[{"_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",6466004,"mediaKeyId","5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1","parentId",5826121,"title","Committee reviews contractor-selection procedures; members ask about technical expertise and committee composition","audioSeconds",160,"startMs",1736000,"endMs",1896000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1&start=1736&end=1896","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1/thumbnail_1736000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466004/Florida/Committee-reviews-contractor-selection-procedures-members-ask-about-technical-expertise-and-committee-composition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466004-df0eb1ff2da84de85441b8be06de1417/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193506&Signature=Z50aSCPSBoJUlpQuuQAd31e6KqegFBcvZ1W2iTRyfZ2P6u-IsX1JsL3uUmRZD~7-uZy6bPgrQacdbedS62b9ccLn73xVManI0abxd2mGz8qn4FlHHO0ydL7HBRUL7zh07SI5H-iofKL0WU6W-06RoeRHP~Sy3BqGD4uOtn~aEq9eH~r90ozOFsyin2uky-1t9Kr4Am7o8DVsx~6DSKLqGknfmRAVrtRb~e6eLfgjBtHYGK1nH2i3HEFoy7pubv-BOrKqoED74ktWG6OmSlVO~ocVgI7FX1-TezoJFncoHAMcQDTINNmDI0kdk6cJWwTa-nr2-bEcnvP83ImLTPTDhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion County School Board","date","2025-09-24T21:18:46.213Z","article","Harvey Vandevan presented the district's contractor-selection procedures to the school capital outlay surtax oversight committee, describing how requests for qualifications (RFQs) are publicized, pre-screened, scored by a selection committee, and short-listed for interviews before the school board makes a final recommendation.

Vandevan said the selection process typically includes public advertisement, a prequalification step, formation of a selection committee that scores submittals using a points chart, creation of a short list and, where used, live interviews for finalists. \"They would turn that in. It would be tallied, and then they would, make a short list,\" Vandevan said.

Committee members asked how many selection-committee categories have construction experience. Yvonne Boomback, director of facilities, responded that required representatives typically include the facilities department director and construction coordinator and that maintenance and community representatives often have construction experience. \"When you look at number 5 operations, we have our tech service, department usually included, that is the maintenance department. They are the ones who operate the schools, who work on the equipment, so they have construction background as well,\" Boomback said.

Members pressed about the meaning of \"may participate\" versus \"required\" in the nine-category list that guides committee composition. Boomback said the manual provides flexibility to reach a minimum of five and a maximum of nine members, and items marked \"required\" indicate at least one person from that group must serve to meet statutory or procedural requirements. She noted thresholds tied to project dollar values; the transcript records a reference to projects exceeding $7.5 million as triggering broader procedures.

Boomback also addressed a statutory change that removed a scoring penalty based on a contractor's existing volume of work for the district. \"That criteria actually is coming out because the Florida statute says we cannot penalize or not penalize if you have too much work or too little work,\" she said.

Why this matters: selection-committee membership and scoring affect which contractors advance to board consideration for large construction projects funded by the surtax. Committee members asked for clarity on required positions and for stronger definition of when specialty technical reviewers should be included for very large projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Capital Outlay Surtax Oversight Committee Meeting, September 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The oversight committee received a walkthrough of the district's contractor-selection procedures, including RFQ publication, scoring and short-listing, and asked for clarification about technical representation on selection committees and statutory changes to scoring criteria.","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},6466009,"School-board attorney tells Marion surtax oversight committee it must follow Florida Sunshine Law",1208,222000,1430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1&start=222&end=1430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1/thumbnail_222000.jpg","/articles/6466009/Florida/School-board-attorney-tells-Marion-surtax-oversight-committee-it-must-follow-Florida-Sunshine-Law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466009-696fc9a202aebc81cc40311cf36e5e16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193506&Signature=DVez3f9pbBzD2DBmAY5Xra-2HV-bUshPiIEC9dab1KBCqEl8Tzjy6KaNv6yX-ENR4f0WwHmQshgjFY~z1tuVLogMTlnlvKEKu0BakzgaMTk4pjfVVeFvMs2l0KGZntHGKkWS1E22WOcRKfINqiS8s98xsGOPm8KHRI6STaxFRm0nmhrvfJE9umnYNGiwAkjGlk06L5O7cXTQdPCSnI6KCnLf6J6zYKVxxVhAR5chD-WkmJ2m-vc8HPu9eCCMHOVcxLqlJZuNJ~VJxbyeRVh634nbbZlzJzKQxn~Zdf~AVI62lP7FJLUPgvTxedDo4PZWcChOQwqVZswRcdGKNwnLtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Attorney Powers, representing the Marion County School Board, told the school capital outlay surtax oversight committee that Florida's Sunshine Law applies to advisory committees and restricts private communications among members about matters that could come before the board.

