[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6186663,"mediaKeyId","5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf","parentId",5074429,"title","New Osceola County sheriff pledges school safety in first appearance before school board","audioSeconds",211,"startMs",558000,"endMs",769000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf&start=558&end=769","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf/thumbnail_558000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6186663/Florida/New-Osceola-County-sheriff-pledges-school-safety-in-first-appearance-before-school-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186663-d15fe3033324ddbc3e67e19482552552/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190289&Signature=EdWjCuQ2HRpkJv~Y6hs7GXDrNW1uIRttWhIMj5A-pm7uMO8g3kegnJlYFIulN-xrDbtAq3PD0RPxWIJtZcQffXA6nMiHx~DipriRgVncW9-oENAmyV6DMjzLJ4G-N0H3vOAtVWvsudLBVZ6FSIGMdO3sqxteAJDQaL1ulPim~TWwauXSKrYlQPfLzCao2tixvDT43osGtwC~JAxnytvNE0wAvtMhT9VhbDyIYDd7WzJj-UW3XfOgltNZI9G2KopkIUSdz2emepYokT5Y5m5LXTVo7dOZLWQgsSBP02EgOM03K8OmOc~QXvZQTZI6xNH414TBr19vQ8LT6686RcgjSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Osceola County School District","date","2025-06-24T23:19:29Z","article","Osceola County's newly introduced sheriff, Chris Blackman, appeared before the school board and pledged to prioritize the safety of students and staff while working with district leaders.

The superintendent introduced Sheriff Blackman, noting the district's long-standing partnership with law enforcement and school resource officers. \"School resource officers do more than just provide life safety. They provide support ... mentorship,\" the superintendent said, introducing the sheriff.

Sheriff Chris Blackman spoke directly to the board and attendees. \"My commitment to the board is your children and your staff,\" he said, adding that he is \"fully devoted to serving our community with integrity, impartiality, and a steadfast adherence to the principles of justice.\" He said Governor DeSantis had placed trust in him and that he stands committed to transparency and collaboration.

Blackman described his availability to the board and staff, said he had shared his contact information with district personnel and said the sheriff's office would continue partnering with the district's criminal justice academy to recruit and prepare qualified officers.

The superintendent and several board members welcomed the sheriff and expressed support for continuing the partnership. No formal actions or policy changes were taken during the introduction; the remarks were presented as part of board comments and community recognition at the start of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 24th, 2025 5:30 pm Board Meeting | Osceola School District","oneSentenceSummary","Sheriff Chris Blackman met the Osceola County School Board and emphasized collaboration with the district to protect students and staff, while the superintendent praised the law-enforcement partnership.","taxTitle","Osceola, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14353,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6186668,"Board approves slate of administrative appointments, including assistant principals and school leaders",1712,1504000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf&start=1504&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf/thumbnail_1504000.jpg","/articles/6186668/Florida/Board-approves-slate-of-administrative-appointments-including-assistant-principals-and-school-leaders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186668-9f09627fb181f1dea7d991e915f81626/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190289&Signature=JXR91Pc~XlpjPDuy7T43OWkKe67wTpgRru7I0XU1XntG004KIxY-sZH0ZA2vsRR~-aiu0f1dfCayECCwsE3eMZ1aBku1LE0Y7h7LZk1pxB~IJ82aZEyapSnR1QTHbREw-GlPFdyO9mk1Vj17Xv1KrcThP~aHBNpRyQEPXFhkXrXidVvKhgsYN-xw99aQXAxpiWhvIobdqFPHr1rr48GioWkwV0Gz66ha5J8w0vIqlRi5tEpNh216kHQ9vB2vL~ZemISS2UtuVbGxWvGi9PYY0FZyjfZ2MPYFdd0rWlJFQsQDJJzqEFOTXjgNyIvuTsYhvfn8atOHjZbz~Y3q-0JZPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Osceola County School Board approved a slate of administrative appointments, confirming district- and school-level leaders including an assistant superintendent for elementary schools and multiple principals and assistant principals.

Why it matters: the appointments place leadership teams in position ahead of the new school year and name administrators who will direct curriculum, school-opening efforts and student services.

