Updates on the Fight for Quality Public Education in Brevard County, FL
0:00 Music.
0:30 And call the October 15, 2019 School Board Meeting to order.
0:34 Whether you are in attendance here or watching from another
0:36 location, my colleagues and I are pleased you took time to join
0:39 us.
0:40 We appreciate and applaud your commitment to partnering with us
0:43 in support of our schools, our students, our staff, and our
0:46 community.
0:47 While the Board and Brevard Public Schools staff members are
0:49 fully committed to doing our best to ensure excellence at Brevard
0:52 Public Schools,
0:54 we know that our success depends heavily on an engaged and
0:56 committed community to work alongside us and help us to
0:59 continually improve.
1:01 Thank you for being active participants in the process. Pam,
1:04 roll call please.
1:07 Mrs. Belfort. Present. Mrs. Campbell. Present.
1:11 Mrs. Deskovich. Present. Ms. McDougall. Present. And Mr. Susan.
1:15 Present.
1:17 The Board will now hold a moment of silent reflection and invite
1:19 you to join us as we mourn the loss of two BPS family members.
1:23 Regina McKenzie, an instructional assistant at Jupiter
1:26 Elementary, and Vincent Cedillo, a 7th grade student from
1:38 Jackson Middle School.
1:48 Thank you.
1:50 Matt Reed, Assistant Superintendent of Government and Community
1:53 Relations, will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2:00 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
2:05 and to the Republic for which it stands,
2:07 one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
2:12 all.
2:13 At this time, I’d like to offer my fellow board members and Dr.
2:20 Mullins an opportunity to recognize students, staff, and members
2:24 of the community.
2:26 Ms. Campbell, do you want to start this evening?
2:32 Sure.
2:33 I would be happy to. Thank you, Ms. Deskovich.
2:36 So, two of our BPS staff, Jenny Gleason and Javon Blum, have
2:42 been very busy in the last few weeks and have put on two
2:48 fantastic events for our parents and community.
2:51 The first one that I got to attend was the parent leadership
2:53 meeting, which, by the way, happens, I think, once a month or
2:56 several times throughout the year.
2:58 And they have a parent representative from each school.
3:01 And then the idea is to give information out to our parent
3:05 leaders, whether it be a PTO president or something like that.
3:08 And then they go back to their schools and try to encourage that
3:10 information to go out among the parents.
3:13 And so, this one was a fantastic meeting.
3:15 We had Dr. Dodlani, who works with who we play for, who
3:19 explained.
3:20 We actually, he taught us all how to read EKGs.
3:23 Oh.
3:24 So, y’all can bring him to me now.
3:25 No, I’m just kidding.
3:26 Don’t, don’t.
3:27 But he showed us what they’re looking for and talked to us about
3:32 the percentage of heart defects that are caught using EKGs.
3:37 There’s obviously some that don’t get caught that way, but so
3:39 that was great.
3:40 Also had a team from educational technology talking about focus
3:44 and encouraging parents, you know, to get signed up for focus.
3:49 Found out some really interesting statistics that there’s
3:52 actually a good percentage of our district parents who aren’t
3:55 signed up for focus yet.
3:56 So, I hope that our parents will get on to focus because that’s
3:58 how not only can you see your kids, your students grades, but
4:01 their attendance and so many other things.
4:03 So, but then last Friday, they, those same two wonderful ladies
4:06 hosted another event, which was in conjunction with the Brevard
4:09 Schools Foundation, a poverty simulation.
4:13 And we had a lot of community leaders here in this room and just,
4:18 you know, we had an hour representing a month, basically 15
4:23 minutes a week, where you had to consider real struggles that
4:29 our community, our students and their parents are going through.
4:32 Whether it be lack of transportation, lack of just money for
4:37 food and basic needs, how do you, you know, get everywhere you
4:42 need to go and the struggles they have with social services and
4:45 things like that.
4:47 So, we did a fantastic job and we, we talked about how we need
4:49 to get more trainers in the district so that more of our
4:52 district staff can experience that.
4:54 And it was very meaningful.
4:56 So, hats off to those ladies.
4:58 I also wanted to just shout out to the Westside Elementary Elite
5:03 Running Club.
5:05 Westside Elementary has a great, under the leadership,
5:07 especially under Ms. Rogers’ leadership, she’s an avid runner
5:11 herself.
5:12 They have one of the largest running programs whenever Running
5:15 Zone does a race.
5:16 They have school teams and they’re one of the biggest ones
5:18 frequently.
5:19 And so, they had an obstacle fun run on Saturday.
5:24 And I got out there myself.
5:26 I was not the last person in my wave.
5:28 There were four people behind me.
5:30 But just did a great job.
5:33 They do a great job highlighting health and staying active and
5:35 involving their parents.
5:37 And so, just kudos to them and to Mr. Tungis who put the event
5:42 together.
5:44 Thank you, Ms. Campbell.
5:46 Mr. Susan.
5:47 I had a question.
5:48 So, if I didn’t say anything for my two, can I save that for the
5:52 next one?
5:53 You want to do none tonight and four at the next meeting?
5:56 No.
5:57 Because the next question is, if I do more than two tonight, can
5:59 I just not do some in the future?
6:00 How many do you have, Mr. Susan?
6:01 Yeah, how many do you have?
6:02 Seven.
6:03 No.
6:04 Oh, man.
6:05 All right.
6:06 So, anyways, I got – I had the honor of speaking with Ms. Coach’s
6:09 class at Eastern Florida State, which is our future educators.
6:12 And, wow, what an exciting group of individuals that are going
6:14 to take over our schools in the future.
6:16 And they are very excited to get into what’s known as field
6:19 experience.
6:20 So, a lot of our principals are right now being reached out to
6:22 so that these teachers can come in and get the field experience
6:25 that they need inside of the schools.
6:27 So, that was an amazing thing.
6:28 And if you guys ever get a chance, try to go to one of these
6:31 classrooms because these kids, when you talk to them about what
6:35 is their main why, each one of them says that they want to
6:39 change the future and give back to their community.
6:42 That is the true core of an educator.
6:44 So, I want to say thank you to Ms. Coach.
6:46 I want to say thank you to Rockledge, Sherwood, Suntree, Johnson,
6:49 Kennedy, and Sable, who had me speak at their faculties.
6:53 And I reviewed the schools and met with the principals over
6:55 since the last school board meeting.
6:57 Did want to say that we just have the most amazing teams behind
7:01 us all the way through.
7:04 We have a machine that is now starting to truly get greased and
7:07 moving forward, all the way from security to all of our
7:10 curriculum and everything else.
7:13 I’m just so proud of what we’re doing inside of our districts.
7:15 But I did want to say thank you to those schools.
7:17 I did want to say thank you to Kimberly Garten for hosting the
7:19 Model Student Senate, which all of us should go to in January,
7:24 where they bring all of the different schools and they act out
7:26 all the different pieces of legislation for acting out as
7:29 senators.
7:30 And this is a great opportunity to see the next leaders inside
7:32 of our governments because each one of these kids are Student
7:34 Government Association presidents and everything else.
7:37 So, Model Student Senate.
7:38 But Kimberly Garten, what a phenomenal person for our district.
7:41 She does a lot of these different programs.
7:43 She deserves a lot of credit for what she does.
7:45 I did not want to thank Suntree Elementary for hosting a 5K.
7:48 I think I almost had a heart attack on Saturday.
7:51 I ran the 5K and had made sure that there was a nurse that could
7:54 have performed CPR in the event that I went down.
7:58 But we did complete that.
8:00 And I did want to say that I’m looking forward because that’s my
8:02 first three miles of the 26 miles that you guys required of me
8:07 to run for this marathon thing that we’ve got going on.
8:09 The other requirement, and this doesn’t count as my totals
8:11 because I’m reporting my requirements to you.
8:14 The next one is the book challenge.
8:17 I have now read two books that we have now, and I am now
8:19 officially going to start presenting my books to a class, and I’m
8:24 not going to tell you where because it’s very embarrassing.
8:26 They have requested that I sing the summary of the book to them.
8:30 So, this is going to be a very interesting overview of the books,
8:33 but I am very happy for my two challenges, and I just wanted to
8:36 report to my board members that I am completing what you’ve
8:39 asked of me.
8:40 And that’s it.
8:41 So, thank you so much.
8:43 And Dr. Mullins, I just want to let you know I’m working on that
8:46 pink suit, and if I get it, you’ve got to wear it.
8:48 Okay.
8:49 All right, that’s it.
8:50 I’m done.
8:51 Super impressed, Mr. Susan.
8:52 Thank you.
8:53 A lot of those were just updates.
8:54 They weren’t just like things.
8:55 I’m going to shake things up and go to Dr. Mullins.
8:58 All right, Dr. Mullins.
9:00 All right.
9:01 Thank you.
9:02 Well, first, I have to adorn the pink tie of the day.
9:06 Yes.
9:07 Samara from Palm Beach, Palm Bay Magnet High School is the
9:12 student who designed and created the tie, which you may not see.
9:15 It just may seem like a subtle pink tie, but it is lots of
9:18 sparkle.
9:20 So, it is stretching my comfort zone.
9:23 So, appreciate that.
9:25 Shout out to our Brevard Schools Foundation.
9:28 The Take Stock in Children program was honored.
9:31 Our foundation received three state awards at a recent expo
9:36 statewide.
9:38 The Big and Bold Award for Excellence in Innovation, the Luminary
9:41 Award, and the Gold Status for Meeting Key Performance Indicators.
9:46 Put it in a context.
9:48 250 students involved in Take Stock in Children.
9:51 These are students who were identified and potentially at risk.
9:54 They participate in a mentoring program from 7th through 12th
9:57 grade.
9:58 They continue to be on track to 100% graduation of their
10:02 students.
10:03 And upon graduation, they receive a 2+2 scholarship to go to
10:06 college.
10:07 Just an impressive support for our kids across the district.
10:11 I actually want to do a shout out to the 10 people I have
10:14 sitting in the back of the boardroom tonight.
10:18 At our cabinet meeting on Monday, we were discussing some of the
10:20 challenges of meeting the needs in our classrooms.
10:26 And we agreed, although it is a small piece of the challenge of
10:30 substitutes for our classes when there is a need.
10:34 As importantly, it’s an opportunity for us as a cabinet to
10:37 remain connected in our schools.
10:40 And we’ve all agreed.
10:41 We’ve canceled cabinet meeting, I think, November 25th.
10:45 And we’re making ourselves available to get into schools and
10:48 substitute for teachers who will be absent.
10:52 So, yeah.
10:53 And they agreed to do it again second semester as well.
10:55 So, we’re all looking forward to it.
10:58 And I can’t wait to teach some Algebra 1 or Geometry soon.
11:01 Dr. Mullins, can we get in on that action?
11:04 Absolutely.
11:05 And actually, when I talked to Mr. Colucci, he said BFD is in as
11:09 well.
11:10 So, we will make it a team effort.
11:14 Thank you, sir.
11:16 I also want to share – it’s an exciting time across our schools
11:20 and across our district.
11:22 As our teachers and our staff are recognized for Teacher of the
11:25 Year and Employee of the Year.
11:28 The stories and the nominations that are coming forward of the
11:31 people that we’ve been recognizing with impact pins and bridge
11:37 builder pins and so on.
11:38 Just a testament of people going above and beyond to serve our
11:41 kids and serve each other across our great district.
11:45 Along those lines, I am sending invitation to the six finalists
11:51 of both Teacher of the Year and Employee of the Year for the
11:55 last two years
11:56 to join me for some ongoing collaborative conversations.
12:00 To, again, remain increasingly connected with our schools and
12:03 our employees of the year across our district.
12:06 So that we can remain current and aware of some of the
12:09 challenges that they’re facing in the workplace.
12:12 As well as we can share information with them of things we’re
12:14 working on in the district.
12:16 So, that invitation is going out this week.
12:19 And we anticipate meeting for our first meeting in two separate
12:22 groups before Thanksgiving.
12:24 So, I wanted to share those exciting things.
12:28 Awesome.
12:29 Thank you, sir.
12:30 Ms. Belford?
12:31 I’m going to violate our number rule, but I’m going to do it
12:33 really quick so you won’t know this.
12:36 So, first, I’m going to give a shout out to Andy Walters because
12:38 he asked for one.
12:39 No, but in all honesty, we do need to give a shout out to Andy
12:42 Walters as well as Robin Novelli and Chris Moore who have been
12:47 kind of taking the lead on all of our security work that has
12:51 been mandated by the state.
12:52 And I know that it has been a challenging task in addition to
12:55 the work that’s been going on on the school level.
12:59 So, I appreciate all three of you and your leadership and all of
13:01 those aspects that are so critically important to the safety of
13:04 our students in the district.
13:06 Also, I wanted to give a shout out to Dr. Mullins who joined me
13:09 for the Astronaut High School Homecoming Parade.
13:12 And you might remember back the day last week that we had the
13:16 torrential downpour.
13:19 That was the night of the homecoming parade.
13:21 And so, Dr. Mullins and I were in the back of a truck throwing
13:24 candy for about a mile and a half, two miles down Garden Street
13:27 in Titusville.
13:28 He was a trooper, smiled the whole time, and really most
13:31 impressive.
13:33 Not only did we, the Astronaut High School Homecoming Parade
13:35 incorporates all of the feeder schools for Astronaut High School.
13:38 So, all of the elementary schools were represented there as well.
13:41 But the community, despite the fact that they were halfway
13:44 drowning from all of the rain, our community came out and
13:48 supported the parade magnificently despite the weather.
13:51 So, I want to thank them for their continued support of all that
13:53 goes on in our schools.
13:55 Also, a quick shout out to Senator Wright and Representative
13:57 Renee Placencia.
13:59 You may have seen that they came out for a Czech presentation at
14:02 Astronaut High School for development of a new welding program
14:05 at Astronaut,
14:06 which we are really excited to get up and going.
14:08 Part of our legislative platform this year is some additional
14:11 funding to make that a reality because we need some additional
14:14 equipment.
14:15 But also, I have to thank the city of Titusville who stepped up
14:17 and donated some welding equipment to the program.
14:20 So, we are that much closer to actually bringing that to reality.
14:24 Also, our education technology folks, Office of Instructional
14:30 Technology to be official,
14:33 put together a Maker Discovery Day last week, which was a mini
14:38 conference, which was phenomenal.
14:40 And I have to share with you all, and I think Ms. Campbell has
14:44 one to share as well.
14:46 We did.
14:47 We got to play in the interactive playground.
14:50 They had phenomenal…
14:52 Yes, mine is…
14:54 So, crafting is not my thing.
14:56 You guys know that, right?
14:58 But I have a little firefly.
14:59 He’s got a little bottom.
15:02 And Ms. Campbell made a beautiful butterfly.
15:05 And so, what an awesome mini conference put on for our teachers
15:09 to come and learn how to utilize technology and hands-on
15:12 learning to really build excitement about learning in the
15:15 classroom.
15:16 And that did not happen without the work of a lot of people,
15:19 both from Office of Instructional Technology and several of our
15:23 other faculty members that stepped up to assist in the endeavor
15:26 as well.
15:27 So, thanks to them.
15:28 And the very last one, which I think is a big one, and I can’t
15:30 remember if I mentioned this at the last meeting, but I feel
15:33 like it’s worth mentioning again.
15:35 We had a student at Pinewood Elementary School, Carly Burnett,
15:40 who scored a five on all three of her state assessments in fifth
15:44 grade last year.
15:46 To give you some perspective, out of all of the students in the
15:49 district, we had 384 students in the district that scored a
15:54 perfect score on one or more assessments.
