Butch Collier, Regional Vice President, Cenergistic, discussed the partnership between Cenergistic and Clay County District Schools and the comprehensive energy conservation program established and implemented to address energy usage. Clay County District Schools has been identified as one of Cenergistic's "Best in Class" clients, having demonstrated a 17% reduction in energy usage and a total savings of over $14M. A $2,000 donation to be used for student scholarships was presented to commemorate the energy savings accomplishment.

Christina Thompson, Coordinator of District Athletics, recognized the schools raising funds for "Pink Out Games" in support of breast cancer research. Total funds collected by Clay County Athletics is $9,162.  A check was presented to Jaclyn Rodriguez, Senior Development Manager, American Cancer Society, and the community partnership with Caelan Rhinehardt, Youth Football Coordinator, Jaguars PREP, was appreciated.

Schools' Fund Raising

• Orange Park High - $500
• Lake Asbury Junior High - $700
• Keystone Heights Jr./Sr. High - $905
• Ridgeview High - $939
• Clay High - $1,000
• Middleburg High - $1,500
• Fleming Island High - $1,500
• Oakleaf High - $2,000

Christina Thompson, Coordinator of District Athletics, recognized the following State Champions, Student Athletes of the Month, and Coaches of the Month.

State Champions

• Noah Stotler, Clay High, Swimming
• William Shoesmith, Fleming Island High, Swimming

Student Athletes of the Month

• Allyson Lowery, Middleburg High
• Elias Hernandez, Orange Park High
• Jayden Adams, Oakleaf High

Coaches of the Month

• Amy Yoder, Fleming Island High, Volleyball
• Ryan Wolfe, Middleburg High, Football
• Beth Aflleje, Lakeside Junior High, Volleyball and Athletic Director

Mary Owen, Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, recognized the following students for their winning Founders' Week Art contest entries. This year's contest, which addressed the Founders' Week theme, Patriotic Places, asked the students to reflect on what those places are and how they best represent America.

Student Winners

• K - Savannah Whitaker (Spring Park Elementary)
• 1st - Lillianna Powe (Wilkinson Elementary)
• 2nd - Layla Church (Keystone Heights Elementary)
• 3rd - Zuri Watson-Cameron (Paterson Elementary)
• 4th (tie) - Annabelle MacGregor (Shadowlawn Elementary)
• 4th (tie) - Hunter Haas (Paterson Elementary)
• 5th - Nataly Munoz (S. Bryan Jennings)

Superintendent Broskie recognized Brittany Senna, Fleming Island High School, for being selected as Clay County's Assistant Principal of the Year.

Kevin Leary, Supervisor of Personnel Services for Human Resources, and Carolyn Krall, President/CEO of Clay Education Foundation, recognized the top ten semi-finalists for School-Related Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year.

School-Related Employee of the Year Semifinalists

• Rhonda Samples, Clay Hill Elementary
• Sherrie Dominger, Doctors Inlet Elementary
• Kristina Jackson, Grove Park Elementary
• Sharmila Maragh Perry, Lakeside Elementary
• Nicki Romig, Oakleaf Junior High
• John Carignan, Orange Park Elementary
• Elise Lato, RideOut Elementaryu
• Jenner Pereda, Ridgeview High
• Mollie Kyler, Spring Park Elementary
• Celesteileen Depa, Swimming Pen Creek Elementary

Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

• Jessica Armenta, Argyle Elementary
• Lori Fedorowich, Charles E. Bennett Elementary
• Luuly Thai, Coppergate Elementary
• Emilie Shaver, Green Cove Springs Junior High
• Dorothy Bailey, Grove Park Elementary
• Melissa Smith, Lake Asbury Junior High
• Cybel Perez, Oakleaf High
• Arissa Stutz, Orange Park Elementary
• Brittany Batton, Swimming Pen Creek Elementary
• Jessica Willis, Thunderbolt Elementary

Superintendent Broskie recognized Middleburg Elementary for its consideration as a 2026 Exceeding Expectations "Award School". Exceeding Expectations Project is an initiative through the East Coast Technical Assistance Center (ECTAC), supporting 60 districts across Florida. Eligible schools were identified based on publicly available 2025 school grades, federal index, lunch status report, and enrollment data from the Florida Department of Education. Middleburg Elementary has been identified as an ECTAC Award School, placed in the top 2% of all Florida schools.

