The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Education Issues Committee observes the Manatee County School Board meetings for items of interest to citizens and to the League and notes adherence, or lack of adherence, to good governance procedures and the sunshine laws. The following are the major points from the school board meeting on 7/25/23.
Chair Choate called the meeting to order at 5:01 and asked Ms. Spray to read the district’s vision statement and to introduce Pastor Phil Derstine, Senior Pastor at the Family Church Christian Retreat who provided the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of the Agenda. Passed 5-0.
Approval of the Minutes. Passed 5-0
Recognitions. Mr. Barber shared two videos posted on the website’s Good News Moments. [LWV note: https://www.manateeschools.
Jeramiah Bowman, Visual & Performing Arts Supervisor, spoke to showcasing the arts during the summer and thanked the district for their support. Ms. Foreman asked if the camps were funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds or from the referendum. Mr. Bowman stated it was from the ESSER grant. The ESSER grant has to be used by summer 2024.
Public Comments – There were 2 public comments.
C.A. was a past attendee from Just for Girls, Inc for several years. She commended Dee Ralph, the school’s Director, for providing the support and therapy she needed to succeed academically. It gave her the confidence to achieve in school and in life.
R.P. spoke to the importance of substitute teachers. He has been a substitute teacher for ten years, and this is his last year. He also stated that he loves his job.
Consent Items – 35 items passed 5-0.
Public Hearing
1. Public Hearing on the Proposed Changes to the Code of Student Conduct for the 2023-2024 School Year
2. Approval of Adopting Amendments to the Code of Student Conduct for the 2023-2024 School Year
Ms. Foreman spoke on page 59 regarding student video recording. The discussion was centered around posting on social media versus recording only. Ms. Foreman questioned the interpretation by school principals. Mr. Schrier was brought to the podium to address and spoke favorably to the statement. Ms. Foreman continued to push to add a sentence for clarification and Mr. Schrier agreed to wordsmith. Mr. Schrier stated that the reason the team wrote this section was to ensure students’ safety.
Ms. Spray has a problem with cell phones being on at all during school hours.
Mr. Tatem claimed it was not constitutional to forbid students to take a video and upload it to social media.
Mr. Dye stated that he didn’t work on the drafting of this, but it would be helpful to make the section read better versus dealing with the constitutional issue. We have a rule that the phone needs to be turned off period – from the time school starts, until the end of school. Then we have a caveat to record if there is an issue – bullying, fighting, or other exceptions. He thought that school-sanctioned events needed to be clarified. However, schools do have rules that affect your rights.
Chair Choate stated we need to approve the Code of Student Conduct and come back and amend the use of mobile phones later. His fear is that we need to have something versus nothing since school starts in two weeks.
The Board asked Superintendent Wysong to weigh in on how the language came about. He said the language came from educators, and that he would like to work with those who came up with the language and provide some balance so they will have input. The Superintendent suggested a clarification versus a major change.
Ms. Spray questioned why schools can implement policies differently. Mr. Schrier stated there is a degree of flexibility within schools.
Mr. Tatem questioned the liability of damaged cell phones if confiscated, and suggested to the Superintendent that liability should be considered.
Ms. Messenger suggested moving forward with the Code of Student Conduct. Ms. Foreman also agreed.
Motion passed 5-0.
3. Public Hearing on the Proposed Changes to the Student Progression Plan for the 2023-2024 School Year
4. Approval of the 2023-2024 Student Progression Plan for Elementary School, Middle School, High School, and K-12 Virtual Education
Motion passed 5-0.
5. Public Hearing 2023-2024 Tentative Millage and Tentative Budget - updated July 20, 2023
6. Approval of Adopting the 2023-2024 Tentative Millage Rate of 6.4210 - updated July 20, 2023
Chair Choate reminded the Board that this is a tentative budget.
Ms. Sellars presented the FY 2023-24 Tentative Budget and stated that there was an ad in the newspaper on Saturday.
Even though Ms. Sellars explained the budget, both Mr. Tatem and Ms. Spray questioned the rollback rate. Ms. Sellars explained that property taxes went up because property values went up.
Mr. Tatem asked why have we not included the half-cent sales tax. Ms. Foreman stated it’s a sales tax, not a property tax.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ms. Messenger stated we’ve had multiple workshops on this subject.
Mr. Tatum asked if this includes Federal grants and sources. Ms. Sellars referred Mr. Tatum to the section on federal funds.
Ms. Foreman reminded Ms. Sellars to provide an ESSER Funds report. This is normally published quarterly. Ms. Foreman was surprised that the camps mentioned earlier were paid for by ESSER funds. She also wanted to know where referendum funds are budgeted.
