School Board Workshop

I. CALL TO ORDER II. 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. III. WORKSHOP 1. Audit Committee Update 2. Update on MTC Project EDGE Program 3. Discussion Regarding Superintendent Contract Agenda October 25, 2024 School Board of Manatee County Workshop - 9:00 AM Walter Miller School Support Center Board Room Times Indicated are Approximate 1

4. READY 2026 Strategic Plan Update IV. ADJOURNMENT 2

And I am me. >> is it a lunch? Welcome, everybody. Good morning. I guess I say OCTOBER 25th between 3 4 school board workshop on officially call it to order any public comments. Laura did not see any >> gets all right. So with that right into our first topic, data with the Audit Committee report Daryn, thank you. Committee has been >> focusing on the transition and years committee was going from the 23. 24 the 24. 25. We've already started on some of the reports the sales tax report is expected to be presented to the committee on the 5th of NOVEMBER 6th of NOVEMBER. We'll get that out and going that started in on human resources and establishing that we've been waiting for the educational facilities, maintenance and planning audit the finish that we can make sure we're not. Doing anything that they did. Be discussing the plan for that at the committee and we go forward with that. And then. Going into the search for a new auditor. That ms Foreman bring you up to date on that because I've run into an issue of potential conflicts of interest for my current and past associations. With that, some of selected. One of them Carr, Riggs Ingram is our current internal auditor. Well, Sarasota County required Eric Robinson, 2. Refuse himself from that process. Because it's his partner, Joe Gruters brother Tim Gruters is with car racing. Well, I also work with them. Their audit partner. Have the same issue. And that my partner. My associate, it's got a brother working for one of the firms for Selection. On the other side, the internal auditor, I have been senior leadership and 2 different firms that were associated. With one of the firm's. It's up for selection. My attorney has told me not to touch process that I don't want to think that don't want to cause trouble. I don't want to have. Any recourse later on because I was involved. I apologize That this late hour. But I think it's best that I just. Watch from the sidelines. Still continue with the audit committee and trying to keep that going with whomever is selected. But the can't be part of that process. Focus for a minute. He's gonna go forward so she can bring you update on that. Now, the good news, though, is we do have 4 members, MISTER John Bill, as join He stepped right up and took over is the audit committee representative on the sales tax report. What I've heard from the car ring car. Riggs, Ingram staff. He's been very good. He knows the same playing. His kpmg background is coming to the forefront. The stepping up I think he's going to be an outstanding member of the committee. Again, we're in the moving into this new school year, getting things going. So I have a very short report that you have questions. >> MISS Harman, weigh into this, is there a plan that had so many of audit selection committee? >> With their cell together, least 6 people. Okay. Just be one us. >> Get a load of. Pulling it up. Mr MR. Daniels. >> The cri and Rsm are on the. 2 of the up there. 5 earns that. Signed up for and it is internal and then looking to the external on it. >> We say find it. There MAY not be a conflict on the external that's going lead poor. >> looking at can tell you an interesting tidbit about Sarasota County and their selection. It originally selected Cherry backer, who is our external auditor, do both the external and the internal. But Terry Beckner to the midst of going into a merger with a larger firm. And they have canceled their selection of them as the external auditor. They're still it is an internal. They're going back to select another external auditor. Lot of stuff going on in the Suncoast. >> The 2 firms that. Putin for external audit are in a cell Even some advice and purpose. Gray. He's complex with any of those. I work for purpose, pay temporarily for a nine-day period and 17. >> stepped up myself? I don't see that. I have along. Relation Yeah. So you do external, I can do the external. Yes. Okay. >> Haven't filled out that form or signed it. Please do so. >> I be to it. Oh, of nepotism point. I don't know why we don't do public interest. always. Always paying attention conflict of interest so that so that would be great if you could do the field. Committee. I appreciate your insight. We didn't. He just say he had a conflict that I turn around. >> that who I have conflicts with their own? The internal audit All right. And I was confused. That one was external that we had this conversation. They got it. >> yeah. But if you were out real, that you have any more. >> way that going like it. >> No, we all receive the. >> The members of the committee received the packets they submitted in response to the is and we are to evaluate and have the evaluation backed noon on Monday. So at that point to seeing late. And then I believe we're having a meeting. >> If you recall, when it's Tuesday morning. But I'm not gonna make that I have a doctor's appointment that was scheduled months ago. Okay. All right. But I figured if the tabulations are in their Yeah. That. >> But I think one of the conversations is going to be. Do we have a? Presentations from the auditors? And I think picking 3 out it on the internal. Think we have to, you know, I should shouldn't site that time but so if you to take a look at the calendar because their day set aside for her. What extent? Yeah. Presentations. And then me. >> Board members need to have that. Also. >> On your radar, I mean, you don't have to come, but you're going to be voting on them. So the more information you have, the better. >> Who are the ones for internal just I know. You said and a cell and who was at the un? The 2 external which is the function that you're back its purpose, Gray