PATRIOTIC
BEST, ENJOYED SINGING, DANCING, FOOD, EVERYTHING THAT MAKES OUR CULTURES COME ALIVE AND REMIND US HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY. SHOUT-OUT TO SADIE, HER INCREDIBLE TEAM VOLUNTEERS AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR A GREAT EVENT. GRATEFUL TO CONGRESSWOMAN FOR HOSTING AN INTIMATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH GATHERING THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CELEBRATE CULTURE AND DISCUSS WAYS TO STRENGTHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO HONEST IN OUR OUR HERITAGE AND UPLIFTING THOSE MAKES A DIFFERENCE EVERYDAY. [APPLAUSE] I STOPPED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUSINESS GROWTH FORUM CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SO NICE TO SEE FAMILIAR
FACES, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ALL COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE IDEAS AND LIFT EACH OTHER UP. EVENTS LIKE THIS SHOW HOW EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY GO HAND IN HAND AND HOW MUCH STRONGER WE ARE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
WE KICKED OFF THE MORNING WITH A GREAT ENERGY AT THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION 5K. I JOGGED MY THREE FILES PLVMENT SANCHEZ LOST ME QUICKLY WITHIN ONE MINUTE. I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW HIM BUT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. BUT I LOST Mr. BURKE AND
HEROINER. I CAME -- HARPER. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE TEAMS LIKE JOHN A. LEARNER HIGH SCHOOL AND STINGRAY MASCOT A SHOUT-OUT FOR TAKING HOME SECOND PLACE AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS PARTICIPANTS AND INCREDIBLE
VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THAT DAY SUCH A SUCCESS. THANK YOU TO THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, PALM BEACH COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WELLNESS DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR JOINING FORCES TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS. I WAS SWEATY THERE.
AND I WILL END BY SAYING IT WAS AN HONOR TO JOIN WYNNEBROOK ELEMENTARY FOR THE RENOVATED CAMP MUST IN DISTRICT 2. ONE OF THE MOST TOUCHING PARTS OF THE MORNING WAS HEARING FROM A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER WHO ONCE
ATTENDED WYNNEBROOK AS A STUDENT AND NOW IS TEACHING AT WYNNEBROOK. THAT FULL CIRCLE STORY IS WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOLS SO SPECIAL. WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION FROM STUDENTS, INCLUDING 2 TWO AMAZING EMCEE'S
DRESSED AS THE CRAB AND SEGAL FROM LITTLE MERMAID THEY WERE FABULOUS. A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THE PRINCIPAL AND HER INCREDIBLE STA OF FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION AND TO ALL THE PARTNERS AND BUILDERS WHO HELPED MAKE IT POSSIBLE AND SPECIAL
THANKS TO AS WELL TO MS. ANDREWS AND MS. WHITFIELD FOR JOINING US. TOGETHER WE ARE CREATING SPACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN DREAM BIGGER AND LEARN BIGGER AND BRIGHTER. CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO MS. MARCIA ANDREWS FOR THAT NATIONAL LEVEL AWARD WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. MS. WHITFIELD. >> >> Erica Whitfield: THANK YOU. I DO HAVE PICTURES TO SHARE. DURING THIS PAST MONTH I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A FEW OF MY MUNICIPALITIES. TWO OF WHICH WERE THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH.
YOU CAN SEE ME SPEAKING ON THE ISSUES RELATED TO OUR SCHOOLS. ALSO I ATTENDED HIGHLAND BEACH AND WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEM AS WELL. IT IS A PLEASURE TO TALK TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN DISTRICT 4 TO SHARE ALL THE GOOD THINGS GOING ON HERE.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW IS I AM THE CHAIR OF THE LEADERSHIP PALM BEACH COUNTY GROW PROGRAM. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE 50 STUDENTS THAT ARE 17 YEARS OLD FROM MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WITHIN PALM BEACH COUNTY ALL OVER A VARIETY
FROM THE GLADES TO BOCA TO JUPITER. PRIVATE SCHOOLS CHARTER SCHOOLS, EVERYBODY IS INCLUDED. WE HAD A DAY SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON CIVICS WHICH WAS WONDERFUL. I GOT TO MODERATE A PANEL THERE WITH A FEW OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS. AND GET TO HEAR ABOUT WAYS THAT
THEY COULD GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING. MY NEXT PICTURE IS IS IN MS. MARCIA ANDREWS BACKYARD I VISITED THE GLADES AND THE EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA AND LEARN ALL ABOUT THE FARMING GOING ON THERE. AND IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO GO
AND SEE THE FARMERS AND SEE RICE HARVESTING IN ACTION. I WOULDN'T SHARE THESE BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL. AND YESTERDAY, I WAS AT THE HUNGER RELIEF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON WE HAVE HAD 10 YEARS OF
HUNGER RELIEF IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A LOT OF IT THROUGH OUR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT WE RECEIVED AN AWARD THAT IS ME SPEAKING HERE IS THE AWARD WE RECEIVED. I WILL BE SHARING THAT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THEY CAN SEE IT. [APPLAUSE]
YES, GOOD NEWS WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD. THERE IS A LOT TO BE DONE AROUND HUNGER. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS WITH THE ROOM TONIGHT AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, I APPRECIATE ALL THE VALUED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE COME TODAY AND I WANT TO START BY SAYING THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND SHOULD BE PROTECTED. [APPLAUSE] AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, MY PRIORITY IS OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS MENTORS AND ADULTS TO SET AN EXAMPLE AND WHEN SOMETHING
TRAGIC HAPPENS WE NEED TO HAVE DIALOGUE AND RESPECTFUL DEBATE AND COME TOGETHER AND NOT TEAR EACH OTHER APART. VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE SOLUTION. I BELIEVE WE REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE CHOOSE OUR WORDS. MY FOCUS WILL BE ON THE JOB AT HAND IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND
TRYING TO SET THE BEST EXAMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR KIDS. I AM I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Karen Brill: TALK. MS. BRANCH. >> Gloria Branch: THANK YOU,
KING GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR YOU WERE EXCELLENT AND CONGRATULATIONS MS. ANDREWS ON YOUR NOMINATION YOU ARE TRULY EXCEPTIONAL. I AM A BIG FAN OF YOURS. NOW BRING HOME THE AWARD. NO PRESSURE. I WANT TO SAY HAPPY NATIONAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL MONTH AND THANK
YOU TO THE PRINCIPALS THAT WORK SO HARD FOR THEIR SCHOOLS. THEY LEAD THE STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOU HAVE A VERY BIG JOB AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO HAVING HAD A FATHER IN EDUCATION FOR 60 YEARS AND A PRINCIPAL. I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND I APPRECIATE YOU.
I ALSO THE HATS EVENT I AGREE, THE EVENT WAS A GREAT WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. I WANT TO THANK SPANISH PRINCIPAL Dr. CASS LAND KNOW AND FRANK TORRES FOR INVITING ME TO THE LATINOS IN ACTION EVENT FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
WHAT A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. SPANISH RIVER IS 32% HISPANIC AND ALL STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WERE WELCOMED AND PARTICIPATED AND HAD BIG SMILES ON THEIR FACES CELEBRATING TOGETHER. Dr. MORGAN WAS THERE WITH ME AND SHE WOULD AGREE IT WAS A
GREAT CELEBRATION WE HAD A GOOD TIME. A FRONT ROW SEAT. IT WAS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU Mr. TORRES FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS AND SPANISH RIVER. AS I SAID AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, AND SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING I WANT TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND THANK THE
PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT HAPPENED AT LAST MONTH'S BOARD MEETING I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRIORITIES WHICH ARE MY PRIORITIES AND FOCUS AND WHY WE ARE HERE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN TO TEACH THEM TO READ, WRITE, COUNT, BEHAVE AND FOR
THEM TO GROW UP TO BE KIND AND GOOD PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: Mr. FERGUSON?
>> Edwin Ferguson: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. [CHEERING] >> Karen Brill: OKAY. HOLD ON.
WILL YOU HAVE TO LISTEN FOR A MINUTE. IF THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RECESS THE MEETING AND COME BACK. WE HAVE 65 SPEAKERS -- HOLD ON. BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE CIVIL. HOLD ON. SO WE HAVE 65 SPEAKERS IN HERE
TONIGHT. WE TRULY WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT HARD FOR US TO DO THAT IF YOU DON'T ALLOW US TO GET THROUGH OUR MEETING. SO I DON'T MEAN DISRESPECT TO ANYBODY. I KNOW YOU ARE ALL PASSIONATE.
BUT WE ALL TRULY WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. PLEASE, AS A RESPECT FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, LET'S LET EVERYBODY SPEAK. I'M GOING TO ASK Mr. FERGUSON TO SPEAK AND WHEN THE PEOPLE SPEAK LATER ON TO TRY TO CONTAIN
YOURSELF. HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE. OTHERWISE WE WILL NOT HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. Mr. FERGUSON IT'S YOUR TRUE. >> >> Edwin Ferguson: ASI ASI A DUAL ELECTED INDIVIDUAL HIRED TO REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT 7 SPATETY MUSEUM IS
OFFERING A BLACK HISTORY STUDY PROGRAM THAT IS HOSTED AT TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE MUSEUM IN DELRAY BEACH. THE DATES ARE SET FORTH ON THE FLYER ON THE MONITOR. CONTACT DEBBY OR SHARLENE IF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THE CITY RIVIERA BEACH IS OFFERING FREE ACT AND SAT BOOTCAMP TO STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM STARTS ON NOVEMBER 8 AND TAKES PLACE EVERY SATURDAY UNTIL DECEMBER THE 6. PLEASE REGISTER VIA THE E-MAIL
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FLYER. EARLIER THIS MONTH I ATTENDED WITH BOARD MEMBER ANDREWS THE JEFFERSON MEDICAL SOCIETY'S LUNCHEON AND I THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO SHARE THE INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO ANTICIPATE SEEKING A CAREER IN MEDICINE.
SENIORS IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND CHECK OUT THE ITEMS ON THE SCREEN TO HELP ENSURE YOU GET INTO THE SCHOOL OF OUR CHOICE. THE CHAPTER OF OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY IS SATURDAY.
WE WILL BE AT NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH IN WEST PALM BEACH SIGN UP IS 8:00 A.M. AND WE BEGIN AT 8:45AM. WE ARE ON TRACK OF REMOVING ONE TON OF GARBAGE BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND FOR STUDENTS TO
EARN OVER 1,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. [APPLAUSE] IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT THE NUMBER OR THE E-MAIL ON THE FLYER. OCTOBER IS ALSO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH I'M WEARING THIS PARTICULARLY PINK TIE IN
OBSERVANCE OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. I ENCOURAGE ALL WOMEN AND MEN TO DO REGULAR BREAST EXAMINATIONS CANCER THAT IS DETECTED EARLIER IS MORE TREATABLE AND A WIDER RANGE OF OPTIONS MAYBE AVAILABLE. TO PAT POINT THE FIVE YEAR
SURVIVAL RATE IS 95% FOR WOMEN AND 95% FOR MEN. I THANK THE SUPPORTERS WHO ARE ATTENDING TONIGHT'S MEETING. THE LAST 30 DAYS HAVE BEEN
SOMEWHAT INTERESTING AS EVIDENCED BY THE HECKLER IN THE BACK BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH I WOULD CHANGE ABOUT IT. I CHOSE MY WORDS THE LAST MONTH'S MEETING CAREFULLY AND I'M CHOOSING NOW. I ASK THAT YOU STAY ENGAGED BECAUSE IT IS THROUGH YOUR ENGAGEMENT AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL RISE TO A LEVEL OF
EXCELLENCE UNSEEN UP TO THIS POINT. LASTLY AT ALL TIMESES LET US BY MINDFUL OF ONE ANOTHER'S RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH MAKING COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT DISCRIMINATORY. IF THE STATEMENTS ARE DISCRIMINATORY NOTHING SAID WILL BE PERCEIVED AS FACT OR FICTION
WARRANTS THREATS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE, THREATS OF VIOLENCE, DEATH NOR CONTINUAL HARASSMENT AS IS HAPPENING IN THE BACK AGAINST PERSONS YOU DISAGREE WITH. MAINTAIN DECORUM AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AT ALL TIMES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS. >> Marcia Andrews: AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT. LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG HAND IT IS
ALL ABOUT OUR STUDENTS. AS YOU LOOK AT THE SCREEN I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THAT AND LISTEN TO MY VOICE BECAUSE IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH OUR STUDENTS. OUR LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING WHERE THEY LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST YOUTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WITH ROYAL PALM BEACH HIGH SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS FROM ROYAL PALM BEACH HIGH SCHOOL TO GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR JEFF FROM
THE VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH AND THE PRINCIPAL AT ROYAL PALM BEACH HIGH SCHOOL Dr. ROBINSON. AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCHOOLS, WORTHINGTON CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, GOOGLE IT.
I WAS ABLE TO MEET THE PRINCIPAL Mr. MERCEDES, ALLISON KIRBY AND DANNY FERNANDEZ FROM THE SECOND MILE EDUCATION. THEY WELCOMED ME. A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO MAY GET LOST AND LOSE THEIR WAY GET A CHANCE TO GET A SECOND CHANCE AT
WORTHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS AN EXCELLENT CHARTER SCHOOL. HELPING OUR STUDENTS SEE SUCCESS, REACH GRADUATION, GO TO COLLEGE OR GET A CAREER. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT. EVERYBODY'S CHILDREN MAKING SUCCESS IN THEIR LIVES.
CONGRATULATIONS WORTHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL. YOU ARE NOW GETTING READY TO GET A MIDDLE SCHOOL. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO GO TO PALM BEACH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL JUST THE OTHER DAY, TO THANK A TEACHER. CELINE BESSMAN I WAS SURPRISED. SHE WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS WHEN
I WAS PRINCIPAL AT POLO PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE WAS THE THANK A TEACHER. $500 CHECK FROM HCA SOUTH FLORIDA. SHE IS ONE THAT HELPS OUR CHILDREN LEARN THE SKILLS
NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS AND FOR COLLEGE. MS. BESSMAN COMES FROM A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS WHO FATHER TAUGHT AT POLO PARK AND HER MOTHER IS AN EDUCATOR AND THEY MADE A SUPERSTAR EDUCATOR. CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THE TEACHER OF THE WEEK.
THANK A TEACHER. WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS IN THE PARADE. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS THE BEAUTIFUL FLOATS, ALL OF THE CHILDREN THE AKA'S ARE OUT THERE. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. Mr. BURKE, I SAW YOU WITH YOUR LOVELY WIFE, KRISTEN.
AND YOU WERE WAVING AND WE WERE WAVING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. HOMECOMING IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE STUDENTS. AND IT WAS GREAT. AND I WAS ABLE TO GO TO HL JOHNSON TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE SHOWCASE. AND IT WAS LOVELY.
I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL, AND THE WONDERFUL STAFF THEY GAVE ME A PASSPORT TO VISIT A LOT OF THE COUNTRIES. AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY PASSPORT STAMPED BECAUSE I HAD A
CHANCE TO GO TO CHILLY, ARGENTINA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, COSTA RICA AND EVERY STUDENT SAID YOUR PASSPORT IS DONE. AND THANK YOU VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON FOR THE WONDERFUL
SCHOLARSHIP GRANT. FULL 140,000 IN GRANTS FOR THE WELLINGTON SCHOOLS. 11 OF THEM, $40,000 FOR EACH SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE GIVEN $5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS OVER THE YEARS. I WANT TO LASTLY SAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRINCIPALS THIS IS YOUR MONTH. YOU ARE THE PRINCIPALS OF THE A RATED PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT BURKE FOR RECOGNIZING US. WE ARE A TEAM. BUT WE LOVE BEING YOUR BOSS. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I SAW SOME PEOPLE GETTING UPSET. I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU APPRECIATE ALL MY WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES AND THE GOOD WORK THEY ARE DOING I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, AGAIN, THAT IN THE AUDIENCE THAT APPLAUSE, CHEERING AND OUTBURSTS DO DISRUPT THE
MEETING AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. WE TRULY DO. LET'S KEEP IT QUIET AND CIVIL SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THE MEETING AND HEAR EACH OF YOUR VOICES. I WANT TO ADD A COUPLE THINGS FOR MY COLLEAGUES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT Mr. BURKE DID AN AMAZING FABULOUS
JOB AT COBRA, THE COALITION OF BOYNTON WEST RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATIONS HE VISITS THAT GROUP EVERY YEAR. AS HE SAW IT IN THE AUDIENCE IT'S RETIREES BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS. THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR US. AND HE JUST WAS FANTASTIC.
I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AT ONE OF MY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS I SPOKE BEFORE THE NEW YORK STATE RETIRED TEACHERS. I FEEL COMFORTABLE AS SOON AS THEY HEAR MY ACCENT 36 YEARS IN FLORIDA HAS NOT GOTTEN RID OF
THE NEW YORK ACCENT THEY MET WITH JAMES GAVRILOS FROM THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION WHO YOU HEARD MENTIONED EARLIER AND THEY MADE A $250 CONTRIBUTION TO THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND THAT SMALL GROUP IS GOING TO CONTINUE THAT EVERY YEAR. SO I WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, THE CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ON OUR AGENDA, THEY ARE REDUCING SCHOOL APPLICATION FEES BY 50% IF THREE
OR MORE SCHOOLS APPLY TO BECOME A CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME. AND THEY ARE CLOSE ENOUGH FOR US TO FOR THEM TO PERFORM ANNUAL VISITS AND APPROVE THEM THE SAME DAY AT EACH LOCATION. THEY ARE REDUCING THE ANNUALLY
CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY FEE BY 25% AND REDUCTION THE ANNUAL SECONDARY AND ADVANCED PROGRAM BY 25%. THIS IS AMAZING FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR GENEROSITY. WITH THAT, AT EVERY REGULAR
BOARD MEETING WE RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO PASSED AWAY. SO I'M GOING TO READ THEIR NAMES AND I WILL ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. FIRST, WE HAVE DOUGLAS BARNHART. HE WAS A TEACHER OF SECONDARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT SANTA LUCIA HIGH SCHOOL HE PASSED AWAY
SEPTEMBER 21, 2025. JUDY CHRISTA WAS A TEACHER OF ELEMENTARY MUSIC AT LIBDY PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND PASSED WAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2025. SHAH LONE DA FIELDS WAS A DATA
PROCESSOR AT SUNCOAST HIGH AND PASSED AWAY ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2025. AND ANG NET HENLEY WAS A PHYSICAL NEEDS ASSISTANT AT PALM BEACH CENTRAL HIGH AND SHE PASSED AWAY ON JULY 18, 2025. NOW I WILL ASK FOR A MOMENT OF
SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT BY ELLERY WEISS THE STUDENT
GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, CHAIRWOMAN BRILL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE PAST MONTH I ALONG WITH STUDENTS FROM JUPITER HIGH SCHOOL COUNTED AND PACKAGED FLYERS SENT TO REPRESENTATIVE AT EVERY MIDDLE
AND HIGH SCHOOL IN PALM BEACH COUNTY TO BE PLACED IN EVERY CLASSROOM. FORMER COUNTY PRESIDENT AND ISABELLA MENDEZ WENT WITH OUR COUNTY VICE-PRESIDENT TO SCHOOLS ACROSS BOCA TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE FIGHTING
HUNGER SURVEY. Dr. JOAQUIN GARCIA AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PROGRESSION AND PLANNING THE SECOND COUNTY MEETING THAT WILL BE HELD AT DR. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 20. IN REGARDS TO FIGHTING HUNGER INITIATIVE THE SURVEY IS UP AND
RUNNING FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO FILL OUT. THE SURVEY IS LOCATED IN ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENT PORTALS TITLED FIGHTING HUNGER. WE HAVE RECEIVED 5885 RESPONSES FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL
HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY IT ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND OBSTACLES STUDENTS FACE IN FOOD. AND OTHER NEWS, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST DISTRICT FIVE MEETING HELD BY DR. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL WITH STUDENT GOVERNMENT
ASSOCIATIONS ATTENDED AND HAD THE HONOR OF HOSTING STUDENT AMAZING GUEST SPEAKERS SUCH AS BEST BUDDIES. THE LIA AT DR. JOAQUIN GARCIA HIGH SCHOOL HOSTED A SHOWCASE PRESENTING THE COLORS AND TRADITIONAL DANCES OF HISPANIC COUNTRIES TO KICKOFF HISPANIC
HERITAGE MONTH. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE CONGRATULATIONS THE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT HAD A HUGE WIN OVER BOYNTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL WINNING 28-21. FINALLY, THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS CONFERENCES WAS THIS PAST
WEEKEND IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCILS ACROSS 15 STATES THAT HAD BEEN AROUND 93 YEARS. HIGH SCHOOLS FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY SENT DELEGATES TO NETWORK WITH STUDENT GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES ATTENDED WORKSHOPS SURROUNDING SCHOOL SERVICE AND SPIRIT PROJECTS AND HEARD FROM GUEST SPEAKERS ABOUT THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
ACADEMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE. YES, WE DO. NO? OKAY. AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT IS ATTACHED. THE CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT IS ATTACHED AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE DISTRICT DIVERSITY, EQUITY
AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN POSTLE, PLEASE COME UP. >> GOOD EVENING SUPERINTENDENT. BOARD CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR AND EVERYONE IN YOUR PLACES. HAPPY NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. ANDREWS CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENT AND THAT AWARD. I'M SPEAKING IT INTO EXISTENCE. I BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING THAT SEPTEMBER 15-OCTOBER 15 IS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. THIS OBSERVATION CELEBRATES THE
HISTORY, CULTURAL AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC AND LATINO AMERICANS WHO ROOTS TRACES FROM SPAIN, CARRIBBEAN, AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. WE ARE HONEST AUTHORIZED TO HAVE JUAN REPRESENTING THE FLORIDA HISPANIC AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PALM BEACH COUNTY. SPEAK ABOUT THE ENDURING IMPACT
AND THE YEAR-ROUND PRESENCE OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY ACROSS FLORIDA AND THE NATION. THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR DISCUSSED STRATEGIES TO ANALYZE LARGE SETS OF DATA TO IDENTIFY TRENDS THAT CAN INFORM STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
STRATEGIES. THE GROUP CHOSE TO FOCUS ON FOURTH GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELA. A DATA REQUEST HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ALLOW ANALYSIS AT BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL TEACHER AND STUDENT LEVELS. THIS FOCUSED APPROACH WILL HELP UNCOVER NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR TARGETED IMPROVEMENT. THE CHIEF OF STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS REPORT WAS PRESENTED BY Mr. OSWALD. Mr. OSWALD EMPHASIZED THAT ATTENDANCE CORRELATES WITH ACHIEVEMENT MISSING JUST ONE DAY OF SCHOOL WITH RESULT IN A 1%
DECLINE. PALM BEACH COUNTY MAINTAINS HIGHER ATTENDANCE RATES THAN THE STATE AVERAGE. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM MISSING 10% OTHER MORE HAS DECLINED BY 5% AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. AND OVERALL STUDENT ENROLLMENT
HAS DECLINED. THE DISTRICT IS CONDUCTING OUTREACH EFFORTS TO REENGAGE FAMILIES THROUGH HOME VISITS PHONE CALLS AND CONTACT AT LAST KNOWN ADDRESSES. REAFFIRMING THE DISTRICT'S STRONG WORK IN ENSURING EVERY STUDENT CONTINUES TO THRIVE.
