[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",6088267,"mediaKeyId","2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24","parentId",2884732,"title","Students and community members protest book removals; board cites state statute and parental choice","audioSeconds",419,"startMs",6977000,"endMs",7396000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24&start=6977&end=7396","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24/thumbnail_6977000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088267/Florida/Students-and-community-members-protest-book-removals-board-cites-state-statute-and-parental-choice","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088267-bc97dc2899ef6f47fd04672da590e68e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139145&Signature=gsayMnK9g8ISgs5GeSHlF7EYGnjxIofZsnvn92ugf7wNfNrcJK2nW470jryRJiUMF5mCTmzRMc2hKFEMcLo7HxzVTOxJoKMZz4FUgQ-yfaNMHF-rji-nMnY8KERjALHN-krq640oNmICaS7hP7pCd3ZhcO1JguDaCxqgdtZD~2GNeOi1tlp8dz3ksF23SKUqG49HMFOlRUj01qlnoft0YDHpGmUuIrC7MKjOGDUenZlz7NYkfhAIMioABxSxDocV0Taor0QJ4rpu9uPaS0HQVD2vqI5jMQH0IzxqNbbnrgMW21Nq~CJMPaDQt-pAJKgYW22rJMR34y9KZjg3eIHobw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clay County School District","date","2025-04-05T12:31:35.867Z","article","A series of public‑comment speakers at the April 3 Clay County School Board meeting urged the board to restore books removed from district libraries and criticized the district's review process.

High school students Sylvia McCreany, Mia Bridal and Connor Bridal told the board that library shelves have been stripped of titles they consider important for education, identity and critical thinking. \"We want our books back,\" said Sylvia McCreany. Connor Bridal, who identified as a queer transgender student, said that seeing queer representation in school libraries had helped him feel safe: \"Let us learn freely and let us grow,\" he said.

Public commenter James Frademan said he filed challenges under state procedures and called for removal of titles he characterized as inappropriate; he said 77 titles were removed district‑wide last month. Frademan read passages from specific books and said he had submitted both an informal and a formal challenge.

Other speakers raised related concerns: Constance Higginbotham and Vicky Kidwell spoke on other agenda items, and James Yule asked the district to improve audio and visibility for workshop participants. Sheila Torres raised concerns about student safety and alleged misconduct; the board attorney said the district plans to schedule a closed (shade) meeting to discuss pending litigation.

Superintendent David Broski and board members responded in part by citing district policy and state law. The superintendent said the district removes titles that violate Florida statute 847 and emphasized that parents retain the right to choose whether their children view materials of a controversial nature. Board member Miss Hanson told students she had reviewed the materials and urged them to discuss access with parents, and she said the district posts the list of removed titles for public review.

No board action to restore or further remove titles was taken at the meeting; board members said the process for formal challenges and appeals is handled under state statutes and district policy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 April 3rd Regular School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple students and community members used the April 3 public comment period to protest recent book removals from Clay County school libraries, saying the changes limit access to diverse perspectives and library resources.","taxTitle","Clay, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14349,"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},6088271,"Board adopts Benchmark ELA adoption for K‑5 after split vote; teachers and literacy staff clash over readiness and cost",519,4173000,4692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24&start=4173&end=4692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24/thumbnail_4173000.jpg","/articles/6088271/Florida/Board-adopts-Benchmark-ELA-adoption-for-K5-after-split-vote-teachers-and-literacy-staff-clash-over-readiness-and-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088271-23beb7b08c04eafb0a29f789393fabe6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139145&Signature=O5PXr4yWZwHDOYRpmaAACVRvhS8qfzwbhb5hYUyYoEeCBwhzwXqozY35uUiC7UKIIJrhrM7jFkvkRJZck0Tni3jc5XGvJZF1QKDLE1uUl78KAP-5JdzV~fPXXocKd4uqSW7yy1x4XWLEwCfMt8WMbmXFzNPTALeBSCWwSXIyzL3g-JuMElEUhno5x~eUJEEtSpw~-1BkXAPggZlEs42oJehIGR0ODBYRB04I91oyt9bWff9pKNQxRLDw-rLlWzEO98CWwVxg0~OTAOGi8f8zbFoKtI80MMcVD23CAW128uy2zIJwuwO18VWpQ69gXJ5mk6wmUOOkyOSUDq6ar1lgxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clay County School Board voted 4‑1 on April 3 to approve the advertised adoption of K‑5 English Language Arts (Benchmark 2026), K‑4 mathematics intervention, and K‑12 personal finance materials following a public hearing and extended discussion.

