[{"_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",6473947,"mediaKeyId","5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91","parentId",5742837,"title","Parents and residents raise building-safety and book-transparency concerns at Pinellas school board meeting","audioSeconds",648,"startMs",7678000,"endMs",8326000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91&start=7678&end=8326","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91/thumbnail_7678000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473947/Florida/Parents-and-residents-raise-building-safety-and-book-transparency-concerns-at-Pinellas-school-board-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473947-431eeaaa4ebb99bee15a5796e474cff0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775239719&Signature=TFTGqptVw6IlRSDQ8t8mesGZEinat8Lx~vuHiid9Tfw6MtljilQpWUyTyxZKXsMdWN9OhK75Jv3w5AZV796MqPpfU2BpYJD-ErYb~D4ezhiY-ee-1KnACjBGq2fVAGFMFKQwuDeZhqy6J3oSDELy1FLaOcQoPkeQpQE4i1GL~-xvgf4qLf0fkCD37Y83ne~Z9aRQ8XOSJv1tHvNcBDGd33dh9WqbXwVOmHPfCTgA3cf8x7GwW8apVlzI0MpwDy4R0Ev12dR1Xjj~Ym8eoCIk6ATh9F7Fbogx3ahxGTGlHuBC3aN8fbxQozlmu73vc7Wvm0-9652rGdOcdyZOOSYd7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pinellas County Schools","date","2025-09-05T16:02:54Z","article","Several public speakers used the Sept. 9 meeting to press the Pinellas County School Board on two community concerns: an alleged unresolved mold problem that district staff said has kept a student out of a culinary classroom, and transparency about the district’s handling of removed books.

Deb Young, a parent, told the board her daughter — a senior and high-achieving culinary student at Tarpon Springs High School — has been unable to attend culinary class because, she said, the building is not safe. Young said she had contacted district officials and the school, and that she had been “stonewalled” while her daughter has missed class time. Young said the affected space (the Outback Room) also hosts community luncheons and therefore could affect older, vulnerable residents. She told the board her daughter has been sick several times this year and asked the district to provide a clearance report and allow students to return when it is safe.

The district acknowledged the public comment and said staff members had been in contact; district representatives did not present a full clearance report during the meeting. Superintendent Hendrick said he had been in touch with local Department of Health leaders and that nothing about mandatory vaccination law had changed; he did not provide a specific remediation timeline for the mold allegation in public remarks. Board members did not make a new directive during the meeting beyond assuring the speaker that staff had been involved.

Another member of the public, Nicole St. Leger, asked the district to be transparent about the status of books removed from school shelves. She asked whether removed books were being held pending appeals and urged the district to return books to shelves if a court decision requires it, arguing that withholding books restricts students’ academic access. St. Leger said returning books promptly would avoid replacement costs if a court later orders them back on shelves.

Why it matters: both issues — a possible facility hazard that affects instruction and community events, and the handling of materials removed from library collections — touch on operational transparency and student access to instruction and resources. Speakers asked for clearer public notice and more prompt resolution.

Next steps: the board did not take formal action at the meeting. District staff were identified as having been contacted about the building issue; the board said the district’s permitting and facilities processes apply. The public-comment speakers said they would continue to follow up with the district.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pinellas County School Board Meeting September 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters at the Sept. 9 Pinellas County School Board meeting urged the district to address an alleged mold problem that has closed a culinary classroom at Tarpon Springs High School and pressed the board for transparency about removed library books and appeals.","taxTitle","Pinellas, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14662,"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},6473952,"Pinellas presents annual report, strategic-plan highlights and new AI initiative for teachers",265,1815000,2080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91&start=1815&end=2080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91/thumbnail_1815000.jpg","/articles/6473952/Florida/Pinellas-presents-annual-report-strategic-plan-highlights-and-new-AI-initiative-for-teachers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473952-63db175b018b644a5572b81396cfb320/orig.mp4?Expires=1775239719&Signature=QGyniydeVFN0uodnqgAdNs6YhY9ggm5yGoEPWUAVvJtiHT5szjH6UjPui3gn5SZpkc54N3jQJKK5KiMZr0M73siJ79Ps~NyIXUXwelK-erZqsWYX6oI8jFGQBm4p7~bkneq3Qbs4rK1782nB8skQ2XrEL6~p5t4V~70oFAteH0vIVHfCtFN3RocGj7FuVaydewCjpLIRltjXM-qRgu0H1ErB-6fmhgDBwFFnFlqzzfREBktHbBi71ndGo3HzWrxqLZ7bIn2sB0heNf7ujxyOhYgDybv9E-K7VQ7DZmDhsfx~q~McXR-NY9bYYofQu6vQMekD2psJxVabLBsWATEj6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pinellas County Schools presented its district annual report and highlights from the 2023–26 strategic plan at the Sept. 9 school board meeting and described several district initiatives, including adoption of an AI classroom tool and a staff cohort to study best practices.