OCTOBER IS ALSO SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH. THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH SCHOOL BASED SERVICES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT IS PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Mr. McCORMICK DIRECTOR OF
EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GAVE A PRESENTATION. THE ESC DEPARTMENT IS ENSURING THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE SERVICES PRO PROMOTING ACCESSIBILITY AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS. A FEW KEY OUTCOMES TO NOTE FROM
THE PRESENTATION. 31,815 STUDENTS ARE SERVED UNDER IDA AND FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION GUARANTEED. 15,027 RECEIVE ADA SECTION 504
ACCOMMODATIONS FROM 2012-2023 THE GRADUATION RATE INCREASED BY 36.3%. THE DROPOUT RATE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AGE 14-21 HAS DECREASED FROM 39 TO 9.9%.
78.4% OF STUDENTS WITH IEP AGES 5-21 SPEND 80% OR MORE OF THEIR DAY IN GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS REFLECTING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD INCLUSIVE EDUCATION. AS THE CHAIR, I EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO ALL THE PRESENTERS, THE COMMITTEEMEMBERS
AND EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. OUR WORK CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON STUDENT SUCCESS ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD IN PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND THE SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE.
ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH AND I WILL BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SHOUT-OUT OUR PRINCIPALS IN DISTRICT 5 Dr. JEROME, AND ALL THE PRINCIPALS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
GENERAL COUNSEL DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US TONIGHT? >> NO REPORT, THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: INSPECTOR GENERAL DO YOU HAVE A REPORT? >> NO REPORT. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DELEGATES. I WILL CALL YOU UP TWO AT A TIME. JAMES GAVRILOS PRESIDENT AND
C.E.O. OF THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND GORDON LONGHOFER, PRESIDENT OF THE PTA FOUNDATION.
>> GOOD EVENING. LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER LANE FOR YOUR KIND WORDS ABOUT OUR HEROS IN EDUCATION 5K IT WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER. AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THE STAFF OF THE ED FOUNDATION OUR LATEST ADDITION IS ONE OF THE BEST, MATT.
THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME RUNNING AN EVENT LIKE THIS AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. HE HAS HAD A BUSY OCTOBER. MATT HOPEFULLY YOU ARE GETTING REST. THANK YOU. THE TWO EVENTS COMING UP AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, 48 HOURS FROM NOW, FRIDAY MORNING
WE WILL BE BRINGING IN OUR 100TH SCHOOL AS THE RED APPLE SUPPLY SHOPPER. AND YOU POINTED OUT IN EIGHT YEARS WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED 9 MILLION DOLLARS OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES. ON FRIDAY MORNING BAN I DON'T KNOW CREEK COMES ON AS SCHOOL 100.
WE ARE HAVING A SPECIAL CEREMONY AND EVERYONE IS INVITED GET THERE AT 8:30. THE PRINCIPAL IS CHARTERING A BUS AND BRINGING THE FACULTY FROM BAN I DON'T KNOW CREEK TO OUR FACILITY 1515 BARTON ROAD. THE BUS IS ARRIVING AT 9:00 A.M.
WE WANT EVERYBODY THERE, CONFETTI CANNONS WILL BE INVOLVED. SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, I SHARE WITH YOU THE SUPPORT YOU, KAREN BRILL THAT YOU HAVE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. HE IS A MEMBER OF MY TRIBE, AT
GOOD GREEK MOVING AND STORAGE SPERO SAID TELL ME ABOUT THE 100 SCHOOL BUSINESS AND HE SAID WHAT DO YOU NEED? I NEED A TRUCK BECAUSE I HAVE 54 TEACHERS WITH BOXES TO BAN I DON'T KNOW CREEK AND HE SAID DONE. THEY WILL HAVE A TRUCK THERE
IT'S THAT SUPPORT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT IS TELLING YOU, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE AND BOARD CHAIR BRILL YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND THIS COMMUNITY IS BEHIND YOU. AS SOON AS WE COME OUT OF OUR CELEBRATION FRIDAY A WEEK LATER WE WILL AWARD OUR GO TEACH GRANTS WE ARE AWARDING 89
CLASSROOM GO TEACH GRANTS PLUS FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT GRANTS FOR MENTOR OF THE YEAR, BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR. THOSE GRANTS COME FROM 62 SCHOOLS. ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE RECEIVING A GO TEACH GRANT. 70 OF THE 18 --
89 PROJECTS THAT WE ARE FUNDING THIS YEAR WITH THE GO TEACH GRANT COME FROM TITLE ONE SCHOOLS THAT IS A 78% RATIO. AND CONGRATULATIONS MARIA BISHOP AND MEMBER OF THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR PRINCIPALS IN THESE SCHOOLS WHO
ARE ENCOURAGING TEACHERS TO REACH OUT FOR A GO TEACH GRANT THE GRANTS BETWEEN 1,000 AND 5,000 ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING CREATIVE MOST OF THEM SCHOOL IN BOARD MEMBERS ARE CENTERED ON STEM, LITERACY, COLLEGE READINESS, CAREER READINESS AND LIFE SKILLS TO PREPARE THE YOUNG
PEOPLE FOR LIFE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT OUR FACILITY, THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION ON THURSDAY EVENING AT 5:00 AND THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION OF THE AWARDS AT 6:00 A.M. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
AND THE PUBLIC IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE PUBLIC COMMITMENT LET'S COMMIT TO OUR TEACHERS. LET'S SHOW THE TEACHER THEY ARE LOVED AND SUPPORTED MUCH LIKE SPERO AT GOOD GREEK WHAT CAN I DO? LET'S SUPPORT THEM. THE GO TEACH GRANTS WILL BE
AWARDED ON OCTOBER 30, TOTALING THIS YEAR WE CRACKED MY GOAL $2567.67. ON THAT NIGHT 200,000 GOES TO YOUR TEACHERS TO DO THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU INSPIRE THEM TO DO. WE ARE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN YOUR
EDUCATION FOUNDATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. GORDON LONGHOFER AND CAITLYN BATES, VICE-PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF PALM BEACH AND TREASURE COAST. >> THANK YOU, MS. BRILL. TO THE CHAIR, TO VICE-CHAIR
ANDREWS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, HONORED GUESTS I'M GORDON LONGHOFER PRESIDENT OF THE PALM BEACH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO FIRST CONGRATULATE MARCIA. AND I SAY MARCIA IN THIS SENSE BECAUSE WE KNEE EACH OTHER ABOUT
37, 38 YEARS. WE DO, INDEED, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE TEACHERS WE INDEED HOPE THAT YOU BRING HOME THE GOLD ON THIS ONE. YOU'VE EARNED IT AND DESERVE IT AND I THINK THE SUCCESSES OF SOME OF OUR STUDENTS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY A LOT OF THEM ARE TESTAMENT TO THE WORK AND THE
LIFELONG CAREER YOU HAVE DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE SCHOOLS THAT SERVE THE FAMILIES AND THE THEIR STUDENTS. I WANT TO ALSO THANK EVERYONE OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SAID WITH RESPECT TO THE
RECOGNIZING TEACHERS FOR THEIR WORK. IT'S TRUE THAT THEIR INVOLVEMENT AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACET OF WHAT IMPACTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS NOTED, ESPECIALLY IN THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DISTRICT.
OUR A RATING OUR HIGH PERFORMING DISTRICT DESIGNATION AND THE 44 SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE. Mr. BURKE KNOWS WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES COUNTING BUT THAT IS OVER 25% OF OUR WORK SITES WHERE WE HAVE STUDENTS ACHIEVING AT
THAT LEVEL. AND IT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S THESE NOTES OF EXCELLENCE THAT BRING ME TO MY COMMENTS TONIGHT. ONE OF THE ITEMS YOU WILL BE DEALING WITH TONIGHT IS, IN FACT, THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
FOR THE GREATER CONSORTIUM FLORIDA CORRECT SORT YUM OF SCHOOL BOARDS THAT IS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT AND OBVIOUSLY I EXPECT AND I DO PRAY THAT WILL YOU PASS THAT UNANIMOUSLY. IT'S BLOATED, LOADED WITH INFORMATION THAT LITERALLY CAN
POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THE GOALS. I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO TWO GOALS IN PARTICULAR. THE FIRST ONE IS A GOAL AND IT'S STATED ON THE FRONT AND IT SAYS TO INCREASE ON A PHASED IN BASIS THE AVERAGE PER STUDENT FUNDING
TO ENSURE FLORIDA IS IN THE TOP HALF OF THE STATES AND PROVIDE A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO COMPETE AND EXCEL IN THE UNIVERSAL MARKETPLACE. FLORIDA IS THIRD IN THE COUNTRY IN POPULATION. OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WITH
RESPECT TO ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS IS, IN FACT, RANKED SIMILAR TO THE COUNTRIES OF SPAIN AND SOUTH KOREA WHICH PUTS US WELL AHEAD OF A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. THOSE FACTORS DEMAND THAT WE SUPPORT THIS GOAL BECAUSE OUR
CURRENT PER PUPIL FUNDING AT 12-AND-A-HALF THOUSAND PER STUDENT IS 45TH IN THE NATION. AND IS $5,000 BEHIND THE U.S. AVERAGE PER PUPIL. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. AND SO THIS IS A WORTHY GOAL.
TO BUILD UPON THAT, THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR THE ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS TO PURSUE BASE FUNDING INCREASES THAT MEET INFLATION OR 5% AT A MINIMUM WHICH MEANS IF INFLATION IS LESS WE'RE GOING FOR THE 5%. THAT IS ALSO A WORTHY GOAL
BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP US GET TO A POINT WHERE WE WILL QUIT BLAMING THE STATE FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT INTO TEACHERS' POCKETS TO ALLOW THEM TO PAY THEIR BILLS. THE STATE IS NOT LOOKING AT US AND DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN
BLAMING US FOR HAVING NOT DONE THE JOB. SO WE HAVE TO PUT A WAY THAT EXCUSE FROM TIME TO TIME AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT DOES TO OUR RESOURCES AND FIND A WAY AND THE MUSTER AND THE COURAGE TO DO T THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
THAT WILL BRING US AGAIN TO CAITLYN BATES AND SYLVIA HALL. PTA AND PTSA PRESIDENT. >> GOOD EVENING CHAIRWOMAN BRILL, VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BURKE.
I'M INDICATELY BATES. I KNOW YOU USUALLY GET ERIKA BUT TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY. EVERY YEAR WITH YOUR SUPPORT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT EMPOWERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WITH
THE FINANCIAL LITERACY, CAREER READINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS. AS WE ARE IN PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES, I COULD LIST ALL WE DO BUT I PREFER TO GIVE YOU OUR REGIONAL I AM PAG THAT I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND IN THE GLADES. AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, JUNIOR
ACHIEVEMENT HOSTED ONE OF OUR CAREER EXPLORATION FAIRS AND BROUGHT 41 VOLUNTEERS FROM 26 COMPANIES TO SHARE OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS' FUTURES. THE SCHOOL WAS SO WELCOMING AND STUDENTS WERE ENGAGED OUR STAFF WERE THRILLED TO CHAT WITH THEM
ABOUT THEIR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE AND GUIDE THEM TO THE PROPER VENDORS. WE WERE ABLE TO INVITE A FUNDER TO SHOWCASE THE WORK WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE END OF THE FAIR SHE TOLD US SHE SPOKE WITH ONE LADY WHO SHARED SHE IS RANKED AS
THE VALEDICTORIAN BUT THE FIRST FROM HER FAMILY TO GRADUATE. THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS TO CONNECT THE DOTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY CONNECT THESE STUDENTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIKE THIS FUNDER WHO GAVE OUT LIFE CHANGING SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS.
AND WHILE WE WERE AT THE CAREER FAIR WE WERE APPROACHED BY STUDENTS WHO CAME UP TO SHARE I KNOW JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND I GET TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL HERO. IT IS A PROGRAM WHERE A CLUB OR GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BROKEN INTO SMALL GROUPS AND PAIRED WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES.
WE HAD 36FFEA STUDENTS SIGN UP TO CLUFER SIX CLASSES AT PIONEER PARK ELEMENTARY. THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING TURNOUT FROM GLADES CENTRAL WE HAD TO PICK A SECOND DATE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLASSES TO SUPPORT THAT MANY VOLUNTEERS. THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM IS
TWO FOLD THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN TEAMWORKING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, COMMUNICATION AND OTHER SOFT SKILLS. WE KNOW IT TAKES SPECIAL COMMUNICATION TO COMMAND A ROOM FULL OF KINDERGARTENERS. ALL THE WHILE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE LEARNING
SKILLS IN FINANCIAL LITERACY LIKE WANTS VERSUS NEEDS THROUGH FUN GAMES AND ACTIVITIES AND MANY OF THE SAME STUDENTS WILL SEE US AGAIN FOR A EXPLORATION FAIR LATER IN THE YEAR. OUR PROGRAMS COULD BE WRITTEN ON A LIST BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WE CAN HAVE BY TEACHING STUDENTS ECONOMIC BASICS IN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE, CAREER PATHS AND THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE AND CAREER PATHS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SOFT SKILLS AND
DIRECT TO EMPLOYERS IN HIGH SCHOOLS IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO THIS THROUGH THE HELP OF THE DISTRICT AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO VOLUNTEER AND FOR THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU ALL. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. FOLLOWING SYLVIA HALL WILL BE Dr. POOLE COALITION FOR BLACK
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. >> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH A MISSION.
THE MISSION IS TO MAKE POTENTIAL A REALITY BY EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL CHILDREN. LAST MONTH, I MENTIONED THERE WAS NATIONAL PTA GRANTS THAT FOR
LOCAL UNITS APPLY FOR THE GRANTS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY GOT THEM OR NOT BUT I WILL BRING THAT INFORMATION WHEN I GET IT. THERE WERE MORE GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES COMING FROM NATIONAL PTA. SOME WERE LIKE A HAPPY GRANT ONE WAS A HAPPY COFFEE DONATION
OPPORTUNITY AND THE OTHER ONE WAS A KITTY ALARM DONATION OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH FAMILIES THE DANGERS OF THE SMOKE ALARMS AND THIS PROGRAM WILL GIVE LOCAL
UNITS 160 ALONG-TERMS SMOKE ALARMS TO THE STUDENTS IN THEIR SCHOOLS. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. ONE OF THE ADVOCACY AWARDS THE
JOHN HARRY DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AWARD AND THE CENTER FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT HEALTHY MINDS FELLOWSHIP. ALL THE GRANTS THE DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 2. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TRAINING A LOCAL UNIT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO AT THE COUNTY. WE ARE HAVING A TREASURER'S
TRAINING FOR LOCAL UNITS ON OCTOBER 27 AND A TRAINING FOR OUR LOCAL UNITS ON NOVEMBER 3. GIVE BACK IS THE PLATFORM THAT WE USE AS LOCAL UNITS AND IT OFFERS DIFFERENT TOOLS LIKE HOW TO DO NEWSLETTERS, WEBSITES AND
ON-LINE AND OTHER THINGS. AND IT'S PROVIDED FREE TO THE LOCAL UNITS. WE HAVE ONGOING THE DEFLECTIONS PROGRAM. AND IF THERE'S ANY STUDENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEFLECTIONS PROGRAM AND THE SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A PTA THEY
CAN JOIN THE STATE-WIDE SUNSHINE PTA AND SUBMIT THROUGH THE SUNSHINE PTA. ALSO, PTA SCHOLARSHIP FOR ALL THE GRADUATING STUDENTS. THE DEADLINE IS MARCH SECOND.
WE DO HAVE OUR PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AS WELL AND OUR DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2026. NEXT WEEK, OCTOBER 20, ARE ADVOCACY DAYS. WHAT WE'RE DOING I WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE EVERYBODY JOIN THE VOICE AND THE REASON BEING, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A MEMBER BECAUSE WE NEED OUR VOICES RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THE GNAWED FUNDING CUTS ARE COMING, THE MORE VOICES WE TELL OUR REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE WANT THE
FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS THE BETTER. BECAUSE THE FUNDING CUTS ARE COMING. ALSO, NATIONAL PTA PUT OUT A STATEMENT DENOUNCING THE MASS LAYOFF IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. AND WE URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO REVERSE THE LAYOFFS AND
[INAUDIBLE] ANOTHER I DON'T HAVE THE TIME I WILL BE REACH 0 OUT TO A LOCAL UNIT MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT THURSDAY AND I'M WORKING ON CHARTERING A LOCAL UNIT AT KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAPPY PRINCIPALS MONTH. AND I SHOUT-OUT TO MY PTA PRINCIPAL THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. FOLLOWING Dr. POOLE IS GOING
TO BE DEDRICK STRONG SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY N.A.A.C.P. >> THANK YOU CHAIR AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BURKE. I STAND TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WE WERE HONORED TONIGHT TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION OF THE DONATION OF
UP TO $80,000 TO VILLAGE ACADEMY IN DELRAY BEACH FOR THE LEARNING HUB, FOR THE LEARNING VILLAGE. THE HUB. THE HUB REPRESENTS A POWERFUL INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES. IT IS AN AFTER SCHOOL TIME SPACE AND PLACE DESIGNED FOR VILLAGE
ACADEMY STUDENTS IN GRADES ACHES-9 TO FOCUS ON LEARNING AND COMPLETING THEIR HOMEWORK UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AND SUPPORT OF DEDICATED TEACHERS AND MENTORS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DEEP LEARNING REQUIRES TIME, FOCUS AND MOTIVATION AND PERSISTENCE.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A HOME ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO EXTENDED LEARNING AND STUDY. THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT SUCH A SUPPORTIVE AND STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT IS AVAILABLE. THIS INITIATIVE SERVES AS A
CONCEPT PROOF OF A MODEL FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY STUDENT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. COALITION OF BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO EDUCATION AND EQUITY ENSURING EVERY STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY, RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY NEED TO
SUCCEED. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN THIS COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR. AS A SIDE NOTE, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO AFFIRM THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF FREE
SPEECH NOT ONLY AS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT BUT AS A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY. AS AN EDUCATOR AND FOLLOWER OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, I BELIEVE IN USING MY VOICE TO SPEAK TRUTH EVEN WHEN THAT TRUTH IS
UNCOMFORTABLE. SISTER HAMER TAUGHT US THAT NOBODY IS FREE UNTIL EVERYBODY IS FREE. HER COURAGE REMIND US THAT SPEECH CAN LIBERATE WHEN ROOTED IN JUSTICE AND LOVE. IN OUR SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES WE MUST PROTECT SPACES WHERE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN THINK
CRITICALLY, QUESTION BOLDLY AND LEARN FREELY, FREE SPEECH SHOULD NEVER BE POLITICIZED TO DIVIDE OR SILENCE BY FEAR IT SHOULD BE USED TO BUILD UNDERSTOODING, NURTURE AND ADVANCE EQUALITY. I URGE THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE TO
STAND FIRM FOR SPEECH THAT UPLIFTS HUMAN DIGNITY AND ENCOURAGES DIALOGUE. WHEN WE SILENCE VOICES ESPECIALLY THOSE ALREADY MARGINALIZED WE WEAKEN THE DEMOCRACY OUR SCHOOLS EXIST TO PROTECT. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE CONTINUE I REMIND YOU WE WANT TO GET THROUGH OUR AGENDA AND WE WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY. TRY TO HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE. AFTER Mr. STRONG, CHUCK RIDLEY FROM THE I.C.U. --
SEIU. >> I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY N.A.A.C.P. I STAND IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH AND DEFENSE OF TRUTH AND DEFENSE OF EDUCATORS OF PUBLIC SERVICE WHO REFUSE TO BE SILENCED. THE FLORIDA BOARD OF EDUCATION
ISSUED A MEMORANDUM THREATENING AN INVESTIGATION INTO TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO EXPRESSED AN OPINION ABOUT THE DEATH OF CHARLIE KIRK. IT SUGGESTED VOICING THIS APPROVAL COULD COST EDUCATORS THEIR JOBS AND TEACHING CERTIFICATES. LET ME BE CLEAR.
THAT MEMORANDUM WAS NOT ABOUT PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. IT WAS ABOUT INTIMIDATION. IT SEEKS TO SILENCE TEACHERS, SUPPRESS DIALOGUE AND PUNISH THOSE WHO SPEAK THE TRUTH ABOUT HATE AND EXTREMISM. OUR EDUCATORS ARE NOT PAWNS.
THEY ARE CITIZENS WITH THE SAME CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SPEAK FREE EXPRESSION AS ANY OTHER FLORIDIAN. THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT EVAPORATE WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS. TEACHERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT, OUTSIDE OF WORK, ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT THEIR
COMMUNITY, THEIR SAFETY AND THE MORAL CONSCIOUS. WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IS THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY. THE SAME INDIVIDUALS WHO DEFEND
KIRK'S RIGHT TO SPEW DIVISION UNDER THE BANNER OF FREE SPEECH ARE NOW CONDEMNING BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON FOR EXERCISING THE SAME RIGHT. THEY CELEBRATE KIRK'S SPEECH. NO MATTER HOW OFFENSIVE OR HARMFUL.
BUT THEY LABEL FERGUSON'S REMARKS AS INSENSITIVE AND DIVISIVE BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH HIS MESSAGE. FREE SPEECH DOES NOT BELONG TO ONE SIDE OF THE POLITICAL AISLE.
YOU CANNOT CLAIM TO DEFEND THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SILENCE THOSE WHO CHALLENGE RACISM AND BIGOTRY. THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT HATE IS JUST AS PROTECTED AS THE RIGHT TO SPREAD IT. AND THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE WE
MUST DEFEND FOR EVERYONE. THE N.A.A.C.P. STANDS WITH TEACHERS AND WITH BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON WHO HAS ENDURED THREATS AND HARASSMENT BECAUSE HE SPOKE TRUSTLY CALLING OUT THE BIGOTRY THAT SO MANY OF US WITNESSED.
WE CALL ON THIS BOARD TO STAND WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE FELLOW BOARD MEMBER, SUPPORT THOSE WHO UPHOLD TRUTH AND COMPASSION IN THE FACE OF INTIMIDATION AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BEND UNDER PROPOSAL CAL PRESSURE.
