Updates on the Fight for Quality Public Education in Brevard County, FL
0:00 nd
0:30 - Mr. Campbell. - Present.
0:31 - At this time, the board will hold a silent moment
0:33 of reflection and invite you to join us.
0:51 Thank you.
0:52 Please stand with us and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
0:57 - I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States
1:00 of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
1:04 one Nation, under God, indivisible,
1:07 with liberty and justice for all.
1:14 - I would like to offer my fellow board members
1:15 and Dr. Mullins the opportunity to recognize student staff
1:18 or members of the community.
1:22 Who would like to start us off this evening?
1:24 Mr. Susan.
1:26 - I’m good.
1:28 - I don’t believe it.
1:30 - Thank you, sir.
1:31 - I just don’t believe it.
1:33 Ms. Duskovich.
1:34 - That was amazing.
1:35 - Right?
1:36 - And the first, first in four years.
1:39 - I knew there was something coming.
1:42 - It’s ‘cause he has three discussion points.
1:44 I just wanna give a shout out to Sabrina Wohlpart,
1:46 kindergarten teacher at Indiana Elementary School.
1:48 I stopped by there last week.
1:51 Was last week the first week of kindergarten?
1:53 My days are running together.
1:55 - I think so.
1:56 I hit her classroom on the very first day of kindergarten
1:58 and she is the e-learning teacher for kindergarten,
2:00 which I thought might be a disaster and it was not.
2:04 So it was, she’s amazing.
2:07 She happened to be my son who’s in seventh grades now,
2:10 kindergarten teacher.
2:11 So I already knew she was an amazing teacher,
2:12 but I wondered how that was gonna work for e-learning.
2:15 So I popped in and she had all of her students create,
2:19 come up the week before at separate times
2:21 and pick up like a science fair board
2:24 and had them all create a backdrop for their Zoom classes.
2:28 And she had pockets, six pockets for all the subjects.
2:32 And so everything and everything that they needed,
2:34 manipulatives for math and different things.
2:36 And so when it was time for school,
2:38 the kids would get in front of their computer screens,
2:40 open their backdrop.
2:41 So all the kids had matching backdrops
2:43 with all their, everything that they needed.
2:45 She could say, turn around, pull out from square A,
2:48 what you need, let’s put it back.
2:49 So everything stayed organized and together.
2:51 And she was, I mean, she was just ecstatic with everything.
2:54 She said that they had pet sharing time
2:56 where all the kids would bring their pets
2:58 in front of the screen and introduce them to the class.
3:00 And so show and tell takes on a whole new meeting
3:02 for kindergartners right now with Zoom.
3:05 And she said it was going really well
3:08 and I was enjoying it at least on day one.
3:11 I haven’t followed up.
3:12 I don’t know how, if it’s continuing to be such fun for her,
3:14 but she’s a great example of how this can be successful
3:18 and in such challenging times.
3:20 Thanks.
3:21 - Awesome, thanks Ms. Deskovich.
3:22 Ms. Campbell, you wanna go?
3:24 - Sure.
3:25 So last week I presented the impact pen to Carolyn Robb,
3:30 who is one of the art teachers at Melbourne High School.
3:33 I got a glowing email from one of our tech integrators
3:38 for the district who had been working with them.
3:40 And she is one of the teachers who,
3:43 like I said, she’s not a tech teacher, she’s an art teacher,
3:45 but she took it upon herself to help with the transition,
3:49 the integration of focus and Google Classroom.
3:52 And didn’t just, she helped the district staff with,
3:55 what does it really look like?
3:57 Kind of was offered herself as a guinea pig, I guess,
3:59 but then also offered herself to her teammates
4:02 and colleagues as well to help them get things going.
4:05 So I just wanted to thank Ms. Robb
4:07 for her great work in that.
4:09 And also just wanted to say to all of our teachers
4:15 who are doing hybrid, whether you’re elementary
4:19 or obviously all of our secondary,
4:21 almost all of our secondary teachers doing hybrid,
4:23 but quite a few of our elementary.
4:24 I just wanted to say, thank you.
4:25 I know that it is so difficult.
4:28 The challenges that you’ve been asked to take on,
4:30 but just thank you.
4:33 I know we recognize everybody who are doing,
4:35 but just wanted to just tell you,
4:36 I appreciate the job that you’re doing.
4:38 Also, this is kind of more of an announcement
4:40 than a recognition, but we have so many things
4:42 on our end of the, for me, I thought I’d do this.
4:44 Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization,
4:47 which does all the new projects,
4:48 they are doing a Minton Road study.
4:51 And so it’s kind of a recognition
4:52 because as part of that, we have the Minton Road schools
4:55 or the Wingate schools, the Meadow Lanes in Central
4:58 and also West Melbourne School for Science
5:00 are all in that corridor.
5:02 And they’re doing a study right now
5:04 and they’re asking for community input.
5:05 And so you can go to mintonroadstudy.com
5:09 and took a look at all the plans.
5:11 They’re really taking into consideration bikers
5:14 and pedestrians and our school traffic
5:17 and our kids who are getting to school in the morning,
5:20 either by on foot or on bicycle.
5:23 And so it’s a great opportunity
5:24 for you to go take a look if you use or live near
5:28 or go to school near that road on Minton Road
5:31 between Palm Bay Road and 192.
5:33 There’s some really creative options
5:35 and the public can vote through September the 14th.
5:38 That’s it.
5:39 - Thank you, Ms. Campbell.
5:40 Ms. McDougall.
5:43 - I have a couple.
5:44 So first I was lucky enough today to go to Anderson
5:48 and present a couple pins.
5:49 I did an impact pin to one of our teachers, Ms. Kristin Enos
5:54 and I got this very nice long email
5:57 and I think Mr. Susan also got it
5:59 about a teacher who went out of her way
6:00 for students who became ill
6:03 and what she did to make them feel part of
6:07 and she just went above and beyond.
6:09 So I gave her an impact pin
6:11 because the note that was written from the parents
6:13 and the students was just pretty amazing.
6:16 So thank you, Ms. Enos.
6:17 Also two more teachers at Anderson,
6:21 Ms. Lamb and Ms. Pritchard.
6:23 Again, they’re doing e-learning,
6:26 which is challenging sometimes.
6:28 And this was a wonderful note from a parent,
6:31 a grandmother who said her kids are just loving it
6:33 and doing very well and it’s working just fine.
6:36 So hats off to those three teachers
6:38 and they got excellent achiever pins.
6:41 Now I have a rather long list of people that I gave pins
6:44 to a couple of weeks ago.
6:45 And this was at our distribution service team members
6:50 who these are people who order supplies, get them in.
6:54 And right now, all the PPE is stacked up to the ceiling.
6:58 You should go see it, it’s amazing.
7:00 So I went down there and these are people
7:02 who get the stuff in, then they sort it out,
7:05 then they load it back up on trucks
7:07 and it’s not an air conditioned site, just so you know this.
7:10 And I wanna give them a shout out
7:11 because they do a terrific job
7:13 and I don’t think people realize how hard they work
7:16 and how much and what they’re dedicated in doing
7:19 to make sure all of our students and our staff
7:21 get the safety equipment that they need.
7:23 So please bear with me.
7:24 So I wanna give a shout out to Sandy Kimball,
7:28 Sean Hayes, who Sean and Tony McNair
7:32 were just recently promoted.
7:35 So I wanna give a shout out to both of them
7:37 for going above and beyond.
7:39 These are all people who made an impact
7:41 to all of our schools.
7:42 Bill Bender, Andrew Deer, Billy Rouse, Brandon Collier,
7:47 Chris Jackson, Gene Collins and Robert McGrath.
7:52 I hope I said his name right.
7:53 And these are all of our courier drivers
7:55 who are dropping off everything throughout our 84 schools
7:58 and other sites.
8:00 And then two more, Jeff Williams,
8:03 who’s our shipping receiving clerk.
8:05 Thank you so much.
8:06 And then last but not least is Christine Rodriguez,
8:09 the team director who keeps everybody together and on task.
8:12 So thank you very much for all you’re doing
8:15 for all of our schools.
8:17 And we couldn’t get there without you.
8:19 So thank you.
8:21 - Thank you, Ms. McDougall, Dr. Mullen.
8:26 - Thank you, Ms. Belford.
8:27 I just want to acknowledge,
8:29 I had a chance to get out on Tuesday and visit some schools
8:31 and principals graciously took me to some classrooms.
8:35 I too visited Ms. Wolpert’s class
8:37 at any Atlantic elementary school.
8:39 Ms. Deskovich gave me the heads up.
8:41 She said, you got to go buy and meet her.
8:42 So I got to tell you two weeks later with kindergarten,
8:44 she was still as enthusiastic
8:46 as it sounds like she was with you.
8:48 And just so excited to,
8:50 I caught her just before she was getting online
8:52 with her kids and just a delightful lady
8:55 and doing a wonderful job working through a very different,
8:59 they’re very different platform as a veteran teacher.
9:03 Then I met at any Atlantic a second grade e-learning teacher,
9:06 Ms. Nisha Worthington who too,
9:09 she shared the struggles and challenges and apprehensions
9:12 and probably even some tears early on
9:15 and trying to figure out how to do e-learning.
9:17 And Tuesday, she was just,
9:20 had just clear command of the process
9:22 and her learning environment
9:24 and had really established a routine with her kids.
9:27 It was so impressive.
9:28 And then I got over to Melbourne High School
9:31 and visited with Ms. Julie Minor,
9:34 a ESC self-contained teacher.
9:36 And it doesn’t take long,
9:38 but a few seconds to walk into a classroom
9:40 and feel a culture and an environment
9:42 and the love and embracement of her kids.
9:44 And she was managing both kids in her classroom and online.
9:48 And she was sitting at her desk,
9:50 getting one of her students oriented to the day,
9:52 even before the school day started.
9:55 But just a real gracious lady
9:57 and appreciate her great work to incorporate
10:00 and integrate both e-learning and in-person students.
10:04 And then I met a young man, a first year teacher,
10:07 a freshman English teacher, Mr. Jonathan Halfide
10:11 at Mel High.
10:12 And first year teaching is always a challenging experience.
10:18 But I said, you’re in good company
10:20 ‘cause quite frankly,
10:21 we’re all kind of first year educators this year
10:23 ‘cause it’s such a different environment.
10:24 And again, just another demonstration of a positive outlook
10:28 and a can-do attitude.
10:30 And it was obvious that both school environments
10:34 had really done such an amazing job
10:37 of supporting their teachers.
10:38 I asked every teacher, what more can we do to support you?
10:41 And they said, you know, our administration has been great.
10:43 So I had a wonderful visit
10:45 and just wanted to say a special thank you
10:47 like Ms. Campbell for our teachers
10:50 and taking on the additional responsibilities
10:52 and the challenges and overcoming them
10:54 and finding ways to give our kids the positive experience
10:59 they deserve and they wanna give them.
11:03 - Thank you, sir.
11:07 Just a couple for me, like all of you,
11:09 I think we just cannot thank our teams enough.
11:12 I’ve gotten so much positive feedback
11:14 from parents and students
11:15 and many of our teachers just really rising to the occasion
11:20 through the challenges
11:21 and figuring out how to work their way
11:23 through all of those things.
11:24 And I think we also have to give our principals some kudos
11:29 because we know that oftentimes leadership
11:32 is what makes the difference
11:33 between teachers really being able to feel successful
11:36 and being supported through those challenges.
11:39 So thanks to all of our school teams
11:40 who are just doing a phenomenal job,
11:42 getting very, very few concerns
11:45 from parents or students about their experience.
11:48 So I think that speaks volumes.
11:51 Also wanted to give a quick shout out
11:53 to Titusville High School who was recognized in US News
11:59 for the badge of best high schools.
12:05 Titusville High School, West Shore and Bayside
12:08 actually were all highlighted.
12:11 Several of our schools ranked pretty high in the rankings,
12:14 but I think Bayside and Titusville
12:17 sometimes don’t fall into those
12:19 great recognition opportunities
12:21 because they serve different students.
12:23 And that was one of the elements of their recognition
12:26 was the fact that they do serve a lot of diverse students
12:29 and close those achievement gaps.
12:30 So kudos to all of them.
12:34 And I believe that will bring us
12:36 to the adoption of the agenda.
12:37 Dr. Mullins.
12:41 - Ms. Belford and members of the board
12:42 on this evening’s agenda,
12:43 we have 11 consent items, 12 action items,
12:47 which include the final budget hearing items.
12:49 Additionally, we have board discussion items
12:51 and I’ll be providing a superintendent’s report.
12:54 Changes baited to the agenda
12:55 since it was first released to the public are as follows.
12:58 There are no administrative staff recommendations
13:01 this evening, so the placeholder was removed.
13:03 Attachments were added to item G-19
13:06 on the superintendent’s presentation,
13:08 final public budget hearing
13:10 and item G-24 on adopt the 2020-21 budget.
13:15 Items G-29 on procurement solicitations
13:20 and G-30 on department school initiated agreements
13:23 received revisions.
13:26 That’s it.
13:27 - All right.
13:30 What are the wishes of the board?
13:33 - Move to approve.
13:34 - Second.
13:35 - Moved by Ms. Zezkiewicz, seconded by Ms. Campbell.
13:39 Is there any discussion?
13:41 All right, please vote.
13:45 (indistinct)
14:10 - No, I just had to log back in.
14:12 I’m almost there.
14:15 (indistinct)
14:43 - All right.
14:44 The motion passes five, zero.
14:48 Did you vote?
14:50 Oh, four, zero.
14:51 Sorry.
14:52 I saw four and thought it was mine not showing yet.
15:00 Is it hanging up for you?
15:05 Okay.
15:09 And the motion passes five, zero.
15:12 All right.
15:14 That brings us to presentations, Dr. Mullins.
15:39 - Well, good evening again, members of the board
15:41 and for our in-person audience,
15:43 as well as those joining with us by TV.
15:49 I wanted to give the board and our community an update
15:52 on several of the items that have been discussed
15:54 over the last few weeks related to school opening
15:57 and the supports that we’re providing both our schools
16:00 and our students and staff.
16:03 First, I’ll start with an enrollment update.
16:05 We came to the board approximately a little
16:07 over two weeks ago,
16:09 actually the day after the first day of school
16:12 and reported enrollment numbers at that time.
16:15 There’s been a considerable change and improvement,
16:17 if you will, in our enrollment numbers
16:19 since we were together two and a half weeks ago.
16:23 If you look at this chart, let’s see, is it?
16:26 Okay.
16:27 If you look at this chart in the first column,
16:29 we have our elementary projection of 34,064 students.
16:34 As of yesterday, our elementary enrollment
16:37 is at 31,703 students.
16:41 As I talked to our elementary leaders,
16:45 we essentially are seeing enrollment grow every day,
16:48 at least by a few students.
16:50 So likely it has changed again
16:52 since these numbers were reported yesterday.
16:55 You’ll note that we’ve broken down at this time
16:58 what our eLearning participation is,
17:00 both for elementary and secondary,
17:02 as well as identified the Brevard virtual enrollment.
17:05 And you’ll see in the far right,
17:07 Brevard Virtual School, that’s full-time student enrollment,
17:12 is at 1,415 students,
17:15 which is up a little over 1,200 students
17:17 from this time a year ago.
17:19 We had just under 200 full-time
17:21 enrolled BVS students last year.
17:25 In addition, our secondary schools,
17:28 32,075 students projected for enrollment this school year.
17:34 We are falling short in that enrollment as well,
17:36 like elementary, with 31,473,
17:41 for a total enrollment below our projection
17:45 of 2,963 students.
17:49 Keep in mind that that does not include
17:52 the Brevard Virtual School students who transitioned over.
17:56 We have counted them in our projections,
17:58 although admittedly we do not receive full FTE
18:02 for students in Brevard Virtual School,
18:04 but we do receive a vast majority of the FTE
18:07 that is earned for those students.
18:09 Also within the 2,963 students would be reflected
18:15 in a considerable increase in the number of students,
18:18 families who have selected homeschool education,
18:22 as that is increased from last year
18:25 by approximately 1,586 students.
18:30 So when you take into consideration
18:33 the homeschool students who we have verified and validated,
18:37 we have less than 1,500 students
18:39 below our original projection
18:42 that we sent to the state last January.
18:46 I wanna commend our school leaders
18:48 as they continue to work valiantly
18:50 to reach out to families and students
18:52 and identify and determine what their intentions are
18:55 for this school year.
18:56 And I would remind our viewing public
18:58 that the state of Florida
19:02 has mandatory school attendance for students age five to 16.
19:07 And if you are choosing
19:09 to select the homeschool education option,
19:15 parents are required to submit a letter of intent
19:19 to the district so that we know where those students are
19:22 and we’re happy to work with them through that.
19:24 But our schools are continuing to support our families
19:27 as they make decisions moving forward.
19:31 One, something that is not yet updated in this
19:36 is we keep in mind that other districts,
19:38 particularly out of state,
19:40 didn’t start their school year until this week.
19:42 So we don’t know if students who transition out
19:45 or move away from Brevard, whether in state or out of state,
19:49 until we receive the request for school records
19:52 from their new school.
19:53 So we’re continuing to receive those
19:56 and we’re updating these numbers as we go.
19:59 I would like to share with the board
20:01 as well that we are evaluating
20:04 and monitoring our school bus ridership.
20:07 Based on our ridership in February
20:11 at the time of FTE last year compared to this year,
20:14 we are at about a 41% utilization
20:19 or 41% participation in ridership
20:22 compared to the ridership in February.
20:25 So that is obviously considerably lower.
20:28 The good news is is that is certainly assisting
20:31 with social distancing for our students
20:33 while they’re on our buses,
20:35 but it obviously presents some concerns related to funding
20:39 that would come with our ridership
20:40 because it is also enrollment
20:43 or participation-based for funding.
20:46 So we’re watching that very closely.
20:52 Next, I’d like to provide the board an update
20:54 on the status of our health tech staffing in our schools.
20:59 Currently, we have 17 vacancies
21:02 across those positions in schools.
21:04 However, it only represents 12 schools
21:08 because several of our schools actually receive
21:10 two allocations for health tech staffing
21:14 or a nurse in some cases.
21:17 So starting tomorrow,
21:20 we’ll have six of those positions filled,
21:22 one starting on September 18th,
21:25 one that is already hired and awaiting a start date.
21:28 So by the end of next week,
21:30 we will have 90% of the positions filled across our schools
21:34 and staffed by a medical professional.
21:36 We did just receive some good news
21:38 just before the board meeting
21:40 in our conversations with Stewart Medical
21:42 as we’ve been working with them
21:43 to identify potential health professionals
21:46 for these positions.
21:47 They have identified three positions,
21:50 highly qualified, actually I believe retiree staff members
21:54 who have already made connection
21:56 with the Department of Health and are in the process
21:58 of onboarding.
21:59 So we’ll be able to fill three more positions
22:03 with those staff.
