LCSB Agenda Review News Briefs: Feb. 10, 2025

Below are news briefs from the Leon County School Board agenda review/workshop meeting that was held on February 10, 2025.

The Board discussed and reviewed the method of selection of the school superintendent. Representatives from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, and the Florida School Board Association spoke to the Board about the appointed versus elected issue. School board member Daryl Jones asked for information on the issue. During the discussion, Board member Wood indicated she did not support changing the selection.

The Board listened to a presentation from the Tallahassee-Leon County Geographic Information Systems (TLGIS) department related to the potential rezoning of John G. Riley Elementary School. TLGIS identified many issues with the Riley Elementary school zone, including that if every child who was zoned for it went there, it would be the size of a high school and it is already at 102% capacity.

John G. Riley is also the only elementary school in Leon County that does not currently have a Pre-K on their campus. In their mission to bring Pre-K back to John G. Riley, the school zone needed to shrink, and the proposed rezoning would also impact Sabal Palm , Astoria Park, and Fort Braden K-8.

John G. Riley currently has 627 students, and the proposed rezoning would move 206 kids to the aforementioned elementary schools, leaving John G. Riley with a population of 487 students and at 79% capacity. Astoria Park would gain 43 students to move to a population of 541 students and 86% capacity. Sabal Palm would gain 122 students bringing them to a population of 572 and 82% capacity. Lastly, Fort Braden K-8 would gain 21 students and have a total population of 696 and 89% capacity.

The extra capacity at each school allows room for the school choice policy in Leon County. LCPS will work with families if their students are affected by these proposed changes providing forums to hear concerns and to discuss deadlines to opt out of the change.

The Board received policy updates regarding public participation at board meetings and remote work. In response to the decision of a Mom’s for Liberty v. Brevard Public Schools case, the Board found it necessary to update the policies and rules for public speakers at board meetings. The new updates outline when and how long a public speaker can address the Board and parameters related to decorum.