Facilities and Construction Committee - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the earliest, yeah, I know you missed, the earliest Facilities Committee meeting we've ever had. The time is 1.20, call a meeting to order. entertain a motion to approve the minutes. Move it.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Next, entertain a motion to bring the F items to the floor.

Move it. Second.

All in favor? Aye. F41, Mr. Perez. Happy New Year.

Happy New Year. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and board members. Happy New Year to all of you. Hope you had a safe and well... End of year. So F41 is award to CAST Construction Company, Florida LLC, for a new addition at Marine Academy of Science and Technology, masked at FIU Senior High School, Biscayne Bay Campus, phase two. Board Member Santos.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I've been very happy to visit this campus. It's a gorgeous campus. I wish it was in my district. It's awesome. And I did wanna understand, because I know as we had our enterprise workshop and we have discussions about how decision-making happens moving forward, given sort of the things that we have to keep priority. Mr. Earle, can you give us a little bit of background on what, maybe how we landed, because I understand this is a phase two of a project, so maybe when phase one was started and what the original commitments were, and how this aligns with the workshop that we had and the presentation of metrics we're using to evaluate projects. Thank you.

Sure, so through the chair, this is a partnership that goes back many years with FIU, at the Biscayne Bay campus, the north campus. I want to say it started at least from my understanding well over maybe 10 to 12 years ago. We installed, we actually agreed that we would have this program there and that it would be shared with not only high school students but that there would be college students from FIU involved as well. We started with portables. We actually built or installed, I think, one of the same name, an eight to eight, four? Yeah, four to six portables. And then that partnership started to grow. The program became very successful. So we entered into an agreement for a term, the initial term is 40 years. It was entered into, I wanna say, like seven to eight years ago, where FIU had a parcel of land that they would lease to us for $1 in consideration, and then we would build an actual permanent school on that land, and we would pay for the, for the construction of the school. So that school was initially built and completed approximately four years ago. It's a 600 and I think it's 625 student station school. And there was always a phase two along with that. And in the agreements, there was another area of that site that was designated for phase two. So the program, of course, flourished. I believe they received more. And I'm not here. Maybe academics might chime in on that. But they received more applications than the school has capacity for. So in the second phase, which is the one that's coming to you now, it's an additional 500 student station addition with a new parking lot configuration as well. And this was consulted and planned with academics and with operations. before the steering committee or the steering team was put together, this was started approximately two to three years ago, and so we're progressing now, we're awarding the contract for that second phase, which expands the school an additional 500 seats.

Thank you, so to be clear, there are no sort of So one, the frameworks that we've been discussing and working through as a board through the previous workshops were not applied here because these decisions were made before those teams and frameworks existed, correct?

Through the chair? Through the chair, yes, correct, Ms. Santos.

OK, thank you. Through the chair. I see that, and so I just wanted to understand how, like at what point we're going to start applying the metrics that we've all agreed to because in this case, for example, if there are surrounding schools that have significant capacity for the same grade levels, then that should be a comprehensive project. Maybe this is the one that we decide is where we need to be adding seats, but then where are we right-sizing ourselves to ensure that we don't increase our fixed cost as we do it. Again, I think this is a fantastic program. I'm excited to see it grow and I will probably now and moving forward at every meeting really begin to ask how we're applying the very frameworks and and guardrails that we gave ourselves for how these projects make it before us.

Thank you. Through the Chair, Ms. Santos, absolutely excellent question. Those are being looked at now. In fact, we have a few projects currently in the pipeline that are being reconsidered or reevaluated as to the number of student stations that they might be carrying. And we're looking at that now as we bring all these new projects online and where the need for capacity is. And also in our renovation and remodeling projects, we want to make sure that we know we have to provide proper systems for all these schools that have students in and we want to make sure that we're spending the dollars in the areas of the facility that they are using and not in maybe some areas that are not being used. Thank you so much. Board Member Geller.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to say as I did in the briefing, Mr. Perez, that this is wonderful. We're happy to see this moving forward. People up in my end of the county are really excited about this program. The existing program is just drawing raves. And not just to you, Mr. Perez, but to Dr. Lewis, Mr. Bueno, and everybody associated with the administration, this is exactly what we need to be doing to be competitive, okay? This is showing people that this is their best choice. This is a great program, and to actually have it start to come out of the ground, this will attract students looking for high-end achievement back to or keep them in our district system. This is what we need to do, and it just, Everybody I've spoken to up in my neck of the woods is just thrilled to find out it's happening, it's moving forward. Tell me again when we think we can put kids in the seats.

