[0:57] Welcome to today's special
[0:58] school board meeting. This
[0:59] special school board meeting of
[1:00] the School Board of Broward
[1:02] County, Florida, is now called
[1:03] to order. Our primary focus is
[1:05] to create a safe and productive
[1:06] environment for all
[1:06] participants. Please be
[1:08] reminded of the exit doors that
[1:09] are clearly marked for
[1:11] emergency exiting while in the
[1:12] boardroom. Refrain from
[1:13] obstructing the exit doors. All
[1:15] attendees must occupy a seat
[1:17] with the exception of media.
[1:18] Once the boardroom has reached
[1:19] its seating capacity, attendees
[1:22] will be directed to a
[1:23] designated overflow space,
[1:25] which is located in the area
[1:27] adjacent to the vending
[1:28] machines. If the fire alarm
[1:30] sounds, exit the room calmly
[1:31] continue outside the building
[1:32] and remain there until
[1:34] authorities give clearance to
[1:35] return. Thank you for your
[1:37] cooperation. All please rise
[1:38] for the Pledge of Allegiance to
[1:39] the flag of the United States
[1:44] of America.
[1:45] >> Pledge allegiance to the
[1:47] flag of the United States of
[1:49] America and to the Republic for
[1:51] which it stands. One nation
[1:54] under GOD, indivisible, with
[2:03] liberty and justice for all.
[2:04] >> As we prepare to begin our
[2:05] special school board meeting,
[2:07] we are reminded that our vision
[2:09] is 100% proficiency for all
[2:10] students. As an a-rated school
[2:12] district, our vital task is to
[2:13] sustain this achievement. We
[2:15] will continue educating all
[2:16] students to reach their highest
[2:18] potential. Now let's write this
[2:21] next chapter together. Today's
[2:22] special School Board meeting
[2:23] will operate in accordance with
[2:25] School Board Policy 1020, and
[2:26] the board will review the items
[2:27] as advertised and presented by
[2:29] the superintendent. The
[2:30] superintendent released a
[2:32] revised agenda with certain
[2:33] changes for this meeting and
[2:34] published it on the school
[2:35] district's website. The chair
[2:37] finds pursuant to section 120
[2:39] .525 Florida statutes, that
[2:40] good cause exists for such
[2:42] changes and accepts the revised
[2:43] agenda. MAY I have a motion and
[2:46] a second to close the agenda?
[2:48] Moved by DR. Zeman. Seconded by
[2:49] MISS Thompson. All in favor of
[2:52] closing the agenda? Say aye.
[2:52] >> Aye.
[2:54] >> Any opposed? Say no. The
[2:58] agenda is now closed. We will
[2:59] soon hear from our registered
[3:01] public speakers. We ask that
[3:02] decorum be maintained in
[3:04] civility and respect be shown
[3:05] during public comment. Our
[3:06] General Counsel will assist the
[3:08] chair in maintaining decorum
[3:09] during this period. We also
[3:10] want to remind our public
[3:12] speakers of the rules and
[3:13] expectations regardinghe
[3:14] agenda. Public comment portion
[3:15] of the Special School Board
[3:17] meeting, as well as board
[3:18] policy attorney Dupree Bruno,
[3:19] please explain the rules of
[3:20] public comment.
[3:22] >> Thank you and good evening.
[3:23] Public comment is governed by
[3:25] school Board Policy 1020 and is
[3:27] intended to provide input on
[3:28] the board's duties, decisions
[3:29] in the overall operation of the
[3:31] school district. The school
[3:32] board is viewpoint neutral
[3:34] during public comment per
[3:35] school board policy 1020. The
[3:37] procedures are as follows.
[3:39] Speakers must state their name,
[3:40] city of residence and whether
[3:41] they are a lobbyist. Before
[3:43] beginning their remarks. All
[3:45] remarks must be directed to the
[3:46] board as a whole. The board
[3:48] will not respond to or engage
[3:49] with speakers during public
[3:51] comment, and no action will be
[3:53] taken unless the item is on the
[3:54] agenda. During the agenda
[3:56] speaking time, speakers will
[3:57] have up to three minutes per
[3:59] item and up to one minute on
[4:01] motions or amendments. The
[4:02] chair MAY adjust the order of
[4:03] speakers, recognize speakers
[4:05] and enforce all limits. The
[4:06] chair MAY reduce individual
[4:08] speaking time or establish a
[4:10] total amount for public comment
[4:11] when necessary. To ensure all
[4:12] speakers have an opportunity to
[4:14] be heard. A visible timer will
[4:16] be used in the microphone MAY
[4:19] be turned off when time expires.
[4:20] Speakers must limit their
[4:21] comments to agenda. Specific
[4:23] items must remain relevant to
[4:25] the specific item. Comments MAY
[4:26] not address matters that are
[4:27] pending litigation. Quasi
[4:29] judicial proceedings, active
[4:30] investigations or
[4:32] administrative hearings,
[4:33] solicitation and lobbying
[4:35] activities must comply with
[4:36] applicable school board
[4:38] policies. Abusive language
[4:39] defined as profanity
[4:40] threatening or name calling is
[4:42] prohibited. In addition,
[4:44] clapping, hissing, booing,
[4:45] shouting, yelling or other
[4:46] disruptions from the audience
[4:48] are not allowed. Speakers who
[4:49] fail to follow proper decorum
[4:51] in the chambers will be ruled
[4:53] out of order by the board chair.
