Laura Fogarty, Director of Climate and Culture, introduced Andy Martinez, Director Southeast Region, Cognia, who recognized Clay County District Schools for an exemplary accreditation renewal score of 355, which is one of the highest scores and considered "above average" among the average score of 253 of other educational institutions.  The Cognia team was most impressed by the overwhelming amount of evidence that unequivocally supports the OneClay Vision.  

Govinda Poor, Math Curriculum Specialist, and April Shipley, Math Curriculum Coach, recognized the following winners of Math Field Day:

Fourth Grade

• 1st Place:  Paterson Elementary - Paige Evans, Sarah Koehler, Merrick Nelson, Lena Taylor, Matthew Weflen, Alizhan Yerlanov
• 2nd Place:  Plantation Oaks Elementary - Charlize Jackson, Ryder Amponin, Jayden Alleman, Lucas Feng, Leo Robiou, Na'aomi Jones
• 3rd Place:  (Tie) Fleming Island Elementary - Alexis Stromberg, Robbie Fuentes, Alex Hoang, Grayson Kelley, Eva Lin, Kingstrom Lovett and Swimming Pen Creek Elementary - Julian Baird, Keira Booth, Brantley Cates, Colton Douglas, Thomas Franklin, Hunter Haney

Fifth Grade

• 1st Place:  Paterson Elementary - Henry King, Stanley Hon, Brandon Hohrath, Finlay Cusick, Elizabeth Longworth, Jiaxin Wen
• 2nd Place:  Fleming Island Elementary - Ameliz Marquez, Padric Conroy, Theo Hovda, Gentry Davis, Acadia Arsenault, Jayson Patin
• 3rd Place:  Oakleaf Village Elementary - Landon Kaufman, Zoe Gorman, Isaiah White, Elena Rosa, Stella Johnson, Elisa Voloshin

Sixth Grade

• 1st Place:  Paterson Elementary - Nathan Hancock, Dylan Bloom, Josh Britt, Ella Weflen, Alan Stevenson, Kian Summerlin
• 2nd Place:  Lake Asbury Elementary - Logan DeMartinis, Shane Espaldon, Mason Kaganac, Kaleb Cunningham, Michael Pollard, Soraya Warnick
• 3rd Place:  (Tie) Fleming Island Elementary - Lucas Harrell, Colton Gal, James Judycki, Jiro Untivero, Liliana Oehrlein, Ansley Sandefer and Thunderbolt Elementary - Collin Golisch, Evan Hirsch, Jayce Wert, Lola Preckajlo, Michael Rhodes, Charles Mitchell-Schmidt

Muggins Tournament

• 1st Place High Score Winner:  Victoria Robiou, Plantation Oaks Elementary
• 1st Place Overall Winner:  Liam Whitten (Discovery Oaks Elementary)

Christopher Gugel, Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist, recognized the following  groups for Winterguard and Indoor Percussion Championships as follows:

• Oakleaf High, Winterguard, Beyond Division
• Middleburg High, Winterguard, Knight's Division
• Green Cove Springs Junior High, Cadets, Cadet Novice Division
• Oakleaf Junior High, Cadets, Cadet Novice Division
• Oakleaf High, Indoor Percussion, Percussion Scholastic McCormick's Division
• Fleming Island High, Winterguard, Illusion Division
• Fleming Island High, Winterguard, Company Division
• Ridgeview High, Indoor Winds, Winds Scholastic A Division
• Middleburg High, Concert Percussion, Percussion Scholastic Concert A Division

A complete roster of student participants is as follows:

Christopher Gugel, Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist, recognized the following students who placed "Best in Show" at the 2024 Visual Arts Show:

• Alissa Mihalik - Clay High School, 2D
• Hope Koestens - Orange Park High, 3D
• Teegan Montesano - Lake Asbury Junior High, 2D
• Vera Irby - Lakeside Junior High, 3D

Kelly Watt, Chief of Staff, recognized the following students for their participation in and contributions to the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council:

• Isabella Amador
• Tyler Davies
• Alexander Gordon
• Donald Stepp
• Jaydin Pinney
• Taylor White
• Angel Zheng
• Lindsay Gillis
• Benjamin Ulsch
• Mattie Reape
• Ashley Zamora
• Allison Musillami
• Logan Michael
• Nora Burke
• Carson Nicholson
• Avery Crawford
• Karlee Wessels
• Mauli Patel
• Brenna Finnegan
• Lene Hornick
• Peyton Mathews
• Noah Montoro
• Riya Patel
• Shaylla Givens
• Amelia "Josie" Choulat
• Emily Moore
• Tayani Maxwell
• Audrey Polk
• Dana Loftis
• Danielle Ackerson
• Daniel Kapusta
• Zeinab Faraj

Tyler Davies shared the Chairman's Report (attached) highlighting the following topics and solutions covered by the Council this year:

• Meeting Norms and Decorum
• Yearly Goals
• This Year's Topics
• Discussion Guiding Questions

Stephanie Geoghagan, Project Coordinator, Clay Action Coalition and Karen Olley, Student Services Specialist, recognized the winners of the 2024 Drug Free Schools Calendar winners.  The students' artwork will be showcased in the 2024-2025 Drug Free Schools Calendar.