15:57 We had 22 students in the district that scored a perfect score
16:02 on multiple, at least two assessments.
16:07 We only had two students in the entire district that scored a
16:11 perfect score in all three subjects.
16:14 One of them was a Delora Middle School student.
16:16 And the other one was Carly Burnett, who is our only elementary
16:19 school student to score a perfect score on all three assessments.
16:23 So, much congratulations to her and her parents and her teachers
16:26 that have helped her to be successful.
16:28 And absolutely.
16:33 And I’m Dona Steskovich.
16:36 I think she took longer than you, Mr. Susan.
16:38 No, I was back.
16:39 Ms. McDougall.
16:40 Okay, Dr. Mullins stole my phone.
16:43 Dr. Mullins stole my Brevard School Foundation, so I have just a
16:48 few.
16:49 I want to reach out and thank the Mohawk Group, who they’re into
16:53 sustainability.
16:55 They do some carpeting.
16:57 And they adopted one of our underserved schools, which is Emma
17:01 Jewell, in a low economic area.
17:05 And they put in a solar sunflower.
17:08 And if you’re in the area, you need to go see this.
17:11 This is amazing.
17:12 It is a sunflower with solar panels that tracks the sun.
17:16 And it will close up at night when there is no sun.
17:19 If the wind gets too high, it closes up too.
17:22 It will be able to prevent – to send power to a three-bedroom,
17:29 two-bath home.
17:30 And it’s absolutely amazing.
17:32 It’s – I wish all of our schools had that.
17:34 It’s very, very, very, very nice.
17:36 So, again, thanks to the Mohawk Group for partnering with our
17:39 schools.
17:40 I really appreciate what they did.
17:43 This will – this will allow the students to learn about
17:46 engineering, sustainability, science.
17:51 They already did – they had to write – they had to write why
17:54 they wanted this
17:55 and why this would be important in their schools.
17:57 So, that was just a really – a wonderful thing.
17:59 I want to give a shout-out to the Gulfview.
18:02 They had a principal tee, which was very interesting to invite
18:06 the community members there.
18:07 And that was really nicely done, along with – Dr. Mullins and I
18:11 were there.
18:12 And we went and we both wanted to do the flight simulation that
18:15 they have at that school.
18:17 And I thought that was way cool.
18:18 I didn’t realize they had that.
18:20 And literally, you start out like you’re flying a plane.
18:25 And I just thought, oh, I want to do that.
18:28 And then a really big shout-out, and I think most of you all
18:31 know,
18:32 because I’ve talked about it enough.
18:34 This past weekend, the Coco High School Choir Chorus was up in
18:39 New York at Carnegie Hall.
18:41 They were only one of four schools in the country that were
18:44 performing.
18:45 And I have it by good authority that it was absolutely amazing.
18:50 And the one person who did attend said that they cried during
18:53 the whole thing
18:54 because it was just so moving.
18:55 So, shout-out to Coco.
18:57 And my last thing is, Mr. Susan, I’ve read eight books.
19:02 And you’ve only done two.
19:04 So, get on it.
19:06 You know we’ve got that Coco Rockledge game coming up.
19:11 He has like ten kids under the age of two.
19:13 I mean, we’re going to give him a little bit of –
19:16 I keep multiplying every time I go home.
19:21 Okay.
19:22 I have three ladies in equity, innovation, and choice that I was
19:27 able to present a pin to today,
19:30 the Bridge Builder pin, all three of them.
19:33 So, these three ladies, they work in equity, innovation, and
19:35 choice,
19:36 which is managing all of our choice schools, our charter schools.
19:41 They have a lot of responsibilities in that department.
19:44 And earlier in the year, our transportation department, with the
19:48 new choice busing,
19:50 and we have a new director, they started to get backed up a
19:53 little bit in a new system.
19:55 They were trying to process everything through.
19:57 And these three ladies got in their cars from this building and
20:00 drove down to transportation.
20:01 And I hear they spent days answering calls, answering emails,
20:06 doing whatever needed to be done to bail their coworkers out.
20:10 And when I read that information on them, I just thought that’s
20:13 what we are about here,
20:15 and that’s what we hope to be about here at BPS.
20:17 There’s so many people out there that, not my job, not going to
20:20 do it.
20:21 You know, they did their part getting all the information put in.
20:24 They handed it off to transportation.
20:26 And they could have very well said, eh, sorry, not my job.
20:29 But they didn’t do that.
20:30 Not only did they step up, I think they stepped up big time.
20:33 And so those three ladies, I want to give them a huge shout out
20:36 for being bridge builders
20:37 between transportation department and equity and innovation and
20:39 choice,
20:40 and with our community partners.
20:42 One, the lady said today when I was speaking to her that when
20:45 she got over there,
20:46 there was 124 voicemails in just one person’s inbox that they
20:49 had to weed through
20:51 and make all the calls back to.
20:52 So that just gives you a tiny idea of how much influx the first
20:56 two weeks of school with transportation,
20:58 how much work needed to be done over there.
21:00 So that’s Ms. Robin Ward, Ms. Michelle Belair, and Ms. Jeanette
21:03 Ribick.
21:04 And if they’re watching, we just want, I want to give them a
21:08 huge, huge thank you for being great examples
21:11 to all those in our district.
21:12 We had our legislative luncheon.
21:16 We haven’t mentioned that, right?
21:17 Because it seems like it was so long ago now.
21:19 Yeah, you had too much on you, you had too much on yours.
21:23 So we want to thank Ms. Jackie Ingrada, the principal at Edgewood,
21:27 for hosting.
21:28 Every year when our legislative delegation has their delegation
21:31 meeting for the community,
21:33 they graciously meet with your school board.
21:36 We sit down and discuss education, and we present our priorities.
21:39 And the last couple years have been remarkable, and they snatch
21:43 them right up.
21:44 They’re like, I’ll take that one, I’ll take that one, I’ll run
21:46 that bill for you.
21:48 I’ll support that.
21:50 I don’t feel like anything on our list was poo-pooed on, for
21:53 lack of a better word.
21:55 So they take time out of their day, and they sit down with your
21:57 school board.
21:58 And I’m not sure of any other entity in the community that they
22:00 do that with on that day.
22:02 So to me that shows that they prioritize education and our
22:05 children in our community.
22:07 So I want to give them a shout-out.
22:09 This year we had Senator Mayfield show up, Senator Wright,
22:12 Representative Soroy, and Representative Altman.
22:15 So a thank you to them.
22:17 And then Miss Angrada and all her students.
22:19 The students come in, and they kind of take care and escort, and
22:22 they wear their best clothes.
22:23 And you can tell they’re a little nervous.
22:25 They’re meeting the dignitaries and bringing them through the
22:27 school, and they did a wonderful job.
22:30 And then I want to give a shout-out to Major Walters because he
22:32 said his mom is watching, and he needs two shout-outs tonight.
22:37 But in all seriousness, we’re going to get a presentation a
22:40 little bit on what’s going on in security in our district.
22:44 And the Margie Stoneman Douglas Commission met this morning in Tallahassee.
22:49 And to hear issues that others are having, you know, we’re not
22:52 having a lot of those here in Brevard.
22:55 We – what has been accomplished in the last year or two years
22:59 with security is – it’s remarkable.
23:02 It’s almost – it’s remarkable.
23:05 And you’ll hear the presentation here in a little bit of just
23:07 some of the things that these guys in the back of the room,
23:11 Mr. Novelli and Mr. Walters, have spearheaded up.
23:14 And with the support of so many others, you know, Chris Moore at
23:17 Student Services supports in with the mental health supports.
23:22 It’s all part of security.
23:24 And it’s a whole new world for us.
23:25 And so within that – I know I’ve had more than two also, Mr.
23:29 Susan.
23:30 Is it Dr. John Carr, Mr. Novelli?
23:34 So I don’t even know how to explain what this guy does, but it’s
23:38 statistics, basically.
23:40 It’s way out of my – out of my wheelhouse.
23:43 But he took, I’d say, thousands of pages of information and
23:47 built us a system to be able to analyze it for security reasons.
23:51 And without getting into too much boring detail, it’s – it’s
23:55 been extremely helpful.
23:56 And it’s going to help us be more secure as a district.
23:58 So I’ve never met Ms. Dr. John Carr, but I hope to meet him soon.
24:03 I got to see his handiwork today.
24:05 And if he’s out there this evening watching, well, we want to
24:08 say thank you so much for that.
24:10 Mr. Susan has one more.
24:12 I just wanted to say thank you to the families that came tonight.
24:14 I want to say that if there’s a place that you can bring your
24:16 kids to advocate for what you believe in, it’s this place.
24:20 And it makes me happy to see kids in the stands.
24:22 So don’t feel at any time that if the kids start screaming that
24:24 this is a bad place for that, because we invite it.
24:27 So thank you so much for coming out.
24:28 Yeah.
24:29 And I’m sorry it’s going to take a little bit of time to get to
24:30 where you guys may want to be.
24:32 But we really, truly believe that this is a place for the people.
24:36 And we enjoy having kids here.
24:37 So thank you.
24:38 Thank you, Mr. Susan.
24:39 That was so good.
24:40 I know that sometimes as a mom you get a little stressed out
24:41 when your kids are screaming or yelling, but it’s his run around
24:46 like crazy.
24:47 It doesn’t bother us a bit.
24:48 So that brings us to the adoption of the agenda.
24:52 Dr. Mullins.
24:53 Ms. Deskovich and members of the board on tonight’s agenda, we
24:55 have administrative staff recommendations, one presentation, 37
24:59 consent items, six action items, and one board discussion item.
25:04 You also have the yellow supplemental agenda, which are changes
25:06 made to the agenda since being released to the public.
25:09 Item A7 on administrative staff recommendations, F10 on meeting
25:13 minutes, F11 on student expulsions, and F13 on BPS legislative
25:19 priorities 2020 received revisions.
25:22 Item F12 on alternative calendar for 2019-20 due to hurricane
25:27 Dorian is an addition.
25:29 An attachment was added to presentation D-8 on the 2019-20
25:33 Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool Report.
25:37 The item on field trip, Jefferson Middle School to Washington, D.C.,
25:42 has been deleted.
25:44 Sorry.
25:49 What are the wishes of the board?
25:51 Move to approve.
25:52 Second.
25:53 Any discussion?
25:59 Please vote.
26:00 Motion passes 5-0.
26:09 Dr. Mullins, will you please let us know about the
26:12 administrative staff recommendations?
26:15 Madam Chair, there are four persons on this agenda item for the
26:18 board to consider.
26:20 What are the wishes of the board?
26:21 Move to approve.
26:22 Second.
26:23 Motion by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. Campbell.
26:23 Any discussion?
26:24 Please vote.
26:25 Motion passes 5-0.
26:25 Dr. Mullins?
26:26 At this time, I would like to welcome and recognize Mr. David
26:29 Lindemann on his reclassification
26:33 from the position of manager of planning and intergovernmental
26:42 coordination to the position of director of planning and project
26:46 management.
26:46 Congratulations, Mr. David Lindemann.
26:47 Thank you.
26:47 Good evening.
26:47 Thank you.
26:48 Thank you, Dr. Mullins.
26:48 Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the board.
26:49 I’m excited to have this opportunity.
26:50 and I’m thrilled that you’ve chosen me for this position.
26:51 Thank you, Mr. Mullins.
26:53 Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the board.
26:54 I’m excited to have this opportunity and I’m thrilled that you’ve
26:54 chosen me for this position.
26:55 Um, I’m literally looking forward to building on the previous
26:59 six years that I’ve had, and I’m thrilled that you’ve chosen me
27:02 for this position.
27:08 Um, I’m really looking forward to building on the previous six
27:11 years that I’ve had, and I’m thrilled that you’ve chosen me for
27:17 this position.
27:19 Um, I’m really looking forward to building on the previous six
27:23 years that I’ve had.
27:24 working with the facilities team, and I think we’re gonna
27:27 continue to make great strides.
27:29 Um, I’ve been really lucky to be part of a great team at Facilities
27:34 Services, and I’m very thankful for all of the support and
27:39 encouragement that they’ve given me throughout the years.
27:42 Uh, I wanna say thanks to Blake Stinson and Ann Everly from Facilities
27:47 for coming here and supporting me tonight.
27:49 Uh, I also wanna say that I’m really thankful for working with
27:51 the facilities team.
27:53 I’m thankful for working with Sue Hand.
27:55 She’s been a terrific mentor and a great leader, and she’s also
27:59 moving our department forward with other great strides.
28:03 I also wanna acknowledge today that my wife is here, Nancy Garmer.
28:08 Nancy Garmer.
28:09 She’s been an amazing partner and truly supportive sounding
28:12 board for me throughout the years.
28:14 Um, Nancy’s leadership as the Assistant Dean of Libraries at
28:19 Florida Tech has also been an inspiration for me and an
28:24 influence guiding my career as well.
28:26 So in closing, I just wanna say I’m really honored to take, take
28:31 on this new role and move into this position and you can be
28:35 confident that I’ll serve with integrity and I’ll do everything
28:40 I can to provide high quality work to support our common mission.
28:44 Thanks a lot.
28:45 Thank you, Mr. Lindeman.
28:46 That was, uh, I mean, are these acceptance speeches?
28:47 Is that what these are?
28:48 That was pretty impressive.
28:49 I like the integrity line and, uh, I think we all have
28:49 confidence in you.
28:50 We worked with you, uh, long enough now to know that you bring
28:59 your best foot forward all the time.
29:05 Mr. Susan.
29:06 Didn’t we pass a policy that didn’t allow anybody that graduated
29:08 from University of Florida to be a part of our organization?
29:12 We make occasional exceptions.
29:17 I was gonna give you a hard time tonight, Dave, but you’ve done
29:20 such an amazing job for our district.
29:22 Um, all the way from your inter, inter local governmental
29:24 committee that you had, um, that you’ve led, that’s really
29:28 pulled some groups together that we can collaborate with
29:31 throughout our municipalities.
29:32 Um, and your leadership and, and always taking my calls and my
29:36 emails that have been bothersome through the years to understand
29:39 not only facilities, but our boundaries and our attendances.
29:42 You have a huge portion of our district that you’ve been a part
29:45 of and I wanted to say thank you.
29:47 And it was a good speech and, you know, it set a good tone.
29:50 So thank you so much.
29:51 And we look forward to seeing you.
29:52 And, and I like that you cut your hair and that you’re wearing a
29:54 suit today.
29:55 So this is good stuff.
29:56 It’s a, it’s towards the right direction.
29:58 So thank you.
29:59 Andy used the word integrity.
30:00 He did.
30:01 I did.
30:02 Win-win.
30:03 Okay.
30:04 Now it is time for the presentation portion of our meeting.
30:07 Dr. Mullins.
30:08 Mr. Robin Novelli, chief operating officer and the BPS school
30:11 safety specialist will provide information
30:14 and recommendations that identify strategies and activities that
30:17 should be implemented in order
30:19 to address the Florida safe schools assessment tool findings and
30:22 improve school safety and security.
30:24 Mr. Novelli.
30:25 Thank you, Dr. Mullins.
30:26 I believe I may need some technical assistance.
30:27 There you go.
30:28 Well, I’ll just go with that.
30:29 That’ll work.
30:30 So good evening board members, Dr. Mullins.
30:39 I’m here this evening to talk about the district best practices
30:43 assessment, the Florida safe schools
30:54 assessment tool, often called FSAT for short.
