The most pressing topic of the meeting was the update on the current projects funded by sales tax revenue, particularly the rebuild of Belleview Santos Elementary School. Angela Usher, the senior executive director of operations, highlighted four major projects: the classroom walls and door projects at East Marion Elementary and Oyola Middle School, the rebuild of Belleview Santos Elementary, and an emergency HVAC upgrade at Belleview Middle School. These projects are in various stages of development, with completion dates primarily targeted for the summer of 2028.

For Belleview Santos Elementary, the project is particularly complex, requiring approval from the Department of Education for the demolition of existing buildings. The board is collaborating with Hapner Architects and is currently in the site survey phase. A bid package for a construction management firm is anticipated soon, which underscores the scale and intricacy of this undertaking. The total construction budget, inclusive of demolition, relocation expenses, furniture, and technology, is estimated to be between $50-55 million.

During the presentation, concerns were raised about the clarity of project cost reporting. A board member suggested implementing a structured scorecard that details anticipated costs, actual costs, and timelines to enhance understanding and facilitate future project planning. The director of facilities, Miss Bumbach, acknowledged this need and agreed to provide a detailed breakdown of costs for construction, demolition, and equipment. Additionally, the necessity of evaluating the cost efficiency of local versus out-of-county contractors was emphasized, as disparities in general conditions costs were noted.

The meeting also covered the sales tax revenue update, delivered by CFO Robert Rewells, who provided insights into the capital sales tax schedule. He explained the complexities of managing projects that span multiple fiscal years and the broader implications of project management and contractor performance in the district’s efforts to maintain and improve school facilities.

Another topic was the overview of the school district’s budget, which highlighted the original budget amount of $39.6 million. The discussion centered on the financial data for the months of July and August, as well as projections for the remaining months through June. The budget director noted a two-month lag between receipts and payments, affecting the payout timeline to charter schools. This slow payout is due to the sales tax receipts being delayed, which also impacts the budget for charter schools, standing at $860,000 in both original and revised budgets.

Following financial discussions, an update on the Attendance Boundary Advisory Committee was provided. Formed by a prior board resolution, this committee of eleven community members aims to analyze school utilization concerning current attendance boundaries. Their primary goal is to make annual recommendations to the superintendent. Their recent meeting focused on schools in the north end, such as Reic Collier, Spar, Anthony, and Ocala Springs. The deputy superintendent emphasized the importance of balancing student enrollment to secure adequate funding, as school funding is based on full-time equivalent (FTE) student numbers.

The committee is tasked with overseeing attendance boundaries across the district annually, with current efforts prioritized for the north end schools. The logistical challenges of altering attendance boundaries were discussed, recognizing the need for community forums to inform and engage affected residents. Additionally, significant back-end work would be required to update the student database with new address information once changes are adopted.

As the meeting concluded, future meeting schedules were proposed, with the first Wednesday of each quarter set for upcoming gatherings, specifically on March 4th, June 3rd, September 2nd, and December 2nd. A motion to approve these dates passed unanimously, allowing the committee to plan ahead for regular updates and discussions. Additionally, participants exchanged holiday wishes as the session came to an end.