• Haven Tomalis - 4th Grade, Orange Park Elementary - Front Cover
• Zoey Watson - Kindergarten, Orange Park Elementary - Inside Cover
• Arianna Frias - 4th Grade, Thunderbolt Elementary - August
• Amiya Alkaifi - 6th Grade, Lake Asbury Elementary - September
• Candy Huang - 5th Grade, Thunderbolt Elementary - October
• Addyson Munoz - 3rd Grade, Swimming Pen Creek Elementary - November
• Madeleine Milter - 5th Grade, Plantation Oaks Elementary - December
• Ava Chesser - 4th Grade, Shadowlawn Elementary - January
• Addison Kuhlken - 2nd Grade, Orange Park Elementary - February
• Aribella Monasmith - 6th Grade, Coppergate School of the Arts - March
• Khloe Smith - 3rd Grade, Shadowlawn Elementary - April
• Connor Morgan - 2nd Grade, Paterson Elementary - May
• Kasilyn Kirchaine - 5th Grade, S. Bryan Jennings Elementary - June
• Tyler Phillips - 1st Grade, Middleburg Elementary - July

Katie Ruelas, K-12 Science Curriculum Specialist, recognized the following students who participated in the State & International Science Fair:

• Sophie Aranaga, Orange Park Junior High, Biomedical & Health Sciences
• Gracelynn Beckham, Clay High, Biomedical & Health Sciences
• Saige Bialek, Emily McCrea, and Ciera Neal, Ridgeview High, Engineering
• Joshua Chun, Ricky Huang, Ridgeview High, Intelligent Machines, Robotics & Systems Software
• James Fryman, Joseph Fryman, Clay High, Biomedical & Health Sciences
• Scarlet Glover, Lake Asbury Junior, Plant Sciences
• Alexander Gordon, Ridgeview High, Intelligent Machines, Robotics & Systems Software
• Austin Hallett, Clay High, Physics & Astronomy
• Angel Zheng, Ridgeview High, Engineering

Clay Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors, Ted Clark and Garry McIntyre, and Board Chair, Gary Thigpen, recognized students' achievements in an annual poster and speech contest open to all CCDS students in grades K-12.  The winning students best reflect the National Association of Conservation District's annual stewardship theme and highlight the work of conservation districts that work to protect and enhance natural resources.

District poster contest winners 

2nd - 3rd Grade Category

• Rosa Nauman, Fleming Island Elementary, 1st Place
• Clara Thomas, Keystone Heights Elementary, 2nd Place
• Jacie Maxwell, Thunderbolt Elementary, 3rd Place

4th - 6th Grade Category

• Isabella Pederson, Thunderbolt Elementary, 1st Place
• Gemma Spencer, Shadowlawn Elementary, 2nd Place
• Shiv Patel, Tynes Elementary, 3rd Place

7th - 9th Grade Category

• Taylor Mandigo, Oakleaf High, 1st Place
• Callie Reinicke, Middleburg High, 3rd Place

10th - 12th Grade Category

• Chloe Liller, Middleburg High, 1st Place
• Karlee Plum, Middleburg High, 2nd Place
• Gracyn Blakney, Middleburg High, 3rd Place

Speech Contest Winners

• Madi Adler, Oakleaf High, 1st Place
• Riya Patel, Ridgeview High, 2nd Place
• Brylee Wood, Oakleaf High, 3rd Place

The Wes Whiddon Scholarship is awarded annually to Clay County student-athletes who have played sports at the junior or high school level while attending a Clay County school, have been accepted into a college, and who have submitted an essay entitled "How I Make A Difference."  Winners were recognized by Angela Whiddon, Todd Worley, and Chris Goddard.  This scholarship honors the theme "Your Life is Your Message - Make It Count" and has been awarded for 16 years, with 111 scholarships having been awarded.