Board members moved and approved the appointments by voice vote. The board approved Monique Machado as assistant superintendent for elementary schools and Dr. Tammy Geary as director of curriculum and instruction; the motion to approve those district-level appointments was made by Ms. Garcia and seconded by Ms. Castillo, and the board voted \"Aye.\"

The board also approved a sequence of school-level principals and assistant principals. Among the confirmed appointments were:
- Dr. Nigel Pule (planning principal for a new high school), who spoke briefly about his commitment to community leadership.
- Dr. Ashley Langley, principal of Highlands Elementary.
- Seth Dobbs, principal of Mill Creek Elementary.
- Amanda DeWright, principal of Central Avenue Elementary.
- Marlenis Vargas Ortiz, assistant principal of Neptune Elementary.
- Renell Noreen, assistant principal of Liberty High School.
- Ben Johnston, assistant principal for Discovery Intermediate.
- Yolanda Polanco, assistant principal of Cross Prairie K–8.
- Brianna Wilkerson, assistant principal of Osceola High School.
- Erica Hare, assistant principal of Knights Point K–8.

Several appointees offered brief remarks of thanks and noted mentors and family members in attendance. All of the appointments were processed during the consent/appointments portion of the meeting and were approved by motions and voice votes recorded as \"Aye\"; where a motion and second were recorded in the transcript, the motion maker or seconder was noted on the record.

No board debate over the individual appointment qualifications was recorded in the minutes beyond brief introductions and applicant remarks; the board congratulated the new administrators and acknowledged the district's staffing work.

The appointments were procedural approvals; the board did not attach conditions to the appointments during the meeting.","The Osceola County School Board approved a series of administrative appointments that named principals and assistant principals at several district schools and confirmed two district-level leadership hires.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6186675,"Board reviews broad package of rule changes on procurement, student conduct and progression",643,3253000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf&start=3253&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf/thumbnail_3253000.jpg","/articles/6186675/Florida/Board-reviews-broad-package-of-rule-changes-on-procurement-student-conduct-and-progression","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186675-093c7c6ac6b76cbad2a04c48aa9519c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190289&Signature=h6VioCPAW4MLiTGvdyRJI8wADp73hi1yDzccXTNKbvFzhiQ-RsKBRHX9-jSEK8HhAilDWWoSR3piL7-p81Zg-ZxUERHdkdESV1sy6-oN4XKhz59Z5v7jbfkNkdT-t4-SjoLjwdJWgtL4hkrlYzTDD69cOm2EDnj3Dr7YbSVtGXFiBf~XpX-oU3wFgpGfKZKicWby7~JC2lGnnHqZ2QBAnwNL8XpCF2kmTM~km-7dmn67hC~uHN7cXKKNRhK9k3v1h68Jsf2sMYwL1r064~dmS7FkHbWjBLYbqhVekZ2MrS5ujg2FWt6EeNmvi-jF8c46xSVu~mwle7v2cvigrsROog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a comprehensive set of proposed revisions to school board rules, including procurement, background screening, electronic communications, leave policies and multiple sections of the student code of conduct and student progression plan.

Why it matters: the changes would align district policy with recent state law and federal rules, adjust procurement thresholds and protest procedures, update student discipline and suspension rules, and revise graduation and credit requirements.

A district staff member summarized the package in detail during a workshop presentation. \"The first set of eight changes are existing school board rules that would be revised largely to update the policies related to changes in statutes,\" the presenter said, and listed specific rule references (including implementation of State Board Rule 6A-1.018).

Key proposals cited in the presentation included:
- Background screening: revising Rule 3.68 to implement new requirements identified as \"section 435.12, Florida Statutes\" for contractor screening.
- Electronic communications: renaming Rule 6.32 and authorizing approved digital platforms, specifically ParentSquare (made active June 23), and adding language on online platforms.
- Leaves and sick-donation policy: tightening requirements for use of accrued sick and vacation leave during some leaves, and expanding the compassionate sick leave program to permit donation of vacation time in Rule 6.913.
- Procurement and contracts: a strike-all rewrite of Rule 7.7 to reorganize procurement into five sections, change the district department name to Procurement Services, rename the no-contact rule the \"cone of silence,\" increase protest bond requirements, and raise the quote threshold to $10,000 to align with the federal micropurchase threshold.
- School food service funds: updating Rule 8.44 to implement federal requirements for micropurchases and program assurances for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program.
- Student code of conduct: nineteen changes to align discipline responses with state law, clarify when in-school or out-of-school suspension is permitted, update cell-phone policies, and add AWARE program participation as an alternative for some expulsion-level offenses.
- Student progression plan: twenty-one changes to residency verification, transfer-student procedures, attendance makeup-work timelines, middle-school acceleration, AP Capstone options and graduation/credit language to match recent state law.

The presenter said the package includes page-by-page edits to the code of student conduct and student progression plan and that the revisions \"will be brought back to you on July for a vote.\" No vote was taken at the workshop; the staff member said the board would receive the changes for formal action at a future meeting.

