Board members used the board-business portion of the meeting to give several district updates.
One board member said the district applied to be a provider for Step Up for Students education savings accounts (ESAs), which would allow the district to offer tutoring and other academic services that families could access through the ESA program. The board member described the move as an opportunity to recoup some costs for services the district already provides and to expand options for homeschool families.
Another board member said the district is exploring teacher housing options. He told the board discussions are underway with Port LaBelle Utilities and potential builders about district-owned property and the complexities of funding and implementation; he said the board would be kept informed and that a presentation may be scheduled in the future.
A board member said he plans to petition the city commission in Cluston to raise the residency buffer for certain registered sex offenders from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet from schools, daycares, parks and other locations where children gather. The member said his research identified roughly five residences within the city limits that would be affected and that commissioners and city leadership gave no pushback in preliminary conversations. He said the city attorney will determine whether any ordinance would apply retroactively or only prospectively.
Board members framed these updates as informational; no formal board action was taken at the meeting on these matters.