Substantial completion for the project is scheduled for November of 27. So more than likely the way it progresses for January of 28, those seats will be occupiable. That's fantastic. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Board Member Alonzo.

Thank you so much, Chairman. So going to Ms. Santos' point, and I didn't bring this up during my briefing because I hadn't thought through that process and I appreciate her bringing it up. So have we looked, and look, I think it's a great school too, I have nothing against it, but the neighboring schools around there and the available seats and where these 500 students are gonna come from, Have we done an analysis? Because I know that, you know, even though this is a phase two and it's been planned already, our district is having to relook at a lot of different things. Have we looked at that through academics and through the steering committee to come back and provide a full analysis on how many seats are needed in that area? How many schools will be impacted and affected by the additional 500 seats that are now going to be pulling from the neighboring high schools? It'd be interesting to see that data if we have it, and if we don't have it, I'd like to see it before the board meeting where we have the final vote on this. Through the chair, if Raul wants to answer the question or if anybody else wants to answer.

Just to clarify one point through the chair, because this is not a boundary school. This will not be pulling students from additional high schools or surrounding high schools. This is a district-wide magnet. So it doesn't have a boundary, it's students that apply from the county, from the entire county, that come to, that apply for this school. In consultation, when this was being planned with the region, with academics, and with school leadership and performance, the amount, and I'm not gonna speak for them, but the amount of applications that are apparently left that are not filled because the school is at capacity, Warrants at the time warranted that we proceed with this phase two But it is not what I just want to clear up that it's not a boundary school.

It's a it's a district-wide magnet I Understand it's it's not a boundary school and it's a magnet But we all know the impact that a magnet school will have on boundary schools it will have an impact in that area and because With as much as we'd like to see, I guarantee you that there's not many students leaving down south in Homestead and going to the school in North Miami to get their schooling. So it's going to be students from the northeast quadrant of our county, maybe a little bit south and north and west of there, and folks will be coming in, but it's still going to affect those boundary schools. So if we couldn't, Just as a follow-up, if you could, that data could be provided. I'm sure academics has data on the neighboring high schools in that area, where they're at with their seats, and where we plan to fill these 500 seats from. That would be interesting to see, just because the body that's responsible for the fiscal investments of this district, I mean, it's $18 million when we're looking at possible schools being used as co-location sites, possible schools being shut down, and then now we're going to add 500 seats, it's something that I think we just need to be informed about. And I'm sure the data will support it. I think it's just important that we do this as an informed board, knowing what the outlook is like on where those students are coming from and the need for it within that community. And I know it's just a phase two, but it'd still be great to take a pause and look at that before the meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bono. You had a follow-up?

Yes, sir. Through the chair, Board Member Alonso, being the former superintendent of the region, there was planning that was done for that school. And one of the things, the thought behind it was to increase the numbers, not necessarily having it to attract our own students, which we will. However, it was much more to deal with the competition that we have in that northern end with a charter school. and the borderline of North County in attracting Broadwood students and bringing them into Dade County and trying to collect on those FTEs. Our intention was much like the Barbara Goleman intention where we did not look favorably for Dr. Sanchez to recruit within his own neighborhood where we wanted him to recruit outside and especially more so within the charter schools that were around there. And as you're very well aware, Barbara Goleman was a success, is a success, and that is the same vision that we had at that time for FIU.