and msl right? >> And >> and sales going through a merger to. >> But the board has hired Msl before for external. Yes, we get this weekend. See here. >> which fought. Yes, you do it. >> I actually I put him Smith. You're from I thought I did that would join together if like for because auditors selection committee. Are the only ones getting the information to do is pouring in kind of thing. So we're not seeing anything in Brazil after the to the give us direct scoring, correct? Because I want to make sure to MISS Some. >> I want to check with with screw it on that because I think the more information you have a better rate really do. >> In the same respect like I like that, that committee can kind of work independently of even our influence is not that anybody at night here which influence. But I have seen in the past I asked. Where there have been attempts and times at influencing to this board that hired. And so I wouldn't want to see that happen either. I'm shocked. Okay. >> the fight for the internal audit services are Marcum llp. Moulton Jenkins. Who were are. >> External auditors. 10, 15 years ago. Our U.S. Them. Carr, Riggs and Ingram and Frazier and Dieter. So we'll get if we could get a face that list that we can. >> We're not scoring. We're just looking. Well, I think the point Mismister is making is that. She prefers that we that the board not. Exert no one there is information only. By >> The whole point that committee is that they are they have an expertise and they are independent of and allowing them to go through the process. You know me. But I do think having the names is important because I of past. My company that the board has use are just going to carry sense. Really? Sheer curiosity. I remember the last time you were on the committee and and was like to them. I listen to the recordings. Can't couldn't be there in person. So I think there's a lot of value in hearing. What the committee says when they deliberate because they have a really deep understanding of what the job really entails and what skillsets are important to know that there's so I think there's I would like to know the dates of the I can go, I'd like to go. I couldn't go last time that I really like to go if I can. So I'd really like that. He heard this. She her she was next. >> Yeah. Okay. Theresa years are a burden. She knew but I would really like. And then by police account to your right to be go. I wouldn't talk. But just to hear analyst, that's all I want to live. I high or get for just. >> heard my name around and I think I appreciate that. >> That we were just talking about the auction of the board members. >> In this. Because I you know, I deuce recommend that they attend the presentations. If we had, you know, if we have presentations. >> private stock met asking if they could get packets. Care. But partly sunny, just the name. Yeah. I don't need to pack it of what that audit selection committee is doing. I don't need to see all of that information. It just a list of the names you want to list of the names of external or internal of it provided that is. Read that that You know it in. I thought had heard something on my way out the door. >> If you need more detail in the recommendation of the rankings when that comes before you go. Sure. At that point we can share the behind the scene response. It right. That ready. >> That that's fine. After the. Scoring is done. And yeah, that's I don't need anything other than what ms Foreman just said. The names, internal external. I don't need any back and for work. >> Okay. Right. Do you have an interest in intended and that ending the interviews? Because I will make sure you get on the invite list. Yeah, I think we should all be invited. >> Right. Where we can make over the days aren't all that November from a 4th and this before I I would definitely Judas bike to see if we can. Whoever can. Now. So my question is. Though, that's sunshine, correct? This event that would be hard for us right. Maybe such started publicly notice. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah. You would buy given getting chain >> And then >> the meeting where? >> The selection committee discusses the rankings. The shortlist that. Yeah. On the 29th OCTOBER. 29. They could be invited to that as well. We'll do okay. It MAY or MAY not want to come and it will be recorded. So so currently that current, the current >> from you just read not the short list. Those are just missions. And yeah, we can't. We can't do 5, 5, firms, you know, just yeah. I 2 or 3, whatever. Yeah. Something so. Aidan with me. >> part was hardly worth the trip. >> things worth the troops to answer questions in person. So thank for Make sure you get free. She ate that. Thank you. Thank We're going to give you a solid 5 minutes to get back to your office before we say your thinking that led to different >> Thank you. Okay. Great. Thank you, MR. Data that yes, I am yet. Thank you very much of question. Think and weekend? Thank you, Thank you very much. Funny I was movement. I to which is a sometimes super super excited about thrilled to see moving forward with if yes, if if tc project we doctor to be here. And that's good from you want that it's all technology. Good morning board chair school board. >> Superintendent Weis on staff. Excited to be here today to share with you about the project edge that's over at mtc East. DR. Paul can sprint? Thanks to be. I have our coordinator of the program guns and we also want to thank Dr Jennifer Gill ready for being supportive and being here today with us. And she's the assistant director at mtc East. So project, the edge. We also have a teacher project, the edge and that's Carey Walden. Kerry's with the students right now out of class. We didn't plan on trying to have a student and a parent here to today to be able to help present and share with you. They still they came in. They still might come in, but they plan on coming in. But they might be caught out traffic and all that stuff that's going on. So we do have video of the students. So we will put that in at that time. And