Updates on the Fight for Quality Public Education in Brevard County, FL
1:30 ♪♪
2:19 Welcome everybody to what I think is the first ever school board
2:26 pre-orientation meeting.
2:29 Welcome everybody. I want to invite everybody to be a part of
2:34 the pre-orientation meeting.
2:37 This is the first time I think I’ve ever been a part of
2:38 something that we bring in the board members ahead of.
2:42 We did it with you, John?
2:43 We did it with John. Yes, we did.
2:45 I’m sorry, I forgot.
2:46 He slept since then.
2:47 I really thought that it was this miraculous thing that we were
2:49 doing and I apologize.
2:54 That’s what happens when you get old.
2:56 All right, good morning.
2:57 The November 10th, 2026 work session is now in order.
3:00 Paul, roll call, please.
3:02 Mr. Susan.
3:03 Here.
3:04 Ms. Wright.
3:05 Here.
3:06 Mr. Thomas.
3:07 Here.
3:08 Ms. Campbell.
3:09 Here.
3:10 Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
3:13 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
3:17 and to the Republic for which it stands,
3:19 one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
3:25 all.
3:26 Dr. Rendell.
3:29 Can you please tell the board about the items on the agenda
3:34 today?
3:36 Thank you, Mr. Chair.
3:37 We have several items to discuss today on the agenda.
3:40 The first is a discussion of the proposed board meeting dates,
3:45 times, and locations.
3:47 Also then a discussion about the board representatives on
3:49 certain committees, especially the FSPA alternate.
3:54 So the first point of discussion is the board to look at the
3:57 proposed calendar of meetings for next year.
4:01 You will be voting on this next Tuesday night.
4:04 The idea is to go ahead and hash out any changes today so that
4:08 you can vote for it on Tuesday night.
4:11 All right.
4:12 So the first topic up is board dates, times, locations.
4:15 Do you guys have those available to you?
4:20 Everybody should have one of their materials.
4:23 That’s Lena Kvarnam telling everybody that inside their
4:25 materials everybody should have one.
4:28 Anybody have any heartburn or anything like that?
4:30 Can you guys check your calendar?
4:33 Yeah, what we do is we look ahead of time to see if any of our
4:36 meetings are during times that you have anything.
4:42 I didn’t see anything before when I was there.
4:46 You have one that you can’t make?
4:48 I’m not making any of them, but I did want to make sure.
4:52 Do we check the graduation week because sometimes the May?
4:55 The May 25th, which, hang on.
5:01 I think we’re okay on that.
5:03 Yeah, we’re good.
5:04 We’re good, okay.
5:06 Y’all are good.
5:08 Everybody good with this?
5:09 We’re good?
5:10 Yes, sir.
5:11 All right, moving on.
5:12 Look at that, first order of business.
5:13 Mr. Chair, before we could leave this topic of meetings, we do
5:17 have a request to have a work session with the board next week
5:23 after the new board is seated.
5:25 They’re talking with a few of the board members.
5:27 Haven’t been able to talk to all of them.
5:29 We talked a little bit with at least one of the incoming board
5:32 members.
5:33 We’d like to have a work session on Thursday the 19th at 9 a.m.
5:41 So we want to see if everybody could put that on their schedule.
5:46 I think I’m clear.
5:48 Good for me.
5:49 I’m fine.
5:53 Are you going to do the one-on-ones on the Wednesday before?
5:55 So prior to that, we would try to do some one-on-ones to review
5:58 the material with each of the board members before the work
6:01 session.
6:02 Mr. Savage, you’re the only one we haven’t heard from on
6:05 Thursday morning is good?
6:07 Yeah, that’s fine.
6:08 I have a question about the dates.
6:10 I don’t know.
6:11 Now is the time to ask or not.
6:12 Yeah, no, absolutely.
6:13 So just to be transparent, I would like board meetings in the
6:16 evening, and that’s where I’m going to fall all the time.
6:19 But I am recognizing that I’m one person on a five-member board.
6:23 So just I will say the same thing at the board meeting, but I do
6:28 recognize I’m one person on a five-person board.
6:33 You know, one of the things I felt like that one of the issues
6:36 you might want to do is check with staff.
6:39 There’s a lot of issues that they enjoy having the 9 o’clock for
6:42 various reasons.
6:44 Dude, this is something that we’re not voting on today, right?
6:46 Well, we want to get the work session on the calendar.
6:49 Okay.
6:50 The work session, yeah, for?
6:51 Correct, Thursday, 9 a.m.
6:53 But these we can have discussions on.
6:54 Correct.
6:55 Again, the purpose of looking at these meeting dates is to see
6:57 if the meeting dates, times, locations are acceptable to the
7:01 board.
7:02 They’re going to vote on this on the 17th.
7:05 None of these locations are offsite, so they’re all here.
7:09 But the times, you know, some of them are in the morning because
7:12 the past two years the board has alternated one meeting a month
7:17 in the morning, one meeting in the month in the afternoon.
7:19 Doesn’t the county do the same thing?
7:21 That’s what we presented for next year, the same formula, same
7:24 format, same pattern, whatever you want to call it.
7:28 But now is the time for you to bring it up.
7:30 Mr. Chair?
7:31 Yeah.
7:32 So, I mean, I’ll make it work either way, but I think that for
7:35 the public it’s better in the evening, even though I know there’s
7:38 a few that might come in the morning that can’t come at night.
7:41 Most of the people can’t come in the morning.
7:44 And I know for my personal – my professional schedule, it’s –
7:47 evenings are definitely better for me.
7:50 But I’ll defer to the will of the board.
7:55 Well, I like the alternate, obviously.
7:57 I said that from the beginning just because what we kind of
7:59 recognized was that we didn’t – we weren’t meeting everyone in
8:01 the community because there are plenty of people who don’t work
8:04 nine to five.
8:05 So I understand that the, you know, if we want to do it in the
8:07 mornings or in the evenings or whatever, I’m fine with whatever.
8:11 My preference would be to keep both because it meets both needs.
8:14 And we’re only sexually required to have one board meeting a
8:17 month, but ours – our district does, too.
8:20 But it’s going to be the will of the board.
8:22 If I were choosing, if this was Megan Wright choosing, I would
8:24 choose one of each, but the board majority obviously will lead
8:26 on this one.
8:27 I’d like to keep it in the mornings.
8:30 And the reason is, is that there’s groups and people who can
8:32 make it there.
8:33 So when we have board meetings in the evening, we ask all of our
8:36 vendors and all of the people to come.
8:39 And when we have them as part of the agenda, that means that
8:41 they travel from around the state sometimes to be here.
8:44 So there’s good times when you can put it there.
8:46 It’s also a better time for our staff.
8:48 Our staff, they work late all the time and having an extra board
8:51 meeting to go into the evening, it works during the day.
8:54 Plus, we did have some families that came because it was at 9 o’clock
8:57 in the morning because they can’t do it at night because they
8:59 have huge kids.
9:01 A lot of kids that they have to watch.
9:02 Sports and stuff.
9:03 Right, sports stuff, stuff like that.
9:04 So it works out that when we have it in the mornings like that,
9:07 it offsets some of that.
9:09 So I’d like to keep it there.
9:11 What are your thoughts, Ms. Michelle?
9:13 I see both sides of that.
9:15 That’s a tough one.
