DeSoto School Board announces new school partnerships, construction progress and workforce housing plan; board approves routine motions

DeSoto County School Board members heard multiple program and construction updates Oct. 14 as Superintendent Dr. Bennett described new partnerships, a Space Florida education initiative and a workforce housing effort; trustees unanimously approved routine agenda items and financial reports.

Dr. Bennett told the board the district recently received special facilities funding and expects First State Bank to pay off “about $2 million” remaining on a land purchase. “I think is a great thing for our community and our kids. If it saves 1 life, it's absolutely worth it,” he said while describing a voluntary, $20 screening fee that can be waived for families who cannot afford it.

The superintendent said the district will participate in the Jefferson Classical School of Florida at DeSoto County, noting “it will basically be the majority of those students will be students from outside of our district.” He said the school’s head is Bill Bennett (a separate individual identified as Ronald Reagan’s former secretary of education in the meeting), and that the program will give parents looking for classical education another…