OUR COMMUNITY NEEDINGS LEADERSHIP FROM EDUCATORS. WE WILL NOT STAND BY WHILE EDUCATORS ARE BEING THREATENED FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT. PEACEFULLY, FIRMLY, AND
UNAPOLOGETICLY IN DEFENSE OF JUSTICE AND FREE EXPRESSION FOR ALL. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. AND THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO CHUCK RIDLEY.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CHUCK RIDLEY AND I AM THE POLITICAL COORDINATEDDER FOR SEIU, FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE UNION. I STAND HERE TONIGHT TO REMIND
OUR NONINSTRUCTIONAL STAFF OUR CUSTODIANS OUR BUS DRIVERS, THE PROFESSIONAL THE PARAPROFESSIONALS, CAFETERIA WORKERS, OFFICE WORKERS THAT THEY ARE AS MUCH RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT A RATED SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU
HAVE THAN EVERYONE ELSE THAT YOU MENTIONED THIS EVENING. AND I WANT TO LET THOSE SAME EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT THE SAME GROUP STANDING WITH BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON AND TEACHERS ALSO STAND
WITH YOU. WE KNOW IT IS YOUR LABOR THAT KEEPS THIS DISTRICT RUNNING AND YOUR VOICES DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED AND PROTECTED. ON SEPTEMBER 11, THE FLORIDA
COMMISSION OF EDUCATION ISSUED A WARNING NOT JUST TO TEACHERS, BUT TO ALL STAFF. AND LET'S BE CLEAR... THAT DIRECTIVE WAS NOT ABOUT AS MY FRIEND DEDRICK SAID
PROFESSIONALISM, THAT IS ABOUT POWER. FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS PROTECTED UNDER THIS CONSTITUTION AND NO ELECTED OR OPPONENT -- APPOINTED OFFICIAL IN TALLAHASSEE, WASHINGTON D.C. OR ANYWHERE ELSE CAN TAKE THAT
RIGHT FROM YOU. AS A SCHOOL BOARD, AND SUPERINTENDENT, YOU HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO SEND A CLEAR AND PUBLIC MESSAGE THAT THIS DISTRICT STANDS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE DIGNITY OF
EVERY EMPLOYEE. OUR TEACHERS AND STAFFS AND STUDENTS ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHETHER THEIR LEADERS WILL PROTECT THEM OR SILENCE THEM. ONE BOARD MEMBER, Mr.
FERGUSON, WHILE AT THE TIME I WROTE THIS SPEECH IT WAS ONE BOARD MEMBER, HAS SHOWN THE COURAGE TO MAKE THIS CLEAR. THE REST OF YOU, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOUR SILENCE TELLS US WHERE YOU STAND.
SILENCE IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS, IS NOT NEUTRALITY. IT'S CONSENT. SEIU MEMBERS STAND FOR FREE SPEECH FOR FAIRNESS AND FOR EVERY WORKER WHO SHOWS UP TO
EVERYDAY TO OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT AND TO BE PROTECTED. WE EXPECT YOU, ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS, TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. THAT'S NOW GOING TO BRING US TO
OUR AGENDA ITEM SPEAKERS. ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD I WELCOME ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS JOINING US TODAY. THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS, HOWEVER OUR POLICY PROVIDES WE DO NOT RESPOND TO OR ENGAGE WITH OUR SPEAKERS.
WE DO MAKE NOTE OF YOUR ISSUES AND WE WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THEM. AS A REMINDER, AGENDA SPEAKERS' COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE AGENDA ITEM WHICH THE SPEAKER HAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS. ADDITIONALLY, ALL NON-AGENDA
SPEAKERS' COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO EDUCATIONAL TOPICS OR THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. PURSUANT, SPEAKERS WHOSE COMMENTS DO NOT RELATE TO THE TOPIC THE SPEAKER INDICATED OR ARE NOT OTHERWISE EDUCATIONALLY RELEVANT AS REQUIRED FOR
NON-AGENDA TOPICS INCLUDING THE MENTION OF A PERSON'S CANDIDACY FOR ELECTED OFFICE OR WHOSE COMMENTS DISRUPT OR INTERFERE WITH THE ORDER OF THE MEETING MAYBE SUBJECT TO HAVING THE MICROPHONE TURNED OFF, FORFEITING THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AT TODAY'S MEETING OR AFTER
WARNINGS REMOVAL FROM THE 3450E9ING MEETING. KNOW THAT THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND RACIAL SLURS OR GESTURE ALSO NOT BE PERMITTED. WE ASK ALL PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE, MAINTAINING CIVILITY AND DECORUM.
AND PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF OUR K-12 AUDIENCE. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF WHEN THE TIME LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED. WHEN YOU SPEAK TAURM FOR THE RECORD STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND AGAIN WE THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO AGENDA ITEM SPEAKER DONALD PIERSON AND ANITA WINKIS.
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONES. >> THANK YOU, DON PIERSON. WEST PALM BEACH. GOOD EVENING FIRST I WANT TO SAY
TO MS. ANDREWS CONGRATULATIONS. AND THAT BRINGS GREAT JOY TO OUR COUNTY AND I WISH YOU WELL. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT IS THE PERSONAL SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT OUR DATA.
I WAS LOOKING AT IT AND I ASK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME THAT IT ISN'T REALLY CLEAR. AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHAT IT MEANS THE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY SAY WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. IN AUGUST, THE IMPACT OF THE 14849 TRANSACTIONS IMPACTED $15 MILLION. I'M LOOKING AT THE SEPARATION OF
EMPLOYMENT THERE WERE 2371 SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENTS. BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHO THEY ARE. HOW MANY WERE TEACHERS? BECAUSE THAT DOES AFFECT STUDENTS. AND WHEN I LOOKED FURTHER IT
SAYS 23 IN AUGUST WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTY IN THE PROBATION PERIOD. SO I WENT TO SEPTEMBER. SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT IN SEPTEMBER IS 5910.
AND OUT OF THOSE, IT WAS 15 WERE RELEASED IN THEIR PROBATION PERIOD. SO WHEN YOU TOTAL THESE UP, I'M NOW IN OCTOBER THERE'S 931, I BELIEVE, IN OCTOBER WHICH IS
NICE. BUT IT IS A TOTAL OF 9212 SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT. DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE TEACHERS AND HOW MANY THAT WERE LET GO IN THEIR PROBATION PERIOD WERE THEY
AFFORDED SOME TRAINING? IT JUST DOESN'T SAY AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS HOW MANY DIFFERENT SUBS WERE IN THE CLASSES OF THOSE TEACHERS AND THAT IS A COLLATERAL DAMAGE FOR OUT STAY WITH STUDENTS.
IF THE DATA IS EASY TO READ THEN THE SOLUTIONS ARE EASY TO FIND. THAT IS ALL I'M QUESTIONING. I DO NOT WISH ANYBODY ANY BAD LUCK IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE THEY SHOULD IN A SCHOOL, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE. BUT SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN. IF THEY DON'T, THEN THE SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT IS DESERVED. BUT WE SHOULD HAVE OUR DATA CLEAR SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON. THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. FIRST OF ALL IT WOULD BE GREAT IF OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION COULD BRING BACK THAT BACON TO PALM BEACH COUNTY AND LOOK AT THOSE VOUCHER SCHOLARS DOLLARS
AND USING PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS RATHER THAN GIVING THEM AWAY. LAST CENTURY AND I MEAN THE 1990s, THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN CALLED SMOKE-FREE CLASS OF 2000 WHICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SMOKING IN THE HOPES THEY WOULD
BE NONSMOKERS UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. THERE WAS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF FAMILY MEMBERS COMING INTO SCHOOL OFFICES COMPLAINING THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE COMING HOME WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE PARENTS WERE GOING TO KEEP SMOKING ANYWAY. ANYWAY, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
BECAUSE IN 2024 ONLY 1.4% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SURVEYED WERE STILL SMOKING. KUDOS TO THAT. BUT NOW WE HAVE FEDERAL OFFICES THAT OVERSEE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT BEING GUTTED.
BOOKS DELAYED BECAUSE OF REPRINTING TO MEET POLITICAL WHIMS. HISTORY BEING LEGISLATED TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN IGNORANT ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE AND CURRICULUM TO DOWN-PLAY THE ENSLAVEMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.
EMPATHY SEEN AS A FAULT AN ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS ABOUT EMPATHY LEGISLATED TO CHILL EFFORTS TO FACILITATE THOSE ACTIVITIES. COLLEGE PROFESSORS BEING PUT ON LEAVE FOR EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BEING
TOLD THEY CAN'T WRITE OP-EDS ABOUT FASCISM IN AMERICA DIMINISHING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. DISTRICT EMPLOYEES AND SCHOOL BOARDS MEMBERS ARE RECEIVING DEATH THREATS AND FACING THE POSSIBILITY OF PUT ON LEAVE OR WORSE FOR EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE THE PROTECTION OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLTEACHERS STAFF AND STUDENTS AS WELL AS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL CURRICULUM. WE NEED LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS AS PROTECTIONS AND
OVERSIGHT ARE BEING REMOVED. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE WITH THE GLOBAL POPULATION THAT IS BETTER EDUCATED THAN WE ARE. IF WE CONTINUE TO OBEY IN ADVANCE THE BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE THE NEXT HISTORICAL TOPIC TO BE LEGISLATED OUT OF EXISTENCE.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS OKAY. PLEASE WE WANT TO CONTINUE. BOARD MEMBERS THAT WILL BRING US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY Mr. LANE AND SECOND BY VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE DON'T HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Mr. SUPERINTENDENT, THAT IS BRINGING US TO NEW BUSINESS. >> Mike Burke: THANK YOU. COS2 I RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE THE GREATER FLORIDA
CONSORTIUM OF SCHOOL BOARDS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AS SUBMITTED. >> Karen Brill: MOTION BY Mr. FERGUSON AND SECOND BY MS. ANDREWS. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. BURKE BRK THE BOARD APPROVAL THE PERSONNEL ADDENDUM AS SUBMITTED
BRILL ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT IS GOING TO BRING US TO OUR NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS I WILL DO MY BEST IN READING YOUR NAMES. SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME I KNOW I WILL MESS A FEW UP I WILL CALL
YOU UP TWO AT A TIME WE WILL START WITH CARLESIMO HAM METHOD FOLLOWED BY SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEMBER THOMAS KILKANI. >> I WANT TO RUSH THROUGH THIS
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT COALITION FOR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT I AM THE ONE THAT SIGNED THE CONTRACT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I AM NOT SAYING THAT DISRESPECTFULLY SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASKING YOU AS A MEMBER BOARDS TO
REFRESH YOURSELF AS IT RELATES TO DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY EARLY ON AND YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE INVOLVEMENT. AND WE NEED AN INVESTMENT THAT IS THE REASON I WAS HERE I ASKED ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS YOU
MIGHT KNOW AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESIDING INSIDE OUR COUNTY WITH EXTRA RESOURCES AND FOCUSED ON LAMONT JACKSON AND TIGER WOODS AND MICHAEL JORDAN IN THIS COUNTY. YOU SEE HOW THE NEW COALITION THAT GAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SOME OTHER PROGRAM AND THE
FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.42H IS THE FLORIDA LAW AND IT HASN'T BEEN COMPLIED TO WITH NO SERIOUS RATE. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COME UP WITH ONE CHILD IN VIEW THAT UNDERSTANDING ONE TEACHER ONE PRINCIPAL AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
NOT COMPLAINING. BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ESTABLISH THAT RELATIONSHIP AND I'M HOPING YOU WILL CONSIDER A REAL PARTNERSHIP WHICH I THINK WE HAVE WITH THE NEW ACADEMIC OFFICER THAT YOU HAVE. SHE SEEMED TO HAVE A SKILL STET SHE IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM OF ALL OF THE CHILDREN. I'M HOPING THAT RELATIONSHIP CAN BE NURTURED AND IT WILL BE FOSTERED THOSE OF YOU IN YOUR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS YOU CAN ASSIST US. WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THINGS ABOUT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THAT DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT THE INS AND OUTS ARE AND I HAVE THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE LONGEST VOLUNTEER IN THE HISTORY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS. AND I HAVE A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IS NEEDED FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN. AND I'M NOT SPEAKING ON THE
WHOLE GAMUT OF PEOPLE. I'M SPEAKING WITH SPES SPECIFICITY OF THE STATUTE AND SPECIFYIES AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT AFRICAN THAT IS ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE
CARRIBBEAN AND AFRICA AND OTHER PLACES BUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAW IS REALLY WHAT WE NEED HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A REAL RELATIONSHIP. AND I THANK ONCE AGAIN MS. BISHOP AND I THANK MS. KENNEDY OUR NEWLY APPOINTED PERSON FOR
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT AND I'M HOPING YOU WILL REACH OUT TO HER AND SHOW HER LOVE TO BE STABILIZED IN HER ATTEMPT. SHE HAS THE HARDEST JOB IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SHE IS GOING TO NEED SUPPORT FROM YOUR GUYS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK BREAD WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M THOMAS AND I AM A JUNIOR AT
WILLIAM DWYER HIGH SCHOOL IN PALM BEACH GARDENS. I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND FOR THE TIME AND ENERGY YOU DEDICATE TO THE STUDENTS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK OF THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THIS WORD FOCUSED ON THE TRUE PURPOSE WHICH IS EDUCATION.
EACH OF YOU WERE ELECTED WITHOUT POLITICAL AFFILIATION BECAUSE THIS BOARD WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A POLITICAL BODY. IT WAS MEANT TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL ONE. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAN COME TOGETHER AROUND A COMMON GOAL GIVING STUDENTS THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION. WHILE WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE
EVERYTHING FEELS DIVIDED EVERY ISSUE BECOMES A DEBATE. EVERY CONVERSATION TURNS INTO A HEADLINE. AND EVERY DISAGREEMENT BECOMES PERSONAL. I FEEL THAT WE ALL NOT JUST ADULTS BUT STUDENTS, TOO. IT IS OKAY TO HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS. IT IS OKAY TO HAVE STRONG
BELIEFS THAT IS HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS BUT THE BELIEFS SHOULD NEVER GET IN THE WAY OF DOING THE JOB THIS BOARD WAS ELECTED TO DO WHICH IS SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS AND HELPING EVERY STUDENT SUCCEED WHEN POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS TAKEOVER EDUCATIONAL SPACES WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE
MISSION. WE STOP LISTENING AND START LABELING. EDUCATION SHOULD BE ONE THING THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER. NOT PUSH US APART. THIS BOARD HAS AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY. YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE CLASSROOMS, INSPIRE TEACHERS AND
CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF STUDENTS' LIVES. THAT IS POWERFUL. AND THAT'S WHY THIS MATTERS SO MUCH. SO TONIGHT, I ASK THAT WE ALL STUDENTS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND BOARD MEMBERS, REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE. LET'S PUT POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS
BEHIND US SO THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST. THE EDUCATION AND THE SUCCESS OF EVERY STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT. LET'S MAKE IT A PLACE WHERE IDEAS ARE DEBATED RESPECTFULLY, WHERE COLLABORATION OUTWEIGHS DIVISION AND EVERY DECISION IS
GUIDED BY WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS AND NOT POLITICS. WHEN THIS BOARD STAYS TRUE TO ITS PURPOSE WHEN YOU FOCUS ON EDUCATION ABOVE ALL ELSE YOU REMIND US THAT LEARNING, UNITY AND RESPECT CAN STILL WIN THE DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS OF PALM
BEACH COUNTY. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU, THOMAS. I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOUNG MAN DOES DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
>> I WILL CALL ON SUE AND CARL. >> GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR MAN,
SUPERINTENDENT, AND MEMBER MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. >> Karen Brill: LET'S START THE CLOCK AGAIN, PLEASE. >> I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE REGARDING COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS Mr. FERGUSON. AND LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS
TONIGHT I THINK THERE IS A COUPLE OF KEY THINGS WE HAVE TO FOCUS IN ON. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF FIRST AMENDMENT HERE. AND AS THE SPEAKER, THE STUDENT JUST SAID HERE THIS IS NOT REALLY SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL DISCUSSION THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS HAVING ABOUT ISSUES.
IT SHOULD BE ONE ABOUT EDUCATION. AND SO IT BROUGHT UP ALL THE DIVISIVENESS IS WHETHER OR NOT Mr. FERGUSON SAID SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF US FELT WAS NOT TRUTHFUL. HE HAD THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS AN OPINION BUT WHERE THE
DIVISIVENESS LIES AT THIS POINT IS WE DON'T BELIEVE HIS CALLING CHARLIE KIRK RACIST OR A BIGOT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TRUTH IN ANYWAY. SO Mr. FERGUSON IS AN ATTORNEY.
>> Karen Brill: PLEASE ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK. >> AN ATTORNEY SHOULD BE DOING THAT IS HELD TO AN HIGH STANDARD WHEN YOU AN OFFICER OF THE COURT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AND REPRESENT THE TRUTH. IF YOU DO MAKE OPINIONS OR
COMMENTS IN A COURT OF LAW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU INDICATED BEFORE IN YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW CHARLIE KIRK BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED. SO YOU WENT AND DID YOUR OWN RESEARCH OR MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE DID THE RESEARCH FOR YOU AND
THAT IS WHAT GOT YOU INTO THE HOT WATER AT THIS POINT. I WOULD ASK Mr. FERGUSON TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT VIDEOS OF CHARLIE KIRK WHERE HE HAD OPEN DIALOGUE WITH OTHER STUDENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ALL OVER THE
WORLD, ABOUT DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON ANY DIFFERENT ISSUE. AND THAT MAN WAS A CHRISTIAN. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT I CAME IN AND I HEARD HIM SINGING A SONG ABOUT
WE HAVE COME THIS FAR BECAUSE OF FAITH. I ASK ALL OF YOU, GO ON-LINE AND LOOK FOR YOURSELVES. DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT CHARLIE KIRK WAS. HE PREACHED THE GOSPEL. HE PREACHED SCRIPTURE CONSTANTLY
WELL, I LIVED THAT LIFE. AND I BELIEVE HE IS SOMEONE WHO DESERVES CREDIT FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH CHILDREN AFTER THEY LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL TO GO AND LIVE A RESPONSIBLE LIFE TO RAISE FAMILIES, TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN. HE WAS A GREAT FAMILY MAN.
HE WAS A GREAT FATHER. A GREAT HUSBAND. I ASK ANYBODY HERE FIND A PERSON THAT KNEW CHARLIE KIRK PERSONALLY THAT WILL TELL YOU HE WAS A RACIST OR A BIGOT. I CHALLENGE ANYBODY HERE. I WILL GIVE THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
YOU FIND SOMEBODY WITH ANY CREDIBILITY THAT KNEW CHARLIE KIRK PERSONALLY. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
WHEN A SPEAKER IS SPEAKING, PLEASE ALLOW US TO HEAR THEM. PLEASE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALL GOING TO AGREE WE KNOW THAT. BUT PLEASE LET'S KEEP DECORUM AND LET THE SPEAKERS SPEAK SO WE CAN KEEP IT CIVIL.
I DON'T SEE THAT SUE IS HERE. I WILL CALL THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE UP TOGETHER. I HAVE ASHLEY, GREGG, AND DAMON.
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. >> GOOD EVENING. TODAY I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO SPEAK TO THE REPULSIVE BEHAVIOR OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN 2020 PARENTS STARTED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT MASKS AND FORCING TEACHERS AND THE MEDICAL DECISIONS THEY DIDN'T WANT.
DUE TO THE POLICIES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD I WAS KICKED OUT OF MY CLASSROOM BECAUSE I REFUSED TO WEAR A MASK. MY SCHOOL ONLY DID THAT BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THIS BOARD. I BEGAN SPEAKING. PARENTS WERE MISTREATED HARASSED AND HAD OUR MICROPHONES TURNED
OFF. I SPOKE FOR FOUR YEARS ABOUT EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT THIS BOARD SOME FOIA REQUESTS SHOWED ME A LOT. I GREW UP IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND STARTED IN SECOND GRADE I PAY TAXES AND TOOD IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR 14 YEARS. MY VOICE MATTERS.
ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS BUILDING. ONE OF THE REASONS I HAD GUTS TO SPEAK WAS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE CHARLIE KIRK. Mr. FERGUSON YOU SAID HE WAS A BIGOT AND A RACIST AND COMPARED HIM TO HITLER IF YOU DID YOUR RESEARCH YOU WOULD WATCH LOCAL
EVENTS YOU WOULD SEE THAT YOU WERE FED LIES AND YOU ARE SPREADING LIES. FOR YOU TO SPEAK OF CHARLIE KIRK IN THIS MANNER SHOWS YOU ARE NOT ONLY UNEDUCATED AND MISSPOKE EN YOU ARE OKAY CONDEMNING VIOLENCE. YOUR WORDS HAVE MEANING AND MAY THE INTERPRETED BY OTHERS AS
VIOLENCE IS THE ANSWER TO WHOM YOU DON'T AGREE WITH. CHARLIE KIRK SPOKE OF US BEING PERFECT AS GOD'S CHILDREN AND YET THESE MEANINGS ARE ABOUT RACE. CHARLIE KIRK SHARED THE GOSPEL AND BROUGHT BACK DEBATE AND OFFERED A SPACE PLACE FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM IS NOT THE PLACE FOR IT. YOU ARE GOING AGAINST THE GOVERNOR AND AGAINST THE ETHICS OF EMPLOYEES. TEACHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTRAL AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR GOALS BUT DO RESEARCH TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN OPINION. BE DO NOT PUSH OUR OPINIONS ON
OUR STUDENTS AND AS A RESPECT YOU SHOULD BE HELD TO THOSE HIGHER STANDARDS AS WELL. THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN ANOTHER MEETING THAT YOU DID NOT AGREE WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY. AGAIN, WE NEED TO BE NEUTRAL. THIS IS PART OF WHY WE HAVE OUR FREEDOM. YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS
POSITION TO REPRESENT TEACHERS, STUDENTS, STAFF PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS. I'M ASKING YOU TO STEP DOWN AND YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NEVER WORKED IN A CLASSROOM AND IT'S ETHICS OVER OPINION. I DID NOT DO THAT TO ANY OF YOU AND I ASK FOR RESPECT JUST THE SAME BECAUSE IT IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
WE ALL DESERVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME TO SIT DOWN. EVERYBODY DESERVES RESPECT WE LIVE IN AMERICA BECAUSE WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE. EXACTLY. BUT THIS HAS NO RIGHT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IF I SAID WHAT HE SAID I WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Karen Brill: GREGG AND DAMION. ASHLEY ARE THEY HERE? THEY ARE NOT HERE. THANK YOU. CLAUDIA KIRK BARTOW AND ANDREW
HENDERSON. >> GOOD EVENING CHAIRWOMAN BRILL, SUPERINTENDENT BURKE. AND OUR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS GRAND JURY. I'M CLAUDIA KIRK BARTOW I'M HERE
TONIGHT AS THE VERY PROUD PARENT I'M PROUD OF MY DAUGHTER MARINA. A FRESHMAN THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA MAJORING IN ENGINEERING AND SERVING IN THE NROTC PROGRAM. BUT BEFORE ALL THAT, BEFORE THE
UNIFORMS THE LABS THE UNIVERSITY LECTURES, THE CRIES TO MOM ABOUT THE CALCULUS EXAM, YES, THAT WAS TRAUMATIZING THIS MORNING SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL WALKING IN SOUTH OLIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH A BACKPACK ALMOST BIGGER THAN SHE WAS FOLLOWING HER BIG
BROTHERS. HER TEACHERS SPARKED HER CURIOSITY AND SHOWED HER THAT LEARNING COULD BE EXCITING AND SHE HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OFFER. AND BEGAN HER LEADERSHIP CAREER WITH SERVICE 71 IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FROM THERE, SHE FOUND HER
CONFIDENCE AND LEARNED HOW TO LEAD HOW TO PUSH HERSELF AND TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES. AND THEN AT ALEXANDER DRY TWOOS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS SHE FOUND HER VOICE, SURROUNDED BY A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVED IN STRIVING FOR
THE BEST. EACH ONE OF THE SCHOOLS EVERY TEACHER, COACH AND STAFF MEMBER HELPED SHAPE HER INTO THE YOUNG WOMAN SHE IS TODAY. READY TO SERVE HER COUNTRY AND HER COMMUNITY. WHEN I LOOK AT HER NOW, AND HER NAVY ROTC UNIFORM STUDYING TO
BECOME AN ENGINEER HER JOURNEY BEGAN IN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT WAS A TEACHER WHO STAYED LATE TO HELP HER, THE COUNSELORS WHO GUIDED HER, LOTS OF THEM, THE COACHES WHO PUSHED HER AND THE SCHOOLS THAT CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT TO GROW AND DREAM BIG.
