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 8/8/2023.

Chair Choate called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and asked Ms. Foreman to read the district’s vision statement and to introduce Frank Brunner, past school board member and Director of Crime Stoppers, who provided the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Approval of the Agenda Passed 5-0.

Recognitions. Michael Barber introduced the 2023 Secondary Schools Athletic Trainer of the Year, Sidney Supa, of Lakewood Ranch High School. She was unable to be present due to her current responsibilities. Representing her were LWRHS’s Principal and Athletic Director and Olivia Hine, the 2023 Pre-Professional Trainer of the Year and recent LWRHS graduate. She will attend the University of Florida and is the fourth from LWRHS to receive this honor. Next, Mr. Barber recognized twelve district staff who, behind the scenes, seamlessly produce major district events such as the Excellence in School awards, and the superintendent’s reception. He presented them with gifts sponsored by the Manatee Education Foundation and the Manatee Community Foundation.

Public Comments - There were two public comments.

JM described the dangerous trend from recent legislation, claiming falsehoods as truths and leading down the path to authoritarian rule. He shared metaphors paralleling the current African American history content that slavery provided slaves with work skills to the notion that Holocaust concentration camp inmates who shaved others’ hair were preparing to be barbers. He implored that “ignorance not be allowed to vanquish the truth” whether from the governor, state legislators, or school board.

RF, a 10-year substitute in Manatee district schools, recounted his experience over the years and his pleasure being included in the Parrish Community High School yearbook, as well as the many accolades received over the years. He expressed that no student should be videotaping in the classroom and cited his experience when a student videoed him “nodding off” and texting it to his mom. 

REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS Mr. Joseph Ranaldi introduced the Project Manager of each Tara Elementary and Haile Middle Schools renovation teams. Each Project Manager, along with the project’s architect and contractor, provided the scope, timeline, and budget for each school’s project. Each school’s principal has been involved in the planning.

Tara Elementary’s thirty-year-old campus will receive a new roof, new HVAC, hardened windows and doors, parent loop and bus loop along with four new classrooms making the student seats increase from 700 to 781. The eight-phased project will be complete in two years and all the daily school routines will continue efficiently. Mr. Tatem asked how the district deals with prices going up during a project. Mr. Ranaldi explained that prices are usually locked in before the start of the project and there is a contingency fund if there is an issue. Mr. Tatem asked about the district’s purchase of materials saving on sales tax. Mr. Ranaldi indicated that if the item is over $5,000-10,000, the district purchases the goods. Ms. Spray asked if playground equipment can be donated to other organizations. Mr. Ranaldi responded that there is district liability because the used equipment would not be certified.

Haile Middle School’s team reported similar renovations as Tara and that ten new classrooms will increase student stations from 988 to 1208. In addition, piping and plumbing will be renewed as well as removal of large trees that have caused the undermining of sidewalks and drainage. The new building will include both a technology and agriculture lab as well as 8 classrooms, bathrooms and teacher workspace. Phase one was completed this summer. Next summer the administration, media, and locker rooms will be renovated and portables taken away.  Mr. Tatem asked for an explanation of the Jacobs SCI report. Mr. Ranaldi explained it is based on the projected future maintenance costs compared to the overall value of the facility.

CONSENT ITEMS – 32 items passed 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS (NON-CONSENT ITEMS)

Approval of the Continued Use of the 2022-2023 Salary Schedule for all Employee Groups and the 2023 Payroll Schedule. (No Financial Impact to SDMC) After Superintendent Wysong explained that until the current employee bargaining is completed, this will allow payroll to be paid on time based on last year’s pay scale. Passed 5-0.

Approval to Renew the Memorandum of Understanding Between the School Board of Manatee County, Florida, and MAXVAX, LLC, d/b/a Health Hero for the 2023-2024 School Year Flu Vaccine (Parental Consent Required) (No Financial Impact to SDMC) Dr. Wysong explained this is a renewal and done with parent’s consent, then asked Ms. Cox, ESE Director, to explain the process, vendor and forms. Mrs. Cox indicated this is the third year with this vendor but this has been available for many years earlier with a different vendor. This is only for Flu Vaccines. A call goes out to parents to indicate this is available at the school campus with a completed form. For children with no insurance, other agencies pay for this. This is a convenience to parents and helps protect students by keeping them safe in school and healthy. 

In addition, Ms. Cox mentioned that two high schools opted out of offering the Flu Vaccine. Ms. Spray was told there were 1800 vaccines given last year. Mr. Tatem clarified this is only for Flu Vaccines and Ms. Cox indicated all other vaccines are given at the health department, not at the school.

Passed 5-0.

