Updates on the Fight for Quality Public Education in Brevard County, FL
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1:03:23 of our county is up roughly 19 to 23% year over year
1:03:21 in housing values.
1:03:22 We know that if you go to Market Watch,
1:03:26 one in five Americans didn’t save at all in 2021.
1:03:31 Didn’t contribute at all to their savings.
1:03:33 20% in the United States.
1:03:36 48% contributed less than $5,000 to their savings.
1:03:40 You just go on and on.
1:03:42 You look at the state of Florida’s population increase
1:03:45 is roughly 1.12% net.
1:03:48 We’re a net increased population state.
1:03:50 Our county is 1.1%.
1:03:53 So we’re taking in in the top 10 of all states
1:03:57 more population, which means more tax dollars,
1:04:01 which means more sales tax.
1:04:02 So I say all that to say you get over to the budget
1:04:06 and you’ll get last year’s budget.
1:04:07 And this is probably open to interpretation,
1:04:09 but we’re somewhere between a $900 million budget
1:04:12 and a $1.2 billion budget.
1:04:14 When you look at the PDF online, we’ve got, what?
1:04:18 72,000 students.
1:04:20 So simple math is somewhere around $14,000 to $16,000
1:04:23 per student is the budget when you look at it, per student.
1:04:28 I said this last time I was here.
1:04:30 I could send my kid to a private school
1:04:31 for less money than that.
1:04:33 And that should be a concern, that we’re
1:04:36 going to look at taxing the community more money when we
1:04:39 already have more money allocated per student,
1:04:41 in theory, than cost to send to a private school.
1:04:46 So my ask is we look at the current budget,
1:04:49 we find the money we need, and we take some stuff away
1:04:51 like we would a business, and we move it
1:04:53 to the areas we need it.
1:04:55 It’s taking from people that have probably–
1:05:00 I mean, I couldn’t find this percentage, but we know that–
1:05:03 or we could assume, sorry–
1:05:05 we have more people here that have been here over the years
1:05:08 that have seen their taxes on their housing increase year
1:05:11 over year as opposed to new people coming from the north.
1:05:14 That’s probably a safe assumption.
1:05:16 So those that have been here are those
1:05:18 that continue to pay increased tax and have less money.
1:05:20 Those are the same people that we’re
1:05:22 talking about Thrive for Five, those people that
1:05:24 aren’t reading to their kids who are providing books.
1:05:27 You can’t tax those people more.
1:05:30 Lastly, real quick, I would say the only thing
1:05:33 on the speaking time is the drivers from a few meetings
1:05:37 ago, if you have employees that can’t make it in time
1:05:39 to sign up, that should be addressed,
1:05:41 because they should know how to come speak and use their time.
1:05:45 Thanks, Wyatt.
1:05:47 Jennifer?
1:05:56 Sorry.
1:05:56 It’s all good.
1:05:58 Thank you.
1:05:59 Good evening.
1:05:59 Over the past several months to a year
1:06:01 that I have attended and witnessed these meetings,
1:06:05 the public comment section has been cut from three minutes
1:06:09 to one minutes on non-agenda topics.
1:06:11 This further makes us feel like you don’t want to hear from us,
1:06:14 your constituents.
1:06:15 It is so frustrating when those of you up there
1:06:17 don’t even acknowledge some of us
1:06:18 when we are at the podium, which is contributing
1:06:20 to the division between the parents and the school board.
1:06:23 The students and parents are the ones
1:06:25 you are supposed to represent.
1:06:26 But when we are getting threatened
1:06:28 with jail time at the start of every meeting,
1:06:29 that further proves that all of you
1:06:31 need a reminder of just that.
1:06:33 We are aware that there are other ways
1:06:34 to express ourselves, such as a call or an email.
1:06:37 But this is our public forum to air our grievances.
1:06:40 And this time is public record, and the community
1:06:42 is able to hear what we have to say.
1:06:45 I ask at the very least you consider
1:06:46 giving the speakers on non-agenda items
1:06:48 the additional two minutes back.
1:06:52 Thank you, Jennifer.
1:06:54 All right, that concludes our public comment on agenda items.
1:07:00 Do you want to make a point of clarification
1:07:02 that the policy modification that is on the agenda
1:07:05 this evening actually increases the time for non-agenda
1:07:08 speakers to mirror the time for the agenda speakers?
1:07:13 So we go back to the 3-2-1 instead
1:07:16 of one minute for non-agenda speakers
1:07:17 when that policy is passed.
1:07:19 And I think there is some confusion on that point.
1:07:25 Dr. Mullins, anything that you wanted
1:07:27 to address before I move on?
1:07:29 Not at this time, thank you.
1:07:31 So that is going to move us into the consent agenda.
1:07:34 Dr. Mullins.
1:07:37 There are 23 agenda items under this category.
1:07:40 Thank you, Dr. Mullins.
1:07:41 Does any board member wish to pull any item
1:07:43 from the consent agenda?
1:07:46 Hearing none, I will entertain a motion
1:07:48 to approve the consent agenda as presented.
1:07:53 Moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. McDougall.
1:07:55 Is there any discussion?
1:07:57 All in favor, please signify by saying aye.
1:07:59 Aye.
1:08:00 All opposed, same sign.
1:08:01 And the motion passes 5-0.
1:08:07 Now we will hold a public hearing on item G34.
1:08:09 Is there anyone present who wishes
1:08:11 to address the board regarding the elementary and secondary
1:08:13 emergency relief ESSER fund under the American Rescue Plan
1:08:17 ARP Act updated instructional continuity plans?
1:08:24 Is there anyone present who wishes
1:08:26 to address the board regarding the elementary and secondary
1:08:29 emergency relief ESSER fund under the American Rescue Plan
1:08:32 ARP Act updated instructional continuity plans?
1:08:36 OK, does any board member have anything
1:08:38 to discuss pertaining to this policy?
1:08:41 That will conclude the public hearing on that.
1:08:45 Dr. Mullins, will you please let us know about the item
1:08:47 under the action portion of tonight’s agenda?
1:08:49 The first item is F35, ad valorem millage resolution.
1:08:53 Do I hear a motion?
1:08:56 Moved by Ms. McDougall.
1:08:57 Is there a second?
1:08:58 Second.
1:08:59 Seconded by Ms. Jenkins.
1:09:01 Is there any discussion?
1:09:03 Ms. Campbell?
1:09:06 Thank you, Madam Chair.
1:09:08 So I just wanted to thank the people who reached out to me.
1:09:12 I’ve had some personal conversations with people,
1:09:14 in person, phone calls, emails, because they’re participating
1:09:19 in the process, right?
1:09:22 Their input is valuable, and I just
1:09:24 want to say your part in the process is not over,
1:09:26 because I just want to clarify some things,
1:09:29 because it’s really important for people
1:09:33 to know what we’re doing, because the process continues
1:09:37 with the public.
1:09:38 If it passes tonight, this school board
1:09:42 can do nothing to raise the taxes for the people
1:09:46 of Brevard County.
1:09:48 We could do nothing on our own to initiate the half-cent sales
1:09:53 tax or to renew the half-cent sales tax.
1:09:56 We can send it out to the voters.
1:09:58 And so the process, the public participation, your input
1:10:03 continues on.
1:10:05 I also– it’s really important to me.
1:10:06 I don’t know if it’s just the teacher and me,
1:10:08 but I want to make sure, too, that people
1:10:10 have accurate information.
1:10:11 Because I understand there are some people that it doesn’t
1:10:13 matter what it’s for or what it is.
1:10:15 They’re just not going to be for a tax increase regardless.
1:10:18 And I get that.
1:10:18 I understand that.
1:10:20 So I just want to make sure that as you’re making your decision,
1:10:24 as people are making their decision,
1:10:26 I’m making my decision as a board member
1:10:27 on what we’re going to do tonight,
1:10:29 that I look for accurate information.
1:10:31 And so some of that is we don’t–
1:10:34 everybody doesn’t always understand millage
1:10:36 and what is a mill.
1:10:37 And I had to do my own research on that back a couple of years
1:10:41 ago to try to figure out what exactly does that mean.
1:10:43 So we do all have– somebody mentioned it tonight.
1:10:47 We have on your home where you live, right, that you own–
1:10:50 if you own it and that is your residence,
1:10:52 you get your homestead exemption.
1:10:55 But also, we have a cap on how much your home can be appraised.
1:10:59 So even though my house that we built in 2014 now
1:11:04 is worth not quite twice as much as it was when we bought it
1:11:09 because of the market values increase,
1:11:11 your appraisal can go only up by just a small percentage
1:11:14 every year.
1:11:15 And that’s what your tax is based on subtracting
1:11:17 your homestead exemption.
1:11:20 So a house that is valued at $200,000,
1:11:24 just keep it super simple and use it with super round numbers.