TONIGHT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN. AND THE COUNTLESS WAYS YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY. MARINNA'S STORY IS ONE EXAMPLE AND YOU SAW THOMAS TONIGHT HE IS ANOTHER HOW YOUR WORK CHANGES THEIR LIVES.
AND AS A PARENT, I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANY OF YOU HERE. THANK YOU. TAKE YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M NOW SPEAKING AS A MOTHER, A GRANDMOTHER, A GREAT GRANDMOTHER, AUNTIE. THAT GOES WITH ME.
I'M PASTOR MARTINA TATE WALKER N RECENT WEEKS THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF DISCOVERY CONCERNING COMMENTS MADE BY ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING CHARLIE KIRK. THE MEMBER EXPRESSED HIS
PERSONAL OPINION THAT Mr. KIRK'S STATEMENT AND PUBLIC RECORD REFLECT RACISM AND BIGOTRY. IN RESPONSE, SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE CALLED FOR HIS
SUSPENSION OR REMOVAL FROM THE BOARD. LET'S PAUSE FOR A MOMENT. AND REMEMBER WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS TRULY ABOUT. NOT AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT.
BUT THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS ONE'S CONVICTION. IN A FREE SOCIETY, ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT ISSUES OF MORALITY, EQUALITY,
AND JUSTICE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR VIEWS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE OR UNPOPULAR. AND RACISM AND BIGOTRY IS NOT AN ACT OF HATE. IT IS AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE.
WHETHER ONE AGREES WITH HIS ASSESSMENT OF CHARLIE KIRK OR NOT, THE ATTEMPT TO SILENCE HIM UNDERMINES THE VERY VALUE THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION SEEKS TO UPHOLD.
CRITICAL THINKING MORE COURAGE AND ABILITY TO ENGAGE RESPECTFULLY IN DIALOGUE. OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS LEARN TO THINK.
NOT FEAR SPEAKING TRUTH. WE CAN DISAGREE PASSIONATELY WITHOUT DESTROYING ONE ANOTHER PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY. ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEADERSHIP IS
IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS THE PROTECTION OF FREE EXPRESSION. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT SPEAKS AGAINST PREJUDICE. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I URGE OUR COMMUNITY TO LEAD WITH
FAIRNESS, INTEGRITY AND OPEN DIALOGUE NOT RETRIBUTION. LET US MODEL OUR STUDENTS WHAT IT MEANS TO STAND FIRM IN ONE'S CONVICTION TO LISTEN DEEPLY AND TO DISAGREE WITHOUT --
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE NAOMI AND HARRIET.
PLEASE COUNCILMEMBER UP WITH THE MICROPHONE.
I GUESS SHE IS NOT COMING UP HERE. OKAY. THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO RAVEN HARRISON AND [INAUDIBLE].
PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING. EVERYONE GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING HERE TO KEEP THINGS ORDERLY. MY NAME IS RAVEN HARRISON. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF TWO RETIRED
AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT COLONELS, JOHN AND MAY FRILL. I AM THE WIFE OF A RETIRED UNITED STATES AIR FORCE C17 PILOT MAJOR HARRISON. I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE MOMS FOR LIBERTY ORGANIZATION.
AND I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO AMAZING CHILDREN, PATIENCE HARRISON AND MAJOR HARRISON. I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD AS A PARENT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M HERE TODAY NOT AS A CRITIC BUT AS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT THIS RHETORIC DOES WHAT THE
HATE AND DIVISIVENESS DOES TO OUR CHILDREN AND TO OUR FAMILIES. OUR STORY WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM OUR SCHOOL SAYING WHICH IS NOT THIS SCHOOL, BUT A CALL FROM OUR SCHOOL TELLING US THAT OUR THEN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS
BEING EXPELLED FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE GOT TO SCHOOL TO FIND A HYPER VENT LATING, BROKEN OUT IN HIVES HYSTERICAL EIGHT-YEAR-OLD PICKED UP BY THE THROAT AND DRAGGED TO DETENTION FOR VOTING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A MOCK ELECTION AT HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WE KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT. WE WERE NOT POLITICAL. WE WERE NOT REALLY CHARGED WITH ANYTHING. BUT THAT IS A SIGHT NO PARENT SHOULD SEE AND IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GET AWAY. THAT HATE THAT LED MY DAUGHTER TO BE PICKED UP BY THE THROAT
AND MY SON TO COME HOME WITH A BLACK EYE BECAUSE HIS MOTHER HAD BLACK FACE STARTS WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING OFF THE TOPIC SHAPING THE MINDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WE POSSESS IN THIS WORLD. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND A GIFT.
BUT I WARN PEOPLE WHEN WE USE TERMS LIKE THAT LIKE BIGOT, RACIST, NAZI, FASCIST WE ARE PUTTING QUALIFIERS ON HATE WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ACT ON THEIR HATE. CHARLIE KIRK WAS A FRIEND OF MINE. HE WAS NOT A BIGOT.
HE WAS NOT A RACIST. BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT HE WAS. HE WAS A FATHER. HE WAS SOMEBODY'S SON. HE WAS SOMEBODY'S HUSBAND. HE WAS LAID TO REST ON MY 52nd BIRTHDAY. INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO WATCH
HIS CHILDREN GROW UP, HE IS GONE. HIS VOICE WAS TAKEN. SO, YES, MY PARENTS BOTH FOUGHT AND BLED FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND I AM A BIG SUPPORTER BUT WE MUST DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHTS
AND ENTITLEMENTS. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO YOUR OPINION. YOU DIDN'T KNOW CHARLIE. I KNEW CHARLIE HE WAS NONE OF THOSE THINGS. AND I ASK RESPECTFULLY THAT WE DON'T DRAG PEOPLE'S NAME THROUGH THE GUTTER. WE DID DO BETTER -- WE CAN DO BETTER.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] AND MADURO.
IF EITHER OF YOU ARE PLEASE STEP UP. HOW COULD I NOT SEE YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT, PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING I'M JUNIOR TA PEEK CO-AND I AM HERE AS A PARENT OUT OF BIG CONCERN AND LOVE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I BELIEVE IT'S TIME WE MAKE REAL POLICY CHANGES TO PROTECT THEM. AND TO STRENGTHEN AND TRUST BETWEEN PARENTS, STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS. FIRST CHANGE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT THE STUDENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN PRESENT
BEFORE BEING QUESTIONED BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. NO CHILD SHOULD FACE THAT KIND OF SITUATION ALONE. SCARED CONFUSED OR UNSURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IF AT ANY STAGE OF THE QUESTIONING A STUDENT ASKS FOR THE PARENTS TO BE CALLED THIS REQUEST MUST NOT
BE DENIED IT MUST BE SATISFIED AS IT IS THE STUDENT'S RIGHT. THIS MEASURE HELPS PREVENT MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAUMA, PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY AND MAKES THE SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.
SAVING TIME, RESOURCES AND TAXPAYERS DOLLARS THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE SPENT ADDRESSING CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS. IT IS COMMON SENSE SAFEGUARD THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE. SECOND, I'M ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN STUDENTS MAKE MISTAKES THEY FACE CONSEQUENCES AND THAT'S
FAIR. BUT THE SAME STANDARD SHOULD APRY TO THE ADULTS WHO WORK WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS IF A LAW, RUDE OR CODE OF ETHICS VIOLATED THERE SHOULD BE ACTION BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE VIOLATION.
ACCOUNTABILITY BUILDS RESPECT AND OUR CHILDREN THAT INTEGRITY IS NOT JUST TALK BUT IT'S ALSO PRACTICE. THIRD, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE ACCUSED BASED ON QUALIFIED OPINIONS ONLY FORENSIC EXAMINERS SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER HANDWRITING
MATCHES OR NOT IT ENSURES FAIRNESS AND PROTECTS INNOCENT STUDENTS FROM FALSE ASSUMPTIONS THAT CAN CHANGE A LIFE FOREVER. A CHILD'S LIFE FOREVER. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN A SCHOOL.
WE MUST PUT AN END TO COERCIVE QUESTIONING, MANIPULATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE AGAINST MINORS. CHILDREN ARE STILL DEVELOPING EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY. THEY DON'T PROCESS PRESSURE OR INTIMIDATION THE WAY ADULTS DO. WHEN WE USE FEAR AND
MANIPULATION WE OPEN THE DOOR FOR FALSE ADMISSIONS AND LASTING EMOTIONAL HARM. WHEN WE BLUR THE LINE WE RISK BREAKING THEIR SPIRIT AND TEACHING THEM FEAR INSTEAD OF TRUSTS. JUST AS IN SPORTS THERE ARE CATEGORIES FOR FAIRNESS WE MUST
RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADULTS AND MINORS IN SITUATIONS OF AUTHORITY. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT ADULTS HOLD PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL VACS OVER MINORS. THERE SHOULD BE BOUNDARIES TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MADURO AND JOHN. IF YOU ARE HERE PLEASE COME UP. THANK YOU. >> I'M SHORTER. I HAVE TO SAY BEFORE I BEGIN THAT I DEAL WITH SCHOOL BOARDS ALL UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.
I AM IMPRESSED THAT I CAN SAY WITH HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN HANDLED FOR THE MOST PART. SO THAT IS BEFORE. BUT, EDWIN SHAME ON YOU, SIR. MORE THAN THAT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHAME ON ANY OF YOU ON THE SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM
BEACH COUNTY WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OR ENCOURAGED THIS KIND OF UNPROFESSIONAL, EVIL, RHETORIC. WE THE PEOPLE ARE STUNNED BY THIS BEHAVIOR. HOW DID ANYONE CELEBRATE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE AIRWAVES THE BRUTAL MURDER OF
ANYONE? CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE BEHAVED IN SUCH A MANNER OVER GEORGE FLOYD EVEN Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND OBVIOUSLY TO BEHAVE IN SUCH AN UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THE FACT THAT
YOU ARE UNFIT FOR ANY TYPE OF A PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION ESPECIALLY ANYWHERE AROUND CHILDREN AND NOW YOU ARE THE VICTIM. WELL, YES, SIR, PERHAPS YOU ARE. YOU ARE A VICTIM OF LACK OF CONTROL OF YOUR MOUTH, YOUR MIND AND ACTIONS. AND YES, SIR, WHEN YOU ARE IN A
PROFESSIONAL POSITION OF ANY KIND, ANY ONE OF US, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. I BELIEVE MANY OF US HAVE FORGOTTEN WE DO NOT WORK FOR YOU YOU WORK FOR US WE PAY YOUR SALARIES. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING CHARLIE QUITE A FEW TIMES
INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS, KNOWLEDGEABLE, PATIENT AS WELL AS CREATIVE YOUNG MAN. HE NEVER WALKED AWAY FROM A DEBATE, INSTEAD HE BELIEVED IN ENCOURAGING DISCUSSION. EDUCATION THROUGH COMMUNICATION. CHARLIE NEVER RESORTED TO THE
SARCASTIC NAME CALLING, LABELING DEMEANING, AVENUES OF THE LIBERAL LEFT. GOD BLESS THIS YOUNG MAN OF 31 HIS MAGNIFICENT WIFE AND CHILDREN. WE ARE THE FORTUNATE ONES COULD HAVE EXPERIENCED A CHARLIE KIRK.
EDWIN YOU TRIED TO BE SMUSH AN AMERICAN HERO IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY OUR NEXT GENERATION HAS SPOKEN AND THEIR VALUES DO NOT ALIGN WITH YOURS. THANK YOU.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. JOHN MANILA AND JERRY FIRST.
>> GOOD EVENING I'M JERRY FIRST. A GRADUATE OF BOYD ANDERSON AND NOVA HIGH SCHOOL. >> Karen Brill: STOP THE CLOCK FOR A MINUTE. CAN YOU HOLD DOWN THE NOISE SO WE ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE SPEAKER. SIR, YOU CAN CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU. SO THIS IS THE PALM BEACH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND, YES, FREE SPEECH, BUT IT IS NOT CONSEQUENCE FREE. CALLING SOMEBODY A RACIST AND A BIGOT IS NOT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
WHY DO I HAVE THIS WEIRD ECHO FEELING THAT SOUNDS LIKE WILLIAM FROM THE SPANISH RIVER HIGH SCHOOL I THINK HE WAS FIRED TWICE FOR HOLOCAUST DENIAL. WHERE IS THE EDUCATION?
YOU GUYS ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR FUTURE. CHILDREN AND LEADERS WHY IS IT SO EASY TO GO AHEAD AND THROW AROUND WORDS LIKE THE HOLOCAUST AND THE DIASPORA OR NAZIS?
AND THEN GO AHEAD AND PUT THEM ON PEOPLE HAPPENED TO ME BACK IN HERE BEFORE. SOMEBODY -- ANYWAY. SO ANYWAY, Mr. FERGUSON, BY
COINCIDENCE I WENT TO THE DELRAY CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT A SEPARATE SUBJECT ON THE WORKSHOP. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION. AND I WAS IMPRESSED. AND I THINK THAT YOU ARE A SMART MAN. AND I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.
BUT YOU ARE ALSO YOU'RE ALSO RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF THROWING IT ALL AWAY. AND I REALLY WONDER WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOBODY IN SPECIFIC,
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO BE GETTING THEIR EDUCATION FROM JIMMY KIMMEL AND COMEDY CENTRAL. AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING? I SAW A LOT OF THE PEOPLE INTERESTING TO SEE ALL THE
PEOPLE FROM N.A.A.C.P. AND SEIU AND WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON AND CHARLIE KIRK HAD A LOT IN COMMON WITH YOU, TOO. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY
GOT ME WAS THE COMMENT WAS MADE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, I HAVE YET TO HEAR A PERSON OF THE JEWISH FAITH SAY
THAT I MISS ADOLF HITLER. NOW, HOW WOULD YOU GUYS FEEL IF I SAID I HAVE YET TO HEAR A FORMER SLAVE SAY THAT I MISS MY FORMER SLAVE OWNER. THIS IS DIVISIVE. THIS IS STUPID.
YOU HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF AUTHORITY THAT YOU NEED TO ANSWER TO. YOU'VE TAKEN AN OATH... >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
ONE LAST CALL FOR JOHN MANILA HE IS FOLLOWED BY FELICIA WONG AND RICK ROTH.
>> GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND I GOT TO TELL YOU THE OVERWHELMING HYPOCRISY IN THIS ROOM NOT UP THERE, IN THE AUDIENCE, BECAUSE IF I'M SAYING
SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK I GOT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM SCREAMING AND YELLING, SOMETHING NEGATIVE THE BACK OF THE ROOM IS SCREAMING AND THAT IS THE NO GOOD. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERE FREE SPEECH IS A THING IF EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SCREAM AND YELL
ABOUT SOMETHING THEY DON'T LIKE TO HEAR. THAT BEING SAID Mr. FERGUSON I DON'T KNOW YOU, SIR. YOU COULD BE THE MOST INCREDIBLE GENTLEMAN. I HEARD THE COMMENTS AND I ANYTHING THE COMMENTS YOU MADE REGARDING Mr. KIRK WERE BASED ON NAIVETÉ.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU DID THE RESEARCH THAT YOU CLAIM YOU DID. HAD YOU DONE THAT, SIR, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN A MAN WHO ACTUALLY WAS NOT A RACIST, WAS ACTUALLY A VERY DECENT MAN WHO ENGAGED IN DIALOGUE EVEN POLITICAL DISCOURSE OF PEOPLE HE
DID NOT AGREE WITH. HE HAD A GOOD CALMING EFFECT NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRY BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WOULD BE A BASICALLY IT WOULD BE SIMILAR IF YOU AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION SIR AND YOU SAID TO ME OUT LOUD ANYONE
WHO SAYS ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE SCUM IS A HORRIBLE PERSON. NOBODY WOULD DISAGREE. BUT IF THAT STATEMENT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE CONTENT AND TOOK THE FIRST PART OUT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY HEARD YOU SAUL IS ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE SCUM AND
THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WERE BASING THEIR OPINION OF YOU THAT WOULDN'T BE FAIR AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO Mr. KIRK. I PROMISE YOU. IF I THOUGHT FOR ONE SECOND Mr. KIRK WAS A RACIST, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TALKING AND I WOULD SUPPORT YOUR COMMENT. I WOULD IMPLORE YOU, SIR, TO GO
BACK AND WATCH FULL VIDEOS OF WHAT Mr. KIRK SAID AND ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO IMPLORE UPON YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR POSITION OF AUTHORITY, WHETHER YOU CONSCIOUSLY UNDERSTAND THAT OR NOT, WHEN YOU SAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID, YOU DO HAVE AN IMPRESSION ON YOUNG
MINDS AND YOU COULD HAVE A YOUNG MIND SAYING THAT WAS HORRIBLE I CANNOT ALLOW THIS PERSON TO SAY THIS OR THAT PERSON TO SAY THAT AND THIS IS THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE CREATING IT SPECIFICALLY BUT THE MENNALITY IS DANGEROUS. I WILL CAUTION YOU TO GUARD
AGAINST THAT KIND OF A THING AND WOULD IMPLORE YOU, SIR, TO DO MORE RESEARCH AND LIKE MARK TWAIN SAID IT IS EASIER TO FOOL THE MAN THAN TO HAVE THE MAN ACKNOWLEDGE HE WAS FOOLED. SO, PLEASE, SIR, GO DO RESERVE AND IF YOU DECIDE THAT MAYBE YOU
SPOKE OUT OF TURN, PLEASE COME BACK. I THINK YOU ARE A GENTLEMAN. COME BACK AND SAY LISTEN I SAW MORE THAN I REALIZED AND I THINK MY COMMENTS EARLIER WERE OUT OF LINE. THANK YOU, SIR. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
Mr. ROTH? PLEASE COME UP. >> HI. I'M FELICIA WONG. THE FACT I'M HERE IS BECAUSE SOMETHING MUST HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUS THAT BROUGHT ME HERE
BECAUSE MOST ASIANS DO NOT GET POLITICALLY INVOLVED AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PEOPLE HERE. BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE IT'S JUST REALLY SAD WHAT WAS DONE EVEN BEFORE CHARLIE KIRK'S BODY WAS BURIED LIKE THE COMMENT THAT YOU
MADE IS JUST INCENTIVE. YOU TALK ABOUT EMPATHY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT EMPATHY HAVE EMPATHY FOR HIS FAMILY AND THE EQUIVALENT LENS OF COMPARING HIM TO NAZIS AND CALLING HIM A RACIST AND BIGOT IS UNTRUE.
I'VE SEEN HIS WORK AND VIDEOS, AND ALL THE THINGS HE SAID, IT'S FALSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT INTO YOUR INFORMATION. BUT IT'S BASED ON IGNORANCE AND IT'S REALLY SAD AS AN EDUCATOR ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD
LIKE YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO THESE KIDS NOT TO TEACH THEM HATE NOT TO TEACH THEM ABOUT LIES BUT TO TELL ABOUT TRUTH AND UNITY AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE ALL WONDERFULLY MADE BY GOD. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
IN YOUR PAST BUT WE NEED TO MOVE PAST FROM ALL THE HATE AND RESENTMENT FOR EACH OTHER. LIKE SEEING HOW PEOPLE ARE BEHAVING HERE TONIGHT IS JUST SHAMEFUL. I HAVE LIKE GRANDPARENTS FROM CHINA WHO WERE PERSECUTED BY THE
COMMUNISTS AND KILLED FOR THEIR VOICE BECAUSE THEY SPOKE TRUTH AND HAD TO FLEE. SOME DIDN'T MAKE IT. AND IT IS A SHAME WHAT I'M SEEING THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER TO HEAL. ESPECIALLY COMING OUT FROM THE PANDEMIC. THE PANDEMIC SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK OF THAT, TOO.
WE CAN DO BETTER. WE NEED TO HEAL AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HEAL IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING. BUT WE SHOULDN'T LIKE TRAUMATIZE OUR KIDS AT SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE
THERE FOR EDUCATION TO LEARN TO LEARN TO HATE THAT IS LIKE ANOTHER FORM OFFAL TRA, LIKE THE C.I.A. DID THAT TO KIDS AND THIS IS A KNOWN FACT. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LOOK ATRIUM BELL.COM AT SHELLY
CARTER THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT IS IT'S LIKE FRACTURING OF THE MINDS AND HEARTS AND SOUL OF KIDS AND TEARING THEM APART WITH HATE. AND WE CAN DO BETTER. CHARLIE KIRK IS NOT HERE TO DEFEND HIMSELF AND THAT WHY WHAT
YOU DID IS REALLY WRONG. BECAUSE IF HE IS AROUND AND YOU CAN DEBATE WITH HIM, THEN [INAUDIBLE] BUT HE IS NOT HERE HE IS DEAD AND FOR YOU TO MAKE THE COMMENTS AND ENCOURAGE THAT TO YOUR EDUCATORS HERE AND IN OUR COUNTY IS WRONG I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO THE MENTION OF JESUS... >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. Mr. ROTH? >> YES, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. SUPERINTENDENT BURKE, CHAIR BRILL, VICE-CHAIR ANDREWS THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION TONIGHT
AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS STAFF AND THE AUDIENCE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'VE LISTENED INTENTLY TONIGHT AND I HAVE CHANGED MY SPEECH I'VE TONED IT DOWN OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS. Mr. FERGUSON, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS MEETING I TOOK THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS I TONED DOWN BY SPEECH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID I FELT LIKE YOU WERE KIND OF MAKING AMENDS A LITTLE BIT. LET ME GET STARTED EDWIN FERGUSON PALM BEACH SCHOOL MEMBER CALLED CHARLIE KIRK A
RACIST BIGOT FROM THE DAIS. HE COMPARED CHARLIE KIRK AND WHAT HE SAID TO WHAT ADOLF HITLER SAID. SO I TAKE ISSUE WITH CALLING CHARLIE A RACIST BIGOT WITHOUT QUOTING ANY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT HE SUPPOSEDLY HEARD CHARLIE
USE. I BELIEVE THAT CHARLIE KIRK IS OUR CHAMPION OF FREE RIGHTS. OF FREE SPEECH. THE WORST CASE SCENARIO COULD BE THAT YOU PURPOSELY DISPARAGED
THE MEMORY OF CHARLIE KIRK SO SOON AFTER HIS MARTYRDOM. WHEN WE SPEAK OF CHARLIE KIRK THE MARTYR WE CAN QUOTE HIM. HE SAID I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR COURAGE FOR MY FAITH. HE WAS FIRST AN AMBASSADOR FOR JESUS CHRIST.