30:56 The Florida safe schools assessment tool, district safety and
31:08 security assessment in conjunction
31:10 with the FSAT reports completed by our schools is intended for
31:14 the use by district school officials
31:16 to help identify threats, vulnerabilities, and appropriate
31:19 safety controls for the schools that they supervise.
31:25 And it’s also important to make note that the information
31:27 contained in the FSATs,
31:31 that information is confidential and exempt from release as
31:33 public records.
31:35 However, I’m here this evening to give you a high-level view of
31:39 some of the findings that we’d like to share
31:42 with you and that we are also sharing with the staff.
31:46 We’re also sharing with the staff of the staff of the state.
31:50 First of all, I want to congratulate our principals.
31:54 So we have a total of 105 sites, including charter schools,
32:00 where our principals needed to fill out this report.
32:04 And this was something they started working on in June.
32:07 And they completed the project prior to the deadline.
32:10 And I was able to report to the state on October 1st that all
32:14 105 sites
32:15 had completed this report.
32:17 And this particular report includes a total of 446 questions on
32:22 the safety and security of their schools.
32:27 It includes a campus tour where local emergency personnel, such
32:31 as law enforcement and fire department personnel,
32:34 join the principal on the campus to take a look at how the
32:36 school’s functioning also during the school day,
32:40 when students arrive, during the school day, when school dismisses,
32:45 as well as in the evening times.
32:46 And then the principals take all of the information that they’ve
32:49 gathered from that,
32:50 and in the sixth section they actually put together a strategic
32:53 security plan for their school.
32:55 And again, all 105 of our schools completed that and completed
33:00 it on time.
33:02 We’re very proud of them.
33:04 We find that the school measures that I’m going to report as
33:08 part of the district FSAT include
33:11 that in our district a school emergency operations plan, which
33:15 we call the SEOP,
33:17 is completed at each school by administration and law
33:19 enforcement and shared with the staff for their awareness.
33:23 In addition to the SEOP, the superintendent, Dr. Mullins, issued
33:27 a directive outlining mandated safety procedures back in January
33:31 of 2019.
33:33 The school aggregated FSAT results indicated that the
33:36 superintendent’s directives have had an impact on daily safety
33:40 procedures at our schools.
33:42 District security staff have provided emergency notification
33:45 training to all school and district staff,
33:48 and principals have encouraged their staffs to utilize this tool.
33:53 Students participate in monthly critical incident drills and
33:57 monthly fire drills,
33:59 where they are educated on the district’s general emergency
34:02 procedures to prepare them for a variety of emergencies.
34:05 Suspicious activity reporting applications, and we have two in
34:09 this district.
34:11 The first is called Crime Line Speak Out Hotline, which we’ve
34:14 been using for several years now.
34:16 And the second is one that we added this year that the state
34:19 provided called Fortify Florida.
34:22 And they’re both promoted, both at the school and district
34:26 levels.
34:27 And we are seeing more and more students taking advantage of
34:31 this opportunity to let us know what they,
34:35 when they see something, to say something using these tools.
34:38 And that’s a very helpful tool.
34:40 Now, within the past year, the district has implemented or
34:47 enhanced the following to increased security of our schools.
34:51 And we’re very thankful for the support.
34:56 It was also mentioned from our folks in facilities and in ET, Ms.
35:02 Hand and Mr. Cheatham,
35:04 for all of the work they’ve done to help our schools become more
35:07 secure.
35:08 And some of the first items that you’ll see on this list are
35:11 directly connected with facilities and ET.
35:14 We’ve improved access control, enclosed school buildings with fencing,
35:19 reduced access points, hardened vestibules for public entry,
35:23 added enhanced security cameras.
35:27 We’ll see a number of other bullets on this list.
35:29 There’s work that we’ve done within the last year that really,
35:32 as was mentioned earlier, credit to Major Walters and our
35:37 security team.
35:39 Increased monitoring of security cameras.
35:41 Increased the number of SROs and implemented security
35:44 specialists.
35:45 Trained and monitored security procedures.
35:47 Increased drills and exercises with local public safety response.
35:52 Provided accountability for compliance with security procedures.
35:56 And the board, yourself, has been involved in making a lot of
36:00 great advances this last year,
36:03 which includes some things such as adding an additional canine
36:05 deputy to promote the student crime watch program.
36:09 Increased the number of suspicious activity reporting.
36:12 Trained school threat assessment teams is something that Miss
36:15 Moore and I have been doing and are ongoing.
36:19 We’re about halfway done.
36:20 We have three more this week to do.
36:22 Began a social media threat monitoring with an intelligence
36:29 certified crime analyst who has been added to the team.
36:33 And initiated a year-long independent security assessment.
36:39 And the board has seen fit to start that process and has already
36:42 begun.
36:43 And within the next several months, we’ll have, from that
36:47 independent security assessment, further recommendations to come
36:51 to you with.
36:52 And we’ve also implemented a notification system.
36:57 And that system is called the Rave Panic Button.
37:00 And Major Walters and his team have been around to every one of
37:04 our schools.
37:06 And have returned this fall again to encourage folks to sign up
37:12 for this very important application that they can use on their
37:17 smartphone.
37:18 That enables every single person on campus to have great
37:21 information at their fingertips and to provide good information.
37:25 Or even give all staff the ability to call a lockdown.
37:30 So that brings me to my recommendations.
37:35 And as part of the recommendation, I mentioned earlier, the
37:40 superintendent had issued a mandated some procedures last
37:45 January.
37:46 And so one of our recommendations here is that the
37:48 superintendent should reissue the mandatory procedures regarding
37:52 the MSD commission recommendations that he first provided last
37:56 January.
37:56 And discuss these directives during a leadership team meeting.
37:59 And to do that by the end of the semester.
38:01 And secondly, our director of district and school security,
38:05 Major Walters, will be addressing principals during our next
38:09 leadership team meeting.
38:11 That’s in 10 days from now.
38:12 And he will be reviewing key F-set questions where data analysis
38:16 reveals that there may have been some misunderstandings or
38:19 improper implementations.
38:21 And make sure that our principals are straight on those things.
38:24 We will continue to work with the security consultant to provide
38:28 an independent appraisal of safety measures already in place and
38:32 recommendations for enhancing those measures.
38:34 With improvements at the building and district level to be
38:37 completed by the end of this school year.
38:41 And we will continue the upgrading and installing of additional
38:45 security video cameras to work in conjunction with RAVE and Mutual
38:50 Link to further improve law enforcement’s access to camera
38:53 system for live viewing from remote off campus locations.
38:57 In addition to that, by analyzing the data that the principals
39:02 submitted, we believe that it would be a good recommendation to
39:06 determine funding sources and install safety and security window
39:10 film tinting.
39:12 That many of our principals are asking for.
39:14 Also to determine funding sources for upgrading and replacing
39:17 locks throughout the district as needed.
39:20 And to determine funding sources for intercom replacement
39:24 upgrades for schools where needed in order to effectively
39:29 communicate during an emergency.
39:32 Again, our principals are to be thanked and we certainly
39:35 appreciate the hard work that they have done to make this
39:39 assessment possible.
39:41 I know I speak for myself and they have my personal gratitude.
39:45 It was quite a job to do.
39:49 But our principals in conjunction with local law enforcement
39:52 that we also appreciate.
39:54 We have the sheriff’s office as well as 10 different
39:56 municipalities that work together with our principals.
40:00 And our district office of security and facilities and
40:03 educational technology.
40:05 And I have to include student services as well, as well as
40:08 leading and learning.
40:10 We all work together on this have made a substantial
40:12 improvements in school safety.
40:14 However, there is work that still needs to be done.
40:18 And so the approval of the recommendations presented will
40:20 continue improving school and district safety and security.
40:25 And at this time, if you have any questions or if there’s
40:28 anything you’d like to discuss about the report.
40:30 Thank you.
40:31 Thank you, Mr. Novelli.
40:35 Who would like to start?
40:45 Ms. McDougal.
40:48 Mr. Novelli, I was wondering, are we able to give you
40:51 information to take back up to the state of what we think should
40:57 be included or what we would like to see happen?
41:00 Exactly, ma’am.
41:01 As part of the district FSAT that needs to be turned into the
41:05 state is actually some recommendations to the Office of Safe
41:12 Schools that they can recommend to the governor and to the
41:14 legislators and to the State Department of Education of what
41:18 this board thinks would be helpful in the future from the state
41:21 level so that we can continue to make our schools safe.
41:25 So if you have suggestions, I would love to include that in the
41:27 report.
41:28 Thank you.
41:29 Absolutely.
41:30 I want to – I’m always the person to be – let’s have a
41:33 proactive approach, which I have said forever.
41:37 And I would like us to – if you could take back up – fencing
41:42 is always important and video cameras are important too, but why
41:48 don’t we do something proactive?
41:50 And I would love to see social workers in our school.
41:52 I would like us to focus on mental wellness where right now what’s
41:57 recommended by national associations, social workers and
42:02 counselors should be 200, 250 to – particularly if you have 250
42:10 students, it should be one counselor or one social worker.
42:13 That is not happening here.
42:14 That needs – that would be a – go a very long way, I believe,
42:19 to help be proactive and let’s work with our students before we
42:24 get to the part where there is something horrible that happens
42:27 on our campus.
42:28 I would really like to see that.
42:31 I also – why funding for – I always get afraid that the state’s
42:36 going to take away funding for that.
42:39 I would like to see anger management classes, social emotional
42:44 learning, restorative justice, funding for these programs that I
42:49 think would bring a lot of value to our schools and our students.
42:54 So that’s where my heart is along with other things.
43:00 But this is my main – my main concern about let’s be proactive.
43:03 Let’s get some – some mental health or mental wellness people
43:06 into our schools to help our students.
43:09 All right.
43:10 Thank you.
43:11 I will include that in the report.
43:12 Thank you, Ms. McDougall.
43:13 Ms. Belford.
43:14 Thank you, Ms. Descovich.
43:15 Mr. Novelli, a few things that I – I feel like have been – the
43:21 State has great information.
43:23 The State has great intentions in their supportive security
43:25 efforts in schools.
43:27 But I – I feel like some things have been overlooked at the
43:29 State level that are going to potentially become a significant
43:32 issue for us here at the local level.
43:35 As part of our legislative platform, we made it very clear that
43:38 while we absolutely support increasing teacher salaries, we have
43:41 asked them not to impact our mental health or our security
43:44 funding in doing that.
43:45 And part of the reason that that’s so critical is because we,
43:48 quite frankly, don’t have enough funding already to meet the
43:51 mandates that are coming down from the State, as we saw on the
43:54 prioritized list that you put forward.
43:57 So not that we always want to be going forward asking for more
44:00 money, but I think sometimes things are passed down and the
44:04 impact is not necessarily understood.
44:07 So we have increased our security staff substantially to meet
44:10 the additional security demands.
44:13 We have increased the supervisory responsibility of our folks in
44:17 student services with additional social workers, guidance
44:20 counselors that we’ve brought on.
44:22 We certainly have increased the supervisory responsibilities of
44:26 our district security office with all of the guardians and SROs
44:31 that we have brought on.
44:34 And none of that seems to be factored into the state funding
44:38 formula.
44:40 Additionally, I think it’s important for us to bring to their
44:45 attention that we have had a significant investment in capital
44:50 dollars for things like infrastructure, for cameras, for radios,
44:56 for various elements of our security plan.
45:00 And there is currently no long-term commitment from the state to
45:03 maintain or increase that funding.
45:06 So as those items come up and have to be renewed, that is going
45:10 to be a drain on our operating and/or capital budget in the long
45:14 term.
45:15 And so I think – I know you probably are limited to probably
45:19 just some text on a page, but I have confidence that you can
45:23 wordsmith appropriately to get those concerns across because I
45:27 think it’s something that we definitely need to be looking at as
45:29 we’re seeing those increased needs.
45:31 Absolutely. Sustainability is so important. It’s one thing to
45:33 start the process. It’s another thing to make sure that we can
45:36 continue to maintain that equipment that we’re placing in the
45:40 schools. Thank you.
45:43 And I’m going to throw one more thing out there. Because we had
45:45 some conversation earlier with Major Walters. And that is the
45:50 support of efficient communication methods. As mentioned, the
45:56 Marjory Stoneman Douglas committee met today. And one of the
46:01 things that they were discussing was the ongoing concern on
46:01 behalf of first responders that they do not have faith in their
46:01 current communication systems. And I know that’s a big dollar
46:01 item.
46:01 But I think we definitely need to make the state aware of those
46:11 challenges that we are facing at the local level. I suspect that
46:20 we will be held accountable for any shortcomings in those areas
46:22 in the event of a crisis. And I think it’s important that we get
46:24 out there that, hey, this issue is here and we need your help in
46:25 addressing it prior to.
46:26 I’ll find a way to include that, too. Thank you, ma’am. Thank
46:29 you. Thank you, Ms. Belford. Anyone else? Mr. Susan? Ms.
46:38 Campbell?
46:40 Just to thank you. Just to borrow from our legislative agenda
46:43 that we’re going to be voting on later this evening. One of the
46:47 things Ms. Belford already referred to, which is we don’t want
46:50 to see the, you know, we don’t, we, while we want to see the
46:55 increase.
46:55 While we want to see the increase in operating budget so we can,
46:57 you know, put that towards salaries, we don’t want to see that
47:00 to come from a decrease in our mental health funding, because
47:03 that’s come a long way in our security funding, which has come a
47:05 long way.
47:06 But there was another thing that’s, that is on our legislative
47:10 agenda. And I thought it would be important just to add it, but
47:15 also to take this time to kind of explain it, too, because it
47:18 can seem maybe a little contradictory.
47:21 And that is we’ve asked for the state to refine the requirements
47:23 for their monthly active shooter drills, because right now I
47:27 think you said we’re doing 10, we’re doing a monthly emergency
47:31 drills and 10 fire drills.
47:34 Those are 20 times during the year where our students are coming
47:36 out of class. And so what we have asked is for that to be
47:39 reduced to, for an example, six fire drills and six emergency
47:47 drills for the year for primary and four and four, our total of
47:47 eight drills for the secondary level.
47:50 And just to explain to the public, that’s not because we don’t
47:53 want our kids to be safe, but what can happen then is the kids
47:56 kind of become, the students can become immune. And right over
48:01 here we go again. And, and it’s, uh, not only is it taken away
48:05 from instructional time, it’s just losing its effectiveness.
48:07 And so I actually think this was a recommendation that came out
48:10 of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas committee is as well, that we
48:13 reduce those numbers so that we can be effective with them
48:17 without, um, you know, taking unnecessary instructional time,
48:20 but at, or losing the losing our edge.
48:23 So that would be my addition to what’s already been said.
48:26 Thank you. I’ll add that.
48:27 Thank you, Ms. Campbell. Mr. Susan.
48:29 Mr. Novali, I think I have, um, three things, one for the state,
48:34 one for the county, two for the state, one for the county, and
48:38 one local for us.
48:38 Okay.
48:39 Um, the first one is, is that we have the FSAT analytics tool
48:42 that we had, um, that we filled out.
48:45 And as you had duly noted, that it was more of an input type of
48:49 a tool that we were not able to aggregate.
48:52 the data so that we could then perform all kinds of evaluations
48:55 of what we have.
48:57 If we can send a message to Tallahassee that, you know, we need
49:01 them to make that more available for us to disseminate the data
49:07 that we have from our local agencies and local schools in being
49:11 able to improve our systems.
49:13 Um, thank goodness we had Mr. Carr, who was able to take that
49:16 data, create what we have now is probably one of the best
49:19 programs in the state.