1:11:26 If your home is valued around $200,000 on your tax appraisals
1:11:29 website, the increase of one mill would be $200.
1:11:34 So I just want to make sure people understand it’s not
1:11:37 a percentage of your total tax bill,
1:11:39 but it is literally 0.1% of whatever that is.
1:11:44 That’s what a mill is of whatever
1:11:46 your home is valued at.
1:11:47 So like I said, anybody’s home in the county who
1:11:50 is assessed at $200,000 after the homestead exemption,
1:11:52 the increase of one mill would be $200 a year.
1:11:57 I’ve already– you can go on the tax
1:11:59 if you forgot what your bills are over the year, you can go.
1:12:02 And I’ve already been on the tax collectors of Brevard County
1:12:05 Tax Collectors website this week looking up
1:12:07 all kinds of people.
1:12:07 I’ve looked up some of the people in this room
1:12:09 just to see what would it be for you
1:12:10 and what would it be for you.
1:12:11 Am I giving the right information?
1:12:13 I’ve got somebody who’s renting across the street from me.
1:12:16 And that’s been a concern that people have brought up to me.
1:12:17 So I’m like, OK, what does that look like?
1:12:19 And actually, because the thing that they don’t have
1:12:23 is the homestead exemption, right?
1:12:25 And so just not being nosy, it’s all public record.
1:12:30 And I won’t tell you who it is, but their assessment
1:12:34 will go up about $240 a year.
1:12:38 And that’s for a relatively nice neighborhood in West Melbourne.
1:12:43 So I just want to make sure that people understand,
1:12:46 because one, like I said, it’s been
1:12:49 tossed out– somebody has even said– a couple actually people
1:12:52 have said you’re actually taking money away from the people you
1:12:55 want to give the raises to.
1:12:58 But I think we need to recognize what size of increase that is.
1:13:03 And how much will we–
1:13:04 and I understand that to pass it on to the renters, I do.
1:13:07 And that was something that I had to take consideration
1:13:08 as I was thinking through this.
1:13:10 I also want– we’ve said it before,
1:13:12 but not everybody watches all the board meetings.
1:13:14 Who wants to watch a school board meeting?
1:13:15 Sometimes they’re fun and sometimes they’re boring,
1:13:18 even for those of us who are sitting up here.
1:13:20 But I want to make sure people understand that we actually
1:13:23 have very little– not only can we not increase taxes
1:13:26 on our community, we can’t even set the original ones.
1:13:29 That’s another misconception that happens a lot.
1:13:32 We have had so much growth in Brevard County.
1:13:35 Isn’t your revenue growing because we
1:13:37 have all these new houses going up?
1:13:38 And the answer is no, because we don’t set our tax rate.
1:13:43 Not like the county across the street, not like the cities.
1:13:46 This school board can do nothing to change the rate.
1:13:48 Our rate is set by the state.
1:13:52 And so that’s why– and it’s in the agenda item,
1:13:54 but that’s why I just–
1:13:55 my records, I just went back to 2015.
1:13:58 Maybe it’s because that’s the year we built our house.
1:14:01 But in 2015, the millage rate was 5.027
1:14:06 for the discretionary with the required local effort
1:14:09 that we have for the school board.
1:14:12 In 2021, it was 3.602.
1:14:17 So again, 5.027 down to 3.602.
1:14:20 So what the state has done to all of our benefit
1:14:22 is, while our property values have continued to increase,
1:14:26 even just a little bit because of the cap,
1:14:28 they’ve lowered the tax rate so that–
1:14:32 and I’m just going–
1:14:33 I’m not going to tell you what I pay in taxes.
1:14:35 You can look it up your own if you are that curious.
1:14:37 But my family’s house, even though, like I said,
1:14:40 the market value has gone through the roof,
1:14:42 our taxes have varied over the last eight years by about $140
1:14:48 from a low point, actually, in 2020.
1:14:51 The high point was in 2015.
1:14:54 So $140 difference between the highest year and the lowest
1:14:57 point.
1:14:57 It’s gone up, down, up, down.
1:14:58 But those are the highs and the lows.
1:15:00 $140 difference.
1:15:01 And so the state adjusts that down, down, down.
1:15:06 And so actually, if a mill is added,
1:15:08 we’ll actually be back up to around where we were around
1:15:12 2016.
1:15:14 So I just want to– again, it’s really important
1:15:17 if people are opposed to a tax, I totally get that.
1:15:20 But I want to make sure we get accurate information out there.
1:15:23 I am certainly grateful for the increases
1:15:26 that the legislature has given us over this last couple
1:15:28 of years to address our salary, our compensation problems.
1:15:34 But we still have some holes.
1:15:35 And just to replay some of those that we have given,
1:15:39 the state gave us the teacher salary increase allocation
1:15:44 so that across the state, school districts
1:15:46 can get their minimum salary up to $47,500.
1:15:50 We were able the first year to get up to $46,550,
1:15:53 and then this year to $46,800.
1:15:55 And if governor signs the budget,
1:15:56 it looks like we should be able to hit that $47,500 minimum
1:15:59 in this coming school year.
1:16:01 This year, I’m so grateful for the addition
1:16:04 to the base student allocation with the requirement
1:16:08 that we get all our salaries up to a minimum of $15
1:16:12 an hour three or four years early
1:16:17 because the voters of the state of Florida
1:16:19 approved the minimum wage to increase a dollar a year
1:16:22 until we get to $15 an hour.
1:16:24 And the state gave us some extra money to address that.
1:16:27 But again, we have some holes.
1:16:29 And one of the holes is that we have the wage compression
1:16:33 issue, that we have people who are brand new out of college
1:16:36 all the way up to having taught for 10, 12 plus years,
1:16:39 and they’re making the exact same amount.
1:16:43 We have people who, when we get to the $15 an hour next year,
1:16:47 are going to be supervised by someone who’s
1:16:49 only making $0.40 or $0.50 an hour more than they are.
1:16:52 We also have holes in health care for our budget.
1:16:57 Now, we could have, as a board, and I’ve only
1:16:59 been on the board for three and a half years,
1:17:01 but the board, over the last eight years,
1:17:03 could have increased premiums every year
1:17:05 for the last eight years.
1:17:06 I want you to think about what happened eight years ago, 2014.
1:17:09 Anything ring a bell in health care?
1:17:11 The Affordable Care Act.
1:17:12 I don’t know anybody else in the country who has not
1:17:16 had a health care premium increase on their health
1:17:18 insurance over the last eight years, but BPS.
1:17:24 Now, if you chose the silver plan,
1:17:26 your rates are the same as they were eight years ago.
1:17:30 Now, we could have increased those premiums a little bit
1:17:33 every year, but we didn’t.
1:17:35 We and the previous boards, we probably
1:17:38 should have done some of that a little bit year to year.
1:17:41 But truth be told, it would have been counterproductive
1:17:45 to increasing compensation for our employees
1:17:48 because some of those years, there
1:17:49 was nothing or next to nothing to give for recurring raises.
1:17:55 So I understand why previous boards didn’t do it.
1:17:57 And even though we’ve been able to give some pretty good raises
1:17:59 over the last couple of years, the first two years, 1,100,
1:18:02 and then the 2,000, and the longevity supplement
1:18:05 last year dealing with the teacher salary
1:18:07 allocation, which didn’t help all teachers,
1:18:09 but our other employees didn’t get anything.
1:18:16 And that increase is just one of the things
1:18:21 that we have that’s whole.
1:18:23 The biggest thing–
1:18:24 I’ve heard people talk about continue to cut,
1:18:27 and we have continued to cut.
1:18:30 We have cut, I want to say this again,
1:18:31 $39 million over the last six years, $29 million
1:18:34 since I’ve been on the board.
1:18:37 Those have come from all departments,
1:18:40 10% across the board, where Dr. Mullins has
1:18:42 come to departments and said, you’ve got to cut 10%.
1:18:45 Figure out where it’s going to come from.
1:18:46 We’ve cut positions.
1:18:47 We’ve done hiring freezes up here at the district office.
1:18:49 And I’m sorry if I’ve said this before,
1:18:51 but it needs to be said again.
1:18:55 Part of those cuts that we’re going
1:18:56 to continue to do are going to have
1:18:58 to deal with things that a millage, a potential millage,
1:19:01 can’t deal with, the inflation that people
1:19:03 have talked about a lot.
1:19:05 I have lost count of how many contracts
1:19:07 we’ve had to renegotiate already because our vendors are coming
1:19:11 back to us and say, I’m sorry, we can’t continue
1:19:13 that contract.
1:19:14 We can’t extend the contract if the current rates are
1:19:16 going to have to pay more because their costs are higher
1:19:18 from charter buses to construction costs.