Follow-up? Sure. I appreciate your point, Mr. Bueno, but I would say that it's actually the opposite. We have Hialeah Miami Lake Senior High School down the street from Barbara Goeman, and it's at the lowest enrollment it's ever had. And I can tell you when I talk to students in Miami Lakes or in Hialeah, they all want to go to the magnet school. They don't want to go to HML. We have to now promote them and we're adding programs there to be able to attract them back to those boundary schools that were there available to them. I just caution us on saying that we're just going to be pulling from charters or competitive advantage, having a competitive advantage. It does always affect our boundary schools. I've seen it within my district where I have one mega magnet that that's where everybody's lined up to want to go to. And then the high schools that surround it, American Senior High School, Hialeah Miami Lake Senior High School, Hialeah High. have all been impacted by Barbara Goleman. Yes, enrollment is at full capacity at Goleman. Every parent calls me wanting to see if there's a way to get into there, and I say it's an application process, and you have to go through it. It's a, you know, it's a magnet school. But they have effects on boundary schools, and that's why I would just like to see that data before the meeting.

Absolutely, thanks so much. Member McGill, you had a follow-up?

I do. Let me say that I think that the point made by Board Member Alonso and the point made before him by Board Member Santos are very good points. And I want to encourage that and agree that that's information that we need to look at that's information is just always good information good i've never seen information that it was bad to have sometimes it's dismaying but you still need to know that said i want to support what mr bueno said as well i know this neighborhood actually know the other neighborhood we're talking about because both my stepson and my stepdaughter were at Barbara Goleman when they lived out there with my wife at that time. And yeah, it's a great school. I think you make a point in the course of what you were saying that when we have a magnet school like this, it may replace neighborhood schools that because people want to go to this magnet school. It's hot, new, it's exciting. And that, you know, you mentioned that the other schools there, you know, American, HML, are, you know, having to come up with different things to be able to keep people. But that's what we should be doing anyway all the time, is not just, the magnet schools are a fantastic thing. We're a national leader, I'm told. But I should let the educators on the board really comment on that, but I'm told that that's the case. But we should always be working to make sure that the neighborhood schools that might lose ground to these magnets have new and exciting things there that they will attract and retain, and people are going to say, hey, the magnet school looks great, but, you know, there's something at my neighborhood school that's new there because that's how we compete. And I just want to add one point again in support of what Mr. Bueno said. You know, we talk so much about charter schools, I think sometimes it's like an obsession. The reality, at least where I am, it's not just charter schools. There are a lot of private schools with parents, voucher, no voucher, messed up, whatever, who want their kids in a specific learning environment and we're losing students to private schools because people like the way they're run or they like the curriculum or they like something about it. So we're not just competing with charter schools. They are, after all, a different type of public schools. But in my neighborhood, we're losing a lot of great students to private schools. So I totally support what Board Member Alonso has requested and the point that was made by Board Member Santos. I'd like to see that information as well. But let's be, I know it's not an easy thing, certainly easier for us to try to predict because you've done the work, because you've looked at this, because the studies have been done. It's certainly easier to predict what impact this may have on neighborhood schools. But please, if you're going to give us information, like I said, all information is good. I'd like to see, to the extent you can, balance giving us that information with the number of students that you're predicting or guessing or whatever it is, are going to come from charter schools, are going to come from some remote area of the county. This is a great program. I know people go to I-PREP from all over the place if they can get in because they love what they're doing. But include – take a look at the private schools too to the extent you can have that data. How many students are moving from one of our schools' neighborhood to this magnet, or will be? But how many students are coming back into our district schools, into traditional public schools, from charters that we talk about? But let's really look at private. That's a player where I live. And then we'll have balanced information, and I totally agree with you. Let's get all the information we can. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. Thank you so much. Seeing no, well, Board Member, please.

