Superintendent Broskie recognized Kei'Ani McQuown, 5th grade, Tynes Elementary, winner of the "Governor DeSantis Black History Month Essay Contest", an annual competition for students in grades 4-12 who submit essays focused on the contributions of African Americans to Florida's history. Ms. McQuown was awarded a 2-year Florida PrePaid College Scholarship for her achievement in this contest for her essay on Mary McLeod Bethune.

Superintendent Broskie recognized Nevin Luna, 8th grade, Oakleaf Junior High, for demonstrating remarkable courage and quick thinking while witnessing an accident and immediately calling 911.  His decisive action earned him the "Young Hero" and "Sheriff's Student in the Spotlight" awards, and demonstrated the embodiment of the values of OneClay and Oakleaf Junior High, showcasing the positive impact students can have.

Treasure Pickett, Chief of Secondary Education and Thomas Pittman, Principal, Fleming Island High School, recognized senior students for being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists:

• Tristan Dukes, Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High
• Ezra Garrison - Fleming Island High
• Ramon Morales - Ridgeview High
• Nyhla Jones - Oakleaf High
• Noe Navarro - Oakleaf High

Karen McMillan, Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement, and Superintendent Broskie recognized the 2024-2025 Outstanding School Volunteers as follows:

• Michael Golden, Outstanding Youth Volunteer (Keystone Heights Jr./Sr. High School
• Heather Smith, Outstanding Volunteer (Middleburg Elementary)
• Ada Podoloski, Outstanding Senior Volunteer (Ridgeview Elementary)

Heather Smith was also named a finalist for the State of Florida Volunteer of the Year.

Chris Gugel, Fine Arts Curiculum Specialist, recognized the following State Thespians:

• Monica Brice, RHS, Duet Acting
• Savannah Hudson, RHS, Duet Acting
• Jillian McKinney, RHS, Monologue
• Lucy Bressler, RHS, Solo Musical
• Cash Belcher, FIH, Monologue
• Payten Tison, FIH, Solo Musical
• Riley Rendelman, FIH, Playwriting
• Ashlynn Amburgey, FIH, Duet Musical Theatre and Solo Musical
• Ellison Shipe, FIH, Duet Musical Theatre
• Kerry Hunter, FIH, Solo Musical
• Lara Peyton, LAJ, Publicity Direction, Solo Musical, and Small Group Musical
• Jaeden Sims, LAJ, Duet Acting, Small Group Musical, and Ensemble Acting
• Mackenna Mack, LAJ, Duet Acting and Ensemble Acting
• Brinley Victory, LAJ, Small Group Musical and Ensemble Acting
• Kai Abrams, LAJ, Ensemble Acting
• Ella Alcott, LAJ, Ensemble Acting
• Mya Johns, LAJ, Ensemble Acting
• Bella Schock, LAJ, Ensemble Acting

Chris Gugel, Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist, recognized student achievements as follows:

• CHS Winterguard: 2nd Place in Illusion Division - Regional A
• FIH Winterguard: 3rd Place in Northeast Division - Scholastic A
• FIH Indoor Percussion: 3rd Place in McCormick's Division - Percussion Scholastic A
• MHS Concert Percussion: 2nd Place in Percussion Scholastic Concert A
• OHS Indoor Winds: 2nd Place in Winds Scholastic A
• OHS Indoor Percussion: 2nd Place in Percussion Scholastic Open
• OPH Winterguard: 3rd Place in Paradigm Division - Scholastic AAA

Steve Mills, Supervisor of Safety and Security, reported that per Florida Statute 1001.212(13)(c), the Office of Safe Schools is required to provide quarterly reports to each district school superintendent and school safety specialist, identifying the number and percentage of schools, including charter schools, inspected or reinspected during that quarter and the number and percentage of inspected schools that had no school safety requirement deficiencies.  The school safety specialist shall present each quarterly report to the district school board in a public meeting.

In the third quarter of the 2024-25 school year, Clay County District Schools had two schools inspected or reinspected by the FLDOE Office of Safe Schools.  This represents approximately 4% of the total schools.  Both inspected schools were found to not have any school safety requirement deficiencies, bringing the running total to 17 out of 21 state inspections passing with no compliance issues for the year.

