[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6060581,"mediaKeyId","3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594","parentId",3289293,"title","Students and programs recognized: CTE graduates, science fair finalists, mentors and award‑winning robotics team","audioSeconds",2623,"startMs",373000,"endMs",2996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594&start=373&end=2996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594/thumbnail_373000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6060581/Florida/Students-and-programs-recognized-CTE-graduates-science-fair-finalists-mentors-and-awardwinning-robotics-team","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060581-05e41a53f6e1a1938143ab1cc6b57017/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163316&Signature=CQRG-I2PVGQf7wwDH2vaJxc48PrDoRmjIOT2CeSZP5V0HEHTOq7jmr-320u1O-5Hqxgt~IAtKJhLOGV28mL~BV4TZaNBl3W10HEulI1KChVmbV639D~TdrnYbSebdBAQz1RSmyQi2hmIJczRyK48fCB6E-HkS5VL87f4D-WGEkaH1fduq3Jd8xhkAgN2W2rETEuOs8tnCVrmmX-i3VAdAwx1W6MGvWZwlC9i1UXonu-WqRVTsJqkz0rpWyQbmKGu8Gtt1J-xyr8fdO4I6gziVNb~2qgmIHGDSn2m~PCRyB0TbjEQieOjdj5InhZYraUxyOW4WrdwYib46GdrwHBThg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Martin County School District, FL","date","2025-04-03T15:41:50Z","article","The Martin County School Board meeting included a series of recognitions and informational presentations highlighting student achievements and district programs.

Career and Technical Education students and seniors spoke about how CTE programs prepared them for careers in health care, drafting, pharmacy technician roles and welding. Students representing Martin County High School, Jensen Beach High School and South Fork High School described hands‑on training, dual‑enrollment and industry certifications they earned.

Daniel Moore, director of curriculum and instruction, recognized regional finalists who advanced to the 70th annual Florida Science and Engineering Fair. Isabella Calhoun from Martin County High School won first place in her category and was named a state finalist for the International Science and Engineering Fair; the award included a $1,000 Dr. Nelson Ying Scholars Award. Several other students from district middle and high schools earned placements, awards and travel opportunities.

Paige McMahon, district math coordinator, recognized the Felix A. Williams Elementary Sailfish team as the district’s fifth‑grade Math Olympics champions, a competition modeled on MathCounts designed to prepare students for middle school math contests.

Heather Platt and Kristen Register presented a year‑end review of the Martin Mentor program. Platt said the district adjusted mentor programming this year to provide five professional‑learning days during the school day for new teachers, resulting in higher participation and a reported 10% reduction in new‑teacher attrition. The program counted 41 school‑based mentors this year.

Students and staff from the SPAM robotics program presented the team’s achievements. Students said the team ranked first in Florida, finished 24th in world rankings and placed fifth at the Houston world championship. SPAM students and mentors described outreach work, more than 2,000 outreach hours over three years, and the team’s receipt of the Impact Award for community STEM engagement.

No board action was required for the recognitions. Presenters thanked the board and community partners for support and encouraged continued community engagement in CTE and STEM programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Martin County School Board Regular School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board heard multiple presentations recognizing student achievements across career and technical education, the Florida Science and Engineering Fair, elementary math competitions, mentor program outcomes, and an award‑winning robotics team.","taxTitle","Martin, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15373,"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},6060586,"District and McNicholas Family Foundation celebrate transformed ball fields at Hidden Oaks and Martin County High",586,930000,1516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594&start=930&end=1516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594/thumbnail_930000.jpg","/articles/6060586/Florida/District-and-McNicholas-Family-Foundation-celebrate-transformed-ball-fields-at-Hidden-Oaks-and-Martin-County-High","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060586-d9d6f3bdfb5f4c0925a781f01f001a7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163316&Signature=hiUsf5KSsRIkd69ivgQtCalZ7-ck3tRrX0DpYaSp4ex3PeHVx3AdSJ6NMGzdDjPst1clprd~xLRcGuc9cc29XUSzi-R9gKaswyixaQLy3ndoT0~tX8KH1UGYp64pAD0mcW787YlH-HMDcJgV3-bRzKVI6vy2yKGtmJao~ImZKyt3~Xz0LtFH33aM85j9gvC4E-TpFZ7sGbvLcdon2ubGDcOrWgEMBACODeZmOuy0qWKZnrke1qiUwTSWCoOvM3oNRX5~LmLYIFe~NedwhIMFycA83RKjgQ0Cu6zTssY01ZwOozCDKMDxsKvZ2hMKx6SnSODZlvWqwvS9PFa2NRhYcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders and community partners presented videos and remarks showing completed and ongoing renovations to baseball and softball fields at Hidden Oaks Middle School and Martin County High School.

