R24-171 commending Ray Gadd retirement

1:16Resolution number 24171, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners in Pasco County, Florida. Commending Ray Gad for over 40 years of service to the Pasco County School Board and congratulating him on his retirement. Whereas Ray GAD was appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Pasco County Schools in 2012 and oversees administration, operations, l uh leading and learning, support, student support services, and finance. And whereas

1:47Ray GAD has served on the boards of the Pasco Pediatric Foundation, Advisory Council, Wacobia Banks of Pasco, University of South Florida Collaborative for Children, Families and Communities, Pasco Hernando Catholic Charities, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Florida Coalition for Children. Youth and Family Services, Gulf Side Hospice, The Angeles, Florida Able Inc., the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Advent Conerton.

2:18and whereas Ray Gad is the past chairman for the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, a former trustee at Pasco Hernando State College, and has served on the Pasco County Planning Commission and Delop Development Review Committee. And whereas Ray Gadd was instrumental in the original campaign to pass the Penny for Pasco to help fund Pasco County Schools in 2004. And whereas Rayat has received

2:48the Lawrence D. Wasser Humanitarian Award of the Jewish National Fund in Tampa. Florida Coalition for Children's Chairman Mariano Award. Florida Association of Schools Psychologist Presidential Award, Pasco County District Supervisor of the Year Award and was recognized by the Parents for Quality Schools for leadership. And whereas Ray Gad has received uh received his Bachelor's Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences and his Master's degree

3:18in behavioral science from the University of South Florida. He is a licensed psychologist and is certified by the National Association of School Psychologists. and whereas RAIGAD has been heavily involved in numerous projects, such as Penny for Pasco, impact fees, land acquisition, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation. Angeline Academy of Innovation, Starkey Ranch, K eight. Cypress Creek campus. P H S C

3:49I Pack. Land O' Lakes. Heritage Park Bandstand. and the Pasco Education Foundation. And whereas Ray will be spending his retirement from the Pasco County School Board with his wife, Kathy Peckett, as daughter Casey Armstrong and his son in law T C Armstrong and his two grandchildren Chloe and Ty. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said Board hereby commends Ray Gadd, for

4:19his over forty years of service to the Pasco County School Board. and congratulates him on his retirement. Done and resolved in regular session with the quorum president voting this twenty first day of August, twenty twenty four.

4:32Move to approve. Second. Got a motion and second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passed 5-0. Welcome.

4:42Thank you very much. I um it was a quite a surprise. I knew something was up when I was told my daughter would be chauffeuring me to the meeting today.

4:53Um I greatly appreciate it and it's been a privilege and honor to serve Pasco County and it's been a real privilege to work with the County Commission through the years. We've had a great relationship, the school board and the county commission. And I think that's because of the cast of characters trying to work together and make government better every day. Thank you for this recognition. I appreciate it very much. Yeah.

5:28Yeah.

5:28Don't leave. Hey, wait, wait, Leg. I'm up now. We're not We're not done with you. Uh you may be done with us, but we're not done with Yeah. No, we certainly As long I've been I'm in my eighth year and you've always been a a person to reach out to and talk to about the school system and what's going on and what's going on just in normal. Local things we have going on, but I

5:59certainly appreciate you being there when I when I'd call. So Um We're our hearts go out with you when you retire 'cause Um It's gonna be hard to, you know, feel that feel your shoes, uh It you've been so so important to to the board and to the government in P in Pasco County. So Ms. Starkey.

6:20Um Ray, I'm really happy to sponsor this and surprise you with this. And um you know the very first time I met you was actually in this room. When you were working on the penny for Pasco. And um I don't know if you remember that, but I remember that. And Um I got to uh get to know you better when I was on the school board and I I called Ray um my handler.

6:46Yeah.

6:47Because they assigned um award for that. They assigned one of their top administrators to each um school board member at the time. I don't know if they do that now. And um Ray got got the challenge of me. So, um we really had fun um working together. Uh and um when I was on the school board and and later here and in other endeavors that we've worked on together and it's just been such a privilege and an

7:17honor to um work with you and to call you my good friend and I am um I'm so glad there there are other people here to honor you today and we're gonna have everyone come up for a photo, but um this is the least we could do for all your service to the c to the community. Thank

7:34you.

7:34Not just our county, the Tampa Bay region. Commissioner Weight such a leader.

7:38Thank you, uh Chair. You know, Mr. Gadd Mr. Starkey is seemingly on our way to four more years when we might have a job opening part-time. At least no, in all seriousness, I think that's a good idea. Um I don't know how many folks you've probably mentored along the way, but your mark on Pasco County has made uh for my generation and probably beyond and my kids. So thank you for your dedication, your service, your countless hours of work and collaboration and being a mentor and being there for For any anybody.

8:09uh in the public space. So congratulations on your well-earned retirement and congratulations to your family as well. Right.

8:16Thank

8:16you.

8:16Commissioner Yeager.

8:18Congratulations. I work for the school board for ten years. So I know thank you. So I know all the um amazing things you've done and all the people you have mentored and Thank you and I hope you enjoy your retirement.

8:31Thank you.

8:32Mr. Mariano.

8:33Thank you. Ray, you've been amazing all through your years. You've always like been on top of the situations. Whenever you came to us with something you wanted the Commissioner, you always explained it eloquently and professionally and uh all great lots of lots of great ideas. So thank you for your good service and I I wish you well in your retirement.

8:49Thank you, Jack. Mr. Kabbalah. I guess I'll pile onto the accolades Ray. We've worked together in different capacities since I've been here at the County for 10 years and it's always been just a little bit. It's always been a pleasure, though, working with you and the team on everything. And uh it's it truly is uh arm in arm and and working together uh towards common goals. And so I'm just thankful for that. And you know you you have everything to do with that. So appreciate your leadership on those fronts.

9:13Okay. So so we have a wait minute. Oh clerk. Oh, absolutely.

9:20As Mike said and he uh he he he has worked with you in many capacities as have I in my various positions have held with Pasco County over the years and under three different clerks I believe. And uh so not only I wanna on behalf of Nikki, uh I wanna extend to you but uh again it's uh just been a pleasure being uh being uh working together with you for the betterment of Pasco County and the schools and thank you. Mr. Harold.

9:49So I feel really bad we didn't get chocolate cake. Um Um we can work on that privately. Um but we have a framed copy for you and I know we want to take some photos, so let's do one with the board and you and your family first and then everyone else who's here come on up and we'll we'll take some bigger photos 'cause there are pe other people here to honor you. Is that what I'm supposed to change? That worked in.

10:19We're gonna come back here.

10:22Yeah.

10:23More real.

10:26I know you probably have so many things hanging on your wall already. But here's a new one for you.

10:35Mike, you want to do the board, I'll call it.

10:39Okay.

10:40One,

10:41two, three.

10:44One take.

10:49Thank you.

10:50All right, so school board members and some of the others, Barbara, I know you're here, John, I think Paul Manuel was coming. Um Clark. Anyone else who wants to come up up here that's worked with Ray professionally? Um Alan's here.

11:08We're gonna take another one. Let's take a step, maybe take a step.

11:17Oh

11:17yeah, but

11:18I wonder if you want easy.

11:25We need to squeeze in just a little bit on the side. Oh yeah, we've got I've got Clark here. I've got

11:35David, go go in a little bit more. Or maybe on the side. side.

11:45All right. One,

11:47two, three. Like another. One, two, three. three. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

12:04Congratulations, great.

12:13Don't see that much anymore.

12:20All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.