9:17 I like the evenings personally just because I feel like staff
9:19 can participate a little bit better.
9:22 I know the sports, the kids’ sports, though, that is a tricky
9:24 one.
9:25 So I’m good on voting on it, but I think the evenings, in my
9:29 personal opinion, are better for the community.
9:33 There goes coaching the kids’ ball.
9:36 So procedurally, if there’s a strong consensus to do one way or
9:41 the other, staff would be good for them to know that so they can
9:45 make adjustments and you guys can vote.
9:48 I mean, you can’t vote in this meeting, but you can come to
9:50 consensus.
9:51 A kind of compromise, and we’ve done this ever since I was on
9:54 the board at the beginning, is the summer meetings, except for
9:58 the budget hearing, which we have to do at night.
10:02 But if there was evening meetings in June, they usually did
10:05 those in the morning because most of our staff is off and all
10:09 that good stuff.
10:11 But I think you guys need to hash that out a little bit and I
10:15 would suggest that you be a little more committal.
10:19 Is the budget hearing in July by state statute at 5.30?
10:25 Not 5.30. It has to be evening.
10:27 It has to be after 5 o’clock.
10:29 And September, the budget hearing, too.
10:37 So I guess, I mean, we do need to figure out.
10:41 During the summer, we typically have, ever since I’ve been on
10:44 the board, we’ve always done daytime meetings because staff
10:47 obviously has the ability to do this.
10:50 The summer meeting in June is fine with me.
10:52 It’s just I’ve heard from a lot of people and I don’t – I got
10:57 to watch my words nowadays.
11:00 I don’t think there was shadiness or anybody was doing that, but
11:03 I think a lot of times with the public when decisions are made,
11:07 and we don’t know what decision we’re going to be making on
11:10 April 13th at 9 a.m. in the morning.
11:12 But a lot of times that’s the argument I frequently hear.
11:16 It’s just about the access to the board.
11:18 And there’s probably arguments that some people don’t have
11:20 access in the evening.
11:22 But that’s my reasoning.
11:49 It’s both demographics of people that are working different
11:52 schedules.
11:53 So, I mean, it’s the will of the board.
11:55 If we want to go back to all nighttime meetings aside from the
11:57 summer meetings, I’m okay with doing that.
11:59 And we may decide in a year, okay, let’s change it back again.
12:03 So, you know.
12:05 » Yeah, I’m thinking that we should change it to nighttime
12:07 meetings and then keep it in the summer for the day.
12:10 » Okay. And that will go into effect for our next – starting
12:13 in December, right?
12:15 January.
12:16 » You guys good with the exception of June?
12:18 » Yeah, I’m fine with that.
12:22 Just on meetings, I’ll wait.
12:24 » Shit.
12:25 » No, you’re fine.
12:26 » I was going to say, the December meeting was already approved
12:28 last year.
12:29 And it’s in the evening anyway.
12:30 » Yeah.
12:31 » So it would just start January.
12:33 Sorry, Kyle.
12:34 » I know, you’re fine.
12:35 » Mr. Savage.
12:36 » You’re fine.
12:37 » Mr. Wright, I don’t know if you heard, but we just said with
12:39 the exception of June.
12:40 » June will be daytime meeting?
12:42 Okay.
12:44 » Yeah.
12:45 » Because we’re still in school on May 25th, I’m guessing.
12:47 » We are, yeah, because I think Labor Day is the 31st this year,
12:49 correct?
12:50 » Correct.
12:51 » So, yes, we still will be in school then.
12:55 » Well, typically we’re trying to finish it, especially –
12:57 » Graduation will happen on the Friday weekend before that.
13:00 So I imagine the elementary.
13:02 » There’s probably still – there’s still –
13:04 » I should know that.
13:05 But I have a senior, so I didn’t put the last day of school on
13:07 my calendar this year.
13:10 » Okay.
13:11 » So we will adjust the calendar, the proposed calendar that we
13:14 put on the agenda for next Tuesday night.
13:16 To reflect all 5.30 p.m. business meetings except for the June
13:21 business meeting.
13:23 » Thank you.
13:24 » Lina, you got that?
13:26 » Sounds good.
13:29 » I just want to – sorry, put another marker on this.
13:32 If we have worksite meetings, offsite meetings, I’m going to ask
13:36 every time that we at minimal record them.
13:39 But if not possible, live streaming, I understand there might be
13:42 some technology barriers.
13:44 But my request would be if we have any offsite meetings that
13:47 they’re recorded at minimal.
13:49 » That’s fine.
13:51 I actually – I support that.
13:52 Honestly, I think it could have probably eliminated a lot of
13:54 misconceptions and confusions that have happened in the
13:57 community.
13:58 So I think that’s a great –
13:59 » How many do we have – how many offsites do we have set up?
14:01 » I don’t think –
14:02 » We usually only do – the majority of the time we only do one.
14:05 But I put in a quarterly thing for us to come back and just
14:07 check in.
14:08 Sometimes when we’re doing a lot like we may be doing this year,
14:11 it works to have a couple of offsites just to kind of do that.
14:15 But we don’t have to notice them.
14:17 We can go to the offsite in December and make the decision if
14:19 you guys want to, depending on what’s happening, continue.
14:22 » Do we have – sorry.
14:23 Let me see the calendar again.
14:24 » Yep.
14:25 » I left my briefcase here.
14:26 » Yeah, and I’m –
14:27 » The other one was something to figure that out.
14:29 » Somehow they figured out how to record SIAC meetings and a
14:31 bunch of other stuff.
14:32 So I’m sure we can –
14:33 » Yeah, but those were in here.
14:34 » Yeah, they’re in here.
14:35 » No, there’s no problem.
14:36 » I’m sure we can figure it out.
14:38 » There’s no problem, no problem.
14:41 Okay, moving on to the board representatives.
14:45 This is where we kind of choose basically what –
14:49 » Should we quickly describe what –
14:51 » I’ll do it.
14:52 » Oh, sorry.
14:53 Slowly and loudly so Lena can keep these in the minutes.
14:55 » So what I’m going to do is based on who it was that was a
14:58 part of it, I’ll just ask him to give a real quick overview for
15:01 you, okay?
15:02 So board, county, continuum of care, Ms. Campbell.
15:06 » That’s actually one that we may be taking off because Lena
15:08 was going to find out because we weren’t able to connect with
15:10 them.
15:11 Did you get a hold of them?
15:13 » The continuum of care now?
15:15 » Yeah, I’m not sure that that’s something – I thought we
15:17 talked about removing that.
15:18 » We did because I don’t think that – have you attended any
15:20 meetings with them?
15:22 » No, but I – nobody ever reached that.
15:24 And it wasn’t something we had before the year before.
15:26 I think just a promise brought it.
15:27 » I was asked to be on the board by them when I first got
15:29 elected.
15:30 » And then did they do anything?
15:31 » You know, periodic meetings, and that’s – the organization
15:36 allocates the money from the usually federal money for homeless
15:41 issues or housing issues.
15:43 » But we can try again.
15:44 » Wait, sorry, is this not – is this the one – continuum of
15:46 care is not the same one that I stepped into for you.
15:49 » Correct.
15:50 » It is.
15:51 » Yes.
15:52 » Okay, but I think it’s circles of care.
15:54 I don’t think they call themselves –
15:55 » It’s continuum of care.
