[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6388628,"mediaKeyId","2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b","parentId",2113960,"title","Board honors educators and recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Month","audioSeconds",810,"startMs",1110000,"endMs",1920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b&start=1110&end=1920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b/thumbnail_1110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6388628/Florida/Board-honors-educators-and-recognizes-Human-Trafficking-Awareness-Month","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388628-2a7ba09591c9ceee59b5eff5f76f7bcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730277&Signature=dzqfLQ-U5s0UAbHqPmeL85XpI~CB7Y5~0QZQbG~WbVRDllK19OIbC9esAJHQooJJHpnGE4T6Vk~yo8p0xeuXl1nANl1TpUP7C5fVSJBBiaixep8Oz9J1BbBPlP351yHUOAkhZrmDv~OdMVcMupfUr58AH-m4yOOmzX4HdAQ~vfFcKYqGvYoZWHPraaVyh~EjLJ48AeF773cVugQhuoAwEv5Qjb7LjeqV4n-ccQ2FwhBo~JSxSFS6IgKASrFiUqSNrKq957-FkOL-FkoEOAMThGV0UL1U18XUs4YolxHT0VYDwY9Wz75Sp7Y~MAcVeqwopDVvZ53AhIhcEmyJtFPdMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hillsborough County Public Schools, FL","date","2025-01-15T10:30:19Z","article","The Hillsborough County School Board used its recognition segment on Jan. 14 to honor school staff and to mark Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Brian Ford, chief operating officer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joined the meeting to present the Buccaneers’ Bucks Best Crew awards to local staffers. Recipients included Nashira Mitchell, principal at Memorial Middle School (teacher-level recognition); Jennifer Dudley, who provides instruction to medically fragile students through hospital/homebound programs and at the district’s One Voice Academy; and Angela Thompson, student nutrition service manager at Shields Middle School, who was commended for her work during hurricane sheltering and daily service to students. Ford and board members presented commemorative items and game balls.

Member Gray read a formal board recognition designating January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, citing national and state data and urging partnerships and training for staff and the community. The recognition named partner organizations and agencies the board thanked for service on the district’s Human Trafficking Committee, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the No More Foundation, local law enforcement, the City of Tampa, and others.

Board members said the recognitions highlight both exemplary individual service (classroom instruction, nutrition services and outreach to medically fragile students) and the district’s broader prevention and community-engagement efforts to identify and respond to trafficking.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting January 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board recognized Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ ‘Bucks Best Crew’ awardees from Hillsborough County Public Schools and read a recognition declaring January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Month, highlighting partnerships with local and federal agencies.","taxTitle","Hillsborough, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14619,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6388633,"Parents and residents press board on restroom supplies, school safety and leadership at Gaither",252,2207000,2459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b&start=2207&end=2459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b/thumbnail_2207000.jpg","/articles/6388633/Florida/Parents-and-residents-press-board-on-restroom-supplies-school-safety-and-leadership-at-Gaither","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388633-f6b65a6283516723954aa447ebf73665/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730277&Signature=eTLkJH3D-UlhRb716FQ3Y2cRoBggXE8aitW5Eg-b~m~uQv33pwdMN42cj9IoJTkXRaAU3Y5xWMl1qKz9rToTXhfcgIeFaxMZ-XnjAYgNFI5YpiBKuw~ovt3iSof8AiHZndc~G4d9rE5d0t9KIH2AvBX8ETxekg0CKX7dVxwE-64tdDlplKHAAwM5axC77q~OmNWtVK1Ow5q9q8dd1yPLBHqVf9khyxJTlm9ob34m9ii1sGi4xvsfjRZK516rLESINGrrKeYGCtZ-S7UUr07whtedVVdKxuMHtPftAtmolBAiMJmMrLiW6EMduQZdnzPt5Br9vnwpG8IdVk30cPI7Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members of the public used the three-minute public-comment period at the Jan. 14 Hillsborough County School Board meeting to raise operational and safety concerns at multiple schools.

Tina Williams Brewster, who identified herself as a parent, told the board the district must ensure restrooms have basic supplies and are not locked to students during lunch periods. \"I'm really sick and tired of my daughter coming home and telling me she can't go to the restroom. There's no toilet paper. There's no tissues. We now, you know, have no soap,\" she said. Brewster urged principals and custodial staff to address restroom patrols and supply availability.

