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Pinellas School Board adopts 2026 legislative platform, cites funding gaps for safety and mental health
Summary
The Pinellas County School Board unanimously adopted its 2026 legislative platform, emphasizing advocacy for funding alignment with actual district spending on school safety and mental health and setting outreach plans to the legislative delegation and regional consortium.
The Pinellas County School Board on Aug. 19 unanimously approved its 2026 legislative platform, directing district staff and board leadership to use the platform in outreach to state and federal legislators and to the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards.
Board members said the platform will guide advocacy during the coming legislative session and at an Oct. 1 presentation to the Pinellas legislative delegation. Board member Blacksburg, chair of the board’s legislative committee, said the committee formed June 10 and refined a draft after staff and consultant review before presenting it to the full board for a vote.
"The committee met shortly after to discuss platform ideas and review impact from Mr. Hendrick and staff, ensuring that the platform aligns with our goals as a district as well as our strategic plan," said Miss Blacksburg, chair of the legislative committee. She noted the draft was provided to the board on June 24 and that staff and the board’s lobbyist from Capital City Consultants reviewed it.
Board discussion highlighted carry‑forward priorities such as increased investment in voluntary prekindergarten (VPK), disaster relief for hurricane impacts and alignment of state reporting for virtual programs. Miss Long urged the community to contact legislators, saying, "They need to hear what Pinellas County and as well as other districts... We need voices. We need support. We can't wait till crisis."
The board also discussed workforce development elements in the platform, including industry certifications and concordance for high school graduation assessments. Miss Kane said aligning state guidelines for virtual programs to report full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) students was important as the district expands virtual offerings.
During the discussion the board chair noted two funding shortfalls the platform will highlight. "When it comes to school safety, we are allocated $10,000,000 from the state... Pinellas County Schools spends about $24,000,000," the chair said. "When it comes to mental health, we are allocated $5,200,000 from the state of Florida, and Pinellas County Schools spends $28,000,000." Those figures were given to illustrate the difference between state allocations and district expenditures; the board did not adopt a specific spending change at the meeting.
Miss Edmond said the platform had been prepared with district staff and Capital City Consultants and would be posted on the district website; she also said it was shared with the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards for inclusion in the consortium platform. Board members said they plan coordinated advocacy at the Sept. 24 Pinellas legislative delegation meeting and at the consortium meeting next week.
The motion to adopt the legislative platform passed 7 to 0.