15:56 They have another – there’s another nonprofit name that goes
15:59 along with it.
16:00 But yes, it’s continuum of care.
16:01 » Yeah, okay, all right, so I apologize.
16:04 They do have meetings that are going on.
16:06 There was some real funky stuff happening with their funding
16:08 because a lot of their funding was coming from federal funds.
16:11 So the meetings, they got postponed, and then there was one like
16:14 emergency meeting that got thrown on me the same day, and I wasn’t
16:16 able to attend that one, obviously.
16:18 But they still are actively meeting.
16:20 They do meet at, sorry, circles of care in Rockledge.
16:22 That’s why I was thinking COC.
16:23 I’m like, okay, but it’s –
16:24 » So maybe we – you still have a board representative, but we
16:27 try again.
16:28 » Okay.
16:29 » Yeah.
16:30 » I mean, it’s a good way for like community leaders.
16:32 You’ll see a lot of the different community leaders that come in
16:33 there, and they talk about how they’re going to help tackle the
16:37 issue of homelessness really in our county.
16:40 And it was beneficial for me to sit there because I was able to
16:42 talk about our students in transition, and there were some
16:45 resources that we were able to connect to the district.
16:48 So it would be probably good for one of our new people to – if
16:50 they were interested in it.
16:52 » I would love to.
16:53 » Okay.
16:54 » I would love to.
16:55 » All right, so Michelle, if you want to take that one, that
16:56 would be great.
16:57 » Yeah.
16:58 » I apologize.
16:59 » First one up and you signed up.
17:00 » It’s called something different now.
17:02 It’s not called Continuum of Care.
17:03 It’s called something different.
17:04 I need to go in my email, and I’ll tell you what it’s called.
17:06 » Like I said, they have – that’s the umbrella, and then they
17:09 have another nonprofit that – the way it’s structured, it’s
17:12 confusing.
17:13 » Okay.
17:14 » Yes.
17:15 » I apologize.
17:16 So I was like, wait, I don’t –
17:17 » Brevard County Values Adjustment Board.
17:18 I did it for seven years, and then all of a sudden Megan really
17:20 wanted to get on it.
17:21 So she’s the lead.
17:23 » No, Mr. Susan, there’s a story behind that.
17:25 You know that.
17:26 » There’s a –
17:27 » There’s a story behind this story.
17:28 » But the thing is, is that we have now Ms. Wright’s the lead
17:32 on it.
17:33 It deals with all of the value adjustment boards across the –
17:35 your taxes and everything else.
17:37 » I’ve attended one meeting so far since I took that role.
17:40 » Usually twice a year unless there’s something special going
17:42 on.
17:43 » What we did in the last time was we just said Megan can be
17:45 the front of it, and then everybody can be –
17:47 like they do it in other districts where everybody’s the
17:49 secondary person, so if you guys ever want to attend.
17:52 So that’s generally what we did, but she never misses meetings
17:54 like I did.
17:55 » Sounds like fun.
17:57 » Yeah.
17:58 » Sounds like one other meeting I’ve encountered.
17:59 » Yeah. So it’s – I mean, pretty – I mean, procedural in
18:02 nature.
18:03 It’s not real exciting that the one meeting I attended, it was
18:07 very short.
18:08 » They get gotten, though.
18:09 » Now, granted, I mean, I – there’s reason to believe based on
18:11 all the things that have passed this election cycle
18:14 that that board might be a little more active than it has been
18:17 if people are making requests for valuations to be looked at
18:20 again.
18:20 I mean, I can see that that being a busier board, and it may be
18:22 something that’s different than what it’s been in the past.
18:24 So if somebody feels like they really want that one, I was just
18:28 willing to step into it because I said I have the ability.
18:31 It’s daytime meetings always.
18:32 Just so you know, it’s not nighttime meeting.
18:34 And I was willing to serve, so.
18:37 » I think given your expertise, you’re perfect for it.
18:39 » Oh, that sounds like somebody who doesn’t want to attend
18:41 another meeting, Mr. Thomas.
18:43 I mean, I don’t mind staying on it.
18:45 That’s fine.
18:46 » All right. And I’ll back you up.
18:47 All right. Brevard Cultural Alliance.
18:49 Ms. Campbell.
18:50 » So Brevard Cultural Alliance is a countywide organization.
18:54 I have been the school board representative.
18:58 It’s a nonvoting position.
18:59 I’ve done it for the last several years.
19:01 But they had a change of leadership, and somehow we stopped
19:03 getting calendar invites, and I’ve already e-mailed them.
19:06 I also asked Lena.
19:07 » I got hold of them.
19:08 » Did they respond?
19:09 » They do want one, and their leadership is back up and running.
19:12 And they didn’t take a little time to call me back, but they
19:14 didn’t talk about it.
19:15 » Okay.
19:16 So basically, again, it’s a nonvoting member.
19:19 It was one of those things of I went when I could, right?
19:22 We didn’t always have to have someone.
19:23 They always have a time for school board and county, which the
19:25 county never sends anybody, just reports on what’s going on in
19:29 the arts in the district.
19:32 And just, you know, like I said, it’s a nonvoting position, but
19:35 when I could go.
19:36 And the location, it is once a month.
19:38 I believe it’s on the third, I can’t remember which day of the
19:40 week, because I think they moved it Wednesday or Thursday of the
19:43 month in the morning.
19:45 And they move it around the county, different locations, just so
19:49 it’s not the same drive.
19:52 But it’s like the Cocoa Village Playhouse and the King Center,
19:54 and then a bunch of business representatives that are on their
19:57 board.
19:58 » I’ll take that one.
19:59 I love it.
20:00 » All right.
20:01 Michelle signed up for everything.
20:02 » I tend to.
20:03 Sorry.
20:04 » That’s okay.
20:05 That’s okay.
20:06 That’s how you get started.
20:07 I think I did all of them too.
20:08 All right.
20:09 Brevard Schools Foundation, Ms. Wright?
20:11 » Yeah, I’ve had that one for a couple of years, actually, I
20:12 think I’ve had it for three out of four years since I’ve been on
20:14 the board.
20:15 And I love the school’s foundation.
20:17 It’s – I should – selfishly, I should probably let somebody
20:19 else step into this one, because there’s a lot of really good
20:21 things that happen there and community connections.
20:23 But it’s good to see what the foundation does and the
20:25 scholarships they provide to our students and mentorship and all
20:27 that.
20:28 So it’s – that’s a monthly meeting that you’ll have.
20:31 Usually it’s Thursdays at 4.30.
20:33 It’s the first Thursday, Dr. Rendell, is that right?
20:36 No?
20:37 » So I think it’s the fourth Thursday.
20:38 » Fourth Thursday.
20:39 I feel like we have one coming up this week.
20:40 So – okay.
20:43 So it’s once a month Thursdays, you know.
20:45 » This one was moved up because of Thanksgiving.
20:47 » Okay.
20:48 I was like, this week isn’t the fourth week.
20:50 That makes sense.
20:51 » If you want to keep it, I’ll do secondary.
20:53 » Yeah, or if you – I mean, it’s probably better somebody – I
20:55 think somebody should lead on it to go to them.
20:58 I mean, it’s a good – I love the foundation and I’ll still
21:00 support the foundation and attend the events.
21:03 » Yeah, I’ll do – yeah, you do.
