Palm Beach School Board unanimously proclaims library month, autism awareness, mental health observances and other community recognitions

The School Board of Palm Beach County on April 29 unanimously approved a slate of proclamations recognizing a series of local and national observances.

Board Chair Karen Brill and members approved proclamations designating April 2026 as School Library Month and Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month; Dr. Jennifer Percival, director of the FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), was presented the autism proclamation. The board cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ADDM figures, noting autism was reported to affect "one in 31" U.S. children as of 2022, as summarized in the proclamation text.

Superintendent Burke recommended, and the board adopted, a proclamation designating May 2026 as Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care Month. Virginia Savietto presented that proclamation to Nancy Reese, manager of Behavioral Health Services, and highlighted the district's campus-based mental health staffing and the "Get Your Green On" campaign, which encourages wearing green on May 21 to raise awareness.

Additional adopted proclamations recognized May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month; April 13—6, 2026 as Days of Remembrance for Holocaust victims and Yom HaShoah (the proclamation cites Public Law 96-388); April 22 as Earth Day, with district programs such as the Green Champions and Student Climate Coalition cited; April 28 as Gardens of Hope Awareness Day; and May 11—17, 2026 as National Police Week, which the board indicated would be presented to Chief Mooney.

All motions to adopt the proclamations were made and seconded by board members and carried unanimously. The proclamations are ceremonial recognitions and do not enact policy or appropriate funds.

After completing the proclamations, the board adjourned the proclamation session and proceeded to the scheduled special meeting for expulsions.