School Board Meeting Recap: March 31, 2025

The FSPS Board of Education convened to discuss key district updates, including financial reports, graduation plans, curriculum adoptions, and innovative program expansions. The meeting also covered the progress of the Superintendent search and upcoming interviews.

Mr. Allan R. Marshall, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, presented the Annual Report to the Public, which covered key topics such as graduation rates, enrollment trends, and financial data. 

Mr. Charles Warren, CFO, followed with a financial update, providing an overview of funding sources, unknown factors, and how they impact the district’s salary schedules. He discussed unknown factors such as state revenue fluctuations, employer healthcare costs, and the impact of ongoing right-sizing efforts in the district. Mr. Warren then presented the salary schedules for both certified and classified employees. The Board decided to table the item for further discussion at a later date.

Director of Secondary Education Dr. Tony Jones updated the Board on graduation plans. Southside High School’s ceremony is scheduled for May 15, 2025, and Northside’s on May 16, 2025. In case of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be moved to the FS Convention Center. This location allows for 8-9 tickets per student, as opposed to fewer tickets if held at either high school arenas. A majority of students expressed a preference for the indoor location at the Convention Center to avoid splitting the ceremony.

Dr. Jones also reviewed the process and final choice for a curriculum and textbook adoption for math and foreign language materials. A committee of school representatives, college professors, community members, parents, and students was formed to select new Highly-Qualified Instructional Materials (HQIM). The committee reviewed numerous publishers and graded the materials with a rubric. Dr. Jones recommended moving forward with Imagine Illustrative Math for the math curriculum based on the committee's input. A committee was also formed to evaluate foreign language materials. Due to differing restrictions and a smaller selection of materials, the committee recommended updating the foreign language resources that are already in use. The Board voted to approve the recommended instructional materials for the 2025-2031 school years.

Dr. Gary Udouj, Director of Career Education and District Innovation, proposed a Computer Science program at Chaffin Middle School. FSPS strives to offer comprehensive career development experiences, preparing students for workplace, post-secondary, or military success. The Computer Science Academy would be the district’s second middle school academy, following the success of the Health Science Academy (HSA) at Darby Middle School. The program will provide a computer science-focused curriculum incorporating project-based and hands-on learning activities, preparing students for rigorous academic challenges and diverse career opportunities. The program will roll out over three years, starting with 6th grade in the 2026-2027 school year, followed by 7th grade in 2027-2028, and 8th grade in 2028-2029. The academy would enroll 50 students per grade level, with students spending half their day with Computer Science Academy teachers as core classes like English, math, and science are taught in the context of computer science. FSPS is also developing a new high school pathway focused on cybersecurity, offering an immersive experience with opportunities for concurrent credit and industry-recognized certifications. Board members expressed excitement about the proposed program, which could be the first in the state for the middle school level.

Interviews for the Superintendent position will occur from April 1 to April 3, 2025. Mr. Dalton Person, the president of the FSPS Board of Education, suggested scheduling a meeting the following week to review the interviews and make an offer.