[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6667463,"mediaKeyId","2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928","parentId",2259843,"title","Board signals support for raising substitute pay to $15; staff to seek lower vendor markup","audioSeconds",272,"startMs",6476610,"endMs",6749040,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928&start=6476&end=6749","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928/thumbnail_6476610.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667463/Hernando/School-Districts/Florida/Board-signals-support-for-raising-substitute-pay-to-15-staff-to-seek-lower-vendor-markup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667463-8eb2d702b95e8aa08993d2fbbf342e87/orig.mp4?Expires=1776582504&Signature=ozZeo7SRUtPfrZWvkfIss2o2dFWAe24L~KZboQ0Fk-Z6TDXOGyXztrMFYPKKCrMaT~1ErzhLrYlzGQC98I1OfLrozJjihWcYtMxedqRNMERdxR40yWS7n1kuWhFFFeYWUCrmukY95xtx4spDePpYjKBmO-BBVgQRvYLKxqJpZb0rNfMalWQucM4YNqvr5RN~1qTI0wPqJs5AfBbjdSYH-ZHJ0u-fSDFRAYWKTAZr0hWWSBXK99F5UDaR3L3IwLaZfirosuvY7pxV5ZxUDjJM6yJ-npzSHJcYE4LrhKz5-LL5~fK11hXdpk2zolH37YfsGk4-X-cmOuKo9al1uZkFUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hernando School District","date","2025-02-11T13:52:00Z","article","Hernando County School District human resources staff recommended increasing substitute pay for workers placed through vendor Kelly Services to improve recruitment and classroom fill rates, and to prepare for Florida’s scheduled minimum‑wage changes.

Matt Goldrick, the district’s director of human resources, said Kelly Services currently achieves a roughly 91.9 percent classroom fill rate for the district and proposed raising the day‑to‑day substitute base pay from $13 per hour to $14 or $15 per hour. Goldrick told trustees the October 2025 state minimum‑wage schedule would require $14 and rise to $15 in October 2026; the district’s proposal to reach $15 now would put Hernando ahead of the schedule and aim to attract more candidates.

Trustees discussed budget and vendor markup. Several board members favored moving the rate to $15 per hour to recruit more reliable candidates. Board members also asked staff to negotiate a lower vendor markup (the portion Kelly Services adds above the worker’s pay) to reduce the district’s net cost. Trustee Duvall and others asked whether the district could run its own substitute pool, but superintendent and staff said that in the current labor market and with the district’s size, outsourcing to a national vendor yields higher fill rates and reduces administrative burden.

Goldrick presented a pay matrix showing proposed increases for day‑to‑day subs, long‑term subs and retired teachers; trustees asked staff to pursue negotiations with Kelly to lower the agency markup (staff referenced the district’s current Kelly markup at about 1.3 and asked for direction to attempt to reduce the markup toward 1.25 or lower). Trustees also asked staff to return with concrete budget impacts and contract language after negotiations.

Board members signaled consensus for the policy direction: raise substitute pay toward $15 per hour and attempt to negotiate a lower Kelly Services fee. No formal motion was made at the workshop; staff said they would return with details for board approval and a budget amendment if required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hernando School District - School Board Workshop on 2025-02-11 2:00 PM - Feb 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Human resources recommended raising Kelly Services substitute pay to $15 per hour to improve fill rates and align with forthcoming minimum‑wage increases; trustees directed staff to negotiate a lower agency markup to reduce budget impact.","taxTitle","Hernando, School Districts, Florida","taxId",13114,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667468,"Board discusses state school‑start time mandate and two district planning options for 2026–27",431,6059225,6490680,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928&start=6059&end=6490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928/thumbnail_6059225.jpg","/articles/6667468/Hernando/School-Districts/Florida/Board-discusses-state-schoolstart-time-mandate-and-two-district-planning-options-for-202627","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667468-876e5354197c3e7824dd0060a9590aca/orig.mp4?Expires=1776582504&Signature=WhNS8A5YaEZn63rh3PJB4C~YrExV1z9pNLZJ8dVcLmOoBHGHAw5IA0f77xQIKocQAG5pdxPL8--Pxxlp5NgMpnpw4-3vS1V750rf0rWdIMpZYbeML-AHfNZJqecqcdNtKNiehsqiR2DyV4AKk37nj7WvePmlrBKXxNjVGAYbzdtHvcDDyiv-70dm3pjEWxUr07DPl5ZtPw58UHu7ofFJ3kvq1pDY2cFF6ks5hgSeWQPdg21lUNCIj2trXcAceNEisQxdQOkXFvb~-5QI~~aQbV4rkdWYXGO1WMg9Xktkb9h0zSIk0ufTgLQwrFU5wHmdXFgAi1wv5-79X5ht6TNQwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hernando County’s director of transportation told the school board that a state statute passed in 2023 would, if left unchanged, require middle school instructional days to start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high school instructional days no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for the 2026–27 school year. The board reviewed two routing and bell‑time options presented by a transportation consulting firm and discussed the likely impact on families, after‑school activities and athletics.

