Recap of School Board Meeting

Tuesday’s November 13^th board meeting covered a wide range of items.  It was also our farewell meeting to board member Bill Murray.

Several citizens attended the board meeting to speak about whether the school board should or should not maintain Concurrency and School Residential Impact Fees.  See Mike Wright’s story in the November 14^, 212 edition of the Citrus Chronicle, “School board: We want our impact fees”, to read more about that issue.

During the board meeting several items were approved.  Some of those items include revisions to policies 7.10, “School Budget Systems”, 7.20, “Accounting and Control Procedures” and also repeal and revisions policy 8.60, “Acceptable Use Policy” for computer and internet use by staff.  The board also approved the Superintendent’s recommendation for the new Assistant Principal at Citrus Springs Middle School, Deirdre Murray.  In addition, the board approved to advertise for a Public Hearing at the January 8, 2013 School Board Meeting to approve the revisions of Policy 7.33, “Petty Cash Funds/Change Funds”, Policy 6.18, “Contracts: Instructional and Administrative Personnel”, Policy 5.75, “Verification of High School Diploma for Admission to Withlacoochee Technical Institute Postsecondary Programs”, and Policy 2.70, “Prohibiting Discrimination, Including Sexual and Other Forms of Harassment”.

Assistant Superintendent of CC Schools, Ken Blocker, gave a budget update and shared that, as a school board, he believes we should begin formulating a budget plan now for the 2013-2014 budget.  Mr. Block explained that with the Florida Retirement System law suit still pending it could mean $7million retroactively and a $2.3million loss going forward. In addition, now that on November 6^th the .25 millage rate referendums did not pass, there will be an additional $2.5 million in lost funding and as a result we may be in for some serious budget challenges.

November 13, 2012 was Board Member Bill Murray’s farewell meeting as a school board member.  When I first was sworn into the board as a member I knew Bill Murray best personally from conversations with him. What I knew about Bill was that he had strong opinions based on what was best for students, and how our district could better succeed.  Over the last two years I have depended on Bill to balance my own thoughts and opinions.  That is perhaps hard for those that haven’t sat in these positions to understand but each   board member bring something different to the table, such as a critical voice to our discussions and decisions. Bill was one whose opinion, even when it might differ from my own, was critical to my final vote. I valued that even if Bill and I voted differently we could go to lunch afterwards and talk about sports or family and the vote did not change how he felt about you.  It has been an honor to learn from you, and work alongside of you.  I will miss having my seat next to you but I won’t miss you altogether as I hope for us to have a regular lunch date.  Thank you, Mr. Bill!

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