1:19:22 We’re renegotiating a couple of contracts
1:19:24 tonight, food service, so we’re not going to stop cutting.
1:19:35 But we, having looked at this over the last three and a half
1:19:39 years, I don’t believe that we can
1:19:42 cut our way to the kind of additional revenue
1:19:44 that a millage can provide.
1:19:46 And I am certain that we can’t cut our way
1:19:49 to the significant increases in compensation
1:19:52 that our employees, who are also facing the same inflation
1:19:56 that everybody’s talked about tonight, that they need.
1:20:01 It is still around $4 million for us
1:20:05 to give a 1% raise to all our employees,
1:20:10 roughly about $4 million.
1:20:11 It’s probably a little bit more now
1:20:12 that the teacher salaries have increased,
1:20:14 and we’re going to get to the $15 an hour.
1:20:15 It’ll go up a little bit.
1:20:16 But a little over $4 million to give all employees
1:20:20 across the district a 1% raise.
1:20:22 1%.
1:20:23 1% that we’ve heard from the first year
1:20:25 that Cheryl and I got on the board
1:20:27 is not enough to deal with inflation, normal inflation,
1:20:30 much less what we have going on.
1:20:33 I just want to point out tonight, board,
1:20:36 as we go through our department in our action agenda,
1:20:40 we’ve got a department initiated agreement with the Florida
1:20:42 Department of Health.
1:20:44 The Department of Health is a state agency,
1:20:45 and they also have to get up to the $15 per hour minimum wage.
1:20:48 But I don’t know if you noticed that this is the agenda item.
1:20:51 It says they’re going to be increasing
1:20:54 the pay to $15 an hour for those who are under it.
1:20:56 Then it says all other employees are
1:20:58 to be awarded a 5.38% increase to their base rate of pay
1:21:04 to address rising inflation.
1:21:11 So our nurses and our health techs in our clinics
1:21:13 are going to be getting either up to $15 an hour or 5.38%
1:21:18 raise to deal with inflation, the same inflation, again,
1:21:21 that our teachers and our staff, our bus drivers,
1:21:24 our cafeteria workers are also dealing with.
1:21:27 And I apologize for going long, but this
1:21:29 is one of the most significant decisions
1:21:31 that we will have made in my time on the board.
1:21:40 We have vacancies.
1:21:42 We have work foreshorted.
1:21:44 A lot of other industries do as well.
1:21:46 A lot of other industries have the opportunity
1:21:48 to do things about increasing revenue.
1:21:54 If you have a successful company,
1:21:56 you generate more revenue, and you can pay your employees more.
1:22:01 If we have students, if we have schools that rate as A,
1:22:05 and we have students who are national merit finalists
1:22:07 and all that, we’re going to congratulate them.
1:22:09 We’re going to make a big, huge deal about it.
1:22:11 But we don’t get paid anymore.
1:22:15 And our teachers and our bus drivers and all that,
1:22:22 they can go to any other job in their industry.
1:22:25 They can leave us and go to a job in their industry,
1:22:27 whether it’s science– and we’ve certainly got plenty
1:22:30 of those opportunities around here– engineering firms,
1:22:33 Russell, Cheatham’s tech staff going off
1:22:36 to work other computer jobs.
1:22:38 The bus drivers– Matt talked about this before.
1:22:40 They go work for the county or somewhere else,
1:22:42 private bus companies.
1:22:43 They can leave us and go work for another employer
1:22:46 in their field and make thousands, if not tens,
1:22:49 of thousands more per year.
1:22:53 Why would they stay with us?
1:22:54 And the ones who stay, I’m so thankful that they do.
1:22:57 But they’ve got to help.
1:22:58 They’ve got to pay for their families as well.
1:23:02 You know, I just have to address one more thing.
1:23:07 And that is, it’s been said in different forums
1:23:10 that we would be asking for this increase because of loss
1:23:18 of student enrollment.
1:23:20 And then it’s our fault. And because of BPS policies,
1:23:23 the board policies, that’s why we’re losing students.
1:23:26 And I get it.
1:23:27 And I know why some of the losses were.
1:23:29 We lost students in 2020 because we had a mass mandate.
1:23:32 We lost students because we didn’t have a mass mandate.
1:23:34 We lost them this year because we didn’t have one
1:23:36 at the beginning of the year.
1:23:36 And then we lost them because we did have one again,
1:23:38 and then back and forth.
1:23:39 And we have lost students.
1:23:40 But I just want to point out– and again, I’m a numbers person.
1:23:43 If you look at the BPS plus the charter,
1:23:46 because we’ve lost some of them to charter, BPS has.
1:23:50 If you add the BPS plus the charter enrollment
1:23:52 from pre-pandemic in 2019-20, it was about 71,
1:23:57 a little over 71,000 students in Brevard.
1:24:02 Going to skip the pandemic year because that
1:24:04 was an anomaly for all of us.
1:24:05 But this school year, we’re almost back up to 70,000.
1:24:08 Next year, we’re projected by the state
1:24:11 to be back up to 71,000, and the year
1:24:13 after that to be up to 72,000.
1:24:14 So in other words, the total number
1:24:16 of students across the district between the BPS and the charter
1:24:20 schools has stayed relatively the same.
1:24:22 And the millage by law has to be shared with the charter
1:24:25 schools.
1:24:26 So we’re talking about funding students.
1:24:29 And by the way, as a charter school liaison, I can tell you,
1:24:32 they’re desperately in need of employees
1:24:37 and being able to compensate them competitively
1:24:40 so that their employees will stay across all employee
1:24:42 groups.
1:24:44 So I’ll just say, our total enrollment has changed.
1:24:47 It’s not changed, really.
1:24:48 We’re going to be sharing this to benefit all the students
1:24:52 in Brevard County that are attending our public schools,
1:24:54 whether charter or BPS.
1:24:56 So again, I just want to make sure people
1:24:57 have accurate information.
1:25:00 And again, the process is not over.
1:25:03 The public is going to have their time.
1:25:07 But I want to make sure people have accurate information.
1:25:10 I’m certainly willing to spare any more information
1:25:13 if somebody wants to ask me about what’s
1:25:15 going on with our budget.
1:25:16 Thank you, Ms. Campbell.
1:25:17 Any other board member wish to speak to the agenda item?
1:25:22 Thank you.
1:25:22 Yeah, I’m going to keep it pretty short.
1:25:24 Thank you, Ms. Campbell, for clarifying a lot of that stuff
1:25:26 that I definitely wanted to talk about as well.
1:25:29 I just kind of want to keep it human for a moment
1:25:31 and kind of reiterate something that you were talking about.
1:25:34 So my household, two educators, my husband
1:25:37 has been educating in Brevard public schools for 12 years.
1:25:40 He is making $46,800, which is exactly
1:25:43 the same as the brand new.
1:25:46 That is a problem.
1:25:47 We are the second most experienced workforce
1:25:49 in the state of Florida, which means the majority
1:25:51 of our teachers are teaching 12 years and above.
1:25:54 That’s a thing you want.
1:25:55 That’s a great quality to have.
1:25:57 The problem is we aren’t compensating them enough.
1:26:00 And once they hit that amazing threshold of 12 years,
1:26:03 they’re leaving.
1:26:05 They’re leaving for other businesses, other industries,
1:26:08 because they’re not making enough money.
1:26:10 But now it’s been made worse, because they’re
1:26:13 making same as the brand new teacher
1:26:15 walking into the building.
1:26:17 Never mind all the other responsibilities
1:26:19 that have been placed on top of them,
1:26:21 that they’ve just kind of pummeled
1:26:22 through like they always do.
1:26:26 Someone made a really good point,
1:26:27 and I completely agree with it, during public comment
1:26:29 about how families have been struggling to save.
1:26:32 Everyone’s been hit hard financially,
1:26:33 and I completely agree with that.
1:26:38 Again, a household of two educators.
1:26:40 We legitimately have to make decisions whether or not
1:26:43 we’re going to be able to save for our own daughters
1:26:45 at college.
1:26:46 There’s a household of educators,
1:26:48 and it’s just a weird concept.
1:26:51 We’ve got master’s degrees.
1:26:53 We’ve got 12 years of experience.
1:26:55 We’re dedicating our lives to these children,
1:26:57 and we can’t plan for the future of our own daughter.
1:26:59 That’s a problem.
1:27:01 And then, needless to say, I mean,
1:27:03 when we start talking about our other staff members
1:27:06 or they’re making hourly wages, they are struggling.
1:27:12 The fact that they’re even still here with us
1:27:14 is more than commendable, and they need to be rewarded.
1:27:18 And no, we cannot do it with the current budget that we have.
1:27:21 There isn’t some secret hidden money that we’ve
1:27:23 been using inappropriately.
1:27:26 I agree with Ms. Campbell.
1:27:27 I think it’s really important for the public
1:27:29 to be aware that, no, it’s not our decision.