Yes, thank you, through the Chair. I appreciate the discussion, and I'm never averse to the request, the collection, and potential analysis of data. But I want to, through the chair, say respectfully, I'll look at the data, but looking at the data as it relates to a potential impact on neighboring schools is not only myopic, it is also inconsequential when you're looking at a countywide choice program. I don't want to use the word irrelevant, but when you look at the program you have, there is some sense of irrelevance. It's good data to have, but there could not be any real sound, scientific, pragmatic decision making around what is the occupancy rate, if you will, of the schools that are contiguous to that location. I want to say that first and foremost. Secondly, In 2017, I brought an item, 8-7 at the time, about the expansion of in-district school choice programs. Not gonna go down a history lesson as it relates to one of the premier schools we have in our district, which is MAST at Biscayne Bay. But there is, prior to my arrival on the board, prior to our chair's arrival on the board, there is history with how that school was erected, how that school was conceived, and how that school was funded. So to the extent that we have now a masked academy on the northern part of the community, it has... serves some purpose of mitigating some of the conspicuous proven disparities of access and opportunity. Because for those who are uninformed, the initial conception of the Mast Academy and its related expansion was restricted to people who resided on the island. there were very few, if many, black students on that campus. That became not only a local state, but a national discourse around that particular issue. So the district has always been about equity and access and opportunity. But number three, not for the sake of equity, access, and opportunity, but for the sake of academic success. The Mast Academy at FIU North is one of the highest ranked schools, full stop. And I'm almost willing to say it's probably ranked higher than Mast at Biscayne Bay. And we're just talking about some purely scientific academic metrics, but when you look at the overall importance of an integrated, diverse educational experience for students and providing access to students, as I would say, from Florida City to County Line Road, it is exceptional. And through the chair, it's not in my district, but I'm affected by that district. Actually, I have North Miami Beach, which previously was not in my district, but I have that school now. You have North Miami, that would be my school, in my district. You have North Miami Beach, that would be the high school. Board Member Geller has Crop, and I think we stop at that particular point. We have Alonzo Morning, okay? So now you're stopping, I think I'm running out of names, in high schools in that particular corridor. Miami Beach. Miami Beach. Miami Beach is a stretch because it's further west. Yeah, but I'm talking about on that, Yeah, I know they'll travel, but I'm talking about when you start looking at continuous data, because if you go to Miami Beach, then you could easily go Northwestern, you can go Edison, you can go Central, but we're talking about continuous schools.

And lastly, I think if we're gonna look at some data,

Tell me what does this data say about a waiting list? A waiting list will speak to where the demand is, the supply and demand. If you go back and read my item from 2017, I proposed at the time with the former superintendent and academic officer, it's really a business proposition, supply and demand. We have a reality where the demand for seats in that school We're not able to supply. That's what data is the most salient. So through the chair, historically, have we had waiting lists at this school through the chair?

Through the chair, yes, Dr. Gallin. We currently have 200 plus on the waiting list. Bear with me.

So, I'm okay, you answered the question through the chair. If we have a waiting list of 200 plus kids that can't get into a school of their choice, in a nationally recognized choice district, They can't, the parents who chose that school can't get in there because there's not enough space. I think that is the most salient piece of data that we have to contemplate. Data about what's happening at North Miami Beach, North Miami, occupancy, things of that nature. Again, in my estimation and respectfully, that becomes less salient than what the waiting list numbers because that's the real barometer of who wants to get in but can't. And if they can't get into that school, those 250 parents, they're gonna go somewhere. And Board Member Geller's right. We spent a lot of time talking about charters, but I was one of the ones. I don't want to say, Madam Chair, I predicted this, but I'll say it. I predicted well over a decade ago well over a decade ago, that the fight between charters and traditional district schools will end. And at some point, based on what was coming down the pike, we will become allies because we are public schools. And I often find myself saying that in my community, you know, charter schools are public schools. But with the advent of, and I went through this before, I'm not gonna go through it again, with the advent of vouchers and other private school opportunities, um that's one of the most significant uh competition factors we have and i you know evidence nobody could have imagined that i would have been at a microphone with with zulueta talking about the referendum you know people understood that we stood shoulder to shoulder as it related to uh how we have to work together we under the same accountability standards we all have have to have certified teachers they have to take the same assessment they have to provide certain things Private schools don't have the same rigid expectations. And I'll just say this parenthetically. We know just what happened. We're seeing about what the state is saying about doging, but we just saw an implosion, an explosive report that showed how many private schools mismanagement that has taken place with children not being served. So, you know, and I'm saying that if you haven't followed, they're talking about now doging the school districts. The guy was just on social media talking about we're going to start with the 67 counties or something, doging the districts. But when you have an issue of some of the voucher programs that have had well-documented losses because of a lack of accountability, it's not a contest. So I I don't want to go off task, but I just think it's important to put that data point on the record that we have 200 and plus students and families that want to go there but that can't because we don't have the space. And again, this program has a proven track record for high academic success. And last but not least, data relative to the occupancy rates of the continuous schools in close proximity. you know, may have little to no bearing on the future enrollment trend. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you so much. And the award for longest discussion on a construction contract goes to... I know you guys didn't want me to win, but come on. Poor Mr. Perez. One more. Thank you. Sorry, Raul, I tried.

