[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-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",[32,75,87,99,109],{"_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",6223055,"mediaKeyId","3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b","parentId",3577239,"title","District officials recap 2025 Florida legislative session and bills affecting schools","audioSeconds",284,"startMs",495000,"endMs",779000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b&start=495&end=779","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b/thumbnail_495000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223055/Palm-Beach/School-Districts/Florida/District-officials-recap-2025-Florida-legislative-session-and-bills-affecting-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223055-78c42e69219293be8e0e8d21e20d3c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=OSZFxpiSpvWS~zpUiNRd1h9bttemr6AV~ljqSMO6cSkkbJWm0M4c8vpqRthy1LOvIZUkDR5qb3GINucqvojS6MVe705GYx1M8r6uu~YzjUVaOkgFhe9Utufj6OECOfnHYPQdyBNY6srT6GeXEYtooNcvuD7NI5KhWdGjusOKL55peKxRSHo0EY8IMjpk~JB0joSdKQDzB526nr9V-3F~aS2FR5pcpuueBNOt-AWLS6Z2PtOoC0ADwx9m4cCjIQHYMx0LgOyG~gnKvQQJOdDMtASKL4T1Wp1wZtBx-QUPma7fqk6fxrkyrVsARRIgXLj0iFxfpygQ7SbsYxUB9TjvkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Palm Beach County School District, FL","date","2025-05-29T00:17:47Z","article","District staff and outside consultants presented their 2025 Florida legislative wrap‑up for the school board, emphasizing that state budget negotiations still leave many education policy items in limbo.

Capital City Consulting outlined the overall legislative posture: House and Senate budgets were billions apart and the legislature had extended session dates while continuing to negotiate tax‑cut proposals. Because the state budget drives many education conforming bills, several district priorities remained unresolved until a revenue agreement is reached.

Consultants highlighted enacted and pending education bills of direct interest to the district:

- A middle‑ and high‑school start‑times bill that gives districts flexibility and requires a DOE report and stakeholder input before default start‑time changes take effect. The district will need to file a report by June 1, 2026, to avoid an automatic schedule change.

- Senate Bill 1470 (school safety) clarified “campus” definition and limited the hours when full security measures are required (30 minutes before/after school and instructional time), reducing an earlier operational burden created by prior statute.

- House Bill 1105 consolidated many education items, including proportional sharing of certain local referendum surtax revenues with eligible charter schools, a K–8 ban on cell phones on campus (in effect for the next school year), and a voluntary six‑district high‑school pilot to study broader high‑school cell‑phone bans.

- HB 1255 and related bills added teacher credentialing and background‑screening rules for personnel in private or scholarship‑funded programs and expanded screening parity across public, private and scholarship settings.

Consultants also flagged new health and safety measures (required EpiPen training in elementary/middle schools and ECG screening for high‑school athletes) and curriculum adjustments including expanded testing options (Classical Learning Test options) and changes to graduation certificates and workforce credentials.

Board members asked about implementation details: how the start‑time reporting will interact with local hearings, which districts will be eligible for the cell‑phone pilot and the district’s options for charter‑school revenue sharing. District staff said they will keep the board updated as the budget and conforming bills are finalized.

Ending: Consultants said the district will monitor the budget and reconvene the board as necessary; district staff recommended targeted local preparations on start‑time reporting and cellphone‑policy options so the district can meet deadlines and participate in pilot programs if desired.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05.28.25 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District staff and legislative consultants briefed the Palm Beach County School Board on key 2025 Florida bills that affect start times, school safety, cell‑phone rules, charter revenue sharing and credentialing, and stressed that many items remain tied to an unresolved state budget.","taxTitle","Palm Beach, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14656,"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},6223059,"Palm Beach schools brace for potential $40.9M shortfall; staff proposes offsets, holds salary increases",941,2289000,3230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b&start=2289&end=3230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b/thumbnail_2289000.jpg","/articles/6223059/Palm-Beach/School-Districts/Florida/Palm-Beach-schools-brace-for-potential-409M-shortfall-staff-proposes-offsets-holds-salary-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223059-e7b399451be276354b8b7863b4639a63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=RTps4aI0TjXuczyFKbPASUUNoqmj3ELJaLXuyuXW6NidT9f-NeaZ1-7WtM6T1exwMstACGDLxYxcumEUindABPf7GKVhaZtW0sCM0sFcn-aIjmxqHcZFJohOscLJSJC5pptYRutMhMM5ikkMoSnWlF3Rg8iOR0zQ2Ocswt4oTte9J~MaVpYl4hLPu42i3PThRQkyrNL0sx3hq8mNe4-XAD7RBWDtImBnBGYgWP5vIBHsYIbsS9LOoscIlqT2AaayszCGQeLNW-SpHMnSl-tKY3ldgKaDZfeASCiozp7utK-69AJdVpAnZPwiN3VDMSLKQscsxxJ6ETIg~RXcGxo-0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palm Beach County Schools’ finance team told the board the district faces a possible $40.9 million shortfall under the House’s budget proposal and outlined measures intended to balance the FY 2026 budget without new broad salary commitments.