[4:54] Failure to comply MAY result in
[4:55] the microphone being turned off
[4:58] or a recess being called. After
[5:00] a warning. The chair MAY also
[5:01] direct removal from the meeting
[5:03] by law enforcement or the
[5:05] Sergeant at Arms. MADAM Chair.
[5:06] >> Thank you, Attorney Dupree.
[5:08] Bruno, the board wants to hear
[5:09] from the public, and we
[5:10] appreciate your cooperation in
[5:12] maintaining a respectful,
[5:14] orderly and productive meeting
[5:16] environment. MAY I have a
[5:18] motion and a second on item one
[5:19] moved by DR. Zeman, seconded by
[5:22] MISS Hixon. Is there a public
[5:23] comment on item one?
[5:24] >> Yes, MADAM Chair, there are
[5:26] three registered speakers. Amy
[5:29] Edelman, Liliana Rubio and
[5:31] PRESIDENT Anna Fusco. You MAY
[5:48] approach the podium.
[5:53] >> Is this the one about
[5:56] wanting Anna Fusco, PRESIDENT?
[5:58] >> This is item one,
[5:58] superintendent's annual
[5:59] financial report to the
[6:01] Commissioner of Education.
[6:03] >> Alrighty. So financial
[6:05] report to the Commissioner of
[6:07] Education, new one in old, one
[6:08] out. Lot of expectations from
[6:10] the other one new expectations
[6:13] from the new one. We're hoping
[6:16] that this report is based on
[6:17] truly what's happening in the
[6:20] Broward County public schools,
[6:23] where we do have obviously
[6:25] lower enrollment from students.
[6:27] There's no real understanding
[6:29] of where they're going. I do
[6:31] know with the schools that
[6:32] closed and the schools that
[6:34] they were supposed to be
[6:36] entering, that hasn't happened.
[6:37] I checked with Chapel Trail
[6:39] when Panther one closed,
[6:41] hundreds were there, 43 went to
[6:44] Chapel Trail. So we would like
[6:46] to know what exactly was your
[6:48] guys plan when you closed six
[6:49] schools to actually have the
[6:50] students get to our public
[6:53] schools? Where is the plan?
[6:55] Where is the tracking that's
[6:57] lost money? The other situation
[6:59] that we would like to
[7:01] understand is even though we
[7:03] have low enrollment, we had a
[7:04] school board member, Jeff
[7:06] Holness, who put it out there
[7:09] last year, thousand positions
[7:12] last school year, 1000
[7:13] positions for this school year
[7:15] and 1000 positions for next
[7:17] school year. But what you
[7:18] didn't take into account and
[7:19] you guys are hiding behind it,
[7:21] and I'm going to come after you
[7:24] and say you're hiding behind it.
[7:25] You school board members must
[7:28] be hiding behind it that our
[7:32] teachers and our staff are
[7:34] overworked. Class size is
[7:37] ridiculous. I have kindergarten
[7:39] classes with 25 students. I
[7:42] have third third grade classes
[7:45] with 2829 students. We have
[7:47] fifth grade classes with 32 to
[7:49] 35 students. We have middle
[7:52] school classes with 5060 kids,
[7:54] high school classes. And you
[7:55] guys all look at it like Anna
[7:58] Fusco is making it up. And I am
[8:02] not I'm not making it up.
[8:03] Teachers are reporting this.
[8:05] They're making it loud and
[8:07] clear. The enrollment MAY have
[8:10] lowered, but the student ratio
[8:12] to teacher has largely
[8:13] increased, with the
[8:14] expectations of still
[8:16] performing and the extra work
[8:19] put on them. There's a lot of
[8:21] extra work as as it is
[8:22] appreciated to look at the
[8:23] guidance of of cutting screen
[8:26] time when you cut computer time
[8:28] for certain grade levels and it
[8:31] goes to paper, how are they
[8:32] grading it? You guys don't
[8:34] listen to the details. That
[8:36] comes with ramifications when
[8:37] you're taking away positions
[8:39] that are needed in schools. You
[8:41] were told it wasn't going to
[8:43] affect schools, but it is. It's
[8:47] real. And we'll get to it later.
[8:49] About the raise. That was very
[8:51] largely spoken about from the
[8:53] budget report I read. I don't
[8:55] see it in there, so I'm not
[8:57] sure exactly. All in details
[8:59] what's being presented, but I
[9:01] hope it was done with severe
[9:04] scrutiny and detail.
[9:09] >> Thank you. Next speaker.
[9:13] >> My excuse me. My name is Amy
[9:14] Edelman and I'm from Country
[9:17] Isles Elementary. We know about
[9:20] the 4% that was promised to us,
[9:25] and I'm just here to say, hey.
[9:30] Anna. Please go by what you
[9:32] said and give us that 4%. I'm
[9:35] telling you now, I won't tell
[9:38] you where I lived, but it's
[9:41] going around in their online
[9:44] that we should not vote for the
[9:46] referendum because all of the
[9:50] people in that area said, why
[9:51] should we havee to pay the
[9:55] teachers? It's t tehahat t the
[9:59] hohool boaoard paiaid th teachers.
