District School Board - Seminole County Schools

Major InitiativesClass Size Reduction AmendmentIn November 2002, the voters of Florida amended the State Constitution to limit class size. Bythe beginning of the 2010-11 fiscal year, the amendment established the maximum number ofstudents in core-curricula courses assigned to a teacher in each of the following three gradegroupings: (1) pre-kindergarten through grade 3, 18 students; (2) grades 4 through 8, 22students; and (3) grades 9 through 12; 25 students.The Florida Legislature enacted Senate Bill-30A implementing the reduction of the averagenumber of students in each classroom by at least two students per year, beginning in the 2003-04 fiscal year until the maximum number of students per classroom does not exceed the 2010-11 fiscal year maximums. If a district‟s class size does not meet the constitutional maximum,then the district must reduce the average number of students in each of the three gradegroupings by two students until the constitutional maximums are reached. The following is howthe constitutional maximums will be calculated:For the 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 fiscal years, class size will be calculated at thedistrict level.For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 fiscal years, class size will be calculated at the schoollevel.For the 2008-09 and 2009-10 fiscal years, class size will be calculated at the classroomlevel.For the 2008-09 fiscal year, the District continued it efforts to meet the constitutional maximumsfor the three grade groupings at school-level. Based on the annual review by the FloridaDepartment of Education, the District complied with constitutional maximums at all schools. TheFlorida Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1676 to delay the classroom level requirements until the2010-11 fiscal year. The class size requirement for the 2009-10 fiscal year will be at the schoollevel. It is anticipated that the District will continue to meet the constitutional maximums for thethree grade groupings at school-level during the 2009-10 fiscal year.Capital Outlay ProgramDuring the current fiscal year, the District completed several major construction projects totaling$46,734,504. These projects included major additions to two elementary schools, a highschool, and multiple concrete relocatable classrooms throughout the District. In addition, theDistrict purchased two future school sites and 66 school buses.Over the next fiscal year, the District will complete major construction and renovation projectsincluding two high schools and an elementary school and a replacement elementary school.Page 6