Ralph Leath, the district’s director of transportation, said the workshop was intended to inform parents and the public because state legislators are still considering bills that would amend or repeal the mandated latest start times. He said the district has no control over the statute itself and must plan for the possibility that the mandate will remain in force.

Leath reviewed three consulting scenarios prepared by the district’s consultant (Transpar/Transfar) and a committee of administrators and transportation staff. The scenarios aimed to keep elementary start times as close to current practice as possible while shifting middle and high school tiers later to meet the statutory time windows. One scenario would keep elementary starts early while moving most middle schools into a late tier (some middle schools in the packet would not start until 9:40 a.m. or later) and place high schools in a mid‑morning slot (after 9:30 a.m.). The alternate scenario spread start times more evenly but pushed many elementary start times earlier in the morning (around 7:30 a.m.) and kept high schools at later times, with implications for athletic schedules and after‑school programs.

Trustees and administrators pointed to operational concerns. Board members said later high school start times would push afternoon practices and extracurricular activities later into the evening, with knock‑on effects for students who work part‑time or have family responsibilities. Several trustees argued that later starts for high school students would not necessarily improve sleep or outcomes because students often remain up late on electronic devices; they also raised concerns about childcare gaps if elementary students begin too early or middle schools start near 10:00 a.m.

Leath said the district has divided routing into east and west models to improve bus efficiency and confirmed the district would adapt routing if the statute remains. He encouraged parents to contact state legislators because, as he and vice‑chair trustees noted, the local district does not have the authority to change state statute — only the legislature can amend or repeal the mandate.

Trustees asked staff to publish the planning options and to provide a carefully worded public notice explaining that the proposals are contingency plans should state law remain unchanged. The board agreed that parents should be given time to digest the options and the district should include contact information for legislators in its outreach materials so families can express their views to the state lawmakers.

No vote was taken; the board directed staff to continue planning, refine the routing options and return with any updated information after the legislative session and in a future workshop.","Transportation staff briefed the board on a Florida statute that would prohibit middle schools starting before 8:00 a.m. and high schools before 8:30 a.m. for 2026–27; trustees asked staff to publish planning options now and urged parents to contact legislators about the proposal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667472,"District staff recommends renewing Curriculum Associates i‑Ready; trustees question cost and metrics",1134,4019015,5153770,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928&start=4019&end=5153","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928/thumbnail_4019015.jpg","/articles/6667472/Hernando/School-Districts/Florida/District-staff-recommends-renewing-Curriculum-Associates-iReady-trustees-question-cost-and-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667472-098daed89ffd11c4ac77cd8e9e776882/orig.mp4?Expires=1776582504&Signature=KIBlC181Cee9gpc~cVM0khICR92p8cHHoXmrH0DMoo9B6-xLACwyM6~w1mvT4-sGcy0QG6CB5Yb2qJpaxli48pk20n3prWs8tfR4j2GXiryeunRSwiLtKzeEMwYw0UwGykb4iJET7GFwW3io6KCo5NncZk5n-3ye9e~jgnc7hVerwn9kXLm5kXrAjty3emP-eI4vB8dLBO1WDkgfP3-hebZ8eoqrpnNkcP0NGFYPkjEjgLSKI41uGfrouqGwtcP90WMtp~jHAbApggr-2RzLSI4VmoAIiYddIc7cMhKsix64D6szVaRkxXN0G5IJnkLeu5PnHVqbuxcon3LQykXjKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hernando County School District staff presented a recommendation to renew Curriculum Associates’ i‑Ready diagnostic and supplemental platform for K‑8 reading and math, arguing the product meets Florida benchmarks, the science of reading, and statutory requirements for screening and progress monitoring.