Because Dr. Gallin brought up some really great points, so I have to add a little bit. And you were right on the money in your predictions in evaluating the supply and demand issue. And so this item addresses one side of that coin, right? Addressing for unmet demand, there's demand here, clearly expressed demand that needs to be addressed. And then on the supply side, that's the piece that I said, maybe if we use the current frameworks that we've been looking at together, we don't have as comprehensive of a plan I'll give an example in my district, there's a renovation project, but there are a couple of schools that have, it's not significant capacity, but some capacity, and so the decision was made that in order to balance the supply and demand equation, we had to in the renovation take down a building because it wasn't being used and there are plenty of seats in the geographical area. And so that's the equation that I think I was referencing specific to this one. I love that we're addressing the demand question and equally to have a comprehensive Sound plan we have to address the supply question And nobody has the magic ball of like telling you that students are gonna come from here. They're like that doesn't There's an art and a science to it But certainly we have to address both sides of the equation and I certainly have had to already do some of that in my district Thank you through the chair.

No problem. Any other comments? All right, just make sure next item at 54

Through the chair, I'm sorry, sir. Through the chair, to be extremely transparent, we administratively are going to be looking at the item and revising it. So there can obviously be conversations. However, we will be, our intentions are to revise this item.

Okay. You want to present? I mean, are you pulling it or are you just going to revise it for the board meeting?

We will not be pulling. We will be revising. Through the chair, we will be revising, Mr. Chair.

Not pulling.

Yeah, just a question. I know that this is a renewal contract, so I had my briefing on it. I didn't have any issues with it. So if there's going to be a revision, is it going to have any implications for our procurement process that we currently have? Because this is already approved by the board. Am I correct?

Through the chair, the initial... Yes. Yes. Yes. It was approved by the board. We are coming back with this item asking for an additional year.

However, we will be revising it. For the terms? Through the chair, you don't... Is there the right... Okay. Through the chair... You want to have a conversation?

Right. It's a team of us that we're looking at it, and we want to be able to... give you the right proposal and we want to be able to get together before we actually say that we're going to change anything.

Any particular term or anything like that. But through the chair, if it's a renewal, the terms are going to have to be consistent with the initial contract that was awarded. The terms.

Through the chair. Under the initial, through the chair, under the RFP. Through the chair, that's part of the conversation we are going to have with legal and our procurement team. Yes, sir. Just let me know what's happening with that.

Through the chair, yes. Board Member Alonzo, go ahead.

Okay.

No, I just want to let staff know I appreciate it, and I'm looking forward to revisions. I did have some questions regarding it. I don't know if any other board members had to, and I'm sure the staff will come back with some suggestions on it. I really appreciate, you know, Mr. Carl Niccolo as well as staff in meeting with me because, Dr. Gallin, just to be fully transparent, there were some questions regarding the factors and how the factors were determined and how it is that we deal with job contracts. So I think staff will be reviewing some of those discussions. And, yes, it is a renewal, but I know that some questions from me at least were brought up regarding it. And I think that staff will then be briefing, I guess, each board member based on, what the outcomes are of the questions that were made.

