Remarks by Mari Tere Rojas
241 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 7 of 10
- Play at 3:18:02
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:18:54
“So general counsel to the board, are all of our agenda items properly before the assembly and in compliance with board policy, state statutes, and all other legal requirements under which this board operates?”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:19:06
“Thank you. We will now go through the consent agenda. This is the time that board members advise me of those items they wish to address. Items for which the board has signed up to speak will not be placed on the consent agenda. All items not reserved for separate consideration will then be approved under the consent agenda. The board members will be provided the additional speakers once sign up is complete. Do I hear a motion for approval of speakers to agenda items and public hearing topics not previously signed up to speak? So moved. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed nay?…”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:22:16
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:23:29
“Thank you very much. All right, Board Member Colucci, I don't have you down for anything, ma'am, is that correct? Thank you. And we don't have, Board Member Santos is not here, and the student advisor is not here yet. Before the vote on the consent agenda is taken, I will call those persons who have signed up to speak to items that are part of the consent agenda to address them. Therefore, at this time, I will call those members who have signed up to these items to address the board now.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:24:09
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:26:45
“Thank you. Thank you very much. Nancy Vega? Nancy Vega.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:27:07
“No, it is D71. Ah, no, it's C71. Let me put on my glasses. Mine says D71, so. Oh, I'm sorry, D71, you're right, I'm sorry. Thank you. Okay.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:29:05
“Thank you, I appreciate it. Cheryl Mullenix, one more time. These are all the speakers that I have that signed up to speak, so therefore we shall continue with the agenda at this time. The vote on the consent agenda shall be bifurcated into two separate votes as follows. A vote on all items in the consent agenda excluding item E-148-F-4, and F5 since board member Blanco and Espino have declared a conflict of interest for the record. May I have a motion? Do I have a second? All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed nay. Seeing none, motion passes. A separate vote. Madam Chair? Yes, sir?”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:30:23
“Okay, so repeat what you want me to say.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:30:35
“We'll do that, not a problem. All right, so I make a motion to have the vote now on F4 and F5. Do I have a second? All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed say nay. Motion passes. Do I have a motion for E148? Do I have a second? All in favor say aye. Thank you, item passes. This bifurcation now shall allow the board to address items efficiently while maintaining the compliance with conflict of interest guidelines. The results of both votes shall be recorded separately in the official minutes of this meeting. And may I have a motion and a second to approve agenda items, again, E-148, F-4, and…”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:31:41
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:31:51
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:33:45
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:34:11
“If your item passed under the consent agenda and you did not address it prior to the vote, but you still wish to be able to speak during the public hearing, please, again, go to the lobby counter outside the auditorium where staff will advise you and be happy to help. In the process, do I hear a motion for approval of the bid opening list for June 11th, 2026, June 16th, 2026, June 18th, 2026, and June 23rd, 2026? I have a motion, all right, a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed nay, motion passes. Do I hear a motion for approval of the board minutes for the regular school board…”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:49:07
“Thank you very much. I'm gonna open it. Any of my colleagues wanna make a comment? All right, well, I just wanna thank you. This was wonderful. We get to truly, not only us sitting here on this dais, but everyone who is watching the meeting gets to see why MDCPS is truly your best choice. And the fact that we are starting at the early years, which is when these children are sponges, truly from zero to five. is when all that learning is taking place and that foundation is being built. And with that foundation comes success. By the time they get to third grade, it's too late if they didn't…”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:50:32
“Yes, thank you very much, sir. So we now are going to proceed to D69. D69 is a proposed renaming of Hialeah Elementary School at 550 East 8th Street, Hialeah, Florida. And I do not have any speakers that have signed up, but I do have Board Member Espino, sir. You signed up for this item.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:53:58
“Thank you very much, sir. And yes, indeed, it was an honor for me also to chair the meeting that was conducted with members of the community that came to that meeting to express their sincerest support for the renaming of this school, which is so well-deserved. And thank you, Board Member Espino, for bringing it forth and for all the wonderful words that you have shared with all of us with reference to such a special human being who made a MASSIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY, AND ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS. SO BOARD MEMBER GELLER, SIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:55:48
“POINT MEMBER GELLER, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC, SIR?”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:56:23
“Thank you so much. And at this time, I need a motion to approve D69. Second.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:56:29
“All in favor? Aye. Any opposed nay? Seeing none, Motion passes. Congratulations to the family, and thank you once again, Board Member Espino. We are now going to proceed to F1.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:57:00
“All right, I'd like to move to F1 at this time. F1 is to authorize the superintendent to finalize negotiations and execute a lease agreement with the Greater Love Full Gospel Baptist Church Inc. for the operation of an early childhood education program at Myrtle Grove Elementary. I do have a board member who signed up, and that is Board Member Blanco.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 4:02:34
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 4:04:36
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 4:06:38
“Yes, thank you very much, ma'am. Board Member Espino, and then I have Vice Chair Colucci.”
School Board · Jul 22, 2026