SERGEANT DENNIS O'BRIEN QUOTED ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES OFFERED TO DIE FOR YOU JESUS CHRIST AND THE AMERICAN SOLDIER ONE DIED FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER DIED FOR YOUR FREEDOM. SO I'M SAYING CHARLIE KIRK RESPONDED TO A TALKED DOWN
PROGRESSIVE REVOLUTION WITH A CALL TO GIVE AMERICANS A STRUCTURE THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE UP TO. I THINK IT IS OUR DUTY TODAY AS CITIZENS TO NOW BEGIN TO CALL OUT ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO
INTENTIONALLY USES INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC. BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD PEOPLE TO COMMIT VIOLENCE. REMEMBER, PLEASE, HATE BEGETS HATE. WE MUST STAND UP AGAINST HATE WITH LOVE.
IN CLOSING LET ME REMIND BOARD MEMBERS HERE TODAY TO PLEASE LIVE UP TO YOUR MISSION TO INSPIRE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL PUBLIC'S COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GREATNESS. I ASK YOU Mr. FERGUSON, TO ACCEPT THIS HEARTFELT REQUEST TO
TURN YOUR PASSION TO HEARTFELT LOVE AND TO REMIND YOU THIS IS REALLY NOT ABOUT YOU. THIS IS ABOUT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
REVEREND JR TICKLAND AND JEFF REN GERALD KISTNER. PLEASE COME UP WITH THE MICROPHONES. >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I'M GERALD KISTNER THE PASTOR OF THE HISTORICAL TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH I WANT TO SAY ON
BEHALF OF MY CONGREGANTS THAT Mr. FERGUSON WE STAND BEHIND YOU, WE SUPPORT YOU. AND WE JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW FREE SPEECH GOES TO EVERYONE. HOW CAN FREE SPEECH BE ON THE SIDE OF THIS GENTLEMAN WHO WAS SO HORRIBLY MURDERED?
HOW CAN THAT BE FAIR AND YET NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE FREE SPEECH? AS A SOCIETY, FREE SPEECH IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT LIKE WHAT
SOMEONE HAS SAID, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY IT. Mr. KIRK SAID A NUMBER OF THINGS IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE TAPES, YOU WILL SEE SOMEONE TALKS ABOUT EMPATHY, I SAW A TAPE WHERE HE SAID HE WANTED THE WORD EMPATHY TAKEN OUT OF THE
ENGLISH VOCABULARY. HE WANTED CHILDREN TO SEE EXECUTIONS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL. WE HAVE TO BE FAIR. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE FACTS. BUT FUNDAMENTALLY WE MUST UNDERSTAND ULTIMATELY IT'S ABOUT LOVE.
WE ARE WONDERFULLY FEARFULLY MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. AS A RESULT, WE MUST LEARN TO TRY TO GET ALONG OR WE WILL DESTROY EVERYONE. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON. YOU'VE HEARD FOLKS TALK ABOUT HOW THE LANGUAGE IS HURTFUL.
WE AS A PEOPLE ENDEARED TREMENDOUS HURTFUL LANGUAGE THROUGH THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. AND, YET, WE ARE STILL STANDING, STILL TRYING TO LOVE. AS Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SAID AN EYE FOR AN EYE IS A USELESS STRATEGY BECAUSE WE ALL
WILL BE BLIND, TOOTH FOR A TOOTH WE ALL WILL BE WITHOUT TEETH. LET'S GET OFF OF THIS BICKERING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TRY TO LOOK AT FACTS DESPITE HOW WE MAY FEEL ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL, LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS. AND LOOK AT THEM IN THEIR
TOTALITY. Mr. FERGUSON STAND STRONG. STAND STRONG AND KNOW YOU ARE SUPPORTED. WE LOVE YOU. AND WE WILL PROTECT YOU AND WE WILL LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT DESPITE ALL THE ATTACKS UPON YOU, HOLD ON TO GOD'S UNCHANGING
HAND. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. >> REF REPRESENTED AND PRESIDENT OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CLERGY ALLIANCE.
WE HAVE HEARD INTERESTING COMMENTS HERE TONIGHT. AND I HEARD INDIVIDUALS SAY BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THIS PERSON LIKE I KNOW THEM. MY HEART WAS BROKEN AND SAD, TOO. ANY MAN, ANY PERSON WHO WOULD BE
MURDERED, WHILE EXERCISING THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. YES, WIFE, CHILDREN. I KNEW CHARLIE BEFORE HE WAS KILLED. BECAUSE OF JUST THE LINE OF WHO I AM. BUT ALSO KNOW EDWIN FERGUSON AND
I'VE KNOWN EDWIN FERGUSON FOR YEARS. HE IS A HUSBAND. HE HAS CHILDREN. THE SAME EDWIN FERGUSON WHO STOOD UP FOR A MAN WHO WAS FIRED FROM PUBLIX. BECAUSE OF WEARING A PARTICULAR T-SHIRT. THE SAME MAN WHO OFTEN TIMES
STOOD IN OUR MEETINGS BRINGING ABOUT CHARITIES AND HELP UPLIFTING THINGS THAT HELP THOSE DISENFRANCHISED. HOW CAN BOTH LIES BE TRUE? BECAUSE IT IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH NOT JUST A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT IT IS THE HEART BEAT OF DEMOCRACY. THE POWER THAT ALLOWS IDEAS TO BREATHE. TRUTH TO BE TESTED AND CHANGE TO BE BORN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS TONIGHT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND SCHOOL BOARD I COMMEND YOU ON THE JOB YOU DO.
I'M GLAD TO SAY WE ARE AN A RATED COUNTY BUT ALSO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH IT'S NOT JUST TO PROTECT THE SWEET AND CUTE THINGS THAT ARE SAID. IT'S ALSO THERE TO PROTECT WHEN THINGS THAT ARE SAID THAT ARE
PROVOCATIVE THERE TO PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS. AND IF WE DO NOT UPHOLD IT IF WE GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WHERE WE START GETTING RID OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL ANYONE WHO SPEAKS OF THEIR FREE SPEECH WE ARE HEADED
DOWN A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE TONIGHT ARE ASKING YOU TO DEPEND THE PRINCIPLE NOT THE PERSON, THE PRINCIPLE OF FREE SPEECH. TO BE ABLE TO SAY THOSE THINGS
THAT ARE THERE. SOME CASES BOTH SIDES CAN BE TRUE. SOMETIMES YOU KNOW SOMEONE ON A MORE INTIMATE LEVEL BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW THEM. HAVING SAID THAT, WE STAND TONIGHT, WE STAND BESIDE FREE
SPEECH, WE STAND BESIDE Mr. FERGUSON AND WE PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF CHARLIE KIRK. THANK YOU. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
MICHELLE AND DEBRA WALKER. >> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THOSE ASSEMBLED HERE IN
CHAMBERS. I'M MICHELLE KA TU. TODAY I'M HERE TO NEITHER VALIDATE NOR VILIFY THE RECENT REMARKS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER EDWIN FERGUSON. HOWEVER I AM HERE TO DEFEND WITH MY LAST BREATH WHERE IT NECESSARY HIS RIGHT TO MAKE THEM.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, THE REPREHENSIBLE AND HIGHLY OFFENSIVE TO ME AS A BLACK WOMAN, THE FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEED CHARLIE KIRK THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS HIS THOUGHTS. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT SUPPORTS EVERY AMERICAN AND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, THE
PRESS AND RIGHTS OF ASSEMBLY AND PETITION. WE GATHER HERE TODAY IN FULL REPRESENTATION OF AT LEAST TWO TENETS OF THIS PILLAR. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT FREE SPEECH. WHAT FREE SPEECH MEANS TO A FREE SOCIETY. FIRST, THE CITIZENS ARE AT THE
HEART OF NOT ONLY THE FIRST AMENDMENT BUT ALL THE AMENDMENTS BECAUSE THEY SHAPE AND ADD STRUCTURE TO WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DEMOCRACY. THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS FIRST FOR A REASON AND COMES WITH SERIOUS AND SIGNIFICANT IMPORT. WITHOUT A VOICE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER WE CANNOT EVOLVE AS A
SOCIETY. HOW ELSE TO INFORM OUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHANGING WILL OF WE THE PEOPLE. HISTORY HAS SHOWN US WHAT THE WORLD CAN BECOME. WE KNOW THAT A WOULD BE AUTHORITARIAN REGIME DEPENDS ON
THE EROSION THAT RELIES ON CITIZENS SPEAKING UP FOR OUR VALUES THOSE CHERISHED VALUES THAT PRESERVED OUR FREEDOM. IT SEEMS WITHOUT A WHIMPER OF RECOGNITION IN THESE HEADY DAYS OF DRAMA AND DISTRACTION WE ARE
LED TO CALAMITY AND OUR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY TEETERS ON THE VERGE OF DISINTEGRATION. BOARD MEMBERS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IT IS TIME TO DECIDE WHERE WE WILL PLANT THE FLAG. LET'S START IN DEFENSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT A COULD BE STRUCK THAT IS LONG WEDDED TO
MOFERL PRINCIPLES. ASK YOURSELVES IF NOT HERE TODAY THEN WHEN AND WHERE WILL YOU STAND FOR THE RIGHTS THAT ARE BEING CHIPPED AWAY? WILL THERE BE TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THE DECIDE THE TIME IS RIGHT? IT WILL TAKE A COALITION OF THE
FAITHFUL FAITHFUL TO THE GOD WITH FAITH AND THE JUSTICE OF THIS QUEST AND FAITH IN OUR RESOLVE TO STAY THE COURSE. 250 YEARS REPRESENT TOO MUCH BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS TO SQUANDER. THE CONSTITUTION THE FIRST AMENDMENT FOLLOWED BY 26 MORE AND THE RULE OF LAW COMPRISE THE
ESSENCE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF CENTURIES OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE HAD BEEN THE TEMPLATE OTHER STATES AROUND THE WORLD ENVIED. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO YIELD TO CORRUPT FORCES THAT THREATEN OUR NATION'S STABILITY. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PERSONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE MUST STAND IN DEFENSE THAT ARE AT THE CORE... >> Karen Brill: BRILL THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING DEBORAH WALKER AND I I HAVE HAVE MY RESEARCH AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF FREE SPEECH. CHARLIE KIRK SOME PEOPLE CALLED HIM A RACIST AND A BIGOT. MY DESCRIPTION IS A PERSON WITH
A MENTALITY OF A 21ST CENTURY SLAVE OWNER. YES, I SAID IT. AND IT IS MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. IT ENTITLES ME TO DESCRIBE THIS PERSON HOW I SEE FIT. I AM SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS MURDERED.
BUT MANY FREE SPEECHES CHARLIE MADE IN LIFE CAUSED ME PAIN AND SUFFERING. LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME EXAMPLES OF CHARLIE KIRK'S FREE SPEECH. THEY INCLUDE IF I SEE A BLACK PILOT, I'M GOING TOCK LIKE BOY,
I HOPE HE'S QUALIFIED. HE THAT IN JANUARY OF 2024. THEN, HE SAID IF YOU ARE A WNBA POT SMOKING BLACK LESBIAN DO YOU GET TREATED BETTER THAN A U.S. MARINE? HE SAID THAT IN DECEMBER OF
2022. AND THEN, THE LATE Mr. KIRK SAID IN 2023 THAT GUN DEATHS WERE WORTH IT TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 2023 CHARLIE KIRK SAID THAT
GUN DEATHS WERE WORTH IT TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF KIRK'S RACIST REMARKS. I COULD GO ON AND ON. BUT TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND
EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. THAT INCLUDES THIS PERSON WHO WAS MURDERED ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2025. NO ONE HAD A HAIR ACROSS THEIR BEHIND WHEN CHARLIE ALLEGEDLY SPOKE. SO WHY NOW?
RACIST, BIGOT, 21ST CENTURY SLAVE OWNER, ARE TERMS THAT I BELIEVE DESCRIBE THIS MAN. FREE SPEECH IS FREE SPEECH.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. NEXT IS SIMONE WALKER AND Dr. RAMPASAD. TIMEKEEPER WOULD YOU PLEASE
ADJUST THE CLOCK BY A MINUTE PURSUANT TO BOARD POLICY 1.036. MS. WALKER STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN. >> HI I'M SIMONE WALKER. I WAS PURSUING A DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION WHEN PENALIZED FOR A MISTAKE CAUSED BY MY ADHD.
MY PROFESSOR BLESS HER HEART HAD THE COMPASSION OF A PARKING METER. THE SAME WOMAN WHO SENDS HER SON TO A TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT IN A PINK TUTU LOOKED AT ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND SAID I HOPE YOU LEARNED YOUR LESSON. AND I DID. I LEARNED THAT EDUCATION HAD
FORGOTTEN HOW TO LEARN. SO I WENT BACK IN MY MIND TO PLACE THAT FIRST THOUGHT -- TO THE PLACE THAT FIRST TAUGHT ME WHAT LEARNING REALLY MEANT. I GREW UP ON A SMALL ISLAND IN THE CARRIBBEAN WHERE LOVE MEANT KNOCKING ON SOMEONE'S DOOR NOT
SENDING A TEXT. WHERE GOS ENMOVED FASTER THAN THE TRADE WINDED. WE DID NOT NEED AN ALGORITHM BECAUSE WE HAD THE AUNTIES. EVERY ADULT WAS AUNTIE OR UNCLE. LIVING PROOF THAT IT LITERALLY TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
AND THE AUNTIE TASKS WERE SIMPLE IF YOUR WORDS OR CHARACTER COULD NOT STAND UP TO THEIR TRUTH YOU HAD NO BUSINESS SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION. ONE AUNTIE USED TO QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE JOHN 8:44 AND TODAY
I'M AJER LICK TO THIS HONESTY BECAUSE I NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO CALL THAT MAN DADTY. THE LESS TON WAS CLEAR. WORDS MATTER AND TRUTH MATTERS. WHERE PHILOSOPHERS ASKS WHAT IS TRUTH? JESUS ANSWERED I AM THE TRUTH.
BECAUSE HE KNEW DECEPTIONS FAVORITE DES GUISE IS LEADERSHIP WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. RECENTLY I WATCHED EDUCATORS CELEBRATE THE DEATH OF A MAN WEARING A SHIRT THAT SAID FREEDOM BENEATH A BANNER THAT SAID PROVE ME WRONG.
INSTEAD OF MOURNING THE LOSS OF DIALOGUE, THEY MOCKED HIM. THEY SAID HE DESERVED IT. AND I KNEW THAT VOICE. THE SAME COLD TONE AS MY PROFESSORS. A DIFFERENT MOMENT SAME MESSAGE. EDUCATION HAD FORGOTTEN HOW TO
LEARN. THEY DID NOT JUST FAIL THE AUNTIE TEST. THEY FAILED THE TEST OF HUMANITY ITSELF. AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THEY FORGET ANOTHER TEST THE ONE WRITTEN ON OUR NATION'S SEAL.
E PLEASURE BUS UN NUMBER OUT OF MANY ONE. WHICH REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER AUNTIE, SHIRLEY CHICAGO UM THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. WHEN HER OPPONENT GOVERNOR WALLACE WAS SHOT, SHE DID NOT CELEBRATE.
SHE PULLED UP TO HIS BEDSIDE, THAT IS LEADERSHIP. COMPASSION WITH A BACKBONE NOT POWER WITHOUT PRINCIPLE. TODAY WE HAVE TWO AMERICANS, TWO GENERATIONS, TWO MEDALS. SHIRLEY CHICAGO UM AND CHARLIE
KIRK BOTH DARED TO TEST WHAT FREEDOM MEANS. SHIRLEY FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE. CHARLIE FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE CIVIL DIALOGUE AT THAT TABLE. AND ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DESK
HIS TABLE SITS A BUST OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN A PRESIDENT WHO PAID WITH THIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM ITSELF FOR MY ANCESTORS AND Mr. FERGUSON'S ANCESTORS. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, Mr. FERGUSON'S FREE SPEECH IS NOT
UNDER FIRE HIS ACCOUNTABILITY IS. BECAUSE IN AMERICA, HE IS FREE. BUT NOT FREE TO BETRAY OUR CHILDREN AND NOT FREE TO ABANDON HIS DUTY. WHEN HISTORY ASKS WHAT WE GIVE THE NEXT GENERATION LET THE ANSWER BE CLEAR.
WE PASS THE AUNTIE TEST. WE MADE CHILDHOOD IN AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. SAFE TO WONDER. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. Dr. ALLISON RAPPERSAD FOLLOWED
BY WILLIE GUARDOLA. >> GOOD EVENING. ALLISON RAMPER STADE I'M SHARING INFORMATION FROM OUR OWN FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE.
ON THE STATUS OF THE 20242025 SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY GRADES AS OF SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025. TWO THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND AS I SPEAK. THE GRADING SCALE AND THE SCHOOL LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT.
PURSUANT TO RULE 6A... 19811 OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE THE GRADING SCALE FOR DISTRICT GRADES MIRRORS THE GRADING SCALE FOR COMBINATION SCHOOLS. HERE IT IS. F, 33 OR LESS. D, 34 TO 43.
C, 44-56. B, 57-63. A, 64 OR GREATER. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. 64 IS NOT AN A. LET'S LOOK AT ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE. IN PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS.
KEEP THE GRADING SCALE IN MIND. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, 61. MATHEMATICS 62. SCIENCE, 62. GRADUATION RATE 2023-202492.
A SCHOOLS IN BOTH 2024 AND 2025. AND LET'S LOOK AT THE VIRTUAL PROVIDERS ALL THREE ONE A SCHOOL TWO C SCHOOLS. EACH SCHOOL IS INITIALLY ASSIGNED A LETTER GRADE IF IT HAS SUFFICIENT DATA FOR AT LEAST
ONE SCHOOL GRADING COMPONENT. JUST ONE. TESTED 90% OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND IS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR TESTING IRREGULARITY. SCHOOLS THAT TEST FEWER THAN 95% OF STUDENTS MAY APPEAL THE GRADE IF THE PEEL IS SUCCESSFUL OR THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES THE
PROGRESS OF THE SCHOOL IS REPRESENTED BY THE GRADE THEN THE SCHOOL'S GRADE MAYBE RELEASED. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DISCONNECT HERE. FLORIDA USES ITS OWN SELF-SERVING SYSTEM FOR GRADING HIGH SCHOOLS. THE FARM FORMULA GRADES ON THE
LOW CURVE SO THE GRADES CAN BE MADE TO LOOK BETTER THAN THEY ARE. PARENTS, DON'T TAKE IT AT FACE-VALUE WHEN YOUR SCHOOL CLAIMS TO BE AN A SCHOOL. WHEN YOU HEAR THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE GOVERNOR HAVE RAVE ABOUT HOW FLORIDA SCHOOLS ARE DOING SO WELL YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO
RESEARCH. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. WILLIE PLEASE COME UP. AND STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY I'M WILLIE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE LEAGUE AND RUN CHRISTIAN ON A MISSION AND EVERYBODY UP THERE
KNOWS WHO I AM BECAUSE YOU RECEIVED ALL OF MY E-MAILS ALL OF MY PHONE CALLS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, 3500 PEOPLE ON MY E-MAIL LIST SENT E-MAILS TO YOU AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE USING THIS MIC OR NOT BECAUSE I TESTED POSITIVE THIS MORNING. POSITIVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A CONVERSION WITH Mr. FERGUSON AND POSITIVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHANGES UP THERE. THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. I'M ALL ABOUT FORGIVENESS AND ALL ABOUT CONVERSION THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT THE SHIRT THAT SAID GOD'S GOT THIS AND THIS IS FOR Mr. FERGUSON.
I RAN THE RALLY TODAY ORGANIZED EVERYTHING YESTERDAY AS WELL AS JUPITER. WE HAD 200 PEOPLE THERE YESTERDAY AT THE INDIAN TOWN AND MILITARY TRAIL AND 100 PEOPLE HERE. AS SOON AS I GOT HERE ALL OF THE MEDIA CAME AND JUST CAME AND
TALKED TO ME ET CETERA. THE DAY THAT THE NEWS CAME OUT WITH Mr. FERGUSON'S COMMENTS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK, MY PHONE BLEW UP AND IT WAS CHANNEL 5, AND POST CAME TO MY HOUSE. YOU SAW ALL THE INTERVIEWS
BECAUSE I SENT THEM OUT TO EVERYBODY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED HERE TODAY. IT'S ABOUT CONVERSION. AND PEOPLE SAY WILLIE WE NEED TO FIRE THIS GUY AND GET RID OF HIM. I PREFER TO CONVERT YOUR HEART. I RATHER CONVERT YOU AND LISTEN TO ME I WISH I HAD AN HOUR THAT
I COULD TALK TO YOU. GOD'S GOT THIS. THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I AM A FORMER BASKETBALL REVENUE IN THE NCAA I USED TO RUN THE BIGGEST CAMPS IN MIAMI. 17,000 KIDS CAME THROUGH MY
BASKETBALL CAMPS. WORKING IN THE SEC I SAW EVERYTHING AND IT'S ABOUT BEING FAIR AND INTEGRITY. THAT IS WHAT I STAND FOR HERE. AND THE THING I'M LISTENING TO. COTS LIKE WHAT COUNTRY ARE WE IN? WHY IS THIS GOING ON THE LEFT SIDE, LEFT SIDE HERE?
I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S 4-3 LEFT SIDE HERE IF WE COULD CHANGE IT AND GO 4-3 WE MIGHT GET SOMETHING DONE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. ALL OF YOU PEOPLE UP THERE ARE IN MY PRAYERS AND Mr. FERGUSON, YOU GUYS MENTIONED
POOLE HE WAS SITTING HERE. SIX YEARS AGO HE HAD A CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT AT FAU CALLED STOMP ON JESUS HE HAD EVERY STUDENT IN THE CLASS STOMP ON PICTURES OF JESUS THEY CALLED ME I WENT TO FAU AND THREE MONTHS LATER Mr.
POOLE WAS GONE FROM FAU. HE WAS GONE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID. STOMP ON JESUS WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK LIKE YOU DID AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS.
THAT I WANT TO SIT WITH YOU ONE-ON-ONE. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
ALFRED FIELDS FOLLOWED BY MIMI. NOT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT I ADDRESS YOU WITH URGENCY AND RESOLVE.
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PLACID SEATING BUT A SUMMONS TO STAND ON THE FRONTLINE. OUR HANDS ARE NOT IDLE THEY ARE READY TO DEFEND THE SACRED SPACE OF FREE SPEECH. WHERE EVERY VOICE IS VALUED.