Powers said the Government in the Sunshine Manual and attorney general opinions guide how boards and subcommittees must operate and reiterated that meetings must be publicly noticed and open. \"The Sunshine Law restricts board members from being able to meet with each other or communicate with each other about factors that may come up, in a vote later,\" Powers said.

The explanation came after the committee took a roll call and approved minutes for previous meetings. Powers outlined the difference between public records law and the Sunshine Law, noting that records are largely open unless exempted while the Sunshine Law \"speaks to meetings of the board or any subdivision of the board.\" He told members they should avoid private emails, phone calls or lunches to discuss committee business and, if any such communications occur, disclose them in public meeting minutes.

Why this matters: the committee is charged with reviewing surtax expenditures and reporting annually to the superintendent and school board. Powers said the group's primary responsibility is to confirm that expenditures conform to the ballot language that authorized the surtax, calling that language the committee's \"guiding pole star.\" He also warned the committee that civil and criminal penalties exist for willful Sunshine Law violations, though prosecutions are rare and often reserved for intentional misconduct.

Powers described how attorney general opinions and court cases create a patchwork of guidance and said he advises the board regularly to avoid inadvertent violations. He also clarified the committee's scope: members may request information from staff about purchases and report inconsistencies between ballot language and actual expenditures, but should not undertake tasks that belong to the school board itself (for example, wholesale changes to owner-direct purchasing policy).

Committee members were given opportunity to ask questions; Powers offered to research specific queries and provide additional guidance outside the meeting. The committee then moved on to the next agenda item.","At a Marion County School Board surtax oversight committee meeting, the board attorney explained how Florida's Sunshine Law applies to advisory subcommittees, warned of civil and criminal penalties for violations, and urged members to keep discussions and records within the committee's publicly noticed meetings.",{"_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},6465990,"School board approved first year of five-year capital plan; committee briefed on Bellevue Elementary and project timelines",291,3724000,4015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1&start=3724&end=4015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1/thumbnail_3724000.jpg","/articles/6465990/Florida/School-board-approved-first-year-of-five-year-capital-plan-committee-briefed-on-Bellevue-Elementary-and-project-timelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465990-6773259d0ba1faba61f8c5ccc0daeaaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193506&Signature=Bi5SHBaKFLi~ST0UTKPVqlhlsZt9zckFj75Qlb2sqrq4F-yooAVBexRelflTaTUHHIerQsnwnjJMT0xOr4AzmT~PwOH0PrbWP0qIs9f8fZVcLsyNEn1rix~3TpuK1CoC7JU-DP2sappDjH8G2tViMX0nzaS7nTpfWUZC-U2t-ewMAPYjde72Z5pGG8MrQYBsXwHyB5u~6FVePBRmOe6sgID9uDy~Q~9OYj1Rk6vjlmwyiYE29o6DNDGBthA~X1mPozdm0d05MtZiSGz5ul8QLNKEpRlFOVYdPKjpCipQ~XF9tjt7W2pS8ntc1FRvDUniXP4k7HRLt0PEyi6SS1mbrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angela Usher, senior executive director of operations, told the surtax oversight committee that the school board approved the first year of a five-year capital plan at its most recent meeting and reviewed the district's capital priorities.

