# Marion County School Board Work Session, October 8, 2026


**Body:** MarionCountyK12
**Date:** October 07, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Education, Construction & Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure


The Marion County School Board’s October 8, 2026 administrative briefing and work session included an update from PFM Financial Advisers on proposed certificates of participation (COPs) financing for three capital projects: approximately $20 million for the booster stadium, funded from the 1.5-mill capital outlay levy; a roughly $150 million Dunnellon middle/high school replacement; and a roughly $45 million new elementary school in the county’s north end, with the latter two supported by sales tax revenues. PFM described recent interest-rate volatility and said the sales-tax financing is planned over about eight years to align with the tax’s expiration. The adviser characterized the plan as conservative and said the district’s current A+ COP rating was expected to be maintained. The only outstanding district debt was identified as the 2024 COPs, with a 3.89% interest cost; a board member asked how that compares with a possible 4.5% true-interest-cost parameter, and PFM offered to follow up.

No financing resolution or spending motion was voted on at this work session. The board was scheduled to consider the school board and leasing corporation resolutions and related financing documents on October 27, which would provide final direction to proceed; bond pricing was anticipated in mid-November, subject to the approved interest-cost limit. Board members expressed support for moving forward, but no approval was taken during the meeting. Other discussion included community engagement, student re-entry, transportation, and school partnerships; no additional procurement action was identified.

**Source:** MarionCountyK12