22:05 Nevertheless, our schools have received allocation
22:08 and will continue to receive allocated funding
22:11 to hire a substitute to serve in the clinic.
22:14 And many of our schools have taken advantage of that.
22:16 And in some cases,
22:17 those substitutes actually held
22:19 medical professional credentials
22:21 and brought that experience and credential with them
22:24 to support our schools in the clinics.
22:27 But in any case,
22:29 a substitute can at least alleviate the strain
22:31 that is put on staff in the school
22:34 so that folks can stay focused on supporting our families
22:38 and our staff in our schools
22:40 while meeting the needs throughout the clinics.
22:43 And a substitute, as well as our staff,
22:46 are trained by the Department of Health
22:48 to understand what the protocols,
22:50 the requirements are for working in the clinic.
22:55 A quick update, I’ve shared with the board previously
22:58 that we’re in the process of,
23:00 I’ll say at this point,
23:02 receiving the CARES Act funds from the county.
23:06 We made application to the county across the street
23:09 and they just validated that the allocation
23:13 to increase our health tech professionals
23:16 from a 29.5 hour work week to a 40 hour work week
23:22 was approved and has qualified for funding.
23:25 We’re in the process of working through
23:28 the invoicing process because they can only provide
23:32 the funds as a reimbursement, not pay ahead.
23:35 So we’ve gotta work through our accounting department
23:38 and their budget office to make sure
23:41 that we have all of that funding appropriately aligned.
23:44 But we’re excited that we’ll be able to move
23:48 in that direction in the coming days.
23:53 The other actions that we are taking
23:55 is our procurement department has analyzed
23:58 our current temporary staffing contracts
24:02 that we have currently for positions like custodians,
24:06 food and nutrition services, support staff as well.
24:10 And we’ve determined that we can add the classification
24:14 of a health tech professional to that contract
24:18 for temporary staffing in hopes that those agencies
24:22 would be able to provide individuals
24:24 with the appropriate credentials to fill our clinics
24:28 in moments of vacancy.
24:29 So we’ll be bringing to the board
24:31 a amendment to those contracts at the next board meeting
24:35 which will then put us in a position
24:37 to take advantage of that opportunity if it avails.
24:45 Next, our computer recovery update or process.
24:48 Again, we distributed approximately 15,000 computers
24:52 to students and staff since the close of last school year.
24:58 We continue to work to retrieve those devices
25:02 and we’ve recovered 13,537.
25:06 But we fully expect that that number is underrepresented
25:11 because for the last two and a half weeks,
25:13 our schools have been receiving devices
25:16 as our kids return to school.
25:18 And our health techs have had no shortage of things to do
25:23 over the last two and a half weeks.
25:24 So they have been receiving the devices,
25:27 they have been logging them on their records at the school
25:30 but they’ve not updated that
25:32 in our online registration system
25:35 and that’ll be happening by the end of this month.
25:38 So we’ll be able to provide updated numbers.
25:40 I wanna emphasize that there was some misrepresentation
25:44 of that process.
25:45 We have clearly identified, we have registered
25:49 every one of those devices to an individual
25:51 and know who has returned them and who has not.
25:54 And we’re continuing to follow up with individuals
25:57 who have not returned the device
25:59 and make arrangements to have that device returned.
26:02 In addition, I don’t think it was shared
26:05 that our technology team actually,
26:08 and I don’t understand how this works but they do,
26:11 a device or a program was installed
26:15 on those devices to be distributed
26:18 that actually turned off internet capability
26:21 at a designated time over the summer.
26:23 So those machines don’t have internet capability right now
26:29 which really de-centivizes keeping them
26:32 and not returning them to the school
26:33 and that has also helped in our process
26:36 to get them retrieved.
26:41 Finally, I’d like to provide the board and the community
26:45 an update on our pursuits to further provide transparency
26:50 with our families and our community
26:52 as we manage the reality of COVID cases
26:57 and individuals who need to be quarantined
26:59 who happen to be a contact to a case who may have COVID.
27:05 We are, I wanna clarify that quarantine decisions
27:09 are not made by BPS solely.
27:12 We work in cooperation virtually every day
27:15 with the Department of Health
27:17 and we make those decisions in cooperation with them.
27:20 We have a very thorough flow chart process
27:24 that determines the process by which we follow
27:27 to either quarantine a class or close a class
27:34 or in a recent situation,
27:36 we did a quarantine Gulfview Elementary School
27:40 as a precaution.
27:42 Principals, I just have to give a shout out
27:44 to our administrators across the district.
27:47 This is one additional responsibility
27:49 on top of so many others
27:51 and they have done an absolutely admirable job
27:54 of becoming familiar with the protocols, the flow charts,
27:58 communication with our district leaders
28:01 as they work to support our principals
28:04 and then communicating to their staff, their families
28:08 and keeping everyone apprised of the process
28:10 and notifications with letters.
28:14 So I wanna share that we are preparing to launch tomorrow
28:19 a new data dashboard that will be updated twice a week
28:24 and what you see here is a screenshot
28:26 of the BPS COVID-19 dashboard
28:31 that’ll be updated every Tuesday and every Friday
28:36 for the preceding day since the last update.
28:39 So for example, you see here,
28:41 this is the data dashboard numbers for the time period
28:45 of August 31st through September 3rd.
28:50 This will be updated for the time period of,
28:53 excuse me, September 4th, which was last Friday
28:57 through Tuesday of this week or today,
29:00 September 10th, then on, no.
29:05 - No, it’s not right, today’s Thursday.
29:07 - I was thinking today was Tuesday.
29:08 I got, normally we’re doing this on a Tuesday.
29:10 See, I got myself confused.
29:12 So September 4th through Tuesday, which was September 8th
29:17 and then our Friday update will be the time period
29:21 from September 8th through September today, the 10th.
29:30 So obviously it’ll be clearly identified on the dashboard
29:36 because it’s important to us that we make sure
29:39 everyone understands what the reporting period is.
29:42 Each of these dashboard reporting periods will be archived
29:45 on the dashboard website so our community can go back
29:49 and look at what each update is.
29:52 It identifies both the number of reported positive cases
29:56 district-wide by employee and students.
29:58 You can see during this time period we had 28 reported
30:02 positive cases, six employees and 22 students,
30:06 as well as the number of quarantines from a contact
30:10 to a case district-wide or 284 total with 232 coming
30:16 from contacts to a case in a school or a work environment
30:20 and 52 quarantines that came as a result of a contact
30:25 to a case outside of the school or in the community
30:28 or in the household.
30:31 Also in the data dashboard in every report we will list
30:34 the schools impacted by a reported positive case
30:37 as well as those with reported quarantines.
30:42 You’ll see here this link will provide
30:46 quarantine numbers by school.
30:49 At the bottom you’ll see that we’ll provide
30:52 an updated graphic in each update of what the impact is
30:56 across Brevard County compared to the 79,353 students
31:02 and staff that we have as part of Brevard Public Schools.
31:07 I would emphasize that this will be the most accurate
31:14 updated numbers for Brevard Public Schools.
31:18 When entities request a public records request
31:22 it takes some time to provide those records
31:25 so we would suggest that if other numbers are reported
31:29 they may not be aligned with these because they’ll be lagged
31:33 and not necessarily based on the same time period
31:37 that we would have been providing this update.
31:40 So I would encourage our community to use this
31:44 as a consistent and valid source of information
31:49 as we move forward.
31:53 And that is all I have this evening for our update
31:58 but I’m happy to answer questions for the board
32:00 if you have any at this time.
32:02 - Thank you Dr. Mullins.
32:03 Any board members have any questions for Dr. Mullins
32:05 on this presentation?
32:06 Ms. Deskovich?
32:07 - I don’t have a question but can you have someone
32:10 send us that presentation?
32:12 - Yes, we’ll have it sent to you tomorrow.
32:17 - Any questions?
32:19 All right, thank you Dr. Mullins.
32:21 - You’re welcome, thank you.
32:24 - We are now at public comment.
32:30 Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
32:31 We have a clock in front of me to help you keep track
32:33 of your time.
32:34 When your time is over you’ll be asked to stop
32:36 and allow the next speaker his or her turn.
32:38 Always keep in mind that reasonable decorum
32:39 is expected at all times and your statement
32:41 should be directed to the board chairman.
32:44 The chairman may interrupt, warn or terminate
32:45 a participant’s statement when time is up,
32:47 personally directed, abusive, obscene or irrelevant.
32:51 Should an individual not observe proper etiquette,
32:53 the chairman may request the individual leave the meeting.
32:56 Let’s all encourage an environment appropriate
32:58 for our children who may be present or watching from home.
33:01 We have two speakers in person this evening,
33:05 James Paddock and Joanne Lyle.
33:08 And then we have recorded public comment as well.
33:12 So Mr. Paddock, if you would like to step to the microphone
33:15 in front of me, please, sir.
33:21 (mumbles)
33:26 - Am I clear?
33:27 - Just one second.
33:28 - One second.
33:30 I have a technical issue with our timer.
33:39 Mr. Francisco, I appear to have no power on the timer.
33:52 All right, we’re gonna go old fashioned.
33:53 So I’m gonna set my timer on my phone.
33:55 And when we get to 30 seconds, I’ll give you a little wave.
33:58 Does that work?
33:59 - Is this working?
34:00 - Yes. - Okay.
34:01 - Hold on one second, let me get to my timer
34:02 ‘cause I don’t wanna mess anyone up here.
34:10 All right, whenever you’re ready, sir.
34:11 - Okay, I’m addressing you on behalf of my son,
34:14 well, on behalf of my wife and myself
34:16 because of something that’s going on inside of,
34:18 like to see if it’s going on inside
34:20 of Viera High School that’s wrong.
34:22 My wife was checking my son’s,
34:24 he’s a junior in the high school,
34:25 he’s in the civics honors class.
34:29 And she was checking his homework
34:30 and came across three questions in his homework assignment.
34:33 They started in the order of, do you feel safe or safer?
34:36 Do you have guns in your house?
34:37 Do you own guns?
34:39 And how do you feel about the victims of school shootings?
34:42 You think school shootings are a problem.
34:44 Needless to say, we wanted to find out
34:45 where this was coming from.
34:46 And he was subjected to watching video
34:48 with his class on school shootings where students,
34:51 I guess they were survivors of school shootings
34:54 were interviewed and some NRA members were interviewed.
34:59 It’s kind of noteworthy in my opinion
35:02 that the very next day after this,
35:04 there was a active shooter drilling the school.
35:07 So I think you have to pay attention
35:10 to the sequence of events.
35:12 He’s forced to watch a video with kids
35:14 who’d survived school shootings.
35:17 He’s asked if there’s guns in our house
35:19 and if he feels safe.
35:20 And the next day, he has to go through an active shooter
35:25 practice in school.
35:26 There’s certainly an implication
35:28 that you’re creating the thought that guns in the house
35:32 could be brought into the school for school shootings.
35:34 Anybody who’s the slightest bit objective
35:36 is going to think that that’s an issue.
35:38 I don’t think the teacher has any business
35:40 asking any questions about whether or not
35:42 somebody has weapons in their home.
35:44 It’s not her business.
35:45 It’s a completely inappropriate question.
35:49 There’s a lot of talk about indoctrination.
35:51 So I started going through his notebook beyond that.
35:54 There are other questions that go into similar areas.
35:58 He’s asked questions about promises Donald Trump has made
36:01 and promises he’s kept.
36:02 What did he call Joe Biden?
36:03 The answer from that, this from another video.
36:06 These are all YouTube videos
36:07 where he’s called the Destroyer.
36:10 There is a third one where he’s asked to describe
36:15 to give the definition of gerrymandering,
36:17 which for those who don’t know,
36:18 it’s the redistricting of congressional districts.
36:21 Then he asked how many seats the Republicans gained
36:23 from gerrymandering.
36:26 If I wanted my son to be indoctrinated
36:28 into a particular political mindset,
36:33 my wife and I would do it ourselves.
36:36 This does not belong in the classroom.
36:37 This is not part of civics and US government.
36:40 He shouldn’t be asked questions about weapons in our home
36:44 or any of these things.
36:45 This teacher is acting, in my opinion,
36:47 completely inappropriate and it’s intrusive.
36:51 I’m bringing it to your attention.
36:52 I brought it to the school’s attention.
36:55 The vice principal, Mr. Link, told me he would get back
36:59 to me, instead he had the teacher call me.
37:00 She defended what she did.
37:02 She said I have the leeway to bring anything
37:04 into the classroom that I think is important and relevant
37:06 if it’s a current event, anything she wants to bring in.
37:10 And she was offended that I even contacted the school.
37:16 So I find this problematic.
37:19 She actually pretty simply told me she’s gonna continue
37:24 doing what she wants and that we have no say as parents.
37:28 - Thank you for joining us this evening, Mr. Paddock.
37:31 Dr. Sullivan is in the back of the room.
37:32 She just raised her hand for you.
37:34 If you could just please touch base with her
37:35 and she will address your concerns.
37:38 Our last in-person speaker this evening is Joanne Lyle.
37:42 Joanne, if you would please make your way
37:43 to the mic in the front of the room.
37:46 And I’ll do the same for you.
37:47 When you’re at about 30 seconds,
37:48 I’ll hold up a three for you and then when you’re done,
37:50 I’ll go ahead and let you know, okay?
37:54 - That’s a little tall.
38:07 - Hi, I’d like to introduce myself as Joanne Lyle.
38:11 Thank you for allowing me to speak.
38:13 I’m here mainly to try to understand
38:17 why we’re seeking a name change for a school mascot.
38:22 As I said, I’ve been a longtime community member
38:25 of Mayor Allen and it’s been very difficult to hear this
38:29 when the only knowledge of it came across social media
38:35 and that the community wasn’t told beforehand
38:40 before any decisions were being made or anything like that.
38:44 I wanna just read to you what I have here.
38:48 I would like to think that something of this nature
38:50 would have required some input,
38:52 not only from the school improvement,
38:54 but also from the community at large.
38:56 The knowledge of this being done was put on social media,
39:00 leading our community to believe it was already done
39:03 and just waiting for board approval.
39:05 I know I speak for many hoping that this is not the case.
39:08 I was given the information
39:09 that the Native American Indian tribe
39:11 that frequented Edgewood with their history of their people
39:14 and their settling here on Mayor Allen were contacted
39:17 and that they were fine with the name
39:19 that has been there for many, many years.
39:22 Again, this was secondhand knowledge.
39:24 I can’t say that I know that.
39:27 I myself tried to contact the IACE tribe.
39:31 I used to keep pretty good contact with them at times.
39:33 They were in Cocoa Village, but I was also told that
39:37 because of their age and because of COVID
39:39 that they no longer have that building there.
39:43 This same IACE tribe not only shared the culture
39:46 with Edgewood and their students for many, many years,
39:49 but they also shared how at one time
39:52 they sold the property to the schools
39:55 and were part of laying the bricks
39:56 of the actual school itself.
39:58 They shared on how many historical events
40:01 and gatherings that were shared.
40:02 They shared this with not only the Edgewood community,
40:05 but the Edgewood students on the premises.
40:08 And we’re very proud of what they had done
40:11 and that we would remember them
40:13 with their legacy for years to come.
40:15 The school was named in honor of this Indian IACE tribe
40:19 not to offend anyone.
40:21 The Indian River was named in honor of the many tribes
40:24 that were here not to offend them.
40:26 We are not, why are we, I have to ask,
40:29 why are we so aggressively trying to take the culture
40:32 and the history of something that was made so wonderful
40:35 and make it something to fit a narrative of time
40:37 when everyone is trying to find hate and disrespect
40:40 just for using a title.
40:43 I know that the Seminole Inings used their tribe name
40:47 for their college.
40:48 When they were asked and approached, they wanted it changed.
40:50 They said no and they honored that.
40:53 I would hope that our community would do the same.
40:55 I feel our community was faced with Edgewood changing
40:58 from middle school to a school of choice
41:00 with conflict and great conflict.
41:02 It divided the community on Merritt Island for a long time
41:05 and it still has a source of tension in some areas.
41:09 At that time, the county should have closed Edgewood maybe
41:12 like they did West Shore and made school changes
41:14 at that time such as improvements, changing of names,
41:17 whatever needed to be done.
41:18 - Thank you, Ms. Weil.
41:19 Your three minutes is up.
41:21 Thank you for joining us this evening.
41:22 And I know we have a couple of other recorded comments
41:24 regarding Edgewood, so we’ll address that
41:26 when we finish the rest of them.
41:27 - I appreciate that.
41:28 Thank you so much.
41:28 - Thanks for being here.
41:30 Mr. Francisco, if you could please load our recorded comments
41:35 for us this evening.
41:37 Thank you, sir.
41:44 - Everyone, I’m the assistant superintendent
41:47 for facility services for Brevard Public Schools.
41:50 And in consideration of the current
41:53 during the COVID-19 emergency guidance
41:55 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
41:57 as well as executive order 20-91,
42:00 issued by Governor DeSantis.
42:02 It has been necessary to modify our procedures
42:04 for public comment.
42:05 Tonight, we are recording comments
42:07 for the public comment section of the agenda first,
42:10 and then for the public hearing on the tentative budget
42:12 that is later on tomorrow’s school board agenda.
42:15 We have eight registered to speak under public comments
42:18 and one registered to speak under the public hearing
42:20 on the tentative budget.
42:22 Comments for both sections supported
42:25 and we will play them back under the public comment section
42:27 or the tentative budget hearing section
42:29 of the board meeting tomorrow as applicable.
42:32 Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
42:34 Our moderator will keep track of your time
42:36 and ask you to conclude your comments
42:37 when you’ve reached three minutes.
42:39 Always keep in mind that reasonable decorum
42:41 is at all times.
42:44 Please keep your comments appropriate for our children
42:46 who may be watching or listening from home.
42:48 Before speaking, please state your name,
42:50 the organization you represent if applicable.
42:53 We won’t be answering questions on tonight’s call,
42:55 but our staff will follow up with you
42:57 if you have a question or need a response.
42:59 - Thank you, Ben.
43:00 Please go ahead.
43:01 - Thank you, Sue.
43:02 And with that, for everybody that’s on the call,
43:04 go ahead and press zero now.
43:06 We’ll get you in line with Donna to verify your name
43:08 and get you in to make your comments.
43:10 Go ahead and press zero now to get in line.
43:13 And we’re gonna go ahead and start the call with Anthony.
43:16 Anthony, go ahead with your comment.
43:18 I’ll go ahead with first and last name
43:19 and your address and your comments.
43:22 - My name is Anthony Clichy.
43:23 I’m the president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers.
43:27 Friday evening, we concluded the vote on our memorandum
43:30 of agreement surrounding COVID-19.
43:32 I’m pleased to report that 95% of those that voted
43:36 cast a yes vote.
43:37 There were 1,964 yes votes, 114 no votes,
43:43 and 37 abstained from the vote.
43:45 The results of this vote mean our employees are trusting
43:48 that this agreement will be carried out with fidelity.