Usher said the five-year plan totals $576,120,749 across all capital funding sources and that the plan's first year (fiscal 2026) is budgeted at $114,647,009.37. Under the plan, the district included Bellevue Elementary as a replacement school and listed an eventual project cost substantially higher than initial figures: \"the project for Bellevue Elementary will be closer to 70,000,000. So next year, you'll see another 35,000,000 for Bellevue Elementary,\" Usher said.

Usher said sales-tax receipts used in the plan are projected at about $39.7 million annually; earlier in the year first-quarter receipts were lower than expected but projections have returned closer to the original $40 million estimate. She also noted that some projects in the capital plan extend beyond the 10-year surtax window and that the district cannot borrow against the surtax; therefore, larger projects must wait for revenue to accrue. \"That will take, like, 5 years. It'll be, like, more than 150,000,000 because we're not borrowing against the sales tax,\" Usher said when discussing large-scale replacements like Dunnellon Middle-High School.

Usher also confirmed that two security-door projects at Osceola Middle and East Marion Elementary are funded from early surtax receipts and will be procured under continuing contracts because they fall below the $7.5 million threshold for formal competitive selection noted in the procurement manual.

A committee member asked about a line item that lists property insurance as a capital expenditure; staff clarified that property insurance is paid from the district's 1.5 mills capital millage fund, a separate revenue source from the surtax.

Why this matters: the five-year plan frames how surtax receipts and other capital funds will be assigned to school replacement, renovations and safety projects. The plan sets expectations for timing, shows that some major projects will require several years of revenue accumulation, and signals where the oversight committee will see ODPs and other procurement items in future meetings.","The school board approved the first year of a five-year capital plan that totals $576,120,749 across funding sources; the committee was briefed on year-one projects and longer-term priorities including Bellevue Elementary and a likely Dunnellon Middle-High School replacement.",{"_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},6465994,"Facilities staff describe owner-direct purchase process and vendor-approval hurdles for surtax projects",306,2940000,3246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1&start=2940&end=3246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1/thumbnail_2940000.jpg","/articles/6465994/Florida/Facilities-staff-describe-owner-direct-purchase-process-and-vendor-approval-hurdles-for-surtax-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465994-b909e9383bb01e85784f6bb3a1182cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193506&Signature=lmsgtXZuUVA3b~7huBo2iM9VwIUIeulbFgGtEeCCUp0o5ofSEGxp8Z1A69XGCtq7k9mF2Nuxto90q1~jlentn4K4ehD9qAGVDMTte0PwZEzBmliJ7X0B0lDtrryfo6Tu~Z0a8ocZPdsGw18TfKExVAVzWDh6oKYNWQuJcoOKe8TUnExV3Qs2RKUc31xuySFMM3SYvDiY6GYm-mf8iJpLlACkcVcM0D~Soq77VtmeQY3lnKKdE-PCAcVyJ689wAaFnD6dRlXIr--NxEWS-2iZ2c88bak8WKnV~RybXSvDmbgUJx9ZGqoElKNc7qS22fBqwgqMJARxBQCMwcsWAHiGdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Yvonne Boomback, Marion County Public Schools facilities director, briefed the surtax oversight committee on owner-direct purchase (ODP) procedures for construction projects and steps taken to speed and simplify the process.

Boomback explained that under the ODP model the district issues purchase orders directly to approved vendors for materials and pays vendors after confirming delivery. Historically the district processed many small deductive change orders to remove material from a contractor's guaranteed maximum price (GMP); the district now typically issues a single deductive change order at the start of a project estimating the aggregate ODP value and frees that money for direct purchasing. \"We do 1 deductive change order just estimating on on all those costs... and that frees up that money at that point,\" Boomback said.

She told the committee the main early hurdle was vendor requalification after a change in state requirements left previously approved vendors without up-to-date paperwork. \"Because statutes changed and they had to fill out new paperwork, none of those vendors were approved vendors anymore,\" Boomback said. The district has added an expedited approval workflow and is expanding the approved-vendor list.