Deputy Superintendent Tracy Miller introduced a video tour of the Hidden Oaks ball field complex and described the project as a community partnership. Miller thanked the McNicholas Family Foundation and multiple local partners for funding and labor that transformed a previously unusable site into a “state of the art” complex for students and community teams.

Tom McNicholas of the McNicholas Family Foundation and partners thanked district staff and named partners who contributed materials and labor, including Star Farms (which donated turf), Ken Backs and The Ranch (which provided sand), the McPhee family (irrigation work), Perfect Pitch and local contractors. McNicholas said matching contributions and partner donations produced a field he estimated to be worth more than a quarter million dollars.

Presenters also described complementary upgrades at Martin County High School, noting an irrigation system installation and hybrid turf being laid from local producers. Tracy Miller said the projects will support school teams and community clubs such as Florida Baseball Club and Perfect Pitch; partners noted youth participation is growing—from one team to seven in recent months—and projected large participant numbers over the next five years.

No board action was required; the board and superintendent accepted the recognition and took a group photo with the partners.","School officials and community partners, including the McNicholas Family Foundation, Star Farms and local donors, presented updates and thanked partners for transforming ball fields at Hidden Oaks Middle School and Martin County High School into upgraded athletic complexes.",{"_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},6060591,"Residents press board for pool repair details; district gives timeline for electrical work",2536,3652000,6188000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594&start=3652&end=6188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594/thumbnail_3652000.jpg","/articles/6060591/Florida/Residents-press-board-for-pool-repair-details-district-gives-timeline-for-electrical-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060591-ba678cd0719fe893b8bf9239ab12cd58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163316&Signature=FmyfF68py2ygDQURbdPWCAg68ZvHJeBbGFG~gMw2wQeezZ6FN8FrBbqZ8JTTgL9-faD93W2wL3Y36l9VQnpVJE4SO29xPJJrLpPWb0~yOO07Y9T7dO5iZOx6S2gNbFpfrcwoSWUCv~4bzKClRp5lrmF04lPb4yZXdbC9WyzGV0Io9ooLpCTUiEIdPg0wDd6EiKzO9V4S3ylbZSxN~JF0ydRlRvxAVodoBIc~ldxdBDZcqXXyjoN73tDAuI5ytJFCaByjDIG5ZPJJ2G4VgIak9sGwLM4WD571aIscynOLVuw9BH1bejHGPoCTYL1cSjBbiCrrFtMMGKB0ittcKH7IiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members of the public urged the Martin County School Board to reopen a community pool and asked for detailed updates about required electrical repairs during the meeting's public comment period.

A speaker identified as Landrum told the board the community pool had been closed for nine months and urged the district to “reopen the pool now,” arguing the facility should be operated by the community and maintained with transparent accounting.

During the public comment period, Christina Fiore asked for particulars about the electrical contractor’s investigation and the items that were ordered in March. Fiore requested the written investigation summary, the identity of the electrical contractor, and a public posting of the findings.