43:51 It is important to realize that some teachers
43:53 made the decision to continue to work
43:55 because of the protections provided in this agreement.
43:58 Some of those teachers are high risk
44:00 or have a high risk individual living in,
44:03 as this agreement potentially deals
44:05 with life and death issues,
44:06 it must be honored without question.
44:08 It is important that we do everything we can
44:10 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
44:13 A big part of that is being transparent
44:15 about what is happening in the district.
44:17 With that said, I appreciate that you honored my reporting
44:22 to all parents and staff
44:24 whenever there is a positive COVID-19 case at the school.
44:28 I do need something else from you right now.
44:30 As many of our teachers are struggling to adjust
44:33 to many new challenges such as safety protocols,
44:37 block scheduling, e-learning, and hybrid instruction,
44:40 I need you to reassure them that their best is good enough.
44:44 And their best instruction this year may not be as good
44:46 as their best instruction was last year.
44:49 But that’s okay because this year is something (indistinct)
44:52 It seems that because of the reckless rush
44:55 to get back to normal stemming from our lack of leadership
44:58 from our governor, there is pressure to pretend
45:00 like our students and teachers should be performing
45:03 as they always have.
45:04 We must not to come to this pressure.
45:07 I’m calling on you to change the climate of the district.
45:12 Teachers, parents, and students must understand
45:14 that safety is the most important priority now.
45:16 They must understand that this year
45:18 is going to be messy, confusing, and difficult.
45:21 But that is only temporary
45:23 and together we can get through this.
45:24 Because without that attitude being pervasive
45:27 throughout this district,
45:29 this year will only be more messy, confusing, and difficult.
45:32 Every teacher, parent, and staff member should rest easy
45:35 every night knowing that their school board has their back
45:38 if they did their best each day.
45:40 Really, that is the standard right now.
45:44 It is the standard I was used to advocate
45:46 for teachers, staff, and students.
45:48 We must take care of our community
45:49 and you must lead on this issue.
45:52 Don’t forget to practice social distancing,
45:54 wear a mask, and wash your hands.
45:56 Thank you.
45:58 - Vanessa Skipper, Bard Federation of Teachers.
46:02 Recently I learned that we do not actually
46:04 have nurses in our school.
46:06 We have what we know as medical technicians
46:09 who hold a high school diploma and have some training
46:13 from the Department of Health.
46:15 It is because of this that it was believed
46:17 that we could train our school staff
46:21 to act as nurses if they were not there
46:24 or act as med techs if they were not there.
46:27 First of all, we should not be adding to the place
46:29 of our highly worked, overworked school staff.
46:36 For example, we had an issue this week
46:39 where teachers sent a student who was dry heaving
46:42 and pale in the face to the front, to the nurse,
46:46 who was not there, the med tech that didn’t have one.
46:51 And so whoever was in charge sent that student,
46:54 sick as he was, back to class.
46:57 This is a problem.
46:58 We must not ignore the systemic problems
47:02 that plague our public education,
47:05 especially not during a pandemic.
47:07 And we must make sure that we have medical professionals
47:11 in our school.
47:13 In addition, I would like to highlight some of the issues
47:16 that our teachers are facing with hybrid instruction.
47:19 We need to get our numbers up and avoid potential layoffs
47:24 and avoid potential money pitfalls,
47:27 we had to go to hybrid instruction.
47:29 But here is what some of our teachers
47:31 have to say about this.
47:33 One of my biggest issues is that students
47:35 are completing work on my Google Classroom,
47:37 but are not sure.
47:39 Our students are switching back and forth
47:40 between the two modes.
47:41 They will show up one day in person
47:43 and the next day online.
47:45 What’s even more confusing is I’m supposed
47:47 to mark them present even if I don’t see them,
47:49 as long as they completed something
47:50 on Google Classroom that day,
47:52 even though they are getting most of the assignments wrong
47:54 because they’re not there for instruction.
47:57 Most of my e-learners show up, follow the instruction time
48:00 and complete work as well.
48:02 However, having full brick and mortar classes
48:04 without the equipment in the classroom is very challenging,
48:07 even though they receive the same activity on paper.
48:10 Also, the technology in school is not cooperative
48:13 and slows down the whole process.
48:15 I don’t even know where to start
48:17 on how awful this whole plan is.
48:19 In-person learners are frustrated with teachers
48:21 because we have to be on computer instructing e-learners.
48:24 Then the whole planning process and science.
48:26 I have to search for a YouTube lab
48:28 and rewrite all the directions for e-learners.
48:30 I have in-person learners trying to complete a lab
48:33 while their teacher is teaching e-learners.
48:35 What about parents telling us they have issues with Zoom?
48:38 I’m not a tech specialist,
48:39 and how can I help you fix your computer?
48:42 So much more, just too tired now to type out all the issues.
48:46 At the high school level, it has been a big mistake.
48:49 Even though students were given clear directions
48:51 and expectations, they are not following them.
48:53 I spend more time on e-learners
48:55 than I do for the students in my classroom.
48:58 No one, not students, teachers or parents.
49:02 Parents email and call in frustration
49:04 because they can’t log on.
49:05 Teacher is pulling her hair out
49:07 because she can’t be everywhere at once.
49:09 Parents sit next to students and feed them answers.
49:12 iReady Diagnostic is going to be skewed
49:14 because it’s testing what parents know, not.
49:17 I could go on and on.
49:18 I maybe read about five of 100 comments we’ve received
49:23 in 24 hours on a post that we made.
49:27 Hybrid instruction is obviously what was necessary
49:30 to get students to enroll, but it is not sustainable.
49:33 Thank you.
49:35 - Yes, my name is Kathy West.
49:38 I wanted to speak on comparable work climate
49:44 and comparable pay, be receiving pay increases
49:51 when teachers and other staff members
49:53 are getting pay increases and this is not happening.
49:57 50 cents per hour to go to certain schools
50:01 isn’t a pay increase.
50:03 That’s a supplement incentive.
50:07 The pay is insufficient and I’m not the only one
50:11 that felt that it’s insufficient.
50:14 Mr. Paul and Mr. Watts also elaborated on this
50:19 on last week.
50:23 Also Pittsburgh just gave their subs from a $100.
50:30 They went from a $100 a day to $250 per day.
50:36 That just blows me off because that’s a lot
50:42 of pay increase compared to our county
50:47 and our county’s pay is 19% below the national average.
50:54 This concludes my.
50:57 - Good evening.
50:58 I’m Jonathan Hilliard, second vice president
51:00 of the Brevard Federation of Teachers.
51:03 I want to address the issue of the hybrid class.
51:06 The Brevard Federation of Teachers
51:08 took the proactive position of sending out a survey
51:11 to its teachers to invite, to find out
51:14 what is happening in the classroom.
51:17 The survey was sent out yesterday
51:19 and immediately we received over 630 responses.
51:23 Here’s the summary of those responses.
51:26 54% elementary school teachers, 45% were secondary teachers.
51:32 In answer to the question of how would you rate
51:34 the effectiveness of hybrid instruction so far,
51:38 0% of the elementary school teachers said highly effective,
51:41 1% of the secondary school.
51:44 23% effective, 19% for the secondary school teachers.
51:49 45% of the elementary school teachers said
51:52 it was ineffective, 52% for secondary.
51:55 30% of the elementary school teachers said
51:57 it was highly ineffective, 26% for the secondary teachers.
52:02 In answer to the question, when asked about the guidelines
52:06 and expectations provided for hybrid instruction,
52:09 0% of the elementary school teachers said it was very clear,
52:13 1% of the secondary schools.
52:15 14% elementary school teachers stated
52:18 that the guidelines and expectations were just clear,
52:22 22% of the secondary teachers.
52:24 50% of the elementary school teachers stated
52:27 that they were not clear, guidelines and expectations
52:30 were not clear, 60% for the secondary schools.
52:35 55% of the elementary school teachers said
52:37 there were no guidelines or expectations provided at all,
52:41 15% of the secondary school teachers.
52:43 When asked how could the district provide guidelines
52:46 and expectations, elementary school teachers,
52:49 24% said through documentation, through a document,
52:52 33% for secondary teachers.
52:54 21% of the elementary school teachers said through video,
52:58 20% for secondary teachers, 22% of the elementary
53:01 school teachers said through a sample lesson plan,
53:05 20% for secondary teachers.
53:07 32% of the elementary school teachers said
53:09 they would like to see professional development,
53:11 26% for the secondary teachers.
53:14 When asked do your eLearning students have the necessary
53:17 equipment for you to see and hear them,
53:20 57% of the elementary teachers said yes,
53:24 32% of the secondary teachers said yes.
53:27 42% of the elementary school teachers said no,
53:30 they do not, my students do not have the necessary equipment
53:33 to see or hear me, 67% of the secondary teachers
53:37 who responded said their students do not have
53:40 the necessary equipment to see or hear them.
53:43 Our principals and teachers are professionals
53:46 and are willing to work in a very challenging conditions
53:49 of COVID, please do not leave them high in drive
53:52 with excuses, give them the necessary tools
53:56 and training to win, thank you very much.
53:59 - My name is Jennifer Shingleton and I’m a parent
54:02 of a class of 2020 and I was shocked to learn
54:06 that there was a mascot review committee
54:09 that quietly researched the idea of changing
54:11 the school mascot because members reached out.
54:15 Then in the first meeting, they unanimously decided
54:18 to retire some Indianist mascots.
54:20 This was a handpicked group or it most definitely
54:22 would not have been unanimous.
54:24 I would be interested to know who was on the committee
54:26 and who, because the people that I’ve talked with,
54:27 including teachers, PTO board members and SGA board members
54:31 knew nothing about it until an email went out on August 27th
54:34 which amazingly happened to coincide with a nice lengthy
54:36 article in the Merritt Island Now Magazine
54:39 and the Florida Today newspaper that both came out
54:41 on the same day, coincidence, I think not.
54:43 This is a concern few people that attend Edgewood
54:47 and because I’m quite sure that all of you would understand
54:50 that the urging of numerous community members
54:52 that have supposedly have been emailing and calling
54:54 on this issue have lots more important issues to deal with
54:57 over this crazy center of pandemics, unemployment
55:00 and educational uncertainty.
55:03 Secret, the mascot discussion has been pushed
55:05 by several Edgewood parents over the last six months
55:08 and with the exception of a few parents
55:10 who think of a racist because we don’t agree with them
55:12 and that’s their work, not mine.
55:15 Everyone else disagrees.
55:17 I would think it’d be a fair assessment to say
55:18 that the majority do not want a mascot name change.
55:21 Secondly, I am the one with the proud Cherokee heritage
55:23 and my grandmother was one half Cherokee.
55:25 My grandfather would always get upset
55:27 when people started talking about changing the names
55:29 of the mascot of the Washington race kids
55:31 and the Cherokee Indian.
55:32 He was proud of the (indistinct)
55:36 not just once but over several decades,
55:38 continually shows that 90% of Native Americans polled
55:41 are not offended by the use of these mascots.
55:43 And if we continue to succumb to the,
55:45 oh, we might offend someone, let’s fix it mentality,
55:47 where does it end?
55:48 The Dallas Cowboys, the Raiders, the Giants,
55:50 the Vikings and (indistinct)
55:53 any of this, I mean, anything could offend somebody.
55:56 I’m also a Texan and as much as I think this was a joke,
55:59 there’s a talk of changing the major league baseball teacher
56:02 because law enforcement is now offensive to some.
56:04 At some point, things have started filing out controls.
56:08 I mean, who would have ever thought that the name Karen
56:10 would have become so offensive?
56:12 It’s time for the silent majority to speak up
56:14 and have a say as well.
56:15 People have started to become offended
56:17 just for the sake of being offended.
56:19 Our district struggles to end up with finances.
56:21 And the last thing we need to do is be spending money on,
56:24 and all that entails, and it would be expensive.
56:26 We have multiple sports that are self-paid
56:28 and uniforms and equipment aren’t cheap.
56:30 And we try to use them for multiple years.
56:33 I do the names means that families would once again
56:35 be asked to come up with additional funds
56:36 to replace perfectly good gear.
56:38 They kept the COVID error.
56:39 Families are already struggling.
56:42 First we have to straddle them
56:43 with the additional expenses they’ll use.
56:45 In closing, I would ask that this name change not take place
56:47 and at the very least the school board requires
56:49 that those things are decided in a more open democratic way.
56:52 The school doesn’t belong to a select few,
56:54 but to all of us, all of us that pay taxes.
56:57 With all the changes that COVID has inflicted on our world,
56:59 our families, our children, and our schools,
57:01 a little normalcy is what we needed,
57:03 not change for the sake of someone’s agenda.
57:05 Go Edgewood Indians, thank you.
57:07 - Hello, my name is Adrienne Schmadicke
57:09 and I live in Sierra.
57:10 And I’m a proud parent of two students.
57:14 Edgewood Junior Senior High’s mascot, the Indian,
57:17 was chosen when the school opened over 60 years ago
57:20 to honor the AIS Indians and their descendants
57:22 who helped build the school.
57:24 The AIS was a major tribe that dominated
57:26 East Central coastal Florida from deep to narrow Inlet,
57:32 which is now known as Brevard County
57:34 up through the 18th century.
57:36 They lived along the present day Indian River
57:38 and became a state of individual groups
57:40 during the 18th century.
57:42 The Edgewood Indians tradition honors the AIS prices
57:45 of the area in which the school was built.
57:47 Changing a mascot not only dishonors tradition,
57:50 but also brings on exorbitant costs
57:52 to change facility signage, logos, uniforms, and more.
57:57 Upon speaking with the principal, Edgewood,
57:59 Stefan, and Brada, to explain the need to cover the cost.
58:04 In my opinion, it is reprehensible to ask Edgewood’s family
58:08 and the community to donate to the mascot chain,
58:11 as it is something that is not necessary.
58:14 The cost for changing the high school mascot
58:16 by other schools ranges from a low of $70,000
58:21 to over $300,000.
58:23 Everything that has an Indian logo or verbiage
58:26 would need updated, including the gymnasium floor,
58:28 facility signage, uniform, scoreboard, and more.
58:32 $70,000 to buy Edgewood the much needed
58:35 facility improvements and technology upgrades,
58:38 including covering the walkways for the portable
58:40 or even building an addition and eliminate supportables,
58:44 have a new track, more science labs, and more technology.
58:52 This magnitude should not rest with only the school.
58:55 The Board of Education, who are elected by the community,
58:58 should have the final vote on whether to approve.
59:01 This will help prevent further financial waves
59:04 and nonsense in the future if a principal decides
59:06 on his or her own, on his or her own.
59:10 We ask individuals for choice of principal
59:12 to make a mascot change for one of the political reasons
59:15 is popular at the time.
59:19 - Hello, my name is Maria Glendale.
59:21 I’m an parent of an Edgewood Junior Senior
59:23 High School student.
59:24 My daughter was the seventh grade president
59:26 and currently the third year Girls of ROTC student athlete.
59:29 I’m here today to speak against our Edgewood mascot change.
59:32 My daughter is proud to be an Edgewood Indian
59:35 and what it represents.
59:37 I understand what the concerns are and would agree,
59:39 but because of the name Redskins is a derogatory term.
59:45 However, our school as on is the Indian
59:48 and with the name of proud indigenous people.
59:51 Everyone is an immigrant in this country,
59:53 unless you’re an American Indian.
59:55 They are proud people and we should take great pride
59:57 honoring them with their names.
1:00:00 I’m sick of you today from a perspective
1:00:01 of a multiracial family.
1:00:03 I am Filipino.
1:00:04 My children are half Filipino, Irish, and English.
1:00:07 Our family have taught our children to never judge
1:00:10 or stereotype anyone.
1:00:13 When we bleed, we all bleed the same.
1:00:15 As an active volunteer parent for our community and school,
1:00:18 I was never notified of such meetings or discussion
1:00:20 regarding the change of our mascot.
1:00:22 We feel this was done in an enclosed group
1:00:25 that didn’t include the rest of the families
1:00:26 of students of Edgewood.
1:00:28 The parent of students that wrote those letters
1:00:31 by the parent is highly influenced by her.
1:00:33 When we first aware of this topic,
1:00:35 it was on Facebook parents page.
1:00:38 I’m headed.
1:00:39 It had immediately responsive to the pose of the topic
1:00:41 and we’re completely surprised the decisions were made
1:00:43 without 90% of the Edgewood students
1:00:45 and families being included.
1:00:47 I’m really disappointed.
1:00:49 It has become the political situation in our school.
1:00:52 We have bigger topics to address like COVID,
1:00:54 funding for buses.
1:00:55 How about speakers for our field
1:00:57 for athletic sporting events?
1:00:59 Food, supplies for sponsored students, families, et cetera.
1:01:02 Our school hasn’t been around for many decades
1:01:04 and we just got a flagpole this year.
1:01:07 Our fund should be utilized where it really matters.
1:01:10 We believe that changing the mascot
1:01:11 is a waste of time and resources.
1:01:13 I mean, resources.
1:01:14 Thank you for your time and stay safe, everyone.
1:01:18 - Thank you very much.
1:01:19 And that’s for tonight.
1:01:21 I appreciate everyone being here this evening on the call
1:01:24 and we will play the comments at tomorrow for me.
1:01:27 Thank you.
1:01:27 Good night.
1:01:32 - All right, thank you to all of this evening’s speakers.
1:01:34 Do any board members wish to reply
1:01:35 to any of the speakers for this evening, or?
1:01:39 - Well, we’re going to talk about the mascot later,
1:01:42 so I will respond to any other issues later.
1:01:45 - Thank you, Ms. McDougall.
1:01:47 - My issues must talk about that.
1:01:52 - Mr. Susan, can you talk into your mic, Ms. McDougall?
1:01:54 Your mic was not on.
1:01:58 - So later on, when I discuss my point that I brought
1:02:02 was not to discuss anything that they were referring to
1:02:05 as far as an Edgewood mascot.
1:02:06 So if you want to refer to that, just make it another point.
1:02:09 Mine’s to refer to renaming of mascots
1:02:11 and facilities and stuff in general.
1:02:12 So, but didn’t want you guys to get confused.
1:02:15 I didn’t want the conversation to be debated
1:02:17 over whether we had ace Indians or anything like that,
1:02:19 just about the process.
1:02:21 So if we wanted to talk about it, that’s great,
1:02:24 but I just didn’t want you to think that that–
1:02:26 - That was what your–
1:02:26 - Right, so just add another point to just say,
1:02:28 discuss Edgewood at mascot, but that was what it was.
1:02:32 - And Chair, what do you think is best, so?
1:02:35 - You know, I don’t think it hurts to let the speakers
1:02:37 that are here this evening know that one,
1:02:40 it’s not currently a board decision
1:02:42 to make a determination on the mascot,
1:02:44 but I think probably more importantly,
1:02:47 is that the decision is not final.
1:02:50 There are two, looks like two upcoming opportunities,
1:02:54 September 17th and October 15th.
