001call this meeting to order and I'd ask our superintendent to lead us in our invocation and pledge. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dear heavenly father, we come before you this evening. We just ask that you give us wisdom and discernment over the discussion tonight over the decisions that we make. We also have to thank you every day for our blessings. We know that you bestow many blessings on us and we know that there is nothing that you don't give us or anything too hard for us to overcome. We also would like you to please wrap your arms around many community members. Um we've had some sad news in many different areas and we just pray that you will be with the families, friends, parents, everyone and give them your grace, give them peace. And we
002also cannot forget this day 24 years ago. what happened to our nation to many many people that you also show your blessing and grace and peace upon those because no matter how many years pass we know that it can feel like it's that same day. We ask all this in your name. Please address the flag. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. I'll entertain a motion to adopt our agenda. So move. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Welcome everybody. Good to have you here. Mrs. Lake, we'd like to call you on down to get started on this
003very easy topic. Good evening. We will move into the final budget. So, this is the second of the two public hearings we've held. So tonight we're going to adopt the final millage and final B budget for 2526. I'm going to review the differences in what we advertised in the paper for our tenative budget and what is being proposed today. So again this is the second and final public hearing. So this means anyone can ask any questions at any time and first we'll talk about trim which is truth and millage and adopt the tenative millage rate. So the final rate that's being proposed is the same as we adopted for the tendum which is the 3.0840. So again the required local effort is the number that's set by the department of education to match prior year
004tax collections. We discussed this in our tenative budget. The RLE is lower this year when compared to last year but it's higher than the roll back rate. So, we had to advertise for a tax increase. The roll back rate is the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenues as approved in the prior year. When tax bases increase, like this year, the roll back rate is less than the prior year's rate. This just means that tax values have increased. So, with the RLE, we would receive more in local taxes when compared to last year, but the tax rates have not increased. So again, um, we are proposing a final millage rate of 3.084. Are there any questions? >> Okay, we would just need a motion to approve the final mill. >> So
005moved. >> Second. We have a motion and a second on this resolution here. >> 26. [Music] Uh whereas the school board of Ly County, Florida did pursuant to chapter Florida statutes approve final millage rates for the fiscal year July 1st 2025 to June 30th 2026. And whereas at the public hearing and in full compliance with chapter 200 Florida statutes school board of Levy County adopted the final millage rates for fiscal year 2526 in the amounts of required local effort of 3.0840 0840 basic discretionary 7480 capital outlay of 1.5 for a total millage of 5.3320 um total proposed rate as a percentage of the roll back rate as found on line 22 of the school taxable value. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Lee County School Board adopted each final millage rate for the fiscal
006year July the 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026, today, September 11th, by separate vote prior to adopting the final budget. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> All right. So this is a tenative budget that was advertised and approved and it was um almost 117 million. The next slide will show us the final budget. It has increased 5.8% from the tenative and it is coming in at almost 124 million. We'll walk through some of those changes. Okay. So the general fund increased 3%. This increase is due to finalizing contracts, grants, and other compensation. For example, the package that was just approved a couple board meetings ago. It gave me enough time to actually put it in the final budget, which is very rare. We we don't normally
007get to do that. So almost one 1.2 million of that increase is for the salary increases that are impacting the general fund. The remainder is a cake grant. Special revenue increased 2% we just finalized federal awards and then the fund balance for food service is that growth debt service and capital projects are for this their increase is 71% of the total increase and that increase is due to one thing the bond refunding and then internal service has an a decrease and that occurred when we finalized the fund balance. Does anybody have any questions about the changes? >> All right. If there are no questions, I Oh, you're not. You're not ready. >> Yep. Give me a second. >> I'm ready. You're not ready. >> You're not ready. But if you want me to be, I