Thank you, Board Member Alonso. I mean, interestingly enough, I mean, I did have, when I saw this, and I was going to ask off record, but you brought it up, you know, whether it's our policy to have different factors in the same category. Miami-Dade County, for example, has uniform factors so that a pool of contractors essentially are treated the same across the board. So I was going to ask that, but you brought it up. So, Board Member, I'm sorry, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, sir, and I want to thank everyone that I spoke to, a lot of people, for many concerns that I had that have already been shared with all of you, and I will not be addressing that at this time. I will wait to see what the revised item looks like, and I appreciate the fact that you listened very carefully to the concerns that I personally raised regarding this item. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Member Gallin, you had a follow-up?

Yes, through the chair. I guess I'll wait to find out what some of the issues are. I just want to make sure that if this is part of an original solicitation that the fiscal impact is not one that is detrimental to the district, meaning that when you negotiate an initial contract, we understand that sometimes costs go up, sometimes the economics change, but that's why sometimes you lock into a contract with the ability to extend. So I just wanna be very, very clear with staff and with legal, as Mr. Steiger, he's not here. He's there?

He's hiding.

Yeah, through the chair, we have to be austere. A lot of times, You know, we're dealing with a lot of the NFL and the NIL. A lot of times people talk about contracts. You lock into a long-term contract because you want to get favorable terms. But when you start to reopen them, if you change those, those will be a concern for me. Thank you.

That's fair. Why don't we do this? Entertain a motion to transmit... Oh, do you have a follow-up? Okay. Sorry about that.

I don't think I spoke on this one. No, you didn't. Go ahead. So just real quickly, and perhaps I'm wrong, but we have the benefit of great counsel. I don't see why... I have no idea what the issues are. I don't know what the concerns are. I didn't have any. I didn't see anything. But obviously, you know, some people do, and that's fine. But I don't see any reason why if we're renewing something, my understanding would be certainly the renewal, as per Dr. Gallin's point, has to align with the board's priorities and the board's policies that are adopted. and we have to have something that the board passes, and it can't be changed unless the board votes to pass it, but it has to align with the board's policies and the board's priorities. But that said, and I understand that hopefully these are all favorable contracts now, I'm not aware, unless Mr. Harvey corrects me, of anything that says as long as we're not fundamentally changing the scope in a way that changes the contract from what it was we originally approved, if we want to make some mutually agreeable amendments, we can't enforce those unless the other contracting party is willing. But if we want to, you know, tweak some things that don't change the basic nature of what the contract was that was awarded in whatever fashion the procurement happened, and if there are changes that align with the board's policies and priorities, I don't know of any reason why we can't make some amendments, some tweaks to this contract in renewal to keep it aligned with board priorities. Am I wrong on that, Mr. Harvey? Feel free to say that if you think so, by the way. I don't mind.

Through the chair, I agree with you. I guess they still have to meet and determine what the changes would be, and then we would have that discussion.

I mean, we'd have to approve it. If we don't like them, we're going to say no. But as long as they're mutually agreeable and don't change the basic nature of what we're doing, I don't see any reason why we can't. make some amendments as long as I said they continue to be aligned with the board's intentions and priorities. That's my two cents.

Yes, just follow up. Again, I want to thank my colleagues for raising some of these issues of which I'm yet to really find out what the issue is. It kind of went over my head. When I see a renewal, I'm usually of the understanding that at some point the board disposed of this particular issue subject to the renewal terms during its initial award. So in the second paragraph, this obviously was awarded December 14, 2022, and it has one year with two possible one-year renewals. Through the Chair, which renewal is this, the second renewal or the first renewal? Through the Chair, the one year. Through the Chair, I believe this is the second renewal.

So it's been renewed for one... No, no, no. Since 2022, this is coming up requesting the first extension. I'm sorry.

So the first terms of the contract, was it... For two years from 2022... So it was a two-year contract?

The two-year contract, and now we were coming back and asking for an additional year. But once again, as Mr. Bueno stated, allow staff to get with procurement and legal... and make the proper adjustments and we'll come back.

