Leon County School Board Meeting Briefs: April 23

Below are the Leon County School Board news briefs from the April 23^rd, 2024, business meeting.

The Lively Technical College Director provided a presentation on the upcoming career and technical education expansion at Chiles High School. Soon, a new welding dual enrollment program will be implemented at Chiles High School, and students who enroll in the program will have an opportunity to develop a strong foundation in welding techniques, safety protocols, and precision work.

The Board unanimously approved the amount of $625,468.00 to Childers Construction Co. for construction manager services for the Griffin Middle School Phase 1 demolition project.

The Board unanimously approved the revisions made to the Leon County School Inclusive School Guide for Leon County School employees. Revisions include a section on Florida Law that requires students and staff to use restrooms and changing facilities corresponding to their sex at birth.

The Board voted to remove a section of the guide regarding overnight activities that states, “Schools must provide parents and/or legal guardians a permission form for overnight activities that includes parental notification if overnight lodging room assignments are not separated by biological sex at birth.” However, the “Overnight Activities” portion of the guide still states that “If accommodations are desired, decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, and should be student-focused with the support of the parents, and district and school staff.”

The Board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Leon County Schools and the Leon County Classroom Teachers Association for the 2023-2024 instructional staff verification of experience credit agreement. The agenda item explains that the District and employees recognize the importance of accurately verifying years of experience for instructional staff employees and will provide an amnesty period for those who may have missed the deadline to ensure teachers are credited with the years of their service.

The Board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Leon County Schools and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association for the Pre-Planning Days Academic Calendar revisions. The agenda item explains that 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 District Academic were initially structured with 175 instructional days rather than the 176, which created a deficit of one paid day for instructional staff annually. To fix the issue, the Leon County School District is providing an additional Pre-Planning day at the beginning of each associated school year.

The Board unanimously approved the amount of $13,290,463.02 to Rippee Construction Inc. for construction manager services for Nims Middle School Phase 1 Cafeteria Replacement project.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a group of moms to disabled children attended the meeting to speak out against the unfair treatment of their children at Leon County Schools. One mom stated, “As a parent of a Leon County student, I am frustrated that she isn’t getting the same education as her non-disabled peers.”