1:27:31 Majority rules goes to the voters.
1:27:34 But every other county in the state of Florida–
1:27:36 I think it’s 22 at this point–
1:27:38 it’s gone to the voters, and they did the right thing
1:27:41 for their community because it impacts
1:27:44 their families, their neighbors, and the future
1:27:47 of their community.
1:27:48 And what I think is really unique about Brevard
1:27:50 that we really need to take a minute and think about
1:27:52 that’s different than those other counties
1:27:55 is that we are the space [INAUDIBLE] and we offer so
1:27:59 many employment opportunities for all levels of our staff
1:28:05 to just leave.
1:28:08 And that’s a problem because you want teachers
1:28:10 in front of your students.
1:28:12 You want staff members in those classrooms.
1:28:14 You need bus drivers.
1:28:15 You need people in our cafeterias.
1:28:17 We can’t be without those people because we cannot function
1:28:21 as an organization without those people.
1:28:26 The other thing I think is really important,
1:28:28 and if this goes forward, I know that BBS
1:28:30 is going to have a messaging plan
1:28:31 and talk about all the other things other than teacher
1:28:34 compensation and staff wages.
1:28:36 But this is going to support all staffing.
1:28:42 One of the things that Dr. Mullen– sorry
1:28:43 if I’m jumping the gun here–
1:28:45 but every time I bring it up to people,
1:28:47 it makes them really excited because there’s
1:28:49 really innovative things we can be doing with this money
1:28:52 that we don’t have the money to do right now.
1:28:55 We can have an assistant in every K through 2 classroom
1:28:58 to support a teacher so that we can get in there when those kids
1:29:01 are young and struggling and get in there and get them
1:29:04 on grade level before they hit the third grade.
1:29:07 We cannot do that right now with the budget that we have.
1:29:10 These are the important things that this millage could provide
1:29:13 to our students and to our community and to our staff.
1:29:16 And even something as simple as adding an IA in a classroom,
1:29:21 not only does that benefit our students,
1:29:22 but that makes the day of our teacher better.
1:29:25 It makes the morale for that teacher better.
1:29:27 And it will help us retain them and also recruit
1:29:30 from other counties where they may not
1:29:32 have that support in their classroom
1:29:33 because it’s a unique ability to them.
1:29:35 So that’s just one little thing that I
1:29:38 had discussed with Dr. Mullen.
1:29:40 And I’m sorry if I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud.
1:29:42 But I think it’s really important because it’s not just
1:29:45 about– it’s not just about the wages.
1:29:46 Yes, that’s so critical.
1:29:48 That’s so important.
1:29:48 That’s what we’re going to talk about on the forefront.
1:29:51 But there’s so many other benefits
1:29:52 to this millage passing.
1:29:54 But again, it goes to the voters.
1:29:56 And the voters of Brevard County get
1:29:57 to make this decision ultimately.
1:30:01 Thank you, Ms. Jenkins.
1:30:03 Anyone else?
1:30:05 I will just add one thing.
1:30:07 And thank you, Ms. Campbell, for a very thorough explanation
1:30:11 of the parts and pieces, much– no, no, no, it was great.
1:30:16 It was all important information to share.
1:30:18 And much of it I had planned on sharing as well.
1:30:21 The only additional thing that I’ll throw out there is–
1:30:25 and primarily because people don’t understand it–
1:30:28 is that our tax dollars that we pay
1:30:30 for education in the state of Florida
1:30:32 don’t come directly to our schools.
1:30:35 So when we pay millage on our property for education,
1:30:40 those dollars for our RLE, our required local effort,
1:30:44 the 3.6 that Ms. Campbell referenced earlier,
1:30:48 actually go to Titus–
1:30:50 not to Titusville, I wish to Titusville–
1:30:52 go to Tallahassee.
1:30:55 And the legislature decides how they’re
1:30:57 going to send those dollars back to us.
1:30:59 And so we don’t necessarily get all of those dollars back.
1:31:04 And when we get those dollars back,
1:31:06 we get them in the way that the state wants to give them to us.
1:31:10 And so with categoricals that require
1:31:12 us to spend them in a certain way,
1:31:13 like the $15 per hour minimum wage.
1:31:16 So in looking at the record funding
1:31:18 that education is receiving this year, absolutely.
1:31:23 You can’t deny that the dollars are going up.
1:31:28 But there are a couple of things that we have to consider,
1:31:30 I think, and that is how much of those dollars–
1:31:32 and it was covered very thoroughly in our budget workshop–
1:31:36 how much of those dollars are we being
1:31:38 told how we have to spend?
1:31:40 Because we can’t determine how we’re
1:31:44 going to spend the bulk of those dollars.
1:31:46 We went from–
1:31:47 Dr. Mullins, help me out on numbers,
1:31:48 because you’re the one who has that brain that never forgets
1:31:50 it.
1:31:51 But we went from like a $43 million increase to–
1:31:55 by the time we addressed the categoricals,
1:31:58 the additional dollars to charter schools,
1:32:00 all of those things were down to $3.6 million
1:32:04 available from the budget.
1:32:06 I got the numbers right.
1:32:07 Look at that.
1:32:09 Which, if you all were listening,
1:32:11 Ms. Campbell mentioned, over $4 million to do a 1% raise.
1:32:15 So not even enough additional dollars from the state funding
1:32:18 to do a 1% raise across the board.
1:32:21 And that is really problematic.
1:32:23 The other thing that is a part of the state funding formula,
1:32:25 which I just think this is an interesting fact that a lot
1:32:28 of people are not aware of.
1:32:29 We’ve talked about it a few times.
1:32:31 And that is the district cost differential.
1:32:33 So what our state does is they identify a multiplier.
1:32:37 And it’s based on the cost of living per county.
1:32:40 And if our cost of living in Brevard County
1:32:43 is lower than the cost of living in other counties,
1:32:47 our multiplier is below one.
1:32:49 So what they do is they go through all of the FEFP funding,
1:32:52 Florida Education Finance Program funding formula,
1:32:55 and they determine how many dollars
1:32:57 are going to come to Brevard County.
1:33:00 And then they multiply it by our cost of living figure.
1:33:05 If we’re under one, for those of you who are math people,
1:33:09 we’re losing dollars.
1:33:11 And we’re under one.
1:33:12 So every year, we lose millions of dollars
1:33:15 to other counties that have a higher cost of living.
1:33:18 Oh, and by the way, most of the time,
1:33:20 those counties that are above one on their multiplier
1:33:23 because they have a higher cost of living
1:33:25 also have additional millage.
1:33:28 So when we’re looking at providing a competitive salary
1:33:31 to our workforce, we are facing multiple challenges
1:33:35 in being able to do that.
1:33:37 In addition, the structure of Brevard County,
1:33:39 because we’re long and thin, we have multiple counties
1:33:42 that surround us.
1:33:43 If you look at the average teacher salary of Indian River,
1:33:46 Seminole County, and Orange County, all of them
1:33:49 have a higher average teacher salary
1:33:51 than what we have here in Brevard County.
1:33:53 Which means, not only do we have the competition
1:33:56 of all of the space boom that’s going on,
1:33:59 but we also have the competition of the other districts,
1:34:02 especially those who have cost a millage
1:34:05 and are getting additional dollars
1:34:06 through the district cost difference.
1:34:08 So there’s so many intricacies to the budget
1:34:12 and the way that we’re funded
1:34:13 and the restrictions on the dollars.
1:34:16 And then the last thing that I will say,
1:34:18 and to echo what everyone else said,
1:34:20 the board is not making this choice for our community.
1:34:23 The board is making a decision tonight
1:34:26 whether to give our community the opportunity
1:34:28 to weigh in on it.
1:34:29 And I think that’s a critically important difference.
1:34:36 The bottom line is that a lot of people look at it
1:34:39 and say we got all this additional federal funding.
1:34:43 And I think that’s an important aspect to discuss too.
1:34:46 In that we did get a lot of federal funding
1:34:49 that has allowed us to do some great things for our students.
1:34:51 The challenge with it is, those are not recurring dollars.
1:34:54 So we can’t use one-time money
1:34:57 to make a long-term commitment on a raise.
1:35:00 And that’s where we run into problems.
1:35:01 And we’ve heard, if you’ve heard the sound bites
1:35:03 over the past couple of years
1:35:05 when we’ve only been able to give a bonus to our employees,
1:35:07 that’s because we only have one-time money.
1:35:10 And when that money goes away,
1:35:12 we don’t have the dollars to keep paying it.
1:35:13 So we’ve been forced to give bonuses as opposed to raises.
1:35:18 And I’m gonna throw one more intricate thing out there
1:35:20 and then I’m gonna hush up and let you guys get to it.