1:02:56 - Yes.
1:02:57 - Where the school advisory council at Edgewood
1:03:00 is welcoming community input.
1:03:02 Is that correct Ms. Pinto?
1:03:03 - That is, that is correct.
1:03:05 On the 17th, did anyone,
1:03:07 I’m gonna ask you all the question.
1:03:09 Did you receive the communication from the school
1:03:12 that you are welcome to speak and that she’s,
1:03:15 and the first SAC meeting,
1:03:16 there’s gonna be at least 40 people.
1:03:18 And then the next SAC meeting in October,
1:03:20 there’s another 40 people.
1:03:23 She has laid out a process.
1:03:26 This will not be an overnight process.
1:03:29 We, she has a Dr. Principal and Greta has stepped back
1:03:34 and has incorporated the SAC committee
1:03:37 and input from the community and from students,
1:03:40 if they would like to speak to.
1:03:42 So, like I said, this is not gonna be a quick decision
1:03:48 and there will be input from people in the community.
1:03:51 But I do wanna address,
1:03:53 ‘cause I asked, ‘cause I knew this was gonna come up.
1:03:55 I wanted to address cost
1:03:57 because things would eventually change.
1:04:00 At this time, they are not discussing changing the colors.
1:04:03 They wanna keep the colors the same.
1:04:05 I asked her, I said, what about uniforms?
1:04:06 And she said, they were,
1:04:08 uniforms replaced every two years.
1:04:10 And if they decide, the key word is if,
1:04:14 if they decide to change the mascot,
1:04:17 that the uniform they have now
1:04:18 would just go until it wears out.
1:04:20 Why replace something that is already usable?
1:04:24 So that would be on the normal recycle
1:04:26 if there’s gonna be a change.
1:04:28 The gym floor, a local business has already volunteered to,
1:04:32 without any, nobody asked them,
1:04:35 they volunteered to the school and said,
1:04:36 “We will repaint the image on the gym floor free of charge.”
1:04:41 Jostens has reached out to help
1:04:43 with anything that they need free of charge.
1:04:46 So there are a lot of people that without any input
1:04:52 from anybody has stepped up and said,
1:04:55 “If you need to do this, we will help you free of charge.”
1:04:58 I think the biggest thing that hasn’t been decided
1:05:03 is the sign out front.
1:05:04 I think that would be the one thing that
1:05:06 could be a sticking point, I’m not sure.
1:05:09 But anyhow, I wanted to share with the board
1:05:11 the mascot review process.
1:05:14 I believe this is posted.
1:05:15 Have you seen the mascot review?
1:05:20 I don’t know.
1:05:21 I will ask Ms. Zingrata if she has posted it anywhere,
1:05:24 but it’s very detailed.
1:05:25 It talks about September 9th and October 7th
1:05:29 are community notices.
1:05:30 September 17th is the SAC community session one.
1:05:34 Then she talks about what the rules,
1:05:37 it’s pretty much what the rules are here.
1:05:39 You have two minutes, be appropriate, be respectful.
1:05:44 And then it goes to a second meeting on October 15th,
1:05:48 which is the session two, which 40 more people can speak.
1:05:52 Then they have SAC deliberation through October and November.
1:05:57 It’s a primary voting.
1:05:59 And then it goes, well, what happens to this?
1:06:01 What happens to that?
1:06:02 When, if there is a decision to change.
1:06:05 So it’s pretty well mapped out.
1:06:07 It is a process that is not going to happen overnight.
1:06:10 So the school has stepped back and say,
1:06:12 “Let’s get more community input,”
1:06:14 because they have heard you.
1:06:16 So I wanted to let you know
1:06:17 that you do have the opportunity.
1:06:20 And if you don’t know how to reach out
1:06:21 to make your voice heard, please contact the school
1:06:25 and they will help you get to the site
1:06:26 that you need to record your message.
1:06:30 - Thank you, Ms. Palacios.
1:06:31 Mr. Susan.
1:06:35 - So there’s a couple of things that were said in there.
1:06:37 And I just wanted some point of clarification.
1:06:40 First off, that it’s not the school board’s decision,
1:06:43 final decision and they came to have a name change
1:06:46 or a mascot change.
1:06:49 - Can you clarify where that is in policy standard?
1:06:52 Anything like that?
1:06:54 - We have a policy for naming schools and facilities,
1:06:57 but we don’t have a policy requiring the board
1:06:59 to approve a mascot name.
1:07:01 - What I mean is that there’s no policy
1:07:03 for anybody to actually mascot either.
1:07:06 There’s no procedure for that either.
1:07:09 There’s a policy for renaming it or for naming it?
1:07:12 - There’s a policy for naming schools and facilities.
1:07:15 We do not have a policy regarding mascot.
1:07:18 - Right, so in the event our charging documents
1:07:22 as school board members is that in the event
1:07:25 that there’s no policy or procedure,
1:07:26 as long as it does not expressly inhibited
1:07:29 by some other rule, the school board has the final say
1:07:32 in anything that happens inside the school district.
1:07:35 It’s our charging document.
1:07:36 - And not arguing that point at this point in time,
1:07:38 Mr. Susan, I think that’s where we’re going
1:07:40 with discussion later is what I anticipate
1:07:42 based on what you put forward in the email that you sent.
1:07:46 My only point was there were a couple of people
1:07:49 who made comments that the board should make a decision
1:07:52 not to do this, and at this point in time,
1:07:55 there is no requirement that it be brought to the board.
1:07:57 - Right, and I just wanted it to be stated
1:07:59 that there is no process or policy that allows a school
1:08:03 to do it to begin with also, that’s all.
1:08:09 - Any other board members wish to make any comments
1:08:11 on the public comment, reply to anyone?
1:08:16 Dr. Mullins, would you like to weigh in on anything?
1:08:18 - Yes, Ms. Belfort, I’d like to respond
1:08:20 to Ms. Skipper’s comments about our health tech staffing
1:08:25 across our school district.
1:08:27 One, I just wanna clarify, I’m surprised
1:08:31 that she was surprised to hear we have health techs.
1:08:34 We have had health techs staffing our school clinics
1:08:38 for at least the last 10 years.
1:08:42 That goes at least back to what we’re able to verify
1:08:44 and likely before that.
1:08:48 The suggestion to staff our clinics with a registered nurse
1:08:55 comes with a significant cost, more than double
1:08:58 than what we pay now for a certified health tech.
1:09:03 So I just wanna clarify that that was not a decision
1:09:07 to staff with health techs was not a decision made recently.
1:09:11 That’s been a long-standing practice of our public schools.
1:09:15 But perhaps what’s more important
1:09:18 is that we do not make medical assessments
1:09:21 in our school clinics.
1:09:23 We defer to medical professionals to do that.
1:09:27 That’s why we have law enforcement on our campuses.
1:09:30 That’s why we utilize 911 when appropriate and so on.
1:09:35 That includes our current protocols
1:09:37 for making determinations about an individual,
1:09:40 whether it’s a student or a staff member,
1:09:43 who may be either presenting symptoms
1:09:47 consistent with COVID-19 or even have indicated
1:09:51 that they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
1:09:55 The decision is quite simple,
1:09:57 does not require a medical assessment.
1:09:59 If they present or indicate any symptoms
1:10:03 consistent with COVID-19, we immediately send them home
1:10:07 and have them go under quarantine restriction
1:10:09 and can only return to the school or work site
1:10:13 with a doctor’s note, releasing or clearing them,
1:10:16 or a COVID test demonstrating negative, the viral test,
1:10:24 or have completed the quarantine period
1:10:27 as determined by the school district
1:10:29 in cooperation with the Department of Health.
1:10:31 So I don’t want our community to have any misconception
1:10:35 that not having a health tech in our clinics
1:10:40 any way inhibits our ability or process
1:10:44 to take appropriate steps to keep the school environment
1:10:47 safe and as healthy as we possibly can.
1:10:50 So thank you.
1:10:51 - Thank you, Dr. Mullins.
1:10:55 Board members, Mr. Hilliard read off quite a few numbers
1:10:59 from that survey and I had requested
1:11:01 from Mr. Colucci last night after hearing the recorded calls
1:11:04 to share that information with us
1:11:06 so we didn’t have to try to process all of those numbers.
1:11:08 So I emailed that to all of you today
1:11:10 as well as Dr. Mullins so you would have that information.
1:11:13 But I think there was an important point that was made
1:11:18 and that is that our teachers need to know
1:11:20 that their best is good enough.
1:11:22 And I think that’s true.
1:11:23 I think absolutely we understand
1:11:26 that things are not gonna be perfect
1:11:27 and I’ve had the opportunity,
1:11:29 I think over the past two days I’ve been with Dr. Mullins
1:11:32 for community presentations and I’ve heard him say,
1:11:35 we are never our best on day one,
1:11:38 but we will bring our best each and every day
1:11:40 and we’ll continue to get better.
1:11:42 And I think there is much truth to that
1:11:44 with what’s going on in our schools.
1:11:45 So I encourage our teachers to keep their head up
1:11:51 and know that we absolutely support them
1:11:52 and understand their struggles.
1:11:55 But there’s, we have heard some great examples of people
1:11:59 who are managing the hybrid teaching platforms well.
1:12:04 And so I’m wondering,
1:12:05 Dr. Mullins and Dr. Sullivan and Ms. Klein,
1:12:09 if there’s an opportunity for us to capitalize
1:12:13 on those people that have found a group
1:12:15 and are feeling very successful in that environment
1:12:18 to maybe help them to share what’s working with their peers.
1:12:22 I know I mentioned a couple of board meetings ago
1:12:24 that we had our group of sixth grade teachers
1:12:27 who had developed an online Facebook group
1:12:29 and were supporting each other
1:12:30 and sharing resources and that sort of thing.
1:12:34 I wonder if there’s just some opportunity for us
1:12:37 to have those who are feeling successful
1:12:41 with the current challenge to maybe share
1:12:43 how they’re finding that success.
1:12:44 So I have faith that you guys will address the issue
1:12:47 and provide that support,
1:12:48 but just wanted to throw that thought process out there.
1:12:52 Okay, that is going to move us into the consent agenda.
1:12:56 Dr. Mullins.
1:12:58 - There are 11 items under this category.
1:13:01 - Thank you, Dr. Mullins.
1:13:02 Does any board member wish to pull any item
1:13:04 on the consent agenda?
1:13:08 Hearing none, I will entertain a motion
1:13:10 to accept the consent items as presented.
1:13:12 - I move, so moved.
1:13:14 - Second.
1:13:15 - Moved by Ms. McDougall, seconded by Ms. Campbell.
1:13:17 Is there any discussion?
1:13:20 Please vote.
1:13:28 (silence)
1:13:46 The motion passes five, zero.
1:13:51 I will now recess the regular school board meeting
1:13:54 and convene the final public hearing.
1:13:59 (gavel bangs)
1:14:01 - Good evening.
1:14:02 This is the second and final public hearing
1:14:03 for the 2020-2021 proposed millage rates
1:14:06 and tentative budget.
1:14:07 The hearing of September 10th, 2020 is now in session.
1:14:14 We will now move into the presentation portion
1:14:16 of this hearing, Dr. Mullins.
1:14:18 - Madam Chair and members of the board,
1:14:20 Ms. Cindy Lesinski, chief financial officer,
1:14:22 will make a presentation on the proposed 2020-21
1:14:27 budget and millage levy.
1:14:29 Ms. Lesinski and Ms. Karen Strickland,
1:14:32 director of budgeting.
1:14:39 (indistinct chatter)
1:14:58 - Good evening, board members.
1:14:59 This is the second and final public hearing
1:15:02 on the proposed millage and tentative budget
1:15:05 for fiscal year ‘21.
1:15:11 Tonight’s public hearing will include remarks
1:15:13 regarding the proposed millage and budget.
1:15:16 It will include public comments, board discussion,
1:15:19 adoption of the total millage
1:15:21 and adoption of the ‘21 tentative budget.
1:15:28 So let me start by explaining what TRMM is.
1:15:31 The truth and millage legislation was enacted in 1980
1:15:35 to redirect taxpayers’ concern over rising taxes
1:15:38 from the property appraisers who do not control
1:15:42 the levying of taxes toward the government
1:15:45 taxing authorities that set the tax rates.
1:15:48 The truth and millage legislation requirements
1:15:50 are detailed under Florida statutes.
1:15:53 TRMM timelines are very prescriptive in law
1:15:56 and the clock started July 1st.
1:15:58 The total timeline to budget adoption is 80 days.
1:16:01 The statute dictates the order of business
1:16:04 during the budget hearings
1:16:06 and TRMM requires two public hearings
1:16:09 for open discussion of millage rates
1:16:11 and proposed budgets of all taxing authorities
1:16:13 and this is the second hearing.
1:16:19 Millage is a term that represents the tax rate
1:16:22 levied on real estate and other property.
1:16:25 One mill is equivalent to $1 in taxes per thousand
1:16:28 in taxable value.
1:16:30 So if your home has a taxable value of $100,000
1:16:33 and you’re assessed a one mill tax rate,
1:16:36 you will pay $100 in taxes.
1:16:47 The Florida Education Finance Program or the FEFP
1:16:50 is the mechanism by which the state and local funds
1:16:53 are allocated to Florida school districts.
1:16:56 The Florida legislature sets the required local effort
1:16:59 millage rates.
1:17:01 This is the local portion of the FEFP calculation.
1:17:05 The school board must levy the RLE millage rates
1:17:08 in order to receive any state funding
1:17:11 under the Florida Education Finance Program.
1:17:19 The total proposed millage related to school funding
1:17:21 for FY21 school year is 5.942.
1:17:26 This millage will generate revenue for the general operating
1:17:29 and the capital outlay funds.
1:17:35 Using the proposed millage rate
1:17:37 at the 20 taxable property value of $48.7 billion,
1:17:43 our total projected tax levy is approximately $278 million
1:17:48 at a 96% collection rate.
1:17:52 The required local effort and discretionary millage
1:17:55 makes up the local operating funds.
1:17:57 The capital outlay millage is levied
1:17:59 for local capital improvement.
1:18:02 The full basic discretionary millage
1:18:04 will garner $35 million.
1:18:07 If any school district levies the full 0.748 mill levy
1:18:12 and it generates an amount of funds per FTE
1:18:15 that is less than the state average,
1:18:17 the school district will receive
1:18:19 a discretionary millage compression supplement.
1:18:22 And in our case, we will receive $7.8 million
1:18:26 to get us up to the state average.
1:18:29 The local capital improvement millage or LCI
1:18:32 will provide the district $70.2 million.
1:18:35 $35.3 million comes off the top
1:18:38 and is used to pay the district’s debt service,
1:18:40 which covers principal and interest payments
1:18:42 for previously bonded debt that was issued primarily
1:18:45 between the years 1996 and 2008 to build schools
1:18:50 and provide for major renovations at our older schools.
1:18:54 LCI contributes 10.3 million
1:18:57 towards the maintenance costs for labor.
1:18:59 LCI also pays for the district’s property insurance,
1:19:03 which leaves 19.6 million for capital needs projects
1:19:07 throughout the district.
1:19:09 That includes facility renewal and repair,
1:19:12 replacing old school buses, computer refresh,
1:19:15 and placing educational technology in our schools.
1:19:26 So this side depicts the historic millage rates
1:19:29 over the last 10 years.
1:19:31 Since FY13, the millage rates have declined each year.
1:19:34 This has been the trend
1:19:35 because of the growth of property values.
1:19:38 Lawmakers reduced the RLE millage rate
1:19:43 to limit the revenue generated from this source.
1:19:46 This is a conscious effort to ensure
1:19:48 that revenues received are not greater
1:19:51 than the previous year,
1:19:53 which reduces the tax burden on homeowners.
1:19:56 This year, the RLE was reduced by 1.55 mills.
1:20:06 As required by TRIM,
1:20:07 we must compare the proposed millage rate
1:20:09 to the rollback rate.
1:20:11 The rollback rate is the millage rate
1:20:13 that would generate the same amount of revenue as last year,
1:20:17 if applied to the current year’s adjusted taxable value.
1:20:21 Said another way,
1:20:22 the state rolls back the rate as property values increase
1:20:26 to bring the total dollars available
1:20:28 roughly equivalent to the prior year.
1:20:31 Under TRIM, the rollback rate is the basis
1:20:33 for determining if tax rates have increased or decreased.
1:20:37 The state tries to get the rollback rate
1:20:39 as close as possible to the proposed millage rate.
1:20:43 The rollback rate is generally less
1:20:46 than the proposed tentative rate.
1:20:50 So when the rollback rate is less
1:20:53 than the proposed millage rates
1:20:55 that we receive from the state,
1:20:57 we must actually advertise a tax increase.
1:20:59 For Brevard Public Schools,
1:21:02 the proposed millage rate is 2.49% higher
1:21:05 than the rollback rate.
1:21:07 So the notice of proposed tax increase
1:21:10 was advertised in the floor today on July 25th.
1:21:19 So it’s interesting to review Brevard’s
1:21:21 tax assessment history beginning with 2007 and 2008.
1:21:27 This is the last time the state experienced
1:21:30 a significant economic downturn.
1:21:32 Notice there was a two-year lag from the 0708 economic
1:21:38 downturn and the impact to tax roll.
1:21:42 Property values have increased each year since 2012 and 13.
1:21:47 Keep in mind the FY2020-2021 tax roll.
1:21:50 2021 current tax assessment is pre-COVID values.
1:21:54 The Office of Economic Demographic Research
1:21:57 held their estimating conference on August 7th
1:22:00 to adopt a new forecast for tax roll assessments.
1:22:03 And the projected growth for the next year,
1:22:07 although positive, is 2% and then 3.1% for ‘22 and ‘23.
1:22:14 So that is not depicted on this slide,
1:22:16 but when you see the growth of 7.43% then 7.23%,
1:22:23 next year it’s going to be projected at 2%
1:22:27 and the following year 3.1%.
1:22:30 So it’s still positive, it’s just not at the same level
1:22:34 as it has been for the last 10 years.
1:22:37 While the residential sectors remain steady
1:22:40 and keep the 2021 tax roll positive,
1:22:44 the economic effects from the coronavirus
1:22:46 are expected to have the greatest impact
1:22:48 on non-residential sectors as commercial property
1:22:51 becomes vacant, idled, or lower income producing.
1:23:01 So this example shows how a homeowner property tax
1:23:04 is calculated and compares tax year 2019 and 2020
1:23:09 with no increase in assessed value.
1:23:12 In this example, a homeowner with an assessed value
1:23:15 of 225,000 with the homestead exemption
1:23:19 will pay about $1,217 in tax year ‘19
1:23:24 and $28.80 less the next year in ‘20
1:23:32 to school-related property tax to Brevard County.
1:23:35 So homeowners would be paying less
1:23:38 or would be paying less in taxes
1:23:40 for the same assessed value the following year.
1:23:51 So what does the property tax we pay
1:23:53 for education mean to our families?