008can um this budget, I broke down the revenues to show you the classifications of the revenues. 57% is um general fund revenue resources. Within the general fund, those 57% come from 31% state sources, 15% local sources, and 11% is our fund balance. You can see the majority of our resources flow through the general fund. Next, if we look at expenditures in the general fund only and we look at functions, we see that 56% goes to student instruction. So, that would be occurring in the classroom. uh 12%. Our next highest category is operation of plant. That's where you would see custodians, grounds, any safety expenditures. Next is general support services, which includes district administration, school administration, the board. 11% for uh student instruction and support services. That's where you see SLPs, mental health uh contra um
009guidance, I'm sorry, mental health workers guidance, media and reading coaches and contracts would be in that as well for those activities. And then we round it out with uh student transportation services and maintenance of plan. Now, if we do a little bit of a different look on that same budget, but look at uh the objects or what we're actually paying for, 76% of the general fund goes to satisfy employee salaries and benefits. Then next is purchase services. So contracted services, uh material supplies and then of course utilities, capital outlay and other other includes uh ops or subs that we have in so looking a little closer to those employee salaries and subs. Where did that where does that go? 50% goes to classroom teachers. 23% goes to other support personnel. So those would be your
010bus drivers, your bus aids, your custodians, your maintenance workers, front office and back office staff. Then administration, district and school level. And then your other certified, those again are your reading coaches, guidance, mental health and SLPs or speech. And then eight classroom aids 7% and 2% subs. Now let's look at the fund balance. This is where we ended the year we just came out of. Once we finalized our fund balance, we went from an 18.4% financial condition ratio to a 7.7. We were able to leverage allowable capital transfers to reduce the deficit. If we had not done those capital transfers, we would have had a $1.4 million deficit. uh we ended somewhere around a $16,000 deficit because we were able to leverage those capital transfers. So moving into this year, you can see that 42%
011of that fund balance is unassigned. 5% is a hold back for the board minimum and then 27% is assigned and 5% is restricted. This would be prior to awarding that compensation agreement. So on the next slide, this is where we're estimating ending this year. This budget does have a $2.9 million deficit in it that includes a million dollars in capital transfers and the impact for compensation agreement is in there as well. So we look we are estimating ending going from a 7.7 to 12.13 financial condition ratio. And you can see the impact is occurring in the unassigned fund balance. And now when you look at the breakdown you can see that actually the board minimum going into next year is the is the line share of that uh fund balance at 38% with 35% assigned
012and only 20% now will be unassigned. So it is very important this year while we have projected a $2.9 million budget and we can support it that we are very proactive in cutting costs where we can uh we have needs arise every day usually in the form of aids needed in the classrooms particular uh ESSE we are currently moving resources and shifting them from a school that maybe doesn't have as great of a need and trying desperately not to create any new expenditures for this budget. [Music] Okay. So, if does anyone have any questions? If not, feel uh free to not read that entire resolution if you want. >> Okay. Um and we would just have a motion to adopt the final budget and the final budget resolution, but you can read it as well.
013>> We're not going to read it. >> Okay. We will entertain a motion. >> So move. >> Second. Have a motion to adopt this final budget. Any questions? All those in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mrs. Lake. Mr. L. >> Good evening. This is our review meeting uh for the uh the new revision in 6.011 uh professional ethics that we brought to the board uh last meeting and then our next meeting we would ask you to approve it. Uh I am not aware of any public comment in regard to the potential change in this uh board policy. Does anybody have any questions or any input? >> Okay, good. We just keep advertising, right? >> Yep. We keep advertising until the next meeting. Okay. >> Thank you, sir. Mrs.