1:35:23 But I think it’s also important to note
1:35:25 that the issue that we’re facing with salary compression,
1:35:29 especially for our teachers,
1:35:31 it’s difficult enough with our staff
1:35:33 who are being raised to $15 an hour
1:35:35 three years before we had anticipated it happening.
1:35:40 But for our teachers,
1:35:41 we have additional statutory limitations
1:35:43 that are creating some real issues.
1:35:45 And that is that once we reach $47,500
1:35:50 as our minimum teacher salary,
1:35:52 for every dollar that we give to a teacher
1:35:55 who’s making more than 47,500,
1:35:59 we must give 75 cents to the teacher making 47,500,
1:36:05 which means that it is incredibly difficult
1:36:08 for us to be able to close that gap.
1:36:11 Part of what we have been doing
1:36:12 is been giving bonuses to try to make up
1:36:16 for the fact that those people haven’t gotten raises.
1:36:20 And the same people that are currently making
1:36:23 a little bit over 47,500
1:36:25 that are gonna be making maybe $400 more
1:36:28 than the teacher in the next room to them
1:36:30 that just came into the district,
1:36:32 those are the same people that lived with pay raises
1:36:35 for four years.
1:36:38 Pay freezes, did I say raises?
1:36:40 Pay freezes for four years during the recession.
1:36:43 And so they are truly getting a double whammy.
1:36:48 And quite frankly, it makes it difficult to entice people
1:36:51 to stay in the classroom and serve our kids.
1:36:53 So with that, I’m gonna get off of my soapbox
1:36:56 and anyone else wanna speak otherwise I’ll call the question.
1:37:02 Go ahead.
1:37:05 - I think everybody has covered it very well.
1:37:07 I think it’s up to the community to decide
1:37:10 if they value their public schools
1:37:11 and if they value their teachers.
1:37:13 And I think this is why we are wanting to put this forward
1:37:18 and put it on the ballot.
1:37:23 - All right, any additional discussion?
1:37:26 All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.
1:37:28 - Aye.
1:37:30 - All opposed, same time.
1:37:31 - Nay.
1:37:32 - And the motion passes four to one.
1:37:37 All right, Dr. Mullins.
1:37:42 - The next item is F36 procurement solicitation.
1:37:46 - What are the wishes of the board?
1:37:47 - Move to approve.
1:37:49 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. McDougall.
1:37:52 Is there any discussion?
1:37:54 All in favor, please signify by saying aye.
1:37:56 - Aye.
1:37:57 - Any opposed, same time.
1:37:58 Motion passes five, zero.
1:38:00 Dr. Mullins.
1:38:01 - The last item is F37,
1:38:03 department school initiated agreements.
1:38:06 - Do I hear a motion?
1:38:07 - Move to approve.
1:38:08 - Second.
1:38:09 - Moved by Mr. Susan, seconded by Ms. McDougall.
1:38:11 Is there any discussion?
1:38:13 All in favor, please signify by saying aye.
1:38:15 - Aye.
1:38:16 - Any opposed, same time.
1:38:17 Motion passes five, zero.
1:38:20 All right, we will move on to the information agenda,
1:38:22 which includes items for board review
1:38:24 and may be brought back for action at a subsequent meeting.
1:38:26 No action will be taken on these items tonight.
1:38:28 Dr. Mullins.
1:38:29 - There are four items under the information category.
1:38:32 - Does any board member wish to discuss
1:38:34 any of the information items on the agenda this evening?
1:38:38 All right, do any other board members have information
1:38:41 to report or discuss for board discussion?
1:38:43 - I do.
1:38:44 - Ms. Jenkins.
1:38:46 - I have two things.
1:38:47 So I forgot to say in the beginning
1:38:49 that I promised the students from Vera High School
1:38:52 that I would make you guys, but I’m gonna ask you instead,
1:38:57 if they can bring their robot here.
1:38:59 They really wanna show it off.
1:39:01 They said they’ll get it here.
1:39:02 Just let us know when we can come
1:39:03 and I said I would make that happen.
1:39:06 So let’s not break their hearts.
1:39:08 You let me know, Dr. Mullins.
1:39:10 You let me know when and I will tell them when.
1:39:12 But no, so on a serious note,
1:39:15 I do wanna have a conversation.
1:39:16 And ironically, somebody brought it up
1:39:17 in public comment earlier today
1:39:18 and in public comment during this meeting.
1:39:21 But it’s something that I feel passionate about
1:39:24 and I was planning on bringing it up.
1:39:26 Anyway, I would like this board to consider the recording
1:39:31 of any of our meetings that are open to the public.
1:39:34 Obviously we have executive sessions
1:39:35 that the public is not privy to that information.
1:39:38 But I think it’s completely appropriate.
1:39:40 It doesn’t have to necessarily be live streamed
1:39:42 ‘cause I know that would include certain staff members
1:39:44 and probably we would have to be in this room
1:39:45 every single time.
1:39:47 But I don’t understand why we can’t record it
1:39:49 and upload it at a bare minimum audio record it.
1:39:53 I think that the public has a right to hear
1:39:56 what people are saying.
1:39:57 I think it holds certain accountability measures
1:40:00 for what is being said and presented
1:40:03 and how it gets out to the public.
1:40:05 And I just was wondering
1:40:08 if you guys are on board with that.
1:40:11 - I like it.
1:40:12 We’ve done it in the past where we record it
1:40:13 and we can upload it in places where there’s no,
1:40:17 I’m sorry, in places where there’s no Wi-Fi
1:40:18 and stuff like that, throw down an audio.
1:40:20 I think it’s great, good idea.
1:40:22 I think it’s something that we need to do.
1:40:24 I’m in favor of it.
1:40:26 Sounds good.
1:40:27 Just start seeing what the infrastructure is.
1:40:28 Sometimes we run into places where it’s difficult to.
1:40:31 Sometimes, just so you know,
1:40:32 we might throw down a microphone
1:40:34 and the places where we’re in,
1:40:35 that may be difficult to pick up a speech.
1:40:37 But the fact that it’s there and doing it, yeah.
1:40:39 I mean, there’s no, you know.
1:40:41 My only fear would be that somebody says,
1:40:42 “Well, I can’t hear you on the microphone.”
1:40:44 Well, sometimes that might happen.
1:40:46 That’s it.
1:40:47 So, I’m in favor of it.
1:40:53 - I just want to make sure that people understand that
1:40:55 we are already, in case there’s any question,
1:40:59 we are already doing what is required.
1:41:00 We take minutes at every meeting
1:41:02 and they are publicly available.
1:41:03 They’re announced and all that stuff.
1:41:11 The biggest issue for me would be the ability to do it.
1:41:16 ‘Cause I don’t, it’s not,
1:41:17 we can’t always have our meetings in here
1:41:18 because this room gets used a lot during the week.
1:41:20 So, when we do our superintendent evaluations
1:41:24 and our board evaluations and whatever,
1:41:25 we usually do those in smaller rooms
1:41:27 because we’re not taking up so much space
1:41:29 when this room has to be used for conferences and stuff, so.
1:41:33 - We can record them on a cell phone.
1:41:34 - We can use our phones, yeah.
1:41:35 We can literally live stream it if we have to.
1:41:37 - I love it.
1:41:38 It’s more transparency, it’s great.
1:41:39 - I just want to, just, that’s a good point, Ms. Campbell,
1:41:41 though I do want to clarify,
1:41:43 we are completely following every single state statute
1:41:46 when it comes to open meetings and recording and stuff.
1:41:48 This would be going above and beyonds,
1:41:50 but I don’t see why there would be an issue to do it.
1:41:52 And it’s something that I felt like
1:41:54 we should have been doing a long time ago.
1:41:56 So, thank you.
1:41:59 - Mr. Cheatham, I was wondering, didn’t we used to,
1:42:06 I thought when we first started,
1:42:07 when we were in the conference room,
1:42:09 didn’t we tape those?
1:42:11 Was I dreaming that?
1:42:12 I thought we taped it.
1:42:13 No, I really thought we were taping those.
1:42:16 I thought we did.
1:42:17 - You said you did.
1:42:18 - Yeah, we did.
1:42:18 - Okay.
1:42:19 - I don’t know if they were live streamed,
1:42:20 but they uploaded it.
1:42:21 - Right.
1:42:22 - I think they uploaded it after.
1:42:23 - Absolutely, so yeah.
1:42:24 I just want to make sure I know that we have done that.
1:42:27 - Yeah, we did have set up in the superintendent’s
1:42:29 conference room for when we meet them there
1:42:31 that we could record.
1:42:32 I think where we may run into problems
1:42:35 is when we do offsite.
1:42:38 Then we may have some issues with audio and video quality
1:42:42 and all of those things, but yeah.
1:42:45 Okay, any other board discussion item?
1:42:47 - Yep, I got one.