21:04 I’m good.
21:05 » And as a board member, you’re going to get invited to
21:06 multiple things the foundation sponsors and does.
21:09 And so you’ll be very much hands-on with the foundation.
21:12 That’s just more so, board meetings to give updates and reports
21:14 to them.
21:15 » And there’s so many things that they do between take stock
21:17 and other things that it’s almost like boards within boards.
21:20 It’s pretty cool.
21:21 » All right, so I’m going to take the lead and Kyle is going to
21:23 take backup on that one.
21:24 » Okay.
21:25 » Yeah.
21:26 And if you guys need anybody to join any of the boards, because
21:28 there’s so many of them, that you can dole them out to us if you
21:30 need them.
21:31 All right, capital outlay committee, I’ll just say like I ran
21:34 that one for I think four years and then Gene Trent took over.
21:38 I like being on that one.
21:41 If anybody’s like burning to get on there, I don’t know.
21:44 » What exactly does it entail in one of our meetings?
21:46 » Yeah, so capital outlay committee meets with all of the
21:48 cities and counties, talks about growth expansion and stuff like
21:52 that.
21:53 And then we talk about what is going to be possible.
21:57 Sometimes they make recommendations towards the taxes that we
21:59 take from the impact fees and stuff like that.
22:02 It’s just kind of a quasi-organization that makes those
22:04 recommendations.
22:06 So I’d like to sit on it, but if anybody else is burning to get
22:09 on it, then –
22:10 » Do you want to stay on it?
22:11 I don’t have any objections to that.
22:12 » I took it off.
22:13 I did it for three or four years and then I got off of it.
22:16 But I’d like to be on that if we can.
22:18 » I’m fine with that.
22:19 Who do you – I mean, a board –
22:20 » Anybody else want to back me?
22:22 » Who wants to be the alternate or the backup person?
22:24 Anybody have a –
22:25 » I’ll do it if we need somebody.
22:27 » Savage, okay.
22:28 » I mean, I’ll do enough on two, so.
22:30 » If you let me sit here long enough, I won’t sign up for
22:32 anything.
22:33 » Okay, all right, so we’re going to have to voluntarily – you’re
22:36 going to be on this board.
22:36 You’re going to be on that board, okay.
22:37 » Central Florida Public Schools Coalition.
22:40 » Can I ask who was the –
22:42 » Savage.
22:43 » – primary and who’s the –
22:44 » Susan, primary, Savage, secondary.
22:46 » And that was Capital Outlet.
22:47 » That was Capital Outlet, correct.
22:48 » Also, did we pick a backup for Brevard Cultural Land?
22:51 » Yeah, Savage.
22:53 » Did you say that?
22:55 » That’s fine.
22:56 That’s fine.
22:57 » Okay.
22:58 » That’s fine.
22:59 » You’re going to get volunteered now, let’s see.
23:01 » Who’s the primary on that one?
23:03 » Michelle.
23:05 » She was held down on the phone.
23:06 » So just so you know, the Central Florida Public School Boards
23:07 Coalition, the chair
23:08 and the vice chair are like –
23:09 » Yes.
23:10 » – are on there, but that is a thing – so the 14 Central
23:13 Florida school districts,
23:15 every school board member superintendent is invited.
23:18 You can – like we all get an invite every month.
23:20 » Yes.
23:21 » You’ll all be invited to sit in on it, but like we ask for
23:23 the chair or if they can’t,
23:25 the vice chair, to at least be there because that way we have a
23:27 voice.
23:28 » Right.
23:29 » And it’s virtual meetings, so those are done from the
23:30 computer.
23:31 » Yeah.
23:32 » Very easy, you don’t have to go.
23:33 » It’s the second Monday of the month.
23:35 » Monday, yeah.
23:36 » And they’ll have their first meeting at the conference.
23:39 There’s a breakfast at the conference.
23:41 » It’s a good connection.
23:42 » I like that one.
23:43 » I’ll go –
23:44 » But that’s the chair and vice chair and then everybody else
23:45 can come.
23:46 » That’s good.
23:47 » Okay.
23:48 » That’s good.
23:49 » All right.
23:50 » Yeah.
23:51 » Yep.
23:52 All right.
23:53 So that’d be whoever we’d choose.
23:54 » Whoever chair and vice chair.
23:55 » Choice charter school liaison.
23:56 I would – yeah, go ahead.
23:57 » So this is a role that you can make whatever you want.
23:59 When I have been at, which was probably seven out of the eight
24:03 years, I made a point to
24:05 visit some of the charter schools, and most of them are in the
24:08 south area, especially
24:09 in district five, so that made sense.
24:12 Also worked with Dr. Endell for us and Dr. Mullen, who’s
24:17 superintendent, to have meetings
24:19 with the charter school principals all coming in, for example,
24:23 this summer.
24:24 All the departments put together a presentation to have all the
24:28 charter school principals
24:29 come in and make sure that they understood, you know, and they
24:32 just had a great day of
24:33 just all day training and communication and brought security in
24:35 and brought student services
24:37 in and all the kinds of things, the way we provide for them,
24:40 answer their questions.
24:41 So that’s – and I helped facilitate, asked for that to happen.
24:45 The other thing that happens, and it’s not always this person,
24:49 but the choice schools
24:51 are just education location options and the EPOs also.
24:55 There are appeals that come in after the deadline set, and so
24:58 there is one school board member
25:00 that sits on the appeals committee, and those are scheduled, and
25:04 Melinda Mayer, she’ll reach
25:05 out because I’ve been that for the last several years, too.
25:08 So she’ll tag somebody to be on that, but frequently it is the
25:13 charter school choice
25:14 liaison.
25:15 For the appeals, is that like a process where they come before
25:18 you and they’re in front
25:19 of the committee and you’re making an appeal or is that just a…
25:22 » They send in the appeals online or written, whatever.
25:28 And then Melinda’s office puts it all together and then the
25:31 meeting, you know,
25:32 they listen to the appeal, they look at what the policy says,
25:35 and it’s approved or disapproved.
25:37 » Okay. I don’t mind doing that one.
25:40 I mean, it’s a few – I know a lot of the charters are on the
25:43 south end of the county, but I –
25:45 » I can back you up.
25:46 » Well, you want to do double?
25:48 » Yeah, that’s fine.
25:48 » You do it?
25:49 » Yeah. I mean, honestly, we should probably all have an active
25:51 role
25:52 and that really to understand and have good relationships with
25:54 our charters
25:55 because they’re right in our backyards and each one of our
25:57 districts have them, so.
25:58 » So you’re going to be the main person and Michelle is backing
26:00 you up?
26:01 » That’s fine.
26:02 » I’ll back her up and then Michelle, well, you can back me up
26:04 and then if anybody else, we’ll just go down the line.
26:06 » Oh, my gosh.
26:07 » Back each other up.
26:07 » All right.
26:08 » Okay.
26:09 » All right.
26:09 Did you get that?
26:11 » So I’ll take the primary for the charter.
26:13 » And then everybody signed up for that one, Lina.
26:16 » Yes.
26:16 » And then Savage is – Savage is in there too.
26:18 » No, no, no, please.
26:19 » Did you get them on the Brevard Community Continuum of Care?
26:22 That’s Michelle from – and then it was Savage second.
26:25 » There’s a lot of Savages coming out over there.