Superintendent Broskie recognized Board Member Michele Hanson, District 4, for earning the Certified Board Member Distinction, a prestigious honor awarded by the Florida School Boards Association to board members who have completed at least 96 hours of training in areas such as School Finance, Policy Governance, and Bargaining 101, as well as attending FSBA conferences, additional forums, webinars, and online training.

Chair Skipper opened the public hearing. With no one coming forward to speak to the item, the public hearing was closed.

There was no Human Resources Special Action A.

There was no Human Resources Special Action B.

Chair Skipper opened the public hearing. With no one coming forward to speak to the item, the public hearing was closed.

Public speakers addressing items non-specific to agenda:

• Kelly Stoudnour
• Elizabeth Crane
• Michelle Forbis
• Shannon Hube
• Paricia Shaffer
• Betsy Reagor
• D. Jean-Baptiste
• Greer Yacavone
• Nakiita Copeland
• Bruce Friedman
• Chris Harris

Superintendent Broskie provided a brief description of co-location and how current law makes the cost of running a charter school imcumbent upon the school district. Public funding taken by vouchers to support private school choice was also noted and currently amounts to $30M in Clay County.

Superintendent Broskie shared the attached visual presentation highlighting the following:

• Schools of the Month
• Superintendent's Advisory Councils
• November Recap
• Winter Break Reminders

Mrs. Gilhousen wished everyone a merry Christmas.

Mr. Alvero congratulated those being recognized at the meeting, including coaches, student-athletes, and Founders' Day contest winners. He appreciated Mr.Miller for the great job he is doing as principal of Montclair Elementary. He advised that, one week prior to the Legislative Impasse Hearing, he wrote a statement of support to teachers, stating that teachers do deserve a raise, and he indicated that his statement had nothing to do with the final decision that was made at the hearing. He wished everyone a merry Christmas.

Mrs. Clark advised that Florida School Boards Association sent an email mentioning that Florida ranked #1, per Governor DeSantis. Florida could do much better in funding, but it is apparently #1 in school choice. She believes vouchers have taken away too much from the district and noted the many programs and opportunities offered by the district that are not available in private schools. She advised everyone must work together and that plans are being made and will be transparent. She will share a scholarship opportunity from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with the seven high schools. She wished everyone a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah. 

Mrs. Hanson shared the background of her calling to serve and become a teacher. She advised there is disinformation surrounding the union's assertion that more funding is available for salaries, stating that the money identified by the union is committed to categoricals and restricted. She advised there is no additional available funding in the budget, or it would have been utilized for raises, as it had in the previous three years, and she expressed her frustration at being perceived as not transparent. She advised that she writes what she speaks as she sits and listens throughout meetings and that she had watched all of the negotiations and meetings over the previous four months. She indicated an auditor had confirmed that the available funding totaled $1.2M and that the analysis completed by the district for the union's proposal indicated those items would have exceeded $5M. She discussed the difficulty of undoing 30 years of missed raises and advised she will continue to work as hard as she can.

Mrs. Skipper advised she is open to meetings and phone calls,and she is committed to being transparent. Rather than posting on social media, she finds it more professional and effective for individuals to call, email, or invite her to their classrooms, where she would welcome the opportunity to work and volunteer. She noted her family members involved in education and advised that she is vested in Clay County and has made several trips around Florida, addresses anyone who will listen, maintains constant contact with Tallahassee, and is working hard to collaborate behind the scene. She discussed the significant issues with a fund balance below 3% and reiterated that there was only $1.2M available, stating the funds were targeted to take care of veteran teachers because the union had repeatedly asked to work towards retaining veteran teachers. She reviewed the historically high raises paid out in the previous three years that put teachers first, stating that would continue to be done as long as funding is available. She also noted fulfilling other requests that included bringing back FOCUS software, a new website, and auditing transparency.