EVERY FACE IS RESPECTED. EVERY CITIZEN IS PROTECTED. TO THOSE OF YOU IN THE CHAMBERS, CLERGIES, ELDERS, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ALIKE, WE STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WE WILL NOT
BE SILENCED. WE WILL NOT BE DIVIDED. WE WILL NOT RETREAT FROM THE BATTLE FOR OUR RIGHTS, OUR DIGNITY, AND FOR OUR SHARED FUTURE. TO THOSE OUTSIDE CELEBRATING OUR
RESOLVE AND OUR COURAGE, YOUR PRESENCE IS THE BANNER THAT CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED. YOUR SUPPORT STRENGTHENS THE LINE BETWEEN FEAR AND FREEDOM. TO THOSE WATCHING FROM AFAR,
KNOW THIS... WE ARE NOT A WHISPER IN THE DARK. WE ARE A ROAR ON THE FRONTLINE OF LIBERTY. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO SPEAK. WE'RE DEMANDING OUR INAILABLE
RIGHT TO SPEAK TO QUESTION TO CHALLENGE AND TO PUSHBACK AGAINST THOSE WHO ERODE THESE FREEDOMS. OUR COMMUNITY COMES FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE. OUR RESOLVE IS UNBREAKABLE. IF YOU DARE CROSS OUR PATH WE
WILL MEET IT WITH COURAGE. IF INTIMIDATION LURKS, WE'LL LOOM NATURE IT -- WE WILL ILLUMINATE IT WITH OUR CONVICTION. LET THIS CHAMBER HEAR OUR THUNDER.
WE WILL STAND FIRM, WE WILL STAND LOUD, WE WILL STAND FREE. TO THOSE WHO THREATEN OUR RIGHTS HEAR THIS... WE ARE NOT A WHISPER IN THE DARK. WE ARE A ROAR ON THE FRONTLINES OF LIBERTY. BRING YOUR COURAGE. BRING YOUR VOICES.
BRING YOUR UNYIELDING COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT FREE SPEECH IS NOT A PRIVILEGE FOR THE FEW. BUT IT IS A RIGHT FOR ALL. THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO BE COUNTED. THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO PREVAIL.
LET US STAND, LET US STAND FOR FREEDOM. LET US STAND ON THE FRONTLINE OF TRUTH. THANK YOU.
>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
WITH THE FREEDOM OF ALL PEOPLE, NOT SOME PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE. AND THAT FREEDOM CANNOT BE FULLY REALIZED AS LONG AS ANY GROUP, OR INDIVIDUAL REMAINS OPPRESSED AND DENIED THEIR RIGHTS.
, AND ANYONE SITTING IN THIS ROOM THAT BELIEVES PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE NOT BEEN DENIED THEIR RIGHTS IN AMERICA NEEDS TO DO THEIR RESEARCH. I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY WITH YOU, ATTORNEY EDWIN FERGUSON, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
132 YEARS OF EDUCATION IN THIS COMMUNITY STANDS BEHIND YOU. WE KNOW THE MEANING OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING THAT FOR 132 YEARS AS WE EDUCATED OUR CHILDREN. WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR
CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT DONE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. OUR CHURCHES, OUR ARE TEACHING BLACK HISTORY. FOR ALL OF THAT YOU CAME HERE TODAY, YOU STOP OR YOU WE WANT THROUGH A LIGHT, A RED, GREEN OR
A YELLOW LIGHT. THAT LIGHT WAS INCONVENIENTED BY A PERSON OF COLOR. SO, IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS NATION, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE THE BACK BONE OF THIS NATION. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. WE WILL BE TOGETHER.
AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR THEIR FREEDOM WITH YOU, ATTORNEY FERGUSON, AND ANY OTHER PERSON THAT SPEAKS THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW WE ARE BEING TREATED IN THIS COUNTRY. GOD BLESS YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT. SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, MY FRIEND MARCIA, AND THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS WHOLE UNTHINKABLE ATTEMPT TO FREE SPEECH. I GRADUATED FROM SEACREST HIGH SCHOOL IN 1964 SPENDING THREE YEARS UP THERE. UTAH * TAUGHT SCHOOL IN THIS
DISTRICT FOR 45 YEARS AND OCCASIONALLY, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH BULLYING. HERE IS MY DEFINITION THAT I LOOKED UP. "BULLYING IS INTENTIONAL, REPEATED AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR,
THAT INVOLVES A REAL OR A PERCEIVED POWER IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE PERSON DOING THE BULLYING, AND THE PERSON BEING TARGETED. I TAUGHT THAT THE BEST DEFENSE IN MY OPINION, AGAINST A BULLY,
IS TO STAND UP, AND IT REQUIRES ACTION. BOARD MEMBER FERGUSON TOOK ACTION BY STANDING UP TO A BULLY WHICH IS MY OPINION, BY NOT RESIGNING. YOU DON'T DARE RESIGN. RENEWED ENERGY AND DETERMINATION
TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. WE ALL SHOULD TAKE A PAGE FOR HIS COURAGE. THE ONE THING THAT I TOLD MY STUDENTS WHO WERE BEING BULLIED, THAT YOU CAN TAKE ONE WHOOPING
OR YOU'LL BE TAKING THEN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THE COUNTRY HAS TAKEN BULLYING A NEW HIGH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DON'T NAME A STREET AGAINST SOMEONE THAT I TOLD YOU. AND HOW DARE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEECH IF YOU'RE A TEACHER OR
A PRINCIPAL, THEN I FIRE YOU, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I URGE NOT ONLY YOU, BUT, ALL OF US SHOULD STAND UP TO THE BULLYS. THIS TAKES ME TO THIS POINT, FIRST THEY CAME AND WITH HIS
PERMISSION I'LL PARAPHRASE. IT SAYS, FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE COMMUNISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK UP BECAUSE I WAS NOT A COMMUNIST. THEN, THEY CAME FOR A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND I DID NOT SPEAK UP, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. THEN THEY CAME FOR ME, AND NO ONE WAS LEFT TO SPEAK. WHEN WILL YOU SPEAK OUT BEFORE THERE IS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK.
STAND UP AGAINST BULLYS. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU. >> >> CHAIR BRILL, VICE CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS ANTHONY AND I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY COALITION FLORIDA. WE'RE A HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION AND TO MEMBER FERGUSON, WE MADE DOZENS OF ATTEMPTS TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU, IN A PERSONAL ONE ON ONE MEETING AND BREAK BREAD WITH YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, FROM YOUR
DISTRICT, AND, YOUR OFFICE NEVER BOTHERED TO RETURN OR OUR CALLS OR, GIVE US A MEETING OR REASON WHY YOU WOULD REFUSE OR THEY WOULD REFUSE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. YOUR JOB IS TO MEET WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THE HURTFUL
AND INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS THAT YOU MADE LAST MONTH, WOULD BE ROUNDLY CONDEMNED BY YOU, YOURSELF, SIR. YOU WOULD CONDEMN THOSE WORDS, IF SOMEONE WHO WAS CLOSE TO YOU OR FAMILY MEMBER WERE TO PASS AWAY, AND THEY WOULD BE PUBLICLY
OFFENDED THE WAY THAT YOU DID, Mr. KIRK. YOU OWE ERIC KIRK AN APOLOGY. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE PRESENTED A
RESOLUTION OF CENSURE AGAINST YOU, Mr. FERGUSON WHERE ALWAYS ALL MEMBERS OF THE PALM BEACH SCHOOL BOARD ARE BOUND BYLAWS AND POLICIES INCLUDING POLICY 1.03 ON DECORUM WHICH REQUIRES ALL TO@ACT IN AN ETHICAL AND COLLABORATIVE THE MANNER,
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 DURING THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED PALM BEACH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, BOARD MEMBER EDWIN FERGUSON ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR THAT VIOLATED BOARD POLICY 1.03 ON THE DECORUM BY SPEAKING ILL OF THE DEAD. BY USING UNPROFESSIONAL AND DEMEANING LANGUAGE TOWARD ONE
Mr. CHARLIE KIRK, FOU FOUNDER AD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TURNING POINT USA DAYS AFTER HIS POLITICAL ASSASSINATION. ISSUING ORDERS TO TEACHERS WHO DID NOT REPORT TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND OUTSIDE THE STATUTORY CHAIN OF SUPERVISION WHICH IS AS FOLLOWS.
SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT TO PRINCIPALS, PRINCIPAL TO TEACHERS AND STAFF. AND ENGAGING IN OVERT HOSTILITY AND INTIMIDATION, CONDUCT UNBECOMING OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT UNDERMINED THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIVE PROCESS AND REPUTATION, AS A COMPASSIONATE
RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL BODY. WHEREAS A DECISION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY COALITION FLORIDA CITIZENS ALLIANCE ON A MISSION, AND CITIZEN DEFENDING FREEDOM REPRESENTING ONE MILLION VOTERS IN FLORIDA TO ISSUE THIS CENSURE IS A REPRIMAND
UNACCEPTABLE TO CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT NOTHING IN THIS CENSURE IS INTENDED TO NOR SHALL IT PREVENT BOARD MEMBER FROM RESPECTFULLY ADVOCATING THEIR POSITION ON MATTERS BEFORE THE BOARD OR
EX-EXERCISING IN MANNER CONSIST WITH LAW AND POLICY. THIS IS OUR FREE SPEECH. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE GRETTA BRITT AND
JIMMY PAREL. MY NAME IS MINISTER GRETTA-BRITT.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL AS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO DO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT BOARD MEMBER
EDWIN FERGUSON, AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT FOR FREE SPEECH. IN MY OPINION, IT IS DEEPLY TROUBLING THAT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IS INFRINGING ON THE RIGHTS OF OUR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES THROUGH
INTIMIDATION AND FEAR, REGARDING THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. WHEN WE SILENCE LEGITIMATE EXPRESSION, CRITICISM OR DISSENT, WE BUILD A CLIMATE OF INTIMIDATION, RATHER THAN EDUCATION.
I WANT TO THANK Mr. FERGUSON FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, AND ADDRESSING THIS MATTER. WHEN OTHERS DID NOT. YOUR BOLDNESS TO STAND WITH THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, EVEN WHEN IT
WAS UNPOPULAR TO DO SO, IS TO BE COMMENDED. FREE SPEECH MUST NOT BE A PRIVILEGE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO STIR DIVISION. IT MUST ALSO PROTECT THOSE WHO SPEAK FOR JUSTICE AND TRUTH. WHEN YOU SPEAK AND ELEVATE
TRUTH, IT SHOULD NEVER CALL SOMEONE THEIR POSITION OR SAFETY. AS A MINISTER, I AM REMINDED OF WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN MICA6-8. WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU BUT TO DO JUSTICE, LOVE
MERCY AND WALK CALMLY WITH YOUR GOD. TO DO JUSTICE IN THIS CON TEXT IS TO ENSURE FAIR TREATMENT FOR EMPLOYEES. TO LOVE MERCY IS TO STAND WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES AND COLLEAGUE WHEN THEY ARE RIGHT.
AND, TO WALK HUMBLY IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NO INSTITUTION IS ABOVE REPROACH. AND THAT INCLUDES THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SO, TO THE BOARD, AND SUPERINTENDENT, I URGE YOU TO
CHALLENGE ANYTHING THAT WOULD SUPPRESS LAWFUL EXPRESSION OF SPEECH, BECAUSE, IT NOT ONLY VIOLATES SUBSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS BUT IT OFFENSES THE VERY JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD CALLS US TO UPHOLD. SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT INVALIDATE
THAT IT IS TRUTH. THE BIBLE SAYS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS TRUTH: I AM SAD IN THE WAY Mr. KIRK LOST HIS LIFE BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE. HOWEVER, IN THE WORDS OF
REVEREND Dr. HOWARD JOHN WESTERLY,. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GINNY POWELL, FOLLOWED BY Dr. DAVID DONNELLY. >>
>> GIN NY POWELL, I LIVE IN LAKE WORTH BEACH GOOD EVENING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD. I REALLY RESPECT WHAT YOU ALL DO AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE PEOPLE
WHO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS, IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB. I TAUGHT SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS AND PROBABLY THE FOUR HARDEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. OKAY, SO I I WANT TO -- I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I STAND WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER EDWIN FERGUSON. I DON'T BELIEVE HE DID ANYTHING WRONG.
I THINK IT TOOK COURAGE FOR HIM TO SPEAK UP FOR TEACHERS WHO WERE BEING THREATENED BY THE STATE IF THEY EXPRESSED THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. HE SPOKE THE TRUTH AND I RESPECT HIM FOR THAT NOW, APPARENTLY, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO PUNISH Mr. FERGUSON FOR SPEAKING UP
FOR TEACHERS AND, ALL PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. THAT IS NOT WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. TO THOSE LAUNCHING PERSONAL HATEFUL ATTACKS AGAINST Mr. FERGUSON. I SAY WHEN YOU ATTACK Mr. FERGUSON, YOU'RE ATTACKING ALL OF US WHO BELIEVE IT IS OUR RIGHT TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.
WE'LL RISE UP WITH DIGNITY AND STRENGTH AGAINST THOSE ATTACKS. WE WILL NOT STAND BY WHILE THE GOVERNOR OR ANYONE ELSE TRIES TO SILENCE COURAGE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU, THE SCHOOL BOARD, DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO HIRE OR FIRE ANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
WHO, AND THEY ARE FREELY ELECTED. BURKE I'M ONLY APPEALING TO YOU, TO BE MINDFUL THAT THIS ATTACK ON Mr. FERGUSON IS ABOUT SCARING YOU, AND EVERY OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO STANDS WITH THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF THE POLITICIANS WHO TRY TO USE FEAR TO SILENCE PEOPLE.
THE WORDS "FEAR" AND "EDUCATION" DO NOT BELONG IN THE SAME SENTENCE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU AND HELLO AND GOOD EVENING. NAME IS Dr. DAVID DONNELLY, SENIOR PASTOR OF LEGACY MINISTRIES IN GREEN ACRE CITY FLORIDA AND I WANT THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AS PUBLIC SERVANTS. I'M A LIFE-LONG PALM BEACH
COUNTY RESIDENT OF OVER 60 YEARS. I'M A PRODUCT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I ATTENDED ELEMENTARY,EN JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL. AND I THINK THAT GIVES ME A PERSPECTIVE AS A STUDENT. BUT, I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE AND SEMINARY, A PROFESSOR AND I THINK THAT GIVES ME A PERSPECTIVE AS AN EDUCATOR. DURING THOSE YEARS, AS A STUDENT, I WASN'T PERFECT. I MADE MISTAKES. I GOT IN TROUBLE. IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS PADDLED BY Mr. STEWART THE
DEAN OF BOYS AT JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN I WAS PADDLED, I WAS PADDLED FOR TALKING. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT I WOULD GROW UP TO TALK FOR A LIVING. BUT I WAS THANKFUL THAT I WAS
DISCIPLINED BECAUSE DISCIPLINE HELPS MAKE US THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TODAY. PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE CHILDREN. AND I'M SURE THAT YOU BELIEVE IN DISCIPLINE BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO GROW UP TO BE ALL THAT THEY CAN BE. Mr. FERGUSON MADE SOME
REMARKS. AND I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE WERE JUST LOOKING FOR AN APOLOGY TO SAY, I'M SORRIFY HURT ANYONE'S FEELINGS. BUT, INSTEAD, IT HAS BECOME AN ISSUE ON FREE SPEECH. THE PROBLEM IS, WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT FREE SPEECH, Mr. FERGUSON. I THINK YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE SAY THINGS. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE'RE DISCIPLINED, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING, IT JUST
MEANS THAT WE LEARN, WE GROW, WE BECOME BETTER PEOPLE. IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT Mr. FERGUSON BE DISCIPLINED, NOT TO HURT HIM, NOT TO PUNISH HIM BUT TO HELP
HIM TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THOSE NOW LAUGHING, IN THE BACKGROUND, MAYBE THINK IT IS OKAY TO NOT DISCIPLINE THEIR OWN CHILDREN. BUT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR A MINUTE. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THEM ALONG
WITH THEIR PASTORS AND ALL OF THEIR LEADERS, BELIEVE IN CHURCH DISCIPLINE. AND THERE IS NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM THAT WOULD HESITATE TO DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE, ANYONE THAT DID SOMETHING LIKE THIS
WHICH WAS, A DEFAMATION OF SOMEONE'S CHARACTER, THAT IS DEAD AND CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. >> THANK YOU. >> COME ON UP, Mr. RIFKIN.
>> GREETING, SUPERINTENDENT. AND BOARD. MY NAME IS LES LIFEKIN. AS I APPROACH MY 90TH YEAR, I'M REMINDED THAT -- THAT I HAVE OFTEN BEEN TOLD TO SHUT UP.
NOW ED WIN FERGUSON HAS BEEN TOLD TO SHUT UP, OR ELSE, IN A FRIGHTENING, UNAMERICAN MANNER. WE CLEARLY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EXPRESS OUR VIEWS, AND
WITHOUT FEAR OF AUTHORTARIAN, POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS CENSORSHIP. I SUPPORT HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK. HIS COMMENTS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK, MAY HE REST IN PEACE, WHO SERVED
TO LIVE, WERE TRUTHFUL, AND BASED ON KIRK'S OWN HATEFUL WORDS. KIRK SAID, HE WAS AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS, 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
HE SAID, GAY PEOPLE ARE DESTRUCTIVE AND SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH. HE SAID, BLACKS HAVE INSUFFICIENT BRAIN POWER TO PROCESS THINGS AND TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
HE USED AN OLD ANTI-SEMITIC METROPOLITAN SUCH AS JEWISH MONEY IS RUINING AMERICAN CULTURE. HE SUPPORTED CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM, WHICH ADVOCATES DOMINATION BY WHITE CHRISTIANS
OVER ALL OTHER RELIGIONS, PEOPLE'S SEXUALITY, AND PAY TRY, AAL FAMILY STRUCTURE. HE SAID, WOMEN ARE TO BE SUBSERVIENT TO MEN. THE SPLC LISTING HIS TURNING
POINT USA AS A HATE GROUP. WE'RE NOT IN GAZA, WHERE HAMAS PUBLICLY ASSASSINATES PEOPLE. TRUE BELIEVES AND AMERICANS DON'T HATE OR THREATEN THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS. WE NEED MORE LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.
IF WE HAD MORE LOVE, KIRK WOULD BE ALIVE. >> THANK YOU, BLAKE MONTGOMERY AND BRICE GRAHAM. PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, BLAKE MONTGOMERY,
BRICE GRAHAM. >> >> BRYCE GRAHAM, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NETWORK UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REVEREND AL SHARPTON. ANDREW YOUNG ONCE SAID, THERE CAN BE NO TRUTH WITHOUT
CONTROVERSY. AND NO CHANGE WITHOUT FREEDOM, AND NO PROGRESS WITHOUT BOTH. I STAND TODAY TO ENUMERATE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN THIS ROOM, ALREADY.
AND IT SEEMS THAT IF FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS UNDER ATTACK, AND DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL. WHEN VOICES ARE SILENCED FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE,
WHEN STUDENTS ARE TOLD HISTORY MUST BE SOFTENED TO MAKE OTHERS COMFORTABLE, WHEN EDUCATORS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM DISCUSSING RACE, IDENTITY, TRUTH, AND NOT FREEDOM, THAT IS CONTROL.
AND LET'S BE HONEST: IT IS OFTEN THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACISM THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SILENCE. BUT IGNORING RACISM DOESN'T MAKE IT DISAPPEAR. WE CAN CLAIM TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE REAL WORLD,
WHILE PRETENDING RACISM IS NO LONGER EXISTENT OR TRUTH IS TOO DIVISIVE AND MIGHT I SAY, CHARLIE KIRK WAS NOT MARTYR, AND SHOULD NOT BE COMPARED TO MARTIN
MALCOLM OR MEDGAR EVERS. TRUTH AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE COURAGE TO SPEAK, EVEN WHEN IT IS CHALLENGING, AND EVEN WHEN IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, EVERY MOMENT THAT EVER PUSHED THIS
NATION FORWARD, BEGINS WITH THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS. AND TO PRESENT FUSE TO BE SILENT IN FACE OF INJUSTICE. WHEN WE CANNOT BRIDGE DEMOCRACY WHILE PREACHING CENSORSHIP, EQUALITY WITHOUT EXPRESSION IS
EMPTY AND SCHOOLS THAT FEAR TRUTH, CANNOT BUILD JUSTICE. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM AND THE COURAGE OF CONFRONTING RACISM BELONGS TO NOT JUST SOME, BUT, TO ALL OF US, WHO DARE TO SPEAK TRUTH.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. MONTGOMERY. THANK YOU. >> PLEASE EXCUSE THE SUNGLASSES AS THEY HELP ME TO RECORD IN FIRST PERSON. SO, GOOD EVENING, CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND FELLOW CITIZENS. MY NAME IS BLAKE MONTGOMERY AND
I'M THE FOUNDER OF ORA MEDIA GROUP. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT, NOT OUT OF ANGER, BUT OUT OF CONVICTION. CONVICTION THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY DESERVES LEADERSHIP THAT UNITES, NOT DIVIDES.
RECENTLY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER EDWIN FERGUSON MADE COMMENTS ABOUT CONSERVATIVE SPEAKER CHARLIE KIRK. AND THEY WENT FAR BEYOND DISAGREEMENTS. HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, I DON'T
MISS A RACIST, A RACIST BIGOT AT THAT. HE EVEN COMPARED KIRK TO ADOLF HITLER AND THE HOLOCAUST. NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH CHARLIE KIRK TO RECOGNIZE HOW PROFOUNDLY WRONG THAT IS. TO COMPARE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
TO HITLER IS NOT DISCOURSE, IT IS A DEFAMATION. IT IS HATEFUL RHETORIC BASELESS UNPROFESSIONAL, UNWORTHY OF ANYONE REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS DESERVE LEADERS WHO
MODEL REASON, NOT SLANDER. AND LET ME ADDRESS THE PHRASE WE CAME ON HEARING "FREE, SPEECH." YES, Mr. FERGUSON HAD THE RIGHT TO HIS OPINION AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN BUT WHEN HE SPEAKS AND HE SPOKE AS A SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBER, HE WAS NOT JUST EXERCISING HIS FREE SPEECH, HE WAS SPEAKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE GOVERNMENT, SPEECH DOCTRINE THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT PROTECT AN OFFICIAL WHO USES HIS PUBLIC PLATFORM TO
SPREAD PERSONAL INSULTS AND HISTORICAL SLANDER. IN FACT, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY RULED IN HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM VERSUS WILSON, THAT THE ELECTED BODIES CAN CENSURE THEIR OWN MEMBERS OF HARMFUL OR UNPROFESSIONAL REMARKS, WHY?
BECAUSE CENSURE ITSELF IS A FORM OF FREE SPEECH. THE BOARD'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITS OWN INTEGRITY, EVEN GARCETI, THE COURT MADE CLEAR, WHEN SOMEONE
SPEAKS AS PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES, THEY DON'T ENJOY THE SAME PROTECTIONS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN. THAT MEANS THE BOARD AND THE PEOPLE HAVE EVERY LEGAL AND MORAL RIGHT TO HOLD FERGUSON ACCOUNTABLE, FOR WHAT HE SAID,
WHILE ACTING IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY. LET'S BE HONEST: IF A TEACHER COMPARED A STUDENT OR A PARENT TO HITLER, THEY WOULD BE FIRED TOMORROW. SO WHY SHOULD AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ENTRUSTED TO OVERSEE TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS BE HELD TO A LOWER STANDARD.
