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 3/11/25.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Choate followed by the reading of the district vision by Mr. Tatem. Mr. Tatem then provided the invocation. Chair Choate introduced the Manatee High School Color Guard and then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Celebrations / Recognitions
Boys and Girls Clubs Youth of the Year
Mr. Barber, Director of Communications, introduced Dawn Stanhope, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Ms. Stanhope recognized Omar Edwards who as a youth participated in the Boys and Girls Club and is now the organization’s Board Chair. Ms. Stanhope then introduced C. Davis, a Virgil Mills 5th grader, who is awarded the Junior Youth of the Year award. Chandler is a safety patrol, plays point guard in basketball, embodies the values cherished at the Club, and received a principal’s award for rescuing a young student. Ms. Stanhope described the intense process leading up to the selection of these young people including essays, recommendation letters, and interviews. She then introduced T. Brice, a Palmetto High School student who is the Youth of the Year. Taylor read her essay that described herself as “going nowhere fast” when she was assigned by the court to do thirty service hours at the Boys and Girls Club. Through the Club’s acceptance and guidance –“they saw the best in me”, she gained optimism and hope and through personal development became a “better me.” Through “courage and confidence” she now carries a 3.8 GPA and is in leadership roles at her school and is a “loving daughter, sister, and friend.” Mr. Edwards reinforced that the Boys and Girls Clubs are here for the children to give them the benefit of belonging. He acknowledged Palmetto High Assistant Principal, Katie Brown and Mills Elementary Principal, Jim Menes were in attendance to support their respective students. Winners of this award automatically become a student in Take Stock for Children and become eligible for scholarships. Taylor will go on to state competition.
Public Comments
This took place prior to the Student Recognitions due to traffic concerns that delayed the students’ arrival.
CC introduced herself as a retired educator. She indicated she spoke to the board before concerning transportation issues causing her child to be late to school. She thanked the board for making the changes that enabled her daughter to arrive on time and even early. She described that this changed in the last few weeks and her daughter has been getting to school 30-45 minutes late. She read the email she sent to the school who has been very cooperative. She indicated she has spoken to the transportation department and all have been supportive and was advised to speak to the board.
SM is the Principal of Manatee School of the Arts charter and stated he was educated in Manatee public schools. He said he was here to advocate for his son and 12,000 other charter school students, 20% of students in Manatee County. They have been an A or B school since they were chartered 26 years ago. He said, “our graduation rate is high. Charter School students are no different from public school students; we supported the tax referendum this year. In 2023-24 school year the district did not share the sales tax funds with charter schools. Tax dollars should follow the families.”
ST, a parent of three students, spoke for fairness for all students. He stated charter schools have made a huge difference in education in Manatee County. The sales tax referendum was for all schools. Nearly 20% of students in Manatee County attend charter schools. He urged the school board to reinstate the portion of funding to charter schools raised by the sales tax referendum. Simply asking for funds to be distributed to charter schools. He asked the district “restore our rightful share of these funds.”
SZ said he has spent his entire career working with students in Manatee County Schools. He indicated we are all one district – public and charter and students deserve their share of the funding from the sales tax we supported. Families move and sometimes they choose to attend a charter school. Each child deserves their share of the tax funding. It is a moral obligation. We request at the April 8th board meeting this become an agenda item. He stated, “remember the money should always follow the student.”
AE said she is a parent of a charter school student. All parents wish for the best education for their child. The promise was kept to share the ½ cent sales tax and then it was withdrawn. She stated the tax dollars belong to all students. This is not about just money but trust, fairness and the child’s future. She asked the board to protect our children’s educational future by giving the charter public schools their share. Thank you for your time and dedication.
RD introduced himself as a retired district employee and was brought out of retirement to develop a priority program to spend the sales tax funds. An oversight committee was created to put this into operation. Charters need to show they are spending the money responsibly. I am not here to take sides but to see the money is spent correctly.
