School Board Workshop

1. CALL TO ORDER 2. AGENDA AMENDMENTS 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comment is not an open forum to discuss matters unrelated to education, to support or oppose candidates for public office, or to engage in commercial speech attempting to sell a service or product to the School Board or public. Also, public comment is not a forum to attack individual school system employees or Board Members. Any such complaints should be submitted in writing to the Superintendent for appropriate handling. Finally, this is not a forum for addressing issues involving individual students. Because of privacy concerns, such issues should be submitted in writing to the Superintendent for appropriate handling. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address the Board. Speakers must stand at the podium and not approach the dais. This is a business meeting of the School Board and the public expects that we conduct it in an orderly, efficient, effective and dignified manner. We request that speakers keep this in mind when making your comments. We also request that the audience keep that in mind and not demonstrate approval or disapproval of what a speaker has said by clapping or booing. The Board appreciates the public's input and will listen attentively, consider each comment, and usually will not respond, enter into debate, or answer questions during comments on agenda items or during the public comments section. PUBLIC INPUT INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Before you begin speaking, please provide any handouts to the Agency Clerk. 2. Please identify yourself only by your full name for the record. 3. You have no more than three minutes to speak. Please stop speaking when the bell rings. 4. Florida Law requires all citizens to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at public meetings. 5 . WARNING: Any individual who interferes with the expeditious or orderly process of a School Board meeting, will be subject to removal from the meeting pursuant to Section 1001.372(3) Florida Statutes at the discretion of the Chair. Orderly fashion is deemed as, at a minimum (1) no profanity (2) no vulgar language (3) no discourteous, disrespectful, or disparaging conduct. 4. WORKSHOP 1. Update on MTC Project EDGE Program 2. Update on MTC Apprenticeship Program Agenda August 8, 2025 School Board of Manatee County Workshop - 9:00 AM Walter Miller School Support Center Board Room Times Indicated are Approximate 1

3. High School AAA Update 5. ADJOURNMENT 2

can't. New Sprite. Fantasy. 2 Scovel. You. Some new plans cota sensing. To use the video >> Should Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the AUGUST 8.25 School Board of a 2 county meeting when officially call this workshop. One official called Workshop to order. We had no agenda So we'll move on to first thing on the agenda this morning is before we get into the workshop items is public comments. We do have one public comment. Kimberly Brewer. You want to coming And if you've ever publicly commented before, but 3 minutes above you is the clock. I think it goes a yellow in your 30 seconds. Revenue of 10 and you're awesome. Thank >> Good morning members. Thank you so much for listening to me. Speak today. Hear it's a concerned parent of our community regarding the future high school being built. Aaa. I want to be clear that option 3 really the only option that I feel is going to help out with a full high school with academic sports, arts and theater facilities truly meets the needs of our growing community. This isn't just about buildings. It's about opportunity. A school without spaces for athletics or the arts is not really a complete education. Students need more than textbooks. They need fields. Studios stages. These programs build confidence, character and connection. We're seeing more and more homes and apartments being built, which just means more families, more students and without having a full high school. We're following behind. Our neighboring communities. They're offering these comprehensive education. So why shouldn't we? Options wanted to leave our children with limited access send the message that they don't deserve the same resources. And that's just not acceptable. We have a chance to do this right right now and play catch-up. We can invest in this high school and it reflects that potential of our children. And the value of our community. So I urge you to please subpar option 3 and let's not cut corners when it comes to our children's future. Thank you. Thank >> That concludes public comment. So we're gonna get right into our workshop items. You can talk to slow as possible. So we here, jump in whenever she gets in. So I'm excited on on these 2 topics. This is both topics. And when I first came on the board that that really we're important and I think is. Is that is that both programs are growing new, but we're going to be fantastic. And the project had reached home for me because I have a brother with Down syndrome. So I'm really excited about the update and to see where we're at and then and then. So let's start with the ntc Project Edge from. So gives Joy. >> Thank you. School board superintendent and staff. We want to thank you for the opportunity to be able to come to the workshop today to be able to share about a couple over programs and mtc. We believe that Manatee Technical College is one of the best actor for colleges in the state of Florida. And it's not for one reason. It's for all the reasons. So we're happy to be able to share to those today. So the first one we share today is our project program and the project Edge programs for students with unique abilities. And we're very proud of the students are very proud of the program. A lot of people try to compare it to a lot of the other programs. But this one is meant to be small and it's meant to be concise. It's meant to be supportive of the students in the program. And so what we're going to do is just give you update. We've had a chance to roll some of that out a few months ago. So we're not going to go back and re teach the whole thing from the beginning. But I will say this grant came out in 2016 and Manatee County had thought about trying to put the program together for that. But just due to the the busyness of ese with k through 12 and building to see as a great college. It had put off that been put off to the side. I was able to come to the district in 2020. And I had asked about program and it was said to me, well, we're just looking for someone to be able to really had it up and do it. I said, well, all I I will be that