HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Hillsborough School Board formally approved an emergency financial plan Tuesday, which should help them avoid a state takeover of the district’s finances.
With a plan due in Tallahassee Wednesday, board members voted to adopt a financial plan that meets their short-term goal of avoiding a state take-over but leaves the district facing difficult choices to stay fiscally sound.
“We all understand that this is kind of a Band-Aid to get us through so that we can have a true find a balance of 3% if not more in the end,” said Board Member Stacy Hahn.
The district’s emergency plan relies on about $24-million dollars in ESSER funds to plug its budget shortfall. That’s federal COVID-19 relief money that was just delivered to the district by the state.
Many acknowledged it’s a short-term fix.
“The pressure is on us to ensure that we find new revenue sources moving forward,” said Assistant Superintendent Michael Kemp. “And that we continue with the cost controls.”
“I agree we won’t be in that place moving forward,” said Superintendent Addison Davis, “And we’ve just got to continue to make hard decisions.
A lot of discussion also centered on Superintendent Davis, whose cost-reduction methods have some calling for his job.
“As long as Davis is leading the district,” said Robin Ramsey, a parent addressing the board, “I think you’ll find it very difficult to rally support for additional local funding.”
Davis is also feeling pressure from board members but some acknowledged his key role in convincing the state to release those ESSER dollars.
“We appreciate the effort of you personally and professionally putting that pressure on Tallahassee to get the funds here in a timely fashion,” said Board Member Melissa Snively.
“I know you’ve got a plan together, but I still think it has a long way to go,” added Board Member Nadia Combs.
The school board also voted unanimously to have its staff look into establishing a financial advisory committee. The goal would be to give members of the public and school employees more input and oversight when it comes to the district’s finances.
Also, despite weeks of criticism over Superintendent Davis’s job performance, a slim majority of board members voted not to move forward with a professional development plan.
Instead, Board Member Melissa Snively suggested they wait until after Davis’s formal evaluation later this year.
The board will take-up the professional development plan issue again at its next meeting in a week, and had also scheduled discussion on the district’s mask policy for the coming school year.
RELATED: Hillsborough schools receive $101 million from federal stimulus, avoid financial takeover from state
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