Mr. Choate, as chair, said he wanted to address the transparency of the decision made by a past board to terminate the Block Grant from the ½ cent sales tax.* There was no undercover decision, everyone was aware of it when we first addressed the tax referendum issue. Mr. Choate said he wants to make sure the public knows that by law the district is doing this correctly. He confirmed with Mr. Dye that they did not hear any false statements tonight. The 2016 referendum did not require sharing any sales tax funds with charters, it does require that today, but is not retroactive. In 2033 the district could again share the sales tax funds like the district currently does with the 1 mill referendum dollars. In 2016 district came up with strategy to share funds as a voluntary policy through block grant funding. Now there is no block grant funding so the board would have to take this topic up at a workshop.
Reports and Presentations
2024-2025 STEM Programs and Showcase
Mr. Jensen summarized the amazing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs in the district’s schools that support pathways from kindergarten to career. He introduced the Curriculum Department Staff who served as a panel to describe the various programs: Alison Nichols- Director, Elementary Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning; Tiffany Spradling- Director, Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning; Lynne Johnston – STEM Coordinator; Amber Platowski- Secondary Science and Woz Ed Coordinator. Aligned with the District’s Strategic Plan the STEM activities increase science achievement through STEM with specific instructional materials and professional development for all teachers. They shared the curriculum maps and quarterly professional learning for STEM teachers and the collaboration among teachers.
[LWVMC Note: Follow this link to view the presentation describing the various opportunities.
Two of the programs highlighted in the presentation were WOZ ED and the Guy Harvey Program. WOZ ED was started by Steve Wozniak of Apple who wanted to get kids interested in tinkering – there are units in a box that teachers can use. The project started in 2021 in elementary schools and this year expanded to four middle schools. Palm View has been recognized as a WOZ ED Validated School. Guy Harvey Foundation program trained teachers at Anna Maria Elementary, King Middle School and Manatee High School in the marine science program. Teachers from Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch and Manatee high schools attended training to get certified. The high school program includes Mote Marine’s Aquaculture Research Park.
Dr. Wysong added that millage money is funding science teachers as well as materials in elementary schools. Much of the equipment used in these programs is financed by state appropriations.
Saturday, April 5th there will be a STEM showcase at the Bradenton Area Convention Center beginning with the Math Super Stars Competition at 9:00 a.m. and demonstrations of the various programs and activities from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Dr. Wysong said he would put this science curriculum team up against any in the nation.
Consent Items
The Consent Agenda included 19 items that were approved 5-0.
Public Hearing
Public Hearing for Consideration to Adopt and Amend School Board Policies. Chair Choate gaveled the general meeting out and public hearing in, seeking public comment. There were not comments. He closed the public hearing and reopened the general meeting.
New Business: (Non-Consent Items)
Approval to Adopt and Amend School Board Policies. Approved 5-0.
[LWVMC note: Link to approved policies.]
Approval of Advertising a Notice of Intent to Amend School Board Policies, Including New Board Policies and Setting a Public Hearing at the Board Meeting on April 29, 2025 (General Fund). This included one item: 0149.1 – PUBLIC EXPRESSIONS OF MEMBERS AND PROCLAMATIONS.
A discussion of this item included Mr. Tatem wanting clarification about how Board Members would vote on whether or not a Proclamation would be given. Mr. Choate indicated that a proclamation would be included on the consent agenda. A Board Member could ask for it to be pulled from the consent agenda for a separate vote. If it did not pass, the proclamation would not be given. Mr. Kennedy asked for clarification about providing to the board clerk for the archives any correspondence by a board member on the board member’s letter head. A phrase was added to amend the item, to indicate this would be required only if the correspondence was not already captured for archives through electronic means. Mr. Tatem then asked for clarification about how text messages to constituents are archived on his personal phone since he does not use a district supplied device. District Attorney Pendley indicated this is a problem if he’s corresponding with a constituent and he should conduct board business on a board device. While Tatem indicated he keeps board business on his personal device, Mr. Pendley indicated that while the district might trust him, if there were a public records request it would be costly (“a nightmare”) in time and money to retrieve the relevant information. The amended policy was approved 5-0.
[LWVMC Note - See link to the change to the Board By-Laws regarding Proclamations.]
