Leon County School Board meeting tackles community concerns on ICE raids, grant funding

USA Today

29-01-2025

Leon County School Board meeting tackles community concerns on ICE raids, grant funding
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Superintendent Rocky Hanna thanks supporters at his election watch party
Early results for Leon County are in and show incumbent Rocky Hanna has 73% of the vote in the Superintendent of Schools race.
After an almost weeklong snow break, the Leon County School Board met Tuesday to discuss concerns of constituents regarding potential ICE raids in schools and great community impacts from local partners.
The board opened the meeting by bidding farewell to Eric Clark, executive director of the Foundation for Leon County Schools. He plans to move to Tampa to live closer to his son and granddaughter. He's been with the district for over 10 years.
"It's all about the kids and the teachers and helping to support staff," Clark told board members who praised his work in securing funding for the district.
"Thank you for your service," Board member Alva Smith said.
"I just want to tell you thank you and a job well done. You have raised the bar so high, our expectations for the position have changed," board member Darryl Jones said.
Immigration raid concerns
"I know there are a lot of people that have been asking questions about immigration and its potential impact in our schools," Jones told Hanna during the meeting. "Have there been any conversations about methods or how that occurs?"
Hanna said he proactively connected with Leon County Schools' District Chief Jimmy Williams on providing clear instructions to school administrators on what to do if immigration agents show up to take students out of schools.
Hanna said he was contacted by Florida's Department of Education and questioned on how he would direct the district to respond to possible ICE raids at school sites, he said principals have been instructed to comply with the agents.
"We're going to follow the law," Hanna said. "I'm hoping that we won't see this in our schools."
"Our schools are safe places and safe havens for our children, and we will continue to do everything we legally can to make sure that they're protected."
The Florida Highway Patrol assisted in a Jefferson County raid Tuesday spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that resulted in 12 people being detained who were "believed to be illegally residing in the State of Florida."
Will SAIL get money for its engineering program?
SAIL High School could be getting an expansion to its Engineering Pathway Program funded by the federal government through the Florida Department of Education. The Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant is provided by the state to support career access for students.
The program's expansion will include the purchase of new equipment and software for the robotics program, the installation of the materials and training for teachers. The grant's total is $519,123.
Board member Smith brought up a concern that the grant has federal funds tied to it.
"I'm just curious if this is something that could be put into action and then have it be pulled possibly," Smith said.
The Trump administration on Tuesday temporarily paused grant, loan and other financial assistance programs at the Office of Management and Budget. The freeze went into effect at 5 p.m. but was reversed the next day.
Organizations that depend on federal funding like the school board have expressed concern over the political power move.
The board's attorney Opal McKinney-Williams said if funding was ultimately revoked, the board would simply have to adjust. She advised the board to move forward with the agenda as normal.
Hanna said the district receives a little over $3 million a month in federal funding for programs like food service, transportation, and more.
"It's a big deal," Hanna said. "But we have no reason to believe at this moment that those programs and resources and revenue are going to be in jeopardy through at least the end of the school year."
Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce: 'A generous donation'
In other business, the Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce presented a check to the LCS Foundation totaling $30,000.
The money was generated from the organization's 2024 golf tournament hosted to support Title I schools. Separately, Fairview Middle received the lion's share of the total donation with $28,000 for winning the Longest Drive competition in the tournament.
"As we look around America and the times, we are facing, I am proud to say that I have a role to play in Leon County," chamber president Antonio Jefferson said.
Over the five years in which the organization has hosted the event, it has raised over $200,000 for Title I schools.
"The impact has been exponential," Jones told the chamber members present.
Raa Middle revamp unveils new site and video
In the district's first step to roll out more marketing efforts, Raa Middle School got a new website and marketing video.
The brief video features a montage of students in performing arts like dance, music, art, and athletics to the sound of uplifting music and a motivational speech.
"We are Augusta Raa," the narrator says in the video's final seconds.
The website is the first of middle school sites to get an updated website and video.
Other school board business
The school board retreat will be held 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 3. in the Aquilina Howell Center. The public is invited to attend.
The board unanimously approved several agreements and a $4 million salary package with the Leon Classroom Teachers Association. The latest bargaining session between the organization and the board avoided a lengthy impasse process.
Superintendent Rocky Hanna said the district is looking into the possibility of adding on an instructional day to make up for the three days students missed during a historic snowstorm.
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at [e-mail]. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3.