Santi Sanders, the district’s director of research and accountability, told the board that i‑Ready and similar products serve as “assessments for learning” that provide diagnostics showing students’ strengths and weaknesses and guiding teachers’ next instructional steps. Tiffany Howard, director of elementary programs, said using a diagnostic and aligned interventions is required by the district’s evidence‑based reading plan and helps the district comply with state rules on screening and progress monitoring.

Staff presented comparisons of three products and said Curriculum Associates was built specifically for Florida standards and offers item types similar to state assessments (gridded responses, drag‑and‑drop, equation editors). Sanders and Howard said the platform generates instructional‑grouping reports, prerequisite‑skill reports and projections that teachers can use to target instruction and set growth goals. The presenters also cited summer reading camp data: i‑Ready diagnostic scores allowed some students to be promoted to fourth grade after summer interventions (staff said 28 percent of summer reading camp students moved to fourth grade by i‑Ready results; star reading produced a 24 percent promotion rate for the same camp cohort).

Board members pressed staff on metrics in the packet. Trustee Johnson pointed to a fidelity metric in the vendor materials that set a target of 30–45 minutes weekly and a 70 percent lesson‑pass rate, then noted that some first‑ and second‑grade pass‑rate numbers in the packet were below that 70 percent target (figures in the packet showed pass rates in the 50–65 percent range for several early grades). Staff acknowledged the difference and said fidelity was the first metric — ensuring students use the program for the target minutes and passrate — and that growth toward grade‑level measures is tracked separately (fall‑to‑spring growth and percent of students on grade level).

Trustees also discussed the program’s scale and cost. Staff presented a service and cost table showing Curriculum Associates’ estimate for district‑wide licensing and services at roughly $688,000 (the presenters said they had padded the quote to cover additional charter and private users who sometimes opt in). Several trustees said the district should consider the program’s overall value, whether the district is duplicating available tools, and whether teachers have the support and implementation fidelity necessary to realize the program’s benefits.

Several board members and district leaders reported visits to schools where i‑Ready is used and described generally positive reactions from teachers and principals about the platform’s usefulness as a diagnostic and teacher tool. Trustee Johnson said he remains skeptical about adding multiple programs and asked staff to show a clear return on investment and the specific metrics the district will use to evaluate the program’s effectiveness over time.

The workshop ended with trustees generally supportive of the idea of retaining a strong diagnostic tool but asking staff to return with clearer program evaluation metrics and assurance the district is not over‑testing students. The recommendation will be brought back to the board for action at a future meeting; this workshop was informational and no vote occurred.","Research and accountability staff recommended renewing the Curriculum Associates supplemental program (i‑Ready) for K‑8 reading and math, emphasizing statutory compliance and diagnostic benefits; several trustees and board members pressed for clearer performance metrics after they reviewed usage and pass‑rate data.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667476,"Board reviews Franklin Covey \"Leader in Me\" proposal, asks for clearer cost and evaluation plan",299,26861,326175,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928&start=26&end=326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259843-08e85240f486539742fad52cad8e7928/thumbnail_26861.jpg","/articles/6667476/Hernando/School-Districts/Florida/Board-reviews-Franklin-Covey-Leader-in-Me-proposal-asks-for-clearer-cost-and-evaluation-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667476-1051e8dcbe4f6aceb11eb9ef05e0b3cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776582504&Signature=XzezpdWakbBzQmzN6C64ye8GyQwZ6j8Y7HKVq1B3y09Fdh75r6KxDaa03dYbbsTlMNfEpbiNgtCovRGcjpZb3QGWISxJz-qTznq8kgFXfAC5oPpOdwiz2ovkIkIIyWTAOAPNQKmRuvPiZDnA1xwdZqJrbh3Mod-32sYG7lw2H-rkOsHwNOPcEAdOGOxXJBxIE4jsYwVMePJ2xQhOmtnei~gb29rJ8Feegep885XVOqW08c5M1HbvZ9JZbHeiIEWQ6p5G2e78vhoNVMEn12C-47AyI6jYcZ~PZgtLdtWsNropYg4e8PTVbRQ4kWAhyGEtJhNgFbIi6KRokoHfKCOukA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hernando County School Board heard a presentation on the Leader in Me program from Franklin Covey representatives and district staff, who described the program's focus on leadership, culture and academics and identified seven schools that have expressed interest in a pilot cohort.