Mr. Tatem asked how the district ended the year. Ms. Sellars stated she can’t provide feedback at this time. Mr. Tatem also asked about reserves.
Ms. Spray also asked about the millage spending.
Motion passed 5-0.
MEETING OF THE LEASING CORPORATION
1. Call to Order of the Meeting of the Manatee School Board Leasing Corporation
Motion passed 5-0.
3. Adjournment of the Meeting of the Manatee School Board Leasing Corporation
5-minute recess
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NEW BUSINESS ITEMS – No comments.
NEW BUSINESS (DISCUSSION ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT)
NEW BUSINESS (NON-CONSENT ITEMS)
1. Approval of the Budget Amendments for May 2023
Ms. Sellers presented.
Motion passed 5-0.
2. Approval of the New Job Description and Position of District Threat Management Coordinator
Chair Choate requested Superintendent Wysong to explain the new position. Dr. Wysong stated it is due to upcoming changes being rolled out by the State, and we will be required to do an additional review of data and obligations of the team. Therefore, in analyzing those responsibilities there was a new allocation needed. Dr. Wysong also stated that we are required to ensure that charter schools are also supported.
Chair Choate asked if there was funding included for charter schools, and the Superintendent replied yes.
Ms. Spray asked if Mr. Damico wanted to speak about this. Superintendent Wysong stated he wants to talk more about the organizational charts and how they aligned.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ms. Spray pulled this item from consent and wanted to know our legal responsibility in regard to MCR. Chair Choate deferred to Superintendent Wysong. Superintendent Wysong called on Mr. Chapman to address this.
Ms. Spray is concerned that the services were to be free from MCR when it has not been. Ms. Spray stated there was a portable put on the agenda in May for $600,000. In addition, there were charges for utilities. Mr. Renaldi explained it was part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Mr. Chapman stated that if a parent consents for their child to participate, they also provide their insurance information and it becomes a liability issue for MCR. This is similar to what is done within the school district for nurses in the school clinic. Parents also need to sign a consent form for the school nurse. The protocol is to contact the parent and get their verbal and parental consent form signed. The student is escorted to MCR and not left alone. MCR is also for preventative health. MCR will also contact the parent and let them know what is prescribed. Mr. Chapman also stated this is part of a Community Partnership Model. MCR is a pillar to this model. This was based on a needs assessment.
Ms. Spray asked for stats for MCR. Mr. Chapman stated he will get that information.
Mr. Tatum asked a question regarding parental consent in regard to a life and death situation; Mr. Chapman stated it goes to the Good Samaritan Law.
Mr. Renaldi stated that MCR would forward monies. We paid for the shell, it’s running through us, and we have control of the contractor.
Mr. Tatem asked for more information regarding Community Partnership Model funds. Mr. Chapman stated there is a UCF model. This was established in 2020 and explained.
Chair Choate clarified the financials. Nothing is being hidden. MCR is paying the Construction Company. Chair Choate stated he understands getting out of scope with medical issues, but these wrap around services help the children. He also mentioned the students’ attendance rate is much higher since they are receiving health services. Therefore, this wrap-around program supports educational objectives. In addition, this is a state grant and this partnership has been around since 1992.
Ms. Foreman questioned how HIPPA is handled. Mr. Chapman stated that MCR provides HIPPA and services including Dental, Vision, Medical, and Behavioral Services.
Ms. Foreman asked what happens if we don’t approve MCR at Daughtrey. Mr. Chapman stated we will not be a Community Partner which is what the area needs.
Ms. Messenger agreed with Chair Choate and spoke about generational poverty in the Daughtry area. Mr. Tatem asked the Superintendent for his thoughts, and the Superintendent agreed with Ms. Messenger and stated this is an opportunity to provide a powerful tool to support families.
Motion passed 5-0.
Public Comment. There was one public comment.
Becky Canese, director of Just for Girls, Inc. presented the school’s progress.
Mr. Tatum and Ms. Spray asked Dr. Wysong if there was a need for longitudinal performance and historical data.
Motion passed 5-0.
Motion passed 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS (NO SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATION)
Motion passed 5-0.
Motion passed 5-0.
3. Recommendation for Replacement of Vacancy on the Citizens' Financial Oversight Committee (CFOC)
Motion passed 5-0.
Motion passed 5-0.
5. Approval of School Board Member Representative for the Children's Services Advisory Board (CSAB)
Ms. Messenger stated she is rotating off of the Children’s Advisory Board and informed Ms. Spray who expressed an interest in the program about the amount of work needed. Ms. Spray stated she has a conflict. Ms. Messenger will reapply.
Motion passed 5-0.