Approval of Budget Amendments for January 2025 (No Financial Impact) Approved 5-0.
New Business (No Superintendent Recommendation)
Approval of the Citizens Financial Oversight Committee Annual Report (Fiscal Year Ending 2024) Approved 5-0.
The report was presented to the School Board at their February 28 Workshop. Mr. Choate expressed that an approval of the report does not indicate agreement with the recommendations in the report. The recommendations will be considered at another time. Mr. Kennedy said he’d relay this to the group. Mr. Tatem indicated the Board needs to look into the information provided such as the millage funds paying for private lessons. Mr. Choate indicated there will be a workshop and Ms. Felton concurred regarding the need for a workshop. Superintendent Wysong indicated responses to the recommendations could be a part of the millage budget workshop in late April or May.
Approval of Travel Expenses Associated with the Florida School Board Association (FSBA) Finance 2.0 Event, April 23-25, 2025, at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, Gainesville FL, not to exceed $3,500.00. Approved 5-0.
Discussion, Regarding a Letter of Opinion from the Boad to Support / Request the Reinstatement of the School Zone Cameras District Wide (No Financial Impact).
Mr. Choate indicated he had reviewed the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners’ (BoCC) decision to stop using the school zone cameras; however, the City of Bradenton has not stopped. He sought Board Members’ opinions. He indicated he supported the use of the cameras during the hours when the school zones were enforced; i.e. before and after school, and wants to write a letter to the BoCC. Ms. Felton concurred and supported a letter to the BoCC saying it is the School Board’s job to project our kids. Superintendent Wysong indicated the district has received two distributions from fines and put the money in the school crossing guard fund. Ms. Spray indicated no one from the BoCC reached out to her and the other’s indicated the same. The ensuing discussion included the confusion created between the County’s implementation of the cameras and the different implementation of the City of Bradenton. Citizens were being fined whether the caution lights were on or not at the school zones. A motion was made and passed 5-0 authorizing Chair Choate to send a letter to the BoCC indicating the Board being in favor of the cameras being activated during the arrival and departure times (school zone lights are flashing) at the schools.
Information Only (no board action required)
Year-to-Date Financial Statements Through January 31, 2025 (No Financial Impact)
Year-to-Date Charter School Financial Statement Summary Through January 31, 2025 (No Financial Impact)
Updates
Instructional – Mr. Jensen thanked the incredible team who made STEM presentation. He reminded everyone this is the last meeting before spring break and before spring testing starting April 1 with FAST assessments in May. He thanked the ESE department for their ESE Agency Fair with a session with 30 parents prior to the event that hosted 200 families. He thanked Jodi O’Meara for facilitating the event. He wished everyone a restful Spring Break.
Operational – Mr. Ranaldi indicated there have been no job fairs since the last meeting. He shared that the alternative teacher education program for people with bachelor degrees, Pathways to Teaching, had 50 attend the first meeting with more signed up to learn about it. There will be an Operations Job Fair at Wakeland on March 27 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. On March 28, Food and Nutrition will feature Wooden Bowls (ramen bowls), a hot item nation-wide, that will be added to the school menus next year. He indicated Instructional Technology has been providing site support and delivering over 6,000 Chrome books with more coming, and delivered 154 laptops to teachers, plus installed Promethean Boards (interactive smart boards) to three high schools. In addition, they have made several high school gymnasium audio upgrades. On tonight’s consent agenda there was an agreement to purchase 48 acres on the north side of the county that could house a K-8 facility.
Legal – Mr. Dye announced Pat Pertruff will cover Friday’s Workshop.
Superintendent Remarks – Dr. Wysong thanked the staff for preparing and board for approving nineteen consent items, including approving the promotion of Lisa Lyon to full director of Student Services as well as an out of state trip for Palmetto High School’s JROTC to the Cherry Blossom Festival April 5-8 in Washington DC. He shared the results of the second annual student leadership forum with 48 seniors where feedback was gathered and many pages of notes are being catalogued to be shared soon. District finance leadership traveled to NYC to accept certificates of participation for Artisan Lakes and Rye Road. Dr. Wysong hosted a breakfast for the district’s crisis teams who step up and volunteer their time when needed at a school. He attended the annual JROTC Military Ball last Friday where he addressed the cadets. He spent two half days at schools with board members observing everyone working hard to prepare for student success. He will share at the Friday Workshop feedback from the various informational meetings regarding upcoming rezoning that will be helpful to frame thinking as they move into map drawing mode. He hopes to get guidance from the Board. He wishes everyone a happy Spring Break.