49:21 Um, to look at it, but there’s a lot of other counties that don’t.
49:24 And if this is going to be a sustainability thing that you
49:26 talked about before, we’re going to have to take that database
49:29 and be able to manipulate it better.
49:31 So if you can make it sound better than that and send that off
49:33 to them, that’d be great.
49:35 Um, the other thing is, is that I think those guys up in Tallahassee
49:38 like terms.
49:39 So I was kind of trying to figure out how do we tell them about
49:42 the sustainability piece.
49:44 And when we were passing the All-American Flag Act as, as
49:46 students and teachers, they were calling it an unfunded mandate.
49:50 You can’t do it because it’s an unfunded mandate, right?
49:52 I think this should be called mandate sustainability because
49:54 they’re giving us mandates and we want it to be sustainable.
49:58 So when we say that they’re going to give us, so mandate
50:00 sustainability could be a coined term when we’re going in to
50:02 talk about the cameras and everybody else and the manpower
50:05 behind.
50:05 I mean, the infinite things that we have, social workers and
50:07 everything else.
50:09 So I think mandate sustainability along with if you can get them
50:12 to understand, because if we can’t aggregate the data on our end,
50:17 what are they doing with that offset tool up in Tallahassee?
50:20 That’s the key.
50:21 Um, from a countywide perspective, I, and I know I’m kind of
50:24 shifting gears here, but it’s something that I just wanted to
50:27 say.
50:28 Um, we need to start focusing on maybe asking our local
50:31 municipalities who have not provided SROs inside of our schools
50:36 to start putting together some kind of a plan for SROs.
50:39 Because we have great municipalities that put together great
50:42 programs.
50:43 Not that Mr. Walters needs a bigger head in the back.
50:45 But the thing is, is that we, um, the, the sheriff has put
50:48 together a very aggressive program to attract more SROs.
50:52 And I don’t see the same program being given to some of our
50:54 other municipalities.
50:56 And, um, I would like to see some kind of a collaboration or an
50:59 effort on some of our, our other, our other schools.
51:02 Because that is our number one issue that we would like to bring
51:04 forward.
51:05 And I know Dr. Mullins, that was one of your things you preached.
51:07 We have to have SROs in every school.
51:09 And I was with a couple of my schools that are in the O’Galley
51:11 area that we have security specialists in, but we don’t have SROs.
51:16 And when I spoke to some of the SROs, they said, you know, the
51:18 county has done a great job.
51:20 So maybe that’s something that they can do.
51:22 Um, and then locally, one of the things that when I looked
51:25 through this, I’m sorry, I didn’t bring it up earlier.
51:27 Um, one of the concerns I have is the front office.
51:31 When we come in, there’s that accessibility point with a low
51:33 counter.
51:34 Um, if we can look at some kind of a barrier that’s better.
51:38 Do you guys have that inside your schools also?
51:40 Some of the new ones are good, but the older ones are, they have
51:43 a low counter and stuff like that.
51:45 If there was, without explaining further to show any kind of an
51:48 issue, um, that would be my top issue that I would like to bring
51:52 to, um, as far as locally that we could use some part of our
51:56 security plan.
51:57 And with that, I am done.
51:59 And Mrs. Deskovich.
52:02 I think we’re working on closing, I mean, a couple of my schools
52:04 are closed in, right?
52:06 I mean, we’re, we’re, we’re working on that.
52:08 Is that a countywide, we’re going to go to each school and make
52:11 sure that they’re, they’re sealed off?
52:13 I will turn to Sue Hand, um.
52:15 Thumbs up, thumbs down.
52:17 Okay.
52:18 So if we can just add that as part of our infinite things that I
52:21 give you, Sue, that’d be great.
52:23 Part of that will be evaluated with the external assessment that’s
52:25 going on and we’ll be bringing it back.
52:27 Is that right, maybe we pause?
52:28 Perfect, thank you.
52:29 Makes sense.
52:30 So everyone had excellent, uh, input and comments.
52:34 Thank you all so much.
52:36 Uh, if I just could add, and I, you know, I don’t know how to
52:40 shame them, but.
52:42 The state of Arkansas has paid for the entire state, every
52:45 school in the state for the Rave
52:47 app that we’ve put forth.
52:49 I believe 500,000.
52:51 200.
52:52 250,000 or 200,000?
52:53 Just under 200.
52:54 Annually it’s 200, but initially it was even more, right?
52:57 It was just, yeah, it was just under, it was just under $200,000
53:02 to start it.
53:03 And then I’m not, I don’t remember what the annual maintenance
53:07 fee is.
53:08 It’s, it’s a substantial cost for us and, and other districts.
53:12 And we’ve had to hire someone.
53:14 So human capital to, to monitor it.
53:17 And, uh, you know, there’s, I think Dr. Mullins had said, we’ve
53:21 doubled our security staff in the last two years.
53:24 Uh, and tripled.
53:26 Tripled?
53:27 Good grief.
53:28 Uh, we’re in a great place.
53:29 We’re doing great things, but we cannot sustain this without the
53:32 continued support.
53:34 So sustainability of capital, that was said, but also the human
53:37 capital so that we can keep the social workers and the SROs and
53:41 the support staff to support these, uh, these employees that we
53:45 have.
53:45 Support with the communication app because there are districts,
53:48 especially our small rural districts that can’t afford, they,
53:52 their budgets are so small.
53:54 Uh, they can’t afford to fund something.
53:57 And we even have some smaller charter schools that are wondering
53:59 how to, how to handle the communication at the state.
54:01 Um, I know they like to have specific things to pay for.
54:05 They feel like if they just give us money, we’re going to waste
54:06 it.
54:07 So that’s, that’s a very specific item that I think that they
54:10 might be willing to support.
54:12 Uh, and then I just want to, to thank you and your team and, uh,
54:18 our principals for all the work that they put into filling out
54:21 those 446 detailed questions on the security of their schools.
54:26 I, I’m just, I’m grateful to everyone in our district that is
54:29 doing their job in security.
54:32 And I’ve forgotten the shout outs to mention our school safety
54:34 and security specialists.
54:36 I spent the day with them yesterday for their quarterly training
54:39 and they’re ready.
54:44 They’re ready to do their job when necessary.
54:46 And, and they’re, they’re good men and one woman, but they’re
54:49 good.
54:50 They’re good men.
54:51 And the single lady that was in the room, uh, that, that
54:54 understand their role in the schools, uh, and they, they
54:57 understand what they’ve been hired to do.
54:59 And so I, I think we have, we’ve made a good decision with them.
55:02 I, I felt more confident than ever yesterday sitting with them,
55:05 but we’ve made some good choices there.
55:07 So thank you, sir.
55:08 All right.
55:09 Thank you.
55:10 Ms. Tescovich, if I may.
55:11 Yeah.
55:12 Oh, sorry.
55:13 Dr. Mullins.
55:14 I just want to echo the appreciation and the thanks.
55:19 The reality is, is that creating a culture and an environment as
55:24 dynamic as ours, almost 80 miles long, 105 places of learning
55:30 and ensuring that safety is a priority.
55:35 A culture doesn’t happen with fences and cameras and devices and
55:39 so on.
55:40 A culture committed to safety utilizes those tools, but it takes
55:43 leadership.
55:45 And the leadership of the 10 people in the back of the room that
55:49 have been the district’s champions to support our principals and
55:54 assistant principals, our guidance counselors, our social
55:57 workers, our teachers, our instructional assistants, all to come
56:02 around and build.
56:03 What I believe is the soundest culture committed to safety and
56:07 security of our, not just our students, but each other as staff
56:13 is bar none the best in the state.
56:16 Everywhere I go, when I visit schools, the commitment is, is unrelenting
56:21 and the commitment is true to fidelity and it is true to
56:24 integrity.
56:26 And, uh, every single cabinet member in the back of that room
56:30 has taken on significant roles and responsibilities for district-wide
56:35 security.
56:37 And, uh, that is the only reason I can rest well at night
56:40 knowing that the men and women that lead our district, that
56:45 support our schools across our district, um, that we are doing
56:50 what we, what we are for our kids and our community.
56:53 So, I just had to add my own two cents. Thank you.
56:56 Thank you, Dr. Mullins.
56:57 I would say that every person in our district, you know, to
57:00 teachers having to make sure their doors are locked and can’t
57:03 prop them open and let kids, there’s just,
57:06 everybody’s mindset has had to change and had to be diligent.
57:09 And it’s been frustrating even as a parent at times to have, to,
57:12 you know, walk all the way around to the front of the school to
57:15 get in where you used to be able to come in through the back.
57:19 And I, you know, it’s, it’s inconvenienced a lot of people and
57:21 it’s put extra work on every employee in our district.
57:24 But I, it is, I’m not going to say I think it’s worth it. I know
57:27 it’s worth it. So, thank you.
57:29 Ms. Belford.
57:31 Just to kind of piggyback, you know, one of the things that they
57:34 were discussing during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas meeting
57:37 today was the continued concern that they are seeing out of Broward
57:43 County,
57:44 primarily because of the culture of dysfunction and lack of
57:46 collaboration, not with Broward County schools, but with
57:50 collaboration between Broward County,
57:54 between the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, between Broward
57:57 Public Schools, between the local municipalities, the lack of
58:00 communication, the lack of collaboration.
58:02 And so do not want to in any way, shape or form take away from
58:05 the great work that our BPS team has done here in Broward County
58:10 on this issue.
58:10 But I think we also have to take a moment to be thankful for the
58:12 great relationships that we have with our community partners,
58:17 with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, with our county
58:20 leadership, with the chiefs of police throughout the district,
58:24 with the fire departments, with just everyone that really has to
58:26 come together to support safety of students.
58:29 And I think we are really blessed in Broward County to have a
58:32 great culture of collaboration and focus and commitment to
58:36 student safety and working together to get there.
58:38 And so I just didn’t want to miss thanking them for being the
58:42 great partners up there.
58:44 You’re here.
58:45 Okay.
58:46 Any more comments?
58:48 Thank you, Mr. Novelli, wherever.
58:50 Appreciate it.
58:51 We are now into the public comment section of our meeting.
58:55 The School Board Policy 0169.1 limits to 30 minutes the portion
58:59 of the meeting during which the public is invited to participate.
59:03 We can extend that by a vote of the board.
59:07 We have six actual speakers signed up this evening.
59:16 Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
59:19 We have a clock in front of me to help you keep track of your
59:21 time.
59:22 When your time is over, you will be asked to stop and allow the
59:25 next speaker his or her turn.
59:27 Always keep in mind that reasonable decorum is expected at all
59:30 times and your statement should be directed to the board
59:33 chairman.
59:34 The chairman may interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant’s
59:36 statement when time is up, personally directed, abusive, obscene,
59:41 or irrelevant.
59:42 Should an individual not observe proper etiquette, the chairman
59:44 may request the individual leave the meeting.
59:47 Let’s all encourage an environment appropriate for our children
59:50 who are present and may be watching from home.
59:54 Our first three speakers this evening are Anthony Colucci,
59:59 followed by Vanessa Skipper, followed by Tiki Fiol.
1:00:05 So hopefully I got that right.
1:00:08 Mr. Colucci.
1:00:09 Just two of them.
1:00:28 My name is Anthony Colucci.
1:00:38 I’m the president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers.
1:00:41 Next week, our bargaining unit will vote on the 2019-20 contract.
1:00:47 We will present the results at the October 29th board meeting.
1:00:51 I am pleased that we will bring teachers a contract we can all
1:00:54 feel good about, one that puts substantial dollars into their
1:00:58 paychecks.
1:00:59 Also, this contract includes 25 pieces of contract language that
1:01:03 BFT believes to be favorable.
1:01:06 Language that will improve working and learning conditions in
1:01:09 Brevard.
1:01:10 Our executive board unanimously offered a yes recommendation to
1:01:14 the membership.
1:01:16 This contract is good news for Brevard County, and I hope that I
1:01:20 can bring you a 96% yes vote this time.
1:01:25 As a history teacher, I need to remind you of what happened in
1:01:29 2015 and 16.
1:01:31 In 2015-16, we received a very good raise.
1:01:36 It was extremely encouraging and was a big morale booster for
1:01:39 this district.
1:01:41 We were heading in the right direction.
1:01:44 But instead of building on that, the board lost its focus on
1:01:47 employee compensation.
1:01:49 Instead, the board funded a dozen or so projects and resorted to
1:01:55 hoping and praying the state legislature was going to send more
1:01:58 money.
1:01:59 That did not happen.
1:02:01 Even this year, a relatively good year for funding, did not do
1:02:05 too much.
1:02:06 Most of the money for raises actually came from BFT and BPS
1:02:10 squeezing blood from a turnip.
1:02:13 So I’m asking you to apply the history lesson.
1:02:16 Do not expect that Tallahassee is going to send significant
1:02:20 dollars.
1:02:21 And do not take your eyes off of salary while we’re in the midst
1:02:24 of making progress.
1:02:26 We need to remember that it is a fact that a lack of
1:02:29 compensation is a major reason why teachers leave the profession.
1:02:33 This year, we’re pleased to see that our work on teacher salary
1:02:37 got the attention of Governor DeSantis, who wants to raise the
1:02:42 minimum salary to $47,500.
1:02:46 Unfortunately, his plan has left more questions than answers.
1:02:50 For instance, what is the proposed increase for veteran teachers?
1:02:55 In Brevard, a teacher with 16 years experience and all highly
1:02:59 effective evaluations is only making $47,030, including this
1:03:06 year’s raise.
1:03:08 When DeSantis says teachers, is he leaving out resource teachers,
1:03:11 school counselors, social workers, media specialists, and more?
1:03:16 What about our outstanding education support professionals?
1:03:20 Are they going to be left out?
1:03:22 I do appreciate that the Board has made teacher pay a
1:03:25 legislative priority.
1:03:27 The Florida Education Board is a great deal.
1:03:28 Association’s priority is to increase education funding by 2.4
1:03:33 billion dollars with the vast
1:03:35 majority of that money going into the BSA. This investment would
1:03:39 allow for a 10 percent increase
1:03:41 for every public school employee in Florida as well as enable
1:03:44 districts increase mental health
1:03:46 services and be better able to address struggling schools. I’ve
1:03:51 already heard the usual excuses
1:03:53 starting from our legislators about increasing teacher pay. They
1:03:57 say they want to support it but
1:03:59 question where the money will come from. We will not accept that
1:04:03 excuse and if it’s the crux of your
1:04:05 legislative priorities neither can you. 2.4 billion dollars only
1:04:10 moves Florida from 43rd to 39th in the
1:04:14 country in per pupil spending. So if our local legislators give
1:04:19 us excuse then I say we send them
1:04:21 on a field trip to visit the other 38 states who are doing
1:04:24 better so they can figure it out.
1:04:26 Our union will tirelessly advocate for funding. I’m asking that
1:04:31 you do the same but also plan for the
1:04:34 worse. Make a plan that continues moving us in the right
1:04:37 direction with salary even if the legislature
1:04:40 does not provide additional funding. Thank you. Thank you Mr.
1:04:46 Colucci.
1:04:46 I’ll give a shout out to Major Walters in the back. His handsome
1:04:54 pink badge. So if you haven’t seen his pink badge it’s pretty
1:04:57 cool.
1:04:57 How many is that Major Walters?
1:05:00 It’s four.
1:05:01 So you’re keeping a tally mark?
1:05:02 It’s seven.
1:05:02 Go ahead Ms. Schupper. Wait is he still? Is he bragging?