In response later in the meeting, Mr. Seacrest (district facilities representative) said both electrical and non‑electrical projects are running simultaneously. “As of this week, the non‑electrical items have been started,” Seacrest reported. “I just got an update on the electrical items. Their goal is to finish at [in] June. That's their tentative date as long as everything comes in.” He said some electrical panels were on hand and have already been installed; other electrical parts remain on order.

Seacrest added the district’s current schedule anticipates finishing non‑electrical items before August.

Board members thanked Seacrest for the update and agreed to continue providing progress reports; Christina Fiore had asked that the electrical contractor’s written investigation and line‑item cost table be made public, and the board’s response was to provide routine project updates.

No formal action or vote on pool operations occurred at this meeting; board members and the superintendent said staff would continue to coordinate repairs and provide updates to the public.","Public commenters urged the Martin County School Board to reopen a community pool and asked for details about an electrical investigation; district staff said non‑electrical work is underway and electrical repairs are tentatively scheduled for completion in June, with non‑electrical work due before August.",{"_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},6060596,"Board approves capital, contracts and routine policies in unanimous package",77,6285000,6362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594&start=6285&end=6362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594/thumbnail_6285000.jpg","/articles/6060596/Florida/Board-approves-capital-contracts-and-routine-policies-in-unanimous-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060596-e4003110f1c4a5f4a751a0c46f0d6d2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163316&Signature=AHoJYjzfBFpG0G6DHYosR2~-dlOL6pK4CZ-L3vP6n8rdW6MVQvXspvQHYVUoT8vH7DvRICVrRFHNAKD0VNkofXkPlU2RvWS4NHLJ2ilbtzAZG4Lss-UCG9j4GHfnoeM8-H7YIV7y~trf7w7P07Rv7RI2OmjVitR6fe6ErzOLFQ6BRglxBOPyRA2Hm9zccs--irKMnivvEiM7TYJUQrYLrlQqofxbPmRR92Gu0vEJ6uIRIG3keTMkRRFyI6McqWA6tGwXFNTH6T6jQ~WAV7ekowFm1KBTnqQhV1RYE30mcZVkvAsMArcgcbLQw0CHLOIkel7tWka5fgoSBZD-npN39w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Martin County School Board approved a package of routine and consent items in unanimous votes including facility safety, capital plan adjustments, service renewals and multiple policy updates.

Key approvals at the May meeting included:

- Approval of the State Requirement for Educational Facilities (SREF) fire and safety report (agenda item 18.02).

- Amendments to the 2024‑25 five‑year capital outlay plan to fund reconstruction of Buildings 9, 10 and 18 at Murray Middle School (18.03).

- Renewal of mandatory basic student athletic accident insurance and voluntary accident insurance through July 31, 2027 (18.04).

- Renewal of athletic trainer and sports physical therapy services through June 30, 2026 (18.05).

- Approval of requisitions for purchase orders over $100,000 (18.06).

- Renewal of dairy product contract for school cafeterias (18.07).

- Approval of compensation for non‑bargaining staff during extended school year and summer programs (18.08).

- Multiple board policy reviews and actions, including first reviews and approvals for policies 20.01 through 20.13; several policies were rescinded and several were approved as revised (20.01–20.13).

Board members made motions and seconded the items as listed in the agenda. Each item was called for a voice vote and recorded as approved unanimously by the board.

Most motions were moved and seconded by board members identified in the meeting record (for example, Miss Russell, Miss Roberts, Dr. Moriarty and Miss Powers were frequent movers/seconders). The board did not provide individual roll‑call tallies in the transcript for each motion; meeting minutes will include formal roll‑call details.

Context: The items approved were presented as routine or budgetary items; board members noted the items were consistent with district planning and operations. The capital outlay amendment will fund reconstruction work at Murray Middle School; the insurance and service renewals extend existing contracts through the dates listed above.

