The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Education Issues Committee observes the Manatee County School Board meetings for items of interest to citizens and the League and notes adherence, or lack of adherence, to good governance procedures and the sunshine laws. The following are the major points from the school board meeting on 2/25/25.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Choate followed by the reading of the district vision by Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy provided a memorial to Dr. Jeff Schneiderman, a 26-year district administrator who passed away over the holiday break. Dr. Schneiderman retired in 2013, after serving as Coordinator of the Speech Pathology Department and was a fierce advocate for students with special needs. Mr. Kennedy then provided the invocation. Chair Choate introduced the Southeast High School Color Guard and then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Recognitions
Mr. Barber, Director of Communications acknowledged the monumental MTC grand opening of the Myakka Bradenton Law Enforcement Training Center.
2024 - 2025 Student Art in the Capitol Winner - Following an MSETV video, Ricardo Robinson Shaw, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, introduced Boston Wilson, a 7th grader at Buffalo Creek Middle School. Boston’s colored pencil drawing of Snooty the Manatee was selected from 73 district wide entries by 6-8 graders to hang in the State Capitol during the March 2025 legislative session. He was given a $200 gift certificate.
Career and Technical Education Month – Dr. Paul Gansemer, Executive Director of Adult, Career and Technical Education, celebrated February as Career and Technical Education Month by reviewing all of the programs that make up this dynamic area of education in Manatee School District’s elementary, middle, and high schools and Manatee Technical College (MTC). He highlighted administrators, teachers and students at all levels, as well as community partnerships, and at the district level, who support learning, as well as the student organizations in the variety of clusters and certification areas. Articulation agreements with State College of Florida (SCF) allow students to take courses for the next level. He highlighted programs at a variety of schools, introducing school leadership, teachers and students from those schools. He referenced exhibits in the lobby and hallway to view. Dr. Gansemer then listed the variety of the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) available at the schools. He introduced representative advisors of the variety of CTSO leaders from around the district who go over and above as teachers to be advisors to the CTSO organizations. He highlighted MTC’s ASC accredited Automotive Technical Program. He then introduced representative Florida state student leaders from various district high schools. Over 50 programs are offered at MTC.
Public Comments – no public comments
Reports and Presentations
Presentation Regarding the Manatee County School Board's 2025 Credit Ratings issued by S&P Global and Fitch Ratings. (No Financial Impact) - updated 2/21/2025 – Deputy Superintendent Rachel Sellers announced the district’s new credit rating. In all cases, the ratings have been upgraded to either A+ or AA-, as new debt is issued. The Rating Outlook has moved from stable to positive. In answer to Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Sellers indicated the rating does not change interest rates but does assist with selling bonds. Closing will occur on March 13 with funds transferred to the district for the two elementary school capital projects of Rye Road and Artisan Lakes. Mr. Tatem noted that “with ratings going up, doing something right.”
Consent Items - The Consent Agenda included 13 items that were approved 5-0.
New Business: (Non-Consent Items)
Dr. Wysong reviewed the policy that addresses attendance zones as well as the variables of student enrollment, facility utilization and growth in Manatee County. The process began in October 2024 by reviewing all the data, culminating in a comprehensive five-hour presentation at the February 14 School Board Workshop. That presentation is available at the district website. Dr. Wysong indicated the results of the staff analysis includes: 1. Enrollment in district-operated schools continues to climb despite increasing school choice options; 2. There are too many district-operated schools classified as overcapacity, near capacity, or nearing capacity – and these schools are spread throughout the district; 3. School choice options are insufficient to remedy capacity concerns due to traffic congestion and transportation limits; 4. Future residential housing growth will further constrain capacity in at least two of the four School Service Areas; 5. Newly constructed facilities and schools necessitate creation of new and adjustment of current residential attendance zones.
Mr. Chapman walked through the updates to the district website for easy public access to all of the information for transparency. While only one meeting is required, there will be five public meetings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. conducted by district staff as follows: March 3 at Braden River High School; March 5 at Parrish Community High School; March 6 at Palmetto High School; March 10 at Lakewood Ranch High School; and March 12 at Southeast High School. This will be a time for public to get information and ask questions. Each of these presentations will be exactly the same. The presentations will also include information about start and stop times for 2026-27, the benefit of later start times for secondary students and the current effort to repeal the requirement. Feedback from these meetings will be compiled for the March 14 School Board Workshop and other topics will be addressed as requested by board members. The website will provide many opportunities for public input over the next six to eight months. The final rezoning changes will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year or later.
In answer to Mr. Kennedy’s question, Mr. Dye indicated board members may attend the March public meetings but not have conversations with each other, nor make any public statements. Ms. Spray suggested letting builders and initial HOA’s know about the rezoning process. Dr. Wysong also indicated that district policy will be followed in the rezoning process when Mr. Kennedy asked if parents will be assured their child will not be affected. The superintendent indicated there will be no guarantees that students will not be moved. The next steps will be for staff to create three or more potential rezoning proposals with the strengths and weaknesses of each, followed by another round of public meetings, at the same locations as the March 2025 meetings. It is expected that the process will wrap up by September 2025 ahead of the choice process for implementation for the 2026-2027 school year.