person. So I worked with the sc Department for with k 12 and I worked mtc and we were able to put together the program we had. We had to find certain people that would be great to be a coordinator, someone to be great to be a teacher. So that took a lot of time to really build it. So this past year was the inaugural year over Edge program to where we had our first group of students. They went through the program. So my name is Paul Ginsberg to my left to your right. I have Dr Jodie Kirk user, new director at Manatee Technical College. She's going to join me in the presentation. She MAY not know the ins and outs of the manatee Technical College program, but she has worked with the program from her previous district 2 where she can give comments about as well during the presentation. We will have the corner coming or cordinator was giving a another presentation this morning. And she asked why don't the presentation early cannot be here? And I said, just come in and sit down. We got the name tag. So she walks and it's, you know, please excuse or for that second slide that I did have was a video that we have on the website for mtc and it's a video of one of our students talking about the program. So due to Tucker, isis were not able to do that for you this morning. But I will send you the link to you guys in email. So you could be able to pull that up. And some of you MAY have already seen it because we've had it out for a couple months now. So as a proceed on project the edge what I'm going to do is on the pass on to Doctor Kirk says she can give the overview of the purpose and what the program does for the students. And then when we get closer to you see that that all okay and step back and we're going to be don't Get So Dr Kirk. >> Great. Thank you for having me here today for a lot of you. It's the first time you met me. So I'm very honored to be here and to talk about some of the things that him to doing. So project. Essentially it's supported by the Florida Center for unique abilities. And it allows students that have severe intellectual abilities, disabilities. Come on our campus audit and a tender programs. And the ultimate goal is to get job placement and the students are accomplishing that. So the program's been around about a year now. It's been very successful. I got to meet some of the students the other day. They're absolutely amazing. So it's just been a very big positive. So essentially the students are getting the same exper intial experiences. They're getting hands-on training in sitting in the classrooms with our other in to see students and auditing. So it's an experience that a lot of them from speaking to them did not think they would ever get the opportunity to have. So it's students that they didn't think they would ever be in post-secondary education. And now they're getting that opportunity. So the Florida Center for unique abilities as doctor Gansler said it started back in 2016. It's from the Florida post-secondary Comprehensive Transition Program Act, which is a mouthful, but essentially it gives support to be able to offer this program. So their scholarship opportunities, there's grant opportunities helping for things like tuition because it is free for the students to attend this program. With us books, supplies, materials, staffing. So all of the things that we need to s# # port this program and help the students to the best ability that we can is covered through this process in this program, there's over 117 programs throughout the state now. So it is very large in size. It's just one of those things that when they're offering professional development workshops, the Florida Center for unique abilities is the one that houses all of that and help support us. So there is a process you have to go to to be a part of this. So step one is actually applying with the mtc has gone through all of these steps already from there. You apply for grants and scholarships which mtc has achieved both of those already. >> Will transition to how our program is set up so we actually have a to where we have a cohort. So the cohort actually covers 2 years or could be more than 2 years or less than 2 years, depending on the second stage. So our first stage is where the students are at him to see East and they meet their from Monday through Fridays from 8 to 2. The first group, our first cohort, one from AUGUST 12 to MAY 30 and they have their life and employment skills that they're learning. The student's going 5 of the different programs of DR. Bourke had mentioned and they have opportunity to build to earn certifications. And we call that our first stage after that first stage, which is first students have an opportunity to do many things back up just a little bit. That first stage is a program. So when they complete that first stage, that is an empty seat program. Is accredited through the council in our patient education. So as a part of m t c the students have to be placed afterwards. So whats the placement continue education or get a job. And so that's what were you working with those students? We have a slide later to tell you what the results were with our students that were in the program. So the students have the opportunity to enroll in a touch cool program to build to go after him to see depending on the length of the program to Pence and how long that that stage 2 So if they do advanced manufacturing, it could be 6 months if they want to go into the automotive or one of the other programs, it could be 8 to 10 or 12 points. So that stage 2 of cohort one. That's AUGUST. 25 to JUNE. 26 stage one for cohort who is now beginning. And so they start of AUGUST. 