[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6280717,"mediaKeyId","2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed","parentId",2611416,"title","Board schedules special session on superintendent search; chair to invite FSBA for guidance","audioSeconds",1804,"startMs",9368000,"endMs",11172000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed&start=9368&end=11172","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed/thumbnail_9368000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280717/Florida/Board-schedules-special-session-on-superintendent-search-chair-to-invite-FSBA-for-guidance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280717-6ba0308269995c8226afcfb658cbfbfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203566&Signature=gaqwlngP6OJ2JD7u7qPqjL9c-PclS6hLpNUjLfMP-lxnU6~mteLUnEZa7-5sLfbOh~XpCGsoin1HUExhzEBdKb8asld5KUgQV1WnBanI3Ww8X~CjASlG3aDOaJoOG51cqIfsga1gxUuHwEVd4U5kcKTLS8SJYvRa5jb8NVDsWb5G42z9POV9nbAcGYHNxailCKnr4qH1jwHBwTT4DYTTbPEP1HEamvsI1UlPVbiQsLEau7Js3tcGXj-Kp0xKoJiWM-8iL651PSA14uqAtD4Q6hYmxW3nMLcBv7XgoPRBmQ0wJmv-lsvCTKD6kjCimfke9lFiqOrUT5KhXAxMxOcvWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion County School District","date","2025-03-13T12:29:12Z","article","The Marion County School Board scheduled a special administrative briefing and work session for March 24 to discuss next steps in the superintendent search and asked the chair to seek guidance from the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA).

Chair Conrad said she would contact FSBA to request a consultant briefing for the upcoming work session and board members asked legal staff to collect the prior timeline and documents from the district’s previous superintendent search for circulation before the meeting. Board members also discussed alternatives including issuing an RFP for search services, conducting an FSBA‑led process, hiring an interim superintendent while a search runs, or direct hiring, but no formal selection method was decided.

Board counsel (Attorney Powers) and members summarized the legal and procedural options: some districts run an RFP process for a search consultant, while others use the FSBA consulting service. The chair asked board members to review options during spring break and to be prepared to discuss preferences at the March 24 session. Several board members requested FSBA attendance at the March 24 meeting so the association could explain options, typical timelines and community-engagement steps such as surveys and town hall meetings.

Board members also asked the legal department to assemble a short, historical packet describing the prior search timeline and process so all members could review the record before the work session. Chair Conrad agreed to contact FSBA’s representative (Andrea Messina) to coordinate availability for the March 24 meeting; FSBA participation could be telephonic, by Zoom or in person depending on scheduling and production logistics.

No formal motion or vote was recorded at the March 13 work session; the board’s next formal meeting is scheduled for March 25 at 5:30 p.m., and the chair said she would upload any preparatory materials ahead of the March 24 work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marion County School Board Work Session, March 13th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Marion County School Board scheduled a special administrative briefing and work session for March 24 to begin discussion about superintendent options and asked the chair to contact the Florida School Boards Association for consultation; board members requested historical timeline/materials to prepare.","taxTitle","Marion, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15365,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280721,"School board hears $1.37M athletics improvement plan, discusses $550K rubberized track at Westport",888,6332000,7220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed&start=6332&end=7220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed/thumbnail_6332000.jpg","/articles/6280721/Florida/School-board-hears-137M-athletics-improvement-plan-discusses-550K-rubberized-track-at-Westport","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280721-5227935db06f0a18f29a688b1fd84470/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203566&Signature=LWxGdUrQO2iWSoNDVplmzW3ICNCPcVfA4geQfGKqYLU6zzdvHhPpux3afO7rwb1uohpZaapjrj0V-N26bO0FJmImSv9JIRLO7UVR~JEKXkP4k6pIBhzxQcL4XY6Cluwt7sux-Ltu7AypdAfSUDR19pcF84NI1kWEhjR6aZ5tA7sXGGptZ2Q74S9eXfy6VdS0DEqLuFRb3HnjOevanwV8id7sXCrkQN3-ISPQJJ8rR~Fw3OeDddeDZr6MmFCnSpeS5Eea3eRWZRblSZSpCm6Q8d~zHimWa7P1K794wNBrlkVD7RTn7rcugGmS6GvX1HpSUJ9MCB1KD2qw2ZPo4shqGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District facilities staff presented a prioritized athletic‑facilities plan that would replace aging equipment and add amenities at Marion County high schools, with an estimated cost of about $1.37 million for the prioritized items and an optional $550,000 rubberized track recommended at Westport High School.

The list of immediate priorities included: metal outdoor storage buildings (24' x 40') to protect equipment, new metal bleachers with ADA access and concrete pads for baseball/softball fields, gym scoreboard and shot‑clock replacements (the FHSAA will require shot clocks for play starting in 2027), resurfacing or adding tennis/pickleball courts, plus limited electrical upgrades to support new equipment.