014Madam Superintendent. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, the next attachments are the small school district council consortium that we have always been a part of. And of course, you'll see the invoice. There's been no change in that fiscal amount. It's been $3,250. And on the other attachment, it will show you all the officers that are within the school districts that are assigned superintendent and then um an advocate from the board. And for Levy, of course, it would be myself as a superintendent and Mrs. Baxter is listed as the school board member designated and it comes before you to approve it the way it is or make any changes that you see fit. >> You like it so far? >> Miss Baxter, you okay? >> Sure. >> Well, I'll entertain a motion. >> So moved. >>
015Second. We have a motion to go back into this contract and keep our representatives the way they are. All those in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. Anything else, Madam Superintendent? >> Not at this time, Mr. Chairman. >> Well, thank you. Now, do we have any comments tonight? Any emails or anything? >> No, Mr. Chairman. >> All right. Wow. We'll move right on to our minutes. Has everyone had a chance to read over the minutes from the last board meeting? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes. >> And I'm assuming there's no need for changes. Everything looked good to me. So, I'll entertain a motion to approve those minutes. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say I. >> Any oppose? Like
016sign. >> Motion carries. And now we'll move into our consent agenda on our general item. Uh, Madam Campbell, do you have anything? Mrs. Campbell? >> No, I have no questions. >> Mrs. Baxter, >> my questions have been answered. Thank you. >> Excellent. >> Mr. White House. >> Yes, sir. I'm good. >> Mrs. Clement, good. >> Well, I wish I had a question just to break it up, but all mine have been answered, too. So, at this time, I'll accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. So, move. >> I hear a second. I have a motion and a second. Any further questions? Any comments? All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Like sign? >> Motion carries. We'll now move over to our finance consent agenda. And has everyone had a chance to read
017over that? Yes, sir. >> Mr. Campbell, any questions? >> No questions. >> Mrs. Baxter? >> Nope. I'm good. >> Mr. Wer, >> no questions. >> Madam Clemensy, >> Mr. Ebell has no questions either. So I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda finance. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. All those in favor please say I. >> I. I. >> Any oppose? Like s. >> Not even you, Mr. White. >> I said I. I'm good. I want to approve. >> Motion carries. Time to gavl. >> Okay. Madam superintendent, do you have any comments tonight? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I just want to thank Mrs. Lake um for everything that she has done and the team has done. I know I said that at the last meeting,
018but it was a great accomplishment that they all did. Um Mrs. Lake also sent out an email and I know she sent it to all staff, so look be on the lookout for that if you haven't read it on September 15th. Um where I think people will be smiling. So look out be on the lookout for that. Uh no great hiccups in testing that I've heard. So, um I think that's all going well. Football, volleyball, everything seems to be going well there. And um I want to thank you for coming early to district staff and all of you for the workshop. Um it's our second workshop, but I think it was very valuable and insightful and great conversation. um which I think just brings us closer together as a team where we can learn and
019ask questions and talk about things. So, we'll we'll continue those and whenever you feel the need, please don't hesitate to ask during a board meeting. But I appreciate you coming early because I know it's a lot on your schedules and their schedules too to take them out of the office. Sure. Um, other than that, thank you to some of the district staff for doing some backup work on my behalf um, over the past week. I greatly appreciate it and it means a lot. So, I appreciate everything that you've done and that's all I have. >> Thank you. >> Welcome, >> Mrs. Campbell. >> Well, I do want to thank you for the workshop. I I think they're great. It really helps me learn learn about what I'm voting on and uh what I'm asked to
020make comments about. I want to know. So, I do appreciate that we take the time to do that. And I do also want to thank Mrs. Lake for her. >> She's laughed. >> She watched the video. >> What a terrific job she did. I I just look at that budget and it's just overwhelming to me and the fact that she makes all the parts work uh and explains it so well. I appreciate that. Um things are going well at Cedar Key. I attended grandparents lunch day at uh the school and it was wonderful. There were a lot of parents that came um mostly elementary, surprisingly a lot at the middle school lunch. Very few, maybe one or two at the high school, but I stayed for the high school to be the grandma of all