1:42:48 - Mr. Susan.
1:42:49 - Are we all clear?
1:42:50 - I think we’re good on that, right?
1:42:52 - All right, so many of you guys don’t know,
1:42:54 but there’s been an ongoing situation that I’ve had
1:42:57 with the Florida High School Athletic Association
1:42:59 in dealing with private schools that were playing.
1:43:01 Last year, we ran into a situation
1:43:03 where one of our baseball programs went down,
1:43:06 all the way down into Miami, played a game,
1:43:09 and then found, literally, they were not supposed
1:43:12 to play a game for seven days.
1:43:15 They practiced for four days running all their pitchers,
1:43:18 and then because a private school overturned with a judge
1:43:21 that the FHSA’s ruling was not fair,
1:43:24 our kids were forced to go within 24 hours
1:43:27 and go up against a team in Miami,
1:43:29 and we lost by a couple of runs.
1:43:30 We remember that, it was very upsetting.
1:43:32 Now we have another situation where private schools
1:43:35 down in South Florida, what they do is they take
1:43:39 a lot of the students from a lot of these travel teams,
1:43:40 and they put them on private school teams,
1:43:42 and it’s an acoustic nature, environment.
1:43:45 Our kids are going down there to play baseball,
1:43:47 and the crowds and everybody else are engaging
1:43:49 with our kids, and it’s getting to be out of control.
1:43:52 So one in particular case came up with Vieira High School,
1:43:55 and what ended up happening is one of the players
1:43:58 ended up in the middle of playing,
1:44:00 and the catcher touched our guy,
1:44:04 and then he turned around to try to touch the ref
1:44:06 and say, “Hey, here’s what he did,”
1:44:07 and I threw him out and then gave him
1:44:09 a 12-month suspension, all right?
1:44:11 So I wouldn’t have brought this up
1:44:14 had my athletic director, my principal, the coach,
1:44:18 and the families all been in unison
1:44:20 and saying, “This is absurd.”
1:44:21 So this is just an FYI that I’m going to start
1:44:24 getting involved with polling.
1:44:26 I’m actually gonna ask for all disciplinary actions
1:44:29 in the state of Florida over the last two years
1:44:31 in both private and public school,
1:44:32 both division level one, two, and three,
1:44:35 and to try to see if there’s any inconsistencies.
1:44:37 If they’re consistent with what they do,
1:44:38 then that’s one thing, but I will promise you
1:44:40 to end a kid’s career because he’s a junior right now
1:44:44 and it’ll run into next year is horrible for what that is.
1:44:48 That’s the same offense as some kid turning around
1:44:50 and punching somebody in the face.
1:44:52 That is absurd, and it’s not fair for the rest of us
1:44:56 to have to go through that.
1:44:57 It’s not fair for us to have to go down
1:44:58 to these private schools where they can’t control
1:45:00 the community that we’re playing against,
1:45:02 and our kids are in a hostile environment.
1:45:04 This is number two, and I’m just sick of it,
1:45:06 so I just wanted to let you guys know.
1:45:08 I wasn’t gonna bring it up.
1:45:09 I apologize not putting it on,
1:45:11 but I started getting texts from the parents
1:45:13 as I was walking in that the decisions come down,
1:45:15 so I’m gonna look to see the validity,
1:45:17 and if not, I’m just gonna get loud.
1:45:19 I’ll just let you guys know.
1:45:21 - All right, so now we can support it.
1:45:23 - Thank you, thank you.
1:45:24 - Any other board discussion?
1:45:26 Dr. Mullins, do you have anything?
1:45:28 - Ms. Belford, if I could just do a quick appendix
1:45:31 add-on footnote to my presentation earlier.
1:45:33 I realized that I skipped over recognizing
1:45:37 one of our pre-K programs.
1:45:38 It was on the slide with the high school CTE programs.
1:45:41 I got so excited about that, I skipped over a bullet,
1:45:44 but it’s our, and I don’t want our pre-K VE classrooms
1:45:48 to go unacknowledged.
1:45:49 We have 49 classrooms across 35 elementary schools.
1:45:53 It was the bullet on the slide,
1:45:55 but, and those are our pre-K programs
1:45:57 for our students with disabilities
1:45:59 based on the IEP team recommendations,
1:46:01 and just another great testament of the support
1:46:04 and resources that we provide our littlest ones
1:46:08 who may have a learning disability already,
1:46:10 and just a huge shout out and thank you
1:46:12 to our pre-K VE teachers who are inspiring our kids
1:46:17 and loving them, thank you.
1:46:18 - Can I double down on that real quick?
1:46:21 Kinda goes hand in hand with that millage
1:46:23 and how we have the opportunity to offer unique situations
1:46:26 for some of our students,
1:46:27 but that is something you’re talking about.
1:46:29 It’s a, part of that was a program that I was part of,
1:46:32 and that is not offered in every county across the state.
1:46:35 We offer special education services to our kiddos
1:46:38 that are three and four years old,
1:46:40 even if they aren’t inside a VPS, VPK classroom.
1:46:44 So these are things to think about the amazing services
1:46:48 that we offer.
1:46:51 - And I would say critically important
1:46:53 to get them started off on the right foot,
1:46:54 especially if they’re facing additional challenges
1:46:56 coming into kindergarten.
1:46:58 - Unidentified, what they end up doing,
1:47:00 if they’re not identified, helped with inclusion.
1:47:02 Everything is chaos and something that we have committed.
1:47:07 Kudos.
1:47:08 - Yep, absolutely.
1:47:10 All right, anything else?
1:47:12 All right, then we are going to now hear
1:47:14 the remaining speakers who signed up
1:47:15 to comment on non-agenda items.
1:47:17 Just for clarification, we will be transitioning the policy.
1:47:21 We will vote on the policy at the next meeting
1:47:24 to adjust the public comment time
1:47:25 for non-agenda speakers to three minutes,
1:47:31 the sliding scale that goes along
1:47:32 with the agenda item speakers.
1:47:35 But this evening we have nine speakers,
1:47:38 each of which will have one minute to speak.
1:47:42 We have a clock in front of me
1:47:43 to help you keep track of your time.
1:47:44 When your time is over, you’ll be asked to stop
1:47:46 and allow the next speaker his or her turn.
1:47:48 We’ll hear from the speakers in the order
1:47:49 in which they signed up,
1:47:50 including those who may be waiting outside,
1:47:52 although I don’t think we have any,
1:47:53 unless they just wanted to enjoy
1:47:55 the fabulous weather this evening.
1:47:58 As stated earlier, reasonable decorum is expected
1:48:00 at all times and your statements should be directed
1:48:02 to the board chair.
1:48:03 Should audience participation interfere
1:48:05 with speakers being heard or hearing me,
1:48:06 I will be forced to clear the room.
1:48:08 When I call your name, please line up
1:48:09 along the east wall of the boardroom
1:48:11 to facilitate the smooth transition of speakers.
1:48:13 We’ll begin with our first three speakers,
1:48:15 Emma Ramsey, Karen Colby, and Max Madel.
1:48:19 I apologize, Max, if I got that wrong.
1:48:21 You can correct me when you get up there.
1:48:28 Emma, whenever you’re ready.
1:48:30 - Hello, my name is Emma Ramsey
1:48:32 and I am currently a 10th grader
1:48:34 at Edgewood Junior Senior High School.
1:48:36 I am here today to propose a change
1:48:38 to the current attendance policy
1:48:40 that would excuse special programs tied
1:48:42 to the state or federal government.
1:48:45 In February, I was selected as a Florida Senate page
1:48:48 for a week and it was an incredible opportunity.
1:48:51 I learned a lot every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1:48:55 about government at the state level
1:48:57 and I was able to apply what I learned while I was there,
1:49:00 such as how bills make it to the Senate floor,
1:49:03 how committee meetings operate, and how to campaign,
1:49:05 which are all things we would learn in a government class.
1:49:08 This is why I believe there should be a spot
1:49:10 in the attendance policy that excuses this program.
1:49:13 For example, under religion and doctors’ notes
1:49:16 and court dates could be special programs
1:49:18 tied to the federal or state government.
1:49:21 This excuses things pertaining
1:49:22 to the House and Senate page programs
1:49:24 and girls and boys’ state.
1:49:27 I firmly believe the sole purpose of education
1:49:30 is meant to apply what we have learned in the classroom.
1:49:32 - Thank you, Emma.
1:49:33 We appreciate you joining us this evening.
1:49:35 - Thank you for considering my proposal.
1:49:37 - Yes, and I’m thrilled that you got an opportunity
1:49:39 to take part in that program.
1:49:41 It is a phenomenal experience,
1:49:43 but that should be an excused absence.
1:49:48 - Yes, but she has to submit an application.
1:49:51 I believe she’s proposing that it be in policy
1:49:53 so she wouldn’t have to submit an appeal.
