Board approves curriculum adoption, charter renewal and school recognition payments; several policy advertisements set for public hearing

The Leon County School Board took a series of formal actions during the Feb. 11 business meeting. Key approvals and outcomes:

- K‑5 science adoption (McGraw Hill, Science, 2024). The board approved the elementary (K‑5) science adoption recommended by the district adoption committee. Staff said the elementary committee included representatives from each elementary school and a district science expert; the committee voted “overwhelmingly” for McGraw Hill. The motion passed unanimously.

- Tallahassee Classical School charter renewal (five‑year term, July 1, 2025–June 30, 2030). The board’s renewal committee reviewed a nearly 300‑page renewal application, completed a site visit and a public meeting Dec. 2, and recommended a five‑year renewal. Committee findings noted that the school met or approached standards in most review areas; transportation was the only area the committee found did not meet the standard. Staff reported the school is pursuing a management/partnership arrangement with external education management entities (discussed as Great Hearts and Academica) and that the charter agreement remains with the Tallahassee Classical corporate entity; any future management agreement would be shared with the district and the charter contract amended as needed. The board approved the renewal; a later clarification recorded the vote as 4–1, with Mr. Jones recorded as opposed.

- Memorandum of Understanding recognizing R. Frank Nims School staff. The board approved an MOU to provide recognition payments to staff at R. Frank Nims School for earning a B grade; the payment to the school was described in the meeting as $77,000 coming to the school. The motion passed unanimously.

- Policy advertisements. The board voted to advertise proposed new policies (policy numbers cited in the agenda as 1,500; 3,500; and 4,500 for remote work-related policies) for public hearing and adoption on the March 25 meeting agenda. Each motion to advertise passed unanimously.

- Out‑of‑county travel approvals. The board approved retroactive or prior travel for board chair Laurie Cox and other board members to attend FSBA conferences and a national school safety summit (board noted one was a free conference; hotel costs would be borne). These motions passed unanimously.

Several consent‑agenda items were approved without discussion. Staff noted specific follow‑ups for some items: the charter renewal committee’s evaluation tool and comments will be provided in committee materials, and staff offered to provide demographic information on Tallahassee Classical’s faculty at a board member’s request.

The board did not vote on the draft public‑participation policy at the Feb. 11 meeting; that policy item was pulled for later discussion and a March public hearing date was noted for other advertising items.