Florida / School Districts / Manatee
Board members began a workshop to refresh the district strategic plan (current 'Ready 2026' ends in June). Presenters proposed a July rollout and recommended community input and a steering committee; board members debated mission wording, plan length (2–4 years), KPIs and adding community representation to selection/steering groups.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
An RSM special review found no instances of noncompliance that would invalidate the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) procurement for the AAA high school, but recommended mandatory selection-committee conflict disclosures, clearer RFQ language about preliminary cost estimates and tighter verification of scoring procedures.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
The board reviewed a living five-year internal audit risk assessment. The external assessor proposed a sequence of audits — including maintenance work orders and payroll/compensation — and recommended annual follow-up on prior observations; committee liaisons will coordinate audits with staff.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
Board members and staff began a workshop‑driven update to Ready 2026 with a goal to finalize a new strategic plan by July; discussion focused on mission and vision wording, community engagement, plan length (2–4 years), teacher retention, career/technical pathways, KPIs and aligning the plan with the superintendent's priorities.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
RSM's time‑sensitive review of the CMAR procurement for the AAA high school found no procurement irregularities that would invalidate award decisions, but recommended mandatory selection‑committee conflict disclosures, clearer RFQ language about preliminary cost estimates, and tighter verification of scoring calculations (error rate under 1%).
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
RSM reported no disallowed half‑cent expenditures in its sample but recommended that the district formalize documentation of allowability reviews, update website project records, and strengthen piggyback contract checks; management pledged changes and a March follow‑up.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
Public commenters at the Dec. 9 Manatee County School Board meeting urged the board to oppose the state's Schools of Hope co-location policy, warning it would siphon funding, threaten student privacy and erode local control; staff said they will calculate financial impacts and step up communication.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
At its Dec. 9 meeting the Manatee County School Board approved the consent agenda, adopted amended policies, named the new elementary near Artisan Lakes "Veterans Elementary School," and adopted October 2025 budget amendments, all by unanimous votes.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
After months of public outreach, the Manatee County School Board approved new redistricting maps and heard staffs school-choice plan; controlled open enrollment applications open Jan. 5 and legacy/founders priority requests must be submitted by Jan. 30.
Florida / School Districts / Manatee
At its Nov. 18 reorganization meeting the Manatee County School Board elected Cindy Spray chair and Richard Tatum vice chair, set workshops for Tuesdays at 10 a.m., approved the 2025–26 meeting calendar as amended and confirmed committee liaisons and officers for the Manatee School Board Leasing Corp.