Board Remarks
Mr. Kennedy –He thanked everyone who came for public comment and said he was impressed by Taylor’s speech about the impact of Boys and Girls Club. He wants the board to consider the question of sharing revenue with charters; there is nothing illegal and need vote up or down so charters know where they are going. He has received emails from teachers who are having difficulty getting their child enrolled at the school at which they teach and asked if a policy is needed. He remarked that the workforce housing project has just stalled and superintendent needs direction and thinks it needs to get it on a workshop agenda. Mr. Choate indicated the topic was put on hold per Mr. Dye’s advice until the new board was seated.
Mr. Tatem – His safety tip is that temperatures are rising so get yourself hydrated and wear sunscreen. He indicated that the more he is around the school system the more impressed he is with the dedication of the employees who give freely of their personal time. He said he did legal research on funding for charter schools and sent to the attorney to share and there are websites he provided. Mr. Tatem said this needs to be put to bed whether on a workshop agenda or general meeting.
Ms. Felton – She agreed there needs to be a workshop on charter school funding before it’s brought to a meeting. She thanked the STEM team for their presentation. She has visited Johnson K-8 and said, “they know what they are doing,” and visited Lincoln Middle Schools medical program and saw the kids working with the equipment. She judged the Parrish Chili Cook-Off tasting 12 of the 24 entries, with MTC and Southeast HS participating. She also attended the Military Ball and was impressed with how they carry themselves in uniform and dressed up. She will be in Tallahassee all of spring break for New Board Member workshops, and has appointments with decision makers. To the staff people in the audience, she asked, “please don’t work over spring break.”
Ms. Spray – She asked Mr. Dye to pull all of the 2016 information on charter schools. She noted it is tennis season and she attended matches for Braden River and Parrish Community high schools as well as other practices. She’ll attend the last rezoning meeting at SEHS. She said the Boys and Girls Club presentation was great and that this was the third time she has heard Taylor speak and was moved every time.
Mr. Choate – Mr. Choate congratulated Taylor on her phenomenal speech. He recognized Doug Wagner, Omar Edwards and 103-year-old Coach Shannon as recipients of the Pat Glass Leadership Awards given at the recent Tiger Bay Club meeting. He reminisced about the advances in technology from ELMO’s and overheads to the smart boards. His daughter participated in the senior forum and she raved about it. While these students may not see the fruits of their work, their siblings will benefit.
Adjournment – 8:33 p.m.
The STEM presentation was excellent. We share Ms. Felton’s enthusiasm for student engagement in the various science programs. Mr. Tatem pointed out the benefit of the tax referendum funds used for these programs.
The observers were appalled when Mr. Tatem revealed he is not using a district device to conduct school board business. We concur with the attorneys that using his personal device is problematic and potentially expensive for both him and the district. We suggest there be a policy adopted or amended that requires strict adherence to using district devices for school board business. Current Board By-Law Policy 0167.1 needs to be strengthened to preclude the use of personal devices.
We recommend School Board Members request that there be clarification for themselves and the public regarding the various capital funding sources and referendum taxation. There needs to be a clear statement defining the various capital funds that come to the district as well as how funds are being, or have been shared with the charter schools, including a timeline when funds began, the source, the laws that have impacted decisions, and the timeline when decisions were made by prior school boards, and why. We are concerned that information provided at the board meeting caused confusion and encourage the board to workshop this in a clear and concise manner.
LWV Note: *See 8/11/2023 workshop and action taken on at the 8/22/2023 meeting. August 11, 2023 Workshop: https://
August 22, 2023 Board Meeting:
https://manateeschools.
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