2023, at the Reefhouse Resort and Marina, Key Largo, FL, Not to Exceed $950.00
Ms. Foreman will attend.
Motion passed 5-0.
WORKSHOP ITEM REQUESTS
The next workshop will be held on July 27, 2023. Items slated are Team Success and the Audit Process.
CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT (IF NECESSARY)
UPDATES
Legal Department Update
Mr. Dye referred the board to emails he had sent.
Operations Update
Mr. Renaldi recognized Human Resources for their work on hiring, and commended Food Service for 151,000 meals served during the summer He also mentioned a new food service program for parents to see lunch menus and their child’s purchasing history.
Instructional Update
Dr. Wysong stated that Mr. Jensen will be the new Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and would be at the next School Board meeting. He also stated that 2,700 students attended the Bishop Museum event on July 4. There were also summer camps and summer early learning programs.
SUPERINTENDENT REMARKS
Dr. Wysong stated he has visited every employee at the Professional Support Center, the School Support Center and Matzke who were not on vacation. He stated new teacher orientation starts on July 26th and that the prior week the Leadership Conference was held for all administrators focusing on how we support student learning.
BOARD COMMENTS
Mr. Tatum – safety, safety, safety…
Ms. Foreman gave a shoutout to Ms. Deborah Estes who was appointed to the Manatee County Foundation Board, and Mr. Omar Edwards who is doing a TED Talk for Bradenton. She also requested teachers to let the Board know if there is anything they can do to support them.
Ms. Messenger thanked Superintendent Wysong and Chair Choate for handling the long meeting well.
Ms. Spray thanked those who are retiring.
Mr. Choate thanked Dr. Wysong for one of the best briefings he has had, and Ms. Cox for stepping in for the Board meeting.
The meeting Adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
Chair Choate handled the movement back and forth from the Hearings to the School Board Meeting smoothly.
Even though Ms. Spray and Mr. Tatum are still relatively new to the Board their questions and lengthy comments led to a longer than necessary meeting. Their statements were often repetitive and their questions had been previously answered.
The usage of cell phones in the Student Code of Conduct was obviously not workshopped well otherwise this lengthy discussion would not have taken place. It was mentioned that there would be another workshop on this subject, but there was no time frame set. Please note this is a vital topic for students, parents, and schools.
Ms. Spray and Mr. Tatum need to gain an understanding of the Community Partnership Model for the clinics on school campuses.
We appreciate Ms. Foreman asking clarifying questions. Two examples are the discussion regarding ESSER funds and the student phone policy.
We recommend some board members refrain from pontificating, rambling, or verbally musing, as well as making statements for which there is little foundation. Comments should be accurate, and concise. Some board members appear to not know school rules and regulations, programs, and procedures and are observed to bring a personal or political agenda.
We recommend the Board request staff members to use terms versus acronyms at Board Meetings so the viewing public can have a better understanding.
The next regularly scheduled School Board Meeting is August 8, 2023; at 10:00 am
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barbaraelliott
There is no longer meat on the citizen rights bone because government has stripped it off the bone like a pack of grey nasty rats.......The constant violation of open meetings law which includes timely notifications, accessible venues, rights to speak etc.are big weaknesses/ failures for county and city government as described by the Manatee County League of Women Voters article here. Thanks for explaining the good governance violations to us. The League could;
If the public meetings law is violated there are criminal penalties. File a complaint with local law enforcement. Stay with it. Get a case number. Your complaint will be resisted perhaps ignored. Do not let it go by the way. Get that bone like a dedicated dog. Criminal complaints have the power to negate government action, put them in jail or probation, cost them personal money , wreck their reputations worse than they have already done themselves, and much more.The Since the League has laid out the violations of school board open meetings law violations so adeptly, they should file first.
However, their article is your citizen complaint template. The more complaints the better. The key is Florida Sunshine Law/open meetings rules. A Florida Commission on Ethics Complaint will be returned if it refers to statutes that carry criminal penalties. So file with law enforcement.
Discrimination in meetings, untimely or no notice, accessibility, venue and more are against the law. So also complain to DOJ that the county government is discriminating in open meetings law and violating your constitutional rights. Your rights to redress government, free speech and more are being violated. . Put a lid on that pressure pot. The more collateral damage the better. Pressure them to watch their pees and ques. After all, when you comment at BOCC and COB officials at meetings all you get is a blank look with no questions, comments or replies to your concerns. If you want their attention go criminal. Besides open meetings laws, Florida statute 838 come to mind, 'Misuse of Public Office'.
Go get them you dear, citizen pitbulls. I'm here for questions
Barbara Elliott
Stone Soup Manatee
stonesoupmanatee@yahoo.com
941-447-9929
Saturday, August 12, 2023 Report this