25, they're actually began this last AUGUST 5th, which was the first day of class. I had the opportunity walk around mtc main to try to welcome the students and support the teachers. Let them know that we're here. If they need anything. And I did see one of our students in the baking and pastry program. I walked in and he was so I know you are remember you from the program. So I had to just do a fist bump and stuff like that. So he's excited to be in the program. The baking and pastry teacher was it's not exciting, say that he's student, have so much energy and so much drive. So again, it's an opportunity for students with unique abilities to build the untraditional programs. With that stage. To that, we have we will have support of those students because they might need extra time. They might need to do extra skills. And that's where this program will help. Those students built to do At the same time, I had mentioned a new cohort just starting soldier second cohort starting with stage one. They just began this last AUGUST 5th and they'll go through until MAY. 26 at the end of the program, they do have the opportunity participate with graduation. And those of you had a chance graduation. Want to thank you for being there and supporting him to see. And also you saw the project, students come across the stage and there are so excited about being there as well. So what I'd like to do our coordinator was able to be here. So thank you. It's good news for rushing over here to be able to fill us in. What I'd like to do is pass it over to MISS Giddens and she can tell you about the first your accomplishments and then we could probably bounce back between the 3 of us. And then if you have any questions or anything at the end of will be more happy to help out Skins. Thank you for being here. >> Hi, guys. Really gets the morning. So first year we had 8 students complete the program out of the 10 that initially started so on JUNE. 26 like that. Cancer said we have a severe effect cross the Mtc was very exciting out of those 8 students. 2 of them are gainfully employed and something that they actually want to do. So that was a big accomplishment for us as we're very excited. Want to to do what they want to do, that the whole focus and the primary purpose of the fcs is to have our students gainfully employed when they completed their fb tcp. That means that now we have 5 students at 8 5 students that chose to go to ntc Main campus. They have all gone into a different program. So we have baking and pastry. We have culinary. And advanced manufacturing early childhood education and then construction production. Student she actually got accepted into Southeastern University's program so she will actually be living on campus this year at their institution, completing her second year of her ftc tp journey. So very excited are 10 since that we currently have now are phenomenal. They're doing great things are going their schedule. We're getting used to the routine on It's been going really well. These first couple days. I can't with her to give a question. Quick question when you said they gained employment. >> So you don't need where? But in our area that were they? Yes, ma'm dense lineman here a little low. Page 8 has that to their employees. I didn't Couldn't go. >> And I mean, you can see that time, you're kind of off. I can't And unfortunately, what's wonderful is the Florida Center for students with unique abilities. We have to go to our summer institute. >> They created this amazing poster for us. When we got there, they have these all over the room of all of the different institutions across the state that have graduates. And when they put these together, they're utilizing their students and their programs with them together. So unfortunately, some of the locations on the bottom are not accurate. That got us kind of goofed up with Fort Myers Technical Institute just because they're our neighbor to the south. So the ones where it says Under Armour played Under has been unlike the lender, my nose, out that. >> No, they're not at that. And we're going to fix that. It was just one of those things. We got it. And we just been running since we got back from the what were you say? They got on Fort Myers Tech for my so they like Under Armour. I think there's an Under Armour like outlet down victory years are some there's an a score there and enforce. I know that they had a couple other students working. Was one of the places that they were going to get some job employment skills. Will need care. Thank you. Okay. So next. And we former students that were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society, which is really exciting. They were very excited, very proud their families. It was just an exciting night to see them dressed and excited to be able to go up and get the Pentagon. The special court for graduation, which is nice. We have been collaborating with other programs and we've been very fortunate. Allied health has been amazing for us and our building in general with the law enforcement officers downstairs. We have a great relationship with them and they want to work with us. We reach out pay. We have a question about Can you come on over? Hey, can we buy are some of your students to be patients for us to learn how to do transfers in the surgical tech groundwork. Hey, can we work on our interview skills were law enforcement officers to learn how to work with individuals with disabilities and then that helps our students to remember. Do you have your id on you? Do you know what kind of car your family drives? Do you know where you're at? If you guys get watching, you guys establish a let's just over here. If we get separated, we're going over by the big tree by the light post. So it's working on those kind of skills which has been really great first this year. And that will continue next year as well. And we did create a p# # Like I said, Fort Myers technical is kind our big brother. We've collaborated with them since we started the program proposal process many years ago. Ryan down there and this will then have create agree, relationship in regards to sharing curriculum materials because we do utilize the same specialized career instruction for students in the same tax. But so we decided to do a pen pal program which was a lot of fun at the end of the year, our students, we did like a FaceTime sell. This got to meet one another. They got to questions of each other. They got to share their classroom like this is what our classrooms like. What is your classroom look like? Just kind of talk back and forth. So that was a nice way to kind of wrap up our year for them. We doing team the vending machines on campus as well. We think that's a great learning opportunity to learn about supply and demand to learn about money skills and how to order items. So we do work on that with them as well. And then the pardon. We found. Throughout the year. Our students wanted to be gainfully employed. So throughout the year we did work and funding them employment >> and maybe there's maybe there's maybe it isn't. Your summer, but I don't think it >> When we're looking like once they finish the program for even this doesn't matter where the students. >> Go through state. One want to go employed or they go through stage 2, they go in and go to, you know, the bakery you You know what programs we can offer them. Regardless when they need to go find employment. That's right. What what is? What are we doing? 