# Marion County School Board Meeting, October 27,  2026

At its October 27, 2026 meeting, the Marion County School Board approved several spending and facilities items. It approved an $11.8 million amendment to the construction management contract for South High School (project 24-105); the superintendent reported the project’s cost at about $177 million, compared with an original plan of about $130 million. The vote was 4–0, with one board member recusing. The board also approved a $1.6 million amendment for districtwide cooler/freezer generator installations at 10 schools, a Sourcewell contract for $3 million in LED lighting upgrades to baseball and softball fields, and a Partners contract for an $820,000 installation of nine tennis courts at Forest, North Marion, and Vanguard high schools. Each passed 5–0. A central-office staffing plan amendment, projected to save $80,000 annually after completion, also passed 5–0.

The board received notice of construction change orders, including an additional $10,683.62 for Osceola Middle School doors and walls and deductions of $134,544.92 for that project, $4,346 for Lake Weir High School’s serving-line replacement, and $1,934.48 for an auto lift at Marion Technical College. It approved an amendment to the employee group-life/EAP arrangement that provides up to six counseling sessions and is estimated to save $121,597 in the 2027 plan year. The board also approved the Fordham Early Learning Academy renaming and the consent agenda. The superintendent requested a special board and leasing corporation meeting on November 5 to consider finalized certificate-of-participation resolutions and exhibits related to a sales-tax loan; the meeting was scheduled, but no approval vote occurred on that matter. Members also discussed renewal of the one-mill referendum, which supports district programs and facilities.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Sources
- [Marion County School Board Meeting, October 27,  2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8a9EJWfjjY) - MarionCountyK12