1:23:56 The average family will pay about $1,039 in property taxes
1:24:00 on a home assessed at $200,000,
1:24:03 earmarked for the public schools.
1:24:05 And over the course of one year,
1:24:06 that averages out to $2.85 a day.
1:24:11 And you can see that $2.85 a day is critical
1:24:16 in serving our children’s education.
1:24:19 There is no greater indicator in a child’s future
1:24:21 than his or her education.
1:24:23 As parents, we worry over the quality of schools
1:24:27 because we know a strong education is essential
1:24:30 to opening so many doors for our child’s future,
1:24:34 be it success in college, the labor market,
1:24:37 and being able to provide for a productive and joyful life.
1:24:40 Families move to Brevard
1:24:42 in order to provide their children that opportunity.
1:24:44 And as a community,
1:24:46 we all need to take this charge incredibly seriously.
1:24:49 And I have the good fortune to work and serve
1:24:52 with incredible educators that lead the way
1:24:56 in the state of Florida in providing an excellent education.
1:25:01 $2.85 a day pays for the things a school needs
1:25:05 to educate our children at the highest standards,
1:25:07 which in turn makes for a strong community
1:25:10 and makes Brevard an economic leader in the state.
1:25:16 So now I’m gonna pass this off to Ms. Strickland,
1:25:20 who is gonna talk about the proposed tentative budget.
1:25:29 - This is the proposed budget we were asking you
1:25:31 to take action on and adopt this evening.
1:25:34 It is shown by fund, our general fund, our debt service fund,
1:25:37 our capital projects funds, our special revenue funds,
1:25:40 which now includes the CARES Act,
1:25:42 our internal service fund, and our enterprise fund.
1:25:46 They are shown as in fund,
1:25:48 which is designated and prescribed
1:25:50 by the Florida Department of Education
1:25:53 in accordance with governmental accounting standards
1:25:55 board guidelines.
1:25:57 So that’s why it’s presented in that type of structure.
1:26:02 The next slide is exactly the previous slide,
1:26:05 only it has more detail in it.
1:26:07 The very top portion of the slide, still by fund,
1:26:09 now the funds are off to the side.
1:26:12 The very top portion is our beginning fund balance
1:26:14 as we open the books this July one,
1:26:16 with our revenues increasing that fund balance,
1:26:18 our expenditures taking away from that fund balance.
1:26:20 Any transfers end from one fund to another
1:26:23 or transfers out from one fund to another.
1:26:26 And then we have our ending fund balance there
1:26:28 about midway down the page.
1:26:30 At the very bottom is the designation required by GASB 54
1:26:34 as to how the fund balance is breaking out,
1:26:37 non-spendable, restricted, committed, assigned,
1:26:39 or unassigned, and I’d like to draw your attention
1:26:41 to the operating fund.
1:26:42 We began the fund balance at the beginning of the year
1:26:46 with $63 million.
1:26:47 Right now we’re projecting at the end of this fiscal year,
1:26:51 June 30, it’ll be at $83 million,
1:26:53 but that’s only because we have three reserve line items
1:26:56 there, two of them to be bargained with the union,
1:27:01 with the unions.
1:27:02 One is the teacher salary increase allocation,
1:27:04 and the other is the health insurance trust fund commitment.
1:27:07 There is also a $2.8 million that is yet to be committed.
1:27:11 Once these items have been committed,
1:27:12 they will be incorporated into the expenditure budget
1:27:15 and expenditure line items,
1:27:16 and they will no longer be recorded as reserves.
1:27:21 Our next steps from my office is that we need to
1:27:24 let the Florida Department of Education
1:27:27 know about our millage rate and our final budgets.
1:27:30 We also need to send that information
1:27:32 to the Florida Department of Revenue,
1:27:33 as well as the Brevard County tax collector,
1:27:35 so that they may start collecting those taxes on our behalf.
1:27:45 - Ms. Belfort, before you go to public comment
1:27:47 or board questions, Ms. Strickland,
1:27:50 can I ask you to go back to the two previous slides?
1:27:53 I just wanna make an emphasis,
1:27:55 because very often our community members have questions
1:28:00 about the fund balance that is represented.
1:28:03 So the fund balance at July 1 was 63 million,
1:28:06 and I’m literally reiterating what Ms. Strickland said
1:28:10 just for clarification to our community.
1:28:12 The fund balance projected at the end of this fiscal year
1:28:15 of 83 million is really inclusive of unallocated
1:28:22 or committed revenue that we know exists.
1:28:25 But again, $12.1 million came from the state
1:28:28 that is earmarked, is essentially a categorical
1:28:32 that must be utilized for teacher salary allocation
1:28:37 according to legislation.
1:28:38 We’re in the process of discussing that
1:28:40 with the union right now, and have to provide to the state
1:28:43 the plan for the utilization of those funds by October 1st.
1:28:48 But they haven’t been allocated,
1:28:50 they haven’t been committed,
1:28:51 so they have to be carried as uncommitted at the time.
1:28:55 That’s why they’re falling today
1:28:58 at the end in the fund balance.
1:29:00 That is gonna change as soon as it is negotiated
1:29:03 and they’re committed.
1:29:04 In addition, I presented to the board
1:29:07 probably eight weeks ago now
1:29:10 approximately $8 million in budget cuts
1:29:13 that we implemented going into this fiscal year,
1:29:18 and the expenditures against those budget cuts
1:29:21 included a $4.7 million allocation
1:29:26 to our health insurance trust fund.
1:29:29 That $4.7 million, because it has not been expended
1:29:32 or committed yet, it too is falling to the fund balance
1:29:36 at the end of this fiscal year,
1:29:38 which won’t be the case as soon as
1:29:39 the expenditure is committed.
1:29:41 And the only then remaining amount
1:29:44 of approximately $2.8 million is the uncommitted
1:29:48 that remains from the budget savings for this year
1:29:50 that I presented to the board again about eight weeks ago.
1:29:54 So just wanted to make sure our community,
1:29:56 our board understands our fund balance,
1:29:59 although suggests it’s gonna be significantly higher
1:30:02 at the end of this year, that is not the case.
1:30:04 So I hope that was helpful.
1:30:05 - Yeah, thank you, Dr. Mullins.
1:30:07 Do any board members have any questions
1:30:08 for Ms. Lisinski before we open for public comment?
1:30:12 Ms. Deskevich.
1:30:13 - It’s not necessarily a question,
1:30:15 but I do think we need to explain to our community
1:30:17 and maybe you’re not prepared tonight
1:30:19 because I didn’t give you any forewarning,
1:30:21 but maybe sometime in the near future,
1:30:24 ‘cause I have a feeling if we’ve got
1:30:25 some people watching this that have been following it
1:30:28 for a few years, our total budget number
1:30:30 has increased dramatically over the last couple years,
1:30:34 when clearly we’re still struggling
1:30:36 to do some ordinary things.
1:30:37 And we know why, because of increases from the state,
1:30:42 which is already assigned to growth and security
1:30:45 and some different areas that they’ve mandated already
1:30:48 where we have to spend it.
1:30:49 But the general person looking at this will say,
1:30:52 oh my gosh, if I track over the last few years
1:30:55 their total budget, why has their budget increased so much?
1:30:58 So maybe we get a one-pager or a graphic out or something
1:31:03 to show why that has happened,
1:31:05 ‘cause I know I’m gonna get hit with that question
1:31:07 in the next few days.
1:31:08 - Okay, absolutely, we can do that.
1:31:10 - Thank you.
1:31:12 - Any additional questions or comments from board members
1:31:14 before we open for public comment?
1:31:17 - I will just say once again, Ms. Lissensky,
1:31:19 thank you so much for bringing it back
1:31:21 to what really is important in the district.
1:31:24 Obviously it’s about the numbers and the budget
1:31:27 and sometimes that can get a little dry for our folks,
1:31:30 but I appreciate so much that you continue to focus on
1:31:33 really what the impact is for our students
1:31:35 on all of these numbers that are coming forward.
1:31:37 So thank you, I appreciate it.
1:31:39 - Thank you, that’s what it’s about.
1:31:41 - Yes, absolutely, thank you.
1:31:43 And just for our public and I think I have said this
1:31:47 every year since I have been on the board,
1:31:50 we are asked to notify the state
1:31:53 of what our final millage is,
1:31:54 but we really have no say in what our final millage is.
1:31:56 The state tells us what we will charge our community
1:31:59 for millage and so us approving it really
1:32:03 is kind of a ceremonial thing more than anything.
1:32:06 We have no ability to raise that or lower that,
1:32:08 so I think that’s important
1:32:09 for the community to know as well.
1:32:12 - Ms. Belford. - Yes, Ms. Campbell.
1:32:14 - And just to add on to what you just said,
1:32:16 I think as many people sometimes look at Brevard
1:32:20 and the growth that we have
1:32:21 and say we have homes going up right and left
1:32:23 and why isn’t and it’s partly because
1:32:27 the number that we get from the state,
1:32:28 this is the number that you shall charge
1:32:30 to the public for taxes,
1:32:31 then all that money goes to the state,
1:32:33 to the pot and then is redistributed
1:32:35 through the FEFP finance program.
1:32:37 So it’s not just as simple as we’re having growth,
1:32:39 we should have more money.
1:32:41 That’s not the way it’s calculated.
1:32:43 Actually, while we’re adding requests,
1:32:45 I had a request from a community member
1:32:47 ‘cause I started to explain the FEFP
1:32:51 and how it’s complicated and I went to a two-day workshop
1:32:53 trying to get FEFP 101.
1:32:56 If there is a resource that we could send,
1:33:01 just the community members,
1:33:02 anyone who really wants to dig into it
1:33:04 to how the FEFP is formulated,
1:33:06 if there’s like a FEFP for dummies,
1:33:10 kinda thing, something that they wouldn’t have
1:33:15 to go to a two-day workshop like I did.
1:33:17 But the training I received was from FSBA,
1:33:21 but if there’s something for the public,
1:33:22 a public-facing document,
1:33:23 actually, I looked in the budget book
1:33:25 and you guys did a pretty good job,
1:33:26 but if there’s something that we could refer them to,
1:33:30 if you could send that to me,
1:33:31 I’d love to send that out to some people who’ve asked me.
1:33:35 Thank you.
1:33:37 - Thank you, Ms. Campbell.
1:33:39 Okay, is there any individual
1:33:41 that would like to address the board
1:33:42 on the 2020-2021 proposed millage living?
1:33:49 Is there any individual that would like to address the board
1:33:51 on the 2020-2021 proposed millage living?
1:33:58 Is there any individual that would like to address the board
1:34:01 on the 2020-2021 tentative budget?
1:34:09 Mr. Francisco, I believe we have one recorded speaker
1:34:11 on the budget.
1:34:30 - And I’m the assistant superintendent
1:34:31 for facility services for Brevard Public School.
1:34:39 Thank you.
1:34:48 - Kyle Savage.
1:34:50 Good evening.
1:34:51 My name is Kyle Savage.
1:34:52 I’m the treasurer of the Brevard Federation of Teachers.
1:34:55 First of all, I would like to thank Dr. Mullins,
1:34:57 Ms. Belcourt, and members of the board
1:34:59 for this opportunity to speak.
1:35:00 And additionally, I would like to thank Ms. Blavinsky,
1:35:03 the new CFO for Brevard Public Schools,
1:35:06 who has always been available when I ask for information.
1:35:08 And I’m very grateful for that.
1:35:10 Year over year, VFT has talked about salary lapse
1:35:14 and they just not caught caught in what is projected.
1:35:17 Well, the final budget documents show once again this year
1:35:20 that projected raises to $12 million
1:35:23 only actually increased instructional salary spending
1:35:26 by two and a half million dollars.
1:35:28 Additionally, last year,
1:35:30 last money was identified in the amount of $14.9 million
1:35:34 into the general fund budget and was used on salary.
1:35:39 This year, $9.7 million of lapse money has been identified
1:35:44 and will be used on health insurance.
1:35:46 It sure seems like a lot of your priorities
1:35:48 are covered with teacher lapse money.
1:35:51 I’m not here to tell you that Brevard Public Schools
1:35:54 won’t have a tough financial year because of COVID-19.
1:35:58 However, last week, the Brevard Federation of Teachers
1:36:01 returned to the bargaining table
1:36:02 to pare down list of proposals for the 2021 school year
1:36:06 contract.
1:36:08 I can personally tell you that prior to COVID-19,
1:36:11 we were ready to address the supplement scale
1:36:13 that hasn’t seen a raise since 2015.
1:36:16 We were ready to talk about maternity leave
1:36:19 in excess of six to eight weeks for our soon to be mothers.
1:36:23 We were ready to talk about fraternal leave
1:36:25 for our fathers as well.
1:36:27 However, we realized that this was a pandemic
1:36:29 and we realized that we had to be responsible as well.
1:36:33 So I’m here tonight commenting on the budget fashion.
1:36:36 Please don’t treat negotiations this year
1:36:39 like we are purchasing a used car at your dealership.
1:36:42 It’s not enjoyable.
1:36:43 Your teachers don’t enjoy it.
1:36:45 And more than that, the community does not like seeing
1:36:48 the teachers not treated properly at negotiations.
1:36:51 Treat your teachers like they are part of the team
1:36:53 this year with negotiations.
1:36:55 You may be surprised by the results.
1:36:57 Thank you.
1:36:59 Is there any other individual that would like to address
1:37:04 the board on the 2020-2021 tentative budget?
1:37:09 The public comment portion of this hearing is now closed.
1:37:16 That will bring us to recommendations for the adoption
1:37:19 of the 2020-2021 proposed millage levy
1:37:21 and tentative budget.
1:37:23 Dr. Mullins.
1:37:24 - Ms. Belford, if I may ask for personal privilege
1:37:27 to address Mr. Savage’s comments this evening
1:37:30 because I think it’s essential that I provide clarification
1:37:34 to some of the information that has been suggested.
1:37:39 I just find Mr. Savage’s comments surprising
1:37:45 and well, quite frankly, a little disappointing.
1:37:48 Mr. Savage and the union reached out to us
1:37:51 approximately in January of this year
1:37:54 and raised question as to the cost of the raises
1:37:58 that were bargained and agreed upon
1:38:00 for the fiscal year ‘19-‘20,
1:38:03 suggesting that there was a cost of $6 million
1:38:07 for the raise against the $12 million projected cost
1:38:13 of the raise.
1:38:14 That certainly raised my concern and alarm
1:38:17 that number one, we could potentially have had such
1:38:20 a incorrect projection of the cost of the raise,
1:38:25 not to mention what the implications would be.
1:38:28 I immediately reached out to staff
1:38:30 and charged them with identifying in detail
1:38:34 what the true cost of the raises were for our teacher group
1:38:38 and then across the entire district
1:38:42 so that we could meet with and present that information
1:38:45 with the union regardless of what the outcome was.
1:38:49 I have to tell you that Ms. Lasinski, Dr. Theddy,
1:38:53 and Ms. Lasinski’s staff worked tirelessly
1:38:57 for over two weeks to provide a detailed exact evaluation
1:39:05 of the cost of teacher raises for this organization.
1:39:09 Line by, I can’t even tell you how many thousands of lines
1:39:13 the spreadsheet required to do this level
1:39:17 of detailed analysis.
1:39:19 They concluded their evaluation and their analysis
1:39:26 and in fact confirmed that the cost of the teacher raises
1:39:31 was within amazingly dollars of the estimate
1:39:35 of their projection of $12 million.
1:39:38 We invited Mr. Savage and Mr. Colucci
1:39:41 into my conference room, met with my staff
1:39:44 for approximately two hours and went through
1:39:48 the entire spreadsheet on the big screen,
1:39:51 item by item, detail by detail,
1:39:54 and explained exactly how the cost of the raises
1:39:58 translated into $12 million.
1:40:02 At the conclusion of that conversation,
1:40:05 I wasn’t there but I was informed
1:40:09 and Mr. Savage can certainly clarify.
1:40:11 I will not make a claim that I’m quoting him
1:40:14 but it’s my understanding.
1:40:15 And quite frankly, I would have not been disappointed
1:40:19 if we overestimated the cost of the raises.
1:40:22 That would be a benefit to the organization.
1:40:26 And like me, Mr. Savage responded,
1:40:28 well I wish we were right but I can’t argue
1:40:31 that this isn’t correct.
1:40:34 So I’m caused pause because we worked so hard
1:40:40 to demonstrate and validate our calculations,
1:40:45 presented it openly and transparently to the union.
1:40:51 But tonight I hear now Mr. Savage is suggesting
1:40:54 the cost of the raises was $2.5 million.
1:40:58 So I would welcome the union to come back in
1:41:02 and look at the calculations again
1:41:03 and any member of our public,
1:41:06 ‘cause I will not suggest anything but full transparency
1:41:11 of this organization on the finances that we have.
1:41:15 Second, I will not dispute
1:41:18 that we have teacher salary lapse.
1:41:21 We also have classified employee salary lapse.
1:41:25 We also have administrative staff salary lapse.
1:41:29 We report that out every year.
1:41:33 I presented it to the board eight weeks ago
1:41:36 what our projected salary lapse was
1:41:39 and the commitments we have against that lapse.
1:41:43 We currently have commitments of $3.1 million every year
1:41:48 to our health insurance trust fund against salary lapse,
1:41:55 a portion of which is covered by teacher salaries,
1:41:59 no question, but teachers also make up 66%
1:42:05 of our health insurance trust fund.
1:42:08 So when we contribute $3.1 million
1:42:12 to the health insurance trust fund
1:42:14 from teacher salary lapse, that money is going back
1:42:18 into the services and compensation that serve our teachers,
1:42:22 just like our other employees.
1:42:25 We also have a $2.9 million worker’s compensation cost
1:42:32 against our fund balance at the end of every year,
1:42:35 but workman’s compensation supports our entire organization,
1:42:39 including our teachers who have to be supported
1:42:43 through workman’s compensation.
1:42:46 Finally, I recommended to the board
1:42:49 that we take $5 million this year of our lapse,
1:42:54 non-recurring lapse funds,
1:42:56 and put it into our health insurance trust fund
1:43:00 because we know, and the union agrees,
1:43:02 our health insurance fund is at a critical funding situation.
1:43:09 But I would again remind the board and our community
1:43:12 that the salary lapse that comes as a result
1:43:15 of all of our employees, those dollars are then,
1:43:18 that $5 million is going to the health insurance trust fund.
1:43:23 That is supported by 66% of our health fund
1:43:29 is taking care of teachers.
1:43:32 So we use our dollars that are available to us
1:43:37 to benefit all of our employees, including teachers.
1:43:42 So teacher salary lapse is reinvested
1:43:47 into the services and the programs and the benefits
1:43:50 and the compensation that we have for our teachers,
1:43:53 as well as our other employees,
1:43:55 as we all work to contribute
1:43:57 to a healthy financial organization.