Liana Ison, director of strategic planning and policy, reviewed key accomplishments the district listed in its annual report: a district grade of A; about 90% of schools earned an A or B; third-grade English language arts performance increased 12 percentage points over three years (outperforming the state by 10 points, per the presentation); 23,000 college courses taken through dual enrollment saved students and families about $14.5 million in tuition; and 25,000 volunteers contributed about 285,000 hours in 2024–25, which the district estimated as a $9.5 million value.

Ison also highlighted operational and policy changes: updated campus operations procedures to comply with new safety laws, a new cell-phone policy and a district “digital responsibility” initiative that includes age-appropriate lessons on cyberbullying, privacy and media literacy. The district said special education and other ESSA subgroups showed proficiency growth across state assessments.

On technology and artificial intelligence, the board watched a district video and staff described the district’s adoption of a tool the district identified as “Magic School,” paid for through the technology referendum. The presentation said the tool includes lesson planning, PD planning and “agents” to assist teachers. The district also announced an AI Pathfinders cohort that will select one staff member from each school (elementary through high school) for a year-long program of monthly training on responsible classroom AI use. The district said it has created an internal AI task force to develop guidelines and best practices for ethical AI use with students.

Why it matters: staff framed the AI work as a way to save teacher time and to support responsible student use, while the annual report figures show areas of academic growth that the district said will guide resource allocation during the next strategic-plan cycle.

Next steps: the board will begin a new strategic-plan process during the year, and the district said the annual report and a one-page PCS At a Glance summary are available on the district website.

","District staff presented the 2024–25 annual report and updates on the 2023–26 strategic plan, highlighting student-achievement gains, dual-enrollment savings and the new Magic School AI tools and an AI Pathfinders cohort for staff training.",{"_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},6473957,"School board approves new communications manager job description over lone dissent; member warns of outsourcing and cost uncertainty",167,2399000,2566000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91&start=2399&end=2566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91/thumbnail_2399000.jpg","/articles/6473957/Florida/School-board-approves-new-communications-manager-job-description-over-lone-dissent-member-warns-of-outsourcing-and-cost-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473957-2052ae4589a08e1883a68bc36c52daaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775239719&Signature=HRYb8g0804nDQCo~2nLbEj-yYrr7ok5vE6SBmvG1vKFpkDgwBZMx8bEPtqOhXP8tXrv0PDe2uRXAcaFNo1kEIGpfMTqX4termRFPV2ywotcZnBKm-qJOkguzcJ8JvdFo0yHRWBzidOUeLyj~zrL5kvOi3BUE4ZmoHTWb4zutcwnWVNNe78YYxO4de1j60JIN1VQoRl1dR14~HkM1JXqV8KRDQOQGSR7SRlbHEJILpCLPoYSagq5rVtV~SvNk7HKzbvA-vYEvAjXAF0odL3N6Dr4-h35zWBD60lL-cKnLUKt190qqPTHW4BaIG0-jnXs4dHyGdESPw4yvkBU9Ef8cNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pinellas County School Board approved agenda item 7.3 on Sept. 9 by a vote of 5–1 to create and revise job descriptions in the communications department, including a new manager position.

Board discussion focused on whether adding a manager to supervise a single direct report would save money or improve the district’s marketing capacity. Board member Edmond said she consulted marketing and education professionals and, after a workshop and follow-up, concluded that adding an additional manager “to supervise 1 person and share responsibilities is not a solution to a marketing challenge,” and she announced she would vote no. Edmond said whether the change increases or decreases costs depends on whether the position is filled internally or externally. Other board members argued the change reflects a redistribution of duties after previous reductions and said the director of communications currently carries a significant workload.

The motion to approve the job-description changes was made and seconded; the board approved the item 5–1. Board members who spoke in favor noted prior reductions to other district roles and said they expect a return on investment from stronger communications and marketing work.

