Manatee County School District

The School District of Manatee County's 'READY 2026' strategic plan outlines a roadmap for future growth and opportunities, aiming to position the district among the top in Florida by 2026. The plan is structured around three core pillars: 'READY TO LEARN' focuses on kindergarten readiness and grade-level proficiency through foundational literacy skills; 'READY FOR LIFE' emphasizes acceleration, innovative learning, and college/career readiness, integrating real-world skills, arts, and technology; and 'READY TO GROW' addresses staff hiring and retention, financial stability, and robust safety and security measures. The overarching goal is to develop lifelong learners, globally competitive individuals, and responsible citizens.

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence for a community member who had recently passed away. The district vision for the Manatee County School District was read, outlining a goal to be an exemplary student-focused system developing lifelong, globally competitive learners. The meeting proceedings included recognition of a color guard from Manatee High School and the presentation of the pledge of allegiance led by US Army Staff Sergeant Marine Coslerich. Significant discussion involved the approval of the agenda, specifically addressing the placement of the Black History Month proclamation, which is now treated as a board action item per a previous policy change. The student celebrations segment featured recognition for Rogers Garden Bulock Elementary School, including the presentation of a video detailing the legacy of Garfield D. Rogers, a key figure in the community. Family members of Mr. Rogers were present for the recognition, and the need to clarify agenda placement for proclamation votes was noted for future workshops.

The meeting commenced with the reading of the district vision by the Chair. Following an invocation and the presentation of flags to veterans, the agenda for January 20, 2026, was approved with amendments posted on January 16, 2026. The minutes from the December 10, 2025, school board meeting and public hearing were approved. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to student celebrations, recognizing the award-winning Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) teams from Parish Community High School, Braden River High School, and Bayshore High School for their achievements, including state and area championship placements in Raider and Rifle teams, and advancement to nationals.

The workshop focused primarily on student attendance and truancy procedures in response to new legislation. Key discussions included the implementation of an attendance project involving training for administrators, improved reporting, and revised truancy procedures emphasizing root cause analysis and family support through the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process before escalating to truancy court. The team detailed communication plans differentiated by student level and presented data showing an increase in chronic absenteeism since 2018-2019, although current intervention efforts aim to reduce this. Speakers also addressed the financial impact of these legislative mandates, noting increased resource allocation for staff, including social workers and specialized roles to manage the process. The success rate in truancy court was estimated at approximately 50/50, and the importance of coordinating support from community partners was emphasized.

The meeting commenced with the reading of the district vision for the Manatee County School District, emphasizing being an exemplary, student-focused system developing lifelong learners. Following the invocation, the board recognized Army veteran Master Sergeant Johnny Browning for leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was amended to include items listed on Friday, February 10th, 2026. Key discussion focused on Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in February, highlighting the importance of CTE in providing hands-on, real-world learning, improving engagement, and assisting students in earning industry certifications. The presentation detailed how these certifications enhance employment opportunities, earning potential, and commitment to specific industries, noting that the list of approved certifications is subject to annual review by the state. Discussions also covered how earned certifications contribute to acceleration points for school grading and the importance of aligning local CTE offerings with community employment needs. Finally, the department reviewed post-secondary planning for seniors, including options like the military, workforce entry, and various educational institutions, noting the existence of articulation agreements for credit transfer savings.