School board approves rezoning, construction contracts, expulsions and multiple vendor agreements

The Marion County School Board on April 22 approved a slate of actions covering school facility projects, vendor contracts, student discipline and other routine business.

Board members voted on more than a dozen formal items in a meeting that also included recognitions, donation announcements and extended discussion of start times and transportation logistics.

Among the actions the board approved by roll call:

• Liberty Howard rezoning — approved unanimously (5-0). The board chair declared a public hearing and, with no speakers present, the motion passed. (Transcript start: 2592.39; finish: 2623.21.)

• Pre-qualification list for general construction services for the 2025–26 school year — approved unanimously (5-0). Staff said the item complies with Board Policy 06/1934 and Florida Statute 1013.46(2). (Transcript start: 2638.36; finish: 2683.82.)

• Certification of facilities data (FISH records) required by Florida statutes and State Requirements for Educational Facilities — informational item concluded with board acknowledgement. (Transcript start: 2683.82; finish: 2722.31.)

• Consent agenda (C11.1 through C21.4, excluding pulled items) — approved unanimously (5-0). (Transcript start: 2746.25; finish: 2756.99.)

• Multiple student expulsions — the board approved expulsions for several students; motions were made and seconded and each passed 5-0. The expulsions covered the remainder of 2024–25 and portions or all of 2025–26 as noted in each motion. Student identifiers were read into the record (examples: JD25-175E; JD25-3230E; JD25-245; JD25-244; JD25-247; JD25-250; JD25-251E). (Transcript start: 2797.45; finish: 2867.56.)

• Special data-share agreement with Hanover Research — approved unanimously (5-0). The district described a $522,706 membership for research, custom projects and advisory services; district staff outlined prior work Hanover has done for the district. (Transcript start: 2884.58; finish: 3073.01.)

• Fourth amendment with PowerSchool Group LLC — approved unanimously (5-0). The superintendent described this item as a $437,819 expenditure to support attendance tracking and family communication tools. (Transcript start: 3073.95; finish: 3367.84.)

• Naming of two new elementary schools — Ross Prairie Elementary (School W) and Winding Oaks Elementary (School X) — each approved unanimously (5-0). School naming committees and community surveys were described; business partners for each new school were announced. (Transcript start: 3367.84; finish: 3767.12.)

• Piggyback agreement to purchase Gatekeeper bus camera systems — approved unanimously (5-0). Staff described a purchase estimated at $1,000,000 to install interior and exterior video systems on district buses for safety and investigation purposes. (Transcript start: 3791.43; finish: 3976.65.)

• Start/stop bell times for 2025–26 school year — approved by roll call 4-1. The board voted to continue the three-tier scheduling system; one member said she would vote no because constituents had asked for later start times at specific schools. Transportation staff explained that moving Osceola Middle School into a different tier would add 8–10 bus runs and require additional routes. (Transcript start: 4216.60; finish: 4651.28.)

• Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) change order for Osceola Bridal School new gymnasium — approved with one recusal (vote recorded as 4-0 with one recusal). (Transcript start: 4671.75; finish: 4698.75.)

• Contract between owner and construction manager for new middle school DD (project 204-130) — approved unanimously (5-0). Board discussion called out the $2,000,000 construction manager fee and practice of reviewing large-dollar items. (Transcript start: 4709.82; finish: 4804.71.)

Why it matters: the actions approved involve capital spending, vendor engagements for research and technology, discipline decisions that alter student placement, and safety investments for transportation. Several items reference Florida statutes and board policy as part of staff compliance confirmations.

Board members and staff spoke briefly while moving through the consent and action items. Superintendent Diane Gullett and staff provided the cost and scope for vendor agreements, and transportation staff outlined operational constraints that shaped the start-times decision. The meeting also included donations and recognition of business partners that support schools across the district.

The board scheduled several special meetings in the coming weeks and closed the public portion of the meeting before moving to an off-air session.