
School Board
HCPS publishes minutes of School Board meetings after Board approval. Although the online minutes do not include signatures, citizens may arrange to review the official documents by completing a public records request with the Communications Department.
MINUTES
SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA
901 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida, met for a Special Called Board Meeting Thursday, July 9, 2015, at 11:30 a.m., in the Staff Conference Room, 2ndFloor, 901 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, with Superintendent Jeff Eakins, and Board Members Doretha W. Edgecomb, April Griffin, Sally Harris, Melissa Snively, Cindy Stuart, and Susan Valdes present. Chair S. Valdes presided.
Absent: Carol Kurdell
Others present were:
Board Attorney – James Porter
Chief of Staff – Alberto Vazquez, Ed.D.
Deputy Superintendent –Van Ayres
Chief of Schools – Larry Sykes, Ed.D. - absent
Assistant Superintendents/Division Chiefs:
Academic Support and Federal Programs –Tracye Brown
Administration – Lewis Brinson, Ed.D. - absent
Business – Gretchen Saunders - absent
Curriculum and Instruction – Denny Oest – absent (Leslie Granich and Barbara Hancock)
Facilities – Chris Farkas
Governmental Relations – Connie Milito - absent
Human Resources – Stephanie Woodford
Information and Technology/Empowering Effective Teachers Grant – Anna Brown, Ed.D.
Student Services – Wynne Tye
External Communications Manager – Tanya Arja
Senior Administrative Secretary (Recording) – Linda Fernandez
Approximately 15 people were in the audience, including other school district personnel.
Call to Order: meeting called to order at 11:36 a.m.
Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance: Moment of silence followed by Vice Chair Edgecomb leading in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag.
Withdrawn Items - None
Adoption of the Agenda:
Motion by Mrs. Stuart, second by Mrs. Edgecomb, to adopt the agenda. Motion unanimously carried.
Board – Roll Call: Chair S. Valdes declared a quorum with six Board Members present. Carol Kurdell absent.
Approval of Minutes - None
Board Guidelines – Public Comment Announcement – Not read into the record.
Speakers to Agenda Items - None
Suspended Agenda - None
Teaching and Learning - None
Proclamations - None
Administrative Appointments - None
Recommendations and Reports of Superintendent Requiring Board Approval
1.00 Curriculum and Instruction Division (Denny Oest) – None |
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2.00 Instructional Support (Wynne Tye) – None |
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3.00 Student Services and Federal Programs Division (Larry Sykes) - None |
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4.00 Human Resources Division (Stephanie Woodford) – None |
5.00 Information and Technology Division (Anna Brown) – None |
6.00 Business Division (Gretchen Saunders) – None |
7.00 Facilities Division (Chris Farkas) – None |
8.00 Administration Division (Lewis A. Brinson) |
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8.01 |
Request for Authorization to Proceed – None |
8.02 |
Approve the 2015/2016 Student Handbook Superintendent Eakins highlighted the changes being reviewed in the student handbook. He explained the printing timeline to have the hard copy version ready for print. There will also be an online version. There will be an addendum to the handbook by an insert for the final version. It is his plan to bring the changes to the July 28, school board meeting on July 15, 2015, there will be two stakeholder meetings and the recommendations to be discussed were outlined. They are reviewing the zero tolerance categories and the state recommended categories. Feedback from principals, instruction, and community, will come to the July 21, 2015 workshop. There will also be discussion regarding the Student Bill of Rights. Discussion:
Motion by Mrs. Griffin, second by Mrs. Stuart, to deny this recommendation as presented today. Motion withdrawn. Motion by Mrs. Griffin, second by Mrs. Harris, to continue this agenda to the July 28 2015, board meeting for final approval. Motion unanimously carried. |
9.00 Unclassified |
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9.01 |
Request for Authorization to Proceed – None |
10.00 Information |
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10.01 |
Request for Authorization to Proceed - None |
Scheduled Hearings on Policies and/or Business Items - None
Other Business and Board Comments
Chair S. Valdes
- In light of the tragedy in Charleston, we need to look at our own community and what we have the power to change. We have an elementary school that is named after Robert E. Lee. She is asking to bring an agenda item for Tuesday’s board meeting
Motion by Chair S. Valdes, second by Mrs. Griffin, to have board discussion, to possibly rename Robert E. Lee Elementary Magnet School, Barack Obama Elementary Magnet School, to the July 14, 2015, school board meeting. Motion revised to leave out the name was accepted by second. Motion carried five to one.
Discussion
- Cost involved
- Process in place to rename a school should be followed
- Community input is necessary
- With all due respect to our president – we have some scientists and local citizens that we could honor as well.
- The next board meeting does not give enough time to gather all the information and input.
- We need to look at all our schools.
- Naming a school for people who are living has been a concern.
- History should not be erased.
Superintendent’s Comments - None
Adjournment – with no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
(Audio recording on file.)
HCPS publishes minutes of School Board meetings after Board approval. Although the online minutes do not include signatures, citizens may arrange to review the official documents by completing a public records request with the Communications Department.