1:49:55 - Okay.
1:49:58 Karen Colby?
1:50:02 - Hey, okay, for my one minute,
1:50:05 I wanted to spend two seconds
1:50:07 talking about the book conversation.
1:50:11 We had an issue with books being taken from the library,
1:50:15 from the curriculum, and that would be math-related books.
1:50:19 And just so people listening understand something,
1:50:22 it has more to do with word questions.
1:50:24 Instead of saying if Billy had three brothers
1:50:27 and one brother wasn’t with him that day,
1:50:29 how many brothers does Billy have?
1:50:32 And you’d have to figure out,
1:50:33 does Billy still have the brothers not there
1:50:35 or are the brothers missing or whatever?
1:50:38 A, B, C, D, multiple guests.
1:50:39 But some of these questions had to do
1:50:41 with some pretty odd subject matter for a math question.
1:50:46 And it would be more like if Billy had three friends,
1:50:49 one’s binary, one’s gender fluid,
1:50:51 and one is questioning how many non-binary friends
1:50:55 does Billy have?
1:50:56 And I’d be here going,
1:50:57 Billy, I don’t know how many friends you got now.
1:50:59 I’d be confused ‘cause they, them, and there
1:51:01 are two people sometimes.
1:51:03 For my last six seconds, I do wanna thank you
1:51:05 for listening about the millage,
1:51:06 and we will vote, all of the people will vote against it.
1:51:10 Thank you.
1:51:11 - Thank you, Ms. Colby.
1:51:12 As Max is approaching, our next three speakers
1:51:14 will be Alexis Seat, Paul Espino, and Katie Delaney.
1:51:19 You all would line up on the East wall.
1:51:23 Max, how do I say your last name?
1:51:25 - Madel.
1:51:27 - Got it, thank you.
1:51:29 - Hi, my name is Max Madel.
1:51:30 I am a 10th grade student at Viera High School.
1:51:33 This year, VHS decided to implement an ID card system.
1:51:36 You are required to wear this ID card
1:51:38 on a lanyard around your neck at all times on campus.
1:51:41 You need this ID card to come into school,
1:51:43 to leave the classroom if you wanna use the restroom,
1:51:44 and if you wanna come back from,
1:51:47 and if you wanna come back to class from the restroom.
1:51:50 In the morning when people are trying to get into school,
1:51:52 they are being marked as tardy
1:51:53 because the line to scan your ID card is astronomically long.
1:51:57 I know that in my first period class,
1:51:59 there are multiple people coming into class
1:52:00 almost 10 minutes late.
1:52:02 This morning, April 26th, 2022,
1:52:05 I forgot my ID card for the first time all year.
1:52:07 I was given a detention slip
1:52:09 that is for tomorrow from 8.05 to 8.40 a.m.
1:52:13 At the beginning of the year,
1:52:14 the principal attended one of my classes
1:52:16 and let us know that we can show our ID card
1:52:17 to an administrator to get the detention removed.
1:52:19 But how am I supposed to get the detention removed
1:52:22 if my detention is scheduled for 8.05 tomorrow morning?
1:52:25 I understand that this is for safety reasons.
1:52:27 However, it makes us students feel like we are in jail
1:52:29 to use an anonymous student’s exact words from this morning.
1:52:33 - Thank you, Max.
1:52:35 We appreciate you joining us this evening.
1:52:38 Dr. Sullivan, would you mind grabbing Max?
1:52:43 Sorry.
1:52:45 - You’re not in trouble.
1:52:46 - Yeah.
1:52:46 - It’s gonna work.
1:52:47 - She’s gonna help you.
1:52:49 - Alexis.
1:52:50 - Yeah, make that clear, he’s not in trouble.
1:52:54 He thinks he’s getting another one.
1:52:56 - No detentions, Max, I promise.
1:52:58 Not in here.
1:53:00 - All right, Alexis, whenever you’re ready.
1:53:03 - Hello, my name is Alexis.
1:53:06 I’m a sophomore from O’Gally High School
1:53:07 with students working against tobacco,
1:53:09 empowering youth in the fight against nicotine addiction.
1:53:12 I wanna discuss vaping
1:53:14 and the use of nicotine products by youth.
1:53:16 You, as board members,
1:53:17 can improve students’ academic and behavioral growth.
1:53:20 In Brevard County, one in six students aged 11 through 17
1:53:23 have used harmful nicotine products,
1:53:25 which we know affects mental health and academic achievement.
1:53:28 Withdrawal symptoms in nicotine addicted youth
1:53:30 can be experienced during school hours
1:53:31 and can make it worse.
1:53:33 A local student age 13 had stated,
1:53:35 “I had headaches all the time
1:53:37 “and it was hard to focus in school, so my grades dropped.”
1:53:40 We ask that you amend policy 3215
1:53:43 to remove suspension or expulsion
1:53:44 for using or having a nicotine product on campus
1:53:47 and instead provide resources and help to quit.
1:53:49 Those will improve all students’ chance
1:53:50 of academic success and mental health wellbeing.
1:53:53 If students who are caught using nicotine are given help
1:53:55 instead of suspension or expulsion,
1:53:56 they will feel more comfortable asking for help
1:53:58 in this school.
1:53:59 With this, I see a nicotine-free future
1:54:01 within our schools and our community.
1:54:02 Thank you for your time.
1:54:03 - Thank you, Alexis.
1:54:07 Nicolette?
1:54:14 - Hello, my name is Nicolette.
1:54:16 I am a junior at O’Gally High.
1:54:17 I’m with SWOT.
1:54:19 Today, I will address the opportunity you have
1:54:21 to protect youth from the detrimental effects of nicotine.
1:54:24 As board members who support mental health, social,
1:54:26 and academic success, I know you care about this issue.
1:54:30 Nicotine harms part of the brain responsible
1:54:32 for learning, memory, impulse control, and mental health.
1:54:35 In Brevard, one in 15 youth vape on school property.
1:54:39 A common response to this is suspension or expulsion.
1:54:42 However, research shows this does not help kids quit
1:54:45 and may actually increase the likelihood
1:54:47 of nicotine use within a year.
1:54:49 A local eighth grader said this about suspension.
1:54:51 It made me want to do it more
1:54:52 because I didn’t have much else to do.
1:54:54 The same student was provided education
1:54:56 and resources that helped them quit.
1:54:58 If you amend policy 3215 to prioritize support services
1:55:02 without suspension or expulsion,
1:55:04 kids might be more likely to quit and stay quit.
1:55:07 They would stay in a vape-free, socially supportive
1:55:09 environment without missing class,
1:55:11 prioritizing mental health and academic success
1:55:14 at the same time.
1:55:15 Thank you so much.
1:55:16 - Thank you, Nicolette.
1:55:19 Ms. Delaney is approaching.
1:55:20 Our next three speakers will be Sara Mirsky, Steven Knapp,
1:55:22 and then Diana Haynes.
1:55:29 - I just wanted to say a quick thing about the millage.
1:55:32 I think that everybody in this county is for teacher raises.
1:55:37 That’s not what we’re arguing.
1:55:40 Some of us just believe that the money’s in the budget.
1:55:46 Also, I wanted to speak about the,
1:55:50 I don’t know what else to call it,
1:55:52 snitch hotline for the kids.
1:55:55 A teenager came to me and told me that a few times this year
1:56:00 an anonymous tip came in that she was smoking weed
1:56:03 on the school property.
1:56:05 And when she went into the SRO, they had her,
1:56:10 and this is a male SRO,
1:56:12 they had her pull her bra out and shake.
1:56:17 With no female in the room.
1:56:20 And it’s totally inappropriate,
1:56:24 especially off of an anonymous tip
1:56:27 for a really good kid who gets great grades
1:56:29 and has never been in trouble.
1:56:31 - Thank you, Ms. Delaney.
1:56:32 Would you please send me the details on that
1:56:33 so we can follow up?
1:56:36 Ms. Mirsky.
1:56:42 - Good evening, Sara Mirsky.
1:56:44 I want to address some registration issues
1:56:47 that people have come across.
1:56:50 If you do not check yes to a part of a medical form
1:56:54 that went out to the district,
1:56:58 I think a couple months back,
1:56:59 I have lots of questions still about that,
1:57:02 that it does say in the registration packet
1:57:04 that your child will be denied emergency
1:57:07 or life-saving services, which is really confusing
1:57:09 because we’re hearing different things
1:57:11 from EMS and firefighters.
1:57:15 The other thing that I want to say
1:57:16 is it also states that your child won’t be allowed
1:57:19 on campus for seventh grade
1:57:21 if they haven’t had the DTaP vaccination.
1:57:24 And there’s no information about how
1:57:27 you guys have to accept a 681 form,
1:57:30 which is a religious exemption.