Alan Brewster described repeated complaints about school leadership that, he said, took years to resolve at previous schools. Speaking about Gaither High School, he said persistent concerns about leadership and culture remain and asked the board, \"How long is it gonna take to change the leadership at Gaither?\" He urged the district to address discrimination and staff behavior that parents and students reported.

Mead Lewis, a community speaker and local nonprofit board member, discussed school safety at King High School, saying the district had canceled pep rallies after repeated weapons incidents. He cited a manufacturer's price for a walk-through metal detector and framed his remarks around the cost per student as a way to question whether the district is doing enough: \"When will this district and King High School value human life more than $19?\" Lewis concluded.

An earlier, confrontational public commenter disputed the board’s civility policy and waved a court ruling; board staff asked members of the public to avoid personal attacks and to direct comments to issues. The board’s civility procedures and the three-minute limit were explained by staff before the comment period.

Board members and staff did not take action during the meeting on these public comments but the concerns were heard publicly and will be part of ongoing oversight and school-level follow-up, per staff procedures.","During public comment at the Jan. 14 meeting, speakers raised concerns about locked and undersupplied school restrooms, leadership and culture at Gaither High School, and weapon incidents and canceled pep rallies at King High School.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6388638,"Hillsborough schools report record 88% graduation rate; new CFO announced",646,3698000,4344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b&start=3698&end=4344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b/thumbnail_3698000.jpg","/articles/6388638/Florida/Hillsborough-schools-report-record-88-graduation-rate-new-CFO-announced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388638-db8db0971088450939574c0185423940/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730277&Signature=UFyRHBtOBNuxBDW7D0uv-fq8vqO1KWsHZDrj6zMsxzMttdpfINhIxYI6iIT3hLjLY2l0GCaKlbKycfojh0RixxqLafaAK9SCg2VMvHxHeEhM9lLkCSTG~o~yqTv32EEYmJNDxaQLhWiBto5SvfMdd0IB-AllstGzM2g1gt59u0cJ14IoLSRSjDj9611M6Vv7STniEO0cbCLKDGhj5hL7IarXF5Gkpz0xqZ9tUcmeFReznRQEi2qDhNV8WpIdEx1mePGigQWRjkHL--yyCwpwcQUrs7IqcCRpX8u6~wBB8hlzLfGuZYUMjsCxXQJvPBr8t1W3et65DU69Xj0ieBOBbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Ayers told the Hillsborough County School Board on Jan. 14 that the district reached an 88% graduation rate for the most recent year, a 1.8 percentage-point increase from the prior year and the highest rate the district has recorded outside of COVID-era benchmark waivers.

\"We had an 88% graduation rate,\" Superintendent Ayers said during his updates, adding that state testing benchmarks had been more rigorous this year and that the increase reflected coordinated work across teachers, staff and families. \"This milestone is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of our educators, students, families, and staff, as well as the steadfast support and leadership of our school board.\"

Ayers credited a range of board-approved programs and interventions for the improvement, including Chalk Talk (SAT/ACT curriculum supports), FEV high-dose tutoring for at-risk readers, Edgenuity credit-recovery courses, PENDA interactive science supports, expanded AVID programming, annual summer learning programs, and strengthened college-and-career partnerships.

Board members also noted subgroup gains. Member Gray said the district saw increases for English-language learners (up 3.1 percentage points), Hispanic students (up 2.2 points) and Black students (up 1.8 points); he credited sustained, systemwide efforts for the gains.

In personnel news, Ayers announced Jamie Lewis will join the district as chief financial officer on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Lewis was described in the superintendent’s remarks as a finance and operations executive with experience in higher education; his start date and academic credentials (B.A. in accounting and an MBA from Saint Leo University) were provided.

The superintendent also highlighted individual student and staff recognitions in recent weeks, including a presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching received by an IB teacher at Strawberry Crest High School and an NROTC scholarship awarded to a senior at Steinbrenner High School.