26:28 » I like it.
26:29 Jump all in.
26:29 Come on.
26:30 » All right.
26:30 CivMill.
26:31 » I’ve been on that one as well.
26:33 » What is that?
26:34 » So that’s our civilian military – I guess it’s a council.
26:38 I don’t know.
26:38 They have routine meetings really just trying to bridge that gap
26:41 between our military
26:43 and our civilian base and find ways and resources.
26:46 Dr. Rendell, you want to speak to that one?
26:47 » Once a month.
26:48 » Yeah.
26:48 » Once a month.
26:49 » It’s usually a dinner.
26:50 » First day evening.
26:51 » Yeah, it’s an evening commitment.
26:53 But then they also have – like they’ll have a golf tournament
26:55 that happens
26:55 and then they’ll have different opportunities.
26:57 They had this year a few different things that were kind of
26:59 abnormal that took place.
27:01 A good way to find out, you know, what we can do to help our
27:05 military that’s here
27:06 since we have such a large military base, so.
27:08 » And any of us can go.
27:09 » Yes.
27:09 » But I go to it almost every month.
27:12 » Yeah, you are at it pretty frequently.
27:13 » Okay.
27:13 » So I had to miss a couple of them for other commitments.
27:15 » And I would have them put in the [inaudible]
27:18 » Yeah, we can all be paid into it.
27:20 » Yes.
27:20 » Okay.
27:21 » And then we have somebody.
27:22 » If you want to be a member, I just need to know that.
27:24 » Are you wanting to take that savage because it’s –
27:26 » I’m not trying to – as a new guy, I’m not trying to take
27:29 anybody from somebody, but –
27:30 » No, you’re okay.
27:31 » I wouldn’t mind going.
27:32 But if we all can go, I’ll just connect.
27:34 » We all just need a point.
27:35 » Primarily responsible.
27:36 » Yeah, somebody’s primarily responsible.
27:38 Lena, do you know when that membership is up or when we need to
27:41 pay for that?
27:41 » I believe it’s around the first of the year.
27:44 » Around the first of the year, okay.
27:46 » So we probably – I mean, because it is – there is an
27:48 expense to be a part of that
27:49 and support that organization, but it comes –
27:50 I mean, it entails you’re going to get a meal every time you go
27:53 to the Super Meal meetings.
27:55 » A big good one.
27:56 » And you get to go on the base.
27:57 You get to do some really cool behind-the-scenes kind of things
28:00 occasionally there.
28:01 » John, did you want that one?
28:03 » I mean, I’m happy to take it because I’m going to go either
28:05 way, but –
28:06 » Yeah, I’m probably going to go to a bunch of them, too, so –
28:08 » We’ll all end up going – we just – we all get memberships
28:11 and we go where we can.
28:12 » Lena, if you just want to send me this stuff for the
28:14 membership.
28:15 » Okay.
28:17 » They’re going to send you an application.
28:18 They do it every year faithfully, so they’re good at that.
28:20 Each one of us gets one.
28:21 » Do you want to leave or do you want to be back?
28:23 » It’s all you, man.
28:23 » All right.
28:24 Thomas Savage.
28:25 All right, Economic Development Council, so that’s, you know,
28:30 Linda Weatherman and the EDC.
28:34 John, I think your HBCA is a part of it?
28:38 » We’re partners, we’re not a member.
28:40 » Okay.
28:40 » Okay, on that one, Mr. Susan.
28:42 » Yeah?
28:43 » Superintendent.
28:43 » The superintendent is the ex-fisio.
28:46 » Right. But then there’s – no, the superintendent is the main
28:49 primary
28:49 and then the ex-fisio is the backup.
28:51 » No, they only have one person.
28:54 » Yeah, we only get one person.
28:55 » Right, but you totally understand, I’m actually a member, I
28:58 pay for my membership.
28:59 Like I’m on executive board of directors through my company, so
29:02 I’ll be there every time.
29:04 But it’s good for people to go to, like I would encourage –
29:06 like John’s in every one of them, it’s incredible.
29:10 » Do you – I mean, since you’re stepping out of that,
29:12 do you think it would be in your judgment better that one of us
29:15 take it
29:16 and to represent the district or?
29:18 » I think someone on the school board could serve as a
29:21 representative for now
29:22 until you find your permanent superintendent.
29:24 » I’ll be happy to do that.
29:26 » Yeah, and I think – but just so you guys know, I think that
29:29 everybody should go
29:30 because it’s a huge opportunity to – for our workforce and
29:33 everything else.
29:34 » It would be great if you can send like calendar invites
29:37 or I have Lena send calendar invites when those meetings are,
29:39 that way we can opt
29:40 to attend them if it’s, you know, if we’re available to go.
29:43 » Yep. So Thomas is going to be the lead on that one.
29:46 » Yes.
29:47 » And then I think –
29:47 » You’re the next officio member, right, so you didn’t know –
29:49 you don’t vote, but you –
29:50 » Correct.
29:51 » OK.
29:51 » And then I think Wright is going to be backing them up, but
29:55 we’re all going to attend.
29:57 So, OK, right.
29:59 » Yeah, that’s fine.
30:00 » OK, because I’ll be there no matter what.
30:01 All right, Palm Bay Youth Advisory Board, Ms. Campbell.
30:04 » So this has been pretty much defunct since 2020, but we keep
30:09 it on there in case the Palm Bay
30:11 City Council ever wants to revive it, and it is always the
30:13 representatives from District 5
30:15 and 3 because Palm Bay is – so you all just pick, but like I
30:18 said,
30:18 we haven’t actually done anything.
30:20 They had like seniors from the different high schools in the
30:23 Palm Bay area, representative,
30:25 and then COVID happened and they never were able to revive it.
30:27 But just in case, we always keep it there.
30:28 » OK. Put me down for –
30:30 » Are you the lead on the charter?
30:31 » Put me down for that one.
30:32 » Who was the lead on that one?
30:33 » Lena, who do you have for the lead on the charter?
30:35 » Meghan.
30:37 » What charter?
30:38 » A choice charter liaison.
30:40 » And then Mia’s back.
30:40 » First charter, I have Meghan, right, and then Michelle.
30:43 » That’s good because I’m like looking at your notes going,
30:45 I don’t think I’ve taken the lead on any of these.
30:47 I’m just like, hey, you guys, have fun.
30:48 [ Laughter ]
30:50 » All right, school safety and health and school safety.
30:55 Thomas, what’s going on here?
30:57 Nothing?
30:58 » Wait, wait, dude, Palm Bay Youth Advisory –
31:00 » It’s going to be John and Michelle.
31:04 And – but they have never met, so since – in six years.
31:09 » It’s an easy commitment, right?
31:09 » So they’re going to be ready to pounce when they do meet.
31:13 » You just take credit for the easy ones, I got you now.
31:14 » No, it’s Palm Bay.
31:15 » Mr. Thomas, school health and safety.
31:17 » School health and safety, to be honest with you, I haven’t
31:19 done much with that one.
31:20 So I’m not really sure what the – what the role is.
31:25 » OK. So, I mean, I –
31:29 » It’s supposed to be the committee that puts together this
31:29 district health plan.
31:33 » Yeah, but it’s a little bit – it’s gotten into areas that it
31:38 normally wasn’t.