The adoption followed a public comment period in which second‑grade teacher Melissa Neely told the board she and colleagues who reviewed the materials found Benchmark difficult to use for many students, lacked adequate early phonics and scaffolding for English‑language learners, and would require heavy supplementation. \"Benchmark does not offer anything but a glossary for ELL students,\" Neely said during the public hearing, adding that Benchmark’s scope and sequence expected advanced student work very early in the year.

District literacy staff and adoption committee members defended Benchmark. Melanie McIver, supervisor of reading, said the vendor reworked the phonics component and added multisensory materials, decodables aligned to scope and sequence, weekly written exit tickets for progress monitoring, family resources in multiple languages and an intervention platform. McIver said committee reviews used the state adoption rubric and included teachers, parents and ELL representatives: \"We really looked at the curriculum through what is the curriculum that will be most closely tied to the science of reading... Benchmark is a knowledge building curriculum,\" she said.

Board debate focused on instructional quality, cost and timing. One board member described the district's existing adoption (Savvas) as having \"significant gaps\" that require ongoing supplementation; another voiced concern about adopting an expensive set of materials while state funding was uncertain. A board member noted the approximate one‑time cost figure discussed in the meeting—about $3.4 million—and suggested district staff report how supplemental program costs (estimated in discussion at roughly $400,000) would change if Benchmark were adopted.

District staff said there is one year remaining on the current K‑5 adoption and that the state will announce which materials are approved for adoption in April. McIver said the district plans curriculum guides and professional learning to support teachers through implementation and noted Benchmark’s online tools and intervention resources are intended to reduce the need for external supplements.

The motion to approve was moved by Miss Gilhausen and seconded by Miss Clark. The motion carried 4‑1. The board did not adopt a schedule for classroom rollout at the meeting; staff will return with implementation plans and professional learning timelines.

What the adoption includes: the board approved Benchmark 2026 for K‑5 ELA; district staff also advertised approval for K‑4 mathematics intervention and a K‑12 personal finance course as part of the same adoption action. The district will still determine final ordering, shipping logistics and classroom rollout dates, and the state approval process remains a separate step for vendor eligibility.","The Clay County School Board voted 4‑1 on April 3 to adopt Benchmark 2026 for K‑5 English language arts, alongside K‑4 math intervention and K‑12 personal finance materials.",{"_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},6088277,"School board approves Blue Cross Blue Shield for self‑insurance administration, citing multimillion‑dollar savings",157,3944000,4101000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24&start=3944&end=4101","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24/thumbnail_3944000.jpg","/articles/6088277/Florida/School-board-approves-Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield-for-selfinsurance-administration-citing-multimilliondollar-savings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088277-5fb4e5276fb0a010852f722a8068ff4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139145&Signature=mSfPAdPhrzg3c5m4KgV5pDw2z2743wqBEerpxmCvva4k~3Y3iaoiToAaayqL6KopV8oN9zs4lZQBg27Yp4bjheD1PSCGwbbDCHMLb0hxQSr2-CmwlkXDwZi2v4nYy8PmLUTNCxnFyO~y95f-LOstE~9jJ5EvH-kf~kijWMxNFRuYQAPIhUZlkhFVIfAUHinpATYBImoYbPRdHypm97WAEGz31s7QBVjdfJCWbtLaTVyUv6Jb7EeWbWVYeKF1Wp59czmRBpOcbRSgVBSBHe6vuhNcAsoXQzXvPFAZHWxqnZ3295h-cjTcdf0vSpqfmTnIFjDFiYQm~XcZDw1ONY3uAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clay County School Board voted 5‑0 on April 3 to direct staff to engage a contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield to administer the district's self‑insurance program.

Board members said the decision was driven by a projected annual administrative savings of about $3,000,000. \"I move that we direct staff to engage in a contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield,\" said board member Miss Gilhausen when making the motion; Miss Clark seconded the motion. During the discussion a board member described the proposal as a \"slam dunk,\" noting that the administrative vendor change is distinct from plan design and benefits.

