Palm Beach superintendent urges more state funding, safety and full‑day VPK as district touts gains

Superintendent Michael Burke told local legislators on Tuesday that the Palm Beach County School District is "a rated" and has posted a series of academic gains, but that sustaining and expanding programs will require more state funding and policy changes.

"We are a school district and our school year is off to a great start," Burke said during a presentation that opened with a video showcasing opening‑day scenes at new and modernized campuses. He outlined district statistics — about 183 district‑run schools, roughly 170,000 students, nearly 23,000 employees, a 95.9 percent graduation rate and more than 35 million meals served annually — and framed several legislative priorities for the upcoming session.

Burke and the school board asked lawmakers to: protect the district’s current referendum millage that supplements salaries and programs; maintain statutory vaccination…