31:39 So I think when you got on it, it was not – so when I did it
31:42 years ago, it was you had all
31:44 of your trainings that you had for like bicycle safety
31:47 and all that stuff plus our curriculum and all that.
31:50 And then it slowly got to another place.
31:51 I don’t know, does anybody want to take that one?
31:54 » I’ll take the lead.
31:56 » I don’t mind doing it.
31:57 » Whatever we find out it is.
31:58 » I’ve been the alternate and I’m like I haven’t attended any
32:00 meetings.
32:01 I don’t know, I mean, maybe there’s somebody within the district
32:04 that can communicate to us.
32:05 » Yeah. Do we know the point of contact for the staff on this
32:07 one?
32:08 » It should be Ms. Dampier or is it?
32:11 » She said not it.
32:13 » It’s you.
32:14 » OK.
32:14 » All right.
32:15 » So you – I’ll do primary review.
32:20 » Space Coast League of Cities, that’s where all the cities
32:23 meet.
32:24 Mr. Thomas, you’re the lead on it.
32:25 » Yeah. I go to that regularly.
32:27 It’s a good organization, usually the mayors and some of the
32:32 council members
32:32 from around the county get together once a month and have a
32:36 dinner, a little social hour.
32:37 It’s more of a getting to know the other elected officials.
32:40 Once again, I think that’s something we all get invited to go to.
32:44 I’m happy to leave but I’m happy just to go when I can too.
32:47 It doesn’t – I go to most of them.
32:49 » I think everybody should like the Economic Development
32:51 Council.
32:51 » Somebody else wants to take the lead, feel free and just
32:54 whatever.
32:54 » There’s a fee associated with this one as well or no?
32:56 » I always pay for it, it’s 25 bucks.
32:58 » OK. Is it just a fee for – is it a membership fee or is it a
33:00 fee just for the meal?
33:01 » Every night, every time you go.
33:02 » It’s the 25 bucks.
33:04 I always pay my own money.
33:05 » All right.
33:06 » I’m happy to continue or I’m happy to hand it off to someone.
33:09 » It don’t matter to me.
33:10 » I think you should continue it because you have a lot of
33:12 great relationships
33:12 and then maybe Ms. Wright back you up and then we can go for a
33:14 walk.
33:15 » You are volunteering everything today.
33:16 » I’ve been doing a good job.
33:18 » How about you?
33:19 You’re going.
33:20 » I’ve got – I’ve got.
33:20 » All right.
33:21 I’ll be your backup so Mr. Thomas if you can’t attend those just
33:24 let me know
33:24 and I’ll go as your alternate.
33:27 » OK. All right.
33:27 And then we have the discussion for the FSBA alternate.
33:32 We have the board of directors and so just – OK, go ahead.
33:38 » So as a large district we get a spot on the board of
33:41 directors for FSBA, a single seat,
33:45 and we are an odd district, I think we’re district 11, 11 or 13,
33:48 I think we’re 11.
33:49 And so every odd year in the summertime we pick our
33:54 representative on the FSBA board
33:56 of directors because they are a member-led organization.
33:59 And then we have an alternate.
34:00 I’ve been the alternate – you guys will pick in June your next
34:03 one, Mr. Susan is it now,
34:05 but we need an alternate for when Mr. Susan gets busy in.
34:07 » So what I thought is that I would stay there until June
34:13 but I would love you guys to come to some of them.
34:16 They’re great for networking.
34:18 » Yeah.
34:18 » You have – FSBA is going to be a nightmare to try to even
34:21 meet anybody.
34:22 It’s going to be like everybody is, you know what I mean,
34:23 running around.
34:24 But the board of directors, you get to really meet some of the
34:27 people that have been influential
34:28 in policy decision-making for a long time.
34:30 And then you get to intimately get to know everybody and
34:33 everything else.
34:34 So I would like –
34:35 » That sounds just like what I would love to do.
34:37 » I would love to have Michelle come on.
34:39 » Yes, please.
34:39 » But I would also – Michelle, I’d like you to not just be the
34:41 alternate,
34:42 I’d like you to come with me and then stay there.
34:45 And then that way when it comes up over the summer,
34:47 you might be able to transition to take the lead on it.
34:49 » OK.
34:50 » I think that’d be great.
34:51 But I would also say, Kyle, if you have any desire to meet any
34:54 of the other school board members across the state, if you’d
34:56 like to, you could come too.
34:58 » Yeah. We’ll see how that goes.
35:00 » I will tell you that –
35:01 » I’m not quite sure.
35:02 I’ll be a lifelong member of the Florida School Board
35:04 Association.
35:05 » OK.
35:05 » So we’ll see how it goes down.
35:07 » They talked about it at the new school board member lunch
35:10 today.
35:11 And it is going to be at 3.30, I believe, or 3.30 or 4,
35:15 which is after the new school board member training is over.
35:17 And anybody is welcome – you sit around the edge if you’re not
35:19 on the board.
35:21 And so you can – but any member of FSBA is welcome to come and
35:25 sit in it to see how it goes.
35:28 » OK. So that’s good.
35:31 » Love it.
35:31 » And I’ll get you those dates.
35:32 Lena will get them to you and then get hotel rooms and stuff
35:34 like that.
35:35 It’s pretty cool.
35:35 » Perfect.
35:36 » All right.
35:36 Does any other board member have anything further to discuss?
35:39 » Interim superintendent.
35:40 » Oh, yeah.
35:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
35:42 Thank you for reminding us, Mr. Thomas.
35:43 » I’m going to jump out real fast and just say this obviously,
35:46 I apologize for my emotions getting the better of me earlier
35:48 today.
35:48 I just have the utmost respect for you as an individual and a
35:51 leader.
35:51 So I thank you for what you’ve done there.
35:53 I would love for our interim – I’m going to make the
35:56 recommendation.
35:57 Obviously, we can’t vote on anything today.
35:59 But I would love for Ms. Tara Harris to possibly be our interim
36:02 if she’s willing to lead our district.
36:03 She has championed academic excellence and is really somebody
36:07 who is respected on all sides of every aisle.
36:10 She gets cheered for louder than anybody else when she walks
36:12 into a room.
36:12 And so I think she would lead our district in this time.
36:14 That’s a little, you know, uncertain and probably bring a level
36:18 of peace to the community.
36:19 So my recommendation would be to throw my support behind her.
36:21 » I 100% agree with that statement.
36:24 Tara Harris is amazing meeting with the community and explaining
36:28 Millage and Sir Tax.
36:30 And she’s very well respected by teachers and staff.
36:33 I think she’s incredible.
36:34 So that would be – I would really support that.
36:38 » Kyle.
36:38 » Yeah, I support that.
36:42 She’s – I mean, she was in my classroom 10 years ago when I was
36:47 teaching.
36:47 And she was an amazing resource.
36:49 So I’m, you know, sad to see Dr. Rundell leave, which just wasn’t
36:53 the time and honestly.
36:55 But we are here where we are today.
36:57 And I think Dr. Tara Harris will be an amazing choice for the
37:02 next few months.
37:04 » Yeah.
37:05 » So I support Tara Harris wholeheartedly.
37:09 I think she would be awesome.
37:10 I’d like to just throw it out there, have her be the interim
37:14 through the remainder of the school year.