1:43:59 So you can tell I’m a bit emphatic,
1:44:04 but I’m going to be when it’s suggested
1:44:06 that our organization isn’t being prudent,
1:44:09 responsible, and transparent with our dollars.
1:44:11 I take enormously serious the responsibility
1:44:16 to be transparent to our public, our taxpayers,
1:44:19 and ensure them, whether it’s,
1:44:23 we’ve had some good, bad, and ugly,
1:44:25 and I have openly and transparently demonstrated
1:44:29 how we will make it right and we will take responsibility.
1:44:32 But this is a situation I could not allow to pass,
1:44:35 and anyone to leave that comment
1:44:38 and suggest we have not accurately
1:44:41 and carefully and responsibly utilized the dollars
1:44:46 for the benefit of our teachers,
1:44:48 but also for the benefit
1:44:50 of our approximately 4,000 other employees
1:44:53 across the organization.
1:44:54 So I appreciate the opportunity
1:44:57 to provide that clarification.
1:44:58 And again, welcome Mr. Savage and any other individual
1:45:02 to come and review our budget,
1:45:05 sit with members of my staff,
1:45:08 and understand line item by line item,
1:45:11 what has been budgeted, what has been expended,
1:45:16 and what may be falling as potential lapse.
1:45:19 So thank you.
1:45:20 - Thank you, Dr. Mullen.
1:45:26 - Okay, I think I now I’m supposed to read the next part.
1:45:28 - Yes, we are now at the adoption of the 2020-2021
1:45:32 proposed millage levy and tentative budget.
1:45:41 Florida statute 200.065 requires each taxing authority
1:45:48 levying millage to publicly state the name
1:45:51 of the taxing authority, the rollback rates,
1:45:54 the percentage of change from the rollback rate,
1:45:57 and the millage rate to be levied prior
1:45:59 to the adoption of the millage levy resolution.
1:46:02 In compliance with those requirements,
1:46:04 the following needs to be stated.
1:46:06 The taxing authority is the school board
1:46:08 of Brevard County, Florida, the 2020-21 rollback rates are,
1:46:14 required local effort, 3.6560,
1:46:20 local discretionary, 0.7125,
1:46:25 capital outlay, 1.4289,
1:46:30 total rollback rate, 5.7974.
1:46:35 The total millage rate to be levied
1:46:38 exceeds the total rollback rate by 2.49%.
1:46:43 The proposed 2020-21 millage rates are,
1:46:47 required local effort, 3.694,
1:46:51 local discretionary, 0.748,
1:46:56 capital outlay, 1.500,
1:47:00 total millage rate, 5.942.
1:47:06 There are a total of six separate motions.
1:47:09 I will read each of the recommendations
1:47:12 into the record and request board action.
1:47:15 Number one, adopt the resolution
1:47:17 setting the required local effort,
1:47:20 local discretionary, and capital outlay millage rate
1:47:23 of 5.942 mills for 2020-21.
1:47:28 The written resolution is incorporated
1:47:30 into this motion by reference.
1:47:33 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:47:37 Moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. McDougall.
1:47:40 Any discussion?
1:47:46 Please vote.
1:48:03 Yes.
1:48:03 - My screen will not allow me to get down
1:48:05 to my actual vote.
1:48:07 - Yeah, mine’s giving me a fit too.
1:48:08 - For some reason it just did, it was doing it,
1:48:10 I was the last bit on the bottom before,
1:48:13 but now it has moved up to.
1:48:16 I can try to refresh my screen if you give me a minute,
1:48:18 but I think it’s gonna be consistent.
1:48:25 Yeah, I don’t know what happened.
1:48:28 I can’t get down there.
1:48:31 So we can do a voice vote if you need to.
1:48:34 - Ms. Oskvart, can you take a voice vote?
1:48:36 All in favor?
1:48:38 - Aye.
1:48:40 - Anyone opposed?
1:48:42 The motion passes five-zero, Dr. Mullen.
1:48:45 - Number two, adopt the 2020-21 budget
1:48:49 in the following amounts.
1:48:51 Operating, $656,403,530.
1:49:00 Special revenue, $123,531,191.
1:49:08 Debt service, $35,692,036.
1:49:14 Capital outlay, $253,588,800.
1:49:21 Enterprise, $4,347,919.
1:49:28 Subtotal, $1,073,563,476.
1:49:36 Less transfers, $57,390,645.
1:49:43 Total, $1,016,831.
1:49:56 Internal service, $81,686,708.
1:50:03 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:50:05 - Move to approve.
1:50:06 - Second.
1:50:07 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. Campbell.
1:50:09 Is there any discussion?
1:50:11 Please vote.
1:50:14 Good, okay.
1:50:26 The motion passes five-zero.
1:50:34 Dr. Mullen.
1:50:36 - Number three, authorize the superintendent
1:50:39 to adjust the adopted millage levy and budget
1:50:42 due to changes in the certified tax roll.
1:50:44 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:50:46 - Move to approve.
1:50:47 - Second.
1:50:48 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. McDougall.
1:50:50 Any discussion?
1:50:51 Please vote.
1:50:56 - The motion passes five-zero, Dr. Mullen.
1:51:11 - Number four, authorize the superintendent
1:51:14 to forward the adopted millage levy resolution
1:51:16 to the Brevard County property appraiser
1:51:19 and tax collector no later than 30 days
1:51:21 following the adjournment of the value adjustment board.
1:51:24 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:51:26 - Move to approve.
1:51:27 - Second.
1:51:28 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. Campbell.
1:51:30 Any discussion?
1:51:31 Please vote.
1:51:47 - Looks like Pam already voted for her.
1:51:51 - Voice vote.
1:51:53 All in favor?
1:51:54 - Aye.
1:51:56 - Any opposed?
1:51:58 The motion passes five-zero.
1:52:00 Dr. Mullen.
1:52:01 - Motion five, authorize the superintendent
1:52:04 to forward the following to the designated state agencies.
1:52:08 A, the adopted budget, millage levy resolution,
1:52:11 certified tax roll, rolled back rates,
1:52:14 proposed millage and certified copies
1:52:17 of the advertisements for the proposed budget
1:52:19 and millage rate to the State Department of Education.
1:52:22 B, the millage levy resolution, certified tax roll,
1:52:26 rolled back rates, proposed millage
1:52:29 and certified copies of the advertisements
1:52:31 for the proposed budget and millage rate
1:52:33 to the Department of Revenue.
1:52:35 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:52:37 - Move to approve.
1:52:39 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. Campbell.
1:52:41 Any discussion?
1:52:43 Please vote.
1:52:53 Need a voice vote, Pam?
1:52:59 Okay.
1:53:16 And the motion passes five-zero.
1:53:20 Dr. Mullen.
1:53:23 - Motion six, approve the release
1:53:26 of $1,461,868 in committed fund balance
1:53:32 to pay the cost of instructional coaches,
1:53:34 school athletic assistants and other expenditures
1:53:37 for fiscal year 2020-21.
1:53:40 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:53:41 - Move to approve.
1:53:43 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. McDougall.
1:53:45 Is there any discussion?
1:53:48 Please vote.
1:53:52 (muffled speaking)
1:54:01 - And my name is not coming up on the phone, but I…
1:54:10 - Ms. Belford, I had a comment on that,
1:54:11 but it didn’t affect our vote,
1:54:12 so I just wanted to know how you voted.
1:54:14 - Um, give me just one second.
1:54:18 Do we need a voice vote from the, so…
1:54:21 - Yeah, I can’t, it’s not coming up.
1:54:23 - All right, so all in favor?
1:54:25 - Aye.
1:54:26 - Any opposed?
1:54:28 Okay, motion passes five-zero.
1:54:30 Ms. Duskovich.
1:54:32 - I just wanted to confirm that that’s the last allocation
1:54:36 out of the fund balance for the instructional coaches
1:54:39 and such, correct?
1:54:40 So this is the final year that they are funded?
1:54:42 - That is correct.
1:54:43 If the board recalls, there was three years of revenue
1:54:46 set aside for those initiatives.
1:54:49 Actually, that revenue that was originally committed
1:54:53 came to an end at the end of this last year.
1:54:58 We committed the additional funds for this
1:55:00 as a result of hurricane reimbursement from FEMA
1:55:03 to be able to continue this initiative for one more year.
1:55:06 At this time, we do not have additional allocated funds
1:55:09 to carry that initiative beyond the fiscal year 2021.
1:55:13 - Does that, that seems like a lower amount than I recall,
1:55:18 so does this also include a couple of SROs
1:55:21 and social workers in that same three year,
1:55:25 does this include that or is this just
1:55:27 instructional coaches and athletic assistants?
1:55:29 - It only includes those things that are listed.
1:55:31 As we’ve received additional mental health allocation
1:55:34 from the state, we’ve been able to secure the funding
1:55:36 for those social workers through that recurring funding
1:55:39 source from the state.
1:55:41 So those social worker positions are secured moving forward,
1:55:44 whereas we’ll have to reevaluate the instructional coaches.
1:55:47 - Great, thank you so much.
1:55:50 - Any additional comments, questions?
1:55:53 All right, then this hearing is now adjourned
1:55:55 and the regular meeting is reconvened.
1:55:59 Dr. Mullen.
1:56:03 - We’ll move on to the action agenda.
1:56:06 Item G-29 is procurement solicitations.
1:56:09 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:56:10 - Move to approve.
1:56:13 - Ms. Duskovich, was that a second?
1:56:15 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. Duskovich.
1:56:18 Is there any discussion?
1:56:20 Please vote.
1:56:38 The motion passes five, zero, Dr. Mullen.
1:56:40 - Item G-30 is on department school initiated agreements.
1:56:44 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:56:45 - Move to approve.
1:56:47 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. Duskovich.
1:56:49 Any discussion?
1:56:51 Please vote.
1:57:16 - And the motion passes five, zero.
1:57:20 We are now at board member discussion points and reports.
1:57:23 Mr. Susan asked to have discussion items added
1:57:25 on school mascot changes, board athletics policy 7511
1:57:29 and volunteer background checks.
1:57:30 Mr. Susan, the floor is yours.
1:57:33 - Thank you, Chairperson Belford.
1:57:34 I appreciate you giving me the opportunity
1:57:36 to bring this forward.
1:57:38 In dealing with the school mascot changes,
1:57:41 what I noticed was I was looking around
1:57:45 and there was no policy or procedure
1:57:49 inside of our school board policies and procedures,
1:57:55 no administrative actions.
1:57:56 There’s nothing that says a process
1:57:58 for the renaming of a mascot or even renaming of a school.
1:58:01 Because if you read our current policy 7250,
1:58:05 it only allows us to name those schools.
1:58:10 It doesn’t say anything about renaming.
1:58:11 So when I was looking at this,
1:58:13 being the fact of all the other factors
1:58:15 that people wanna bring in and everything else,
1:58:17 I truly believe that in order to bring forward a policy
1:58:22 or an action to rename one,
1:58:25 that we should have a policy wrapped around those movements.
1:58:31 And so we can debate whether it should be or shouldn’t be,
1:58:35 but my argument is, is that if we don’t have a policy
1:58:39 and we need to have one in order to move forward,
1:58:42 that the no policy then falls under the management control
1:58:46 and operation 1001.32 of our statutes,
1:58:50 which says that we have as a school board,
1:58:52 the power to rename, or I’m sorry,
1:58:54 we have the power to, we basically have the power
1:58:58 for anything that is not found illegal
1:59:00 or inside the statutes.
1:59:02 So if that makes sense, my goal here is literally,
1:59:07 if we’re gonna move forward into this contentious area
1:59:11 of mascots and schools, which we all know is gonna happen,
1:59:16 we should do a policy wrapped around it and do it right.
1:59:19 That’s it.
1:59:20 And without one, we’re treading in areas that are very,
1:59:26 when you don’t have a policy or procedure
1:59:27 and you’re allowing stuff to start happening, it’s tough.
1:59:31 That’s all.
1:59:32 And if you’re doing checkers for everybody that’s out there
1:59:34 and playing chess, not checkers,
1:59:36 this isn’t a move to stop anything.
1:59:38 This is just saying we need to put a policy in place
1:59:40 to make it happen.
1:59:41 And whatever the policy or procedures that are happening now
1:59:45 would be strengthened and be more inclusive of community
1:59:49 and everything else as the other policy says
1:59:52 for naming facilities.
1:59:53 That’s all.
1:59:54 So I open that up for discussion.
1:59:57 - I tend to agree with you, Mr. Susan.
2:00:00 I think the writing on the wall
2:00:01 is more of this is coming our way.
2:00:03 I haven’t really had time
2:00:04 to read through Ms. Angrada’s process,
2:00:06 but as it looks right now, if this came up
2:00:10 at two or three different schools,
2:00:12 there may potentially be two or three different processes
2:00:14 and potentially things could look unfair.
2:00:18 It looks like it could be a long-term issue.
2:00:22 And I see no problem with moving forward with us.
2:00:25 And it’ll take a few months to just put something in place,
2:00:27 a general policy that may direct it back to schools
2:00:30 to create, it may say something,
2:00:32 but for us to be silent probably would cause chaos
2:00:36 and inequities between how it’s handled.
2:00:41 - Ms. Pinchugo.
2:00:44 - I look at a mascot as something that is part of the school.
2:00:50 This is the school function.
2:00:51 It’s the community function.
2:00:53 It would be students, community, and the principal
2:00:55 and the administration there.
2:00:57 And I’m concerned that we’re going to come into an area
2:01:02 that really is not ours.
2:01:05 That I don’t know of any others have we ever weighed in
2:01:10 on any mascot and why would we?
2:01:13 Because I would think that, like I said,
2:01:16 the students, the community, and administration
2:01:19 would vote on what would they like for their school.
2:01:22 And so I get nervous when we,
2:01:24 it feels like we’re intruding on the running of a school.
2:01:29 - Can I respond?
2:01:30 No, I agree with you 100%, Ms. McDougall.
2:01:33 When I looked at the policy, I looked at any policies
2:01:37 or past practices because what we do in the past
2:01:42 determines almost just as much as policy
2:01:44 as we’ve learned from Mr. Gibbs over our graduations
2:01:47 and stuff like that.
2:01:48 Being the fact that we don’t have any precedent
2:01:51 on renaming a school or a mascot,
2:01:55 then there is no precedent set with no policy set.
2:02:00 We are in an area where I just feel uncomfortable.
2:02:05 And I’m not saying that the validity behind things
2:02:08 is what it is.
2:02:09 That’s why I didn’t want to say names.
2:02:10 I didn’t want to bring up anything.
2:02:11 This is more about our structure as a board
2:02:14 and our bringing forward strong policies to include.
2:02:17 I mean, there’s a lot of stuff like that was inside
2:02:19 the naming policy that is not inside of Ms. Ingrata
2:02:23 who has a good process.
2:02:25 I mean, that was a good one.
2:02:26 But like feeder school input, timetables,
2:02:29 there’s a lot of stuff that needs to be added.
2:02:31 And I think we would vote the validity
2:02:34 of our school district is determined on our processes.
2:02:37 This is one that I think, and if like Ms. Mateskovich said,
2:02:40 we’re only putting a little bit of time in place
2:02:43 to make sure it’s done right.
2:02:44 And we’ve done that over and over again
2:02:46 with everything that we do.
2:02:47 That’s all, just asking for that.
2:02:49 - So you’re saying that we are going to jump in
2:02:54 to a functioning of a school.
2:02:56 I mean, that’s what I’m hearing because you say
2:02:59 you want to give more time.
2:03:00 And I think Ms. Ingrata, let’s get real.
2:03:04 It came up because of Edgewood has been suggested
2:03:08 that they would like to look at their mascot.
2:03:11 And I think there’s plenty of time in that
2:03:14 if we’re gonna get real and call it what we’re calling it
2:03:19 and not just do a policy because as one particular school
2:03:22 may wanna have a mascot change.
2:03:24 And there’s no guarantee that that’s gonna pass.
2:03:27 I just feel that we are intruding again
2:03:29 on the function of a school.
2:03:34 - Ms. McDougall, I would remind,
2:03:37 I would disagree with the concept
2:03:40 that this is a school’s decision in the fact
2:03:42 that there is no policy procedure or anything in place
2:03:45 to allow them to do it.
2:03:47 Plus the state statutes guarantee us
2:03:49 the management control operation, administration
2:03:52 and supervision of our schools.
2:03:54 So with our policies in place and our procedures,
2:03:58 it is us to manage, to control, operate,
2:04:01 administer and supervise our schools
2:04:03 which falls this into our realm.
2:04:05 I am again, not saying anything about the validity
2:04:08 of what’s happening.
2:04:09 I am just saying that based upon our current statutes
2:04:13 and policy, I would appreciate it if we could write a policy
2:04:16 before moving forward because this is going to be
2:04:19 a contentious area and I wanna do it right basically.
2:04:22 That’s all.
2:04:25 - If I may weigh in,
2:04:27 I’m not opposed to developing a policy and process.
2:04:30 I don’t think it’s something that the board should vote on
2:04:34 with regard to an actual recommendation.
2:04:36 I think that should be left at the community level.
2:04:40 We reopened Southlake two years ago.
2:04:44 They chose their own mascot.
2:04:45 We didn’t have anything to do with it.
2:04:51 We didn’t have any discussion about VR elementary mascot
2:04:54 as a board, and I think it should remain
2:04:57 a school-based issue.
2:04:58 If we wanna establish some minimum standards
2:05:01 for the change process via policy,
2:05:04 I don’t have an issue with that.
2:05:07 I think that’s fine for us to do to say at a very minimum,
2:05:10 if you are going to go through a mascot change process,
2:05:15 these are the steps that are necessary to be taken.
2:05:17 I’m good with that, but I don’t feel that it’s an issue
2:05:21 that should come before us for a vote.
2:05:23 I think it’s very much a community issue,
2:05:24 so I think we can get into the minutia
2:05:28 of what that policy looks like going forward.
2:05:30 If we can come to consensus as a board,
2:05:32 that we probably need to look at a minimum standard
2:05:35 for that process.
2:05:36 Are you, would you be good with that, Ms. McDougall?
2:05:40 - Not really.
2:05:42 - Okay.
2:05:43 - I agree with Ms. Belford on that,
2:05:46 that it’s, I think probably to have something
2:05:50 that would provide guidance.
2:05:51 So if it came up at a school,
2:05:53 because we have had mascots,
2:05:55 we have at our new elementary school
2:05:57 and our, when we open this up,
2:05:59 like some guidance, minimal guidance,
2:06:02 so they can do it.
2:06:03 I don’t think you’re gonna do it the same way
2:06:05 as an elementary school as you would at a secondary school,
2:06:08 but some minimum guidance.
2:06:09 I think we didn’t recognize Mr. Gibbs.
2:06:12 I’m assuming he’s still on the line.
2:06:14 You there, Mr. Gibbs?
2:06:18 - Yes, I am.
2:06:19 - Oh, good, good.
2:06:20 We’re just checking, keep you on your toes.
