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Bay District board approves contracts, terminations and capital projects; accepts donation support
Summary
The board accepted corporate and foundation donations, approved union and personnel actions including a 5% VESPA raise, ratified capital projects and educational contracts, and approved a Cedar Grove turnaround plan with an external operator option.
At the Nelson Building meeting, the Bay District School Board took a slate of business actions after recognizing community donors and student academic awards.
District staff announced a $20,000 gift from Chevron Corporation to be split $5,000 each among four schools, and a $12,000 sponsorship from the St. Joe Community Foundation to support the Excellence in Education awards. The board then moved into the business portion of the agenda.
On personnel and labor matters the board approved recommendations stemming from recent negotiations and investigations. The board ratified a master contract with the Bay Education Support Personnel Association (VESPA) that includes a 5% across-the-board increase for covered support staff; the superintendent described the negotiations as "a very good, negotiation ... that are honoring to our employees." The board also approved a parallel 5% adjustment for nonbargaining employees to align compensation steps.
The board approved termination recommendations and suspensions without pay for two employees (a bus driver and a bus paraprofessional) based on investigative findings, subject to the employees' due-process rights and any requested hearings. The superintendent said the recommendations were supported by a preponderance of evidence and involved student-safety concerns.
In facilities and capital projects the board approved an engineering design contract for Rosenwald High School HVAC renovations using LCI funds and authorized a lighted, covered batting cage for Rutherford High School funded through LCI. The board also considered and approved the previously discussed Bay High property condemnation resolution authorizing execution of a deed upon payment by the Florida Department of Transportation of approximately $1.9 million for right-of-way acquisition related to 15th Street widening.
On school improvement and grants, the board approved a revised turnaround option plan for Cedar Grove Elementary that shifts the district's approach to use an external operator; staff said they are working with Florida Atlantic University on assurances and a draft contract and will submit required documents to the state by the January deadline. The board also approved a Triumph Gulf Coast application tied to aviation, health care and AI training and an I-Ready professional-learning purchase funded in part through state reading allocations and Title II.
Other approved purchases included Dell computers funded through the district's school-based mental health grant and a training/technical purchase from Haney Filter Works for an automotive program. The board heard organizational reports from the teachers' group and the Citizens Oversight Committee and confirmed meetings will move to 3 p.m. in January.
Most action items passed on motions and roll-call votes during the meeting; the board directed staff to return final contract language, published policy text, and implementation steps where applicable.
The board recessed for a brief break after the dress-code vote and completed the remainder of its agenda in the afternoon.