The board asked the superintendent to return with recommendations on how to use the projected savings. \"If we move forward... I would like to ask the board to work with the superintendent to bring back some recommendations on how to best use those saved funds to help teachers and staff,\" a board member said during debate.

The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

The vote directs staff to begin contracting and negotiation with Blue Cross Blue Shield as the third‑party administrator; the district will still set premium levels and plan benefits. The board did not adopt a specific plan redesign or a final premium schedule at the meeting.

Board action summary: the RFP award (RFP number 25BA131) was advanced to contract negotiation with Blue Cross Blue Shield; the board directed follow‑up reporting on recommended uses of any savings for staff and program support. No implementation timetable or effective dates for benefit changes were adopted at the meeting.

The superintendent and district staff will return to the board with implementation details and recommended allocations for the projected savings.","On April 3 the Clay County School Board voted to direct staff to contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield to administer the district's self‑insurance program. Board members said the change will reduce annual administrative costs by roughly $3 million and asked the superintendent to return with recommendations for using savings to support staff.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":92,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":95,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6088261,"Votes at a glance: April 3 Clay County School Board meeting",2588,6532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884732-81ab505adb2424c9ee94d6049e498d24&start=3944&end=6532","/articles/6088261/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-April-3-Clay-County-School-Board-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088261-f1515a98f06e3adf9b515ccb930ad486/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139145&Signature=iagS9jC3d9zw9uN93dXpxGPjLFqGaOfP6I-oWwf-WuocYAkxurgrP3Eyq0m5PDfLfTdVqFtcqTBmwKwy4WJLYN9PsKBE0nztRCPdU~iUGS8Eeb~Ybb0YGkwJxI0DA2R~vseivuCmGhvQMQlEZbvKG905~MGwIPLefCYDIHB4xjRWSLCVVFvpOlm7P7gSDg01-CUxYRsUeoV8T1D-uUnTfB6YyJNspnWb5AhLGINJN0izhz8h9trtmj7c9uT0Ac-bEamx8J7LMX2TG-Q6inBkeM92~mROabWEkVD12BjrN8eD~rhFki17FXNokmadcrHXZRp8calOR8M6P4APYGuq-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Key votes taken at the April 3 Clay County School Board meeting (official minutes and roll call to follow):

- Self‑insurance administrative services (RFP 25BA131): Motion to direct staff to contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield — Passed 5‑0 (motion by Miss Gilhausen; second Miss Clark). Board directed staff to negotiate terms and return with recommended uses of projected savings.

- Adoption of K‑5 English Language Arts (Benchmark 2026), K‑4 math intervention, and K‑12 personal finance materials: Motion to approve advertised adoption — Passed 4‑1 (motion by Miss Gilhausen; second Miss Clark). Board directed staff to present implementation and professional learning plans.

- Human resources special action A (D‑2): Motion for approval — Passed 5‑0.

- Human resources special action B (D‑3): Motion for approval — Passed 5‑0.

- Consent agenda (proclamations): Motion to adopt consent agenda including proclamations 25‑13 (Teacher Appreciation Week – May 2025 and Teacher Appreciation Day 05/06/2025), 25‑14 (Administrative Professionals Week – April 2025 and Administrative Professionals Day 04/23/2025), 25‑15 (National School Nurse Week – May 2025), and 25‑16 (Month of the Military Child and Purple Up Day 04/16/2025) — Passed 5‑0.

This list covers formal motions and outcomes recorded at the meeting. Several agenda items included extended public comment and discussion; staff will return with implementation details on the insurance contract and curriculum adoption.","Summary of formal votes taken at the April 3 school board meeting, including insurance contract authorization, curriculum adoption, human resources special actions and consent agenda proclamations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students and community members protest book removals; board cites state statute and parental choice

Board adopts Benchmark ELA adoption for K‑5 after split vote; teachers and literacy staff clash over readiness and cost

School board approves Blue Cross Blue Shield for self‑insurance administration, citing multimillion‑dollar savings

Votes at a glance: April 3 Clay County School Board meeting