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Votes at a glance: Marion County School Board approves contracts, expulsions and GMP adjustments
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Summary
The board unanimously approved consent items, multiple expulsion orders, contracted services (speech-language providers and a $3.0M amendment with Ocala Consulting and Prevention), and construction change orders that adjusted guaranteed maximum price figures and owner-direct purchases.
The Marion County School Board on April 14 approved a slate of routine and project-specific items, including personnel expulsions, contracted services, and construction change orders.
Key outcomes
- Agenda and consent: The board approved the meeting agenda and consent items (motion by Eric Cummings; second by Lori Conrad). Vote: 5–0.
- Minutes: The board approved minutes for the March 5, March 10, March 24 and March 31 meetings by unanimous vote.
- Expulsions: The board approved multiple student expulsions for the remainder of the third quarter and additional quarters where specified; votes were recorded as motions with unanimous support (5–0). The minutes show expulsions processed as administrative actions; details on each student were included in the published materials.
- Speech and language contracted services: The board approved independent contract agreements with speech-language pathologists to provide primary-entry-level supports for students with disabilities in pre-K through grade 12 for the 2026–27 school year. The agenda listed 16 primary entry-level supports; the motion passed 5–0 after the director of exceptional student education said additional approvals will return as needed.
- Mental-health services amendment (Ocala Consulting and Prevention, OCP): The board approved the third amendment to continue the district’s partnership with OCP for the 2026–27 school year to provide on-site counseling at identified high-need campuses. The director of mental health and wellness said OCP currently provides 13 counselors on 26 campuses. Board discussion noted the amendment is approximately $3,000,000 and passed 5–0.
- Construction/GMP adjustments: Informational items included a deductive change order for Greenway School HVAC owner direct purchase (deductive amount $131,672.68; estimated sales-tax savings $7,594.68) and an additive change order for off-site improvements at the new elementary school now known as Ross Perry Elementary (additive $11,792.46; work authorization number 15Project24-101). The board approved related GMP items by unanimous vote.
- Catalog bids and district purchasing: The board approved an increase to estimated expenditures for district catalog bids related to opening new high schools and districtwide supply needs; the motion passed 5–0.
Votes and procedural notes in the record show unanimous support for motions that carried forward routine approvals; the board used outside counsel and internal staff as necessary to cover legal needs while the school board attorney recovers and the board develops clearer remote-work procedures.