2, 1, help them find employment. What I mean by that is I know we're gonna help him through the process. But like the actual employers out there who are willing to. Employee rights like how do we find one? And obviously Bible Charlies here, but he's are obviously connected in the community and meet with people all the time. And so how can we help encourage or get new businesses aren't on the list are ready. Should be a part of potentially the hiring process. Okay. So the 2 parts that. >> The first part is through the Florida Senate persons with the abilities. We tell the families as they come in because our students come to us and they get a scholarship to attend and everything is paid for. And I tell them there's always a catch. And the catch is you can come and be in our program for one year to year or however long it's going to take you. But after that, I need 5 years of information from So we keep track. We'll keep tabs on every student for the next 5 years. And our families know if you're trying to find employment. Let us know we're going to help you. As we go through the program. The students in the first year doing those interest service. If you're out what it is that they really want to do because a lot of times there's a lot of that. They just don't know what you don't know. And we as go through a caveat, a different surveys. If you're out, what is it that you really like doing? Do you really want to do this job? Once we find that out, we try to look for people in the community that are close to where students live to find job opportunities in those areas. A lot of students are fortunate to. They do work with rehab. Some of to have we have counselors that work with them to find employment and we try to assist and we that we can to make sure that once they get the employment, what we need to do to stay employed if things are happening in class. What can we talk about that are gonna help you build better relationships with your colleagues and your peers. When you're out in the community. >> And then to that, you Publix is always great. My brother's birthday, my brother. Really good will. We have a lot of vocal, but debate there MAY be some business. Don't even know that this is going on. >> And we're very fortunate Pfizer board is very diverse. Yeah. A lot of unique individuals who are there come from a dump on different areas. So that's kind of like this year. We have another individual who's asked to join and she's a community member. So another great way to have some be out in the community who is able to provide resources for us. Are we? When I say we is meet school district. >> I'm looking think have no. But is a major school district. One of those that we will help and hired bring someone on. >> Any question I asked of anybody because we did have a student that was looking to. >> let me know in the outdoors can bring id, you know, or whatever, right. David was really helped her any time. I've been asked its unfortunately, the one job that or one student wanted. There were no openings. >> That's because he wanted to custodial janitorial work. We're trying to find a place by his house. And unfortunately, it just didn't work out. And talked to I rested on a rookie for the ms, but MR. Rest and he was fantastic. And he's given us whole terror training manual and how he treats his employees. So we could do that with our students. We kind of cover some of those like this is how you clean. These are things that we're looking at. So anytime I ask, everybody has been so gracious and helpful, great, anything that we need. MARCH. If I can go into so you and asked about trying to find employers who would like to be able to hire students. So I think there's a lot of opportunity and a member of spray talking last time we just about manufacturing So the best way is if we find somebody in our community who would like hire and give the students the opportunity. >> There's 2 ways we could do it. We can go through our coordinator with misgivings and should be able to help make those connections. The other part of it, too, is when the students get a job and to see as the College reports tour accreditation agency that there's different jobs that come up to different points, per se. So if they're being traded and baking and pastry and working at Publix bagging, that is an ok job because it's kind of close to it. But if they're working in bakery than that, that exactly matches so Coe of the council occupation, education always wants her students to get a job and what they're trained. All right, because we always said, well, you can get a job a local fast food place, but that MAY not be that you got trained with automotive or something. So that's that's the first part. We're always trying to find a job that matches what they got trained in. So then your question was about reaching out to the community. We reached out in the community can reach out to us. We used go through Laura Roberts because she does like connection with the business and industry. So if there's somebody out there who might see this and say, hey, I'm interested, I'd like to try to be a part of that. That's one way they can try to connect as well. At mtc baking and pastry. He also has his advisory, committee that has outreach to different job opportunities and different business partners. So we kind of have a two-way street to be able to help out that way. And then like John said, we try to get a closer to home to help the students. But part of the course to is to be able to help the students built a look different job opportunities. And then the last one that you're brought up was about the district. So I know that we have lots needs of the district and we have lots of job openings could help out with the students. We had talked about custodial. We've talked about food services. If they get more to caring side of it, you I keep hitting like France maybe they can work with our our different departments. You saw somebody was in construction. Maybe they work in maintenance and helping with different things. So there is opportunity. And I think as we continue, we can make those connections. So being the first year, we're happy they're off the ground now. We want to try to let it Concerned. Spray had a question and then >> He touched on a little bit there on on like manufacturing >> and I said this before we started this year or so ago about how some kids. Can do repetition things and that swap. Manufacturing comes in is doing repetitious things are we telling the chamber about what we're doing with this and as a chamber know that because they have a lot of people looking for our businesses that might want to partner with us. Every reached out chamber. >