Approval of Fourth Amendment to the Contract Between Team Success A School of Excellence, Inc. and the School Board of Manatee County (No Financial Impact to SDMC) Mr. Reese, real estate counsel for Team Success, made a public comment, thanking the staff and Mr. Dye for working out the charter amendment. Mr. Wysong indicated this amendment was a result of the July 27, 2023, workshop regarding Team Success’s charter approval. He indicated that district staff collaborated with the school to propose a series of conditions for the health, safety, and welfare of the students. Mr. Ranaldi indicated the conditions included being sure that the area of the campus where the soil was not tested, that there be no access to these areas by students; no additions to the one existing irrigation well without remediation; signs both in English and Spanish forbidding entry to these areas; before any additions to the sites, there must be soil testing. A lengthy discussion among the board members ensued. Ms. Spray felt the conditions were okay for middle school and high school students since they would not be “on the ground.” Ms. Foreman expressed she is not content with fencing rather than testing. She was told that ground cover would mitigate any dust blowing through the fence. Ms. Foreman explained that whether a charter or district school, “we have a responsibility to our students.” Unlike Mr. Tatem, she did not believe this was an “acceptable risk.” She indicated her willingness to go to a magistrate for this decision. Ms. Messenger, while supporting Team Success and their owning their current location on 13^th Avenue, said she could not support these conditions regarding the new location since she is too concerned about student safety. She agreed with Ms. Foreman that the board should not make this decision. Mr. Choate commented this is “not a nuclear waste site” and that PFAS was not even talked about until two years ago and is unregulated. He indicated he supported the plan. Ms. Foreman indicated there is also arsenic included in the contamination spread across the site. Mr. Choate responded this is not where students will be going. Ms. Spray reminded everyone that 30 years ago trash was dumped everywhere. She feels it’s a good compromise between the district and Team Success. 

Passed 3-2 (Foreman and Messenger dissenting)

NEW BUSINESS (NO SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATION)

Approval to Renew the Professional Services Contract with Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC to Provide Internal Audit services for fiscal Year 2023-2024, SDMC No. 19-0079-RG, Estimated in the Amount of $397,220.00 (General Fund) After Ms. Foreman thanked the Chair for putting this on the agenda to avoid delays and reminding all that changes can be made throughout the year, passed 5-0. 

Approval of the Removal of a Citizen’s Financial Oversight Committee Member - added August 4, 2023. After Ms. Spray shared that Mr. Small had missed three meetings in a row, passed 5-0.

Approval of the Revisions to the Citizens’ Financial Oversight Committee Charter – added August 4, 2023. Ms. Spray brought forth the committee’s recommendations to the changes presented. She indicated that they wanted the representatives of the bargaining units to remain standing and voting members of the committee and they wanted a change in the charter requiring a simple majority rather than a supermajority. Currently there are 7 members on the committee that can have fifteen members. A lengthy discussion followed that became entangled in procedures for motions, seconds, withdrawing seconds, amendments to motions, etc. Mr. Tatem attempted to direct the process. Mr. Choate indicated it was going as should be. In regard to the substance of the changes regarding voting membership for the union representatives, Mr. Tatem believed that ethically they should not vote since the subjects upon which they vote is relevant to them. Ms. Messenger referenced the committee’s preference for them to be voting members as has been the practice and agreed with them. She also raised the value of the union reps to the committee’s work and the danger of losing that. Mr. Dye weighed in that they should be non-voting to maintain the integrity of the committee. Mr. Choate reminded everyone that the votes taken by the committee are about whether or not the money from the referendum is spent as required, not about how to spend the money, and therefore the union reps should vote. Ms. Foreman raised the issue of the perception of conflict as a reality. To the question as to whether union reps should be non-voting ex-officio rather than standing members, and that decisions will be made by a simple majority rather than by a supermajority, it passed 3-2 (Choate and Messenger dissenting). 

Workshop Item Requests – Mr. Choate attempted to find a date in the near future to discuss bargaining and left it to Dr. Wysong to the calendar. 

Updates

Attorney Dye indicated he has been working on the Team Success Charter and has been updating Dr. Wysong on ongoing matters.

Operations. Mr. Ranaldi, Deputy Superintendent for Operations, described the preparations for the opening of schools. He indicated the Transportation Department has held a conference, has completed one dry run with another scheduled before Thursday, and that department staff will fill in for needed bus drivers.  The App, “Where’s the bus” has been updated to track the route, not the bus thus lessening confusion if there is a replacement bus on a route. Food Service personnel have participated in 30 training classes with 400 staff members ready to go. Human Resources is holding an operations job fair on August 24 with a teacher, para job fair scheduled for September 28. There are 53 classroom teacher openings, however last year at this time, there were 3-4 times that many. The county’s road maintenance on Moccasin Wallow Road will create traffic issues at Harvey Elementary School. While it was requested by the district, the county did not provide a MOT to deal with this project which is 6 months behind schedule. The district has been meeting with the sheriff and the contractor to provide additional crossing guards and traffic control for the next two months. 

Instructional. Mr. Derrick Jensen, Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services, on his second day with the school district, has met with the departments under his supervision and welcomes back all of the students on Thursday, August 10^th. He reviewed all of the professional learning that has been occurring for instructional staff. He’s looking forward to visiting schools to see teachers and students in action to support teaching and learning. [LWVMC Note: We welcome the new Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services and his appropriate comments.]