No item in this slate was postponed or failed; the board handled the approvals in a single sequence of motions and unanimous approvals.","The Martin County School Board approved a slate of action items — including facility safety reports, capital outlay adjustments, service contract renewals and several policy updates — in a series of unanimous votes during the meeting.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6060601,"Martin County board adopts new retiree health insurance policy after heated public comment",525,6544000,7069000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594&start=6544&end=7069","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289293-1805843ce61cf56f3472ce4d0d9de594/thumbnail_6544000.jpg","/articles/6060601/Florida/Martin-County-board-adopts-new-retiree-health-insurance-policy-after-heated-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060601-47c5e3921155329f37f88e9d91b1d833/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163316&Signature=AcG1I8DzraJ5c3lJyJQGytSs2enGNaPOK~WKbyyYgCai1u8mEvdsViDWlPMBF6HEkFZGdWq1pq6DvuyBSHX22ubgO3UpvhA6NWJyAOY7dPHFeJePDymHEV0QavswcY8IPJwdvVKW51zXUQHSuuaq8Mjktsf5W2eaGVNrGoK86MHFIAwSQXADRjH3aUuTHjoDj-XvJXTSV4gIg-ptInfKDpyuagiadZC35CcQ9nHPFOdIu7bXx-Rej1i8fbb3-fKGl~uCXnxHCYYoKNXds3eh4vpzjI4Zk3bWwdoYBmW~VZJxRSSn3H8PRqBZYvKyifLhR9Pk2tYUvBaP-c9iI5WV0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Martin County School Board unanimously approved a new policy governing retiree health insurance for employees retiring on or after July 1, 2025.

The vote on policy 20.11 took place near the end of the meeting; Miss Roberts moved the motion and Miss Powers seconded. After the roll call the board chair called for the vote and members responded in the affirmative. The board recorded the motion as carried unanimously.

The vote followed a series of public comments and testimony urging the board to preserve existing retiree benefits. Tom Dougherty, band director at Jensen Beach High School, described the personal impact of recent benefit changes: “I feel like we weren't given a voice in regards to these changes.” Dougherty said his family would face sharply higher premiums and that the district’s insurance changes had put his household under financial strain.

Matt Theobald, president of the Martin County Education Association, addressed the board during the public hearing on policies and urged members to reject reductions in retiree benefits. “These budgetary actions have real consequences for real people,” Theobald said, asking board members to “vote no” on changes that would reduce retiree support.

Angela Roberts, a 36‑year educator in the district who said she is in the Florida Retirement System DROP program, warned that eliminating promised subsidies for employees already in DROP would “change the climate of this district” and urged the board to preserve subsidies for those already retired or in DROP.

Superintendent Michael Main told speakers and the board that labor relations conversations were underway and that district leadership had asked the union to provide available summer dates to negotiate contract changes. Main said the district and board intended to open contract negotiations as soon as possible.

Board members debated the package of policy votes in public session and then voted on policy 20.11. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

The new policy was presented as part of a series of policy actions the board considered at the meeting. Board members said they plan to continue labor‑relations discussions with the teachers’ union over the summer.

A follow‑up item: union leadership and district negotiators agreed to schedule summer meetings, according to the superintendent’s remarks, to discuss insurance and other contract provisions.

Context: Several speakers during public comment had linked the policy discussion to broader concerns about insurance premium increases and staffing retention. The board indicated it will pursue negotiated solutions with the union but adopted 20.11 in the meeting.","The Martin County School Board unanimously approved new policy 20.11 on retiree health insurance for employees retiring on or after July 1, 2025, following multiple public comments from teachers, retirees and the teachers’ union urging the board to preserve benefits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students and programs recognized: CTE graduates, science fair finalists, mentors and award‑winning robotics team

District and McNicholas Family Foundation celebrate transformed ball fields at Hidden Oaks and Martin County High

Residents press board for pool repair details; district gives timeline for electrical work

Board approves capital, contracts and routine policies in unanimous package

Martin County board adopts new retiree health insurance policy after heated public comment