School Board of Hillsborough County Meeting

Free parking space at Downtown Tampa! Is that an April 1 joke or is it true? I was really surprised from the moment the security personnel at the parking lot told me that on the days of School Board meetings visitors can park for free. I entered the building and I heard a beautiful sound coming from the piano played by a disabled high school student. So far my experience was nothing like I am used to on other public meetings.

I entered the meeting hall and I decided to approach Doretha W. Edgecomb, Vice Chair of the school board. She was sitting alone at the table of the board and I was wondering what will be the hottest issues that they are going to discuss at the meeting. School board policies and operations were the main issues that I was about to hear at the meeting.

Susan L. Valdes, Chair of the board, started the meeting by first focusing on the Virtual Instruction Program Re-Organization of structure. For this to happen the Hillsborough School Board have a manager position designed to overlook the process. According to April Griffin, Manager Position, every student in the high school level needs to have one virtual course completed before graduation and there is some legislature passed about this matter. This program will save the district a lot money and the actual savings right now are $97 850. board member, said “Virtual School is the Thing Now.” He also added that this program is here to prepare more students to get into college and actually survive when they are there. Virtual school is the next step to college.

The next item on the agenda was the approved grants application for several scholarship programs. The members of the board mention that there are a lot of partnerships involved in these programs in order to happen. One reason why those programs are there is to support adult community classes.

The approve contract and schedule of payments between SEER Analytics and Hillsborough County Public Schools were described by “the best money spend by Hillsborough School System,” said Kurdell-Jack R. Lamb. Also accordant to him this program will become a model for other districts.

The approved subagreement between the University of South Florida and Hillsborough County Public School for Services Associated with HCPS Role in the Federal Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Grant Program, Project REACH – Recognizing Extraordinary Accomplishments of Children is the first government money given for gifted students, according to Mr. Lamb. Nine schools from the county will be included in this program.

Toward the end of the Hillsborough County School Board Meeting the citizens that were there were able to give their comments and concerns about the issues, which were presented. The first three gentlemen that were able to speak to the members presented their concern about private security companies being unable to work in the county schools. They wanted to see why their contracts were not resigned and there was no competition entry available. Even though this issue was not mentioned in the meeting the members of the committee said they will try to address the item next time they meet. The board’s attorney knew more about the issue and he said he would present the details to the board and Susan L. Valdes, Chair so they can work on it.
For more info visit: http://apps1.sdhc.k12.fl.us/