[10:02] So it's a very large community
[10:05] and if that's what happens, the
[10:06] teachers are going to go back
[10:09] ten, 12,000, 6000, whatever
[10:12] they got, the money's going to
[10:17] go back. We need to have our 4%
[10:20] raise from you guys. Figure it
[10:25] out in your budget. Because I
[10:28] know for a fact that word gets
[10:31] around in the neighborhood and
[10:33] nobody wants to vote yes for
[10:35] that referendum in that certain
[10:38] neighborhood. Thank you.
[10:45] >> Thank you. Next speaker.
[10:46] >> Broward Teachers Union
[10:49] Liliana Ruido, and I hope the
[10:51] report matches what's going on
[10:53] in our schools at this point.
[10:55] When you go to the schools and
[10:58] you see the high schools,
[11:01] nevertheless, the high schools
[11:02] packed with substitute teachers.
[11:04] So you keep saying we lost so
[11:06] many students, oh, so many
[11:08] students. But yet some classes
[11:10] have 50, 60 students. So what
[11:13] are you doing to, you know, to,
[11:14] to control that narrative at
[11:16] this point? That's one thing.
[11:20] The other part is that report
[11:21] that you're going to present to
[11:23] all of us. We are watching what
[11:24] you're going to present. And at
[11:26] the same time, we're watching
[11:29] how you are going to present
[11:33] that back to the people behind
[11:35] the report. So my my question
[11:38] to you is, who is supervising
[11:40] the schools? How how are you
[11:42] going to give reports? If I
[11:44] don't see you out there and
[11:45] you're not seeing the reality
[11:48] of our teachers right now,
[11:49] especially when it comes to
[11:50] teachers that have to deal once
[11:52] with 60 students, they're
[11:55] overworked, they're overwhelmed.
[11:56] And this is just the beginning
[11:58] of the school year. And also,
[12:00] I'm going to ask you to reflect,
[12:02] like I always do, ask you to
[12:05] reflect on how you are going to
[12:07] use your budget. And we're
[12:08] watching and we're expecting
[12:09] that you do the right thing.
[12:11] Because let me tell you, we are
[12:13] watching your decision out
[12:14] there. You're sitting up there,
[12:16] but you forgot that the
[12:18] majority of you were teachers.
[12:21] So, you know what? Do the right
[12:22] thing by the teachers and by
[12:26] the employees. So you, you can
[12:30] feel, you know, in peace with
[12:33] your mind. Thank you.
[12:34] >> That concludes registered
[12:35] speakers.
[12:35] >> Thank you. Any board
[12:40] discussion on item one?
[12:43] >> MADAM Chair? DR. Holness
[12:47] thank you, MADAM Chair. MADAM
[12:48] Chair, I have a couple of
[12:52] questions for Doctor Hepburn.
[12:54] Doctor Hepburn did the motion
[12:58] to cut staff. Include cutting
[13:00] teachers.
[13:01] >> Thank you for the question,
[13:05] DR. Holness. No, it did not.
[13:06] >> Okay, so, Doctor Hepburn, is
[13:11] it true that over the last 10
[13:13] to 15 years, we've lost
[13:15] somewhere between 40 to 50 000
[13:16] students, but kept
[13:17] approximately the same number
[13:18] of staff?
[13:20] >> That's correct.
[13:23] >> Okay. So would you agree
[13:25] that it's a it would have been
[13:28] or it is a responsible decision,
[13:30] considering that Broward County
[13:33] schools lost 40 to 50 000
[13:36] students over the last 10 to 15
[13:38] years. But we kept the same
[13:40] number of staff. Was it a
[13:42] responsible decision, in your
[13:46] opinion, that we cut staff to
[13:48] align with our budget?
[13:50] >> Yes, I concur in addition to
[13:52] add to that is a dollar amount
[13:53] and revenue loss over that same
[13:55] amount of time to DR. Holness,
[13:57] which I think up to this point
[13:59] in the year is about $450
[14:01] million in lost revenue over
[14:03] over the past decade.
[14:05] >> Okay. So, Doctor Hepburn, if
[14:08] we continue to lose students
[14:09] and as you mentioned, when we
[14:12] did motion to cut the staff, it
[14:14] did not include teachers.
[14:16] Correct. So if we continue to
[14:18] lose students and we continue
[14:20] to keep the same number of
[14:22] staff, that's when we had 5000
[14:25] more students. What are the
[14:26] consequences to the district
[14:29] for not taking action?
[14:31] >> There's severe consequences.
[14:33] Our largest expense for our
[14:35] district is actually employees.
[14:37] So we have to rightsize
[14:39] ourselves based on the revenue
[14:40] realities that we have. So if
[14:41] we continue to pay for that
[14:42] expense, we will definitely run
[14:45] out of reserves quickly.
[14:47] >> Okay. And when we run out of
[14:49] reserve, what is the then
[14:50] consequence to the district?
[14:52] That's a possibility. Doctor
[14:52] Hepburn.
[14:54] >> Yes. So that's a possibility
[14:56] of the state coming in and
[14:57] taking over our financial
[14:59] situation.
