Polk County board elects officers, accepts clean audit and approves calendar and budget amendments

The Polk County Board of Education on Dec. 9 elected its chair and vice chair, accepted an unmodified audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and approved a package of administrative items that included federal program plans, the 2025–26 school calendar and multiple budget amendments.

Board members selected the chair and vice chair by voice vote during an officer-selection portion of the meeting after the secretary opened nominations. The board later approved the November 4 minutes and administered the oath of office to a newly seated member before proceeding to routine business.

Accountant Andy Gale of Anderson, Sydney & White presented the district’s audit results and described four audit reports — one financial and three compliance reports — all receiving clean (unmodified) opinions. Gale reported no findings or deficiencies and noted the district’s approximate $1.1 million general fund balance. After the presentation the board moved to accept the audit and approved the action by voice vote.

The board also reviewed and approved the district’s consolidated Title I/II/IV federal programs plan, which funds activities such as pre-K support, summer remediation and Orton-Gillingham professional development. The consolidated plan was presented as largely similar to last year’s submission and passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Administrators presented the proposed 2025–26 school calendar, described as similar to the current year’s schedule and developed per prior board direction; the calendar was approved by the board. The meeting packet included multiple informational items, such as the November Head Start policy council minutes and monthly financial reports.

Finance staff briefed the board on a set of budget amendments. The packet listed roughly $304,004 in additional revenues tied to hurricane-relief funds and other grant awards, capital fund revisions including insurance settlement proceeds and state-purchased buses that must be recorded on district books, and a small community grant recorded in Fund 8. The board moved to adopt the amendments and approved them unanimously.

The board voted to discuss two student transfer requests in closed session and later accepted the administration’s recommendation. A separate agenda item — a revised DOT easement deed related to Highway 9 adjacent to Polk Central Elementary — was presented, discussed and approved after staff described the added payment language and closing procedures tied to a title review and law firm handling of funds.

The board closed the public portion of the meeting by moving into closed session to discuss personnel and student matters. Staff indicted they will coordinate mandatory ethics/boardmanship training for new and returning members, targeting January–February dates pending vendor availability.

Votes at a glance • Audit acceptance — motion moved and seconded; approved (voice vote; recorded as carried). • Consolidated Title I/II/IV plan — approved (unanimous). • 2025–26 school calendar — approved (7–0). • Budget amendments — approved (7–0). • Student transfer recommendations — approved after closed-session consideration (7–0). • Revised DOT easement deed (Highway 9) — approved (7–0).

The board recessed into closed session to discuss personnel and student matters; no public votes on those items were recorded in the public minutes.