Manatee County School Board approves state funding proposals

The Manatee County School Board chose eight platforms for the state to consider for its 2014 legislative session.

The state had asked all school districts for suggestions dealing with education and funding issues for legislators to consider in March. 

Some of the biggest platforms the district approved at its school board meeting Monday night include:

• Restore school board authority to levy an additional .25 mills for critical operating or capital outlay needs, or both;

• Fully fund the Florida Education Finance Program;

• Fully fund dual-enrollment programs (the cost of dual enrollment is now born by school districts, not colleges);

• Give final decision-making authority over charter in the district to the school board;

• Enforce that pre-kindergarten funding and student-teacher rations are consistent with federal guidelines and recommendations of the Florida Children’s Movement.

The school board will be in Stuart Tuesday and Wednesday for master board training sessions. 

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].