[15:00] >> MISS Fusco, this is your
[15:01] first warning. Please don't
[15:04] call out from the audience.
[15:07] >> Okay, so, Doctor Hepburn, it
[15:09] appears that over the 10 to 15
[15:13] years we were. Losing students
[15:15] and consequently losing
[15:16] teachers. But we were keeping
[15:18] the same number of non-teaching
[15:22] staff. Is that a fair statement?
[15:23] >> Yeah. That's correct.
[15:25] >> Okay. So what we've actually
[15:27] done in the motion to cut staff
[15:31] is to align with what has
[15:32] happened to our teachers. And
[15:34] it wasn't happening to our
[15:35] non-teaching staff. Correct?
[15:37] >> Correct.
[15:39] >> Okay. So and to clarify the
[15:40] motion, Doctor Hepburn, the
[15:43] motion was to cut 1000 staff
[15:45] the first year and the second
[15:48] and third year to cut at least
[15:50] 500 and no more than 1000. Is
[15:51] that how you understood it?
[15:52] >> That's correct.
[15:53] >> Okay. And when that motion
[15:55] was made, Doctor Hepburn, I
[15:56] believe the vote was seven
[15:58] board members to two in favor
[16:00] of that motion. Is that correct?
[16:02] >> I don't recall the specific
[16:05] vote, but I know it passed.
[16:06] >> Okay. But it would have
[16:08] passed by at least five board
[16:08] members.
[16:09] >> Correct.
[16:10] >> Okay. And Doctor Hepburn,
[16:11] for the record, it was passed
[16:13] by seven board members
[16:15] supporting to responsibly cut
[16:17] staff to match the declining
[16:19] enrollment so we can be
[16:21] fiscally responsible and not
[16:22] end up in the possibility of
[16:24] state receivership. Correct.
[16:27] MADAM Chair, thank you so much.
[16:30] >> Thank you, MR. Cervera.
[16:33] >> Thank you, chair, just to to
[16:35] piggyback back to this motion
[16:38] that we were just discussing.
[16:40] Doctor Hepburn, I want to make
[16:41] sure that we're crystal clear
[16:43] on this and that we're not
[16:45] playing wordsmithing with our
[16:47] with our words and, and, and
[16:50] using words in a way that could
[16:52] be potentially be deemed as
[16:55] deceiving in the cuts that DR.
[16:58] Holness just referenced.
[17:01] Thousand employees will no
[17:04] longer have positions with bcc.
[17:06] DR. Holness asked if we were
[17:09] cutting 1000 teachers in
[17:13] response to that, you said no.
[17:16] However, I think and I want to
[17:17] make sure that we're clear
[17:19] we're on the same page. When
[17:20] you say teachers, are you
[17:22] talking about classroom
[17:23] teachers and teachers that are
[17:26] physically embedded in our
[17:27] schoolhouses throughout the
[17:28] county?
[17:28] >> Correct.
[17:30] >> Okay. So clearly there are
[17:32] certified teachers, individuals
[17:34] who heard teacher
[17:36] certifications that maybe we're
[17:37] working out of this district or
[17:39] working out of this building,
[17:40] or they're parts of the
[17:41] district that will no longer be
[17:43] employed here. So in fact, we
[17:46] are losing teachers, just maybe
[17:47] not teachers that are in a
[17:50] schoolhouse right now. Correct?
[17:51] >> Correct.
[17:53] >> Okay. So I want to be very
[17:57] clear. This thousand on number
[17:59] that was brought up by this
[18:01] motion, we will lose certified
[18:02] teachers.
[18:03] >> Yes, we will lose employees
[18:05] that have a teacher
[18:06] certification, but their job
[18:09] they were in was not directly
[18:10] providing instruction to a
[18:10] student.
[18:11] >> What is the requirement in
[18:13] this state to be defined as a
[18:14] teacher? Is it just the holding
[18:18] of a teacher certificate?
[18:20] >> Yes, I simply say yes, a
[18:22] certified instructor. Yes.
[18:23] >> Okay. So if you have a if
[18:25] you have a teaching certificate
[18:27] recognized by the state of
[18:28] Florida and you happen to be
[18:29] working at the security desk
[18:31] for whatever reason, you are
[18:33] still a teacher under the legal
[18:35] definition in the state of
[18:36] Florida, are you not?
[18:37] >> You are. You are an
[18:39] individual with a teacher
[18:41] certification. For me to extend
[18:44] that definition, I would call
[18:45] your teacher. If you're in a
[18:47] classroom, directly provide
[18:48] instruction to students.
[18:50] >> Okay, so pk is definition of
[18:51] a teacher is somebody with a
[18:52] teacher certificate and someone
[18:54] who's physically embedded in a
[18:54] school.
[18:55] >> Correct.
[18:56] >> Okay. I don't know if I
[18:57] agree with that, but I'll
[19:01] accept your your definition.
[19:03] Also, sir. I want to be I want
[19:07] to be clear on on this, the
[19:11] vote that was taken on this was
[19:12] 7 to 2, right? So there were
[19:14] two individuals that did not
[19:16] vote in favor of these cuts.
[19:17] Right.
[19:19] >> I can't recall the vote. I
[19:19] just know it passed.
[19:21] >> Do you remember it being
[19:22] unanimous.
[19:24] >> Being who?
