Okaloosa County School Board — Regular Meeting, July 28, 2025 — reading text

Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to adopt revised School Board Policy 11-18, Public Conduct on Campus. Public Content A public hearing will be held to receive public input on the proposed new School Board Policy 11-18, Public Conduct on School Property. The proposed amendments under the new policy deal with the protection of district students and staff from unauthorized recordings of conversations in violation of §934.03, Florida Statutes. The purpose and effect of the proposed amendments to the policy is to implement the prohibition of unauthorized recording of conversations of district students or staff in violation of §934.03, Florida Statutes and authorizing certain actions to protect against any such unauthorized recordings. A copy of the proposed policy is attached. For additional information, please contact Lee Hale, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, at 850-833-5108. File Attachments 11-18 Public Conduct on Campus.pdf (108 KB) Motion & Voting Motion to adopt revised School Board Policy 11-18, Public Conduct on Campus. Motion by Parker Destin, second by Tim Bryant. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Parker Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Brett Hinely 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.6 Required Local Effort Millage Rate, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Jul 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Jul 28, 2025 Absolute Date : Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Required Local Effort Millage Rate of 3.1290 Mills. Public Content Florida State Law requires school districts to levy the Required Local Effort portion of the millage rate in order to receive State education funding. The Required Local Effort millage is set by the State, and Okaloosa School District’s must levy this amount in order to receive $144.7 million in State education funding for fiscal year 2025-2026. In fiscal year 2024-2025, the District's Required Local Effort was 3.129 plus Prior Period Millage Adjustment of 0.0020 for a Total Required Local Effort of 3.1310. In fiscal year 2025-2026, the District's Required Local Effort is 3.129, a reduction of 0.0020. Over the past 31 years, the Required Local Effort has been on a downward projectory, dropping from 6.530 in fiscal year 1995-1996 to 3.129 in fiscal year 2025-2026 with small increases periodically mixed in. Please see the attached document which contains a comparison of millage and gross taxable value of property, an analysis of property taxes generated and the impact on homeowners, and a history of all millage rates approved since fiscal year 1995-1996. Even though the millage rate is decreasing, property taxes are expected to increase due to the increase in property value; therefore, the School District must advertise that it is proposing an increase to property taxes. File Attachments P&T Millage Info FY 2026 2025-07-21.pdf (65 KB) Motion & Voting Motion to approve the Required Local Effort Millage Rate of 3.1290 Mills. Motion by Tim Bryant, second by Brett Hinely. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Parker Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Brett Hinely 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.7 Basic Discretionary Operating Millage Rate of 0.7480 Mills, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Jul 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Jul 28, 2025 Absolute Date : Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Discretionary Operating Millage Rate of 0.7480 Mills. Public Content The Florida Legislature set the maximum discretionary operating millage at 0.748 mills. All school districts levy this millage, and the State includes this millage when calculating the amount of funds a District receives. These funds support general operations. Motion & Voting Motion to approve the Discretionary Operating Millage Rate of 0.7480 Mills. Motion by Brett Hinely, second by Parker Destin. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Parker Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Brett Hinely 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.8 Capital Outlay Millage Rate of 1.5000 Mills, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Jul 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Jul 28, 2025 Absolute Date : Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Capital Outlay Millage Rate of 1.5000 Mills. Public Content School Boards may levy up to 1.5000 mills for capital outlay and maintenance. The State only provides about $1.0 million in capital funding to the District. Districts are required to raise all other capital funds through property tax and may supplement with voter approved sales tax. Motion & Voting Motion to approve the Capital Outlay Millage Rate of 1.5000 Mills. Motion by Tim Bryant, second by Parker Destin. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Parker Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Brett Hinely 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.9 Total Millage Levy, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Jul 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Jul 28, 2025 Absolute Date : Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the tentative Total Millage Levy of 5.3770 Mills. Public Content Over the past 31 years, the Required Local Effort has been on a downward projectory, dropping from 6.530 in fiscal year 1995-1996 to 3.129 in fiscal year 2025-2026 with small increases periodically mixed in. Please see the attached document which contains a comparison of millage and gross taxable value of property, an analysis of property taxes generated and the impact on homeowners, and a history of all millage rates approved since fiscal year 1995-1996. Even though the millage rate is decreasing, property taxes are expected to increase due to the increase in property value; therefore, the School District must advertise that it is proposing an increase to property taxes. The Total Millage Levy is made up of the following: Required Local Effort - Florida State Law requires school districts to levy the Required Local Effort portion of the millage rate in order to receive State education funding. The Required Local Effort millage is 3.129 and is set by the State. Okaloosa School District must levy this amount in order to receive $144.7 million in State education funding for fiscal year 2025-2026. Discretionary Operating Millage - The Florida Legislature set the maximum discretionary operating millage at 0.748 mills. All school districts levy this millage, and the State includes this millage when calculating the amount of funds a District receives. These funds support general operations. Capital Outlay Millage - School Boards may levy up to 1.500 mills for capital outlay and maintenance. The State only provides about $1.0 million in capital funding to the District. Districts are required to raise all other capital funds through property tax and may supplement with voter approved sales tax. File Attachments P&T Millage Info FY 2026 2025-07-21.pdf (65 KB) Motion & Voting Motion to approve the tentative Total Millage Levy of 5.3770 Mills. Motion by Tim Bryant, second by Brett Hinely. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Parker Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Brett Hinely 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.10 Resolution 25-05 Adopting the Tentative Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Jul 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Jul 28, 2025 Absolute Date : Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to adopt Resolution 25-05 Adopting the Tentative Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Public Content File Attachments Resolution 25-05 - Millage Rates.pdf (106 KB) Motion & Voting Motion to adopt Resolution 25-05 Adopting the Tentative Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Motion by Brett Hinely, second by Parker Destin. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Parker Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Brett Hinely 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.11 Okaloosa County School District Preliminary and Tentative Budget, General Fund, for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Jul 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Jul 28, 2025 Absolute Date : Jul 28, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Okaloosa County School District Preliminary and Tentative Budget, General Fund, in the amount of $412,200,579.77, for