Just wanna make sure this committee process is so effective because we're able to have discussions here that we don't have to have out. And the reason I'm raising this issue, and I'm just gonna be very transparent, There are some issues that we see to the north of us relative to some issues that just occurred with some facility procurement issues and things of that nature. So it kind of heightened my awareness of that. And again, because it's a renewal, I really didn't pay much attention to it. But I will be asking the question, whatever terms we make, is it going to cost more money to the district? And if it's not going to cost any additional money to the district, that's a good thing in this particular point, but I'll take a deeper dive, but just think about what I'm gonna ask in advance.

Through the chair, Dr. Gallin, just to clear something, this is actually the third renewal. It was a one-year renewal with two one-year extensions, and then there's an additional extension upon mutual agreement with the parties, and they have mutually agreed, so that we're bringing forward the third-year renewal. So it'll be three plus two? It's three plus one. It was an initial one-year contract.

So through the chair, what was the initial?

A one-year contract with two one-year renewals. So we've exhausted all of those. And now we're bringing back a third renewal, a fourth-year renewal, let's say, upon mutual agreement with the parties, which we have.

Under the initial terms?

Under the initial terms.

Okay, and when does it come out for a new solicitation? This is the last one.

through this year through the chair this is the last one my colleague mr. Niccolo is getting that in that plan ready to issue a solicitation for that okay thank you thank you thank you so much chair and I apologize I didn't want to make this delay but I think it as dr. gallon said I mean transparency is always important right and let's not let's not shy away from it right I had a concern the concern was on factors I honestly was not here in December of 22 to understand the contract. Mr. Niccolo together with Mr. Perez have been very informative to me and explained to me how the factor works. I went ahead and did some homework and went out to see what other municipalities and other government agencies use for factors. And there's some bit of a discrepancy. And it's not that anything was done wrong. in that some organizations use an average, some use the lower rate from a factor to be able to create an equitable field, not to increase cost, but to decrease cost to the district. Where right now, there is an actual increased cost factor here because there are some factors that are higher than others. So what we're doing is, and I believe staff is doing, is exploring is there a way that we can, in this extension, sort of create a level of playing field so that the district saves money and all the Participants in this job contract are held to the same level of expectations, both from a quality, but as well as a reimbursement rate. So I just wanted to be transparent on what my concerns were. I don't know what the other board members were, but that was was there because, as you said, committee is a time to discuss things. And what I wanted to do was give staff an opportunity to make some adjustments based on my feedback. But I thought it was important that as we're here. And we won't be able to talk about this again until next Wednesday, that at least you understood what it was. And it's not to increase. It's actually to decrease and to create a level playing field for everybody.

Thank you. Thank you, Board Member Alonzo. I'll just interject and say that I had similar sentiments. Essentially, with the factors the way they are, you can have similarly situated contractors getting paid different for the same job. One getting paid more, one getting paid less. So to your point, somebody's getting paid more for it, we're paying more for it, and somebody's getting paid less for it. And the idea is if we're being austere and we're being good stewards, let's figure out how to be consistent across the board. Why don't we do this? In light of the pending changes, why don't we entertain a motion to transmit without a record? Before you do, sir. Oh, I'm sorry.

I was not going to speak, and I'm not going to get into it again because I was giving them the opportunity since I've already addressed exactly issues very similar to what has just been addressed. And we wanted to make sure that the multipliers... for everyone was fair and equitable and that there were different options out there for this process to take place. And you look at the highest bidder, you look at the lowest bidder, and one option can be, okay, go to the lowest bidder. and give the person in the highest bidding scenario the opportunity to go down to the lowest and be able to address it at that level and say yes or no. That is their prerogative. And then if they say yes, they would be included. If no, then that's your choice to make. But on the average, which is what a lot of other entities are doing. You look at the highest, the lowest, you look at what is in the middle, the average, and based on the average, that's how a lot of these are done with other external entities aside from Miami-Dade County Public Schools. And I've had a lot of discussion in reference to this, and I wanna thank each and every one of you. You know how many discussions I've been having related to this. as well, and so I wasn't gonna address it. I was gonna wait until the board meeting as we discussed that you all were gonna make the changes, but since it's being addressed at this time, I have to be as open as possible. I always believe full transparency, and that's what was gonna happen at the board meeting, giving you all the opportunity to review and make changes so that this process that we have in place in Miami-Dade County Public Schools is fair and equitable to everyone concerned, not that there's a massive difference here between one group and another. 24%, and I don't wanna go taking a deeper dive right now, but I had to put this on the record, and I see that you're jumping out of your seat, so Mr. Chair, it appears that we have someone that wants to speak.

