My name is Dr. Trudy Jermanovich.

For the changes to Policy 1070, I would hope that you keep the language as close to the present policy as possible since it has been recently reviewed and was also reapproved in 2024. The Superintendent’s Committee which reviewed this policy should be given time to explain what their work, over many months, has produced. That committee and I DO NOT believe you should replace committee chairpersons every 2 years. Learning to run a committee takes time and commitment. The 4 year limit with the extra 2/3 vote to possibly retain an officer past this point should remain in policy 1070. For some reason it appears that this Board is not listening to those who have been volunteers in this district. One meeting you’ll say to leave this section as it was in the 2024 review of the policy, and then at another meeting you’ll be swayed by staff and say it should be changed to only 2 years for a committee chair to serve.

I WANT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION - KEEP THE LANGUAGE FOR THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS THE SAME IN THIS POLICY REVISION.

In section XI. Election of Officers, you should NOT make changes to the following items:

“3. Each advisory committee shall have the authority to annually elect their officers to serve. up to four (4) one-year terms.Thereafter, an advisory committee appointee or member may not serve as a Chair of that advisory committee for a period of two (2) years following the conclusion of their term as chair.

4. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members in good standing in attendance is required to extend any chair's term beyond that described in Section XI, A (3)”

Also, I believe this should item have been advertised properly. This is definitely rule making and it was not advertised as such on the district’s website.

Perhaps the timeline will need to start over to make it obvious to the general public that this important topic will be discussed.

In a time when Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is facing significant financial challenges and working hard to retain students, merging committees and imposing restrictive rules on membership only deepens the distrust parents already feel. The ESE Advisory Council plays a vital role in supporting students, families, staff, and the broader community. We don’t just hold the district accountable — we also celebrate and amplify the many successes happening across Broward.

Now is not the time to:
1. Lose more students
2. Alienate parents
3. Erode trust in BCPS

Now is the time to:
1. Collaborate with parents and empower their committees
2. Rebuild trust in BCPS
3. Unite our community

The ESE Advisory Council, along with its subcommittees (ACE-Autism, and Down Syndrome), serves countless individuals and fulfills a critical need. Rather than dismantling it, we should be investing in its growth and impact. Let’s focus on what truly matters: restoring confidence in our district and addressing the financial crisis with transparency and collaboration.

Stop trying to shut us down. Start working with us.

Melissa C Ramos
Parent and ACE-Autism Chair

Leave our advisory alone!

Leave our advisories alone!!!

LEAVE OUR ADVISORIES ALONE!!!!
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!!!!

Stop going after advisories!

Why would you go after advisories?

Broward Schools is trusted with the responsibility of educating children and paid for by the taxpayers.

Advisories are made up of representatives who are unpaid and donating their time to speak up for the constituents who pay those taxes.

Going after advisories is cutting off your own legs.

As a member of the ESE advisory, I know the advisory is vital and necessary for the parents of children in ESE.

The input and feedback that come through this process, is what makes progress happen.

Don’t change that.