Pinellas school board sets public hearing on referendum policy changes; board seeks clearer ballot-based language and charter reporting

The Pinellas County School Board voted 7-0 on Feb. 11 to set a public hearing for March 25, 2025, and to authorize advertisement of proposed amendments to Policy 21.40 (Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee). The amendments reflect the November ballot language specifying how district referendum funds will be used.

At a first reading introduced by Director of Strategic Planning and Policy Liana Eisen, the district said the revised ballot language directs the allocation of referendum funds as follows: 70% for teacher salaries and benefits (including supplements, recruitment and retention), 15% for support staff salaries and benefits (including supplements, recruitment and retention), and 15% for music, art and reading programs and updated technology. Eisen said the amendments would take effect July 1, 2025, upon board approval and recommended a public hearing on March 25, 2025.

Vice Chair Caprice Edmond requested two clarifications during the board's discussion: that the policy text mirror the ballot language when listing percentages for clarity, and that the superintendent's reporting to the oversight committee explicitly include information from charter schools that receive referendum funds. Edmond said the requested changes were meant to increase clarity and transparency for the public.

Board members debated whether the suggested clarifications constituted substantive changes requiring a new first reading or could be handled as non-substantive edits between readings. Board counsel (identified in the meeting as Mr. Kapersky) said the edits described were not necessarily substantive; Superintendent Hendrick said the district already reports charter information to the oversight committee in his annual report but agreed it would be acceptable to include clearer language in policy to make that explicit to someone reading the policy itself.

When asked whether the board wanted staff to draft the suggested language for review at the coming workshop, the chair indicated there was not a majority requesting that step, so the item moved forward as presented for a second reading after the scheduled public hearing. Board members who told the chair they wanted the written clarifications to appear at the workshop included Vice Chair Edmond, Board Member Blacksburg and Board Member Long; others indicated they did not wish to see those edits at that time.

The motion to set the public hearing and authorize advertisement for this first reading was made by Board Member Blacksburg, seconded by Board Member Edmond, and passed 7-0.

The board did not adopt final language at the meeting; staff said they could present revised, non-substantive wording at the next workshop for board consideration prior to the second reading if a majority directed them to do so.