School board advertises annual‑leave amendment for public hearing, approves multiple routine contracts and policies

The Leon County School Board on May 12 approved a set of routine items, heard public comment on a proposed property-tax (millage) increase and voted to advertise amendments to the district’s annual‑leave policy for public hearing on June 16.

Clerk/staff (Miss Smith) outlined changes and additions to the meeting agenda; the board moved and approved those changes. The board then opened and closed several public hearings with no speakers and approved items including:

- New policy 23.31.06 (Name, Image and Likeness in athletics), effective 05/13/2026 (motion passed). - Amendments to policies on promotion/placement/retention, graduation requirements and student progression, each approved after public‑hearing openings with no speakers. - Multiple first renewal options for continuing contracts for engineering (civil/structural/mechanical/electrical/plumbing), architectural, geotechnical/environmental and construction‑management consulting services; motions were moved, seconded and passed unanimously. - Approval of a 2026–2028 memorandum of understanding with Local 10/78 UIPAT bargaining unit. - Approval of a 2026 agreement with the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center to secure rehearsal and graduation space.

Two public commenters addressed a separate agenda matter: Valencia Hargrecht (who identified herself and provided an address for the record) spoke in favor of a proposed property-tax increase to raise funds for support‑staff salaries, saying an increase would help recruit and retain staff. Scott Mazer, representing the Leon Classroom Teachers Association, also urged community support for the millage conversation and thanked district staff for responsiveness.

The most substantive board discussion of the night centered on proposed amendments to annual‑leave policy (14-30.06). Board members asked for more data about use and payouts, stakeholder feedback from collective bargaining units, and suggested phased approaches or payout-focused procedure changes rather than a blanket policy change. Superintendent Hannah offered alternative payout formulas and told the board preliminary numbers showed roughly $30,000–$35,000 in paid leave advances in the current year. The board voted to advertise the proposed amendments for public hearing on June 16 and asked the superintendent to return with multiple options for the board to consider (including contracting/phase‑in approaches and further financial impact data).

Votes on the listed items were taken during the meeting and, where recorded in the transcript, passed unanimously after motions and seconds. Several items (notably a world‑languages adoption) were noted as public‑hearing items with votes to be taken at a future meeting.

Next steps: the annual‑leave amendments will be advertised and a public hearing scheduled for June 16; board members requested district staff to collect feedback from unions and provide financial impact data before a final vote.