Chief Financial Officer Heather Frederick presented a “presumed worst‑case” scenario built on the House budget position. She said the guidance produced an $11.5 million FEFP (state education formula) hit plus recurring adjustments (teacher compensation categoricals, health premiums, staffing alignment) that increased the gap to $40.9 million. Frederick said staff reallocated reserves, trimmed contingency set‑asides, adjusted fringe assumptions and recommended targeting $23 million of reductions to high‑school “add‑on” allocations (programs such as AP/ACE/IB bonuses and acceleration supplements) to balance the plan.

Frederick said the district currently expects to adopt a tentative budget by the statutory calendar but is building a budget cautious of a worst‑case revenue position. She and Chief Operating Officer Joe Sanchez stressed that the capital program remains funded — largely protected by a voter‑approved half‑cent sales surtax — but the operating budget will have little room for new salary commitments beyond a teacher compensation categorical already included.

Board members asked detailed questions about the mechanics of the $40.9 million figure, the timeline for state action and the local property valuation, and how the reductions would affect high‑school offerings. Frederick explained that higher‑performing high schools that previously received additional add‑on FTE funding will see those add‑on allocations reduced by roughly half; the district plans to allocate those cuts to the affected schools rather than hide them centrally.

Trustees raised concerns about the potential academic impact: Board Member Erica Whitfield warned that cuts to ACE, AP and IB funding could diminish college‑credit opportunities that attract and retain students. Superintendent Burke said the district is working with external partners (e.g., Cambridge/ACE suppliers and Palm Beach State College) and the district’s education foundation to mitigate effects on students and keep exams and bonus payments covered where possible.

Frederick said the budget depends on several uncertain factors — a final state budget, updated district property valuations, and settlement outcomes in labor negotiations — and cautioned the board that those variables could change in coming weeks. She recommended proceeding with the board’s tentative budget schedule to meet TRIM and statutory deadlines and returning to the board with adjustments as the state process resolves.

Ending: Board members asked staff to return with supplemental slides that explain the FEFP calculation and to provide more detailed school‑level impacts of proposed high‑school add‑on reductions; trustees emphasized avoiding one‑time fixes and urged staff to prioritize preserving student programs to the extent revenues allow.","CFO Heather Frederick outlined a FY 2026 budget framework that assumes a worst‑case state funding plan and measures to balance the budget, including reallocations, set‑aside reductions and program prioritization; trustees pressed for clarity on impacts to high‑school add‑on funding and ACE/dual‑enrollment programs.",{"_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},6223064,"Palm Beach school board moves to revise DEI and purchasing policies after federal guidance",7811,215000,8026000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b&start=215&end=8026","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b/thumbnail_215000.jpg","/articles/6223064/Palm-Beach/School-Districts/Florida/Palm-Beach-school-board-moves-to-revise-DEI-and-purchasing-policies-after-federal-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223064-301c30f28ca17377f264493731aa4705/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=DqMvUKoFtgYt-DNVWDU9X9lg51g6GLgljnUyAe8ESr4tgljfIbDaMixZjWBziX5zhfzTpBbGA6sUwbhhq9RMe~H0L2rRwxIiqr1uinAfVRoQO-L3bO3SuLSweCAR~uBkYskeKFUOW1h1Dd5QxFrrd9hJ5xpK-2rAT-oaQJFrWPMYbc4WJqJh7bh-GtfjXR2Nl1rb-qUFolhP~7ufHkTHMx9ysvFzcW0rrR3FEpzzMMtP~gvfifirn~BlFu8pUkB8hAZqTYs8h6v1HsM50TaJIsakbKFeiytgIszjySA3HBBAle9LsEM4p9QcGkGc9buQSWbMrbt-W1TiP15tVEZxow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palm Beach County School Board voted in workshop and special sessions to develop revisions and to repeal a set of longstanding DEI‑related policies, including rules on business contracting and majority‑to‑minority student transfers.

Board action followed legal guidance and concern about potential federal funding risk after a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” style directive and related executive orders were publicly invoked at early meetings. The district’s legal and administrative staff presented options that replace race‑ and gender‑conscious contracting language with a race‑neutral Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program and remove or amend policy text referencing “minority” or “women‑owned” set‑asides.

