Remarks by Joseph S. Geller
75 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 3
- Play at 51:33
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 19, 2026
- Play at 3:42:04
“Thank you, Madam Chair. And hi, colleagues. I'm sorry I missed you guys when this was talked about last week at committee, but I was away, as you know. Glad to be here. I want to be clear on a couple things about this item. Most importantly, I think, is what it does not do, because I'm led to believe there were some questions. This certainly doesn't ban artificial turf. It doesn't require the district to remove one field or one portion of a field. It doesn't require the district to replace synthetic turf with grass. It doesn't even ask us to decide today that there's a problem with artificial…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:04:10
“So let me say, Madam Chair, that I'm certainly amenable to amendments to what I've proposed. Absolutely. I like the idea that our board generally moves by consensus, and I'd like to do that. With that said, let me try to respond not to the points, because the points, you obviously have done a great deal of personal research on it. And I appreciate that, and I commend you for doing that. I'm not sure, well, I can only speak for myself. I know I have not done that deep a dive. I was hoping that would be something staff would do. So kudos to you for that. I was going to suggest the following…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:06:34
“I can live with that, certainly. So two amendments based on your specific suggestions, Madam Chair. At the bottom, at the end of recommend one, it would read strike the language there about a temporary moratorium on future installations while... and substitute and evaluate the feasibility of implementing new language future policy adjustments when such review is completed. Of course, when the review is completed, really, it's entirely up to the superintendent. That's not, I mean, we're gonna have a report, but how long the review goes and how deep it needs to go and whether there is new…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:08:07
“Consider the future policy adjustments when such review is completed, and we'll put a comma if deemed appropriate. That's absolutely advisable.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:10:26
“Through the chair, I'd like to accept the suggestion that was made by Board Member Spino as a friendly amendment. Thank you, sir. And insert the words where it says operational benefits, insert the word standards and. So it's operational standards and benefits, is that? Okay, I'd like to accept that as a friendly amendment as well, through the chair.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:12:43
“Through the chair? Yes, sir. I'd welcome any language, Board Member Alonso. I think Maybe that Board Member Espino's insertion of the language operational standards as well as benefits. May go to that, but your concern is, I think, is well taken. And that's why, I mean, even if maintenance is low, is not expensive on the artificial turf, knowing how long it should last and when it's gonna be replaced, if it's low maintenance and it'll go 20 years, That's fantastic. If it's low maintenance but expensive to install and it needs to be replaced in six to eight years, we maybe have a different…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:16:13
“Through the chair, let me tell you what I wrote down listening to you and see if it meets what you're looking for. It's just, again, we can work on it.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:16:37
“Okay. the change i just heard suggested and where it might go would uh from board member alonso i wrote i wrote down the following and again we can change it board member but in um in what's now being passed out uh it says of implementing and here's new language um the were actually the word a should come out implementing future policy adjustments And what I wrote was putting a comma after that and adding language that says, including maintenance and replacement costs as well as safety concerns, and then picks back up with when such review is completed if deemed appropriate. So we explicitly…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:18:48
“I'm good with the language. Here's where I would put it It currently with the amendment it reads operational standards and benefits and limitations. And I would put what you just read after the word limitations, and if you would repeat it, including, say it again through the chair one more time, Board Member Alonso.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:19:25
“The words were okay if you just repeat them through the chat.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:19:47
“That's fine, including maintenance and upkeep. What was the next word?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:19:56
“Of existing turf fields. Of existing facilities.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:20:56
“While we have a momentary break, Madam Chair, I arrived a little bit late and I would like to be recorded as voting in favor of the consent agenda.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:24:08
“Yes, ma'am. The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida directs the superintendent to number one. conduct a comprehensive review of the district's use of synthetic turf and artificial grass, including student health considerations, environmental impacts, lifecycle costs, operational standards, maintenance, and upkeep practices of existing turf fields, BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS AND AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES AND EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING THE WORD A IS SURPLUSSAGE AND SHOULD BE STRICKEN. IT SHOULD READ OF IMPLEMENTING FUTURE POLICY ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDING MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:26:19
“Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, board.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:41:12
“Thank you, Madam Chair. And Vice Chair, I also appreciate the item. I think it's Very important that people in the community try to understand, but really more important that the district devote its efforts to being proactive in the way that you've outlined. I mean, everything here is great, but number three, recommend three is just so spot on to see what we can do. I'll confess, I've never liked the idea of school grades. I think they're misleading and that they don't provide a fair picture. And district grades, I like even less. I'm glad that we're an A-rated district and have been, but The…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:53:33
“Less of an announcement than a question. Apparently, while I was gone, we seem to have scheduled a workshop for Wednesday. I don't remember, excuse me, for Monday. I remember when we scheduled Wednesday, I was pretty sure that was the only thing we had that week.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:54:17
“I'm a little unclear about what we're trying to accomplish two days before we're.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:55:32
“But my question is what, where we've named someone and we're two days away from trying to finalize a contract, I'm unclear, what is the purpose of the workshop? What is it to address?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:56:05
“Through the chair, sir. Outgoing, through the chair. Through the chair. I'm addressing the chair, so I don't know if it's through the chair. Yes, through the chair. When I'm not speaking to someone else, it's you I'm speaking to. But, of the... outgoing superintendent of the incoming superintendent?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:58:03
“Well first of all let me just say for the record Madam Chair unfortunately I'm unavailable on Monday will not be able to attend. I know it's just a workshop and we're not voting but nonetheless I'm sorry and I express my regrets that I'm unable to but I have a pre-existing business commitment which I took into account when we scheduled for the 19th but not for this late breaking. I just And I guess I'll address it further through the general counsel with deference. I appreciate whatever it is that board member Santos wants to do, but if it's regarding the next superintendent, I feel like we…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:11:56
“Thank you very much, sir. Madam Chair, is a quick comment permissible?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:12:10
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:33:47
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 11, 2026