Votes and next steps: the approved action directs human resources to implement the job description changes. The board’s vote record shows one dissent (Edmond), five votes in favor and no abstentions. The change will be handled through the district’s normal human resources and classification processes.

","The Pinellas County School Board voted 5-1 to approve a request to create and revise job descriptions that included a new communications/marketing manager role. Board member Edmond recorded the sole no vote, saying adding a manager to supervise one staffer is not the right solution given tight budgets and potential outsourcing.",{"_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},6473961,"Pinellas board approves Greater Florida Consortium platform but removes workforce-housing language after debate",1513,2583000,4096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91&start=2583&end=4096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91/thumbnail_2583000.jpg","/articles/6473961/Florida/Pinellas-board-approves-Greater-Florida-Consortium-platform-but-removes-workforce-housing-language-after-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473961-d363564f1e6aa37d6700006fefadebce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775239719&Signature=IS19VTn0l5t98Q0GVDs~PL~G1uq-riU0iVbk-pAdHdCFq1BoOPax7g-Wz49SCCMx7xaeUHDK-tflksfeiDGaiiU0T2c47cfXzPcGRqllBINPnd4dZyQUHEoyp5--3fzx0pYWo46~rKtkJS4B9r-kVMSUiM1fsrbqAt1m1eLHAipvlMl3O82iiY6eGJ05TLC8ATedbzSW85LruMdjrZ-1nw0l2GxXKp1blzcs-n5iphaHXYSqo8lVXyAnOr1XgxkmZPa6LAjfdw59ZXOnuN~Z0gi7tYNjMuep4c4FyyiaLD6zobyTaVWtyrxtUXyGqTuuzwAyc0pzpkYNLS4EJiNVCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pinellas County School Board on Sept. 9 voted to approve the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards’ proposed 2026 state legislative platform but removed a single contested line that would have authorized school districts to develop, finance and manage workforce housing on district-owned or leased property.

Board members discussed the item at length before the vote. The main platform passed without the contested line; the item that had been removed read, in part, “authorize district school boards to develop, finance, and manage workforce housing on its owned or leased property … and stipulate that such educational villages and buildings shall be considered educational facilities for the purpose of design, construction, permitting, and inspection.”

Board member Peters moved to divide and then to remove that line so it could be debated separately. After discussion, the board voted 3–3 on whether to keep the divided item on the consortium platform; the tie meant the motion failed and the item was removed from the final platform the consortium will circulate.

Why it matters: the contested sentence raised questions about the district’s role in housing development, building-code designations and permitting authority. Supporters said the language gives districts flexibility to pursue attainable-housing partnerships for staff; opponents said the district should not become a housing developer or property manager and expressed concern about labeling housing as “educational facilities,” which could change permitting standards.

Board members and staff speakers cited different interpretations of the verbs in the line — “develop, finance, and manage” — and noted that districts across Florida approach property use differently. Board member Edmond, who served as the consortium president and introduced the platform, said districts can manage their property portfolios without acting as day-to-day property managers, and she called the language potentially flexible enough to support lease/partnership models. Board member Peters said she opposed school districts developing and managing workforce housing themselves and would support leasing property to third-party developers instead.

District counsel and staff also addressed technical concerns: district counsel Kaspersky said the phrase that would treat housing as “educational facilities” likely sought to provide permitting flexibility for mixed-use projects (for example, renovation of an existing school building plus new housing on the site), but warned that the phrase could carry consequences under building codes and inspection standards.

The wider consortium platform — excluding the removed workforce-housing line — passed unanimously by the Pinellas board and will proceed to consortium consolidation for a final platform that will be distributed to member districts and legislators.

