During the meeting, a comprehensive explanation was given regarding the need to borrow funds for major construction projects. This borrowing would not lead to overall savings but would provide the district with modernized documents for future financing. The potential for explosive growth in the area was discussed, emphasizing the importance of properly funding teacher positions and protecting fund balances. The district’s conservative approach to borrowing was highlighted, with comparisons to other organizations’ debt burdens. The board considered the implications of inflation, supply chain issues, and labor costs due to the pandemic on construction prices.

The board deliberated on building larger schools to accommodate growth versus maintaining smaller community-centric schools, acknowledging the challenge in predicting housing market trends and the need for flexibility in budget planning. There was also an acknowledgment of the difficulties in making long-term projections.

In addition to financial matters, the meeting delved into the district’s educational strategies, particularly the Lexia Core5 and PowerUp reading programs. These programs are designed to close reading gaps and create successful readers, and they were praised for providing detailed information on student progress and for increasing teacher engagement. An administrator shared data indicating that 68% of teachers believed Lexia had an impact on student data. The board celebrated a student recognized as a “Lexia Superstar” for completing level 10 of the program. Monthly meetings with Lexia and professional learning opportunities for teachers were part of the ongoing partnership.

The Lexia program’s implementation and supervision were extensively discussed. Educators provided insights into the resources available, both online and offline, for small group instruction, emphasizing the individualized nature of the instruction. The program’s alignment with Florida’s reading success formula and its evidence-based approach were highlighted. The teacher explained the use of independent time on computers and paper decodables to assess students’ application of skills. The discussion also pointed out the need for better communication between school and home, particularly in providing parents with resources to support their children’s learning.

The success of Clay County’s reading performance, ranking 12th out of 55 districts in Florida, was highlighted through a success story shared by a teacher. The teacher reported achieving 100% gains using the Lexia program among students. The board also discussed a proposed land sale of a small portion currently used as a staging area for construction equipment, weighing the potential impact on student safety against the district’s income. There was a consensus to pursue the sale of the land.

The meeting covered other topics, including textbook adoption for K12 social studies and science materials, the proposed supplement allocation for demonstration teacher classroom supplements and a future educators program, and recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, Administrative Professionals Week, and out-of-state travel. Additionally, there were discussions about various recognition months, financial reports requesting transparency on budget line transfers, and reports on bid renewals for various services and the completion of construction projects.