[LWV note: Follow this link to the Manatee District website page on the rezoning process https://www.
Updates
Instructional: Deputy Superintendent Jensen described the required instructional topic for K-12 related to Women’s History Month, recognizing women’s achievements in a variety of fields and contributions to society. In addition, Medal of Honor Day recognizes support for the values of a democracy. Mr. Jensen announced that the February 20 science fair resulted in twenty elementary, nine middle school, and eleven high school students going to Lakeland for the state competition in March. One Southeast High student will advance to the national competition. He announced the March 8 Chili Cook-Off at Parrish Community High School.
Operational: Deputy Superintendent Ranaldi announced the February 27 virtual job fair for operations at Wakeland from 9:00 a.m. until noon. He shared that at Sugg Middle School the Food Service Department prepared southern green beans that the students grew, harvested and snapped. National School Breakfast Week celebration is March 3-7 and will feature new entrees. Three new buses have arrived and four more are on the way. Ten more buses are to arrive next year. The new buses have enhanced car seats for smaller children as well as added external lighting features. Thirteen van drivers are interested in pursuing credentials to be bus drivers. Mr. Ranaldi acknowledged that the board agreed to the consent items that allows for Williams’ elementary’s eight classrooms for this fall and early release package for long lead equipment items and site work for Artisan and Rye Ranch elementary schools.
Legal: Mr. Dye indicated that after this meeting the superintendent and board chair will sign the closing documents for funds for the two new elementary projects.
Superintendent’s Remarks: Dr. Wysong highlighted two of the consent items: one approved the contract with the external auditor to begin reviews of all financial reporting and prepare final comprehensive reports as well as school internal accounts; and the other to submit a grant for school safety upgrades. He shared that he recently attended training and a meeting of the state organization of superintendents, enjoying learning and dialoguing with others facing the same challenges. Dr. Wysong attended the state girls’ soccer semi-finals featuring Lakewood Ranch High School’s team. Although they were not the winners, he said he saw the best goal tending ever and congratulated the team for their sportsmanship and the dedicated coaching staff. He was impressed with the number of school administrators and teachers there to support the team. He and Ms. Felton toured Myakka City Elementary School, and he and Ms. Spray visited this morning with five students at Palmetto High School. Tomorrow he will visit Lee Middle School and later his leadership team will hear from forty-nine student leaders who will provide feedback that will shape future plans for the school district. Friday, the February 28 Board Workshop will begin with the Florida School Board Association (FSBA) training from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.; then at 2:30 p.m. the Board will hear the Citizens Financial Oversight Committee’s report. He reminds everyone there are three calendar modifications in March due to loss of time because of hurricanes: March 7 and 14 are early release days, and Monday, March 24, is a full student day.
Board Remarks
Ms. Felton described attending the Embracing Differences art display in Sarasota that features art from all over the planet. A caption for one of the pieces was provided by Cindy Horton a sixth grader from Buffalo Creek Middle School, “Accept the difference, embrace the difference, be the difference.” The Manatee County Children Health Board is reviewing 68 requests over the next two months. During the last two weeks, Ms. Felton has visited Horizons, Harllee, Buffalo Creek MS, and MTC East. She will attend an FSBA workshop tomorrow in Hardee.
Mr. Kennedy thanked the board for indulging his recognition of Dr. Schneiderman prior to the invocation and thanked Fran Padgett and Judy Bayer, retired district administrators for bringing the information to him. He acknowledged that this quick meeting took hours to put together and thanked everyone for the work. He is looking forward to Friday as they improve their working relationships.
Mr. Tatem’s safety item for this meeting is to wear something with lights like the flashing belt he recently purchased when walking at night to avoid being hit. He acknowledged the coordination of organizations resulting in the ribbon cutting at the training firing range in Myakka. He said it is the prime time for classroom instruction before spring break and to stay focused.
Ms. Spray said that meeting with the Palmetto High students this morning was a highlight of the day, hearing from young people about future plans. She announced tennis season has started and she attended the practices at SEHS and LWRHS. She indicated she provided a punch list to the attention of operations of things that need to be done. She agreed this was another good meeting. She looks forward to seeing what she will learn new at the master board training.
Mr. Choate expressed appreciation to the staff and especially Ms. Sellers’ staff. The improved ratings mean the district is really doing well. He reinforced that the rezoning process is not to be taken lightly, but it needs to be done. He reminisced that when he first came on the board, the firing range was in the design state. With the collaboration between community organizations, this is going to affect all to become a safer community with local training. He said he's looking forward to Friday, noting it was good last time.
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was well run and, with only a few items, it was brief. Each of the Board Members were observed to participate professionally. Board Members were observed to be focused on the business at hand throughout the meeting.
We appreciate the Board Agenda including the recognition of the Adult, Career and Technical Programs, highlighting the vast array of programs at Manatee Technical College.
Chair Choate was observed to demonstrate empathy as he questioned the young student about his winning art project and turned a potentially awkward moment into a memorable one.
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