the student's name is Michael. Spire. Sino and father's name is also Michael. Spare us enough. So what I'd like to do is to share with you about the project. So if you have fewer your power point there as well, the project is named edge for in power because we want to empower the students. Develop. That's our goal as any educational institution has developed a students to allow them to grow. And also to educate them. Plus, we feel that they have an edge in life. To be able to do those 2. So. With project that edge, it might be what is project does was exist. What is it supposed to So it's a post-secondary opportunity for students with significant cognitive disabilities to attend college. Now its said that way because that's what the access typically we say it's adults with disabilities. That's what we've heard in the past. And now it's called students with unique abilities. So it's all about the verbs part of it, too. Right now we're working with the Florida Center for students with unique abilities to private, to provide an inclusive program. The idea is to have these students spilled to learn skills and ultimately be infused into traditional schools for them to learn side by side. Any of the technical programs that we have. We also liner pleads with the men to technical college vision to recognize to be recognized as a leader of transforming individuals. All individuals through the quality of education in technical education. I'm not gonna read through every single line on the timeline. You're welcome. Alright. Right than sorry. Of 2020 and I had inquired about a program for adults with disabilities. I had come from another district that had that. And it was said to me that, well, there is a grant out there. We've been trying to pursue it. We're trying to work with it. I said, well, tell you what, since it deals with working with students to give them workplace skills, more than happy to do that. So I worked with department and we started researching it trying to find other people and we try to find some people in the ese the be able to help me chase it down. So we are able to find the grant, talked to people, put it together. So as you go through, we have put together a team with the team. The had a chance to be with myself. We went to go visit different sites. We want do Fort Myers and visited their program and correct if I'm wrong, this gives I think they were one of the first ones in the state to do to get that. So we thought, hey, they're close by, that's go talk to them. They got it going on. Let's see what we can do to replicate. So we went down there to see how to do it. What they're doing It might be different technical programs because mtc is different. Then Fort Myers, Technical College. But to put the program together, we really looked at that came back, put together a proposal, proposed it to superintendent Saunders. At that time, she said this looks great, going put together so can do. And then we presented to you as a board for approval because it is through a gram. So we had to actually submit as a program first to the state. So we do have our program listed and registered at the state level as a program like this. Once you have that are approved by the state of the chancellor's, then you can apply for the grant and the grant is run through a University of Central Florida. So that grant is what relief funds program. So I kind of went through all at some time at that time we had prepare for 3 different positions. So we need to have a coordinator. Well, we didn't have the position we put together job description that was approved. We need to hire a teacher. We could use just a teacher position that we had because the teacher positions we had for him to see didn't have ese part of it. And then you teachers that we had in the secondary didn't have the post-secondary park. So we had to create the position that really covered both places. In addition to that, we also needed to have the teacher that to the lace one that we put through. We're getting ready to hire and start that person that way. That's our team that we have as we go through presentation, you'll see what those are needed for. So the project, the it set up in 2 stages. The first stage is actually a program. So as you know, with him to see it has to be accredited were credited through the council in Arkham patient education. And we have to have a program that's approved by the state. So the state frameworks actually has this program listed and we'll get into that a little bit later. So that program is 900 hours long. And it's right now it's mtc on the East campus. It meets Monday through Friday from 8 o'clock to 02:00pm. We have 9 students in it. I talked to other people across the district are like 9. Should you have like 20 or 25? Well, these are students who need a little extra time to for help. If we go around 10, that's considered the right size to build to happen. So we have a teacher to the student ratio, one to 10. So we have 9 students at this time It started AUGUST wealth and they'll go through MAY 30th. And as you know, with everything else, we've had a couple storms, lot of these MS. So we've had some things missed in there that will need to make up as well. The purpose of this first program is for the students to get life skills as well as employment skills. All right, to help them where they need to help with. That's to on to what the MAY already know. Students can also audit 5 different programs at mtc. The technical programs. We really don't do all 50. That would be way too much for me to even audit 50 be like, oh, I you know, that's too much for me over stimulation. So we really pick 5 and we try to pick 5 that they would be able to get jobs. They be able to go out and be employed in those. And the 5 that like that was Autumn Meadows, automotive Services, advanced manufacturing baking and pastry. Culinary, an electrical assistant. In these different programs that will be able to earn certifications when they do that. >> Can I just kind question real quick. You saying 90 hours 900, don't 100 its 900 hours. >> So