Russell Bishop

The Florida Aquarium's strategic direction focuses on addressing the urgent pressures on oceans and waterways, such as rising temperatures, marine debris, and plastics. The organization commits to bringing education, awareness, and actionable solutions to these challenges, aiming to safeguard marine wildlife and their habitats. Key strategic pillars involve expanding conservation programs, enhancing educational initiatives for youth, and growing its community footprint to increase engagement. The overarching vision is to foster a better future for marine life and society by actively living its conservation purpose over the long term.

The board meeting agenda covers a wide range of administrative, personnel, and operational items. Key discussion topics include staff resignations and new hires, approval of various service agreements, and authorization of purchase orders for technology, security equipment, and facility repairs. The agenda also addresses student activities such as summer school and camp programs, extracurricular program staffing, and the management of various district funds. Financial discussions involve tax bill preparation, meal allowance increases for travel, and budgetary matters related to the Jeff-Tech school and general district operations.

The board meeting agenda includes various administrative and operational items such as athletic budget transfers, the approval of a Unified Sports coach, and the advertising of bids for 2026-2027 athletic, cafeteria, and security services. Additionally, the board will review facility management requests, including the disposal of equipment, pervious walk bids, and building use fees. Superintendent reports cover policy revisions, security grant acceptance, program agreements, and donations to student clubs. Financial agenda items involve software agreements, band uniform purchases, the proposed 2026-2027 General Fund budget, and the selection of an insurance broker. Personnel actions include resignations, leave requests, and the awarding of a contract for support substitute services.

The agenda covers committee and voting meetings involving various administrative, financial, and academic matters. Key topics include athletic budget transfers and coaching appointments, disposal of cafeteria equipment, advertising for bread and milk bids, and proposing the 2026-2027 cafeteria budget. The Board discussed policy revisions, school safety grant acceptance, and RFP advertisements for special education and support services. Additional items included personnel actions such as substitute list updates and staff leaves, acceptance of donations for high school clubs, setting the graduation date, and reviewing financial reports, software agreements, and construction-related expenses.

The agenda for the voting meeting included several key actions requiring approval. In Athletics, approval was sought for a resignation of a track coach and the hiring of coaches for tennis and softball. Transportation required approval for a new driver and monitor. Buildings & Maintenance sought permission to advertise and distribute RFPs for custodial and cleaning services. The Cafeteria agenda included a purchase order for white milk from Turner Dairy. Federal Programs & Curriculum required approval for an EdInsight data software purchase and a StuderEducation agreement. The Superintendent requested approval for conferences, field trips, a revised 2025-2026 school calendar, the Comprehensive Plan, and a motion regarding a student expulsion adjudication report. Personnel matters included action on sub lists, several cafeteria worker resignations, a leave without pay request, hiring a full-time head custodian, and initiating new RFP processes for professional sub services and cafeteria supplemental staffing. Financial items included approval of financial summaries, occupation tax exoneration requests, budget transfers, various purchase orders, and a cyber insurance renewal recommendation. Finally, payment of bills for the General Fund, Cafeteria Fund, and Construction Projects was requested.