Mister Tucker, district facilities presenter, said the 24' x 40' metal storage buildings are roughly $20,000 each plus about $5,000 for concrete slabs and $3,500 for power/mini‑split and humidity control; new bleacher sections were quoted with concrete work and school branding credits; gym scoreboard and shot‑clock packages (eight gyms and eight shot‑clock sets) were estimated at roughly $130,000 with possible power upgrade costs; tennis/pickleball resurfacing was estimated at $40,000 per site with $100,000 to add new courts; total recommended package: approximately $1,371,000 with an optional $550,000 rubberized track at Westport which would bring the total near $1.9 million.

Board members said athletics upgrades are highly visible to students and the community, urged expediency because construction costs escalate, and asked for a predictable budget line for athletics rather than relying only on the general facilities five‑year work plan. Several members supported moving the scoreboard/shot‑clock replacements and storage/bleacher projects forward. Board members also asked facilities to explore options to ensure equitable changing spaces for female athletes (locker privacy), noting some schools still use portable buildings or vehicles for changing.

Mister Tucker recommended Westport for a first rubberized track because Westport has high track participation, better site conditions requiring less grading and drainage work than other campuses and proximity to county recreation facilities. Several board members agreed to prioritize Westport as the first track site, and the board requested a separate work session to discuss Booster Stadium and potential public‑private options.

The board discussed budget sources and timing; the district finance officer reminded members any allocation comes from the capital plan and would require tradeoffs elsewhere in the five‑year work plan. Several board members asked staff to present a budget scenario for allocating a standing athletics capital line so athletics could plan multi‑year improvements. No formal vote was taken; the board gave staff direction to develop next steps, pricing confirmations and a funding approach.

","District staff presented a prioritized list of athletics upgrades estimated at $1.37 million (plus an optional $550,000 rubberized track), including storage buildings, metal bleachers with ADA access, gym scoreboards and shot clocks, and tennis/pickleball courts; the board signaled support and asked staff to pursue funding and timeline options.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280725,"Marion Technical College seeks approval to offer AS degree in radiography to restore recruitment path",1125,3823000,4948000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed&start=3823&end=4948","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed/thumbnail_3823000.jpg","/articles/6280725/Florida/Marion-Technical-College-seeks-approval-to-offer-AS-degree-in-radiography-to-restore-recruitment-path","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280725-f516e341caa2602cfc3a84b7cdffb639/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203566&Signature=GvBpKySTBiJ3EZSmvbzSNiHAyIgXoeCWf4ur2YV1zORlrh4wsheDmTjHXZlz9ZQY9tcnw0z099kWIa07sLLOFxnjdTeDr5zaZlFAnWDmlpT1GoE0iZEJRz~jL-iIWniDdvNfg4tDTGrpuAPMyQTKS68cxcUJNH7JvH1DSjjMb4IP-m3wbBL4rw8nS23uPpahVPvSTEgqC4bFOKDEiXMmmjFIV718OQxWdhxqjyArIUZ0Knz5BjL3KvA5eFcdVpdhe6BpxkLNQN9bJZMK-KorkjYsXmOAaZqS2z8TJFnoFmRMoTwxFPvyIW2Ba~GKb8bwJJlXD9HQldhuovm4YSmgRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion Technical College has submitted a notice of intent to the Florida Department of Education to offer an Associate of Science degree in radiography, the college’s director told the Marion County School Board during the March 13 work session.

The proposal aims to restore a path that existed before 2015, when state licensing rules and local college decisions constrained recruitment into the college’s longstanding radiologic technology certificate program, the presenter said. Board members voiced support for the college’s effort to expand access.

MTC’s radiography program is currently a two‑year, 2,700 clock‑hour certificate accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology; presenter Mr. Smallridge told the board the program’s credentialing pass rate from 2019–2023 was about 94.8 percent and that job placement rates have been similarly strong. He said the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) moved during the 2006–2015 period to require candidates to hold a two‑year degree in order to sit for certain credentialing steps, and that when a local state college launched its own AS program the prior partnership that let MTC students obtain an AS degree ended.

Under the proposed AS structure, MTC would continue to provide approximately 58 credit hours of professional coursework already taught by the college and add 19 general education/prerequisite hours offered online to reach a 77‑hour AS curriculum. MTC would continue to offer the certificate option for students who already hold an associate degree; the AS pathway would allow entry for students without a prior degree, the presenter said.

Smallridge said MTC filed its notice of intent on Jan. 7 and that state procedures give Florida College System institutions 60 days to object; if objections occur MTC would respond and then submit a formal proposal to the Division of Career and Adult Education. The commissioner and State Board of Education would decide final approval after DCAE analysis and recommendations.