1:05:08 Yeah probably. Go ahead Ms. Schupper. Good evening. First of all
1:05:16 I’d like to thank the four board members who responded to my
1:05:19 email and either had coffee or lunch with me. I truly appreciate
1:05:23 the time the four of you took because I believe that we were
1:05:27 able to understand one another and work on improving overall
1:05:31 communication. I believe we did great work at the bargaining
1:05:35 table.
1:05:35 I’m excited about both sides and the effort that was put in into
1:05:39 both the contract language and the salary. Because of the work
1:05:43 we did teachers will see an increase in their checks that will
1:05:46 make a substantial difference.
1:05:48 I truly hope that all parties remain dedicated to improving
1:05:52 salary at all levels. By settling the contract for the 2019-2020
1:05:56 school year we made great strides but we only reached the first
1:06:00 checkpoint in our marathon.
1:06:01 We have many more miles to go before we reached 26.2. I’m happy
1:06:06 to hear that you’re working with our legislators to secure
1:06:09 funding for special programs in our schools for our students. I
1:06:12 truly hope that you’re actively working with them to secure
1:06:15 funding for the base student allocation.
1:06:17 That can actually be used to retain excellent educators to run
1:06:22 those programs. Florida now sits in the bottom ten states
1:06:26 nationally and per student funding and in pay for our teachers,
1:06:31 school counselors, school social workers, media specialists, and
1:06:36 let’s not forget about our support staff, our teachers, aides,
1:06:40 bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, office staff, and
1:06:43 other employees essential to our schools.
1:06:45 While we are grateful that Governor DeSantis has begun the
1:06:49 conversation around increasing salary a push that I believe
1:06:53 would not have come without advocating for ourselves, our
1:06:59 profession we must not leave anyone behind and the way we don’t
1:07:04 leave anybody behind is with an increase to the base student
1:07:08 allocation.
1:07:09 So with the same ribbon cutting dedication, I hope you’re
1:07:13 advocating for base student allocation.
1:07:16 After a decade of neglect where base student funding has fallen
1:07:20 by more than $745 per student in inflation adjusted dollars
1:07:24 since the 2007-2008 school year, BFT is proud to stand with the
1:07:29 Florida Education Association and calling for a decade of
1:07:32 progress for public schools.
1:07:34 This means a $22 billion investment over 10 years.
1:07:36 I know that sounds like a lot, but we didn’t get into this
1:07:39 problem or this big huge mess overnight. We don’t expect to get
1:07:46 out of it. But with an investment or an investment of $2.4
1:07:51 billion for the 2020-2021 school year, this will lift our
1:07:56 Florida public schools out of the bottom ten.
1:07:59 We need to get out of it. We need to get out of it. We need to
1:08:01 get out of the basement of national funding. Our students
1:08:04 deserve more. Our teachers deserve more. And in that effort, I
1:08:08 hope you will join us in the many events we have planned
1:08:12 starting on November 12th and then January 13th and in the
1:08:15 advocating of our legislators to do the right thing. Fund our
1:08:18 future. Thank you.
1:08:18 Thank you.
1:08:19 Thank you, Ms. Skipper.
1:08:19 I want to address that.
1:08:20 You can do it at the end maybe? Is that okay? Yeah, let’s get
1:08:24 through. We only have six speakers. Tiki Beal? Did I get that
1:08:32 right? I’m impressed. Nobody ever gets that right.
1:08:37 Well, as you look at my name. You feel my pain. Good evening,
1:08:44 ladies and gentlemen of the board, Dr. Mullins, administrators,
1:08:47 teachers, parents and members of our communities. Thank you for
1:08:51 taking the time to hear us out and allow us to provide some
1:08:54 information. I am an elected board member at large for the
1:08:58 Florida Association for Behavior Analysis and I’m also the
1:09:00 president of the local Florida chapter, the Association for
1:09:03 Behavior Analysis of Brevard.
1:09:04 I would like to provide some information about applied behavior
1:09:08 analysis. Behavior analysis is the science of human behavior. It
1:09:11 is a science that attempts to improve the human condition
1:09:15 through behavior change, including education and treatment.
1:09:19 Behavior analysts attempt to identify functions or reasons for
1:09:22 behaviors and we develop interventions to not only decrease or
1:09:24 eliminate behaviors of concern, but more importantly, we try to
1:09:28 teach appropriate socially appropriate and functionally
1:09:30 equivalent replacement skills.
1:09:32 We attempt to modify environments, including what happens before
1:09:35 and after behaviors occur. However, behavior analysis is not
1:09:39 limited to behaviors that are dangerous or challenging or aberrant
1:09:43 or socially inappropriate. At times, we focus on increasing
1:09:46 socialization, social skills, communication, verbal behavior,
1:09:50 speech in various forms, increasing independence, job skills,
1:09:54 toilet training, activities of daily living, independent living,
1:09:57 and more.
1:09:57 There are several levels of behavior analyst. From a doctoral
1:10:01 level, a bachelor level, a master’s level, and the lowest is our
1:10:05 paraprofessional. These individuals are receiving close
1:10:08 supervision when they work with the individuals that we serve.
1:10:13 They are the veritable backbone of ABA services. They directly
1:10:18 implement interventions that are included in formal behavior
1:10:20 plans. They conduct observations and could collect data in
1:10:27 multiple and intensive forms. They are our frontline personnel.
1:10:30 And without them, our ability to provide services and improve
1:10:33 the lives in our community are seriously and severely impacted
1:10:35 and lessened. Our job as behavior analysts is to get ourselves
1:10:40 fired.
1:10:41 And without them, our ability to provide us. And without them,
1:10:42 our ability to provide services.
1:10:43 Because the individuals that we work for have improved because
1:10:46 we teach their families or their teachers or their foster
1:10:50 parents the skills they need. That’s a good thing that we get
1:10:52 fired. That means we get to go on to the next child, the next
1:10:57 school, the next foster child, and hopefully continue to improve
1:11:01 our communities on a larger scale.
1:11:04 Until recently, RBT’s were allowed to provide services in Brevard
1:11:07 County schools. In 2013, Senate Bill 1108 provided PIP
1:11:18 instructional personnel to be able to go into the schools.
1:11:20 However, our language of the law has not kept up with the spirit
1:11:26 or intention.
1:11:27 Unfortunately, I am running out of time. Those individuals are
1:11:32 certified rather than just being registered. Brevard County is
1:11:39 known as being a leader through the space industry. And I think
1:11:42 we are willing to work together to ensure that every student is
1:11:46 provided with excellence as a standard and not just limited to
1:11:49 one hour a week or less services or a complete elimination.
1:11:54 Thank you very much.
1:11:54 Thank you, ma’am.
1:11:56 Thank you, ma’am. Our last two speakers are Jonathan Poker. And
1:12:05 he will be followed by Katelyn Hall. Did I get that right?
1:12:13 Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the board. I would like to
1:12:20 share our son Andrew’s story and what an RBT means to not only
1:12:23 answer the question,
1:12:23 what an RBT means to not only Andrew, but to our family as well.
1:12:26 Andrew was a normal, functioning, happy, healthy, bright,
1:12:29 cheerful, fun-loving, typical four-year-old who graduated from
1:12:31 preschool.
1:12:32 He loved movies, cartoons, Legos, puzzles, bedtime stories,
1:12:36 birthday parties, trip to the zoo, theme parks, and would tote
1:12:40 his favorite stuffed animal, Winnie the Pooh, everywhere.
1:12:42 He spoke of becoming an astronaut and loved dressing up in a
1:12:45 space suit. He enjoyed team sports, played soccer and T-ball. He
1:12:49 adored his baby sister, Ava, and would tell others that he is
1:12:52 Andrew Tyler Pogar, the best big brother ever.
1:12:54 He was a very talkative and inquisitive child for his age. Two
1:12:57 weeks prior to his fifth birthday, everything changed. He
1:12:59 stopped talking, regressed incontinence, and began having
1:13:04 ongoing unpredictable behaviors of aggression, hyperactivity,
1:13:07 crying, screaming, and inappropriate sporadic bouts of euphoria.
1:13:10 His cute facial expressions have been replaced with blankness,
1:13:13 anxiety, and puzzled looks of sadness. His once happy, fun-loving,
1:13:17 gentle personality has disappeared. He has to be sedated every
1:13:20 night with meds in order to sleep. At times, he bites himself or
1:13:23 others, chews and stems on objects frequently. His attention
1:13:27 span and ability to focus has been compromised.
1:13:29 Appropriate interactions with others is very minimal. Everyday
1:13:32 tasks we once took for granted are now a major ordeal, including
1:13:35 a simple walk with our family to the playground, attending
1:13:38 church, or family dinners.
1:13:40 When you have a normal functioning child that, for some unknown
1:13:43 reason, becomes disabled in a matter of a few days, it’s
1:13:45 devastating and comprehensible. A parent’s worst fear is losing
1:13:48 a child. We mourn every day for we feel we have lost our
1:13:52 precious, once normal functioning Andrew.
1:13:54 After consulting 25-plus specialists, countless tests, battles
1:13:58 with our insurance company, and the disability office, we now
1:14:01 come to you, the school board.
1:14:03 We’ve been in constant communication with the school board
1:14:07 members, surrounding counties, the ADA, the Civil Rights, U.S.
1:14:10 Department of Education, the Florida Department of Education,
1:14:13 state politicians, the disability office, news teams, and
1:14:16 attending school board meetings such as tonight to advocate for
1:14:19 our child’s therapy.
1:14:21 As parents are special needs children with different
1:14:23 disabilities, we have varying needs and stories, but one common
1:14:27 factor that we share is our appreciation, respect, and
1:14:30 admiration for RBTs.
1:14:32 We can all agree that the impact RBTs have on our children’s
1:14:35 life are altering.
1:14:36 RBTs not only provide guidance and corrections to behavioral
1:14:39 issues, they also redirect their therapy as consistent and
1:14:42 repetitive in nature.
1:14:43 They form a bond of trust with not only our children but also
1:14:45 with our families.
1:14:46 They educate us on process improvements and teach us patience.
1:14:49 RBTs serve as our eyes, ears, and voices for our children.
1:14:52 Our son has provided more speech to our RBTs than he has to our
1:14:55 SLP.
1:14:56 The RBTs are able to push our children to make leaps and bounds
1:15:00 in therapy.
1:15:01 As a result of the school board decision to remove the RBTs, our
1:15:04 therapist has rearranged her schedule, limiting her availability
1:15:07 and our son losing nine hours of therapy.
1:15:09 We ask that you consider the decision on the vote as one that
1:15:13 will not only have a large impact on your constituents and their
1:15:16 children, but not impact taxpayers’ wallets.
1:15:19 These children are requiring life altering medically necessary
1:15:22 prescribed therapy.
1:15:23 We ask that you choose to serve every student with excellence
1:15:26 and standard, as a standard.
1:15:28 Thank you, sir.
1:15:29 Thank you.
1:15:30 Ms. Hall.
1:15:31 Good evening.
1:15:32 I want to thank you guys for your time today.
1:15:33 I’m going to be very brief.
1:15:34 I am an RBT.
1:15:35 And my first question is, aren’t we supposed to be on the same
1:15:47 team?
1:15:49 If that is correct, which I believe it is, because I know my
1:15:53 goal reflects your goal, to serve every student with excellence
1:15:58 as a standard.
1:15:59 So if we’re supposed to be on the same team, then it does feel a
1:16:04 little bit like we’re battling right now, because me, my
1:16:10 coworkers, and all of the other paraprofessionals that I work
1:16:14 with, we feel like we’re being locked out of the classroom.
1:16:17 And that’s not something we want to feel, and I’m sure that’s
1:16:20 not something you guys want to convey.
1:16:22 So that’s why I’m here today, to speak up, to hope that that’s
1:16:25 not the future that we are seeing here.
1:16:27 I know Brevard County Schools is understaffed and underpaid, so
1:16:31 why not accept the additional assistance that comes with
1:16:34 registered behavior technicians?
1:16:36 RBT’s report to the same board as our BCBAs.
1:16:40 Additionally, RBT’s work under the supervision of BCBAs.
1:16:44 Let’s see here.
1:16:46 So again, I ask, why would additional help be turned down?
1:16:53 Applied behavior analysis is life-changing.
1:16:56 Families fight so hard for these services.
1:16:59 Months, weeks, years, they fight to get applied behavior
1:17:03 analysis.
1:17:04 And an RBT and a BCBA, we really need to be in the setting the
1:17:08 child has their most interactions, and it would be completely
1:17:12 useless if I reported for my job at bedtime when they go to
1:17:15 sleep.
1:17:16 I need to see them interacting with their peers.
1:17:18 I need to see them interacting with their environments.
1:17:20 I need to see what stresses them out so I can help them work
1:17:22 through it.
1:17:23 So we know early intervention is important, and I think it was
1:17:30 Ms. McDougal who said earlier that we need to be proactive
1:17:35 instead of reactive.
1:17:37 So yeah, I just want to reiterate that I believe you guys are
1:17:41 not the only ones with the mission to serve every student with
1:17:46 excellence.
1:17:47 I get up in the morning excited to go to work.
1:17:50 I found a field that I’m passionate about, and I catch myself
1:17:53 getting a little teary-eyed when I get the opportunity to talk
1:17:58 about it because it means so much to me.
1:17:59 And my ultimate goal at the end of the day is to change lives
1:18:04 and leave the families that I’ve worked with in a better
1:18:08 position so that their children have a higher chance of success
1:18:12 and the family has a higher chance of ultimate family unity at
1:18:16 the end of the day.
1:18:17 So that’s my goal, and I’m hoping you guys give us the
1:18:20 opportunity to continue to do that because it means everything
1:18:23 to me.
1:18:24 Thank you.
1:18:25 Thank you, ma’am.
1:18:28 That was our final speaker.
1:18:30 We are going – oh, is there one more?
1:18:32 Oh, I’m sorry.
1:18:34 Thank you, Ms. Buffard.
1:18:35 We do have one more speaker.
1:18:37 Melissa Peterson.
1:18:39 Sorry about that, Ms. Peterson.
1:18:42 And I hadn’t actually intended to talk tonight, so bear with me.
1:18:49 I don’t have anything to hand out.
1:18:51 Okay.
1:18:52 So just to introduce myself, my name is Melissa Peterson.
1:18:54 I am an RBT.
1:18:55 I have my bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on child and
1:18:58 adolescent development, and I’m enrolled at FIT for my BC ABA.
1:19:03 But that’s not why I’m here tonight.
1:19:05 I’m here to advocate for my stepson, who is on the spectrum, who
1:19:09 has lost his services, who has regressed.
1:19:12 He’s in a classroom this year.
1:19:13 From kindergarten to sixth grade, he was in one school.
1:19:16 From kindergarten to third grade, he got ABA services through
1:19:19 the school.
1:19:20 They dropped that.
1:19:21 So we’re like, that’s fine.
1:19:22 We will pay for our therapist to come assist the teacher, help
1:19:25 him succeed, help the teacher succeed.
1:19:28 So fourth through sixth grade, we got some pushback, and
1:19:31 sometimes we had to wait for months before all the paperwork
1:19:34 went through, but they allowed us to have our RBT come work with
1:19:38 him.
1:19:38 So seventh grade, he’s in a brand-new school.
1:19:41 His teacher, this is her first time teaching special education.
1:19:45 She doesn’t even have an earnings system set up for these kids,
1:19:48 right?
1:19:49 So, and she, herself, we’ve met with her, and she has said, I
1:19:53 haven’t set up an earnings system because I’m not sure how to do
1:19:56 it.
1:19:57 Our RBT can do that for her.