1:57:32 Thank you.
1:57:33 - Thank you, Ms. Mirsky.
1:57:36 Steven, whenever you’re ready.
1:57:41 - Hello and good evening.
1:57:47 My name is Steven and I’m a Brevard County resident
1:57:50 my whole entire life.
1:57:52 I have a daughter who is 11 years old.
1:57:55 She’s been a Brevard County resident her entire lives,
1:57:57 obviously, and she’s in fifth grade.
1:58:01 And I am here today because for one reason, really,
1:58:08 is that I just want to be able to eat lunch with her.
1:58:16 It’s a very important time in our lives.
1:58:19 Don’t really get this opportunity in the future.
1:58:25 So that’s why I’m here.
1:58:27 I called the school multiple times.
1:58:30 I talked to the front office
1:58:31 and they say they’re waiting for somebody else
1:58:35 to make that decision.
1:58:37 I just hope that it comes sooner than later.
1:58:41 I appreciate everything you all do.
1:58:42 Thank you very much.
1:58:43 - Thank you, Steven.
1:58:46 Diana.
1:58:55 - Good evening.
1:58:55 Before you start my time,
1:58:57 I’d like to ask that I get full three minutes.
1:58:59 If you pull my record card,
1:59:01 I requested to speak under I-41 and my name was not called.
1:59:06 So I would like to be able to use my full three minutes now,
1:59:10 if possible.
1:59:12 Also-
1:59:13 - Hold on just a second, Diana,
1:59:14 and I’ll look into what it is that you’re saying, okay?
1:59:16 - Thank you.
1:59:27 Yellow sheet.
1:59:34 - Yeah, if it’s on yellow,
1:59:34 that’s the non-agenda items only.
1:59:38 ‘Cause it’s at the top of it in the big box.
1:59:40 - Right.
1:59:41 Well, I apologize that your staff didn’t direct me otherwise.
1:59:44 I was discussing I-41 with them
1:59:47 when I filled out that sheet.
1:59:49 I also wanted to talk now under non-agenda items.
2:00:00 - Yeah, all I have is a non-agenda item signup.
2:00:03 - Does it say I-41 on there also?
2:00:05 - On the side it does, but I don’t have.
2:00:08 So this is the signup for agenda
2:00:10 and this is the signup for non-agenda.
2:00:12 And I don’t have an agenda item signup for you.
2:00:14 - And that’s always been?
2:00:15 ‘Cause I didn’t see any orange papers
2:00:18 when I came and filled out the form.
2:00:20 The only things that were there were yellow ones.
2:00:23 - I’m not sure ‘cause I wasn’t out there when you signed up,
2:00:26 but that’s all I have is the non-agenda.
2:00:28 - I’ll try to get it all in under one minute.
2:00:30 Let’s start with, as a parent, a grandparent,
2:00:33 and a taxpayer, I demand to know
2:00:35 what the hell is going on in our schools.
2:00:38 Kids are in knife fights, there are bomb threats,
2:00:40 there are shooting threats, bullying on so many levels
2:00:44 that parents are removing their children
2:00:47 from your system at astounding rates.
2:00:50 We have pure unadulterated porn in our schools
2:00:52 and a board member finds it
2:00:54 an utter waste of time to investigate it.
2:00:56 We have an ex-teacher on our school campuses
2:01:00 who has shown and was convicted for showing his penis
2:01:04 to another student.
2:01:05 - So, Diana, I’m gonna interrupt you
2:01:07 and remind you of the expectations for decorum in the room.
2:01:10 - Okay, I’m also gonna remind you of my first amendment.
2:01:13 - Hold on, please.
2:01:14 There were two instances of words that you said
2:01:16 that are not going to be appropriate for children.
2:01:18 If you would please keep it clean,
2:01:20 I will be more than happy
2:01:21 to allow you to finish your time, okay?
2:01:25 - Okay, then you can leave.
2:01:29 - No, ma’am, you’re not.
2:01:32 Deputies, if you would please assist her in exiting,
2:01:34 we would appreciate it.
2:01:50 All right, the board wishes to thank the speakers
2:01:52 from this evening.
2:01:53 Is there any additional business from the board?
2:01:55 (muffled speaking)
2:02:03 - No, and that is, I believe, part of our security.
2:02:11 I think that was part of our security audit.
2:02:13 Dr. Mullins, did you wanna–
2:02:14 - Can I ask a quick question?
2:02:16 So if they sign up under the volunteer,
2:02:19 would that allow them to eat with their child?
2:02:22 I mean–
2:02:23 - Our volunteers are asked to have planned
2:02:26 and purposeful reasons for being on campus.
2:02:28 So no, that would not constitute them
2:02:31 to have lunch with their students.
2:02:33 We continue to review it.
2:02:35 If the board recalls, that was a measure was put in place
2:02:39 due to the COVID situation,
2:02:41 but it has remained extraordinarily difficult
2:02:44 to provide the supervision and staffing to do that,
2:02:46 given our current employment circumstances and challenges
2:02:50 across our district and to support our principals.
2:02:54 Meeting the supervisory responsibilities we have
2:02:57 continue to not permit that particular practice
2:03:01 in our schools.
2:03:02 We’ll continue to revisit it as we have the opportunity.
2:03:06 We certainly want our parents at our schools.
2:03:07 We welcome and want our volunteers to come in
2:03:11 and be part of.
2:03:12 I would remind our parents that our media centers
2:03:15 are without media assistance,
2:03:17 and we would love for our parents to work with our schools
2:03:20 to be a part of working in the media centers
2:03:23 to be part of our school environments on a regular basis,
2:03:27 so they simply need to reach out to the school.
2:03:30 And we have right now, I’d remind our parents
2:03:32 and our community that if you are not a volunteer,
2:03:36 we have a no-cost process for becoming a volunteer
2:03:40 to do the background screening as well.
2:03:42 That’s paid for through the ESSER grants.
2:03:44 So we’re trying to promote volunteerism.
2:03:48 - I would say that in all my research that I’ve ever had,
2:03:50 there’s never been a situation where a parent has come on
2:03:53 to eat lunch with their kid and something,
2:03:55 you know what I mean?
2:03:56 So I would like to reevaluate that,
2:03:58 but just going forward as a school board member
2:04:00 for the rest of the time that I’m here,
2:04:01 I can’t allow parents not to go eat with their kids.
2:04:04 I mean, it’s just like, that to me is a big deal, you know?
2:04:08 So I understood that because of COVID,
2:04:09 because of the protocols and stuff like that,
2:04:11 and I appreciate your Dr. Mullins,
2:04:12 you thinking about the security of the children
2:04:14 and everything else.
2:04:15 I just don’t know how much we, you know,
2:04:17 we get to a point where we’re over security
2:04:20 and we forget about the culture of the schools
2:04:21 and who we’re about.
2:04:22 So I’d love to have a conversation about it going forward.
2:04:25 - I actually just had a conversation with Dr. Mullins
2:04:27 about that this morning.
2:04:30 So we do have our, we have a policy,
2:04:33 and that’s why our people who come in on campus
2:04:35 as a visitor, not as a volunteer,
2:04:37 ‘cause they have to have that, have to swipe their badge,
2:04:41 they have to have a prearranged, whatever,
2:04:43 or purpose for being there.
2:04:45 I can just swipe a badge and wander on campus.
2:04:47 And I have to be supervised at all times.
2:04:48 And that’s the part that has become the challenge
2:04:50 during COVID, right?
2:04:51 ‘Cause we had kids all over campus eating
2:04:53 so they could spread out more.
2:04:54 And then of course now with the staffing.
2:04:56 So I talked to Dr. Mullins and asked him,
2:04:59 can we revisit that?
2:05:00 We’re pretty close to the end of the school year.
2:05:02 I don’t know if we can put it in place,
2:05:03 but I’m hoping that we can put it in place
2:05:05 for next school year.
2:05:06 - Well, we still got a month and a half, right?
2:05:09 - A month.
2:05:11 Actually today, we were a month away
2:05:12 from the last day of school.
2:05:13 - I mean, honestly, like I just think we’d go at it.
2:05:17 Like instead of kicking it down the can.
2:05:18 So I’d like to bring it to talk about it
2:05:20 next board meeting that we have in May.
2:05:23 I mean, you’re right.
2:05:24 Because even if we bring it forward,
2:05:25 we’re not gonna make the change quick enough,
2:05:27 but let’s just start bringing it forward.
2:05:28 ‘Cause I think we should start that conversation.
2:05:32 - Guys, if we could cut out the audience comments
2:05:35 so that we can make sure that everybody
2:05:36 can hear the comments.
2:05:39 All right, anything else before I gavel us out?
2:05:43 All right.
2:05:44 There being no further business,
2:05:45 this meeting is now adjourned.
2:05:48 (upbeat music)