Public Speakers:

• Vicki Kidwell

Mrs. Clark advised that she serves on the insurance committee and believes it would be irresponsible not to take advantage of the $3M cost difference between these two options.

Mrs. Hanson would like for the board to work with the superintendent on utilizing any saved funds to assist teachers and staff with compensation, ensuring the savings are safeguarded to benefit those benefiting from the program.

There was no Human Resources Special Action C.

There was no Human Resources Special Action D.

Chair Skipper opened the public hearing.  

Public speakers for the public hearing:

• Melissa Neeley - does not support the proposed K-5 English Language Arts curriculum

The public hearing was closed.

Superintendent Broskie requested staff provide an opportunity for the board to understand why this curriculum was chosen.  Melanie McIver, Supervisor of Reading, Heather Teto, Chief of Elementary Education, and Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Supervisor of Instructional Resources, discussed the attributes of the selected curriculum which include benchmark curriculum, multi-sensory engagement, manipulatives, focused vocabulary, scaffolding, and evidence-based success.  

Mrs. Hanson discussed the success that an unorthodox approach to teaching benchmarks through novels and in other ways has been achieved in the past.  She wants to be sure that teaching is engaging and uses best practices to make better readers. She believes better readers come from master teachers engaging students in thought. She inquired into the timeline of the current curriculum, which has one additional year prior to the necessity of a new adoption, and asked for the consideration of continuing with the same curriculum for that additional year to explore any additional options that become available. Mrs. Teto advised the current curriculum has significant gaps and does not meet current needs.  The Literacy Department has extensively researched standards and examined the gaps, and the team is ready to deploy in completing and building curriculum guides to build a strong foundation with the new curriculum. The new curriculum would be able to be used as a resource by master teachers and would better support the less experienced teachers.

Public Speakers:

• Constance Higginbotham 
• Shannon Hube 
• Sylvia McCranie 
• Mia Brien 
• Connor Byram 
• James Youell 
• Sheila Torres 
• Bruce Friedman

Superintendent Broskie advised that only books that violate Statute 847 are removed, and parents maintain the right to permit their students to read any removed books.

Mr. Broskie noted that a particular individual was terminated, reported to the police and the Florida Department of Education Office of Professional Practices, and that meetings occurred with all parents in the program.

Mr. Broskie noted earlier comments re funding and salary indicating the significant decrease in budget funding at the state level affecting Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), and Career and Technical Education (CTE) might be an area in which parents can mobilize to effect change.

Superintendent Broskie shared the attached visual presentation highlighting the following:

• Schools of the Month
• Students of the Month
• Volunteerism in 2024-2025
• College Graduation Celebration
• OneClay App
• Upcoming Events

Jeremiah Blocker, School Board Attorney, advised the board that there will be a shade meeting scheduled for discussion of pending litigation.

Mrs. Hanson thanked the student speakers for their bravery and clear messaging. She commented on the hard work of the district and board on book procedures and, while she agrees on the premise of reading, she believes the books that were removed would not promote the growth she would want to see.  She has been speaking with numerous teachers across the district noting their courage, great ideas, and solutions. She recently visited the new addition in progress at Oakleaf Junior High and appreciated the work of staff who are keeping this project on target and within budget. She attended a jazz night at Oakleaf High School and complimented the Fine Arts program.

Mrs. Clark appreciated the students for speaking, indicating public speaking is a good thing to learn to do. She advised there is a lot of misinformation on the removal of books and, although there are a number of books she would not want on library shelves, parents have been given the choice to have their students access those books. She noted a few recent issues with workshop recordings and hopes all will be fixed. She commented on Riggs curriculum and noted Math Field Day on April 5th and the Clay County Agricultural Fair.

Mr. Alvero read a letter from one of his constituents who is requesting the board draft a new policy on bullying and harassment to address the behaviors within the district, achieve zero tolerance, hold students accountable, notify parents of aggressors and victims, and hold staff accountable for creating a safe school environment for students.  Mr. Alvero requested the policy be viewed with fresh eyes so that the best can be done to stop this from happening.

Mrs. Gilhousen extended gratitude to veteran teachers, stating they are valued by the board and appreciated for the job they do. She applauded the bravery of the student speakers for engaging in civil conversation.

Mrs. Skipper hopes to see all at the Celebrity Swine Show at the Clay County Agricultural Fair.