LOOKS LIKE I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME SO THANK YOU, GUY, VERY MUCH. .>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. AND LET'S KEEP IT A LITTLE QUIETER BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH AND I WANT TO HEAR EVERY ONE OF THEM. SO NEXT, WE HAVE TAMMY DONNELLY
FOLLOWED BY PASTOR RAY WHITELY. >> THANK YOU AND PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS FOR THIS MEETING
TONIGHT AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AS WELL IN THE AUDIENCE. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. MY NAME IS TAMMY DONNELLY AND THIS PAST AUGUST I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING AT THE WELLINGTON CHAMBER LUNCHEON ALONGSIDE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND PROFESSOR KEVIN
COAKLEY OF PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE. THE PANEL DISCUSSION WAS FOCUS ON CIVILITY AND POLITIC THAT WAS ON AUGUST 27, JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE TRAGIC SHOOTING OF CHARLIE KIRK. DURING THAT DISCUSSION, I EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF TONING DOAN DOWN OUR RHETORIC. I SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED TO STOP
SENSATIONALIZING OUR SPEECHES, OUR POSTS AND OUR CONVERSATIONS, WE MUST AVOID INFLAMMATORY ADJECTIVES AND NAME CALLING AND INSTEAD WORK ON HAVING CIVIL DIALOGUE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DISAGREE. I REMINDED THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT DISAGREEMENT DOES NOT HAVE
TO DESTROY FRIENDSHIPS NOR DOES IT EXCUSE DISRESPECT. WE CAN AND SHOULD TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH COURTESY AND DIGNITY EVEN WHEN OUR VIEWER DIFFER. TOO OFTEN WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO OFEN OUR LANGUAGE, THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS TO JUSTIFY IT, WELL, HE SAID THIS OR SHE SAID THAT.
I CANNOT CONTROL OTHERS BUT I CAN CONTROL MYSELF. AND HOPEFULLY, INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. I AM ASKING ALL OF US TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE. LET'S DROP THE ADJECTIVES AND MAKE POINTS WITHOUT DEGRADING OTHER, CHANGE MUST START SOMEWHERE, AND SO LET US START WITH US.
Mr. FERGUSON, YES, FREEDOM OF SPEECH ABSOLUTELY EXISTS BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO FRAME OR WORDING. YOUR MESSAGE COULD HAVE BEEN DELIVERED POWERFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY WITHOUT RESORTING TO OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE OR NAME CALLINGLE HAD YOUR COMMENTS REFLECTED THE LEVEL OF DECORUM, WE PLIGHT NOT FIND OURSELVES IN
THIS POSITION TONIGHT. THE BOARD GOVERNS OUR SCHOOL AND EVERY CHILD IN EVERY SCHOOL DESERVES BETTER. YOU SHOULD BE THE BEST OF THE BEST. EXAMPLE OF RESPECT, INTEGRITY THAT TEACHER, PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN LOOK UP TO, AND EMULATE. LET'S TAKE A PAGE OF OUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM AND
REMEMBER THE LESSONS WE LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO. IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. DON'T CALL PEOPLE NAMES. SAY YOU'RE SORRY WHEN YOU HURT SOMEONE. AND JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT DOESN'T MAKE IT
RIGHT. AND PERHAPS MAYBE WE SIT DOWN TO HAVE OUR CONVERSATIONS, WE SIT DOWN OVER MILK AND COOKIES INSTEAD OF COFFEE AND ALCOHOL. BECAUSE, MILK AND COOKIES MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER. LET'S BE THE AGENTS OF CHANGE. LET'S BE DIFFERENT. I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE
IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING THAT I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED ASHAMED AND UPSET AND SADDENED BY A LOT OF THE REMARKS. I HAD TO CHANGE MY SEAT BECAUSE THE PERSON BEHIND ME WAS BEING SO RUDE AND MAKING SUCH BAD REMARKS. PEOPLE STICKING MIDDLE FINGERS UP AND BULLYING AND LAUGHING AND
SWEARING, PEOPLE YELLING TIME IS UP. SHOUTING COMMENTS, AND IT WAS HAPPENING BY PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES. WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS. EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE, WE CAN STILL BE RESPECTFUL. WE ALL NEED TO BECOME AGENTS OF CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BROTHERS AND SISTERSS AND PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE. I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT AS A PASTOR, BUT, AS A GRAND FATHER. NOT TO SPEAK FOR POWER BUT TO STAND FOR PRINCIPLE.
BECAUSE WHEN ONE TEACHER'S VOICE IS SILENCED THE COMMUNITY LOSES A SOUND. AND WHEN ONE COMMUNITY STANDS TOGETHER, THE WORLD BEGINS TO LISTEN. ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL BOARD STAFF
ARE BEING TOLD TO SILENCE THEIR HEART, MEASURE THEIR WORDS LIKE, PRISONERS COUNTING STEPS. THE CHILLS BETWEEN THE PAYCHECKS AND PRINCIPLE, IT IS NOT LEADERSHIP. IT IS FEAR OF A MASK OF AUTHORITY.
AND WHEN FEAR ENTERS A CLASSROOM, -- LEAVES IT. OUR TEACHERS DEFEND DIGNITY OF OUR CHILDREN. THEY OPEN DOORS OF DISCOVERY AND HOPE, BUT WHEN YOU SILENCE THEM, YOU'RE NOT PROTECTING CHILDREN, YOU'RE PROTECTING COMFORT. YOU'RE NOT GUARDING EDUCATION,
YOU'RE GUARDING CONTROL. EDUCATION IN OUR CLASSROOMS ARE SACRED GROUNDS, CLASSROOMS WHERE, THE WORLD BEGINS AGAIN
EVERY MORNING. DID NOT LET POLITICAL WINS REWRITE THE MORAL COMPASS OF
PALM BEACH COUNTY. ALSO I WANT TO HONOR THE FAITH LEADERS STOOD HERE WITH US TONIGHT. YOUR PRESENCE, DECLARES THE CHURCH WILL NOT WHISPER WHEN THE SOUL OF EDUCATION IS AT STAKE. AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
EDWIN FERGUSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE,. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE TO STAND WHEN SILENCE WAS SAFER. COURAGE LIKE THAT MAY LOSE FAVOR WITH MEN BUT IT GAINS HONOR WHERE IT MOST MATTERS. THAT'S IN HEAVEN.
JESUS SAID YOU SHALL KNOW KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. IF TRUTH MAKES US FREE, THEN FEAR KEEPS US BOUND. AND, I CAME HERE TO DECLARE TONIGHT WE WILL NOT BE BOUND. WE WILL NOT LET FEAR REWRITE OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
WE WILL NOT BOW TO POLITICS WHEN MORALITY CALLS US TO STAND. BECAUSE WHEN ONE TEACHER'S VOICE IS SILENCED, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY LOSE AS SOUND. BUT WHEN ONE COMMUNITY STANDS TOGETHER, LIKE WE'RE STANDING TONIGHT.
THE WORLD BEGINS TO LISTEN. PALM BEACH COUNTY LET YOU TEACH AGAIN. LET JUSTICE LEAD. AND, LET FREEDOM SPEAK AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> TH THANK. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
SUSAN ONA AND ROBERT OSETO. >> SUSAN ONA AND ROBERT ROSSETTO. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS ROBERT ROSSETTO.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF MY CONCERN AND FRANKLY DISGUST OF SOME OF THE HATEFUL WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING ONLY ONE WEEK AFTER A PREMEDITATED MURDER OF CHARLIE KIRK THAT WAS CLASSIFIED AS A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION. Mr. FERGUSON SAID, AND I QUOTE, I DON'T MISS A RACIST, A
RACIST BIGOT AT THAT. THEN SAYS, WE TALK ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, I HAVE YET TO HEAR A PERSONAL OF THE JEWISH FAITH SAY I MISS ADOLF HIT HAMILTONER AND GOES ON THE SAY, I'M SORRY THAT HE DIED, PASSED AWAY. THOSE WORDS ARE IGNORANT AND DISMISSIVE. HE DID NOT DIE OR PASS AWAY, HE
WAS PUBLICLY AS ANATED AND ON CAMERA FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. HE COMPARED A YOUNG MAN WHO STARTED A MOVEMENT TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS TO UNEDUCATED PEOPLE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO HITLER, WHAT A STUPID AND HATEFUL THING TO SAY. HITLER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF INNOCENT NET -- DEATHS. MEANWHILE KIRK WAS PEACEFUL AND
VOCAL ABOUT I HAD OPINIONS AND BELIEFS USING FACTS AND STATISTICS TO HELP TO GET HIS POINT ACROSS. OF COURSE, MANY DISAGREED WITH HIM BUZZ BUT HE ALSO MADE MANY SECOND GUESS THEIR OWN BELIEFS. HIS TECHNIQUE WAS EFFECTIVE DUE TO THE MASSIVE CROWDS THAT HE WOULD DRAW BUT HE DID NOT JUST SPEW HIS BELIEFS, HE GAVE
EVERYBODY AND ANYONE A MIC AND CHALLENGE CHALLENGED THEM TO CHANGE HIS MIND. HE GAVE THROWS THAT DISAGREED WITH HIM MORE TIME THAN YOU'RE GIVING ME TONIGHT. HE NEVER USED HATE OR VIOLENCE OR ATTACKED ANYONE WITH A DIFFERENT OPINION. HE WAS AS CALM AND CHECKED AS ANYONE COULD BEING THE A DEBATE WHICH OFTEN INCLUDED WHAT COULD
BE CONSIDERED EXPENSIVE TOPICS BUT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE ON OPENLY DISCUSSED. HE WAS AS FAIR TO OTHERS AND TRUE TO US HAD BELIEFS AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. KIRK WAS A ROLE MODEL AND INSIRRATION TO M I DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE TO AGREE WITH HIM AND I'M SURE PEOPLE THAT AGREE ON
MOST TOPICS WOULDN'T AGREE ON ALL. IF YOU KNOW THE MAN OR NOT, AGREED OR DISAGREE, LIKE HIM OR HATED HIM, HE WAS A SON, FATHER AND HUSBAND THAT WAS ASSASSINATED AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 31 AND HIS DEATH SHOULDN'T BE DISMISSED AS A RACIST THAT HAD IT COMES COMPARING HIM TO
HITLER. WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND PUBLICLY MADE COMMENTS OF THOSE OF Mr. FERGUSON A DISGRACE TO OUR COMMUNITY. CERTAINLY HAS FREEDOM OF SPEECH LIKE THE REST OF US, BUT, WORDS COME WITH CONSEQUENCES. COMPARING KIRK TO HITLER IS ESSENTIALLY TELLING SOME THAT VIOLENCE AND EVEN MURDER IS AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE
THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH OR CONSIDER EVIL. FRANKLY IF ANYONE IS A RACIST BIGOT, IT IS Mr. FERGUSON. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT FREE SPEECH TONIGHT. BUT, MOST SEEM TO FORGET THAT WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES FEEL FREE TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE BOMB ON AN AIRPLANE OR YELL FIRE IN A
MOVIE THEATRE BUT IF THE STATEMENTS ARE NOT TRUE THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES WORE THE WORDS. I'M FREE TO SAY WHAT I WANT AT THIS MIC FOR THREE MINUTES BUT NOTED PRIOR TO ANY OF US SPEAKING, WE CANNOT USE CERTAIN LANGUAGE INCLUDING PROFANITY OR RACIAL SURES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES AND IN THIS CASE, THOSE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE, THE
MIC BEING SHUT OFF, BEING ESCORTED OUTSIDE BY POLICE AND PERHAPS EVEN JUMPED AND BEATEN OUTSIDE BY OTHERS IN THIS ROOM PREACHING FREEDOM OF SPEECH. THERE ARE -- >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
SUSAN ONA, JODY SCHWARTZ AND CATHERINE KOHLMEYER. IF YOU'RE HERE, TERRIFIC. PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO, CHAIR BRILL, SUPERINTENDENT AND ENTIRE BOARD AND ALL STAFF HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS JODY SCHWARTZ AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE ELECTED STATE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE WOMAN FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY REPRESENTING ABOUT 300,000 VOTERS.
PARENTS, TEACHERS, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND NEIGHBORS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN. THIS MORNING I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SUPERINTENDENT BURKE SPEAK AT THE MEETING AND I AGREE, CHAIR BRILL, DID YOU FANTASTIC. I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE MANY
POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR. >>S. HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SO MUCH MORE. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES EVERY DAY TO HELPING OUR CHILDREN GROW AND SUCCEED. BUT, TRUE SUCCESS AND EDUCATION
MUST REST ON A FOUNDATION OF MORALITY AND INTEGRITY AND TRUTH. BECAUSE, IF PARENTS CAN'T TRUTH THAT THE PEOPLE GUIDING OUR SCHOOLS HAVE THOSE VALUES, THEN ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE CELEBRATE BECOMES HOLLOW. THIS IS WHY THE RECENT COMMENTS MADE BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
ED WIN FERGUSON ARE SO DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING. COMPARING CHARLIE KIRK, A YOUNG FATHER, A LOVING HUSBAND, AND A MAN OF FAITH, TO ADOLF HITLER IS MORE THAN A MISTAKE, IT IS A MORAL FAILURE. IT IS A BETRAYAL OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH LEADERSHIP. THIS IS NOT JUST A POLITICAL
MISSTEP. THIS IS NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. THIS IS NOT BLACK OR WHITE, JEWISH OR NON-JEWISH, THIS IS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG. THIS IS ABOUT GOOD VERSUS HEVILLE, TRUTH WE HAVE US IS HEY THREAT AND COURAGEVILLE WE HAVE
-- VERSUS SILENCE. THESE WORDS DAMAGE THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS ENTIRE BOARD AND SHAPE THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH THAT HOLDS THIS SYSTEM TOGETHER. IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PARENTS. IT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT CRUELTY IS ACCEPTABLE.
THAT TRUTH CAN BE DISTORTED AND CHARACTER MO LONGER MATTERS. Mr. FERGUSON ABSOLUTELY HAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO HIS OPINIONS. AND I WILL ALWAYS DEFEND THAT. ESPECIALLY WHEN I DISAGREE. BUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT
PROTECT ANYONE FROM ACCOUNTABILITY. FOR WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO SAY WHILE REPRESENTING THIS COMMUNITY. WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. ESPECIALLY WHEN SPOKEN FROM A POSITION OF AUTHORITY OVER OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. OUR STUDENTS ARE WATCHING. THEY LOOK TO THE LEADERS TO
MODEL RESPECT AND MORAL STRENGTH. WHEN THOSE IN CHARGE FAIL TO DO SO, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK UP. AND TO SET THINGS RIGHT. THEY ARE LEARNING FROM OUR EXAMPLE, EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO, TODAY, I URGE THE BOARD TO
TAKE A CLEAR AND UNITED STAND. CONDEMN THESE REMARKS PUBLICLY. REAFFIRM YOUR COMMIT INNOCENT TO INTEGRITY, RESPECT AND TO TRUTH. AND SHOW OUR CHILDREN THAT WE WILL ALWAYS PROTECT THEM FROM HOSTILITY AND DIVISION. OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER, OUR PARENTS DESERVE BETTER AND PALM
BEACH COUNTY DESERVES LEADERSHIP. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
>> I'M CATHERINE KOHLMEYER. I HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED BUT I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION OF RACISM, AND IT SAYS THE BELIEF THAT DIFFERENT RACES POSSESS DISTINCT CHARACTERRISTICS THE ABILITIES OR QUALITIES ESPECIALLY TO DISTINGUISH THEM
AS INFERIOR OR SUPERIOR TO ONE ANOTHER. I HAVE A COUPLE OF Mr. KIRK'S COMMENTS ON THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW, THIRD OF JANUARY, 2024. IF I'M DEALING WITH SOMEONE IN
CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO IS A BLACK WOMAN, I WONDER IS SHE THERE BECAUSE OF HER EXCELLENCE OR BECAUSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. THERE ARE OTHER COMMENTS, OTHER EXAMPLES PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THIS EVENING OF THINGS Mr. KIRK HAS
SAID. SO IT DOESN'T SEEM SURPRISING TO ME THAT SOMEONE MIGHT CHARACTERIZE THAT AS RACIST. SO, I'M HEAR IN SUPPORT OF EDWIN FERGUSON, WHO HAS SHOWN COURAGE
IN THE FACE OF BULLYING AND INTIMIDATION. TO SPEAK TRUTH AND WON'T BACK DOAN DOWN. IN OUR COUNTY, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DISTINCTINGLY SILENT ON THE ON GOING TRASHING OF THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, TOLD EDUCATORS TO STAY SILENT OR RISK THEIR JOBS. IT VAGUELY CITES, CONDUCT THAT CAUSE AS STUDENT OR THEIR FAMILY
TO FEEL UNWELCOME OR UNWILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. YET, FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY OBJECTIVE AND DIFFERING STANDARD OF WHAT CONSTITUTES ALLOWABLE SPEECH, IN THE PROFESSIONAL.
ITS PURPOSE IS TO INTIMIDATE THROUGH FEAR. TO MAKE US FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BUT TRYING TO SILENCE IT DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT IS TRUE. EDUCATION SHOULD TO FACE WHAT IS TRUE WITH COURAGE AND HONESTY,
AND NOT COVER IT UP WHEN WE DON'T LIKE IT OR IT IS INCONVENIENT. THAT'S NOT FREE SPEECH. IT IS NOT DEMOCRACY. ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HERE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CHAMPION THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION, IN PRACTICE, NOW, WHEN IT IS UNDER GRAVE THREAT. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. KIM STOKES, LYNN HUBBARD AND
THEN DONNA KERNER. >> HI, I'M KIM STOKES, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS LAKE WORTH BEACH CITY COMMISSIONER AND ALTHOUGH I'M NOT IN THAT ROLE I'LL ALWAYS COME OUT TO ADVOCATE FOR MY
COMMUNITY. RIGHT NOW, OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT OKAY. THEY ARE TRYING TO LEARN AND THEY ARE BEING DISTRACTED BY THE VERY BARBARIC IMMIGRATION PRACTICES THAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPENS ON THE STREETS OF LAKE WORTH AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY GO HOME IF THEY'LL COME HOME TO A FAMILY THAT'S BEEN
RIPPED APART AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED. EDUCATION AFFIRM AND INSPIRE ARE WORDS ON THE SCREEN BACK HERE. YET, I HEAR PEOPLE SAY OUR JOB IS TO EDUCATE.
YOU CANNOT TEACH CHILDREN WHO DON'T FEEL SAFE OR VALUED. THERE WILL BE NO LEARNING, NONE. SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M HEARING THAT COMMENT TOO FROM EVERYBODY UP HERE WHO SAYS, THAT THIS DISCOURSE DOESN'T BELONG AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND IT
IS A IT IS STRAESTION. THAT'S NOT TRUE. BUT I'M ALSO COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A FORMER TEACHER AT LAKE WORTH HIGH AND MOTHER OF TWO GIRLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO'S LIVES ARE RICHER BECAUSE OF THE FRIENDSHIPS THEY'VE DEVELOPED WITH CHILDREN FROM AERIED WIDE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS. WHILE TEACHING AT LAKE WORTH HIGH, I DEVELOPED CLOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS OF MANY DIFFERENT RACES, CULTURES AND BACK GROUNDS AND WITNESSED OBSTACLES MANY HAD TO OVERCOME. THE HATE AND MISGUIDED FEAR THAT WAS DIRECTED AT THEM DURING THE MOST FORMATIVE YEARS IS TRULY HEART BREAKING AND WILL LIVE WITH THEM FOREVER. I HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR HATEFUL
RACIST RED RHETORIC EVEN IFs THE PART OF SPIRITED DECOURSE OR DEBATE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AND NEITHER SHOULD ANY OF YOU. THIS IS WHY I FIND A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 11 VERY DISSERVING. IT WAS REGARDING UPHOLDING PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES BUT WE KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.
SUPPRESSING THE VOICE OF TEACHERS WHO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO LIVE IN THIS AN ANTI-RACIST AND ANTI-FACIST COUNTRY. THESE ARE THE TEACHERS MOST LIKELY TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE CELEBRATION OF A MAN WHO BUILT A CAREER AROUND HARMFUL RHETORIC, DIRECTED AT PEOPLE WHO BROOKE
LOOK AND BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY. THAT RHETORIC IS DANGEROUS TO THE STUDENT THAT IS TAUGHT AS A TEACHER AND SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED OR CELEBRATED. AND IN THAT LETTER THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WAS USING VAGUE LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THREATS TO EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE, CELEBRATE CHARLIE KIRK OR STAY SILENT OR ELSE WE'LL
INVESTIGATE YOU AND COME FOR YOUR JOBS. EDUCATORS WERE NOT TO POST DESPICABLE COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK. THE ONLY DESPICABLE COMMENTS THAT I SAW WERE HIS OWN WORDS. IT IS TERRIFYING THE STATE IS
USING HIS DEATH WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE BUT USING IT TO GO AFTER THE EDUCATORS IN THIS COUNTY THAT WE NEED MOST, TEACHERS PASSIONATABLE LEARNING AND PASSIONATE ABOUT STUDENTS WHO BELIEVE ALL OF STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE AND DESERVING, THAT WANT TO DISMANth SYSTEMS THAT ARE RACE LIST AND UNJUST. THOUGHS ARE THE TEACHERS WOULD
LIKE LIE BE OFFENDED BY CHARLIE KIRK'S RHETTICKAND AND WHO MIGHT FEEL COM COMPELLED. HOW YOU DIE DOES NOT -- >> >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. GREETINGS, I'M LYNN HUBBARD, CO-CHAIR OF WOMEN NAACP. MEMBER FERGUSON, COULDN'T BE BULLIED AND DON'T STEP DOWN. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WE DON'T SPEAK UP FOR OR COMMUNITY, OUR CULTURE OR EACH OTHER WHEN WE'RE
ATTACKED OR OFFENDED. AND AS A DULY ELECTED OFFICIAL, A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, EDWIN FERGUSON HAS THE DUTY AND THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE RACISM AND THE BIGOTRY BEING LEVIED AGAINST AND ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY. HE HAS BEEN ASKED TO STEP DOWN AND RESIGN BECAUSE HE'S STANDING FOUND FOR RIGHTS OTHERS TO VOICE THEIR OPINION. OUR LIVES BEGAN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER. SAID MA MARTIN LUTHER KING. THAT IS WHY, IT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WEST PALM BEACH PALM BEACH BRANCH OF THE NAACP WAS REACTIVATED. CHARLIE KIRK'S SPEECHES ARE FILLED WITH HATRED, RACISM, AND DIVISIVENESS. IT IS TRUE, A LOT OF PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF HIM BEFORE HE WAS
KILLED. SO, SO WHAT? IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS OF A RACIST BIGOT. THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE INVITING PEOPLE TO GO TO HIS PAGE AND LISTEN TO HIS RHETORIC, EVIDENTLY HAVE NOT READ OR LISTENED TO IT YOURSELVES OR YOU AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, WITH WHAT
HE SAID. UNDERSTAND ME: THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS OPINIONS. WE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT HE THOUGHT. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED WORSE BY BETTER PEOPLE. THE POINT IS, OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL US WHAT TO SAY
AND HOW TO RESPOND TO WHAT HE SAID ABOUT US AND OUR COMMUNITY. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO REPRIMAND HIM, TO CHASTISE OR TAM PEOPLE OVER HIS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND HAVE HIM TAKEN OFF OF THE AIR FOR ALL OF AWFUL THINGS THAT'S SAID.