2:06:22 - I think it would be good for Mr. Gibbs
2:06:24 to do some, and staff to research
2:06:26 if there are policies like that from NEOLA or other places.
2:06:30 But again, just maybe, for the idea of guidance.
2:06:33 So if something like this comes up,
2:06:35 a principal can say, okay, where do I start?
2:06:38 Is, you know, are there some basic things
2:06:40 that need to be done?
2:06:42 Not that it would come to the board, but,
2:06:44 ‘cause honestly, when it comes to this issue,
2:06:47 that we’ve received emails back in the summer on this.
2:06:50 I know I did, I don’t know if the whole entire board did.
2:06:54 You know, I think a grassroots movement
2:06:55 in something like this is excellent,
2:06:57 ‘cause you need to involve the community.
2:07:00 I love the idea that things like this come from our students
2:07:03 because they’re thinking and they’re,
2:07:06 you know, they’re trying to be compassionate,
2:07:08 but with adult guidance to be, hey, what’s reasonable?
2:07:11 And, you know, to guide that procedure.
2:07:14 But I think the grassroots movement can still be the,
2:07:18 initiated, right, by students but have somewhere to go.
2:07:23 And I would say just my thoughts on the process
2:07:28 that’s already been initiated by Ms. Ingrata at Edgewood
2:07:31 is not that we put a policy in place
2:07:32 and say don’t, stop your process,
2:07:34 ‘cause we’re fixin’ to come up with a policy
2:07:36 that’s gonna change what you’re doing.
2:07:37 No, I think she should go ahead
2:07:38 and whatever we do moving forward is from here,
2:07:43 from here on.
2:07:45 - You can go with that, Ms. Fink.
2:07:46 - I can go with that.
2:07:47 - Okay, so I’m hearing that we’re going to ask Mr. Gibbs
2:07:50 to come back to us for discussion on a policy.
2:07:52 - I would like to just follow up hers
2:07:55 in that, yes, Mr. Gibbs does have experience in this.
2:07:59 He actually, in his last school board, they reviewed,
2:08:02 I did a review of all their mascots
2:08:04 and the school board made decisions on everything.
2:08:07 - That would, if I could jump, that wasn’t Marion.
2:08:10 That was Seminole County did that
2:08:13 where they reviewed their, it was not my district.
2:08:16 - So he has a process in place.
2:08:17 I would also caution moving forward with anything right now
2:08:22 until you get a process and procedures in place
2:08:25 because you’re basically setting,
2:08:30 it’s moving forward without a process in place
2:08:33 means that there is,
2:08:37 basically that is the power of the board
2:08:39 unless there’s a process or a policy.
2:08:42 So it should come back to us for a decision
2:08:44 and it gets into a murky water
2:08:46 where we’re moving forward with something.
2:08:48 I would say if we could peel back and say, okay, hold on,
2:08:52 we’re going to give you a process and procedure,
2:08:54 come back in a couple of months, let them go through it.
2:08:56 We got an email from Ms. Sullivan saying
2:08:58 this is not something that’s going to happen overnight.
2:09:00 It’s going to take some time.
2:09:02 Let’s just do it right.
2:09:04 If you’re playing, again, chess, not checkers,
2:09:09 there is support for this coming and this is not that.
2:09:12 This is allowing a process to be put in place,
2:09:16 which is what we do.
2:09:17 And we don’t move forward when we don’t have that.
2:09:19 That’s all.
2:09:20 This is the renaming of something when you have community
2:09:23 and everything else that needs to be put into that.
2:09:25 That’s all.
2:09:26 - The policy could clearly say the school gets to do it.
2:09:29 Like I think as a board, that discussion comes.
2:09:32 So it seems like that’s the smarter, more prudent approach
2:09:38 is to have something in place that everyone is going to.
2:09:41 And I just want to add, I think when this is addressed,
2:09:44 you know, probably work sessions or workshop,
2:09:46 that we also need either in that same policy
2:09:48 or another policy about changing a school name,
2:09:51 because like we said, those are coming down the pike too.
2:09:54 Might as well have it in place on how we want to handle that
2:09:57 as a board before that stuff starts coming to us.
2:10:01 - And I think we do have, we have policy on the process
2:10:05 to change the name of the school.
2:10:07 - Not change the name, just to name it.
2:10:09 - Just to name it.
2:10:10 - It doesn’t say anything about renaming.
2:10:11 - There’s a change.
2:10:12 - There is, yeah, I read that too.
2:10:14 - Is it the same policy?
2:10:15 - And it really said that the name is there.
2:10:18 If I read it right, that we can’t change it.
2:10:21 - Well, yeah, there’s a process there for us
2:10:25 to change the name of the school.
2:10:26 It requires community input,
2:10:31 an 18 month period of community input.
2:10:39 - And I did not print and bring that policy with me.
2:10:41 I apologize.
2:10:42 - Is that the same policy, 7250?
2:10:45 - Section I.
2:10:47 - Okay, I actually have that.
2:10:48 - It just says the name of a new or existing school
2:10:51 once adopted by the board shall be considered permanent.
2:10:54 However, should the board subsequently initiate
2:10:56 or be called upon to consider a name change
2:11:00 of an existing previously named school,
2:11:02 then in that event, the board shall allow a period of time,
2:11:05 not less than 18 months from said date
2:11:08 for community involvement, deliberation, discussion
2:11:11 and debate prior to its taking action.
2:11:16 - So that’s on a name change.
2:11:18 - Correct, not a mascot.
2:11:24 - I don’t have a problem with us developing one.
2:11:27 I do have a problem of stopping something
2:11:29 that has been going on and say,
2:11:31 “Oh, wait a minute, your process is not okay.”
2:11:35 If you look at that process,
2:11:36 it is not gonna happen overnight.
2:11:38 It just isn’t.
2:11:39 If we get anything by January, I’ll be surprised.
2:11:44 So I feel we would be remiss to say,
2:11:49 “I’m so sorry, you can’t go on with your process.”
2:11:52 When we already have, she already has things lined up
2:11:56 for the next SAC meeting of at least 20 people speaking
2:11:59 and then there’s an ability to have 40.
2:12:01 And then there’s another SAC meeting in October
2:12:04 where other people can sign up.
2:12:06 So I just, I question us stopping the process, Mr. Susan,
2:12:11 unless we can come together quickly
2:12:13 and get whatever policy you think we should have.
2:12:16 Again, are we going to review every single mascot?
2:12:19 I’m just curious.
2:12:20 Are we going to every single school
2:12:21 and we do everybody’s mascot?
2:12:23 - Well, I think that’s for discussion
2:12:25 when a policy recommendation comes forward
2:12:27 as to what we really want that policy to look like.
2:12:32 But Mr. Susan, if you look on the timeline,
2:12:34 there’s not even an opportunity for SAC
2:12:37 to discuss the possibility of a vote before November 19th.
2:12:42 And then if they are not,
2:12:43 if they don’t feel like they are prepared by November 19th,
2:12:47 then it postpones to January 21st.
2:12:49 So, I would suggest that Ms. Ingrata is probably very open
2:12:54 if there are aspects of this
2:12:56 that you feel need to be tweaked.
2:13:00 Speak to Dr. Sullivan and see if there’s something else
2:13:03 that needs to be included.
2:13:04 But I mean, our policy development process is three months.
2:13:07 So, I don’t anticipate this resolving prior to that.
2:13:11 - Is there, let me ask you this.
2:13:14 Let me just for point of order,
2:13:16 have we ever allowed a process to move forward
2:13:19 without policy and just said, well, it’s moving forward,
2:13:23 so let’s just let it go.
2:13:24 And the second part to it is, is that what is the rush?
2:13:28 And this has been the mascot there for what, 50 years?
2:13:31 I mean, there’s no rush to do this.
2:13:33 I mean, like to do it right,
2:13:36 to make sure that it’s done right,
2:13:38 to stall for three, four months, whatever, do it right.
2:13:42 I mean, I just, there’s no,
2:13:45 there’s a lot of community upheaval right now over this.
2:13:48 It gives them the right to come in
2:13:49 and look at it from the fresh,
2:13:51 to follow the process that’s there,
2:13:54 to give, I mean, it’s a better process
2:13:57 and it’s how we’re governed already.
2:13:58 We’ve never allowed somebody to start doing something
2:14:01 and then just said, well, you’re doing it already.
2:14:03 It looks good, which it does,
2:14:05 but we’re gonna allow you to do it
2:14:06 and then we’re gonna go write a policy while it’s happening.
2:14:09 I mean, that’s just not good governance in my mind.
2:14:11 That’s all.
2:14:11 And I’m just, I would beg to say
2:14:13 that we need to stall what’s happening now,
2:14:16 put together a proper process, come back to it,
2:14:19 and 60 year name change,
2:14:21 if it’s found to change the name,
2:14:24 couldn’t wait three months, that’s all.
2:14:26 I’m just, that’s how I feel.
2:14:32 - Ms. Campbell, you look like you wanna speak?
2:14:33 - Well, I just, considering that the next two steps
2:14:38 on their process are getting community,
2:14:41 I mean, I don’t know what it would look like
2:14:43 if we would even be this specific and a policy,
2:14:46 but to say this is the way
2:14:49 that you have to get community input
2:14:51 or this is the timing between them,
2:14:53 but since the next two things they’re gonna do
2:14:54 are just about getting community input,
2:14:58 specifically for their SAC committee,
2:15:02 I would not want to pause that
2:15:05 ‘cause we can’t get a policy, you know,
2:15:07 for them, for these two steps at least.
2:15:09 If we get this on, we have a work session or whatever,
2:15:14 I don’t know if we get as soon as,
2:15:15 we already have something planned for the 22nd,
2:15:17 but the first one in October,
2:15:18 a board work session or whatever in October,
2:15:20 I don’t, you know, we will already,
2:15:23 they only have these two opportunities for community input
2:15:26 and I think the community is ready to speak.
2:15:29 And so I would rather at least allow them to go ahead
2:15:33 and walk through this process until such a time
2:15:36 that we know that what we’re looking at
2:15:37 is very different from this.
2:15:40 - And if we come up with a policy or a process
2:15:42 that’s different than what was already going on,
2:15:44 what is the case then?
2:15:45 Do we stop what they did?
2:15:46 And after two long nights of going through community input
2:15:51 and everything else and say, well, you know what?
2:15:54 You didn’t do this, you didn’t do that.
2:15:55 Or while we’re writing the policy,
2:15:57 do we then feel pressured to follow some of the things
2:16:01 that are already here based upon the fact
2:16:03 that they’re already going on,
2:16:04 because we may be telling them,
2:16:06 there’s just a whole bunch of,
2:16:07 it’s a spaghetti mess and it’s just not,
2:16:10 the other pieces is that many of the people
2:16:12 that are community that are saying
2:16:14 that they don’t feel like they had input originally,
2:16:16 there’s just a lot of not, if we’re gonna write a policy,
2:16:22 I don’t think we should be allowing another process
2:16:24 to be going through while we’re writing that policy,
2:16:26 that’s all, and I totally understand
2:16:29 where you’re coming from, Ms. Campbell,
2:16:30 but the pressure that you would feel
2:16:33 from trying to write a policy
2:16:34 based on what’s already happening–
2:16:36 - I don’t feel that pressure.
2:16:38 I don’t know that you do.
2:16:39 I don’t feel that pressure. - So you don’t have a problem
2:16:41 telling them that if they didn’t follow
2:16:43 part of the policy that we put together,
2:16:45 that they need to stop after the second October meeting?
2:16:48 - No, that’s not what I said.
2:16:49 You said, I would feel pressure
2:16:50 to feel like we needed to make the policy follow this.
2:16:53 I don’t feel that pressure.
2:16:54 You know, we’ve just, I’ve just said
2:16:57 that we should ask Mr. Gibbs to take a look
2:17:00 and see what other districts have,
2:17:01 ‘cause we always do, what NEOLA has, what’s recommended,
2:17:05 and then we take, you know, whatever we want of that,
2:17:08 bits and pieces, piece together what is amenable
2:17:11 to this board, and then go with that.
2:17:15 I have no pressure whatsoever on me personally
2:17:17 to look at this piece of paper and say,
2:17:18 we need to do it just like this,
2:17:20 or we need to make sure our policy
2:17:21 doesn’t mess up what they’re doing.
2:17:24 - All right, this is my first time seeing this,
2:17:26 and it’s microscopic and on black paper,
2:17:28 but are they only allowing 40 people to speak to this?
2:17:31 - Each time. - 80 total.
2:17:34 - I’m sorry?
2:17:35 - There’ll be 80 total.
2:17:37 20 the first time, and I mean, 40 the first meeting,
2:17:40 and then 40 available spots in the second meeting.
2:17:43 And so far they only have 20 signed up for the next meeting.
2:17:47 So there’s still 20 spots that people could sign up
2:17:50 for this September meeting.
2:17:53 - Mr. Gibbs, can you tell me if current Sunshine Law
2:17:55 allows you to limit the number of speakers
2:17:57 that are speaking, because this has to be
2:18:00 a publicly noticed meeting, because SAC meetings should be?
2:18:05 - You would not limit the people speaking.
2:18:08 Like right now, I don’t know why they’re at 40.
2:18:11 I’m guessing it’s capacity of the room.
2:18:14 I mean, they can have them outside waiting.
2:18:16 - Looks like it’s virtual.
2:18:18 - They’re probably trying to keep the meeting
2:18:19 under three hours.
2:18:21 - But that’s– - That’s possible to say
2:18:22 that students are involved.
2:18:24 They don’t want the students up late.
2:18:25 I don’t know the full circumstances of the meeting, so.
2:18:29 - But that breaks Sunshine Laws that you limit the speakers.
2:18:32 - We limit our– - Actually, we, yeah,
2:18:34 we can limit our speakers.
2:18:35 And I’m, Ms. Ingrata, I’m quite certain
2:18:38 if her 80 slots get filled, I’m sure that she would open up
2:18:41 another opportunity for public input.
2:18:43 I don’t think, I think that’s the plan, you know,
2:18:47 but if she needs additional, I’m sure that she would,
2:18:50 she would open additional.
2:18:52 - All right, Mr. Suzy.
2:18:53 I’m sorry, Mr. Gibbs.
2:18:54 - We generally limit the 30 minutes,
2:18:56 and then at the end of the meeting,
2:18:58 give an opportunity, I think is how most districts do it.
2:19:02 - In the four years I’ve been on the board
2:19:04 and two years before that,
2:19:05 that I watched practically every meeting,
2:19:06 I never saw this board turn away a speaker.
2:19:09 I’ve seen you guys before I was even on the board,
2:19:11 sit here till midnight, one in the morning,
2:19:13 listening to speakers.
2:19:14 And, you know, initially I didn’t wanna get into the weeds
2:19:17 of this exact process, but limiting the public comments
2:19:21 on it right out of the gate in box number one concerns me.
2:19:26 - Mr. Gibbs, can you talk to the fact
2:19:29 of allowing a process to go on that doesn’t have a policy
2:19:32 or a procedure in place currently,
2:19:35 and we’re writing a policy to that.
2:19:37 Can you just give me your opinion on that?
2:19:39 Do you feel secure with allowing that to happen
2:19:42 or would it be better according to governance
2:19:45 to wait and write it and then go?
2:19:52 (phone ringing)
2:19:54 - I don’t blame him for hanging out.
2:20:01 - I’ll wait on that one.
2:20:17 - No, it was on here somehow.
2:20:19 - But I am to the rescue.
2:20:22 Thank you.
2:20:34 (phone ringing)
2:20:45 - No rest found.
2:20:48 (laughing)
2:21:14 (phone ringing)
2:21:18 (phone beeping)
2:21:22 - He said he got dropped.
2:21:38 (phone ringing)
2:21:41 - No routes found.
2:21:46 (laughing)
2:21:52 - We’ve got Russell, Jackie, everybody coming to the rescue.
2:21:55 - Just call him on his cell phone and put it on.
2:22:01 Just call him on his cell phone and put it on the speaker.
2:22:17 - He said there’s no route.
2:22:24 (phone beeping)
2:22:27 - No routes found.
2:22:29 (phone beeping)
2:22:35 - Russell to the rescue.
2:22:46 (muffled speaking)
2:23:22 (phone beeping)
2:23:27 (phone ringing)
2:23:32 - Hello?
2:23:33 - Hello, Mr. Gibbs.
2:23:36 - Hey.
2:23:37 - All right, we have you back.
2:23:40 And Mr. Susan had asked you to weigh in on your thoughts
2:23:44 about allowing a process to move forward
2:23:47 when a policy is in process.
2:23:51 - I don’t have a problem with it per se.
2:23:54 This has been the procedure.
2:23:56 This is how the district’s done it, I guess, in the past.
2:23:59 They’ve allowed schools to implement this.
2:24:02 So I wouldn’t necessarily have a problem with us doing it.
2:24:04 It’s gonna take, once a policy is actually written
2:24:07 and developed, 90 days, of course, to get it written,
2:24:10 so it wouldn’t be ready until January or so.
2:24:13 But it’s a board decision, though.
2:24:16 If the board wants to do their policy and implement it
2:24:21 or let them go, that’s the board’s decision.
2:24:24 - Mr. Gibbs, I was asking what I,
2:24:26 and I just wanted to make point of clarification.
2:24:28 There’s never been a mascot change
2:24:30 that I could go back 40 years.
2:24:31 So it’s kind of a new thing
2:24:32 as opposed to just a naming of a mascot.
2:24:35 So there’s not prior precedents.
2:24:38 You are aware of that, right?
2:24:41 - Right, I know that we’ve always left the naming
2:24:43 of the mascots in the schools up to the,
2:24:48 or at least, yeah, the mascots at the schools,
2:24:50 even when they’re new to the school and their process, so.
2:24:53 - But there’s never been a renaming of a mascot.
2:24:58 - Right, but they still get to name their mascot,
2:25:01 even when the, I guess, like Ms. Belford said,
2:25:03 the one that reopened, I had heard about prior to tonight.
2:25:08 They picked their own mascot, so.
2:25:11 - And then in the event that for proper governance,
2:25:15 can you tell me what would be a better form
2:25:16 of passing the policy?
2:25:18 Would it be that having a current policy
2:25:20 and allowing, working on a policy
2:25:23 as another entity is running with what may not be
2:25:28 that policy at the exact same time?
2:25:30 Or is it better that you write the policy
2:25:32 and then enact it afterwards?
2:25:36 - I don’t know that either one would be better
2:25:38 than the other.
2:25:39 It happens all the time, you know,
2:25:40 laws are getting passed and done
2:25:43 and they’re implemented later on
2:25:45 and any actions taken after that date,
2:25:47 it would apply to it.
2:25:49 And everything done before that date,
2:25:51 it doesn’t apply to it.
2:25:52 So that’s a routine thing with legislation in general.
2:25:55 - But usually in legislation,
2:25:57 there’s actual legislation that you have
2:25:59 that you’re amending or changing.
