2025 State Budget Delivers Big Win for Citrus Schools and Health Academy Expansion

Today, the Governor signed the Florida budget for 2025. I’m incredibly grateful that the budget includes continued funding to support teacher salaries—essential to attracting and retaining high-quality educators—and an increase in the Base Student Allocation. I’m also proud to share that all of the Citrus County School District’s appropriation requests were funded in the final budget.

Most notably, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Governor DeSantis for approving full funding—$1,046,090—for the expansion of the Academy of Health Careers at Crystal River High School. This investment will allow for expanded programming and state-of-the-art facility upgrades, marking a major advancement for health science education in our community.

One of the most exciting developments is the planned addition of a Firefighter I course to the Academy’s Phil Royal EMT Pathway, broadening our impact across both health and public safety career tracks. The importance of this expansion cannot be overstated—it will be truly transformative, opening new doors for students to pursue meaningful, high-demand careers in healthcare and emergency response.

As workforce needs in these sectors continue to grow across Citrus County and Florida, our schools are better positioned than ever to meet those demands—and lead with excellence.

I’m especially thankful to Senator Blaise Ingoglia and Representative J.J. Grow for sponsoring and championing these vital requests in Tallahassee. Senator Ingoglia, in particular, has made the Academy of Health Careers a personal legislative priority over the past two years. After visiting the Academy and Crystal River High School early in his term, he developed a genuine appreciation for the program and its students—an appreciation that has translated into action.

This marks the second major Career and Technical Education (CTE) initiative that Senator Ingoglia has helped expand, following his support for the Citrus High School Construction Academy, now entering its fourth year in 2025.

The Academy of Health Careers at CRHS is a cornerstone of our district’s CTE offerings. For nearly 30 years, it has prepared students for post-secondary education and careers in healthcare, related sciences, and STEM fields through a rigorous curriculum enhanced by leadership training, team-building, and real-world clinical experiences.

As the oldest magnet program in Citrus County Schools, the Academy has a legacy of excellence, having produced thousands of successful professionals—nurses, doctors, first responders, engineers, military leaders, and other health and science specialists.

The Academy currently offers five specialized pathways:

• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Biomedical Technician
• Dental Assistant
• EMS/EMT
• Veterinary Assistant

Each program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in high-demand career fields and contribute meaningfully to our workforce and communities.

In addition to the Academy of Health Careers expansion, Citrus County will also benefit from:

• Hurricane resilience initiatives to strengthen school infrastructure
• School safety enhancements – Development planning for the Public Safety Annex.
• Ongoing support for the Academy of Environmental Science, a unique educational resource in our district

These investments demonstrate a strong commitment to education, workforce development, and the long-term resilience of our community. We are deeply appreciative of the state’s partnership and support as we continue building pathways for student success.

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