1:20:00 Our RBT has already worked with Madden for years and can come
1:20:04 sit with her and say, hey, I can help you with this, and we can
1:20:07 help him be successful.
1:20:09 The more that my son is off task and being disruptive, the less
1:20:13 he’s learning, and the less everyone around him is learning.
1:20:17 He’s disrupting the whole class, and it’s the same for all the
1:20:20 kids.
1:20:20 He’s in an all-inclusive class.
1:20:21 None of those kids are allowed to get any services right now.
1:20:24 So they’re all sitting there with a teacher that knows nothing
1:20:27 about behavior.
1:20:28 It’s her first year.
1:20:29 She’s stressed out, and we’re not able to give her the
1:20:32 assistance that she needs because our hands are tied.
1:20:36 So now all these kids are suffering.
1:20:38 She’s suffering.
1:20:39 Like, I don’t understand why we can’t all work together.
1:20:42 It’s never been an issue.
1:20:44 I mean, yes, it’s always been hard to get services.
1:20:47 That’s not new.
1:20:48 I don’t expect that to change tomorrow.
1:20:49 But to cut it off completely and say that RBT’s aren’t allowed
1:20:53 to assist teachers just seems a little uncalled for.
1:20:55 And now you’re tying teachers’ hands, and the kids are being
1:20:58 sacrificed with their education and their behavior.
1:21:01 Like, we’ve put a lot of work into getting him to where he will
1:21:05 sit at a desk, and he will be on task for 15 to 20 minutes.
1:21:10 And now he’s regressing in the last three months with no
1:21:13 services to where he’s not sitting at a desk for five or ten
1:21:17 minutes even, where we had him up here.
1:21:19 So now if we do actually get services back, we have to build
1:21:22 that back up now.
1:21:23 He’s gone from up here to down here.
1:21:26 And I just don’t think that’s fair.
1:21:28 And that’s my whole unplanned speech.
1:21:30 Thank you.
1:21:31 It’s actually pretty good.
1:21:32 So all of you that came to address the RBT, if you’ve looked at
1:21:38 the agenda, we are going to have a discussion about that a
1:21:41 little bit later on the agenda.
1:21:42 So if a board member wants to respond to any issue other than
1:21:47 that, let’s go ahead and do that.
1:21:50 Otherwise, let’s hold all the comments until the end so we can
1:21:52 have a thorough discussion.
1:21:53 Does anyone need to respond to that?
1:21:55 I wanted to speak to the union.
1:21:58 I just wanted to say real quick, thank you, and we will have
1:22:02 those discussions with the RVTs, and thank you for your great
1:22:05 speeches.
1:22:05 Here’s the deal.
1:22:07 Our legislatures, that’s our money.
1:22:12 It’s not theirs.
1:22:14 We pay the taxes.
1:22:16 We tell them what it is that we want to be number one.
1:22:19 And I agree with you back there 100%, but the concept came from
1:22:22 Representative Benson when I was speaking to him, and he said,
1:22:26 you need to tell them that it is your money.
1:22:29 Last year, the state’s budget increased over 3%, and they only
1:22:33 increased the education budget by 1%, not even keeping the
1:22:37 education budget consistent with what the increases in the state
1:22:41 of Florida were.
1:22:42 And I applaud our educators for going in the direction that we
1:22:45 have, and our current governor for saying what he says, as far
1:22:49 as he wants to raise the base teacher pay, and the beginning
1:22:53 teacher pay.
1:22:54 But at some point, we need to be louder and tell them that it is
1:22:57 our money, and we want education funded correctly.
1:23:00 And that’s what I just wanted to say.
1:23:02 I’m sick.
1:23:03 I’m literally tired of it.
1:23:04 I’m tired of it.
1:23:05 Thank you.
1:23:06 Thank you, Susan.
1:23:07 Sorry.
1:23:08 No, that’s fine.
1:23:09 Ms. Skipper, I guess I’m the one that hasn’t met with you.
1:23:14 So if we can – I have.
1:23:16 I’ve been out of town a ton.
1:23:19 If you want to meet next week, I would gladly sit down with you.
1:23:22 I don’t want to be the one left out.
1:23:25 I want to thank all of our speakers.
1:23:27 We appreciate you taking the time to – to share your concerns
1:23:30 and address the board.
1:23:32 This moves us on to the consent agenda.
1:23:34 Dr. Mullins?
1:23:35 There are 37 agenda items under this category, two with prior
1:23:43 information.
1:23:44 Does any board member wish to pull any of these items?
1:23:48 I’d like to pull number 45, please.
1:23:51 Pam, will you pull F45, please?
1:23:56 Any other items to be pulled?
1:23:59 I’ll entertain a motion to accept the consent items with the
1:24:02 exception of F45.
1:24:03 So moved.
1:24:04 Second.
1:24:05 Motion by Ms. Belfort, second by Ms. McDougall.
1:24:08 Any discussion on the items other than F45?
1:24:12 Please vote.
1:24:13 Motion passes 5-0.
1:24:22 Need a motion for F45?
1:24:25 Move to approve.
1:24:26 Second.
1:24:27 Motion by Ms. Campbell, second by Mr. Susan.
1:24:30 Open for discussion, Ms. Campbell.
1:24:31 All right.
1:24:32 Thank you.
1:24:33 I just wanted to take a moment to talk about – I don’t even
1:24:37 know if I necessarily have any
1:24:37 questions, but yes, yes, yes, yes.
1:24:39 Come, come.
1:24:40 So air conditioning is not our favorite thing to talk about
1:24:44 because we like to talk about
1:24:45 student achievement and career preparation and getting ready for
1:24:50 college and the things
1:24:51 that are, you know, daily – but the truth is air conditioning
1:24:55 is just a reality of our
1:24:56 world in Florida that impacts the educational process.
1:24:59 So along the, you know, school row in West Melbourne – we are
1:25:04 three schools there on the Wingate
1:25:08 Road – have had some really big challenges in air conditioning
1:25:11 this year.
1:25:12 And not only has it caused – you know, it’s caused problems
1:25:16 with our teachers and our students
1:25:17 and our parents getting upset.
1:25:18 And we’ve had the city council members getting – you know,
1:25:21 contacting us.
1:25:22 And I just want to thank you, Ms. Han and your team, Jim Ross
1:25:26 and Dave Celanti, for not only
1:25:30 finding solutions to the problem temporarily, but being so good
1:25:33 at communicating.
1:25:34 And I think this has been most important.
1:25:37 I mean, it’s – it’s bad enough on the days with the air
1:25:39 conditioning has not been working,
1:25:40 but that, you know, to not know why, it’s more frustrating.
1:25:43 And you guys have done a good job building up that communication
1:25:46 and making sure everybody knows.
1:25:47 But what we have done to fix it is temporary.
1:25:50 And we’ve had – I’ve been in the position of having to tell my
1:25:53 own constituents,
1:25:54 it’s going to – we can’t fix it until next summer.
1:25:56 We can’t fix it until next summer because it has to go down.
1:25:59 It has to be worked on while there’s no students in the building
1:26:02 because it’s going to take two months to fix it.
1:26:04 And I just want to thank your team because tonight we’re going
1:26:07 to be voting on a solution
1:26:09 that actually can be – caused it to be fixed during the school
1:26:14 year, potentially, right?
1:26:16 At least the first part, the first part, which is replacing the
1:26:19 chillers
1:26:20 behind the Maida Lane campus.
1:26:21 And they have been so inconsistent.
1:26:23 And so – and I know it’s costing us a lot of money.
1:26:25 Mr. Bradley’s not here.
1:26:27 But it’s been costing us a lot of money to rent the temporary chiller.
1:26:30 And so thank you, first of all, for finding a way for us to fix
1:26:34 this problem
1:26:35 before next summer and then also for adding into the agenda item
1:26:38 the future possibilities.
1:26:40 And would you mind kind of telling us – it’s already on the
1:26:43 agenda kind of explaining what –
1:26:44 because the people in West Melbourne, this is really important
1:26:47 for us.
1:26:48 Yes, ma’am. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about this.
1:26:50 This, as you said, has been a real challenge for us
1:26:53 and certainly for the folks who are in those three buildings
1:26:55 down at Central
1:26:56 and the two Meadow Lanes.
1:26:57 It was a very challenging start to school this year.
1:26:59 And so we’ve been working on this pretty much continuously to
1:27:02 try to figure out
1:27:03 how to solve this problem because it literally is eating an
1:27:07 elephant out there.
1:27:08 So what’s on the agenda tonight is the refurbishment of the
1:27:11 existing
1:27:12 central energy plant components at the Meadow Lane Complex.
1:27:15 So we have a vendor coming in that’s going to start doing that
1:27:18 refurb.
1:27:19 They can do it while school is in session because we do have the
1:27:22 temporary chiller on site.
1:27:23 So we’re taking advantage of that.
1:27:25 At your next board meeting, you’ll see an item for cooling tower
1:27:30 refurbishment as well as for some additional refurbishment of
1:27:35 other components of the central energy plant,
1:27:37 as well as design services for the typical summer projects.
1:27:42 So we’ll be doing electric and plumbing and all of that stuff in
1:27:45 the air conditioning units in the schools.
1:27:47 You will also eventually see an item for a new chiller.
1:27:52 We’re going to be adding a chiller at Central Middle School.
1:27:55 And that will not only get central off of the Meadow Lane
1:27:58 Central Energy Plant,
1:27:59 but it will also provide redundancy in the event that something
1:28:02 like this happens in the future.
1:28:04 So we’re making it better building capacity and trying to avoid
1:28:07 the problem in the future.
1:28:09 So it’ll be a little bit more expensive than what we have fully
1:28:12 within the sales tax,
1:28:13 but our revenues have been good.
1:28:14 And we’ve discussed this with this Independent Citizens Oversight
1:28:17 Committee,
1:28:18 and we’re pretty confident we can get the job done.
1:28:21 So thank you.
1:28:23 Thank you, and yay.
1:28:24 Thanks.
1:28:25 Thank you, Ms. Hamm.
1:28:28 Any more discussion on F45?
1:28:33 Can we vote or do we need a voice vote?
1:28:37 We can vote.
1:28:38 Okay.
1:28:38 Please vote.
1:28:39 We need you to vote.
1:28:46 Oh, sorry.
1:28:47 I was distracted by cuteness.
1:28:50 Motion passes 5-0.
1:28:57 Moves us to the action agenda.
1:28:59 Dr. Mullins.
1:29:03 Thank you.
1:29:04 Ms. Nescovich, there are a total of six action items on this
1:29:08 evening’s agenda.
1:29:13 The first four are for board confirmation that the request from
1:29:15 board members, Ms. Campbell,
1:29:17 Ms. McDougall, Mr. Susan, and Ms. Belford, to attend the FSBA
1:29:21 annual joint conference on December 3rd through the 5th, 2019,
1:29:26 is for official school board business, and that their requests
1:29:29 comply with the rules of the State Board of Education.
1:29:32 Additionally, per section 1001.39 subsection 1 of the Florida
1:29:37 statutes, the public must have an opportunity to speak on each
1:29:40 specific travel agenda item.
1:29:42 Okay.
1:29:43 If you all will bear with me, we have to just go through some of
1:29:47 this procedurally according to the new state law.
1:29:49 So we’re going to begin with Ms. Campbell’s request.
1:29:52 Is there anyone present who wishes to address her request to
1:29:56 attend the FSBA conference in December?
1:29:59 What are the wishes of the board?
1:30:00 Move to approve.
1:30:01 Second.
1:30:02 Motion by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. McDougall.
1:30:04 Please vote.
1:30:05 Almost there.
1:30:06 Okay.
1:30:06 Next, we’re going to address Ms. McDougall.
1:30:06 Okay.
1:30:07 Next, we’re going to address Ms. McDougall.
1:30:08 Is there anyone present who wishes to address board member Ms.
1:30:09 McDougall?
1:30:09 Is there anyone present who wishes to address board member Ms.
1:30:09 McDougall?
1:30:09 Is there anyone present who wishes to address board member Ms.
1:30:09 McDougall?
1:30:09 What are the wishes of the board? Move to approve. Motion by Mr.
1:30:16 Susan, second by Ms. McDougall. Please vote. Almost there. Okay,
1:30:29 next we’re going to address Ms. McDougall. Is there anyone
1:30:36 present who wishes to address board member Ms. McDougall’s?
1:30:39 Bless you.
1:30:39 Request to attend the FSBA conference in December. I have to ask
1:30:43 it twice. I’m sorry. Is there anyone here who’s come to address
1:30:48 Ms. McDougall’s request to attend the FSBA conference in
1:30:51 December? What are the wishes of the board? Move to approve.
1:30:54 Second. Motion by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. Campbell. Any
1:30:58 discussion? Please vote. Motion passes 5-0.
1:31:07 Is there anyone here present who wishes to address board member
1:31:11 Mr. Susan’s request to attend the FSBA conference in December?
1:31:15 Ms. Skipper? Peanut gallery. Is there anyone present who wishes
1:31:23 to address board member Mr. Susan’s request to attend the FSBA
1:31:26 conference in December?
1:31:27 What are the wishes of the board? Move to approve. Second.
1:31:31 Motion. You can’t.
1:31:32 I overrule. I overrule. I overrule that. Motion by Ms. Campbell.
1:31:38 Was that not official Robert’s rules? Motion by Ms. Campbell,
1:31:42 second by Mr. McDougall.
1:31:44 It was a time. Ms. McDougall. Any discussion? Please vote.
1:31:55 Motion passes 5-0. Motion passes 5-0. Is there anyone present
1:31:58 who wishes to address board member Ms. Belford’s request to
1:32:08 attend the FSBA conference in December?
1:32:10 What are the wishes of the board? Move to approve. Second.
1:32:13 Motion by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. McDougall. Any discussion?
1:32:17 Please vote.
1:32:19 Mr. Susan, second by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. Campbell. Any
1:32:34 discussion? Please vote.
1:32:40 I couldn’t think of your name.
1:32:52 Motion by Mr. Susan, second by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. Belford.
1:32:58 Motion by Mr. Susan, second by Ms. Belford. Any discussion?
1:33:02 Please vote.
1:33:02 I couldn’t think of your name. Motion passes 5-0.
1:33:05 Okay, this moves us on to our discussion points of the evening.
1:33:09 We have one discussion point tonight that was requested by Ms. Belford
1:33:11 to put on the agenda and that’s the RBT’s in Brevard County.
1:33:18 And I’ll turn the time over to you, Ms. Belford. Are we doing
1:33:35 board member reports also?
1:33:38 Okay. We’ll do board member reports first. Sorry about that.
1:33:49 Thanks, Ms. McDougall.
1:33:49 No, that’s okay. I just, because I have a couple.
1:33:51 Okay. No, no, no, that’s absolutely fine.
1:33:55 So I think as most people know that we all champion departments
1:33:59 and I have the privilege of having our human resource department.
1:34:03 So there’s a couple of, um, shout outs I want to give. First to
1:34:08 the professional learning and development team.
1:34:09 Uh, they have been selected to participate in the Wallace
1:34:12 Foundation principal pipeline initiative.
1:34:14 And they had over 75 teachers participate in the clinical
1:34:18 educator training, um, so they can mentor new teachers.
1:34:22 Also with the, uh, Brevard Schools Foundation, the, uh,
1:34:26 assistance, they had, they hosted a night out for new teachers
1:34:29 in our district,
1:34:30 providing them an opportunity to connect with other new teachers.
1:34:33 So I want to shout out to Mike, your department, um, well done.
1:34:38 And then also I just really want to shout out to the whole
1:34:42 negotiating team.
