BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
While Bradford County’s school enrollment was up as of the February survey, the district still sent more money to other schools.
According to Superintendent of Schools Will Hartley, Bradford’s student count increased by nearly 60 students, but spent more on students not attending district schools. The district had anticipated spending around $600,000 on school choice vouchers, but the real number was closer to $900,000.
Florida has expanded its school voucher program, now offering taxpayer-funded scholarships for private school tuition to all students, regardless of income, also allowing homeschool students to apply for vouchers. Those vouchers are worth about $8,000 each to the school district.
But how is it that the district spent more on vouchers but still increased its student count? Hartley said vouchers are going to students who were already enrolled in a private school or being homeschooled.
“I think what’s happening is more families are understanding the process to get a voucher,” Hartley said. “And so, what it looks like is most of these students that are getting these vouchers are students that were never ours in the first place. But [the funding is] all run through the school district.”
Hartley said he expects to see the same occur over the next few years as more parents realize the state has made the funding available.
As for news of all the education budget cuts coming out of Washington, including the potential closure of the Department of Education, Hartley foresees little impact. Federal funding covers the cost of exceptional student education as well as the disabled. The district’s understanding is there would not be an interruption in funding for the individualized education of these students, who make up around 30% of Bradford’s total enrollment. Instead, Hartley said the funding would be filtered through another agency.
“For now, we don’t expect it to have much of an impact, unless, you know, we learned something different later,” he said.
Federal dollars also support the school nutrition program, although the USDA funds those programs. Bradford should maintain free breakfasts and lunches for students.
New school update
Following a recent visit from Florida’s Department of Education, Hartley said the district was told its proposed new junior/senior high school is a viable project.
Bradford along with two other districts have projects moving forward. Lafayette requested a new K-12 school, and Hardy County requested a new high school.
The next step is ranking the projects, which will take place over the summer. Hartley said Bradford will be in Tallahassee presenting on June 19, after which it will have the first-, second- or third-ranked project.
With only three schools presenting projects, however, the ranking would only come into play if fewer than three projects are funded during the next cycle.
“So, we’re sitting in good shape,” Hartley said.
If budgeted, the district could begin drawing down funds after July 1, 2026.
The superintendent described the school as a completely enclosed building. The middle school portion would be built first, followed by the high school, and they would share centralized administrative offices and a cafeteria.
“When it’s finished, it will actually be one continuous building, so that once the students get in, they don’t have to get out, and it’s much a much safer school environment than what you would see now,” Hartley said, explaining high school students now leave their buildings to access the restrooms outside. The high school will no longer be situated on U.S. 301 either. The junior/senior high would take the place of the middle school and technical college, which would also be part of the new school.
