SOUTHWEST TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 The Leon County School Board’s annual retreat is a chance for the district to outline priorities for the year. Now, stakeholders are weighing in on if these priorities align with the community’s ahead of Monday’s meeting. <\/p>\n
According to the agenda, the board is expected to discuss budget, Pre-K expansion, enrollment data, school infrastructure and Career and Technical Education data. The retreat begins at 9:00 a.m. Monday in the Acquilina Howell Building. Watch the video below to hear thoughts both the district and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association expressed before the meeting. <\/p>\n
LCS Board to look at enrollment trends, budget at annual retreat, stakeholders weigh in on community alignment<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n
From budget to Pre-K enrollment, those are just a few of the topics Leon County Schools<\/a> plans to discuss at its annual retreat.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Brieanna Smith in the Southwest Tallahassee neighborhood.<\/p>\n I\u2019m taking a look at the agenda<\/a> \u2014 what\u2019s taking priority for the district this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Leon County School Board retreat scheduled for Monday will outline priorities for this year\u00a0<\/p>\n Enrollment is on the agenda as the district had less students enrolled this year.<\/p>\n Less students could mean less money from the state.<\/p>\n Pushes for consolidation<\/a> of under-capacity schools have been in discussion at previous school board meetings.<\/p>\n The district is considering strengthening its Pre-K enrollment.<\/p>\n The Board will look at expanding Head Start programs<\/a> \u2013 adding four additional classrooms\u2014this fall and reorganizing how parents register for Pre-K and how students are selected.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of the biggest topics is budget.<\/p>\n Strategies the district used to balance a projected $12.5 million shortfall<\/a> at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year can\u2019t be sustained next year if less funding is received.\u00a0<\/p>\n Possible budget cutbacks for the 2026-2027 year like administrative office spending and travel spending are on the agenda.<\/p>\n We talked to school board member and Vice Chair Darryl Jones who believes the retreat is an opportunity to optimize students\u2019 learning.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exciting part about every annual Leon County School Board retreat, it gives us an opportunity to look at the resources that we have in the district,\u201d Jones said. \u00a0<\/p>\n Scott Mazur, the President of the Leon Classroom Teachers Association<\/a>, says current agenda items are a good start, but believes everything should be on the table\u00a0<\/p>\n He\u2019s particularly interested in teacher salary, a point of contention for both the board and the teachers’ association last fall<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t think that the district’s priorities have lined up with our priorities necessarily because where we are right now in salary and turnover and culture and climate has not met the mark to this point,\u201d Mazur said. \u201cWhat we’re asking for is not half measures or slogans. We’re asking for boots on the ground, actual tangible results that show that the words are being matched.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones says he believes there will be an opportunity to discuss other topics, like salary.<\/p>\n But he says he can only speak for his district for those who feel the district\u2019s priorities don\u2019t align with those of the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I was first elected, our school district, my district were F\u2019s, D’s, and C\u2019s schools. We are now having more A’s and B schools. Why? Because we’ve been intentional about our investments, so I believe that I have been most responsive to my community’s interests in terms of how our school district performs. I can only speak for myself,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n Other issues include looking at school infrastructure and career and technical education program data.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Southwest Tallahassee, Brieanna Smith, ABC 27.\u00a0<\/p>\n Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. <\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram <\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n