Remarks by Mari Tere Rojas
241 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 10
- Play at 4:19:10
“Yeah, Board Member Alonso, will you start with maintenance and operational standards? He would like to see it instead of what you had said initially. He would like to see it after the word limitations.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:20:00
“Thank you. All right, would our recording secretary please revise one more time based on what has just been discussed?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:20:16
“And so with that said, I don't know if Board Member Bendos-Meningo, did you wanna say anything, ma'am, or not? Okay, ma'am. I think that's a good move. All right, so she's going to bring it down now. We will read it one more time before our final approval to move it forward. Let's just give her one moment.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:21:10
“Do we have to take a vote on that, sir, now?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:21:13
“I will. All those in favor? Well, I have a motion, do I have a second? All in favor?”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:21:21
“Any opposed, nay? Seeing none, motion passes, and that would be both for Board Member Geller and Board Member Espino. Thank you.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:21:31
“Yes, sir. Okay. Give it one more minute. And then we have one more board item. And announcements.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:22:44
“Okay, she is coming down with the documents now. Thank you very much. We'll give it a minute. Board Member Geller, sir, for the record, if you could please read the action proposed.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:26:10
“Do I have a second? Thank you. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, nay. I think the plane has landed successfully. Thank you, board.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:26:21
“All right, thank you very much. And now we are going to proceed to H14. H-14 is the review of the impact of Florida school grading scale adjustment and development of a strategic response for the 2026-2027 school year. Co-sponsors for the item were myself, Board Member Alonso, and Board Member Geller. I also, at this time, do not have anyone who has signed up to speak, so Vice Chair Colucci, this is your item, ma'am. You're recognized at this time.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:35:44
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:46:26
“All right, I have Board Member Blanco, then Board Member Espino.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:52:08
“Thank you, Vice Chair Calucci, and I can assure you our principals are talking about this because I have a whole group of principals that last week we talked about exactly this, and especially your high school principals. So I know they appreciate the item just as much as we do because everybody is very cognizant of the changes that are coming our way, but this is not the first time this has happened to us. We've gone through this. Those of us that have been around quite a while have seen this happen. Again and again every time we get to a certain level then of course the bar has to go up and…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:53:53
“I'll answer that question for you, sir. That is, board member Santos had requested a workshop on the evaluation of the assessment of the superintendent. You were polled, you were given two options. Every board member chose which option was in their best interest, and the one that had the highest number was the upcoming meeting that we will have prior to the 19th. And that is a request.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:54:21
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:55:46
“Sir, I can't answer the question of what is in the mind of Board Member Santos. I just know she wanted to have a workshop based on the evaluation status. of the superintendent. She has ideas, and we all may have different ideas, or the same, I don't know, but that's what the workshop is going to be about.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:56:24
“No, sir, it's for the incoming superintendent, and it doesn't mean anything is going to occur, it's just a workshop. The outgoing superintendent, or any superintendent for that matter, has to collaborate with the board on an evaluation tool that is used. It cannot be one way or another, but we are going to have a workshop to address issues that Board Member Santos wanted to have addressed at the workshop. We will all have our comments and then we will proceed from there. You don't vote, you don't do anything during a workshop except having that workshop, listening to the information that is…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:58:56
“through your answer to that question. I fully concur with that, but that's not the purpose. She wants to address what she thinks should be addressed. That doesn't mean we're gonna do anything. There is no action taken in a workshop. And you don't even have to attend the workshop. That's up to your prerogative if you want to attend or not. It's up to each board member. The workshop is being offered. I need to have at least six people who respond yes so that I can schedule that workshop for her. And then at the actual workshop, you don't need to have six people. You're going to have three.…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:00:12
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:00:59
“Thank you, sir, and that was to set up the workshop.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:01:04
“Thank you. All right, so with that said, I have now a moment for announcements. Vice Chair Calucci, ma'am, you're recognized.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:01:40
“Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, ma'am, and I don't have anyone else, so I too have the same message for our teachers, our parents, our students, the members of our workforce, and all of our stakeholders. It's gonna be another superb year. and even though we have challenges ahead of us, I'm confident that this school district will definitely rise to the occasion and I'm looking forward again to much success and much joy for the students who are coming back from summer break and being able to go to schools where they are welcome, they are valued, and they are heard. So congratulations to…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:08:48
“Thank you very much, sir, and I will begin calling now speakers that have signed up. Antonio White, good afternoon, sir.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:12:02
“We usually don't comment here at this time, but if you want to make one today, I'll let you make a quick one, but normally we don't speak at this time.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 5:18:46
“Thank you. Heather Knickerbocker? Good afternoon, ma'am.”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026