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Board extends transportation, food services for North Florida Child Development students until next meeting; MOU not finalized
Summary
The Madison County School Board voted to temporarily extend transportation and food services for children enrolled with North Florida Child Development while officials await a finalized memorandum of understanding. Board members debated bus ownership, a center director's responsiveness, and next steps for securing services.
The Madison County School Board voted to extend transportation and food services for children enrolled with North Florida Child Development (NFCD) temporarily, until the board's next meeting on Sept. 18, 2025, while the two organizations await a finalized memorandum of understanding.
District staff told the board that they had negotiated draft changes and that NFCD's representative, referred to in the meeting as Miss Gaskin, had been “agreeable to the changes” reviewed in a prior workshop but had not returned an executed contract copy. The board discussed that one of NFCD's buses has been removed from the district fleet and that bus availability has affected daily transportation; a district staff member said “bus 2 is not being used at all … it has not been used in 2 years.”
The superintendent and district staff said they had been providing transportation based on the understanding that the bus in question was part of the district’s fleet; NFCD emailed that it planned to pick up buses, and staff said they have asked NFCD to confirm changes in writing. District staff also said one smaller bus (referred to as “bus 6”) is a 55-seat vehicle used for field trips, and that the district prefers to retain that unit.
Board members pressed for clarity on the contract and for assurances that children would not miss school due to the dispute. One board member said the children “are our children” and emphasized the district’s obligation to ensure they get to school. District staff said they will consult legal staff to determine options for responding if NFCD removes transportation unexpectedly or fails to deliver on in-kind terms previously agreed.
The board approved a motion to extend transportation and food services to NFCD children until the next board meeting. The motion was made by Miss Knight and seconded by Miss Hagan; the board recorded the extension as approved.
Board discussion also raised the possibility of filing complaints with NFCD’s board or with state authorities if NFCD does not cooperate, and emphasized the district’s desire to avoid penalizing children and families while the organizations resolve contract terms.
Ending: The district said it will continue transportation and food services on the temporary extension and expects to return to the board with a finalized MOU or recommended next steps at the Sept. 18 meeting.
