Page 99 - Superintendent Report 2021-22

Legislative Affairs

The District’s FY22 legislative platform discussed and approved by the School Board focused
primarily on vital issues falling into three general categories: Post-Pandemic, State Budget/Funding,
and Local Authority.

In addition to advocating for our approved legislative priorities, accompanied by some school board
members and chief of staff during PBC Days on January 11-13, Superintendent Burke met with Chair
Fine, Senator Broxson, and Senator Diaz, among others. The superintendent was also afforded the
unique opportunity to deliver public testimony to the Florida Senate on multiple occasions between
January and March. He was also invited to participate in challenging panel discussions too. His
testimony and panel participation addressed the following critical issues:

1) The Financial Impact of COVID-19 on School Districts;
2) The Use of Allocated Federal Funds for Specified Purposes Only;
3) The Need to Substantially Augment the Funds for Reading Categoricals;
4) Panel Discussion with Chair Fine on Missing Students Post Pandemic

Each time the superintendent was well-prepared to testify. He offered valuable, first-hand knowledge
of intricate financial details, which ultimately helped inform and instruct Florida’s 2022 Education
Budget and legislation.

Post-Pandemic Priorities - Due to the unstable academic beginning of FY22 with a locally high
COVID-19 rate and subsequent quarantines, we asked for and received a $20M statewide increase
in mental health funding. We also sought timely receipt of emergency federal COVID-19 funds to
address unfinished learning.

State Budget/Funding Priorities - In alignment with the superintendent and District staff’s fiscal
advocacy efforts, several items were “won,” such as a healthy $1.7 billion increase to the FEFP,
equaling a $214.50 per student BSA increase. Roughly $128M was not already spent on additional
costs; nevertheless, the BSA was increased.

The legislature increased the beginning teacher salary to over $48,000, which included a new
calculation for some veteran teachers. The legislature added $56M to the transportation category
and another $20M for mental health services. Initially, the legislature put $200M into a “Putting
Parents First” program which disallowed 12 school districts from competing for student/school
recognition funds because of previous mask mandates during the FY21 school year. However,
months after session ended, the governor lifted that restriction and all Florida school districts have
access to those funds for another “win.”

Local Authority - The 2022 legislative session contained many bills diverting or diminishing the local
authority of school boards. District staff and the superintendent joined forces to attempt to quash
bills such as reducing school board member salaries. They also worked tirelessly to mitigate other
bills that challenged the constitutional authority of school boards, such as the new Charter School
Office bill. They successfully added clauses to ensure local school districts could submit comments
on applications to the state.

99

8/23/22 2:55 PM
Superintendent Report 2021-22.indd 99 8/23/22 2:55 PM
Superintendent Report 2021-22.indd 99