1:34:43 I am so relieved that it went so much better this year than last
1:34:47 year.
1:34:47 And I want to, um, personally recognize, um, Dr. Green, our
1:34:52 chief negotiator, Rick Morton, our lead negotiator, Bradley Morrell
1:34:58 from Rockledge High.
1:34:58 Um, Ms. Trine, I hope I say your name right, um, from Jefferson
1:35:03 Middle.
1:35:04 Rachel Roberts, Columbia Elementary.
1:35:06 Christy Boyd from Quest Elementary.
1:35:08 Maggie Russell from Challenger 7 Elementary.
1:35:11 Um, Mark Langdorf from Risk Management.
1:35:14 Uh, Rochelle Schwint, I don’t know if I, Schwint.
1:35:18 I’m so sorry I mangled your name.
1:35:20 From Compensation.
1:35:21 And Melissa Braun from ESE, the ESE coordinator.
1:35:25 So, and also Dr. Setti.
1:35:27 Thank you very, very much.
1:35:28 Your team, um, worked hard.
1:35:31 I, I, I am happy for the outcome.
1:35:33 So thank you all for all your diligence.
1:35:36 Is that everything, Ms. McDougall?
1:35:37 Yes, sir.
1:35:38 Uh, I don’t have a report, but we forgot to mention, um, Mr.
1:35:49 Thornton, who’s now not in the back of the room.
1:35:53 I think he was anxiously waiting.
1:35:55 Isn’t this National School Lunch Week?
1:35:57 It is.
1:35:58 Oh, it is.
1:35:59 It is National School Lunch Week.
1:36:00 And a couple of us are going to be serving in the cafeterias on
1:36:04 Thursday.
1:36:04 Yes.
1:36:05 So, go eat some smiles.
1:36:06 Who’s going to be serving?
1:36:07 I’m going to be out of town again, so I’m unfortunately going to
1:36:10 miss it.
1:36:10 I’ll be at Discovery Elementary on Thursday.
1:36:12 Okay.
1:36:13 And Ms. McDougall, are you serving on Thursday?
1:36:14 I am.
1:36:15 I’ll be at Cambridge Elementary.
1:36:16 That’s wonderful.
1:36:17 Thanks, ladies, for supporting.
1:36:18 And Mr. Thornton, I know you’re watching from your car phone on
1:36:22 your way home.
1:36:22 We are thankful to our food services team.
1:36:28 They, you know, I worked with them last year for a little bit,
1:36:31 and they’re a fun bunch.
1:36:34 We’re doing the Try It Tuesdays, and they’re bringing in
1:36:37 healthier food, and so I can’t wait
1:36:38 to hear your reports back on how that works for you on Thursday.
1:36:41 Can I just mention one more thing?
1:36:42 Sure.
1:36:43 Go right ahead.
1:36:44 It was so bad.
1:36:45 I know the RBT people are like, “When?”
1:36:47 When’s it coming?
1:36:48 There’s something that I probably should have mentioned during
1:36:51 the time that you were approving
1:36:51 my ability to go to Tampa for the conference.
1:36:57 In October, you had approved another one.
1:36:59 I just want to let you know that I did not attend that, and it
1:37:02 did not cost the district anything.
1:37:03 I decided that this was a more valuable one to go to than the
1:37:07 one October, so I did not attend that one.
1:37:09 And it didn’t cost the district a penny, so just an FYI.
1:37:13 I didn’t know that, Ms. McDougall.
1:37:15 Thanks.
1:37:15 You’re welcome.
1:37:16 Thanks for the update.
1:37:17 We take – we don’t spend a whole lot of money directly on us,
1:37:23 on our board.
1:37:24 We don’t – I don’t know that the public knows this.
1:37:26 We don’t have offices.
1:37:27 No staff.
1:37:28 We don’t have – we have no staff directly that reports to us.
1:37:31 I mean, but –
1:37:32 That’s still the superintendent’s –
1:37:34 Yeah, she’s technically the superintendent.
1:37:36 I mean, it’s – I just – I just want people to understand that
1:37:40 we take spending the funds of taxpayers very seriously, and we
1:37:45 really do try to put everything we can towards the classroom,
1:37:48 towards the schools.
1:37:48 And so, Ms. McDougall, I appreciate you clarifying that.
1:37:55 I would love to take this targeted piece of legislation and
1:37:58 expand it to the other municipal officers, because it’s only
1:38:01 school board members that have to come before their people and
1:38:03 do it, which is totally fine with me.
1:38:04 But it was a targeted piece of legislation, which is wrong.
1:38:07 And I think that, you know, if you’re going to do it for one, do
1:38:09 it for all, because I know that there’s other municipalities out
1:38:12 there that would love to see what their people are spending
1:38:14 their money on.
1:38:14 And we do a good job.
1:38:15 Thank you, Mr. Susan.
1:38:16 Is there any more – are there any more board reports from your
1:38:19 divisions or anything?
1:38:20 I’ll give a quick update on the school security safety
1:38:25 specialist/guardian training that I have been attending now.
1:38:31 This is week four, and it has been a remarkable experience, to
1:38:37 say the least, out of my comfort zone like never before.
1:38:42 But I’ve been able to see up close the training they’ve gone
1:38:46 through from first aid and CPR training to the range and the
1:38:53 shooting and the intense discussions they have about their role
1:38:56 in our schools and what they are supposed to be doing.
1:38:59 And it’s – it is not for the faint of heart.
1:39:04 I will not admit that I had shed a tear or two during my – I
1:39:09 haven’t completed the 176 hours yet, but I promise you none of
1:39:15 them were shedding tears.
1:39:16 These are strong individuals that we can be very proud of them
1:39:21 stepping up and serving in that capacity in our district.
1:39:25 So I know I’ve harped on it a couple times this evening, but I’ve
1:39:28 been very, very moved by watching them come to the table with
1:39:36 the skills they already have.
1:39:37 That’s the one thing that’s remarkable. I came with no skills,
1:39:40 basically, and they’ve come to the table with – in our class,
1:39:44 it’s a very small class, but there’s one gentleman with 26 years
1:39:48 law enforcement.
1:39:48 We have a former Marine in the class. And to see them take those
1:39:53 skills, which they have already learned basic – not basic
1:39:57 things – 26-year career is not basic – and then be trained by
1:40:00 the sheriff’s office on this very specific job and task and how
1:40:04 to work within our schools and – and bring out the softer side
1:40:09 in them at times, but yet still maintain their – their focus
1:40:12 and their mission.
1:40:13 So I just don’t have enough gratitude for the trainers out at
1:40:17 the sheriff’s office and what they’re doing to train everybody
1:40:21 and the program that was put together.
1:40:23 Ultimately, that program was invented by the state, basically,
1:40:28 and I’m going to say perfected by the sheriff’s office because
1:40:32 between the days you spent with legal and the days you spent
1:40:38 with – just the shoot and don’t shoot scenarios,
1:40:42 that stuff is very difficult to go through. And you have to have
1:40:46 – be a certain kind of person to be able to do that. And the
1:40:48 sheriff has done an excellent job to prepare them to be in our
1:40:50 schools.
1:40:50 And I just – I don’t want to be silent about that because I
1:40:53 want people to know. So thank you very much.
1:40:57 Now we are on to our discussion point with the RBTs, and I’ll
1:41:01 turn it over to Ms. Belford.
1:41:03 Thank you, Ms. Duskovic. So I know that our board has had some
1:41:07 briefing from Ms. Ann Beller General Counsel throughout the
1:41:10 discussions on this.
1:41:13 And I will likely repeat some information that you have already
1:41:16 been exposed to, but I feel like it’s important for the board to
1:41:21 know kind of the intricacies of this issue.
1:41:23 And I also feel like it’s important for our public to understand
1:41:26 why this has been a challenge for the district.
1:41:28 So bear with me while I give you a little background information
1:41:32 and just kind of explain some of the ins and outs of what we
1:41:35 have been dealing with.
1:41:37 So prior to October of 2003, behavior analysts in Florida were
1:41:46 certified by the Florida Behavior Analysis Certification Program,
1:41:49 which was under the Florida Department of Children and Families.
1:41:51 And the designation that was offered, the certification that was
1:41:56 offered at that time, was FL-CBA, okay?
1:41:58 So it was Florida Certified Behavioral Analyst.
1:42:02 And that’s important because in a minute I’m going to reference
1:42:06 some statute and so you need to understand that.
1:42:09 So in October of 2003, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board
1:42:13 took over certifying all behavioral analysts in Florida.
1:42:17 And that is also important because in the statute that you all
1:42:21 referred to, they refer to some options for certification in the
1:42:27 state of Florida.
1:42:28 So a couple of times tonight, I think we heard, and certainly in
1:42:32 the email communication, SB-1108 was passed in July of 2013.
1:42:39 And that became Florida Statute 1003.572, which gives us
1:42:44 direction on private instructional personnel.
1:42:47 So this is where it starts to get a little bit challenging
1:42:52 language-wise, I will say.
1:42:55 So in 1003.572, it says, as used in this section, the term
1:43:01 private instructional personnel means, A, individual certified
1:43:06 under 393.17 or licensed under chapter 490 or chapter 491 for
1:43:12 applied behavioral analysis services,
1:43:14 as defined in state statute 627.6686 and 641.31098.
1:43:23 So there are some additional – that’s A, and it goes on to list
1:43:27 speech, language, pathologists, occupational therapists,
1:43:29 physical therapists, psychologists licensed.
1:43:33 There’s a whole list of providers there.
1:43:36 But the most, I think, pointed part for us to discuss tonight is
1:43:41 that A, right?
1:43:42 So it lists individuals certified under 393.17.
1:43:47 And that statute, which I’m pretty sure that Ms. Envall sent to
1:43:52 you, specifically deals with behavioral programs and
1:43:56 certification of behavioral analysts.
1:43:58 So there’s a one and a two in that statute.
1:44:01 And the one talks about – it says the agency may establish a
1:44:05 certification process.
1:44:07 And by agency, they are actually referring to the agency for
1:44:11 persons with disabilities.
1:44:12 And that is the state agency that took over kind of housing the
1:44:17 rules around this issue.
1:44:19 So 393.17 says that the agency may establish a certification
1:44:25 process for behavioral analysts.
1:44:27 Or number two says the agency shall recognize the certification
1:44:33 of behavior analysts awarded by a nonprofit corporation that adheres
1:44:37 to the national standards of boards that determines professional
1:44:41 credentials
1:44:41 and whose mission is to meet professional credentialing needs
1:44:44 identified by behavior analysts, state governments, and
1:44:47 consumers of behavioral analysis services.
1:44:49 The certification procedure recognized by the agency must
1:44:54 undergo regular psychometric review and validation pursuant to a
1:44:59 job analysis survey of the profession and standards established
1:45:03 by content experts in the field.
1:45:04 So the statute does speak to some extent about the
1:45:11 qualifications and requirements of behavioral analysts.
1:45:18 But the expectation is that the agency will develop rules to
1:45:22 define that further and partner with the nonprofit organization
1:45:27 to provide those certifications.
1:45:29 So where we really run into a challenge at the district level is
1:45:36 when we look at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities,
1:45:40 Chapter 65G-4, Florida Administrative Code,
1:45:44 is the section that the Agency for Persons with Disabilities
1:45:50 addresses behavioral services as a whole.
1:45:54 And so they have, this is listed on their website, but it’s also
1:45:58 part of the Florida Administrative Code.
1:45:59 So in that code, and this is what really is creating a challenge,
1:46:06 which just for all of you listening, our goal is to get past
1:46:10 that challenge.
1:46:10 But I think it’s important to understand where this is coming
1:46:13 from because there has been a lot of discussion about does
1:46:16 statute create a problem for us to allow RBTs.
1:46:19 So in that administrative code, they define providers.
1:46:26 And they say, they define first a certified behavioral analyst,
1:46:33 and they say a behavioral analyst certified by a certification
1:46:37 body,
1:46:37 including a board certified behavioral analyst, a board
1:46:45 certified assistant behavioral analyst, and a Florida certified
1:46:48 behavioral analyst.
1:46:49 So that’s where we see reference to the Florida certified
1:46:51 behavioral analyst, which actually refers to the certification
1:46:55 that was awarded prior to 2003.
1:46:57 Now, those individuals that received the Florida certified
1:47:02 behavioral analyst certification prior to the shift in 2003 are
1:47:06 allowed to keep their certification until it expires.
1:47:09 And once it expires, they have to recertify under the new system.
1:47:12 So we currently have about 100 Florida certified behavioral
1:47:16 analysts still in Florida.
1:47:18 In addition, the Florida certified behavioral analyst
1:47:22 certification is only good in Florida.
1:47:25 It’s not good outside of Florida.
1:47:27 And I say all that only to make sure that we understand there
1:47:31 was reference earlier to the different levels of behavioral
1:47:34 analysts.
1:47:35 And I just want to make sure everyone understands that the
1:47:38 reference to Florida certified behavior analyst is an actual
1:47:41 designation that occurred prior to 2003.
1:47:45 Because there has also been some discussion that, well, perhaps
1:47:49 RBTs would fall under Florida certified behavioral analyst
1:47:52 because they are certified through the certifying body.
1:47:56 And I don’t think that we can quite achieve the Florida
1:48:00 certified behavioral analyst covering the RBTs.
1:48:04 Still looking for a solution.
1:48:06 But I don’t think that is our answer.
1:48:09 So then it goes on in number 14 to define providers.
1:48:13 And this is, keep in mind, this is Florida Administrative Code
1:48:16 from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
1:48:18 And they say quite clearly, an enrolled professional authorized
1:48:24 to provide behavioral analysis services is their definition of
1:48:27 provider.
1:48:27 They then say only individuals who are board certified
1:48:32 behavioral analysts doctoral level, board certified behavioral
1:48:37 analysts, board certified assistant behavioral analysts, Florida
1:48:42 certified behavioral analysts,
1:48:44 or persons licensed in accordance with chapter 490 or 491
1:48:48 Florida statutes on active status and demonstrating supervision.
1:48:55 So chapter 490 and 491 licensing for the state of Florida
1:48:59 addresses psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors.
1:49:05 So in essence, someone who is certified as a registered
1:49:10 behavioral therapist doesn’t fall under the agency definition of
1:49:16 those approved to provide behavioral analysis services according
1:49:20 to their definition of providers.
1:49:22 Nor do they fall under chapter 490 or 491 Florida statutes with
1:49:27 their licensing.
1:49:28 So that has been the challenge that we have been facing at the
1:49:34 district level because, of course, we answer to the Department
1:49:39 of Education and Florida legislator.
1:49:41 And so trying to find a way to make it work without violating
1:49:51 any of those clauses is what we have been trying to work through
1:49:54 for some time.
1:49:55 So in addition to that, and I believe you all were copied on
1:49:59 this as well, Broward County received,
1:50:08 through the Bureau Resolution Determination Bureau of Exceptional
1:50:13 Education and Student Services involving the Broward County
1:50:15 School Board,
1:50:17 back in 2017 there was a complaint filed against Broward County
1:50:22 for not allowing RBTs in their schools in Broward.
1:50:26 And so it went to a hearing and the ruling on that was upholding
1:50:34 that Broward County was not required to allow RBTs into
1:50:40 classrooms.
1:50:42 So there’s sufficient indication that RBTs are not currently
1:50:51 included in law.
1:50:54 Where we run into an issue is that RBTs, the certification of RBTs
1:51:00 did not exist at the time that the law was passed.
1:51:03 So, therefore, it’s not included in the definitions.