2024 Wes Whiddon Scholarship Recipients

• Lene Hornick - Clay High
• Kolby Thomas - Keystone Heights Jr./Sr. High
• Michael Hayward - Fleming Island High
• Cade Dailey - Fleming Island High
• Taylor Collins - Fleming Island High
• Tyler Davies - Orange Park High
• Josh Taylor - Orange Park High
• Alaynah Deaton - Ridgeview High

In collaboration with Florida PrePaid, Superintendent Broskie recognized recipients of the Superintendent's Florida Prepaid Scholarship for the second consecutive year.  Student participants were asked to articulate their aspirations for the future and reflect on their impactful contributions to their communities during their final year of high school.  Recipients of a 2-year college scholarship valued at approximately $8,000 are:

• Erin Grant, Middleburg High School
• Tyler Davies, Orange Park High School

Superintendent Broskie recognized Tyler Davies, Orange Park High, for receiving the Outstanding School Volunteer Award from the Florida Department of Education, an annual tribute celebrating individuals whose unwavering dedication enriches the educational landscape of Florida's K-12 Public Schools.  Mr. Davies has volunteered more than 900 hours to Clay County District Schools, received the esteemed title of Youth Volunteer Winner for CCDS, and progressed to the state level, earning the distinguished distinction of being one of the top three (3) youth volunteers statewide.

Public speakers:

• Echo Nova 
• Donald Triest 
• Mallory King
• Shelley Trautman 
• Jen Cunningham
• Pam Lawrence 
• Shannon Hube 
• Patricia Shaffer
• Katelynn Weichman 
• Bruce Friedman 
• Scott Nicholson 

There was no Human Resources Special Action B.

There was no Human Resources Special Action C,

Chair Gilhousen opened the public hearing.  Public speakers were as follows:

• Bruce Friedman

Upon conclusion of Mr. Friedman's comments, the public hearing was closed.

Mrs. Hanson expressed concern, stating the manual lacks the intentional procedures and specific supports for the policy that would make it successful.  She stated that the policy indicates that the community standards and rubric for those would be found in the procedures manual but they are not included, and the manual therefore does not do what the policy intended it to do.  She looks forward to working in collaboration to refresh all school board policies and believes that procedures and policies are inter-connected and require collaboration in order for both to effectively work.  

President Gilhousen called to order the Board of Directors of the Clay School Board Leasing Corporation at 8:21 p.m., introducing the agenda item for consideration.

David Broskie, Secretary, read the following recommendation into the record:

A.  Consideration of Resolution No. 2024-22A, rescinding Resolution Nos. 24-19A and 24-20A, and authorizing the issuance of Certificates of Participation, Series 2024A, and the execution of the following:

• a. Lease Schedule No. 2024A
• b. Series 2024A Supplemental Trust Agreement
• c. Series 2024A Ground Lease Agreement
• d. Certificate Purchase Contract
• e. Certain amendments to the Master Lease-Purchase Agreement and Master Trust Agreement.

Mrs. Bolla encouraged individuals concerned about cell phone use to review the proposed Student Code of Conduct, noting that the policy is more strict.

In response to earlier comments, Superintendent Broskie indicated his commitment to work together on strong, robust procedures.  He also commented on the unprecedented salary increases during the past three years.

Superintendent Broskie shared the attached visual presentation highlighting the following:

• Superintendent's Super Students of the Month
• K-12 Art Show
• Math Field Day
• Instructional Hiring Fair
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Upcoming Events

John Steinmetz, School Board Attorney, provided a brief update on the progress towards finalizing an agreement with Clay County Sheriff's Office, and he indicated that ongoing discussion re a plan to effectively address truancy is continuing.

Mrs. Bolla noted that the Fleming Island High Wind Symphony recently performed at Carnegie Hall, where they performed the world premiere of A Rose Blooms Forth to honor their director, who received a lifetime achievement award in music.  She attended a performance of a general music class (alternative education) at Ridgeview High under the direction of Ms. Bice and in collaboration with other students.  The class has been studying operas and symphonies and performed a version of Carmen in addition to enjoying a field trip to the Jacksonville Symphony.  Another collaborative event at Fleming Island High included a picture drawn by the Pre-K students based on the book Unlike Other Monsters, art students who created 3-D monsters made of clay, and Advanced Placement literature students who created a book following poetry writing standards.  Mrs. Bolla also extended appreciation to teachers for their dynamic skills and the great work they do.

Mrs. Skipper noted the Clay Education spring event, the Clay County Agricultural Fair.  She thanked teachers for all that they do and enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with community leaders praying over the county, the state, and the nation on this National Day of Prayer.

Mrs. Clark also participated in prayer for all from the local government to the nation.  She indicated that she values teachers and speech-language pathologists, having family who benefited from their expertise.  She stated she voted for the Library Media Services Manual so that the district would be in compliance with legislators.

Mrs. Hanson reflected on the joy and meaning she experienced as a teacher.  She stated that, when she recently spoke about the need for an independent, internal auditor, that request was based on the larger budget and the need to remain diligent in emphasizing transparency and accountability.  She appreciated the willingness of Mr. Blocker and Mr. Broskie to work to ensure controls are in place to guard the taxpayers' dollars.  She will have office hours during May, at various locations, and encourages individuals to speak with her about concerns.

Mrs. Gilhousen indicated she is looking forward to enjoying family time over the summer and hopes families will enjoy their vacations and time together.