Hernando County School Board shifts NIL authorization to board, approves NEOLA updates and student policies

Hernando County School Board members voted 4-0 June 24 to amend a NEOLA athletics provision so that prior written authorization for student use of district logos, uniforms, mascots or other identifying marks would require school board approval instead of authorization by the superintendent.

The change was made during final approval of NEOLA policy updates (special update, September 2024, and public participation, October 2024) after board member Mark Johnson moved to replace the word “superintendent” with “school board” in the provision that governs use of district identifying marks in name/image/likeness (NIL) activities. The motion passed unanimously.

The vote matters because board members said they want early control over where any future fees or revenue tied to student NIL use would be deposited. Johnson, a member of the Hernando County School Board, said he wanted assurance that any funds eventually tied to district logos or uniforms would go into a district athletic fund rather than into an individual school account.

“I would like a change, and I would like control of those funds if they're any generated to be directed to the district athletic fund,” Johnson said during the discussion, arguing the distribution could otherwise create competitive imbalances among the county’s five high schools.

District staff and other board members said the NIL rules are new and that, to date, no funds have flowed through the district. A district staff member noted that under current practice a student can be paid by a private business for promotional work and “none of it goes through the school.”

Board member Mrs. Boncic said the board could revisit the policy if and when revenue begins to materialize; Johnson said he preferred to put the control in place now.

Board members also gave final approval to the student code of conduct for the 2025–26 school year and entered final orders expelling two students for one academic year each (case numbers E2025-06-01 and E2025-06-02). All of those motions passed by 4-0 tallies.

Other routine business approved included adoption of the meeting agenda, approval of minutes from the June 3, 2025 meetings, the consent agenda, and retention of current representatives to the Florida School Boards Association advocacy committee. The board recognized the 2024–25 Hernando County School District retirees earlier in the meeting.

Public comment included one speaker, Kimberly Mulrooney of Brooksville, who suggested the board consider ways for the public to comment when amendments are raised during the meeting. “If you are going to amend it, then have … be able to let the public speak on it,” Mulrooney said.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda adoption (25-3104): motion approved; vote 4–0. - NEOLA policy final approval including athletics/NIL language amendment (25-3068): motion to change authorization from “superintendent” to “school board” and approve final policy; vote 4–0. - Student Code of Conduct final approval for 2025–26 (25-3101): vote 4–0. - Final order expelling student, case E2025-06-01 (25-3094): vote 4–0; expulsion for one academic year through 2025–26. - Final order expelling student, case E2025-06-02 (25-3096): vote 4–0; expulsion for one academic year through 2025–26. - Approval of minutes from informal workshop and regular meeting of 06/03/2025 (25-3105): vote 4–0. - Consent agenda: motion approved; vote 4–0. - Florida School Boards Association advocacy committee members and alternate (25-3083): motion to retain current members approved; vote 4–0.

The board chair closed the meeting at 6:42 p.m.; board members said they will revisit operational questions about NIL if/when legislation or practice produces funds carrying through the district.