Committee members asked technical and liability questions: who signs vendor paperwork, whether regional or district managers can sign for national firms, how long vendor approval takes, whether materials can be stored off-site, and how custody of purchased items is transferred to contractors for installation. Boomback said vendor signatory rules are governed by the approved-vendor application and that legal can accept powers of attorney where appropriate. She said storage is commonly done on-site or in contractor warehouses and the district confirms delivery before payment. On liability and stewardship, Boomback said the contractor's contract continues to require care, protection and installation of materials even when the district pays the vendor directly.

Why this matters: the ODP process can save the district tax dollars on large capital projects funded by the surtax but requires robust vendor approval controls, timely paperwork and careful contract language to ensure materials are procured, protected and installed correctly.","Marion County facilities staff described the owner-direct purchase (ODP) process used to save sales tax on construction materials, explained a shift to a single initial deductive change order tied to a project GMP, and said vendor-approval paperwork and Sunbiz requirements slowed early implementation but are improving.",{"_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},6465999,"District outlines method, estimates for sharing surtax revenue with charter schools",106,2647000,2753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1&start=2647&end=2753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826121-235f261ac3907745cf3865c276c4a9e1/thumbnail_2647000.jpg","/articles/6465999/Florida/District-outlines-method-estimates-for-sharing-surtax-revenue-with-charter-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465999-dec24c491bfc1b27ebf3c8341e16a08f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193506&Signature=n8a2Bu59CTKwXF5lhSFp4nAQzI4ibvg-Z7242haXYl0UD36k2~VqtNTtL8MjciQP0lQcOl~24hRjZFNTMpGml1mqbQlDkOlXnW-lFIh~5EcS9oebKXC~4odKhZmic-Sqk9wxClS4Vp-R4XmKR24gfgzjBwTZ4MvFeRHpCK0UoQ1v1VIAdWpDjXVcnCe8Y1ZpmwxjmKeE-6EqZNk8mN0YEdzM5vxuOKC2AJK6bPL7vDSHuUfduByVA1zzsJAgLY4mBO0PmyJrRY9cRkTg-ryFuLw8jkcqP7RwEkPOEm5jT~AlK-1LSs-5tAy5H2t3Wb8HuqnDXS3xxivnCLNxY0YmyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kayla Johnson, the district budget director, told the surtax oversight committee that Florida Statute 212.055(6) requires surtax revenue sharing with charter schools on a proportional basis tied to full-time-equivalent (FTE) student counts.

For fiscal year 2025-26, Johnson said the district estimated roughly $39,600,000 in sales-tax revenue and used the second FTE count from 2024-25 to produce an interim allocation. \"That gives us a factor of $763 per FTE for each student in Marion County,\" she said, and the district's provisional total allocation for all charter schools was reported as $860,633. Johnson said final allocations will be recalculated when the district receives the official 2025-26 FTE in January 2026 and after final receipts are known.

Johnson provided a breakdown of the provisional distribution to the five charter schools recorded in the meeting notes: $415,881; $174,149; $35,899; $86,592; and $147,752. She said those figures are based on the second FTE count for 2024-25 and are subject to revision once final FTE and actual sales-tax receipts are available. \"When we get those numbers, we'll revise it the allocations and we'll actually have to go back and revise based on final receipts because our revenue right now is estimated,\" Johnson said.

Committee members asked whether charter schools submit monthly statements of account; Johnson said the district does not receive monthly statements and that charter schools file independent annual single audits. She offered to follow up with clarification on sponsor-reporting obligations.

Why this matters: the method and timing of allocations determine how much of the surtax corpus charter schools may use for capital purposes and affect budgeting for both charter operators and district facilities planning.","Marion County budget staff briefed the oversight committee on how sales-tax revenue is allocated to charter schools under Florida statute 212.055(6), presenting an estimated total countywide sales-tax revenue and the provisional allocation for charter schools based on 2024-25 FTE counts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews contractor-selection procedures; members ask about technical expertise and committee composition

School-board attorney tells Marion surtax oversight committee it must follow Florida Sunshine Law

School board approved first year of five-year capital plan; committee briefed on Bellevue Elementary and project timelines

Facilities staff describe owner-direct purchase process and vendor-approval hurdles for surtax projects

District outlines method, estimates for sharing surtax revenue with charter schools