The board approved development or repeal of the affected policies in a series of roll call items (see actions). Most votes passed 5–1, with Board Member Edwin Ferguson recorded in opposition to several changes. Board members who supported the measures said they were following legal advice and attempting to protect state and federal funding streams while keeping district procurement and hiring practices legally defensible.

The policy changes prompted several members of the public to speak during agenda item public comment. Dozens of speakers representing community groups, parents and civil‑rights organizations urged the board to pause the action and retain the district’s DEI language. “These policies level the playing field,” said Max Fennig of Prism (a youth nonprofit) during public comment. NAACP leaders and local clergy told the board the changes amounted to a retreat from long‑standing commitments to equity.

Superintendent Michael Burke and Chief Operating Officer Joe Sanchez told the board the district’s procurement approach has been largely race‑neutral for several years (using SBE preferences) and that a formal disparity study would be needed to adopt targeted race‑ and gender‑conscious contracting again. Burke said the board’s direction sought to avoid immediate fiscal risk while preserving options to revisit targeted programs later.

Board members differed in public remarks. Some said they trust the district to continue inclusive hiring and contracting without the specific language; others said written policy matters because it commits future boards and administrators to the district’s stated goals.

The district’s general counsel advised the board of time limits tied to emergency rulemaking: because the board already took emergency action, any delay beyond the statutory window would require repeating the formal rulemaking process. Several trustees asked for more time to monitor pending federal and appellate court decisions before finalizing the revisions.

The board instructed staff to proceed with the rulemaking/development process for the proposed changes; several trustees asked administration to return with impact analyses and with a plan to re‑examine targeted procurement tools should legal conditions change.

The debate is likely to continue: community leaders signaled plans to press the board to pause any permanent rules, and civil‑rights groups said they were monitoring litigation that could affect the district’s options.

Ending: The board’s preliminary approvals set a timetable for formal development and a planned adoption hearing in mid‑July. Trustees and staff said they would also brief the public on what the administrative changes would mean for contractors, job seekers and students if they become final.","The Palm Beach County School Board voted to develop and repeal several diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)–related policies and to adopt a race‑neutral small business enterprise approach after legal and budget uncertainties from federal guidance and recent court actions, drawing sharp public criticism and calls to pause the changes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":91,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":94,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223047,"Community urges retention of broad disciplinary review team as board clarifies discipline policies",3803,4018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b&start=215&end=4018","/articles/6223047/Palm-Beach/School-Districts/Florida/Community-urges-retention-of-broad-disciplinary-review-team-as-board-clarifies-discipline-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223047-bff8a6ee7313d9333ac6e7ed5d304b8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=Tu74nJGFoJdY0lOVSBoozPYW8iNNKYs466sErLpMLJI3ApYuCCYahYBQniF8UhseT0ZTfiT4jooxBFVVuvcaWTh~V~Kj-O4yMxkQ7SkU-y~lhwi8tm1hY0ukVkH30Qo9UvkUkt7fDN80TizsZhmJHRWFQ71jJM3bwTHczQuwU14ytEtzgf3qwLdH070NPFBoNIcipb1UJ~A8m7AdGfF3jsoxFDseDIySCEA4Pet0sZ7mbylYKrrZdzOk3kkVaXMMC~4YggkIwKng~SKTg75QRI~uJEOPjObTDXQ9V3tqvvV0wolNRgy1ETEDeC-Qis57P4nhlYYma848MXnAWSCxNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public speaker from the Coalition for Black Student Achievement asked the Palm Beach County School Board to preserve wide multidisciplinary staffing on Discipline Review Committees (DRCs), and district staff presented proposed clarifications to student discipline and expulsion policy language.

Dr. Deborah Robinson told the board she opposed changes that would remove principals, ESE and behavioral/mental‑health representation from DRCs; she proposed adding non‑district experts if district staff participation is a barrier and asked the board to “pause” policy changes until outstanding legal issues are resolved.

District staff and legal counsel then reviewed proposed edits to existing policies including policy 5.1817 (expulsion / severe incident assignment), 5.1814 (0‑tolerance policy) and the student code of conduct (5.1812/13). Key changes the administration presented were:

- A minimum membership requirement for DRCs: at least three principals and at least one district representative present for severe incident review, while clarifying that support‑services and safe‑schools staff are integral to the process and typically participate in pre‑DRC reviews and meetings.

- Clarification that repeat‑offense coding at Level 2 requires prior documented interventions or failure to comply with corrective strategies at Level 1 before a repetitive code may be applied.