Board members raised repeated questions about cost, funding sources and how the district would measure results if the board approves the proposal. Several trustees asked that the district return to a future workshop with a one‑year contract option, a clear budget breakdown showing which funds would pay what, and a performance evaluation plan tied to baseline data before placing the item on a vote.

Megan Schlechter, Hernando County director of federal programs, introduced Michelle Wirk, Franklin Covey managing client partner, who described the Leader in Me framework and its “measurable results assessment” (MRA) that she said would provide baseline and annual stakeholder surveys to track leadership, culture and academics. Wirk said Franklin Covey would provide coaches to help schools implement the program and that district leaders would have access to a district dashboard showing annual results across participating schools.

Board members pressed several financial details. Trustee Duvall noted that the workshop materials said “no financial impact” while later budget pages listed specific amounts not yet included in the packet; she asked for consistent, itemized budget sheets in future workshops. Trustee Johnson asked for clarity on which funding sources would be used, pointing to millage and entitlement grants as possibilities. Schlechter and Wirk said the district could use a combination of millage and federal entitlement grant funds and that sponsorship funding from the Kern Family Foundation reduced some per‑student costs.

Speakers described the sponsorship arrangement as covering a portion of per‑student membership costs (Wirk said the sponsor support translated, in one calculation, to about $50 per student). Schlechter and Wirk said sponsorship cannot cover the district’s annual membership fee, which is a recurring cost; administrators also explained annual contracts typically require board approval for each year and that the proposed implementation plan contemplates three years of work but that the board would approve each year separately.

Principals from prospective schools — Eastside Elementary, Challenger K‑8, Hernando High, Explorer K‑8, Milton, Moton and Parrot Middle — spoke in favor of the program, describing observed classroom and school culture changes where Leader in Me has been implemented elsewhere and outlining reasons they believe the framework could support student leadership, reduced disciplinary incidents and improved school climate.

Board discussion focused on three things the trustees said must be resolved before a vote: (1) a clear one‑year contract option and an explanation of whether multiyear commitments would come back to the board for approval in subsequent years; (2) a full, consistent budget showing year‑by‑year district costs and which funds pay which line items; and (3) a specific performance evaluation plan — including baseline measures, the MRA instrument and other outcome metrics such as discipline, attendance or academic growth — that the board could review by early summer after the first year of implementation.

Schlechter told the board she would return with a one‑year contract for board consideration in February or March and offered to provide sample MRA survey questions and a live demonstration of the Franklin Covey dashboard at the follow‑up workshop. Wirk said the sponsorship requirement sometimes asks for a cohort of schools and that sponsor funding is typically aimed at start‑up years rather than ongoing annual membership.

The workshop did not include a board vote. Trustees asked staff to bring a revised package to a future workshop that includes: the one‑year budget and implementation plan; the measurable results assessment instrument and baseline plans; explicit columns showing the portions paid by millage, entitlement grants, sponsor funding and any other sources; and a list of deliverables tied to each year’s expenditures.

Board members also asked district staff to make future materials easier for the public to follow, with accurate budget totals in workshop packets and an explicit plan for public updates on implementation if the board approves the program.

Although several trustees expressed support for piloting the program if the outstanding questions are answered, none of the board members made a formal motion at the workshop. The item will return to a future workshop for further review.","District staff and a Franklin Covey representative introduced a district partnership to implement the Leader in Me program in seven schools; board members pressed for a one‑year contract option, detailed budgets, and a measurable performance plan before any vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board signals support for raising substitute pay to $15; staff to seek lower vendor markup

Board discusses state school‑start time mandate and two district planning options for 2026–27

District staff recommends renewing Curriculum Associates i‑Ready; trustees question cost and metrics

Board reviews Franklin Covey "Leader in Me" proposal, asks for clearer cost and evaluation plan