Citrus School Board approves legislative priorities including local control for school start times and request for public-safety training annex funding

The Citrus County School Board on Monday voted unanimously to adopt a package of legislative priorities that asks the state to return certain decisions to local control and to consider several targeted funding requests.

The board's formal requests include rescinding the state'mandated 2026'2027 school start-time changes so districts can set start times locally; increased state support for hurricane and coastal mitigation projects tied to schools; additional transportation funding to address driver shortages and rising costs; continued legislative support to complete the Health/CTE academy at Crystal River High School; and a request for state appropriations to design and permit a public-safety training annex with an indoor firing range.

The board voted to ask staff and the superintendent to finalize language for submission to the legislative delegation and to allow communications staff to prepare the package for the Jan. 27 delegation meeting. The motions were put and carried without opposition.

Why it matters: board members said the items would affect classroom schedules, student and staff safety, and the district's ability to serve students in a county with recent hurricane damage and continuing enrollment and transportation pressures.

Superintendent Dr. Hebert, who had earlier asked the board to consider local control, described local start-time authority as his top legislative priority and said the district needs the flexibility to set schedules that reflect local needs.

Board members tied the transportation request to driver shortages and to potential capital impacts if state start-time rules are not changed. Board member Thomas Kennedy made the motion to seek rescission of the mandate; the board approved it unanimously. The board also voted unanimously to include a continuing request to fund the Health (Career and Technical Education) Academy expansion at Crystal River High School that the district began pursuing in 2024.

On the public-safety annex, board members discussed a long-running lease and operational issues at the district's current firing-range site and said an updated, indoor facility could serve the district's academy and local law-enforcement partners. The board approved a motion asking staff to pursue legislative appropriations for a public-safety training annex with an indoor range; members instructed staff to refine the request and did not set a dollar amount at the meeting.

The board also voted to endorse the Florida School Boards Association 2025 legislative platform, which the superintendent and staff will include in materials for the delegation meeting.

Board action summary: - Motion to seek rescission of the 2026'2027 state school start-time mandate: moved by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Dodd; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to seek funding/support for hurricane and coastal mitigation projects (Marine Science Station, Crystal River bus compound, Crystal River Primary and Middle School recovery): moved by Mr. Kennedy; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to request increased transportation funding to address driver shortages and rising transportation costs: moved by Mr. Kennedy; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to continue state support for the Health/CTE Academy expansion at Crystal River High School: moved by Mr. Kennedy; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to request appropriations for a public-safety training annex/indoor firing range: moved by Mr. Dodd; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to adopt the FSBA 2025 legislative platform: moved by Mr. Frank; outcome: approved unanimously.

Next steps: staff were directed to finalize and format the legislative package and submit it to the county's delegation packet and to allow the chair and superintendent to appear at the delegation meeting. The board asked communications staff to produce polished materials for legislators.