I'm going to ask respectfully to allow us to go back. We are not the only ones, better yet, our spouses are not the only ones that watch this committee meeting. There are others that are watching. And for us to now go back to negotiate and to talk to other individuals, it may make it a little bit harder for us because our game play may be out and about. So with all due respect, if we can, thank you. Board Member Santos.

Thank you. Not to contradict or go against what you just said, Mr. Bueno. But honestly, I haven't done my research, a deep dive on this. But there is, because when I hear averaging out, there's a serious concern I have around that. We live in a capitalist society. We keep talking about competition. And as a business owner who had to bid and compete through all kinds of different procurement processes and just regular business, I think there is something to be said about if you average out, you create an alternative incentive. And so, again, haven't done a deep dive on this specific type of contracting, but when I hear averaging out as a business owner, I think of, I know exactly what I would have done in my bed if we average out. And so, I just think that's important to name. And I think that if you are, listen, I'm trying to think of an example. Sometimes there's a, for example, blanket that I want and I have found it at TJ Maxx for a lower price and I can found it at Saks for a different price and at a really nice boutique Instagram retailer for a much higher price. Naturally, if I'm trying to buy everybody here blankets, I'm going to go to TJ Maxx, get as many as I can get my hand on, whatever the market provides. Then I'm going to go to Saks and get as many as I can get my hands on, and hopefully that covers everyone. And if not, I will go to the Instagram boutique provider and pay what I have to for what I need and want. If I averaged out, I may, maybe, and again, specifics matter here, I may lose... out on savings. So the specifics matter. I'm not saying that's the case here. But understanding the world of business and bidding, I hesitate to move to any kind of averaging. And then what happens when you hold people either to the highest or to the lowest, then there are alternative incentives that are created. And so I just wanted to put that on the record, given the discussion that I heard. Thank you.

Thank you so much. This is on you now. All right. Through the chair, one last thing.

I want to make sure and I want to be clear. We are not looking to increase the price under no circumstances. And I want to make that clear to the listening audience. Whatever average, no average, mid-average, high average, low average, the intention is not to award more monies.

Thank you, sir. I will now entertain a motion to transmit without a recommendation on F54. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Moving on, F80.

F80 is the authorization to approve the prequalification of contractors for educational facilities construction.

Colleagues, any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, entertain a motion to approve the F items except for F54. All in favor?

Aye.

Excellent. Any new business from the board? Okay, great. Facilities and maintenance comprehensive update. Mr. Perez.

Mr. Chair, the GOB and facilities update was provided with the committee packet. If you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them.

Seeing no comments. Office of Community Partnerships, Education, and Business Access. I think the report's been provided, the presentation's been provided. Any comments? No.

My only quick question through the chair. We used to hold, and we probably still are, but I'd be interested in knowing when we can come up and I can meet with you after on community meetings when we were working with the small business owners and learning about how they can do business with the district. Do we have a schedule for the 2026 year and where those community meetings will be held if we're having them this year through the chair?

Through the chair, yes. In the report that we transmit, we list the events that took place before the last report and then any that are up and coming. However, we are open to scheduling any events. We're working on the new schedule now with several municipalities as well as with you all so that we can hold more events. The next one is Saturday in the north as part of the business expo for north will be at date north and it is in the report.

Thank you so much. May I have a motion to adjourn?

Move it. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Meeting adjourned.