Summary Eight years ago voters approved a ballot measure to generate funds for local schools. That community initiative is scheduled to sunset in July 2017 but is set to return to the ballot in November 2016 for approval of the program for an additional 4 years.
Since its initiation, One Mill for Schools has generated between $11-$13 million a year for local schools. These monies have been used to fund full time elementary art and music teachers, guidance counselors, media centers, academic and career-tech magnet programs, band and choral programs, and classroom technology. One Mill for Schools currently funds 170 Alachua County jobs with over 160 of those being teaching positions.
The returns on this investment can be seen in the state, national, and international honors that Alachua County school students have won in academics, arts and career education, with many of the students in programs directly supported by the One Mill. Further, One Mill for Schools guarantees funding for a school nurse in every school and for some schools these funds are the only source for classroom technology.
One Mill for Schools funds are presided over by the Alachua County School Board with oversight by an independent citizens' committee. This oversight committee is mandated by the ballot language as is the designation of those things that may be funded with the collected revenues.
One Mill for Schools Oversight Committee Chair Perry McGriff and Alachua County School Board Public Information Officer Jackie Johnson would like to present to the City Commission regarding the November 2016 One Mill for Schools ballot initiative.
This presentation was originally scheduled for March 14, 2016; however, a conflict in scheduling resulted in the item being rescheduled for April 11, 2016. |