[19:25] >> Unanimous.
[19:26] >> I can't recall.
[19:27] >> Okay. Well it wasn't and
[19:29] I'll tell you why, because I
[19:31] didn't vote for it. And if
[19:32] memory serves correct, neither
[19:34] did MISS Rupert. And the reason
[19:35] that I didn't vote for it is
[19:37] for the exact situation that
[19:38] we're finding ourselves in
[19:41] right now, where I have kids in
[19:43] my schools in district six that
[19:46] are 23, 24, 25 kids deep in
[19:48] first and second grade. And I
[19:51] can't take teachers with
[19:52] teaching certificates and place
[19:54] them in their schools. If we're
[19:56] getting rid of 1000 of them.
[19:58] Right. So I want to be very,
[20:00] very clear that there is, in
[20:01] fact, a trickle down effect, a
[20:02] very real trickle down effect
[20:04] of wholeness motion to rid the
[20:06] district of 1000, whether he
[20:08] wants to call them teachers or
[20:09] non teachers or former teachers,
[20:11] or soon to be teachers, however
[20:12] you want to define them, if
[20:13] they have a teaching
[20:15] certificate, okay, and they are
[20:17] no longer being employed, that
[20:18] takes away a body, somebody
[20:20] that you can take, put into a
[20:23] school and help with this
[20:24] overcrowding problem that we're
[20:25] going to address at the next
[20:27] school board meeting, by the
[20:28] way, and a lot more detail than
[20:30] we are today, but we now lose
[20:32] that ability by making these
[20:34] cuts. So I want to make sure
[20:35] the public is clear. I don't
[20:37] want to play. Let me, if I MAY,
[20:39] finish. I want to make sure
[20:40] that we're very clear. We're
[20:41] not playing games and we're not
[20:43] trying to wordsmith what a
[20:44] teacher is. To be recognized as
[20:46] a teacher in the state of
[20:47] Florida, you need to have a
[20:48] certified teaching certificate.
[20:49] It's not a requirement that you
[20:51] have to have a teaching
[20:52] certificate, and you have to be
[20:54] in a school. I'm pretty sure
[20:55] the admin rules don't say
[20:56] anything like that, but go
[20:56] ahead.
[20:58] >> No, I was going to mention
[21:00] that. Correct me if I'm wrong,
[21:01] Ernie. At least over 90% of
[21:03] those impacted employees from
[21:04] the from the 1000, which I
[21:05] think was 300, are actually
[21:07] still working in our system in
[21:09] various positions, correct? Yep.
[21:11] So we didn't lose a lot of
[21:13] people externally. We actually
[21:15] placed them into instructional
[21:16] roles in other various roles
[21:18] that were vacant in the
[21:18] district.
[21:20] >> And that's encouraging. And
[21:21] perhaps maybe we can start
[21:22] sticking them in some of my
[21:23] schools that don't have enough
[21:24] teachers to teach the
[21:25] classrooms right now. But be
[21:28] that as it MAY, the point of my.
[21:30] I'll call it a mini diatribe. I
[21:32] didn't go full diatribe. Maybe
[21:34] later, but not right now, was
[21:35] to just make sure that we're
[21:36] clear that certified teachers
[21:38] will be losing their jobs based
[21:40] on the motion that DR. Holness
[21:42] was referencing. Thank you.
[21:43] >> Thank you.
[21:44] >> DR. Zeman thank.
[21:45] >> You so much, chair.
[21:48] Appreciate it. I wanted to
[21:50] thank Doctor Shim and his team
[21:53] for putting together. I know
[21:57] this report's 246 pages, but
[21:59] that really is kind of a pretty
[22:01] good representation of how much
[22:02] work it takes to assemble these
[22:03] things and put it together.
[22:06] I've read through this report.
[22:12] There are so many good. Reports
[22:13] in terms of writing up,
[22:14] explaining the spreadsheets,
[22:15] explaining the graphs, and
[22:17] things like that. This is a
[22:19] major step forward in terms of
[22:20] the community understanding how
[22:23] we spend $5.5 billion a year.
[22:25] And I'm I'm just very impressed.
[22:26] And I just want you and your
[22:29] staff to know that I personally
[22:30] appreciate how much time it
[22:32] takes to put together something
[22:35] like this. To the earlier
[22:38] conversation. I haven't heard
[22:41] anybody say that it was
[22:43] responsible to reduce 101,000
[22:44] positions in Broward County
[22:46] schools, but I know that it is.