021those kids. And it was fun um to be with them. Um this week, uh Cedar Key is going to be celebrating AVID. I think they usually have this during January, but it's happening earlier this year. No, it's not. >> No, January is when they do their AVID recruitment week. >> Okay. So, what is this that they're having on Friday? >> Uh, it's National AVID Day. >> National AVID Day. Thank you. Thank you. And I think it's really neat because um Jesse has sent out um these forms um to to say because of AVID I and the students, the faculty, parents are contributing how AVID has affected them and helped. So I'm anxious to see all of those. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Baxter. Well, things are going along smoothly at both schools
022in Chief. They're getting ready for their parent nights with, you know, progress reports and um they're having a a senior seminar uh tonight. I'm not exactly sure what all that involves, but the graduation coach um Kelly Wilson is uh meeting with the seniors to have a common app workshop on the 16th. So, I'm I'm assuming that helps seniors to be more in the know of of what's going on. Also, they're really encouraging. They have their media center set up with themes this year and lots of teachers are taking their classes in and um uh right now it's a patriotic thing but they want to bring joy back to read uh the joy of reading back to the kids and using bean stack at both schools which I think is throughout the district but that's a
023great way for kids to be able and parents to be able to record their time of reading and that's all. Thank you, ma'am. >> And thank you for the workshop. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Ward. Thank you for your workshop. Like I said, as a, you know, board members, we can't discuss without being in the sunshine. So, it's certainly good to kind of be able to bounce stuff off each other and just kind of, you know, get a consensus on stuff and like Miss Bull said to kind of, you know, come together as a as a group to, you know, work through stuff. So, appreciate that. Um, far as Willist, fall sports going good. I said testing's going good. I was given a couple things. Um, my daughter, my Annabelle, she's um in the vice
024president of junior class. So, she wanted to let everybody know that on September 20th from 2 to 6 at Homestead, they're doing a fundraiser. So, anybody's in Willist and from 2 to 6 on the 20th, go by there. Some of the proceeds go to the junior class. And also on October 30th, the school they're doing a trunk or treat at Williston U and they're encouraging businesses and different stuff to involve. It's kind of a fundraiser for the class, you know, that junior class I got to raise for the prom and all the things like that. So I do what I was supposed to. Also, just to brag on her a little bit, she was selected as a state delegate for FFA >> for the state of Florida. Um, and also she found out yesterday that
025she's there's a National Horizon magazine FFA. So she's actually gonna do some articles in that too. >> Yeah. So part of national anyway. >> Way to go. >> Yeah. So congratulations. >> Turn back on. But anyway, they got a couple good things and like I said as of you know 911 today certainly you know it's a tragedy 24 years ago and you know all the tragedies that we see almost every day and just everybody just tell everybody love them. Don't forget you know don't ever take a day for granted. For sure. >> That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. Meny. Um, I'll echo what everyone said. I love the workshops. I love them. So, um, I thought today was very beneficial. Yankee Town's in good shape. They have volleyball and they started
026wrestling, which is a huge hit. They had a lot more show up than what they anticipated. So, now they're going to do a fundraiser for another mat. So, that's a good thing. Um, I can't even read my whole handwriting. Um, we addressed the ticket price, one of many subjects that we talked about in the workshop. And I appreciate you bringing that up in the admin because that's been a hot my phone's been burning up about that lately. So, um, appreciate that. And yeah, happy Patriots Day. Just it's a it's a sad day today on many levels and heavy hearts everywhere. Um, so yeah, it's always important to remember and um, stay positive. That's all I have. Thank you, ma'am. I I'm going to be quiet. Things are going smooth in Bronson, Florida. We uh you
027know, it's been an exciting day. I ain't going to thank you for the workshop cuz everybody else thanked you. So, I'm not and uh thank >> the big there's a lot of hurting folks, >> not only in in the world, but in our local area. We we've been through some stuff. So, uh, let's try to remember each other and be good to each other. That's right. >> And I know I aggravate y'all sometimes, but, uh, can't be serious all the time cuz this world's hard. And, uh, appreciate y'all being tolerant of me. >> So, just be good to each other. That's right. Find somebody and give them a hug today. Nothing else, meet a journ. All right.