Leon County School Board Meeting Briefs: December 10, 2024

Provided below are news briefs from the December 10, 2024, Leon County School Board meeting related to Presentations, Recognitions, & Reports and Items Considered by Board members.

Presentations, Recognitions, & Report

The Board heard a presentation for the Tallahassee Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Jack and Jill of America creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth and development through lobbying, educational programming, dissemination of education materials, and the organization of community and charitable events.

The Board recognized the Lawton Chiles High School Girls Volleyball State Championship (2024-2025) team.

The Board heard a report on The Big Book Give from School Board Member Alva Swafford Smith.

The Board received a report on current construction projects. The projects included a new cafeteria at Griffin Middle School ($13,558,319), a cafeteria replacement buildout at Hartsfield Elementary School ($8,799,262), remodeling and renovations of Building 7 at Leon High School ($6,497,340), new cafeteria & construction, remodeling and renovations to gymnasium at Nims Middle School ($13,290,463) and new construction, remodeling, renovations and site improvements at W.T. Moore Elementary School ($6,990,409).

Items Considered by the Board

Item 19.01 The Board voted 5-0, following a public hearing, to approve amendments to Policy 5517 – Anti-Harassment, effective December 11, 2024. Revisions to this policy include definitions and the clarification of the use of Complainant and Respondent.  Additionally, sections regarding Sexual Cyberharassment, Anti-Semitism, Pregnancy Harassment, and Retention of Investigatory Records and Materials have been included.  The District Compliance Officer list has been updated and procedural time frames and reporting dates have been revised.

Item 19.02 The Board 3-2 against amending an employment reclassification to reflect the duties associated with a construction planning position.   

Item 19.03 The Board made a required Public Notice Announcement related to a K-5 Science Committee recommendation for science instructional materials. The LCS K-5 Science Adoption Committee, composed of educators and parents, recommended McGraw-Hill, Florida Science 2024. To conclude the adoption process, LCS invites all interested stakeholders to participate in the public review period beginning December 10, 2024, for twenty or more days.  A public hearing will be held at the January 28,2024 and on February 11, 2024, the LCS School Board will vote on the recommendation.

Item 19.04 and Item 19.05 were removed from the agenda.

Item 19.06 The Board approved Superintendent recommendation to allow Northwest Little League to install covered batting cages at Canopy Oaks Elementary School. The Leon County School Board owns property constituting Canopy Oaks Elementary School located at 3250 Point View Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32303. Leon County, Florida, has requested that it be granted approval for Northwest Little League to install covered batting cages at Canopy Oaks Elementary School in compliance with the current lease agreement.

 Item 19.07 The Board voted 5-0 to amend the 2024-2025 School Board Meeting Dates Calendar. The October School Board Meeting dates are incorrect.  The dates are being changed to October 14, 2025, and October 28, 2025.