School board approves multiple MOUs, policy amendment and advisory board formation; science textbooks enter public review

The Leon County School Board voted unanimously April 8 to approve a series of personnel and program agreements, adopt an amended student-discipline matrix and authorize a street‑naming application, while sending recommended secondary science instructional materials to a 20‑day public review period.

The actions, taken during the board’s regularly scheduled business meeting at the Howell Center, included multiple memoranda of understanding (MOUs) affecting contracted employees, a motion to adopt an amended student discipline policy (effective April 9, 2025), and formation of an advisory board for Lively Technical College to take effect in the 2025–26 school year. The board also approved notice to the City of Tallahassee to rename a segment of Branch Street "Best and Brightest Way." Secondary science textbook recommendations were announced for public review and are scheduled for a public hearing May 13 and a final vote May 27.

Why it matters: The MOUs expand employee benefits and workplace processes across multiple bargaining units and set short‑term terms on transfers and pilot programs the district will use while negotiating permanent contract language. The student-discipline policy amendment establishes an updated matrix that takes immediate effect. The Lively advisory board creation signals the district’s intent to reconstitute governance for its technical college, though board members requested additional detail on membership and bylaws before the board finalizes structure.

Key outcomes (votes at a glance) - Adopted amendments to Policy 5.500.01 (Student Discipline Matrix), effective April 9, 2025. Motion carried unanimously. - Approved recommended secondary (6–12) science instructional materials for 20‑day public review; no board vote on adoption at this meeting (public hearing scheduled May 13, 2025; board vote May 27, 2025). - Approved multiple MOUs between Leon County Schools and Local 1010/ District Council 78, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (items included employee family coverage, sick‑leave buyback, paid parental leave, and employee childcare assistance). Each MOU passed by unanimous vote as presented. - Approved a 2024–27 teacher transfer memorandum of understanding with the Leon Classroom Teachers Association (LCTA); the MOU continues an annualized approach to teacher transfers through the 2027 school year. Passed unanimously after discussion. - Approved the paraprofessional-to-teacher apprenticeship program MOU (see separate article for details). Passed unanimously. - Approved filing a street‑naming application with the City of Tallahassee to rename the segment of Branch Street between Tharpe Street and Tenth Avenue to "Best and Brightest Way." Passed unanimously. - Voted to form the Lively Technical College advisory board beginning in the 2025–26 school year; the board amended the item at the table to delete the item summary language describing membership appointment and requested a subsequent workshop to finalize bylaws and membership details. Motion as amended passed unanimously.

Board members and staff who moved or seconded motions included Dr. Nicholas, Mr. Jones and Ms. Wood on multiple items; where the transcript did not name a mover or seconder the action was recorded as having a motion and a second and passing unanimously.

What the MOUs include (high-level, as described at the meeting) - Paid parental leave MOU: a trial parental‑leave provision for eligible employees; the provision discussed at the meeting specified five days of parental leave in the pilot year. - Sick‑leave buyback: an incentive program intended to encourage attendance and reclaim leave liability. - Employee childcare assistance: a trial program to provide free before‑ and after‑school care for employees in district eDEP programs, with costs and sustainability to be evaluated during the trial. - Employee family coverage MOU: details not fully recited at the meeting; passed as presented. - Teacher transfer MOU with LCTA: a negotiated, year‑to‑year memorandum intended to streamline transfers and reduce administrative workload for principals; the current MOU runs through the 2027 school year while parties seek permanent contract language.

Process notes - The district announced the secondary science adoption committee’s textbook recommendations were developed by 23 middle‑ and high‑school teachers plus an FSU expert; publishers recommended included Cengage, McGraw Hill and McGraw Hill (middle school). The materials are posted for 20‑day public review at the Howell Center and on the Academic Services website under instructional materials for secondary science. - Where the meeting record shows motions with no named mover or seconder, the minutes record a motion, a second and a unanimous vote.

Ending: Board members asked staff to return with more detailed bylaws and a membership plan for the Lively Technical College advisory board; staff and board leaders also flagged the science adoption timeline and the MOUs as items that will require future reporting as pilot programs are evaluated.