","The Pinellas County School Board approved the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards' 2026 legislative platform except for a provision that would have authorized districts to develop, finance and manage workforce housing on district property; that provision was removed after a 3-3 tie among board members.",{"_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},6473966,"Pinellas County School Board adopts 6.293 mills, $1.8 billion budget; 1-mill referendum cited as main revenue driver",1530,5286000,6816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91&start=5286&end=6816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742837-7db51a514554ae13fb2006dd7d91fe91/thumbnail_5286000.jpg","/articles/6473966/Florida/Pinellas-County-School-Board-adopts-6293-mills-18-billion-budget-1-mill-referendum-cited-as-main-revenue-driver","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473966-329bb36211e43bc1946ac0e109032011/orig.mp4?Expires=1775239719&Signature=WYIcdbDuXYRkoBIdlYYSFN4k2SSPV~mOUIjkqFgGul86OKL-08ZIGHEfR69buAjMaJqF07jtgDtEPcKE2BlPAgXFY0XYUnA4~nUBLiz8rv0ahqNTy-JIzPqJT7Dw37jDWp6h7fmVdOhaoSqgHOZ0CPQsjQOgaexXp1wj6lurORj9tvNK~et~RpRxENQs90QQ-AfJ6n6xnlboo2xQWznC4MqxtRAHAd6NgZ~pE-Y3Rvc9hq-R1DlpN583Heoc5zjooVclglOvWxr3fJ2~FnvPmj330TlHY-~lEap3rMa7JzhSgcwqy3bwPRW6lXLDMwP9GDi8YjfGT090OZ4jycYkcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pinellas County School Board voted 6-0 on Sept. 9 to adopt a total millage rate of 6.293 mills and a proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that district staff said totals roughly $1.8 billion.

Superintendent Hendrick told the board the voter-approved local referendum — which increased from 0.5 mill to 1 mill after the November 2024 referendum — is “the primary driver of this year’s revenue growth.” He and budget staff said the referendum will generate about $73.9 million and that local referendum dollars account for most of the district’s new operating revenue for the year.

The board approved detailed millage components as presented: required local effort 3.045 mills, discretionary local effort 0.748 mills, local referendum 1.000 mill and capital outlay 1.500 mills, for a total of 6.293 mills. Staff said the total local revenue generated under that rate is projected at about $919.8 million. The proposed operating budget was presented as approximately $1.1 billion, with capital outlay proposed at roughly $389 million. The district said local sources represent about 65% of operating revenue and state sources about 23%.

Why it matters: the board emphasized that the referendum funds are earmarked for teacher and staff salary supplements and for programs the referendum promised, and that the state’s funding and reconciliation related to family empowerment scholarships remain unsettled. Superintendent Hendrick said the district expects additional state reconciliation dollars but that final figures await the FEFP fourth calculation, which could change last year’s actuals.

Key details presented by district staff include:
- Proposed total millage: 6.293 mills (approved 6-0).
- Estimated county gross taxable value (school district portion): $152.3 billion (≈ +1.1% year over year).
- Estimated revenue from 1 mill (after assumed 96% collection): ≈ $146.2 million.
- Additional revenue from referendum change (0.5→1.0 mill): ≈ $73.9 million.
- Total proposed budget across all funds: ≈ $1.8 billion; general fund ≈ $1.1 billion; capital outlay ≈ $389 million.
- Operating budget: ≈ 56% salaries, 24% benefits; about 80% of operating budget is staffing.

Superintendent Hendrick also flagged a reconciliation issue that affected summer FEFP payments and cost the district about $2 million; he said final reconciliation normally occurs with the fourth calculation in the spring. Samantha Chastain, the district’s executive director of budget allocation, provided the statutory context for TRIM advertising and walked through the rollback rate, which the district said the proposed rate exceeded because of the referendum change.

Public comment at the hearing included two speakers who criticized capital spending and the budget’s implications for homeowners. One speaker described a projected school tax amount for a sample homeowner and called the increase “outrageous.” Another speaker urged the board to consider seniors on fixed incomes. The board adopted the millage and budget after the public comment period and votes. All motions related to millage and budget passage passed 6-0.

The board also adopted a resolution determining revenues and millages and approved the final budget as presented. District staff said budget documents and supporting schedules are on file with the budget office and available online.

Looking ahead: staff said enrollment counts and FEFP reconciliation remain subject to updates through the October count and the state’s fourth calculation, and the district will revisit numbers as final state information becomes available.

","The Pinellas County School Board voted 6-0 to adopt a total millage rate of 6.293 mills and a proposed 2025–26 budget of about $1.8 billion. Board and staff said the voter-approved 1-mill referendum is the primary source of the year-over-year revenue increase.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and residents raise building-safety and book-transparency concerns at Pinellas school board meeting

Pinellas presents annual report, strategic-plan highlights and new AI initiative for teachers

School board approves new communications manager job description over lone dissent; member warns of outsourcing and cost uncertainty

Pinellas board approves Greater Florida Consortium platform but removes workforce-housing language after debate

Pinellas County School Board adopts 6.293 mills, $1.8 billion budget; 1-mill referendum cited as main revenue driver