1:51:08 And the Florida Administrative Code through the agency has not
1:51:12 been updated since the law was passed.
1:51:16 So our challenge is, I think, not necessarily finding statutes
1:51:25 that will allow us to incorporate RBTs,
1:51:28 because I’m really not sure that there is specific statute outlining
1:51:33 RBTs at this point in time.
1:51:35 I have been speaking with Representative Plasencia on a regular
1:51:39 basis.
1:51:39 And initially he was of the opinion that there did not need to
1:51:44 be a change in statutory language.
1:51:46 My last conversation with him, and I know this will not come as
1:51:52 a shock to you all, what I shared with him,
1:51:55 but I said, you know, here’s the issue.
1:51:58 The district is currently in a gray zone.
1:52:00 And, yes, we can potentially work together and find a solution
1:52:05 for Broward County.
1:52:06 But what we really need is for our legislators to take the lead
1:52:09 and get rid of that gray zone.
1:52:11 Because I think if we look at the intent of the legislation, the
1:52:16 intent of the legislation was to provide services to students.
1:52:20 To provide that additional support, to provide those
1:52:23 opportunities,
1:52:24 especially when the services have been prescribed by a doctor
1:52:27 and are being paid for by the insurance company,
1:52:29 which is also a whole other section of statute requiring
1:52:32 insurance companies to pay for behavioral analysts,
1:52:35 so I am confident that Representative Plasencia will be bringing
1:52:46 forward language in the next session to clear up that gray area.
1:52:50 As I expressed to him, it is not uncommon for the district to be
1:52:55 caught in between the legislature and the Department of
1:53:00 Education
1:53:00 and trying to determine what path we are supposed to take.
1:53:04 So in looking at some precedent, one of the things that we came
1:53:09 across was despite the ruling on the initial complaint against
1:53:14 Broward County,
1:53:14 Broward County has since instituted an application process that
1:53:19 outlines some specific expectations of their RBTs in the schools,
1:53:24 has parent commitment, RBT commitment.
1:53:29 And I think it is a good process in place to protect us until we
1:53:33 can get to a place where we no longer have gray language, in my
1:53:38 opinion.
1:53:39 And not everyone will agree with me on it being gray language,
1:53:41 but I think there are some clear issues in statute that simply
1:53:46 have not kept up with industry changes.
1:53:48 And so I asked for this to be put on the agenda tonight for
1:53:54 discussion with you all.
1:53:56 So in full disclosure.
1:54:09 The student that was referenced tonight and has been covered in
1:54:22 multiple news stories.
1:54:26 Is a child that I have known for quite some time prior to his
1:54:47 illness, as his dad referenced.
1:54:48 And many of you know, I also do survival swim lessons.
1:54:55 I am currently working with him on survival swim lessons.
1:55:00 He is very drawn to the water.
1:55:03 He is happy in the water, but he is not safe in the water.
1:55:07 And so that’s one of the things that we’ve been working on.
1:55:11 And I will tell you, not only from the perspective of a school
1:55:14 board member do I see the value in RBT’s being appropriately
1:55:18 included in the classroom environment to provide student support.
1:55:21 But his RBT even comes to lessons with him.
1:55:24 Like she works with me to understand, she understands my
1:55:29 processes.
1:55:30 So like for example, one of my big things is, kids should not go
1:55:33 into the water until they know an adult is ready.
1:55:36 And so with all of my students, I use ready, set, go.
1:55:39 The first day that Andrew came to lessons this year, ready, set,
1:55:43 go meant nothing.
1:55:44 But his RBT was able to incorporate that through work with the
1:55:49 certified behavioral analyst.
1:55:51 to help develop an understanding of that concept.
1:55:55 And now he waits very nicely until it’s ready for him to
1:55:59 actually swim.
1:56:00 So I see the benefit.
1:56:03 And I’m not saying every situation is perfect.
1:56:06 And I’m not saying that we don’t need to have some parameters.
1:56:09 But I do think that if there is flexibility for us to provide
1:56:14 those services, I think we should.
1:56:18 What crying school board?
1:56:20 Can I speak that?
1:56:21 No.
1:56:22 Only if you’re not going to cry.
1:56:26 Can you guys just give her a round of applause for giving
1:56:29 probably the arguably the best thing?
1:56:30 I mean that, that may be the best presentation on an issue that
1:56:35 I’ve seen since I’ve been on school board.
1:56:36 And thank you, Ms. Belford.
1:56:37 Because I was trying to do all the research and all I had to do
1:56:40 was just listen to you.
1:56:40 That was amazing.
1:56:41 Thank you.
1:56:42 Ms. McDougall asked for the floor.
1:56:43 I know, but I just wanted to get a clap.
1:56:44 She can present.
1:56:45 Ms. McDougall.
1:56:46 You know, as a former school social worker, I have worked with
1:56:50 behavior analysts in our schools.
1:56:53 And they do provide a very valuable role.
1:56:56 And so I would like us certainly to set some parameters to make
1:57:01 it happen so that we too can have this service in our schools.
1:57:04 Because it only helps our students succeed.
1:57:07 So that’s what we’re all about.
1:57:09 So that’s what I’d like to do.
1:57:10 And I do like looking at Brevard’s packet of, oh, I’m sorry.
1:57:16 Brower’s.
1:57:17 We’re Brevard.
1:57:18 The other B, please.
1:57:19 The other B.
1:57:21 Brower’s packet.
1:57:23 I really think it gives everybody some parameters.
1:57:26 It protects our students.
1:57:27 It protects our schools.
1:57:29 I think it’s really a good packet.
1:57:31 So I’d like us to think about that.
1:57:34 Thank you, Ms. McDougall.
1:57:35 Ms. Campbeller, Mr. Susan, do you have any comments?
1:57:38 I asked earlier in the day, I think I asked Ms. Inval, would
1:57:43 this require us to develop a policy?
1:57:45 Because that’s a really long drawn out process.
1:57:46 In the meantime, it could be two months more that our students
1:57:49 – and she said that there’s a way that maybe that we can ask
1:57:52 for a – what’s the word?
1:57:56 Ms. A plan?
1:57:57 Ms. A plan to – so we can get something in place to get the
1:58:02 services – with parameters.
1:58:05 Because I look at this and, okay, why would Broward even do that?
1:58:08 Somebody – this is the way it works for our students sometimes
1:58:11 too – somebody ruined it for everybody else.
1:58:13 And unfortunately, there are people in every profession who ruin
1:58:16 things for everybody else.
1:58:17 And so we need to have those parameters to make sure that, like
1:58:19 I said, our students are protected and our schools – but that
1:58:23 provides this opportunity.
1:58:24 So I – I would like to see us – like to see you, Dr. Maltons,
1:58:30 and staff develop a plan for us that is workable, but has those
1:58:36 parameters so that we can – we can get this going.
1:58:39 And the quicker the better.
1:58:40 Thank you, Ms. Campbell.
1:58:41 Mr. Susan?
1:58:42 So I’m in complete support, same way.
1:58:44 I probably would be just on the fact of the presentation that
1:58:50 you gave, Ms. Belford.
1:58:53 But I do want to say that we miss a little bit of a fact, that
1:58:57 this not only helps the individuals that are being addressed,
1:58:59 but also the students in the class, the teachers, the admin, the
1:59:05 entire education system put together.
1:59:07 When an individual achieves inside of our district, it also
1:59:10 helps the students around them achieve, the teachers achieve,
1:59:13 because we’re one team.
1:59:14 And I heard somebody say earlier that, you know, you feel like
1:59:18 we’re on separate teams.
1:59:20 And I could see why.
1:59:21 And I would hope that this can come together and we can work
1:59:24 together, because we all care about these kids.
1:59:26 So I did want to say that I’m in full support.
1:59:28 And I know, Dr. Mullins, you hate when I start doing this, but I
1:59:33 would like to see it as fast as possible.
1:59:35 Because if the individuals that are inside of this, that need
1:59:40 this help, are falling behind, then we need to capture.
1:59:42 And if we’ve already got something in place that works inside of
1:59:45 another county, it should be fairly easy, not like creating an
1:59:48 entire other policy that we’ve created in the past.
1:59:50 But thank you so much for everybody coming out.
1:59:53 I give direction at the same time to do the same thing that we
1:59:56 said to move forward with a policy or, I’m sorry, a procedure
1:59:59 that would actually work in helping achieve the goal as fast as
2:00:04 we can.
2:00:04 Sorry.
2:00:05 Thank you, Mr. Susan.
2:00:06 For lack of a more articulate word, I just, I think it’s a no
2:00:11 brainer.
2:00:12 No brainer.
2:00:13 I don’t think there’s, I don’t know about all that research you
2:00:19 did, and I don’t know the parameters of Broward’s policy.
2:00:22 I reviewed it in the email, Ms. Endball said, but I know we have
2:00:26 amazing staff, and I know poor Ms. Moore has had, we dumped
2:00:29 stuff on her.
2:00:29 Come up with it quick, fix it, but this, you know, take a look
2:00:34 at the little kids over there.
2:00:36 Like it’s, this isn’t, you know, if it was my kid.
2:00:44 So I am, I think it’s time to entertain a motion.
2:00:48 Ms. Belford, do you want to do the honors?
2:00:51 I don’t even know that we need a motion.
2:00:53 I think we just need to give direction.
2:00:55 Is that it?
2:00:56 That that is the path that we would like to move forward.
2:01:00 I don’t know, Ms. Moore, if, if you wanted to weigh in, make
2:01:05 recommendation off, like I don’t want to, I don’t want to close
2:01:09 you out of the loop on it by any means, because I think that you
2:01:12 have important input.
2:01:13 I know we had spoken previously, and I think that you are
2:01:16 comfortable with the, the Broward plan.
2:01:19 Before Ms. Moore makes comment, I do want to just make, this,
2:01:24 this has been on Ms. Moore’s radar as early as it has on anybody’s.
2:01:29 Yeah.
2:01:30 And she has been in conversation with different individuals in
2:01:34 the community, as well as Ms. Belford.
2:01:36 And to move quickly, um, would be an understatement.
2:01:41 That she hasn’t already, and her staff, tackled this, looking at
2:01:45 statute.
2:01:46 Yeah, and I know Ms. Belford, you were, you were helpful and,
2:01:50 and as well, but, uh, I just want to give Ms. Moore recognition
2:01:54 and acknowledgement that this has been on the radar.
2:01:58 The moment it became an issue and a concern.
2:02:01 So, anyway.
2:02:02 Yeah.
2:02:03 And, uh, there’s a couple of things that I think were said
2:02:06 tonight that I, that really bear repeating.
2:02:08 And Tiki said, where is, there she is, said one of them.
2:02:11 Um, she said that statute language hasn’t kept up.
2:02:15 And, um, one of the things that Ms. Enville did is she surveyed
2:02:20 all the districts and said, how are you interpreting it?
2:02:23 And it’s not fair to the districts around the state that some
2:02:27 are interpreting it one way and some are interpreting the other
2:02:32 way.
2:02:32 The statute language needs to be cleared up.
2:02:34 So, I have had those conversations with Representative Palencia.
2:02:38 Um, he has responded back.
2:02:40 Hopefully that will happen.
2:02:41 Um, but probably the thing that was most significant for us as
2:02:46 we reviewed it.
2:02:47 Patricia Fontan has done a lot of the work just keeping this all
2:02:51 together and figuring out where the issues were and how we were
2:02:55 going to fix it was the packet of information we got from Broward.
2:02:58 So, when Broward had the decision made in their favor and later
2:03:03 went back and reviewed based on the fact that the language didn’t
2:03:09 exist, um, even when it, even in 2000, 2017 when that decision
2:03:14 was made.
2:03:15 I believe the language and, and correct me if I’m wrong, uh, for
2:03:19 certification happened in January, 2019.
2:03:21 I mean, it’s fairly recent.
2:03:22 Is that accurate?
2:03:23 Yeah, it was, it’s fairly recent.
2:03:30 Yeah, right.
2:03:33 Um, so as soon as that language came into effect, Broward
2:03:37 recognized it and put out this packet.
2:03:39 And as Amy Anvil and Patricia Fontan and I have started looking
2:03:43 at the packet, our initial response was, this is good.
2:03:47 This is, this is really good.
2:03:49 And this addresses some of the concerns that have come up.
2:03:52 Uh, in the meantime, um, our bureau chief for the, for, uh,
2:03:57 exceptional student education up at, um, FDOE has written back
2:04:02 as late as Friday and said we’re taking it to legal because they,
2:04:07 uh, we’ve been questioning them.
2:04:09 You know, we’re not keeping up with the current language of
2:04:12 certification and the statute language and the rules aren’t
2:04:15 either.
2:04:15 So she’s supposed to be taking it to legal up at FDOE.
2:04:18 We’re waiting for that response on Friday.
2:04:20 She said that it was happening.
2:04:21 So moving fast is not going to be an issue because we all have
2:04:24 the same foundational knowledge.
2:04:26 Um, I don’t, I don’t see why this can’t happen relatively
2:04:31 quickly.
2:04:31 And by relatively quickly, I’m saying between two weeks and a
2:04:34 month.
2:04:34 Uh, thank you very much, Ms. Moore.
2:04:37 Yeah, you bet.
2:04:38 We appreciate that.
2:04:39 So is there, uh, any more just concerns or discussion?
2:04:42 Dr. Mullins, do you feel like it’s clear direction?
2:04:44 Yes, very much.
2:04:46 I, Ms. Moore has been working on this for at least a couple of
2:04:50 weeks now.
2:04:50 So I think we’re very comfortable with where we’re at, where we
2:04:53 need to go.
2:04:53 Great.
2:04:54 Thank you.
2:04:55 Thank you, Ms. Belford, for your, your tears.
2:04:57 Uh, and thank you all for coming out and speaking in, on behalf.
2:05:02 A lot of times we don’t, uh, we don’t know of problems and
2:05:07 concerns and, and things that have changed
2:05:09 and directives that have changed down within the district.
2:05:11 And so it’s important that you reach out to your board members
2:05:14 and reach out to us and let us know when there’s concerns
2:05:17 so that things can be addressed appropriately.
2:05:20 Is there any more, uh, discussion items anyone want to bring up?
2:05:24 Anything else we need to discuss this evening?
2:05:26 Everybody’s good?
2:05:27 Thank you to Ms. Mullins and his daughter for sticking through
2:05:31 the entire meeting.
2:05:31 Oh yeah, we have Mrs. Mullins and little Mrs. Mullins here
2:05:35 tonight.
2:05:35 Teacher in Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee teacher in Title I school.
2:05:38 So I’ll do a, since you acknowledge them, I do a shout out.
2:05:40 My oldest daughter, uh, Chelsea Richelli, uh, she’s married.
2:05:45 And her husband live in Memphis.
2:05:47 She’s a second year high school math teacher.
2:05:49 Um, and, uh, couldn’t be more proud of her.
2:05:52 So she’s, she’s here on their fall break.
2:05:54 What a fun thing to do on your fall break.
2:05:57 I said you need to come look at what happens behind the scenes.
2:06:02 Let’s take your daughter to work day.
2:06:04 I will be in for Chick-fil-A on the way home for sure.
2:06:07 All right, I think that could go.
2:06:09 So just quickly, Chelsea, I have a seventh grader taking algebra.
2:06:14 So I might just have to ask your dad to give me your number so
2:06:17 that we can make it through this year.
2:06:19 Okay, I think that concludes our meeting.
2:06:22 Meeting adjourned.
2:06:23 Thank you.
2:06:53 We’ll see you next time.