Page 152 - Superintendent Annual Report 24-25

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

The District’s FY25 legislative platform was drafted and prepared by the School Board, with the final vote last
November. The platform focused on six categories:
• School Safety and Security
• Students
• Teachers and Staff
• Finance
• Curriculum/Accountability
• Prekindergarten

Each year, the superintendent and his leadership team, along with the School Board members, attend a joint
meeting with the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation to review the District’s legislative priorities and
prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

In response to feedback from FY24, a more effective communication process was established to ensure that the
superintendent, leadership team, and School Board members receive timely updates on critical issues during
the 2025 legislative session. Consequently, seven leadership meetings were held between March and May,
during which updates on State and federal matters were presented. Additional updates were shared through
recordings and printed reports. Four updates on legislative items were presented to the School Board between
January and May.

Palm Beach County voters once again supported the extension of the schools’ portion of a previous penny sales
tax increase that has benefited schools. In November, 60% of voters approved the sales tax referendum.

In FY25, three new School Board members were elected. The leadership team met with each new School Board
member to review the previously approved legislative platform and provided them with an understanding of
the District’s legislative priorities. They received information on intricate financial details and policy issues,
which also helped during their one-on-one visits with lawmakers.

School Safety & Security
Student safety is a top priority for the District. Therefore, the District is committed to fully funding all state-man-
dated security requirements for Florida’s public schools. For example, while the District receives approximately
$15 million in funding to support school safety, it invests nearly $43 million annually in its school police depart-
ment to ensure a secure learning environment.
Students

In 2023, House Bill 733 was passed, requiring all Florida public middle schools to start no earlier than 8:00 a.m.
and all high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The District conducted a stakeholder survey, in which 65%
of respondents opposed changes to the school start times. Lawmakers received feedback from school districts
and parents across the State expressing opposition to the mandated changes. In May 2025, Senate Bill 296 was
signed into law, allowing school districts to comply with the law and avoid changing start times by submitting
a report detailing their current start times, strategies, and the financial and community impacts of potential
changes.
Teachers and Staff

In the fall, Superintendent Burke and the School Board approved an agreement with the Palm Beach County
Classroom Teachers Association. This agreement provided all District teachers with a raise of up to 4%, with

152 SUPERINTENDENT ANNUAL REPORT