2026 March 24 School Board Workshop

The Clay County District Schools held a school board workshop on March 24, 2026, focusing primarily on internal communications, staffing plans, and transportation issues. Board members discussed enhancing the district newsletter to better reflect board initiatives and community engagement, including topics like the new canine program and legislative updates. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the staffing plan for the upcoming school year, highlighting a $7.3 million reduction in staffing costs compared to the previous year due to budget constraints and enrollment shifts. The plan emphasized maintaining support roles critical to student success while balancing fiscal responsibility. Transportation updates included efforts to improve the website for easier access to services, ongoing bus driver recruitment with a focus on incentives like sign-on bonuses, and strategies to address hazardous walking conditions for students. The board also reviewed upcoming agenda items, including ballot language for a millage vote and school start times, with consensus to maintain current start times based on community survey results. Additionally, the board discussed the timeline for internal audit committee reviews related to contracts and procurement, noting that audit results would be presented in May. Overall, the meeting addressed key operational and budgetary decisions impacting district staffing, communications, and transportation services.