[22:48] If you split the world of
[22:50] education into those that are
[22:51] working at schools and those
[22:53] that are not working at schools,
[22:56] this board, by the way, not
[22:57] because one member made the
[22:59] motion or a majority voted for
[23:00] it, but because our
[23:02] superintendent had talked about
[23:04] reducing 1000 positions for
[23:06] months before this board took
[23:08] this action. So this board
[23:10] decided to take cuts away from
[23:12] schools, and that preserves the
[23:15] dignity of our core education
[23:16] system. To Doctor Hepburn's
[23:18] point, 90% of the human beings
[23:20] of the 300 that actually
[23:21] influence this are still
[23:22] working in Broward County
[23:23] schools. So they actually help
[23:25] the student teacher ratio. They
[23:27] don't hurt it. And 30 people
[23:29] were either not offered jobs or
[23:31] turned down jobs to put it
[23:33] together. Out of 25000
[23:35] employees going through fiscal
[23:37] emergency, you know, with
[23:38] dramatic reductions in
[23:39] enrollment, reducing our
[23:41] revenue by over $100 million a
[23:43] year for the past two years. It
[23:45] was the only sane and
[23:47] responsible approach for a
[23:48] large urban school district
[23:53] like this to take. People can
[23:55] talk about aspects of this all
[23:57] they want. This was a smart,
[24:00] wise fiscal policy. It is a
[24:01] reflection of declining
[24:03] enrollment. It is not a sign of
[24:04] weakness for this district or
[24:06] this board that we did this. It
[24:09] is a sign of strength and we
[24:12] will continue, I'm sure. I mean,
[24:13] my prediction anyway, is it
[24:15] will continue to make the best
[24:17] decisions that we can for
[24:19] preserving the education of the
[24:21] students in Broward County. So
[24:23] thank you, Doctor Hepburn, for
[24:25] bringing that issue up. Thank
[24:27] you to the people who voted for
[24:29] it. We've got tougher times
[24:30] ahead. We've got a referendum
[24:33] on NOVEMBER 3rd that's going to
[24:33] determine that, you know,
[24:36] whether 16% of our funds get
[24:37] provided through local
[24:40] continuation of a one mill ad
[24:42] valorem tax. After that, we MAY
[24:45] have to do other things with
[24:46] our budget for this year in
[24:48] order to stay above the 3.0 and
[24:49] do everything that we can to
[24:53] serve students. Thank you.
[24:57] >> Thank you, MISS Hixon.
[24:59] >> Thank you. Just want to
[25:00] clarify a couple of things. So,
[25:03] Doctor Hepburn, to your
[25:05] recollection, recollection, did
[25:07] the motion that was passed, did
[25:09] it say to get rid of 1000
[25:09] teachers?
[25:10] >> No, it did not.
[25:12] >> It said positions if I'm not
[25:14] mistaken. Correct. Second
[25:16] question are members of your
[25:18] cabinet chiefs, directors,
[25:20] assistant directors? Do they
[25:21] hold teaching certificates?
[25:23] >> Yes, as well as I.
[25:25] >> Thank you. So I just want to
[25:27] make it clear that the the
[25:30] motion was to reduce positions.
[25:32] And again, as DR. Zeman
[25:34] mentioned, any business, any
[25:36] organization that loses
[25:40] customers has to downsize both
[25:42] where they do business and the
[25:44] people that they employ in the
[25:46] business. So that's where we're
[25:48] at right now. So I don't think
[25:51] our motion had anything to do
[25:53] with teachers per se. Happens
[25:56] to be people who hold teaching
[25:57] certificates, had those
[26:01] positions. Doctor Hepburn.
[26:03] Reducing positions by
[26:06] approximately 1000 positions.
[26:07] Does that have anything to do
[26:09] with class size this school
[26:10] year?
[26:11] >> No.
[26:13] >> So there are two completely
[26:14] separate.
[26:16] >> Completely separate issues.
[26:18] >> Thank you. And can you tell
[26:20] us again? I've asked earlier
[26:23] today, but I'll ask again
[26:24] because I have gone into the
[26:26] schools and I can tell you that
[26:28] I call Doctor Hepburn when I'm
[26:29] leaving them to say, there's
[26:30] way too many kids in this class,
[26:32] and what are we doing? And they
[26:34] are working on it. So but can
[26:35] you tell us again and maybe
[26:38] kind of a timeline of when we
[26:40] can see that those classes
[26:43] won't be the size that they are
[26:43] now?
[26:44] >> Yes, absolutely. So the
[26:46] staff has been working for the
[26:47] past couple of weeks in
[26:49] balancing out classes to the
[26:51] tune of also adding growth
[26:53] positions, which entails
[26:54] teachers being transitioned
[26:56] from schools that have lower
[26:58] enrollment to schools that have
[26:59] higher enrollment so we can
[27:00] balance out the class sizes.
[27:03] And Doctor Lozano or Doctor Dr
[27:06] Fulton as far as timeline. So
[27:06] complete.
[27:09] >> So the timeline has teachers
[27:11] with their new classes of
[27:15] students on SEPTEMBER 14th.
[27:17] >> Thank you. And my last
[27:19] question, are there still
[27:22] people employed in positions
[27:23] that have teaching
[27:24] certification certifications
[27:27] that in the instance that we
[27:29] have a teaching position in a
[27:30] school but don't have
[27:32] applicants for it, that we
[27:34] could move the people from the
[27:36] position they're holding now
[27:39] into a school, because that is,
[27:42] as we know, where we want to
[27:44] have our we don't want any
[27:45] vacancies. We don't want
[27:47] interim subs in there. We want
[27:49] certified teachers. So is that
[27:50] going to be the next step?
[27:52] >> Yes. Those are options that
[27:54] don't exercise. When when
[27:55] urgency heightens, it heightens
[27:56] to that level.
[27:57] >> And there's enough people in
[27:58] the district still employed
[28:00] that we would be able to do
[28:02] that. Okay. Thank you.