it's basically your program. So said we go from a car just to make at the end of that, they finish that program. So they are a graduate. They'll be able to walk across the stage as a graduate of that program. So that's another thing that got a good chance out of it. Once they graduate from that first program, they'll be able to go into the second stage. So the second stage is them actually being able to enroll in one of those 5 programs that they were auditing as the program. So when they go into that program, that teacher assistant now becomes an assistant for that student or students because we have 9, they might be in 5 different ones. So that assistant will go to each of those classrooms to help those students out as additional resource that way. The teacher of the program doesn't have to stop instruction to help that student. That's what that person is there for. That's 2 minutes. Stay a little bit longer to work on skills in cologne or they might be just a little bit longer of work with the tire changer in automotive or something. So it's really a support system for that student who will be in the traditional classroom with the other students that were in that program, depending on the length of what they choose that probe, the second stage might be longer 5 different programs. They're different hours each. So if I did this one, I'm only there for 350 hours. You're in that when you're there for 600 hours, you're in this one. That's 900 hours. So stage 2 is really different, depending on which one they choose. The students will have also for stage 2, they could just finish stage one and go into the workplace because they're going work skills. They're going to look a little internship at the end of stage one that they'll get a chance to go get some ideas. We're working on partnerships. So if you know anyone who would like to be a partner with us to be able to help with that, we would take the students out to the workplace and then they would learn what to do, how to get to work out a badge and what you should wear. What you're doing doing the skills that they've learned. And then once they've done that, that's part of the education process. The hope is with our partners that the students would be able interview. And then if they do well with the interview and show could skills that hopefully they can get a job there. So the question is if they go to stage 2, could they do stage 2 and work at the same time? I would say yes, but they had really have to work at the schedule. So they might be working at night. And during the program during the day or they might just say, I'm fine. I just want to go to the workplace. This is what I want to do now. Could they come back in 2 states to later short, there was just applying get back in the states to maybe with a different cohort. At the same time as stage 2 for that first cohort. That's when we start stage one over again for the next cohort. So this year we have 9 next year, we could have 19 because we could have 10 and that night we might have some of the 9 that go get a job and don't want to do stage 2. So that's the way we'll build it. One of the questions I've heard before as well. Public could help it. Can this get how successful could be? We do want to grow too big too fast because then we kind of lose control of it and something might happen. And we didn't. This person didn't get a job. We want to make sure we take care of the students and work with them. So I would say if we want to grow to where we have 30 students in it, we would be to hire another teacher, right? One to 10. If we want to have 40 students, that's another teacher. Then the question is where they located. We only have so many classrooms. We can stick them all in same classroom. So we'll worry about growth later. But that's the idea is to be able to grow, to be able to help more students are our community. Can answer. Yes, ma'am. What are the requirements of the student to to be considered for admission. I will turn over to skin. >> So per the fcs guidelines, students that are in project edge or any type of secondary program, they have to have a significant cognitive disability, which in the state of Florida is a 69 or lower. I q. >> And they recommend ages 18 to 26. >> That's recommended, though. If you had a 27 year-old, we want take the 27 a lot of programs. They'll take students who are older. But just in the guidelines that the fca fca's who is provided to us. >> They just have the 18 to 26. Okay. >> Very good. It could Cater to those who MAY not have graduated high school. >> You have to have a high school diploma to be able to the and project edge. And that's part of entrance into empty. See it as a program. That's a really trace that all right, ok? >> So that that doesn't mean if they wanted to try to work on the ged that we could expand to an academic program. Right? There are getting sent next. Good lead. And thank So JANUARY 16 is when the grant came out and then a 20 is when we started working on it. And then now we have that grant. It's a three-year grants. It is renewable, though. So at the end of the 3rd year, we reapply for the next 3 years. Right now, there's currently 34 programs in Florida, 17 tech colleges, 9 or community colleges or universities. So I did mention when they get to stage 2 that they they could go to mtc instead of going to him to see they could go to a program at a community college, they could go to a program and the university, some of those programs actually have the residential part of the program. So they actually go and they stay there and they live on campus. We don't have that. And no offense. We're not going to that stage. You because I don't to see is going to have a dorm next to it. We need a parking garage before we leave the door so those students we've actually had some students say to us, hey, we'd like to do that. Next question is will where they located? So there are 3 up in Pinellas area like Saint Pete Area. There's one that's up in Tampa and we have the one in Fort Myers. Those are the closest ones. So we're excited to help our comm