Here are three things to look for from the Palm Beach County School Board today:
To opt-out or not?
At 2 p.m. the board holds a workshop to discuss opting out of state mandated tests. It’s a conversation that got started when Lee County board members voted to do so last month – but later rescinded their vote. Read more background on that here. Expect staff to first go over the proposed testing schedule for the year and state requirements.
Headed for the digital age with limited cash
Also at that workshop, the staff will go over the district’s plan to eventually have a computer for every student in classrooms. The plan is required by the state in part to meet its ambitions to move all of its required testing online. Moving toward that goal will cost the district $1.7 million this year. But the district still doesn’t know where it will get all of the money to pay for the goals including $15.8 million.
District Chief Financial Officer Mike Burke says: “On top of the $15.8 million unfunded, it will take an estimated $70 million to reach our ultimate goal of a 1:1 computer/student ratio. This goal is currently unfunded as well.”
$2.26 billion: The final budget adoption
At 5 p.m. the board convenes to adopt a proposed $2.26 billion budget that does not include more than $66 million in projects that must be delayed or eliminated because of a massive gap in the capital budget. The board reviewed its options in late July at a board workshop. What else isn’t in there? Monday for raises for anyone. The teachers have yet to start bargaining for their contract and any raise would have to come from juggling within the approved budget.
