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Resident urges district to press state on FEFP compression; district to meet with DOE and consultants
Summary
A Spring Hill resident urged the district to pursue corrective components in the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) to reduce funding disparity; district staff said they will meet with the Department of Education, Sunrise Consulting and district finance staff to assemble data and pursue conversations
A Spring Hill resident and longtime education funding advocate told the Hernando County School Board July 29 that Hernando County has been in the lowest quadrant of per‑pupil funding under the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) for decades and urged the district to press the state for corrective measures.
Greg Laskoski said he had been in contact with Suzanne Pridgen, the Florida Department of Education deputy commissioner overseeing FEFP, who acknowledged the need to consider components that reduce disparity between the highest‑ and lowest‑funded districts. Laskoski distributed data to the board showing Hernando County’s total governmental revenue per K‑12 FTE in the most recent state profile available and argued the district has been “shortchanged” relative to the state average.
Laskoski and board members discussed that some categorical supplements, including sparsity and other targeted supplements, have been changed or removed in recent legislative cycles and that those adjustments contributed to Hernando’s relative position. Laskoski said DOE staff expressed openness to discussion but that authority to change formulas ultimately resides with the legislature and higher DOE leadership.
Board members and staff said they will pursue further steps. Superintendent Pinder and staff said they will coordinate meetings involving the district’s chief financial officer, Sunrise Consulting Group and DOE representatives, and will assemble data requested by Mr. Laskoski. Board counsel and staff asked that copies of Mr. Laskoski’s written materials be circulated to counsel and the board secretary.
No formal board action was taken at the workshop. Board members urged public engagement to build awareness of the funding differences and noted the process will require outreach to DOE and possibly to Tallahassee policymakers.
For now, district staff said they will schedule follow‑up meetings and provide Laskoski and the board with requested documentation and updates.