Board members and the superintendent did not take a vote during the workshop; staff said the public hearing and vote would be scheduled for the board's July meeting. The presentation cited multiple state-law references and federal procurement standards and asked the board for questions prior to the July vote.","A district staff member presented extensive proposed revisions to school board rules, procurement procedures, student code of conduct and the student progression plan; the changes will return for a July vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6186679,"Teachers, staff urge board to address pay, insurance and health services",1299,4170000,5469000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf&start=4170&end=5469","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074429-9b983be77c79ff0aa19ad172e683deaf/thumbnail_4170000.jpg","/articles/6186679/Florida/Teachers-staff-urge-board-to-address-pay-insurance-and-health-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186679-ca95c3c562d7016c17d52c848c022153/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190289&Signature=MYiaw9F6d7LZWU32rt1t9R1lI6gZlIq46ayf6KzOsoSvqf0Z-faGChOaqMkeKFzbEsnuFwBA-SwbZ5zPWvBfAonv~usmGWtuxJHlwSblbM-mhS3WA246bzjn3-b2K~4AZX5TzfYBVjlBUi07xaCrV1TwnI5o~5iUAOUdWr~ES2Yt1xygeLRDTem9cY9BnMM02xUsVSAHkHnb72oMVOBEwaYubfvHGYfrYszu9C99E~bEXmN5OtHCF~lLjSZlcUIZdlvfdJxxwRiGzr73jxK6ja~g~bwjq2xxz5ZTmppw-Ew8qgBzhz~wRCewM9KIetcVTXZcWic5egozd1OfRhuEng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Osceola County School Board, teachers, union leaders and classified staff urged the board to pursue local funding and policy changes to retain educators and protect employee health.

The concerns centered on pay, proposed insurance changes and access to district-run health services. \"Let's be the district that doesn't just say we value educators, but show it,\" parent and community member Jacqueline Cruz told the board, urging consideration of a dedicated millage increase to raise teacher salaries.

Why it matters: speakers said low pay and rising employee costs are creating retention risks ahead of the next school year and that a single district health clinic and recent facility issues are worsening staff health and time-off burdens.

Union leaders and district employees provided figures and specific requests. Janet Moody, president of the Osceola County Education Association, said staff voted overwhelmingly in May to retain union representation and urged the board and the union to begin planning a tax referendum by 2026 to boost local education revenue. \"We went through two votes in the month of May, and 98% of those who voted ... voted to keep their union,\" Moody said.

Emily Grintz, instructional vice president for OCEA, said Florida ranks 50th nationally for average teacher pay and cited local cost pressures: \"The average national teacher pay is $72,000. Florida sits at $54,000. But the cost of living on average in Florida is $62,000,\" she said, adding that many Osceola teachers take home about $3,000 a month while rent in the county runs about $2,000.

Speakers linked benefit changes proposed by the district to potential retention problems and to practical access issues for staff. Amanda Jacobs, a district employee, said the district's clinic requires travel of more than an hour from her home and that out-of-pocket costs for imaging and braces forced her to pay privately. \"How is that fair?\" she asked the board.

Health and facility concerns were raised by staff who say workplace conditions may be linked to illnesses. Emily Grintz read a statement on behalf of teacher Lori Austin: \"There are three teachers at my school that we know of who have been diagnosed previously with a mold infection. ... These contribute to the 104 cancer anomalies,\" the statement said. Grintz urged the district to inspect schools and investigate mold and environmental causes.

Classified staff (ESPs) also urged pay increases. Lashana Ward, speaking for education support professionals, said average starting pay for ESP K–8 positions is about $33,426 and that paraprofessional starts average about $44,682, and asked that the board not overlook those employees.

Public commenters and union leaders repeatedly recommended that the district and union jointly explore a local millage referendum to generate revenue for salary increases and to offset rising employee costs. Moody said some Florida districts that maintain competitive pay have passed local tax referenda to fund salaries; she asked the board to start that work.

Board response: Superintendent Dr. Shanoff acknowledged the remarks and thanked attendees. He said district leaders share frustration over pay and that \"the words that were conveyed tonight are not lost on me.\" He did not announce new actions or a timetable for the financial proposals raised during public comment.

Next steps: speakers asked the board to study a local tax referendum and to report back on insurance proposals, health-clinic capacity and facility inspections. The board did not vote on any of the requests during the meeting.","At a school board meeting, teachers, union leaders and support staff pressed the Osceola County School Board to act on low pay, rising insurance costs, limited district health-center access and possible building-related health risks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Osceola County sheriff pledges school safety in first appearance before school board

Board approves slate of administrative appointments, including assistant principals and school leaders

Board reviews broad package of rule changes on procurement, student conduct and progression

Teachers, staff urge board to address pay, insurance and health services