THE MERE FACT THAT SOMEONE WANTED TO PAINT THIS CHARLIE KIRK AS SOME KIND OF CHRISTIAN ACTIVIST DESPITE THE DESPICABLE HATE AND BIGOTRY HE SPEWED IS RIDICULOUS AT BEST. HE SAID ALL KINDS OF VIAL
DESPICABLE THINGS ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE AND CALLED SOME OF THEM OUT BY THEIR NAMES. PRIVILEGE HAS CONVINCED SOME OF YOU, THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL KIRK OUT BECAUSE HE IS DEAD. ONE OF THE PROUDER MOST -- MOMENTS OF MY LIFE WAS BEING NAME PALM BEACH COUNTY STATE
COLLEGE LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT. MLK IS DEAD TOO. AND KIRK SAID, AWFUL THING ABOUT HIM. HE WAS A TRULY HONORABLE MAN. THE AUDACITY OF KIRK AND SOME OF YOU TO TRY TO PASS THIS EVIL DESPICABLE RACIST IDIOT OFF AS A
COMPARISON TO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CHARLIE KIRK TOLD THE WORLD HOW HE WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED. HE LIVED HIS OBITUARY OUT LOUD BEFORE HE DIED. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO REWRITE HIS LIFE AND CHANGE THE LEGACY THAT HE WANTED TO LEAVE? HE DIED. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
>> DONNA KERNER. CAR LIEN PAUL. -- CARLINE PAUL. IF EITHER OF YOU IS HERE, PLEASE COME UP, THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CARLINE PAUL. BETTER KNOWN AS TEACHER CARLINE. I AM THE RETIRED EDUCATOR, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND SOMEONE WHO RESPECTS EVERYONE BUT FEARS NO ONE. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT
BURKE, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, VICE CHAIRWOMAN MARCIA ANDREW, CONGRATULATIONS. AND ALL DEDICATED STAFF PRESENT HERE TONIGHT. I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER Mr. FERGUSON. WHEN I VOTED FOR YOU HAD, Mr. FERGUSON, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU FOR THREE MONTHS, LATER, I LEARNED THAT DURING THAT TIME, YOU WERE VISITING
EVERY SCHOOL IN YOUR DISTRICT. NOT JUST TO BE SEEN, BUT TO LISTEN, TO LEARN, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE. YOU TOOK THE TIME TO LEARN THE LANGUAGES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
EVEN LEARNING HAITIAN CREOLE AND WHEN I HEARD YOU SPEAK IT, I FELT SO PROUD THAT YOU TOLD ME YOU ARE A LEADER WHO VALUES INCLUSION, REPRESENTATION, AND RESPECT FOR EVERY CULTURE IN
THIS COMMUNITY. Mr. FERGUSON, YOU REPRESENT ALL CHILDREN, ALL PARENTS, ALL TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR TONIGHT:
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH. THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOESN'T ONLY BELONG TO THOSE WHO AGREE WITH COLLARLY KIRK, OR ANYONE PERSON OR IDEOLOGY. IT BELONGS TO EVERY AMERICAN
INCLUDING YOU. TO MY FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I SAY THIS: WE MUST STAND UP FOR LEADERS WHO STAND FOR US. AND TO YOU, Mr. FERGUSON, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR BACK, WE SUPPORT YOU, BECAUSE
YOU REPRESENT ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST A SELECTED FEW. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT IN AMERICA, PEOPLE FROM ALL SIDES CAN EXPRESS WHAT IS ON THEIR MIND, THAT IS DEMOCRACY. THAT IS FREEDOM.
SO, I THANK YOU, Mr. FERGUSON, FOR BEING COURAGEOUS, FOR BEING INCLUESIVE AND SERVING WITH HEART AND INTEGRITY, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, AND DON'T ALLOW YOUR SUCCESSFUL TO BE BULLIED. THANK I AND I APPRECIATE YOU, MY
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. Dr. CHRISTOPHER McVOY AND
REGINALD COX. >> GOOD EVENING. AND I'LL REPEAT ONE OR TWO -- MY NAME IS Dr. CHRISTOPHER
McVOY, EDUCATOR AND COMMISSIONER FROM CITY OF LAKE WORTH AND I'LL REPEAT ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT I HEARD EARLIER THIS EVENING. ATTORNEY FERGUSON, DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE BULLIED AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT RESIGN.
SPEAKING TO THE BOARD, AS A WHOLE, I'M IN HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR BOARD TO STAND STRONG IN DEFENDING THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY. THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE
SPEECH IS KEY TO THAT EXPERIMENT. ON THE OTHER SIDE, WITH CARE, THAT RIGHT CAN STILL ACCOMMODATE THE CONCEPT OF THOUGHTFULLY CAREFULLY DEVELOPED PROFESSIONAL SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS. TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM
DISCRIMINATORY, RACIST OR OTHERWISE UNWELCOMING LANGUAGE. IT IS A DIFFICULT BALANCE. BUT I WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT OPPOSE THE CREATION OF A CLIMATE
OF FEAR. THE FOUNDING FATHERS UNDERSTOOD AND HISTORY HAS REPEATEDLY SHOWN, THE DANGERS OF A STATE DICTATING WHAT ARE ACCEPTABLE OPINIONS. WE THANK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
EDWIN FERGUSON FOR STANDING STRONG FOR TEACHERS, AND FOR FREE SPEECH. PARTICULARLY, IN THESE TIMES, WE EXPECT ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO HOLD HIGH AND STRONG THE FOLLOWING.
PROTECTION OF TEACHERS FROM STATE INTIMIDATION. FURTHERANCE OF A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ROOTED IN HONESTY, NOT INTIMIDATION. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. AND PROMOTION IN ALL CLASSROOMS
OF CRITICAL THINKING, AND OPEN DIALOGUE, NOT GOVERNMENT SPEAK. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> REGINALD COX. PRODUCT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE, WE IN AMERICA, I THINK WE'RE IN KERNER MANY, RIGHT? AND AMERICA DOES HAVE A PAST SO I'M CONFUSED ABOUT A LOT OF
THINGS THAT I'M HEARING BUT I'LL SAY THIS ENTITLEMENT IS IN THE AIR. AND, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE JUST CANNOT WIPE IT OFF. OBVIOUSLY, JUSTICE IS DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
CONVICTIONS, STILL UPLIFTING, CENTRAL PARK 5, STILL UPLIFTING. INSURRECTION, STILL UPLIFTING. SO, JUSTICE MEANS DIFFERENT THING FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT WHAT'S THE REAL DEAL? FREEDOM OF SPEECH MUST BE UPLIFTED AND REINFORCED BY
RESOLUTION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY IN BY OPINION. 1964, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OCCURRED, 464 YEARS AFTER 1500, WHEN THE FIRST ENSLAVED AFRICANS ARRIVED. IT HAS BEEN 61 YEARS SINCE THE
ACT STRUCK DOWN DISCRIMINATION AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL AND DISMANTLING OF ALL THE HARD LABOR, ACHIEVEMENT, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, SUFFERING, AND DATA-BACKED GOVERNMENT RACIST
POLICIES IS SUPPOSED TO BE ERADICATE IN JUST 61 YEARS. WHEN IT WAS IF LAW OF THE LAND FOR OVER 400 YEARS. THE LACK OF EDUCATION BY THOSE RACED AT THE DINNER TABLE OF THOSE WHO, TURN THE CLOCK BACK
TO JIM CROW NATION BECAUSE, POPULATION PROJECTIONS INDICATE THAT IN THE COMING DECADES, THE DOMINANT MAJORITY BECOME THE MINORITY. KNOW THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SYSTEMIC INSTITUTION AND
INDIVIDUAL RACISM. AND WHEN A STATEMENT LIKE BLACK WOMEN ONLY GOT THE JOBS BECAUSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, IT FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION THAT VALUE A WHITE'S HONOR SOCIETY, THAT BUILT WHITE WEALTH, DUE TO THE RACIST GOVERNMENT POLICIES IS A
SINISTER ACT OF GASLIGHTING. MORE SO, THE SILENCE TO THE FORMER IS CONSENT TO STRUCTURAL RACIST SOCIETY. WE SEE THROUGH ALL OF THE GASLIGHTING AND THE HATE FOR NEGRO ADVANCEMENT AND THE HISTORIC PLIGHT TO MAINTAIN
POWER AND CONTROL OF. AMERICA WAS BUILT ON LOBBIESTS AND THE LOBBIESTS ARE ON DISPLAY TONIGHT. UNDERSTAND WE ARE DEALING WITH A SYSTEM WHO ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND SO GONE MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN BECAUSE FREEDOM OF SPEECH RELATED TO OUR
LIBERATION IS MARGINAL AT BEST. HELL, YOU DOESN'T EVEN STAND UP FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS OF LEARN FAMILY MEMBER, COMMUNITIES LIKE HAVE BEEN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR GENERATIONS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP, TIME AND
TIME AGAIN TO STAND AGAINST THE PROMOTED SYSTEM -- >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU.
IAN BLAKE AND MICHAEL IAMAFI. >> IAN BLAKE. I'M A VETERAN, FORMER PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHER AND, I HAVE BEEN
PRETTY DISAPPOINTED AT SOME OF THE COMMENTARY, AND, I DON'T THINK THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING OUR POPULOUS. I THINK THE KIDS ARE DOING ALL RIGHT. I THINK SOME OF THE PARENTS
COULD USE SOME WORK. EDUCATION IS POLITICAL. POLITICAL MEANS, THE ACCUMULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POWER. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, THEREFORE, KNOWLEDGE IS POLITICAL.
EDUCATION IS POLITICAL. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THE FIFTH AMENDMENT IS PRETTY GOOD TOO. IT ENSURES DUE PROCESS OF LAW. IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE TWO AVENUES FOR REDRESS OR GRIEVANCE, CRIMINAL, NO LAWS
HAVE BEEN VIOLATED IN THIS INSTANCE, AND SO CIVIL. AND THE STANDARD OF EVIDENCE FOR A CIVIL INFRACTION IS THE PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE. SO FAR, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTING TOUTING OH, MY GOOD FRIEND CHARLIE KIRK, YOU
DON'T KNOW HIM LIKE I KNOW HIM, HAVE JUST BEEN PROVIDING CHARACTER WITNESSES, FINE. AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SAYING, NO, HE REALLY WAS A RACIST, CAME WITH RECEIPTS. SO, BASED ON THE PREPONDERANCE
OF EVIDENCE, A REASONABLE PERSON COULD ARRIVE AT THE CONCLUSION, CHARLIE KIRK WAS A RACIST. GREAT. IF THIS ISN'T AN EDUCATION BODY,
THEN HAVING THE CONVERSATION IS IMPORTANT LIKE, THIS IS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTHWHILE TO HAVE IT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE YELLING ON EITHER SIDE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BUT JUST SHOWING THE EVIDENCE.
WHAT IS HISTORY, WHAT DID OCCUR, HOW DO THINGS ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE WHAT IS REALITY? AND WHAT REALITY IS, IS THAT, POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS BAD, BAD NEW~YORK ONE WANTS POLITICAL VIOLENCE. AND, THOSE THAT MAKE PEACEFUL
REVOLUTION IMPOSSIBLE AND MAKE VIOLENT REVOLUTION INEVITABLE, IS J.F.K. AND, WE HAVE SEEN THAT ALL TOO OFTEN SO LET'S MAKE PEACEFUL REVOLUTION, AND DISCOURSE ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH
THIS CHARADE, THEN, THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE ABSOLUTELY ACQUITS THE GOOD COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. MICHAEL GIAMIFI, PATTY HAGERTY AND SHANNON OTTO.
>> >> GO AHEAD, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS MICHAEL GEMFI. >> I TOLD YOU I WOULDS ME SOMETHING UP. >> NO PROBLEM. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF EDWARD FERGUSON. HE IS MY SCHOOL BOARD
REPRESENTATIVE, AND, I DO BELIEVE AS EVERYONE HAS SAID THAT PROTECTING THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IS ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT. HE WAS STANDING IN THE GAP OF A TEACHER BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING REPRIMANDED FOR SPEAKING OUT LOUD OF WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN. EVERYBODY HERE HAS BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THE THINGS THEY VARIOUS BELIEVED IN. I FOR ONE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAID AND I'LL SAY THIS BEFORE I SIT DOWN. I CANNOT RESPECT A MAN THAT WOULD SAY THE THINGS THAT HE SAID ABOUT BLACK WOMEN, OF MY,
THAT WOULD BE MY MOTHER, MY GRANDMOTHER, MY AUNT, AND MY OWN DAUGHTER. THAT WAS DISGUSTING AND THAT WAS VIAL. AND SO, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. EVERYBODY SAYS THAT HE WAS AN UPRIGHT AND STANDING AND A
GOODED BY INDIVIDUAL. AND HE'S A CHRISTIAN. SO WERE THE SLAVE OWNERS. AND THAT'S MY TIME. >> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. PATTY HAGERTY AND SHANNON OTTO AND BRIAN CULLPEPPER.
>> AGAIN, PATTY HAGERTY, SHANNON OTTO AND BRIAN CULLPEPPER. IF ANY OF YOU ARE HERE, COME RIGHT UP.
>> SO, I'M SADDENED BY A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID TODAY. COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? >> YES, OF COURSE. SORRY, SHANNON OTTO. SO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT SAID THAT I AGREE WITH. AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT THAT'S
BEEN, I THINK, SAID THAT IS JUST SAD ON BOTH SIDES. SO, SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO SHARE IS MARXISM IS PITTING ONE GROUP AGAINST ANOTHER. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR COUNTY AND IN OUR CITIES AND
FLORIDA, THAT WE DON'T PIT ONE ANOTHER AGAINST THE OTHER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOCUSING ON EXACTLY THAT WRITING, READING AND ARITHMETIC. IT IS OKAY TO HAVE OPINIONS, WE'RE ADULTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE INFUSING IF I COULD SAY THAT,ER OUR OPINIONS INTO YOUNG PEOPLE, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ALLOW THEM TO GROW UP, MATURE, AND WE KNOW THE FRONTAL LOBE OF THE BRAIN IS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED
WITH HIGHER CRITICAL THINKING UNTIL WE'RE 25. SO, I THINK THAT, IT IS OKAY THAT WE DON'T START IN PUTTING OUR OPINIONS INTO EDUCATION. I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ALL HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. ABSOLUTELY.
WE LIVE IN AMERICA. AND EVERY ONE OF US HERE INCLUDING THE WHOLE COUNCIL HERE, HAS THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK AS THEY WOULD LIKE. AND, OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OUR
SPEECH DOES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. AND, WE KNOW THAT, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY NEEDS TO BE FIRED. I'M NOT SAYING THAT. BUT, I AM SAYING THAT IT CREATES THE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, SO
CHARLIE KIRK SAID SOME THINGS I'M SURE THAT WERE OFFENSIVE. I CAN AGREE WITH THAT. ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT ALSO, IN HIS ABSENCE, WHEN HE CAN'T DEFEND HIMSELF, WITH A CONVERSATION, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH
OTHER, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO EVEN INSERT HIM INTO THE CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DIALOGUE THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND KIND TOWARD EACH
OTHER AND UNDERSTANDING. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HUMANS HERE. WE'RE ALL ONE RACE. THERE ARE 26 PIGMENTATION COLORS OF SKIN. NO ONE IS BLACK OR WHITE. SO, LET'S STOP PITTING EACH
OTHER AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. LET'S LEARN TO HAVE DIALOGUE AND DISCOURSE, AND DO IT IN A KIND WAY. AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THAT. THANK YOU. .>> Karen Brill: THANK YOU. SO, AFTER BRIAN CULLPEPPER WE
HAVE OUR LAST SPEAKER, AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'M READING THIS NAME CORRECTLY, BUT, THAT THAN GALING. >> GOOD EVENING, AND I MUST TELL YOU, AS AN ALMOST LIFE-LONG MEMBER OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, I GREW UP HERE, WENT TO SCHOOL
HERE, GRADUATED HERE, LOVED IT HERE. AND THEN, 23 YEARS AGO I DECIDED TO MOVE OUT TO OAK CHO BY. AND, I LOVE IT THERE. AND WASN'T AWARE OF THIS MEETIG UNTIL A VERY INCREDIBLE THING HAPPENED HAD A SHORT TIME AGO.
BEING A VETERAN AND I'LL TAKE MY HAT OFF, I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL, I WAS AT THE VETERAN V.A. AND I TURNED AROUND AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING AFTER A SLEEP STUDY AND I HEARD THE DOORS OPEN AND I TURNED AROUND AND I MET THE MOST INCREDIBLE YOUNG LADY I THINK I HAVE EVER MET BESIDES MY WIFE, OKAY.
AND, HER NAME OVER THERE IS MRS. JACKIE GREEN. AND WHEN SHE WALKED THERE YOU THE DOOR I TURNED AROUND AND WENT WOW. SHE WALKED UP TO THE DESK AND I STARTED TALKING AND I SAID WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. LE ONE OF THAT WAS THE FACT THAT SHE'S A NAVY VETERAN, I'M A
VETERAN SO IMMEDIATELY WE THAT CONNECTION. IS SO SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS EVENT AND I WAIT SURE THE NAACP INDIVIDUALS WILL BE HERE AND I WILL TELL YOU, THAT I WAS A BIG HISTORY BUFF IN SCHOOL. AND THE ONE PERSON THAT I REALLY WAS CRAZY ABOUT. WAS A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF MARTIN LUTHER KING AND I'LL TELL
YOU WHY, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAID REALLY STUCK IN MY HEART AND THAT WAS, THINGS LIKE, DON'T JUDGE A MAN BY THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN, JUDGE HIM BY THE CONTENTS OF HIS HEART AND I THINK THAT RANGE SO STRONG IN ME, AND YOU SEE, I DON'T HAVE
ANY NOTES, I DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE OR NO DISRESPECT TO THE ONES THAT DO BUT GOD BLESSED ME WITH THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE. I WAS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN, SORRY TO DISAPPOINT YOU GUYS BUT, ELECTED IN OAK CHO BEE COUNTY WHICH WAS 69% DEMOCRAT. NOW, TODAY, EVERY ELECTED
OFFICIAL OUT THERE IS REPUBLICAN. IMPROVED THAT. BUT, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE I DON'T SEE COLOR. AND IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME, THEY WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY THAT. I DON'T SEE BLACK. I DON'T SEE WHITE. I DON'T SEE HISPANIC OR ASIAN. I SEE PEOPLE.
AND, I TRY TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES AND THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE KEPT ME IN THERE FOR THREE TERMS UNTIL I HAD TO RETIRE FROM DIABETES FROM THE MILITARY FROM JET FUEL 50 BUT I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE ENJOYABLE AND ENJOYED
PEOPLE, AND, THE FACT THAT I HAD TO GIVE UP MY POSITION WAS DEVASTATING AND THE ONE THING THAT I WILL TELL Mr. FERGUSON, I REMEMBER MY MOM TEACHING ME, JUDGE NOT, LEST THEE BE JUDGE BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE SINS THAT WE HAVE CREATED.
ALL THROUGH LIFE. SO, I RESPECT THIS GENTLEMAN FOR GIVING HIS SERVICE, BUT ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS I LEARNED AND I ALWAYS WAS VERY CAREFUL OF THIS, WHEN I WAS ON THE PLOURDE OF COUNTY COMMISSION AND I SERVED OVER 31 YEARS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ALSO IN
PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHEN I SAID ON THAT BOARD, I WAS VERY, VERY CAREFUL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SIR, YOU'RE OUR LAST SPEAKER. >> HELLO. I WAS WORRIED THAT I WASN'T
GOING TO BE CALLED UP. BUT, I DON'T LIKE FENCE SITTING. I LIKE SAYING THINGS HOW THEY ARE. >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> MY NAME IS NATHAN GALING. FOR THE -- DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I'LL START BY POISONING THE WELL BY SAYING, A QUOTE FROM CHARLIE KIRK:
I HAVE A VERY RADICAL VIEW ON THIS, BUT I CAN DEFEND IT AND I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, WE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE WHEN WE BASSED THE CIVIL RIGHTS FACT 11960S. HE SAID IT, IT IS JUST TRUE. NO ONE SHOULD BE PER CUTED FOR SAYING THE TRUTH.
NO ONE SHOULD BE ATTACKED. NO ONE SHOULD BE CONDEMN FOR ACKNOWLEDGING REALITY. LE THE SKY IS BLUE AND THE GRASS IS GREEN AND TRUTH IS TRUTH AND REALITY IS REALITY. IF THAT OFFENSES SOMEONE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. THEY HAVE TO GROW UP AND DEAL WITH IT. WHEN Mr. FERGUSON SAID WAS THE
TRUTH. WHAT Mr. FERGUSON SAID WAS A CONTEMPT NATION OF VIOLENCE BUT A RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AND HISTORY OF A PROPAGANDAIST WHO FRANKLY, SUCCEEDED IN HIS GOAL, OF DIVIDING PEOPLE FOR THE SAKE OF THE RICH, ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE
THAT STOP THE GAMES, HIS CROCODILE TEARS ARE THE SAME PERSON THREATENING Mr. FERGUSON GIVE A DAMNED ABOUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE. WHERE WAS THE HALF MAST FLAGS AND CONTEMPT NATION WHEN THE ROAD NAMED AFTER THE CHILDREN WHO DIED IN THE HANDS OF A NEO-NAZI IN A SCHOOL SHOOTING ON
THE SAME DAY COLLARLY KIRK DIED SEPTEMBER 10 THIS YEAR. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE WHEN TRUMP RUBIO DRAGGED US INTO WAR. JUST EXTRA DID YOU OFFICIAL KILLINGS AND NO DUE PROCESS.
WHERE IS THE CONDEMNATION OF TRUMPS SUPPORT FROM THE GENESEE IN YEMEN TO THE ISRAELI GEN SIDE IN GAZA. WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE MAD ABOUT THE TRUTH BEING SPOKEN HERE, WHEN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, GAVE
$700 MILLION OF OUR MONEY TO ISRAEL IN THE FORM OF BONDS. THE OUTRAGE TOWARD Mr. FERGUSON, THE CROCODILE TEARS ABOUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ALL OF THIS IS GONE FROM THE BOTTOM. IF YOU WANT TO BE MAD, JOIN A
UNION. FIGHT TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE, YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR COMMUNITY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THOSE WHO LIKELY DISAGREE, EPSTEIN'S BOY SHUT DOWN THE NLRB. I'LL FINISH WITH THIS:
WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THIS IDOL TRY, I AIN'T ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ELEVATE THIS FALSE PROPHET INTO A FALSE GOD BUT FLYNN IN THIS CENTURY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ALL EQUAL
UNDER GOD. I DON'T PRAY BECAUSE I'M PARTISAN HACKS. I BEGIN END AND MY PRAYERS WITH THE ONE PHRASE, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. s. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, BOARD MEMBERS, WITH THAT, WE
ARE AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA. AND I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION BY Ms. WHITFIELD AND SECONDED BY Ms. BRANCH IS. THERE ANY DISCUSSION IN ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRI