FFA alumni and parents urge board to keep ag teacher supplemental days as Perkins funding falls

Danelle Gregory, president of the Taylor County FFA alumni and a parent, urged the board to maintain supplemental pay that has historically provided 20 additional contract days to agricultural teachers. Gregory said the extra days — often used for summer projects, state conventions, forestry camp and other leadership development — are integral to delivering the agricultural education program, which the Florida Department of Education designates as intracurricular.

Gregory told the board the district planned for 20 supplemental days but now faces a reduction: for the coming year the supplement will be reduced from 20 days to 10 days, with additional decreases possible in subsequent years depending on Perkins grant funding. She said the loss of supplementary days undermines the district’s ability to attract and retain credentialed agricultural science teachers and to support student activities that occur outside the 180‑day school calendar.

District staff confirmed the supplemental days were funded through the Perkins CTE grant and that Perkins allocations were reduced this year statewide; the district’s federal grants office did not have funds to supplant the reduction without supplanting restrictions. Board members discussed exploring legislative appropriations or other funding sources to replace Perkins dollars and asked the superintendent to research options and report back.

Board members expressed strong support for the ag program and asked administration to return with a plan. The board did not take formal action to restore the full 20 days during the meeting; rather, members directed the superintendent and staff to provide additional information, funding options and a recommended path forward.