Recap of School Board Special Meeting, Workshop & Public Hearing on 7/24/2012

Our board meeting for July 24^th included a Special Meeting, Budget Workshop & Public Hearing to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rates and the Tentative Budget.

During this meeting Director of Technology, Dr. Mike Geddes, test LIVE streamed the board meeting over the internet. I am really excited about this and I look forward to sharing even more about it soon.

At the board meeting the board approved the Floral City Elementary School Wastewater Treatment Plant Consultant Agreement and two change orders for Crystal River High School Site work, Renovations, Remodeling and Additions.  The board approved the Instructional and Support Recommendations known on the board as “The Golden Rod” (as it is printed on golden colored paper to be easily identified).

At the Public Hearing the board Adopted the Tentative Millage Rates totallying 7.639 mills for the local funding which is almost 10% less than last year’s rate.   The Tentative 2012-2013 Budget total is $229,952,264.00 which is  approximately $30 million less or 11.5% less than last year’s budget.  The state funding for the 2012-2013 budget year has increase approximately $2 million dollars but as a district we have still lost a total of $16 million in State and Federal Funding since 2007.  All total, the State of Florida will fund $42,475,648.00 or 44% while locally Citrus tax payers will fund $54,678,991.00 or 56%.  About ten years ago those percentages would have been reversed and the State of Florida would have paid the largest percentage of the funding. This is frustrating as the State of Florida Legislator and the Florida Department of Education send mandates down to our local communities and then require that those mandates be paid locally.  Since Florida DOE has designated Citrus County as an “A” district now for 7 years in a row (see blog story: Citrus School is an “A” District… Again!!), and since Florida DOE has designated Citrus as a “High Performing School District” for six consecutive years (see blog story: 2012 High Performing School District for 6th Year!), should not the Florida Legislation give counties, like Citrus County, broader local control?

Unfortunately, I want to share that NO member of the public attended any of the meetings.  Neither the Special Meeting which began at 1:00pm, followed by the 2012-2013 Budget and Student Progression Plans for Elementary and Secondary Workshop that started about 3:00pm, and lastly, the Public Hearing to adopt the Tentative Millage Rates and the Tentative Budget which was at 5:30pm.  My hope is that with the beginning of LIVE streaming of the meetings more parents, students and community members will watch the Live streaming to be more informed of the issues and workings of our schools and district.

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