Remarks by Mary Blanco
213 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 9
- Play at 5:03:03
“Thank you, Madam Chair. Any comments or questions? Thank you, as always, for recognizing the amazing work our custodial staff do. Co-sponsorships? All in favor? Thank you. We move on to H5. Madam Chair, the floor is yours again.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:05:46
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:08:25
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:09:33
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:14:05
“Right. And I think it just, you know, created, I don't know if confusion is the right word, right? But when they heard your child will get lunch through September 25th, but we need you to fill out this application. And then they fill out the application, don't qualify, but now they lost it on August 25th because they were good and completed it a month before, you know, at our encouragement, right? they thought they were going to continue getting that until at least September 25th. So I think that started some confusion. And then please go ahead and answer the second part.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:16:17
“So thank you for that clarification because I know that that's the policy, but it seems like that's not the communication that's going out. And I think that may not even be the communication that's going out to principals. So I think there needs to be just take a look. Let's make sure that everything is being communicated properly from district to school and school to PTA because somewhere along the line, the message does not seem to be accurate as it's being received to the PTA. I've had a few schools inquire about that. But I feel like we're walking into this perfect storm, right? We have…”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:17:42
“Right. Okay. Thank you. Any other new business? Yes.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:21:45
“Any other new business? Okay, we have two staff follow-ups. One from item H8 from June 2026, review of under-enrolled secondary schools, attendance boundaries, and the feasibility of expanding 612 school configurations, including North Dade Middle School. Any comments or questions? Yes, Board Member Espino.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 5:23:42
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Sep 2, 2026
- Play at 49:14
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Aug 19, 2026
- Play at 1:32:29
“Thank you, Board Member Colucci. Board Member Alonso, thank you as always for bringing people that are so worthy of recognition. We have met, but we really haven't had an opportunity to talk much. However, as a Board of Director on the Ed Fund as well, I tend to see you on a little screen when we have our Zoom meetings. But truly, thank you for all that you do for this community. Like they've mentioned, it's because of people like you that this community can thrive. So thank you so much. But one of the things that has always struck me and has struck me even more today is your humility. with…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:51:50
“Thank you, Madam Chair. Board Member Bandros-Mendigo, you always find such elite people in your community that are doing such fantastic work. You know, one of the terms that's used often for someone like you in your position is public servant. But you truly, truly embody that with everything that you've done. As an educator, and now in my last role, hopefully, as an educator, I do a lot of college advising. And I've always said that every student can go to college if they want to. And every student can succeed. I'm never of the opinion that some aren't meant for college. It's if they want to.…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 4:46:29
“Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Madam Vice Chair, I wanna congratulate you on the item. It's spectacular, really. Thank you. So when I think of all of the items that you've brought forth throughout your years that we've been on the board together, you are an advocate when it comes to the academic piece, which is truly what we're here for, right? To ensure that our students learn from bringing items recently to let's focus not just on those students that need help to become proficient, but those that are proficient, how do we raise them to an even higher level, right? So you're always searching…”
School Board · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:57:14
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 1:58:23
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 1:58:54
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 1:59:52
“Any questions or comments from the board? All right, as always, thank you for making sure that we are up to date with all new policies. All right, next order of business will be to move the H items to the floor. Can I have a motion? Move it. A second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Our first H item on the floor. Madam Chair, H5.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:04:04
“That is the item. Thank you, Madam Chair, for always bringing this forward. I think at times we say the heart is a silent killer, but many times there's signs, but sometimes we don't know how much people are hurting, so it's always important to bring awareness. Any other comments, Board Member Alonso?”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:05:48
“And the school psychologists are usually assigned to two or three schools depending on the caseloads and the needs of that school. All right, any other questions or comments? Can I get a motion for co-sponsorships? Second. All in favor? Motion to move the item as amended to the board meeting. All in favor? Before moving on to H6, I think we may not have taken a motion to move the G item to the board meeting. Can I get a motion? Move it. Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:09:33
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:13:18
“Thank you, Board Member Alonso. Any comments or questions from my colleagues? Chair Rojas?”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:14:38
“Thank you, Madam Chair. Any other comments from my colleagues? Board Member Alonso, anytime there's an item that's looking at innovation and new ways to bring in students, absolutely we'll be in support. So motion for co-sponsorships?”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:14:53
“All in favor? Aye. Motion to move as amended to the board meeting. Move it. Can I get a second? All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Moving on to new business. Do we have any new business board members would like to bring up? I don't think there's any staff follow-ups. We're going to hit a record today, Madam Chair. Yes, I know. I'm going to get a motion to adjourn today's meeting.”
Personnel, Student, School, and Community Support Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 1:08:10
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the maker of the item, Board Member Espino. Not only is it timely, we're living in a time where most people get their news, get all of their information from social media. And some of our schools excel at it, and some of our schools maybe just don't have the skill set. So including not just the autonomy, but giving them the support. to ensure that every school has the ability to use this as a tool to highlight their things was something that I really appreciated in the item. So appropriate time to co-sponsor, thank you.”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 45:26
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
School Board · Jul 29, 2026