2:26:01 In this case, there’s no renaming of a mascot
2:26:05 in a policy or procedure.
2:26:09 - Well, yeah, there’s a naming.
2:26:10 So they have, I guess the schools have got to set up
2:26:14 in the past, gotten to establish
2:26:16 how they’re gonna do it on their own.
2:26:18 For consistency purposes, I wouldn’t,
2:26:21 I think the setting up minimum standards isn’t a bad idea,
2:26:25 just so you don’t have one school doing it this way
2:26:27 and one school doing it that way.
2:26:30 But for purposes of this,
2:26:32 this school already started and going
2:26:34 and the board’s bringing it up in the middle.
2:26:38 I don’t have a problem.
2:26:39 If the board has a problem with it
2:26:41 and wants to interrupt that process,
2:26:44 like I said, that’s the board’s decision on that.
2:26:49 But yeah, I don’t have a problem one way or the other.
2:26:51 It happens all the time in legislation
2:26:53 and legislation drafting.
2:26:56 - In the time that I’ve been on this board,
2:26:58 I have never ever been a part of a policy
2:27:00 where we have, we allow something to continue to go on
2:27:04 before we have the policy.
2:27:05 We’ve always said that we wanna write a policy
2:27:08 and then move forward with it.
2:27:10 So I truly believe here today,
2:27:12 and I don’t wanna keep beating a dead horse,
2:27:14 that we as the school board should write the policy,
2:27:16 then move forward with it.
2:27:18 And I also believe that it’s ultimately
2:27:20 the school board’s decision in the end,
2:27:21 just like the renaming of the facilities
2:27:23 and everything else and the past precedents with those.
2:27:26 So I’ll finish with that
2:27:27 if anybody else wants to give input,
2:27:29 but I think I’ve stated my case.
2:27:32 - Thank you, Mr. Susan.
2:27:33 And I would suggest that there are things
2:27:34 that go on all the time within our district
2:27:36 that we have not yet written policy for.
2:27:40 I trust that Dr. Sullivan will continue
2:27:42 to work for Ms. Zingrada
2:27:43 to ensure that she’s doing her best to get the input,
2:27:45 but I’m not hearing from the majority of the board
2:27:47 that they would like to at least pause that process for now.
2:27:51 Feel certain that we can bring concerns
2:27:53 if there are elements of the process to be included,
2:27:55 but I think this is a slow moving train at this point.
2:28:00 So-
2:28:03 - The process for renaming this
2:28:05 didn’t follow the process for naming this,
2:28:08 a normal naming process either.
2:28:11 So the way they went about making the change
2:28:14 and deciding on the change
2:28:16 was never followed any other prior precedent.
2:28:20 And so now we’re allowing the change
2:28:22 and then the proceeding after that to be completely new.
2:28:26 And that’s where I’m at.
2:28:26 That’s all.
2:28:27 - I’m suggesting that we will likely have policy in place
2:28:31 or at least pretty clear discussion
2:28:32 on where that policy is going
2:28:33 prior to this process finishing.
2:28:35 And if there are elements that we feel need to be included,
2:28:39 I’m sure that Dr. Sullivan and Ms. Zingrada
2:28:41 would be more than happy
2:28:42 to include those elements going forward.
2:28:44 So Mr. Gibbs, if you would please prepare for a discussion
2:28:47 on a policy regarding mascot identification
2:28:52 and changes going forward.
2:28:54 - Okay.
2:28:55 - And Mr. Susan, the floor is once again yours
2:28:57 on athletics and background checks.
2:29:00 - Okay.
2:29:01 - So hold on, Ms. McDougall.
2:29:02 - I wanna make sure we’re really clear.
2:29:04 So I wanna make sure it’s very clear
2:29:05 for Dr. Sullivan and Principal Zingrada
2:29:10 that they can go on to get public hearing at this point.
2:29:14 Correct?
2:29:15 We’re not stopping their process.
2:29:17 - I would say public input.
2:29:19 - Of course, exactly.
2:29:20 - And I’m sure that Dr. Sullivan will address
2:29:22 the issue of limited speakers as well.
2:29:26 Good?
2:29:27 All right, Mr. Susan, athletics.
2:29:29 - So currently we’ve got a athletics policy
2:29:33 that I sent to you guys
2:29:34 and it is just kind of a benign little policy
2:29:38 and it doesn’t state anything as far as nuts and bolts.
2:29:43 And then we have this really, really long procedure
2:29:46 from 2009 that touches a lot of different things
2:29:50 that we haven’t been putting into practice
2:29:51 and we haven’t been doing, right?
2:29:54 Charging $250 a game, yada, yada, yada.
2:29:57 So I was talking to Dr. Mullins
2:29:59 and I didn’t wanna give board direction
2:30:00 without your support.
2:30:02 But what it is, is that there are some things
2:30:05 inside of there, that procedure,
2:30:07 that prior to our game starting
2:30:08 would probably be better to work up and bring back,
2:30:13 including the, we’re in the middle of a COVID crisis.
2:30:16 We wanna try to allow as many people to cover
2:30:20 the games as possible.
2:30:21 We also want background checks.
2:30:23 We want insurance to make sure that these guys are covered.
2:30:26 Things that may not have been going on before.
2:30:29 So we wanna just put those in place.
2:30:31 So before I said, “Dr. Mullins, we need to do this.”
2:30:33 I figured I’d bring it before the board,
2:30:34 see if the board has, feels the same way
2:30:37 and we can reach out with them with any concerns
2:30:39 or maybe even state it here,
2:30:42 that we can give Dr. Mullins direction.
2:30:43 He can change the procedure before the meeting,
2:30:45 the school, the football and every activity start.
2:30:48 That’s the reason I brought it up.
2:30:50 Does anybody have any other questions on it?
2:30:52 - I’m looking at 7511.
2:30:53 Is there a procedure to go with it you’re referring to?
2:30:56 It’s a long one.
2:30:56 - If you go to the dropdown and then you click on it,
2:31:02 instead of policies, go to administrator
2:31:05 and it’s very lengthy.
2:31:11 - I was actually surprised to see
2:31:12 the $250 live stream, $750 telecast.
2:31:16 I didn’t realize we did that.
2:31:18 - We don’t.
2:31:19 And it’s just something I think Ms. Moore rightfully so
2:31:22 is trying to move forward with putting something in place
2:31:25 so that we can deal with this.
2:31:26 And this was our actual procedures and policies,
2:31:29 or I’m sorry, procedures.
2:31:30 So she pushed forward.
2:31:32 And I’m just saying that we should probably address it
2:31:34 prior to the game starting.
2:31:36 We should do some things.
2:31:37 And it just, one of the things that I will stand for
2:31:41 is that we allow the media outlets to come
2:31:44 and we don’t limit them.
2:31:45 Florida today has covered for 30, 40 years our games.
2:31:50 Space Coast Daily covers Brevard.
2:31:53 There’s Brevard Sports, 321 Sports, Channel Spectrum News.
2:31:57 Like these are our kids.
2:31:59 And their highlight films in future lives
2:32:01 for the next 20, 30 years will be off of these videos
2:32:04 and stuff like that.
2:32:05 So I didn’t wanna limit that.
2:32:07 And I really was wanting to put some structure
2:32:10 around the insurance and the other stuff.
2:32:13 - Is there something, could you give us,
2:32:15 can you at least top this three things or whatever
2:32:18 that you would like to see changed?
2:32:20 - No chart, no.
2:32:21 - Do you just want us to look at it?
2:32:22 - I felt like Dr. Mullins had a good grasp on it.
2:32:26 But don’t charge for the games
2:32:29 because you’re gonna limit the amount of games
2:32:30 that get covered for the kids.
2:32:32 If the kids are being covered, then everybody will.
2:32:35 The next one is some kind of a credentialing system
2:32:38 so that if they act inappropriately, they can be pulled.
2:32:40 Make sure they have insurance,
2:32:41 make sure they have background checks,
2:32:43 and then everything else we can work out later.
2:32:45 But just getting that initiated to make sure off the bat.
2:32:48 That’s all.
2:32:49 More access for our kids, safer.
2:32:52 - Ms. McDougall.
2:32:53 - Mr. Susan, I wanna make sure, I don’t disagree,
2:32:56 but do any of these media outlets charge our families
2:33:02 to look to view at their film?
2:33:05 I wanna make sure because if we’re not charging them,
2:33:09 is it fair that they’re charging our public?
2:33:11 - Yeah, so I guess like if Spectrum Sports covered,
2:33:14 you have to pay a cable fee.
2:33:16 Space Coast Daily does not charge.
2:33:18 - Right, I know they don’t.
2:33:20 - The 321 Sports did not charge.
2:33:22 Florida Today, I think you have three or four articles
2:33:25 you have for free.
2:33:27 And then all you have to do is you pay a price, I guess.
2:33:31 But there’s no subscription fee to charge people
2:33:34 to watch a certain game that I know of,
2:33:36 except for the FHSAA.
2:33:38 And you know how I feel about that.
2:33:40 That’s a whole nother war that I would like to go into.
2:33:42 But right now, no.
2:33:44 And I think the other piece is
2:33:46 is that you’ve got some smaller organizations.
2:33:49 Hometown News sometimes shows up.
2:33:51 The Era of Voice sometimes shows up.
2:33:53 Titusville’s probably got one.
2:33:54 I just don’t wanna limit them, that’s all.
2:33:56 Some of those articles,
2:33:56 those kids hang on their walls forever.
2:33:59 - So Dr. Mullins, are you clear on the elements of that
2:34:02 that Mr. Susan has concern around?
2:34:04 ‘Cause the board doesn’t approve administrative procedures.
2:34:08 I mean, sometimes they’re attached to our policies,
2:34:11 but you have the freedom to change those procedures
2:34:13 without a board vote on that.
2:34:15 - Correct, yes.
2:34:16 And I’ve been in conversation with Ms. Moore already
2:34:19 about it, quite frankly, the administrative procedure.
2:34:23 This is one of the more extensive administrative procedures
2:34:26 that we have as a district.
2:34:27 And just became more aware of it
2:34:31 towards the end of last week.
2:34:32 And so I think Ms. Moore would agree
2:34:35 we need some time to spend in the administrative procedure
2:34:38 to understand maybe a little bit about the origin
2:34:41 of why it was put in place several years ago.
2:34:44 But also to look at where are we today,
2:34:47 ‘cause it’s a much different place today
2:34:49 than we were when the procedure was put into place.
2:34:52 And I default to what is reasonable and what is responsible.
2:34:56 So what is reasonable in providing for our kids,
2:35:00 but also what is responsible on behalf of the school board.
2:35:02 So I don’t know what the fees,
2:35:06 I don’t know if there’s a charge to access the viewing.
2:35:08 I don’t know if there’s advertising
2:35:10 that the broadcaster would benefit from.
2:35:14 Those are things we’d have to take a look at.
2:35:15 We certainly wanna be responsible.
2:35:18 But at the same time, reasonable in an environment
2:35:21 where we’re gonna be limiting gates
2:35:23 to 25% capacity for safety and so on.
2:35:26 So I think if we have a little bit more time,
2:35:29 we do have a couple weeks before games commence.
2:35:35 We’ll do our best to work through this
2:35:38 as quickly as possible.
2:35:40 - Any board members have any additional comments,
2:35:41 questions, concerns on the issue?
2:35:43 - I would just say I appreciate that.
2:35:44 And it’s kind of, some of our policies
2:35:46 have not been updated in a long time,
2:35:48 but you think about this one’s only about 11 years old,
2:35:51 but think about where the world is and social media is.
2:35:53 When this policy was written,
2:35:55 you weren’t live streaming anything off of Facebook.
2:35:58 It existed, but you didn’t have that capability.
2:36:00 And now we’re in a completely different technological world
2:36:04 than we were in 2009.
2:36:06 So I think that will be really good,
2:36:08 especially for this year.
2:36:10 - You go with that, Mr. Susan?
2:36:12 - Absolutely.
2:36:12 - Awesome, the floor is now yours again
2:36:14 for volunteer background.
2:36:15 - Ms. Belford, if I may,
2:36:16 just another thought that we’re gonna have to,
2:36:18 we have to work through these things.
2:36:20 The reality is, is when we live stream athletic events,
2:36:24 even if we have limited access to the game,
2:36:27 we could be limiting our gate,
2:36:29 which is the only source of revenue we have
2:36:31 for those athletic programs.
2:36:33 So I don’t know what the intent was many years ago.
2:36:37 Maybe that’s what it was.
2:36:38 We’ve got to try and dig that up.
2:36:41 But responsible includes what do we need to do
2:36:43 to ensure that the program’s viability
2:36:49 and that sort of thing.
2:36:50 So I just want to be clear
2:36:51 that there’s several factors taken into consideration.
2:36:53 And I know Ms. Moore,
2:36:55 getting some feedback from the board is very helpful.
2:36:58 And again, we’re in a very different place
2:37:00 than we were many years ago,
2:37:01 not just from a live streaming perspective,
2:37:03 but from a COVID impact reality.
2:37:09 So we’ll work through it and bring something back
2:37:11 to the board.
2:37:12 - As long as, and I would say as long as charging the fees
2:37:16 does not inhibit more coverage for the kids,
2:37:19 because we both know that, you know,
2:37:21 you’re gonna charge $250 for a thing
2:37:23 is not gonna make even a dent in an athletic budget.
2:37:27 And it’s gonna limit the access.
2:37:29 You know what I mean?
2:37:29 That’s all, that’s all.
2:37:35 And I have it again.
2:37:37 - Yeah.
2:37:38 - Do you have a volunteer background check?
2:37:39 - So one of the reasons I brought this forward
2:37:41 was there is a process that if you are an employee currently
2:37:47 and or a staff member or coach, you get, you come forward,
2:37:51 you get a background check.
2:37:53 And if you have certain elements inside your application,
2:37:55 they are sent up to the Professional Standards
2:37:59 Practice Review Board.
2:38:01 They look at those based upon a certain number of standards,
2:38:05 and then they set back to the school district,
2:38:08 whether it’s a plus or a positive or a negative.
2:38:11 And they want to let that person either teach or coach
2:38:13 or whatever that is.
2:38:14 Currently with our volunteer status,
2:38:17 some of those practices and procedures
2:38:19 that are inside of there don’t mirror what that standard is.
2:38:23 So what I would like to do is give Dr. Mullen’s direction,
2:38:26 and he’s kind of been working in there,
2:38:28 to try to mirror what standards we have for our employees
2:38:32 and our coaches, the same with our volunteers,
2:38:34 as far as background checks and everything else.
2:38:35 And that’s it.
2:38:36 And Dr. Mullen’s already said that he knew about it,
2:38:39 he’s gonna work on some stuff, had some ideas.
2:38:41 And I thought that he could work on that
2:38:43 and bring it back to the board, that’s all.
2:38:47 It’s basically creating the same standard
2:38:49 for employees, staff, and coaches,
2:38:53 as we do for our volunteers.
2:38:57 That’s it.
2:38:58 - So currently right now, I wanna understand,
2:39:02 Major Lanza, isn’t that the Sheriff’s Department?
2:39:07 Don’t you do a check on all of our volunteers?
2:39:10 - We do do a level two background check,
2:39:14 other qualifications that are a little different
2:39:16 in volunteers and employees.
2:39:25 - Currently we do a level two background check.
2:39:28 It is a little different as far as the qualifications
2:39:31 or disqualifications for the volunteers and the employees.
2:39:35 - Can you– - I have five copies here,
2:39:38 you can see there’s several different–
2:39:40 - I’m interested in how different it is,
2:39:47 because I’m thinking that a volunteer
2:39:49 typically is never by themselves, is that correct?
2:39:53 I mean, would a volunteer ever one-on-one work
2:39:55 with a student without some kind of supervision?
2:39:58 - A-plus volunteers can work with students
2:40:02 alone or on a physical–
2:40:04 - We actually have done away with A-plus
2:40:05 and gone to the level two background check
2:40:07 for all of the volunteers, so all of them technically
2:40:09 are cleared to work with students individually.
2:40:12 - So what is a level two?
2:40:13 I mean, what is involved in a level two?
2:40:15 I’m sorry.
2:40:16 - They take their fingerprints and they compare them
2:40:18 to a national and local database and see what comes back
2:40:22 as far as their criminal histories.
2:40:27 - So I have a question, Mr. Susan, about,
2:40:31 so what, so right now we send them up to the state,
2:40:35 how would we do that with the volunteers?
2:40:37 I don’t think there’s a volunteer state database.
2:40:40 I mean, I’m just curious, I’m not understanding.
2:40:43 - Sure, so when a volunteer applies to be a volunteer,
2:40:48 they have to go through a level two background check
2:40:51 and then they have to put certain things down
2:40:54 that may be on their application.
2:40:56 Those certain things, if they are an employee
2:40:59 or a staff member or a coach, would signal for them
2:41:03 to send them up to Tallahassee to be reviewed
2:41:05 and there are certain processes that both the school board,
2:41:11 law enforcement, the military, even nurseries,
2:41:17 are allowed to look at these things
2:41:19 and then determine based upon those factors
2:41:21 if that person deserves to be a part of the organization.
2:41:25 Those, that process is not in place for our volunteers.
2:41:28 I’m just trying to make sure that we keep the level
2:41:30 of standard that we do for our employees,
2:41:32 for our volunteers, that’s it.
2:41:45 - So I certainly am not opposed to having, you know,
2:41:48 you said Dr. Mullins already has some stuff in process.
2:41:50 I think there are some complications with regard
2:41:52 to the same process being applied to volunteers
2:41:56 because there are some,
2:41:58 I think there’s some statutory limitations there
2:42:00 but I don’t know that we necessarily need to get
2:42:02 into the weeds on that right now.
2:42:04 Perhaps have Dr. Mullins bring back recommendations
2:42:06 for us on that process at a later time.
2:42:07 Is that good for you, Mr. Susan?
2:42:09 - Yeah, and the statutory limitations don’t exist with us,
2:42:11 either with us or the DOE on those topics.
2:42:14 So I agree with you and Dr. Mullins can work on that.
2:42:17 - Just to clarify, I’ve already been in discussion
2:42:20 with Mr. Gibbs and Dr. Theti in reviewing both the legal
2:42:25 and the procedural aspects and ensuring
2:42:28 that standard operating procedure are guiding exactly
2:42:31 what we need to do and how those align,
2:42:33 keeping the legal impacts within our legal department
2:42:37 and the HR responsibilities and the HR route.
2:42:41 So we’re analyzing and looking at that closely to update,
2:42:46 make sure that we are being thorough and responsible.
2:42:53 - Board members good with that?
2:42:55 Having discussion?
2:42:57 Okay.
2:42:58 Does anybody else have anything we need to report
2:43:02 or discuss before we call it a night?
2:43:05 All right, there being no further business,
2:43:07 this meeting is now adjourned.
2:43:08 Have a great night.
2:43:10 Thank you, Mr. Gibbs.
2:43:14 (upbeat music)