Board members welcomed the news and said the rate increase was a visible sign of progress as the district pursues its long-term graduation goals.","Superintendent Ayers told the board the district achieved an 88% graduation rate for the most recent year, the highest in district history outside COVID waiver years. The board also learned the district will welcome Jamie Lewis as chief financial officer on Jan. 21.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6388644,"School board approves charter renewal, district curriculum and nutrition purchases",309,2863000,3172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b&start=2863&end=3172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113960-c8592fbcd38e2ceff38a513e3a72971b/thumbnail_2863000.jpg","/articles/6388644/Florida/School-board-approves-charter-renewal-district-curriculum-and-nutrition-purchases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388644-4aaeb6ecbe43421611fa884a6e0d82e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730277&Signature=SmbhfMED5LxiBx9TK7WT-urZB12N4njHFnrgfiQCsL1x4Ky7kCmiMmRiaCziD0OeOffQ1bRR3lL2UvfeM6inr2KXORcu4aIr9g2Ok4RUbbfQLbFUdAtwJMho19kpfUiDzD3a8a4n92uLePI0EV6Z~vKgCZ1qWgP-9H7hAVIuuOaKFGKhPb1uHKHk44PQ7abS7zbWRlonlbmT-gm15W7ByHNk3qucAYtUfjqNff2Y6TkGwyBioWaUs4AcDsSc12To5ZBgb5NRJi6ZwGm3fILWqCV5bYTN8eTCImgfCgLi7MoX4ViWCWH3~zztIjxDzhqxCIvwuwiIqdRYLpiw-stplg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hillsborough County School Board on Jan. 14 approved multiple routine and substantive items, including a 10-year contract renewal request for New Spring School, supplemental curricular purchases for individual schools, and hardware and software for student nutrition services.

Board action came as part of a consent motion and separate agenda votes. Member Perez moved to adopt the agenda and the motion carried unanimously with Member Washington absent. The board later approved the minutes of the Dec. 17, 2024 meeting and then voted on individual items called for discussion.

The most prominent contested item called up for separate consideration was a contract renewal for New Spring School, a K–8 STEM-focused charter that opened in 2010 and enrolls 426 students. Superintendent Ayers told the board the school has met “the statutory requirements for contract renewal” and had asked for a 10-year renewal. Member Gray questioned academic progress, asking, “What are they doing differently to bring their grade up from a C to a B?” Board staff and the school pointed to reductions in out-of-school suspensions, implementation of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), and targeted mentorship for students at risk of suspension.

The board also approved C502, a set of school-level purchases for the IXL digital learning platform. Superintendent Ayers said the purchases are individual school decisions that supplement the district-adopted materials and that many schools used Title I or PTA funds; IXL is in the district’s five-year textbook adoption plan begun in 2022.

Item C704, a piggyback procurement through Region 4 for student nutrition services, will provide computer hardware, software and supplies to cafeterias; superintendent and staff said much of the prior problems were software- and integration-related and that 40 laptops will be distributed to managers who need them.

All items on the consent agenda and the separately pulled items passed unanimously in recorded votes where noted; Member Washington was absent for some votes.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda — motion by Member Perez, second by Member Gray; outcome: approved (unanimous; Member Washington absent). Included administrative appointments noted by the superintendent.
- Minutes (Dec. 17, 2024) — motion by Member Combs, second by Member Perez; outcome: approved (unanimous).
- C204: Contract renewal request, New Spring School (10-year term requested). Motion by Dr. Hahn, second by Member Combs; outcome: approved (unanimous; Member Washington absent). Staff noted the school earned a grade of C for 2023–24 and serves 426 students in grades K–8; the school requested a 10-year renewal and staff said it met statutory renewal requirements.
- C502: Supplemental curriculum purchases (IXL) — motion by Member Gray, second by Member Rendon; outcome: approved (unanimous). Board discussion noted IXL is part of the district’s 2022 textbook adoption and is used for targeted skill intervention and diagnostics.
- C704: Piggyback procurement for student nutrition services (hardware/software) — motion by Member Rendon, second by Member Combs; outcome: approved (unanimous). Staff said funds come from student nutrition capital dollars (federal/state-restricted) and that the item will address software integration and supply shortfalls.

The board packet and staff presentation materials list additional details about funding sources, student counts, and timelines; board members asked staff to make funding-source line items clearer in future agenda descriptions so the public can see which federal or state funds are being used for purchases.","The Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously on Jan. 14 to approve a 10-year contract renewal request for New Spring School and to authorize supplemental curriculum and student nutrition technology purchases. The consent agenda and meeting minutes were also approved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board honors educators and recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Parents and residents press board on restroom supplies, school safety and leadership at Gaither

Hillsborough schools report record 88% graduation rate; new CFO announced

School board approves charter renewal, district curriculum and nutrition purchases