Thank You for Your Patience and Perseverance Through the Internet Outage

Over the past several days, our district has faced an unprecedented fiber optic internet outage affecting every school and department. I want to take a moment to recognize the resilience and professionalism of our teachers, staff, school leaders, students, and families as we work through this challenge together.

First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our entire school community. Your patience, flexibility, and commitment to students have made a meaningful difference during a very difficult situation.

I especially want to highlight our outstanding TRC technology team. Our technology specialists, technicians, managers, and leaders have been working literally around the clock both onsite and remotely to mitigate the disruption and restore essential services. They deployed portable Wi Fi hotspots strategically throughout the district to bring critical systems back online, including communication platforms, our finance department so payroll could be processed, and other systems essential to the health and safety of our students and staff.

This type of response is not new for our district. We use similar strategies during school and multi school outages, hurricanes, and other natural disasters or interruptions. What makes this situation different is the scale. A districtwide outage requires coordination, prioritization, and problem solving at a much greater level.

In today’s educational environment, reliable internet access is essential. Rigorous and relevant instruction, differentiated to meet individual student needs, relies heavily on secure digital systems. Being without internet access can feel nearly as disruptive as losing electricity. However, unlike electrical grids, which can seamlessly draw power from multiple plants if one goes down, school networks cannot simply redirect connectivity of that magnitude from another source. We operate under strict federal FERPA requirements and Florida’s rigorous student privacy laws. These protections are essential, but they also require safeguards that are not easily transferable when a network goes down, even in cloud-based environments.

Many have asked what we will do in the future when situations like this occur. Please know that every disruption becomes an opportunity to improve. While triaging mission critical systems, our staff and leaders are reviewing timelines, redundancies, communication strategies, and infrastructure needs so we are better prepared next time. That work is already underway.

Despite these obstacles, our teachers have continued to ensure continuity of instruction. A single school outage is challenging. A multi school outage is significant. A districtwide outage is entirely different. Yet our educators and staff have adapted with creativity and dedication, always keeping students at the center.

To our families and students, thank you for your patience and understanding. To every employee who has stepped up in visible and behind the scenes ways, thank you for your service to our community. We are deeply grateful, and we will emerge from this stronger together.

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Thomas Kennedy files for Re-Election 2026

Today, I am proud to announce that I have officially filed to seek re-election to continue serving Citrus County as the District 1 School Board Member for my final term. It has been an honor to serve, and I look forward to building on our many successes while continuing to work every day for the students, families, staff, and community who rely on Citrus County Schools.

The Citrus County School District has a strong and respected record of achievement, earning recognition at both the state and national levels. Even in recent years marked by significant challenges for students, families, and staff, the district has continued to move forward with resilience, purpose, and measurable success.

What I am most proud of is the collective work that has expanded innovative and meaningful opportunities for Citrus County students. Our focus must remain on delivering rigorous, engaging, and relevant learning experiences that prepare students to thrive in an increasingly advanced and technology driven world. This commitment to student success is the foundation of our progress and guides every decision we make.

During my service, I have been humbled to receive several honors that reflect this shared effort and community focus, including:

• The Florida School Boards Association’s Bridge Builder Award for positive initiatives implemented throughout our community and state (2023)
• The STAR Florida School Board Member of the Year by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, the only statewide annual award presented to one school board member (2018)
• The Phil Royal Legacy Foundation’s Heart of Gold Award for advancing the Phil Royal Emergency Medical Technician Program (2021).

You are best represented by someone in leadership positions within their organization. In 2022, I was elected the 55th President of the Florida School Boards Association, becoming the first Citrus County School Board member to hold this position. I continue to provide a strong local voice at the state level by building meaningful relationships with legislative and education leaders. This role created new opportunities to showcase Citrus County students, staff, schools, and programs to education leaders across Florida.

As the parent of two Citrus County Schools graduates and the husband of a teacher with more than thirty years of classroom experience in our district, I understand firsthand the needs and challenges facing our students, families, and staff. I am a strong supporter of parental choice and parental voice in education. I will continue to advocate for meaningful parent involvement through School Advisory Councils, Student Code of Conduct development, the Student Progression Plan Team, the School Calendar Committee, state curriculum adoption input, and many other opportunities for engagement.

I remain committed to continuing expanding programs and pathways for students who are not college-bound, while also strengthening opportunities for those who are. Citrus County Schools is a statewide leader in workforce certification programs, offering more than 150 Career and Technical Education courses that lead to over 60 industry certifications. These programs connect to 34 program-of-study pathways across our three high schools, our public charter school, and through dual enrollment at Withlacoochee Technical College. These programs benefit both direct-to-career and college-bound students, fill critical workforce needs in our community, and change lives. This past year, a Citrus County Schools CTE teacher was named a top-five finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year. We must continue to recruit, retain, and support world-class educators. Over the past four years alone, we have seen the largest expansion of CTE programs in district history, including the Academy of Health Careers expansion with the Phil Royal EMT Program, Certified Veterinary Assistant, welding at each school, Citrus High School Construction Academy, and the districtwide Space Florida Space Academy. This year, we are building on this by developing additional pathways in aerospace, Fire fighter and EMT at Withlacoochee Technical College.

