Public commenters press board on start times, overcrowding and alleged misconduct; district to review affidavit

Four members of the public addressed the Manatee County School Board during the Feb. 10 public-comment period, raising concerns about high-school start times, school overcrowding and an allegation of misconduct connected to Lincoln Memorial Academy.

Jill Garner, a Lakewood Ranch parent, pressed the board to move high-school start times later, citing a 2023 statewide law setting earliest start dates and citing research linked to sleep and adolescent health. Garner described drop-off congestion and safety hazards at Lakewood Ranch High — saying a three-mile round trip drop-off can take 47 minutes, there are no crossing guards and crowded hallways and lunch lines reduce students’ access to facilities. She said she had emailed the board a video of the drop-off conditions.

An instructional leader who identified themselves as a charter-school advocate asked the board to ensure charter principals receive the same instructional-level progress-monitoring data (FAST PM2) the district shares with its principals, saying state statute requires equivalent access and that access to benchmark-level data helps educators intervene before students fall further behind.

Rodney Jones placed a sworn criminal affidavit into the record and alleged that the district and the city of Palmetto engaged in fraud and misconduct related to the takeover of Lincoln Memorial Academy. Jones named multiple current and former officials and said the matter had been reported to state authorities, including the governor’s office, inspector general and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The affidavit reference and several named individuals were listed during Jones’s remarks. Superintendent Breslin responded that staff would review the documents and coordinate with district attorneys to determine the appropriate response.

Board members did not take immediate action on the affidavit during the meeting. The superintendent indicated staff would work with legal counsel to respond and follow any reporting or investigatory requirements. Several trustees endorsed routine next steps — reviewing the materials and referring questions to counsel — and emphasized the district’s willingness to cooperate with external investigations if required.

The meeting moved on after public comment to scheduled agenda items, and board members flagged several related issues for future follow-up, including traffic and safety at Lakewood Ranch High and charter access to assessment data.