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School board honors music educator, students and approves renaming; proclaims Black History Month
Summary
The board opened with awards that honored Janine Jones as Florida Music Educator of the Year, heard student performances and a Black History Month proclamation read by the student advisory council, and approved renaming Fellsmere Elementary to Fellsmere Academy (5-0).
The meeting began with a series of recognitions: the board and superintendent highlighted Janine Jones, named 2026 Florida Music Educator of the Year, and welcomed musical performances by Treasure Coast Elementary, Sebastian River Middle School and Sebastian River High School ensembles.
Students from the superintendent's student advisory council introduced themselves and read a proclamation designating February 2026 as Black History Month for the school board, citing the month's historical roots and local data on African American student representation and graduation-rate improvements. After the reading, the board moved and approved the proclamation by voice vote (recorded 5-0).
Later on the action agenda, staff presented a community-driven renaming process for Fellsmere Elementary: more than 500 community members participated and 13 names were proposed; staff recommended "Fellsmere Academy" after more than 300 votes in the community process. The board approved the renaming by the required supermajority (voice vote recorded as 5-0).
What happens next: award recipients and student performers were acknowledged publicly; staff will implement the school renaming steps per board policy and public-notice requirements.