37:16 And if she’s willing to do it and then maybe we get into the
37:20 early spring and start looking
37:22 at a process for either bringing on and moving or if she’s able
37:28 –
37:28 she wants to throw her hat in the ring and stay on,
37:30 then we can all make that decision when we get there.
37:33 But I’d like to see her stay through the end of the school year.
37:37 » One thing I would just – I’d like to throw this out there
37:39 because this happened in 2022.
37:40 And I don’t know that this will happen again this year.
37:42 But if it does, let’s just say, in 2022, we saw around the state,
37:47 there was just like a huge amount of changes with superintendents.
37:50 And so we were very fortunate because we jumped right away
37:53 immediately to try to find
37:55 that permanent person knowing we were going to have an interim
37:57 there.
37:57 So it may be advantageous to us as a district to go ahead and
38:01 still start that process now
38:02 with the understanding that, you know, if she’s willing to stay
38:05 on to the end
38:05 of the school year, we would love for that to be the case.
38:07 But it might get us more candidates if we do that sooner rather
38:10 than later, you know.
38:11 » For sure.
38:12 I would just like to leave the door open should she decide to
38:14 not retire
38:15 and should we decide to keep her that that is a possibility.
38:18 » I think for me, I think you’re 100% right, Mr. Thomas and Ms.
38:23 Wright,
38:24 that I think that my feeling is, is that you have – so when we
38:28 did this before,
38:29 when you have people that are applying and you’re requesting
38:31 them to come off of their
38:33 like normal school year, anybody that does that is kind of
38:37 selling
38:37 out their actual school district.
38:38 And when they do that, you kind of question their leadership and
38:41 authority, right?
38:43 So I agree with you on your statement of getting to June.
38:46 I think you let Ms. Harris make that decision if she wants to
38:50 throw in.
38:52 But I would say based upon prior knowledge as far as going out
38:55 to bid that –
38:55 or for superintendent, that we should probably get a process
39:00 going and then select somebody
39:01 that would come on in June, respectfully.
39:04 And that way, I will tell you that when we went out, we had the
39:08 most applicants of any
39:10 of the other counties because we did go out ahead of everybody.
39:13 But that was a very shallow group of applicants.
39:17 Like, once you got down to number four, it was like guys that
39:21 thought that were, you know,
39:22 teachers that wanted to be superintendents from Ohio, you know
39:25 what I mean?
39:26 And it was just a little bit off.
39:27 And so I think that that’s why I would say if we could, that’s
39:32 all.
39:33 » Yes, to what you said, John, I agree as well.
39:37 And I think we can start the process or whatever it looks
39:40 like with the concept of hiring for the summer.
39:43 I do want to make sure I guess you would probably be negotiating
39:46 the contract.
39:47 » What I would do –
39:48 » No, I’m not going to be negative about it.
39:50 » No, no, no.
39:50 What I would do is I would go meet with Ms. Harris – hang on.
39:53 Ms. Harris, are you OK with doing that?
39:55 [ Laughter ]
39:58 » We should probably get her in there.
40:00 » But what I would like to do is just bring forward something
40:03 for the board,
40:04 like a quasi this is a good plan kind of –
40:07 » Yeah, I just –
40:08 » And then let the board decide.
40:09 » I just want to make sure that whatever we decide to do that
40:14 whatever her natural end date
40:18 that she would have chosen with Brevard Public Schools is that
40:21 we make her whole no matter what
40:23 happens if she’s superintendent for one minute or for six months
40:27 that the fact
40:28 that she’s hopefully willing to step up that we make sure she is
40:31 whole that way.
40:33 » Yeah. You can write the contract terms to make sure of that.
40:36 I’d agree with that.
40:36 » Does that make sense?
40:37 » Yeah. We’re getting a golden like runway here of
40:40 superintendent.
40:41 » I don’t know if this is appropriate, but I did.
40:46 » Welcome to the frying pan.
40:49 » Pull it towards you there.
40:49 » You just got to be closer.
40:52 » I do think you should put it out immediately for the search
40:56 for many reasons.
40:57 But one is I do plan to retire in the summer.
41:01 So I care so much about Brevard.
41:05 I’m willing to step in in this role to assist.
41:08 We have awesome people around the room that I feel
41:12 like we can support during this transition.
41:14 But I agree we never know how many openings other districts will
41:18 come.
41:18 And I want the best for Brevard, and I want the board to get
41:22 busy finding the very best candidate.
41:26 So –
41:28 » Are you ruling yourself out?
41:30 » I am ruling myself – I am more than happy to do the interim.
41:34 But I am also looking forward to my next chapter outside of PPS,
41:40 which I don’t have any plan.
41:41 Like, let me be clear, I – but I just – I want the very best
41:45 candidate for superintendent.
41:47 And I will help in any fashion in getting the very best here.
41:52 But I am not interested in doing it beyond the interim.
41:56 » And just so you know, by her stating that, you’ll have some
42:00 that would normally not apply
42:01 because 80% of school districts that have an internal candidate
42:06 that’s loved end
42:07 up going with the internal candidate.
42:09 » Yeah.
42:09 » And so thank you for saying that, because now –
42:12 » But we all change our minds.
42:13 » Well, I mean, I’ve lost –
42:15 » And we hope you do.
42:16 » No, I mean, last time, that was true that we were very, very
42:19 clear.
42:20 The board was clear that we didn’t want the interim to be the
42:22 permanent person.
42:22 And we were very vocal about that.
42:24 And I don’t – I don’t know that that necessarily helped us in
42:26 any way.
42:28 I don’t know why we would limit that.
42:30 I mean, I understand what you’re saying.
42:31 And she’s saying she’s making it very clear and public that she
42:33 intends to only be here
42:35 through the end of the summer because she’s going to retire,
42:36 which is a right you have earned.
42:38 And so congratulations on that.
42:39 But – and thank you for being willing to step up because I know
42:42 this is a huge ask
42:43 of really anyone and to Sue that’s back there as well.
42:47 Thank you to her because she’s our deputy superintendent and she,
42:50 you know,
42:50 we’re very blessed because we have a phenomenal team of people
42:54 who are all like, hey, I’ll help,
42:55 I’ll help, I’ll help, wherever I can jump in at.
42:57 And so that, to me, says we have the right people that are
43:00 leading.
43:00 So thank you.
43:01 » So just to clarify for you guys, because I’m your governance
43:05 consultant right now.
43:07 So until such a time as you guys have an agreement, which sounds
43:11 like Paul could get together
43:12 and you guys could vote on a Tuesday, since Dr. Endell’s last
43:16 day is Friday, Sue, as the deputy,
43:19 is the woman in charge until such a time as you guys get to take
43:22 a vote.
43:23 » She’s going to go to town this weekend.
43:24 » Yes.
43:25 » She will.
43:25 » So you need to stay in town this weekend, right?
43:27 But I think that’s – I think it would be good if since you all
43:30 have some consensus to give
43:32 that direction to Paul today so that he can get that together
43:35 for you guys to vote on a Tuesday.
43:36 » And what we’ll do is, is you guys will get a working document
43:39 together
43:40 so that whatever she feels confident about you guys have, you
43:44 can look at it,
43:45 and then you can make recommendations through Paul.
43:48 And then if it gets too, like, if it gets too out of whack,
43:51 then we can discuss it at the board meeting.
43:53 But I feel that Ms. Harris has always been pretty amenable to,
43:57 you know what I mean,
43:58 contract terms and stuff like that.
