Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Place: School Board of Highlands County Garland Boggus Board Room

Welcome: Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, Anjelica Tinajero welcomed everyone to the Citizens’ Advisory Committee meeting at 2:07 PM and asked for a roll call.

Roll Call by Belinda Hodge: The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting began at 2:07 PM with roll call.

Members present: Chet Brojek and Diane Juve.

Members absent: Jamal Baskin, Jason Biance, Lauren Bush, Bill Jarrett, Curt Matthews, John Shoop, Maritza Telesky, Dave Travers, and Joe Wright.

Others in attendance: Brenda Longshore, Anjelica Tinajero, Harry Howes, Donna Howerton, and Belinda Hodge (recorder).

Approval of Minutes: No action was taken due to not having a quorum.

Revenue & Expenditures Report: Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, Mrs. Anjelica Tinajero, presented the revenue and expenditures report. The total revenue collected to date was $53,797,656.48, with total expenditures reported at $44,254,584.58. A chart indicating the areas funds were spent was shared. A copy of the revenue, expenditure, and chart reports are attached.

Mr. Brojek asked about the buses that were purchased and thinks we need to catch up on those. Mrs. Tinajero explained that due to the rise in cost for the buses we were only able to purchase six buses annually instead of the ten that was originally estimated. She said we are still waiting for the buses that were ordered in May of 2023 to arrive due to being backordered.

Capital Projects: Mrs. Tinajero shared how half-cent sales tax dollars were spent on projects in 2023-24, projected dollars to be spent in 2024-25, and available cash for projects during the 2024-25 school year. Larger projects include a new wing for Woodlawn Elementary and Lake County Elementary, six new buses, computers for teachers and students, security cameras, radios, irrigation repairs, HVAC updates, and roof projects, and an allocation to the Athletic Task Force for athletics-related upgrades district-wide.

Mr. Bret Brojek asked about the appropriation funding Dr. Longshore asked for regarding the wings for Woodlawn Elementary and Lake County Elementary. Dr. Longshore explained that we did not receive any of those requested funds, and the Board has agreed to finance the two wings. Mrs. Tinajero mentioned she is hoping to secure an interest rate of 3.3%.

Mrs. Anjelica Tinajero discussed the Capital Project Plan for 2024-25, which included reports for all schools, the Academy at Youth Care Lane, the E. O. Douglas Administrative Complex with ancillary facilities, and transportation. Included with the Capital Project Plan was a break-down of amounts spent district-wide. Mrs. Tinajero explained that some projects were paid with funding sources other than half-cent sales tax and are shown on the lists. A copy of the Capital Project Plan is attached.

Next Meeting: The next meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2024, at 4:00 PM. A notice of meeting will be emailed by the Superintendent’s secretary at least seven days in advance of the next meeting.

Adjournment: Having no other comments or discussion, the meeting ended at 2:33 PM.