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Board delays vote on paying school board travel to partisan Senate event after ethics concerns
Summary
Board members debated whether school board funds should pay travel to a dinner honoring the state Senate president; some members argued the event is partisan, and the board voted to postpone the travel‑funding decision to Oct. 7 to allow legal review and for an additional board member to consider the request.
A request to approve travel expense for a board member’s attendance at a Sept./Oct. event celebrating the designation of the Florida Senate president generated debate Sept. 16 and was postponed to the Oct. 7 meeting for legal review and further board consideration.
The invitation identified the event as sponsored by the Florida Republican Senatorial Committee. One board member said paying school board funds for a partisan political event would be unethical and set a bad precedent. Other board members said the event was a local recognition of an elected official from Manatee County and argued the invitation was not chiefly partisan in effect; the superintendent also received an invitation, several members noted.
Board counsel said they had not researched the legal or policy implications and asked for time to review. A motion to postpone the vote until the Oct. 7 meeting passed 5‑0.
Board action: motion to postpone approval of travel expense for attendance at the Senate president designation to Oct. 7 — approved (vote 5‑0).