Smallridge told the board he had collected letters from local hospitals and imaging centers documenting employer demand for more graduates; he said CareerSource’s published job‑opening counts understate local employer demand and that the college will submit employer letters as part of the justification.

Board members praised the program’s outcomes and said approving an AS pathway would improve local access to a high‑quality, high‑demand health‑care career. The board asked MTC to continue updating the district as the notice and proposal process moves forward.

","MTC presented a notice of intent to convert its radiologic technology certificate into an Associate of Science (AS) degree, saying the change would allow the college to recruit students without preexisting college degrees and better meet local employer demand.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280732,"School board picks ‘status quo’ SRO plan after review of three contract scenarios",3444,351000,3795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed&start=351&end=3795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611416-05aa60771c41fc8cc0e7331eca6e56ed/thumbnail_351000.jpg","/articles/6280732/Florida/School-board-picks-status-quo-SRO-plan-after-review-of-three-contract-scenarios","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280732-c97365890219f52d8c268b3bd4b97bae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203566&Signature=CctshmWCsnrZVgAPKs19CuzETbmHqUhyBKznTPYcWoq3wNkdfokpvm-~eiBqxPrqSQ0XgoawdtRyWYrxUqyyCi-WyZuvUcQIvLpOUa-2Ns8qQ93yT0W0LgghZLzrzRi9ZwpBo6xyZmvQfpLxOK277FMSc0yr3ya3drXV6oYSxweys9D8STMG4F1DNU6TwW2MTAITZUBFThQHnDauFAf80YcO3q8TIW~kpfj7yY4f~OTNMfXiCsu6iMQxCkl9RVOrmHUAE1V9N4bvIZZmK8-Mx1ECalEVmaaDEPx2op1ctATUhP~vkQ3IemBo7JprF27ERv3YZDAyzB0-GJgflsXRrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marion County School Board directed staff to pursue Scenario 1 for school resource officer (SRO) coverage — keeping the current arrangement with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department and Belleview Police Department — after a presentation comparing three contract scenarios and their costs.

Board members said keeping officers assigned by all three agencies preserves community relationships and continuity for students and staff while the board examines cost and equity issues.

Mister McFadden, a district staff member who presented the cost scenarios, told the board the 2022–25 contract had involved 40 MCSO SROs, 21 Ocala Police Department SROs and 1 Belleview officer and that total SRO costs under that contract were roughly $4.9 million. For the 2025–28 options he presented: keeping the current mix (Scenario 1) would require about 41 MCSO SROs at $75,000 each (roughly $3,075,000 for the county portion), 22 OPD officers at about $95,000 each (a roughly $2,000,000 total for Ocala) and one Bellevue position (about $74,000 in year one). Scenario 2 — shifting all SROs to MCSO — was estimated near $5.0 million; Scenario 3 blended coverage with MCSO covering unincorporated and OPD covering city secondary schools and produced a similar five-year total around $5.2 million.

Sheriff Billy Woods, answering questions about capacity and service, urged the board to “take the money out of it” and said the “perfect scenario is one entity that oversees something, not multiple,” but he also said multiple agencies working together was an acceptable second-best model. “There’s value in each of them,” he said, and promised deputies would be placed in schools if the sheriff’s office were asked to provide more SROs.

Ocala Police Chief Mike Balkin argued for city officers in city schools, saying city SROs have a “vested interest” in the neighborhoods and share intelligence with patrol and detectives. He also described city budget pressures — supervisory staffing, summer coverage and overtime — that make OPD costs higher than the sheriff’s quoted $75,000 per position.

Board members repeatedly framed SRO funding as a community, not a school-only, responsibility. Several members said they preferred to keep the current tri-agency model for the coming contract cycle to preserve relationships and community coverage while exploring possible cost-sharing adjustments with municipalities and further discussions with OCALA city leadership about overtime and detail charges.

The board did not take a formal vote but the chair directed staff to move forward with drafting the contract under Scenario 1 and to continue negotiations and follow-up conversations with the agencies. The chair also asked staff to bring back updates and requested a two-year review window so the board could revisit options and any emerging alternatives.

The board emphasized they are not considering guardian programs as the primary model; Sheriff Woods cautioned guardians or private security would not match law enforcement training and urged caution in experimenting with untested security models.

Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with the three agencies, pursue follow-up talks with Ocala officials about overtime/detail language, and return with contract language, cost clarifications and an updated timeline.

","Marion County School Board directed staff to proceed with Scenario 1 — continuing use of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police and Belleview Police SROs — while asking staff to negotiate details and report back, after a cost and operations briefing on three options for the 2025–28 school resource officer contract.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board schedules special session on superintendent search; chair to invite FSBA for guidance

School board hears $1.37M athletics improvement plan, discusses $550K rubberized track at Westport

Marion Technical College seeks approval to offer AS degree in radiography to restore recruitment path

School board picks ‘status quo’ SRO plan after review of three contract scenarios