[28:03] >> Thank you. Any other board
[28:07] discussion on item one? All in
[28:08] favor of item one, say aye. Aye.
[28:11] All opposed? Say no. Item
[28:13] passes unanimously. Could I get
[28:16] a motion on item two? Move
[28:18] moved by DR. Zeman. Seconded by
[28:22] Miss Hixon. Item two is
[28:24] itbfy23184. Athletic Security
[28:28] Service funding. Is there any
[28:29] public comment on item two?
[28:31] >> Yes, MADAM Chair, there is
[28:32] one registered speaker,
[28:50] PRESIDENT Anna Fusco.
[28:56] >> Anna Fusco, Broward Teachers
[28:58] union PRESIDENT. This is an
[29:01] outside organization with the
[29:04] wanting. I would say that this
[29:06] is something that you guys
[29:10] could bring out and use the
[29:12] security that we have. I go to
[29:14] games at night. I go to
[29:16] theaters at night. I go to many
[29:18] places, and I know that it's an
[29:21] outside company and they're
[29:24] nice. But when you've got a
[29:25] group of people that are hired
[29:27] by their organization, they
[29:29] have more bite in the game.
[29:30] They have more teeth in the
[29:32] game. To give a little bit more
[29:37] conscientious of caring. So. I
[29:38] haven't gone through the exact
[29:40] numbers. I would ask one of you
[29:42] up there to really talk about
[29:44] what is the fee to have this
[29:47] outside company at all of our
[29:50] games that are wanting? Every
[29:52] person that comes into a game
[29:54] or a night activity or an after
[29:56] school activity, and why are
[30:00] our people not doing the work?
[30:02] They're their supervising their,
[30:04] their security wise. And by the
[30:06] way, I've also heard that
[30:08] there's a struggle on wanting
[30:10] to pay our security personnel
[30:12] because it's overtime, but we
[30:17] need security. They want to be.
[30:18] Made to believe that they can
[30:20] only take comp time or flex
[30:21] time or however you want to
[30:23] word it. That is just so
[30:23] inappropriate and
[30:26] unprofessional. We need the
[30:27] security. We have to keep
[30:30] everybody safe for GOD, for God
[30:31] forbid. There was another
[30:33] shooting the other day. So why
[30:35] are we mincing? N n here in
[30:36] Browarar But you know,w, it s
[30:39] ononhe new Why are w we mincing
[30:40] ouound w witroroward Cntnty
[30:42] Public School employees to do
[30:46] the job? We know we know a lot
[30:47] more about the person that
[30:49] actually works for Broward
[30:50] schools than a person that
[30:52] works for a separate company.
[30:55] So what is really, you know,
[30:57] important couple things. What's
[30:59] the amount of money? What is
[31:00] the amount of money for the
[31:02] company? What would be the
[31:03] amount of money? Just having
[31:04] our employees? What is the
[31:06] safety piece on having the
[31:07] people hired that are doing the
[31:10] work? We know that. We know the
[31:11] extensive background check that
[31:12] our employees of Broward
[31:14] Schools goes through. Can we
[31:15] say that for every outside
[31:17] company that you have? I don't
[31:21] think so. But again, if we
[31:22] started working on getting rid
[31:24] of outside consultants, outside
[31:25] programs, you wouldn't have to
[31:27] cut employees. And I'm going to
[31:28] stand in this position every
[31:31] single time. I like you, Doctor
[31:32] Hepburn. I know what you're
[31:34] doing. I like you, Debbie Hixon,
[31:36] Jeff Holness, but I know what
[31:37] you guys are doing. If you want
[31:39] to keep playing this game and
[31:41] be fooled that teachers were
[31:44] not let go last year, shame on
[31:45] you. Just because they didn't
[31:47] say let a thousand teachers go.
[31:50] I didn't say that, but they
[31:52] were in the mix of being let go.
[31:54] And our schools are seeing the
[31:55] punishment of it. And that is a
[31:59] fact.
[32:00] >> Thank you. Any other
[32:01] registered public speakers?
[32:02] >> No other speakers.
[32:03] >> All right. Board member
[32:08] discussion on item two. MR.
[32:15] Cervera.
[32:17] >> I do want to follow up on
[32:19] the speakers inquiry. Have we
[32:21] run any kind of analysis on how
[32:23] much this would cost us to use
[32:24] our own security folks in-house,
[32:28] as opposed to signing this 700
[32:30] 000 plus contract for a year? I
[32:32] mean, if if these guys and gals
[32:35] are there anyway, could we not
[32:38] find a a happy medium? Yes.
[32:40] Have them do it and perhaps
[32:42] give them a little bit more
[32:43] more money, but save the
[32:44] district, I don't know, a
[32:45] couple hundred thousand dollars.
[32:48] >> Yeah. So this is a very well
[32:51] orchestrated security for after
[32:53] school activities and sports.
[32:55] The security are already there.
[32:56] They they work during the
[32:57] during the school day. And so
[32:59] we would have to pay them
[33:01] significantly, much more. This
[33:02] kind of helps supplement. We do
[33:04] use some of our security for
[33:06] activities after schools and
[33:07] sports and all of that, which
[33:08] we have to pay them overtime
[33:10] for. So we do use them. But
[33:12] this is also in addition to
[33:13] supplement some of those costs,
[33:14] some of those services as well,
[33:15] too.
