Superintendent and School Board Share Legislative Priorities with Lawmakers
Posted on 1/12/2023
Palm Beach County School District Board Members and Superintendent Mike Burke convened for the annual Joint Workshop with the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, to update local lawmakers regarding the District’s legislative priorities.
The meeting was broadcast live from the Els Center for Excellence in Jupiter. Watch the recorded presentation here.
Superintendent Burke provided a comprehensive presentation which highlighted the District’s accomplishments, such as the 74% approval the District received from voters in November 2022 to renew the tax referendum which benefits school security, mental health services, enhances teacher pay, and supports arts and career education programs.
The District’s 2023 Legislative Platform includes six key areas:
• School Safety / Security: Continue funding for school safety infrastructure enhancements to schools.
• Students: Increase the investment in mental health services by allocating funding for training for personnel providing mental health services in schools.
• Teachers: Seek financial assistance to fund a District program dedicated to growing and professionally developing our own teachers in collaboration with a State University or College.
• Finance: Provide an increase in Base Student Allocation (BSA) commensurate with unprecedented inflation and cost of living increases to meet the rising costs of operations.
• Accountability and Assessments: Ensure student data privacy continues to be protected for all state-mandated tests.
• Pre-Kindergarten and After Care: Fund full-day, high-quality Voluntary Pre-K program, and seek additional resource assistance for extended learning opportunities for after-school care programs.
The Superintendent asked members of the Delegation for their support in maintaining funding for mental health as well as requesting their assistance with teacher recruitment and expanding Pre-K, as well as other areas of importance referenced throughout the workshop.
“The hope is that the local delegation will support our priorities, that we’ll enhance communication, and we’ll collaborate throughout the Legislative Session,” Superintendent Burke said.
All seven members of the School Board were in attendance, underscoring the need for support in Tallahassee for students and staff.
“I hope our legislators understand that they have a diamond here in Palm Beach County,” said Frank Barbieri, the School Board Chairman and who represents District 5. “It’s critical that we maintain our excellence. That depends on the laws they pass and the funding they provide.”