I proudly support our district’s deep commitment to honoring our country and state. That love of country is woven into the very fabric of Citrus County Schools. I was serving as School Board Chairman when our district became the nation’s first Purple Heart School District, a distinction that reflects our enduring respect for military service and sacrifice. Today, Citrus County remains a beacon of patriotism and service, with all 23 schools designated as Florida Purple Star Schools. We support outstanding Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs at each high school, all of which have earned the Distinguished Unit Award. One of the largest Veterans in the Classroom programs in the country brings local veterans into our schools to teach students that patriotism is demonstrated through action, not just words. Veterans Day celebrations, student-led initiatives, flag ceremonies, and schoolwide events continue to reinforce service, gratitude, character, and civic pride throughout our district.

Together, we have ensured that Citrus County not only provides students with critical digital skills and tools, but also leads the state in the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education. I was honored to serve as a founding member of the Florida K–12 AI in Education Task Force and as Chairman of the FSBA AI in Education Committee. In these roles, I have worked to ensure that critical thinking and human judgment remain central in every classroom as we prepare students for the world they must enter and succeed in.

Accessibility and communication remain essential to serving our community effectively. Since being elected, I have worked diligently to remain accessible and transparent. I have written and published nearly 1000 columns highlighting successes of our students in our classrooms, schools, and public education system, as well as addressing challenges and needs. Through an active blog and social media presence, my communications reach nearly 10,000 readers each month. I have also worked with local newspaper editorial boards to better inform the public about public education issues locally and statewide.

Together, we will continue working to meet the needs of our students, families, staff, and schools. I respectfully ask for your continued support in this election and in the important work ahead.

Thomas Kennedy

www.Kennedyforkids.com

thomas@kennedyforkids.com

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Preparing Our Students for the Workforce: Celebrating CTE Month

February is Career and Technical Education Month, an ideal time to recognize the vital role CTE plays in preparing Citrus County students for life beyond graduation. In Citrus Schools, CTE is not a secondary option or an alternative track. It is a core component of how we equip students with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and purpose they need to succeed in college, careers, military service, or a combination of all three.

Citrus Schools remains firmly committed to delivering a high quality education that connects learning to real world opportunities. Across our district, students have access to more than 171 CTE courses offered at our three main high school campuses, along with dual enrollment opportunities through Withlacoochee Technical College. These offerings span 63 distinct career and technical subject areas, lead to 41 industry certifications, and support more than 24 clearly defined program pathways aligned directly with workforce needs. This breadth of opportunity allows students to explore interests, build technical skills, and discover career possibilities while still in high school.

What makes CTE especially powerful is its relevance. Students are not simply learning concepts from a textbook. They are applying knowledge through hands on, practical experiences that reflect real workplace environments. Whether a student plans to enter the workforce immediately, pursue higher education, enlist in the military, or follow a blended path, CTE provides a strong and transferable foundation for long term success.

Our academies and programs reflect both student interests and the economic realities of our region and state. The Academy of Health Careers at Crystal River High School prepares students for careers in healthcare, one of Florida’s fastest growing and most essential industries. The Academy of Computers at Citrus High School develops skills in information technology and cybersecurity, fields that continue to expand across nearly every sector of the economy.

Students interested in the skilled trades can enroll in welding programs at Citrus High School and Lecanto High School, gaining experience in a field where demand consistently exceeds supply. The Construction Academy at Citrus High School introduces students to building trades, project management, and modern construction technologies. Additional school based academies in agriculture, culinary arts, drafting, JROTC, and business ensure students throughout Citrus County can pursue pathways aligned with their interests and strengths.

Several of our programs also partner with Space Florida’s Space Academy, providing students with exposure to advanced industries that may once have seemed distant or out of reach. These partnerships help students see clear connections between classroom learning and high wage, high skill careers, often without leaving their home community.

Workforce development efforts in our community continue to gain momentum beyond the K-12 system. Withlacoochee Technical College has unveiled plans for a new aviation maintenance and training program, marking a significant step forward for our region. The proposed program includes Airframe and Powerplant training, along with advanced specialty pathways that prepare students for in demand roles such as aircraft mechanics, avionics technicians, and non destructive testing professionals. In addition, WTC and Citrus County Fire Rescue are collaborating on new opportunities to expand workforce training that benefits both students and public safety professionals.

Industry certifications are a critical component of these efforts. These credentials benefit students regardless of their post graduation plans. For students entering the workforce, certifications signal readiness and competence to employers. For those pursuing college or technical training, certifications provide practical experience and a clearer understanding of career expectations. Even students heading directly to colleges and universities gain an advantage by arriving with technical skills and industry recognized training already in hand.

As we celebrate CTE Month, we recognize the students who are taking ownership of their futures, the educators who guide and inspire them, and the community partners who invest their time and expertise. Career and Technical Education in Citrus County represents opportunity, preparation, and pride. It ensures every student has access to meaningful pathways that lead to success, and that commitment remains strong as we build an even brighter future together.

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