[33:16] >> And I understand and I can
[33:17] appreciate that. But the
[33:19] question was, have we run an
[33:21] analysis saying rather than
[33:24] paying these 100 people over
[33:26] time, it's cheaper to bring in
[33:27] this whole separate other
[33:29] company with their employees
[33:32] for $700,000 than paying our
[33:33] core people overtime.
[33:35] >> Yes.
[33:39] >> That's been done. Yes. Okay.
[33:42] >> MRS. Alhadeff.
[33:45] >> Have we looked at using our
[33:46] weapons detection detector
[33:48] machines that we currently have
[33:50] to use in our. Instead of doing
[33:51] the Wanding.
[33:54] >> We we do that as well too.
[33:55] But when you think about the
[33:57] gates for many of our large
[33:58] events, be it athletics or
[34:00] other events that require
[34:02] wanding or somebody to walk
[34:03] through our metal detection or
[34:04] weapons detection system, we do
[34:08] use both.
[34:11] >> So we're not able to do 100%
[34:13] of the weapons detections.
[34:16] >> Not not for we use some of
[34:17] the weapons detection systems,
[34:20] but not for all of the events,
[34:22] just for sheer logistics and
[34:24] taking them out and calibration
[34:26] and all of that. So we do use
[34:27] some. You'll see them at
[34:28] football games. You'll even see
[34:29] them at basketball games and
[34:31] things like that. But to bring
[34:33] them all out and then to prep
[34:34] them again for the following
[34:35] day, puts what their primary
[34:37] purpose is in jeopardy to for
[34:38] the following day. But we do
[34:39] use weapon detection, those
[34:41] weapon detection systems for
[34:42] some of our gates.
[34:44] >> Thank you.
[34:46] >> Thank you, MISS Hixon.
[34:47] >> Thank you. I just had a
[34:50] quick question because it was
[34:52] suggested that if our security
[34:53] works overtime, they're not
[34:54] being paid. Could you.
[34:56] >> Oh, no, they're being paid.
[34:59] >> There's no trying to do comp
[34:59] time.
[35:01] >> No, they're being paid. I, I
[35:03] just looked at that earlier as
[35:05] we continue to press on
[35:06] overtime. So yes, absolutely.
[35:08] Thank you.
[35:09] >> Thank you. Any other
[35:12] discussion on item two? All in
[35:12] favor?
[35:13] >> Have a question.
[35:15] >> Go ahead, MR. Rupert.
[35:18] >> Thank you. It's actually one
[35:20] about varying exceptionalities
[35:22] with the group that we do from
[35:24] the outside contract. I know
[35:27] that that the people that are
[35:29] internal for us do have that
[35:30] training for, for people on the
[35:33] spectrum and other various
[35:34] Exceptionalities. So I'm
[35:36] wondering, is that built into
[35:38] there something that we talk
[35:40] over with them? Because I know
[35:42] our guys and our ladies are,
[35:43] you know, they've gone through
[35:45] that training and they know how
[35:48] to handle people in a situation
[35:51] where they can de-escalate,
[35:52] etc. And understand really
[35:55] what's happening. Doctor
[35:55] Hepburn.
[35:56] >> Yeah, I'm not sure that.
[35:58] Asks Doctor Wanza if she has
[36:00] any information. But you know,
[36:03] most of this is for guests and
[36:05] adults who are entering for
[36:06] certain events at our at our
[36:07] school facilities. Go ahead,
[36:09] Doctor Wanza.
[36:10] >> Thank you. Good evening,
[36:12] MISS Rupert. So to Doctor
[36:14] Hepburn. Hepburn's point. I'm
[36:15] not certain that we put an
[36:17] actual training requirement in
[36:18] for these contracted services.
[36:20] We can certainly look. But
[36:22] again these are individuals who
[36:26] purchase tickets to attend
[36:27] extracurricular football games,
[36:28] basketball games, things of
[36:30] that nature. I'm not certain
[36:31] that that is a stipulation in
[36:35] this contract, but I have not
[36:36] seen over the years where that
[36:38] has presented a problem. But we
[36:39] will certainly go look. MISS
[36:41] Rupert and do greater due
[36:42] diligence.
[36:44] >> I would appreciate that,
[36:46] because I know that when
[36:47] attending evening events or
[36:49] after school hours events,
[36:51] students buy tickets and
[36:54] students show up as well. So
[36:55] just a point. I really wanted
[36:58] to make that if we could see
[37:01] that there is any training and
[37:02] moving forward, it's something
[37:05] to think about again, with our
[37:08] own people that we could be
[37:09] saving money for the district
[37:12] as and getting the job done as
[37:14] as safe as it possibly could be.
[37:17] So I appreciate it. Thank you.
[37:19] >> Thank you. Any other
[37:21] discussion on item two? All in
[37:24] favor of item two? Say I all
[37:27] opposed. Say no. Item two is
[37:30] approved unanimously. The
[37:31] scheduled order of business for
[37:33] the Special School Board
[37:34] meeting of the School Board of
[37:35] Broward County, Florida has
[37:36] been completed. Seeing no
[37:37] objections, I will adjourn the
[37:54] special school board meeting.