Superintendent. Dr. Wysong welcomed Mr. Jensen and thanked the board for approving the thirty-two consent items approving partnerships with businesses and organizations, grants for additional funding and keeping projects moving forward. Teachers came back on August 2. “We are in the closing hours of preparing” for the start of school including bus drivers, food service, school registrars and nurses. Since Wednesday he has visited four campuses and all were immaculate. He shared that he continues to be astounded by the generosity of Manatee County’s citizens, as represented by the Day of Hope, Community Resource Fair on July 29 at MTC, Day of Giving, and the Sat. night Marauder back to school event with 500 backpacks given away. He reminded all of the 5:30 a.m. bus send-off at Matzke on Thursday and that all of the departments at all of the district buildings will be out in the schools on opening day to support principals. All will convene at 4:30 to debrief the day until all students have arrived safely home. He indicated that after deliberation among the curriculum department and school principals, rather than offer AP Psychology with the ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding that course, the Cambridge course will be substituted, with appropriate resources to support teachers. Schools will work with students who wish to take a different course.

Board Comments

Ms. Foreman shared that she had “whined about AP Psychology to Dr. Wysong this morning.” She observed that teachers have so much adversity to deal with.  She attended the Summer Graduation at Southeast High School where Dr. Wysong’s speech was well received. Both students making up credits and others who accelerated their credits graduated to great enthusiasm. She shared that the Patterson Foundation is providing every teacher through 3^rd grade with packets of vetted books if they want them. Last Saturday, Manatee County hosted a back-to-school event at GT Bray Park with non-profit organizations handing out backpacks. Ms. Foreman indicated she’s enjoying the Master Board Training and learning more about her fellow board members.

Ms. Messenger said she was excited about school starting and expressed her gratitude for the teachers and everybody.

Mr. Tatem repeated “safety, safety, safety” and asked everyone to get an early start and stay late and if frustrated, take a breath. He complimented the staff for working out solutions with Team Success. He declared ethics and the law should come before a “good idea.”  An example he gave was that having a full board briefing with the superintendent may be a good idea, but it is prevented by the Sunshine Law.

Ms. Spray again noted the length of service of current retirees and congratulated them on their retirement and future endeavors. She too attended the Summer Graduation at SEHS and said it was very special. She gave a shout-out to Palm View for staff helping to prepare a walking route due to a lost bus route. 

Mr. Choate indicated the Master Board Training last week was good. He thanked the staff for getting prepared to open schools. He acknowledged Dr. Wysong has “jumped into the fire rolling.” He wished the teachers good luck as the students go back to school on Thursday. He reminds everyone that buses, students, and school zones are back. 

The meeting Adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

GOVERNANCE

We observed remarks by several board members who are enjoying their Master Board Training. We are noticing the board coalescing and noticeably increasing a comfort level with each other.  Each appears comfortable bringing different points of view to the table. We commend you on this growth.

An unreasonable amount of time was spent on the item regarding recommended changes to the Citizen’s Financial Oversite Committee Charter. Had the original recommendations been separated into two motions, one for each recommended change, this confusion could have been avoided. There was a great deal of entanglement between process and content, making this long-drawn-out conversation an unfortunate waste of time. It would be helpful for the Chair to take charge of the process as it unfolds to avoid other board members attempting to do this and to redirect board members when they stray off-topic.

We continue to observe that Mr. Tatem and Ms. Spray question and/or repeat information they have already been told many times. An example is when Mr. Tatem repeated that this was Flu vaccine only. Another example was Mr. Tatem’s comments and questions about the pay schedule based on last year’s agreements and the schedule of pay for this year. Ms. Spray noted when her turn to speak, that her question had been answered but went ahead and asked the question again. At times they talk back and forth to each other and it appears that many of their comments do not contribute to the discussion at hand nor to moving the agenda forward efficiently.  We question the purpose that this extraneous talking serves. With just two days before school opening, it was unfortunate staff had to remain for an unnecessarily long meeting.

While Mr. Tatem may think that having a joint briefing of all board members with the Superintendent would be helpful, his continued lament of the limits put on them by the Sunshine Law undermines his sincerity when he professes the need to follow the law. Having a meeting of the school board members and superintendent by themselves is exactly the scenario the Sunshine Law was written to prevent.

In regard to the decision to approve Team Success’s amendment, while it is commendable that staff and school worked this out, the result was less than defensible when it comes to the safety and well-being of students. We were surprised that Mr. Tatem’s drumbeat about safety did not extend to this decision.  Perhaps board members are not aware of continued issues about soil contamination in the Tallevast area over time. We were surprised that board members did not ask if the district has considered liability should problems arise in the future. Nor did board members request information about when, how and what the parents and school staff have been told. We observed that the rationales described to vote for this item were not in line with the board policy 0123 - STANDARDS FOR BOARDMANSHIP: “Remember that the first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all students attending the public schools, regardless of ability, race, creed, sex (including gender, transgender status, change of sex or gender identity, sexual orientation), or socio‑economic status.” Comments made by those voting for this item indicated a lack of knowledge pertinent to this issue.

Again, we caution against the use of acronyms by board members and the need for board members to request staff to avoid and/or define acronyms as well. Examples from this meeting that were not defined included: COPS, SCI, and CFOC.