- Implementation of statutory changes that allow an expulsion to be extended if a threat‑assessment and threat‑management team recommends it; the policy ties any extended removal to statutory notice requirements and due process steps.

District staff said the DRC language was tightened to avoid overly large meeting rosters that can intimidate families, while retaining a pathway for relevant specialists (ESE, behavior/mental‑health) to participate when cases warrant it. Legal counsel and support services staff emphasized that the district’s process provides multiple levels of review and the right to request hearing officers in disciplinary cases.

Dr. Robinson and other public commenters urged the board to retain broader membership on DRCs and to ensure that ESE, mental‑health, safety and parent advocates are at the table when students face the most serious disciplinary actions.

Ending: The board did not adopt final policy language at the workshop; staff said they would refine proposed revisions to the DRC composition description and the student code of conduct and return with final rule language as part of the broader policy development package.","A Coalition for Black Student Achievement speaker urged the board to preserve a multidisciplinary Discipline Review Committee; district legal staff proposed revisions that set minimum DRC membership and allow expulsion extensions under threat‑assessment recommendations while trimming language and clarifying repetitive offense coding.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223052,"District touts strategic‑plan gains and expansion of classroom AI and translation pilots",80,560000,640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b&start=560&end=640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577239-d82032440294a4c2ac00289ca1755d3b/thumbnail_560000.jpg","/articles/6223052/Palm-Beach/School-Districts/Florida/District-touts-strategicplan-gains-and-expansion-of-classroom-AI-and-translation-pilots","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223052-09aa98f02e79a1e2247c17be703c459c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=NOmlHJF6t36ppwHv7I8WMkpYzOxgLXgzA6OQqBCGoJ8i3X77ryxUlCksD5eEPeBR7ebuAkkzT~BArViZPrCCvxHfrWQyqihSTJMhIthc6RY0ta6HyJ6cF7OM4jQZIkaNWfUFn5l2z08wWK74H1ncdz0hePtwQ5JVX02TNwrOmccEjGf8Ctvr7va3HZCIkjVOqxinJFBxlfcHJOMSrkAuqA358XjdVOjjEvJYQ1X88axAPxWB5sa6Snd9djvRhKxZ8BPj6Xb~Jr5UjhkoPUEz~IKUvUhQZzJwidQqWgfmPdbMLz0T9g~i1JthTtoMWoEEH7jFjrVpZT4X6wo-2scPyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders presented Year 3 results from the five‑year strategic plan and highlighted new technology and curriculum initiatives, including broad deployment of AI tutoring tools and a pilot audio translation system for classrooms.

Chief of Staff Jamie Wyatt and Chief of Performance Adam Miller summarized accomplishments across academic excellence, student culture, mental‑health supports and staff development. The presentation noted expansion of early‑literacy professional development (rebranded as the Palm Beach Early Literacy Initiative), new career/CTE grants and increased dual‑enrollment and apprenticeship options.

The technology focus drew particular attention. The district reported a large rollout of Conmigo (Khan Academy’s AI tutor), now available in all middle and high schools, plus Adobe Express and Canva for creative projects. Chief Miller said Palm Beach now has the largest Conmigo implementation in the nation and that teacher training and school guidance are part of the rollout.

The district also described a pilot of the Clear Connect audio‑enhancement and real‑time translation system. The device transmits a teacher’s voice and can present subtitles or translation text to student Chromebooks while the teacher speaks; future functionality is expected to support two‑way student translation. Trustees and a number of speakers who had experience with translation technology praised the pilot for its potential to accelerate newcomers’ academic access and reduce early remediation.

Board members asked for metrics and pilot evaluation plans — how language support helps English‑learner acquisition and whether pilots would expand to elementary grades. Administration said metrics would be developed and shared with the board and that vendor pilots will be evaluated for cost, equity of access and academic outcomes.

Ending: The strategic‑plan update concluded with requests for additional data: trustees asked for hard usage and outcome metrics tied to Conmigo and Clear Connect pilots and for a timeline for adding AI curricula to core classes.","District leaders reported third‑year strategic‑plan accomplishments and unveiled expansions of student and teacher AI tools (Khanmigo/Conmigo, Adobe Express, Canva) and a pilot audio translation system (Clear Connect) aimed at English learners; the board asked for follow‑up implementation metrics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District officials recap 2025 Florida legislative session and bills affecting schools

Palm Beach schools brace for potential $40.9M shortfall; staff proposes offsets, holds salary increases

Palm Beach school board moves to revise DEI and purchasing policies after federal guidance

Community urges retention of broad disciplinary review team as board clarifies discipline policies

District touts strategic‑plan gains and expansion of classroom AI and translation pilots