44:00 » And you guys can always amend it during the process.
44:02 I would recommend also that you don’t wait too long,
44:05 just because of just remembering the timing from last time.
44:07 It went – we went from December to the end of May, so it’s not
44:11 going to be a two
44:13 or three-month process, right?
44:14 » It was in some of those meetings.
44:15 » Yeah. So it’s good to start, because first thing you have to
44:19 do is pick who’s going
44:20 to help you do the search, and then you get the community
44:22 feedback and all.
44:23 And that all takes a time, a little bit of time.
44:25 » I think we can discuss some of that stuff on Tuesday.
44:27 » Yeah.
44:28 » Yes, sir.
44:28 » I just have one other comment, and that is, is that, you know,
44:32 the sign of a great leader is when you can step out of the
44:35 picture
44:35 and your organization keeps on running, because of the people
44:38 that you have on your team.
44:39 So we wouldn’t be in the position to be able to replace you, Dr.
44:42 Wendell,
44:42 if you didn’t have assembled such a great team.
44:45 So kudos to you.
44:48 » Well said.
44:48 All right.
44:49 So I will work with Ms. Harris to bring something you guys can
44:52 draft as we go.
44:53 And then we will come back.
44:55 I would almost – would we want to discuss part of that on
44:59 Tuesday?
45:00 Or do you guys want to wait until Thursday to discuss it?
45:02 » What do you – sorry.
45:04 If you don’t have it by Tuesday, you can’t vote on it.
45:07 » Right.
45:08 » No, I’m talking about going out for search.
45:10 Do you guys want to start talking about the search stuff?
45:13 There’s – FSBA does a phenomenal job as far as searching.
45:16 They know all the local people, they know them all.
45:19 There’s other firms that are nationwide, stuff like that.
45:22 » FSBA does nationwide.
45:23 » Well, they do nationwide, but I just –
45:24 » They likely want to get quotes, so we’ll get with procurement
45:27 and request quotes.
45:28 » All right, I’ll request quotes, we can look at different
45:32 options,
45:32 and we can either discuss it on Tuesday or Thursday.
45:35 It’s probably going to have to be Thursday now.
45:37 » I doubt the quotes are going to come in that quickly, though,
45:39 I mean, I don’t know, I mean –
45:40 » Yeah, they’ll probably give them a week or so.
45:42 » I was going to say, I would like like a half a second
45:43 to breathe in between all the things that have happened.
45:46 » Yeah, but we have a meeting, what, December 6th?
45:48 You should be able to have that by then, right?
45:50 » December 8th.
45:51 » 8th.
45:51 » 8th, whatever it is.
45:55 » Yeah, if we get it earlier, we’ll discuss it earlier, no big
45:57 deal.
45:57 All right, everybody good?
45:59 » Yeah.
46:00 » Anything else for –
46:00 » Thank you, Ms. Harris.
46:02 » – for stepping in.
46:03 » Thank you.
46:03 » Mr. Chair, if I could just offer some comments.
46:05 » Yes, sir, absolutely.
46:06 » First of all, thank you to Tara for having the guts to step
46:12 in and serve
46:14 as an interim whenever you guys finalize the details.
46:17 Sue, of course, will act as the interim superintendent beginning
46:21 Monday
46:21 or beginning Saturday morning.
46:24 And so she’ll be the one that opens the meeting on Tuesday and
46:28 runs, you know,
46:29 with you guys on the meeting on Tuesday and Thursday.
46:32 My suggestion is that you do advertise
46:35 and pursue a superintendent candidate as soon as possible.
46:38 There are three other districts open in Florida right now.
46:42 And they’ve already begun their search processes.
46:45 So Mr. Susan mentioned that you guys were first out of the gate
46:49 a few years ago
46:51 and there were seven districts open at that time.
46:53 » That’s where it will end up.
46:55 » So I wouldn’t wait any time.
46:57 And I will counter Mr. Susan’s argument that if someone were
47:01 willing to leave their place
47:03 of employment mid-year, that they would be bailing on that place
47:06 of employment.
47:07 Well, this is a pretty attractive position.
47:10 So I would imagine high quality candidates would be applying.
47:13 And if you were to hire them January, February, March, something
47:18 like that,
47:19 they’re going to come, you know, it’s not that they’re like,
47:23 well, you know, I can’t leave now.
47:24 You know, for a job like this, they would– so.
47:28 » Yeah. It’s a year-round job.
47:30 It’s a year-round job and, you know, there’s never a perfect
47:32 time.
47:32 » Yeah. So I would move as soon as possible.
47:36 It’s my recommendation.
47:37 OK.
47:39 » What action do we need to move as soon as possible to put the–
47:41 I mean, we need to put the procurement–
47:42 » Yeah, you get to– as soon as possible is probably like the
47:44 meeting in December is
47:46 when you’ll make your decision on your time–
47:48 who you’re going to use as a search firm and all that.
47:50 I just wouldn’t wait.
47:51 I wouldn’t put it off.
47:54 » We’ll bring back some information but we won’t make any
47:56 decisions at the next meeting
47:57 and then we can wait until December 8th for final decisions.
48:01 And you guys can just look on the agendas for her contract to
48:06 make sure you’re OK with it.
48:07 If there’s anything wrong, you guys can make adjustments.
48:10 » Or Paul, can you just email it out to each of us?
48:12 Is that OK individually?
48:13 » Once I get it finalized, yeah.
48:14 » OK, perfect.
48:14 And then that way, if there’s any things that we have concerns
48:16 over, then–
48:17 » Yup. Anything else to discuss?
48:21 No? OK.
48:23 » Welcome aboard.
48:23 » Oh, we usually talk about like all the nitty-gritty of stuff
48:26 but I think you guys have figured out here’s what I would just
48:29 say is these people make sure–
48:34 I know you’re working all the way up until the day before the
48:36 meetings, God bless your soul.
48:38 But have meetings with all these people so that you know–
48:41 and I know Kyle, we had talked about that yesterday.
48:43 So you know what they do, where they are.
48:45 You’re going to get lost in this building if you– I’ve been
48:46 here for eight years.
48:47 Somebody had to walk me back to payroll yesterday.
48:51 » There’s a trash can system on there.
48:52 » I know, but it does– it only works if you remember which
48:55 color is which part.
48:56 So it’s OK.
48:57 I always look helpless since somebody takes me there.
49:00 » I can never remember the colors.
49:01 » I can’t either but–
49:02 » That’s all right.
49:02 Lena, Lena, tuck me.
49:04 Lena, tuck me.
49:05 But I encourage you to take advantage of that.
49:08 I know you guys are going both to FSBA and all that good stuff.
49:12 You’ve both been employees before and are current employees so
49:14 you get the whole payroll
49:15 and all that kind of stuff so you don’t have to learn that part
49:18 but these are, you know,
49:21 the superintendents have always been open to us having
49:26 conversations with the cabinet level
49:28 when we needed to, to ask questions and they’ve always been open.
49:31 I imagine that will continue with the next superintendents.
49:33 So take advantage of that opportunity because they’re part of
49:36 your team.
49:37 » Thank you.
49:38 » Sounds good.
49:39 You guys all good?
49:40 » Yep.
49:41 » All right.
49:42 That concludes the meeting.
49:44 [ Music ]
50:14 [ Silence ]