FASTfacts - February 24, 2026 (Vol. 21, Issue 14)

School Board Hires Brewer as Next Superintendent

With unanimous support, School Board members approved a contract that makes Dr. Danielle Brewer the next superintendent of Marion County Public Schools.

The new two-year contract, along with Brewer’s new title, go into effect tomorrow (Feb. 25). Brewer was the interim superintendent since April 2025. 

Among the new contract highlights are:

• $205,000 annual salary with performance bonus opportunities
• Benefits package including vacation and sick leave, medical and life insurance, along with retirement contributions
• District-issued cell phone and data plan 
• Certification incentives 
• Renewal options by both parties; and 
• Termination options requiring a super-majority School Board vote plus severance pay for 20 weeks if ended early.

Brewer has been with the district since August 1, 2005, and is the second appointed superintendent in MCPS history. The new contract runs through June 30, 2028. 

She started as a classroom teacher and advanced through the ranks, serving as an assistant principal and principal, most recently at North Marion High School. In 2021, she was named director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Digital Learning, and two years later became senior executive director of High Schools and Secondary Curriculum.

Brewer holds academic degrees in Criminal Justice and Educational Leadership from Saint Leo University, as well as an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from National Louis University, where she also earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. 

New Calendars Approved for Wyomina Park Elementary

Families and staff members at Wyomina Park Elementary (WPE) have new calendars for the next two school years following unanimous approval by School Board members.

WPE uses a modified school calendar, meaning classes are offered year-round with the exceptions of occasional breaks and the month of June.

Both new calendars were developed and reviewed by District and school staff, incorporating feedback from previous years’ calendars. They are also designed to align with state and District testing schedules to support student success.

Both calendars include 180 instructional days, intercession breaks, teacher workdays, Early Release days, and weather make-up days, among others.

Use this link to access upcoming calendars for Wyomina Park Elementary School.

Roundabouts Coming to West Port Community

Drivers at West Port High School have two roundabouts in their futures thanks to a construction project by Marion County government.

While the actual roundabouts will not be on campus, they will impact entry and exit efforts of drivers.

One roundabout will be installed at the intersection of Southwest 80th Avenue (near West Port’s front entrance) and Southwest 38th Street. The second roundabout will be at the student exit onto Southwest 38th Street.

School Board members supported an agreement for right-of-way conveyance that also includes a new traffic light at West Port’s north bus loop exit to help manage school day traffic.

Timelines call for the project to start this June and complete in June 2027 with the new traffic signal installation.

More information is available at this link. 

These students, all winners in this year’s Big Springs Regional STEM Fair, are now headed to Lakeland to compete at the state-level STEM Fair. They were formally recognized by School Board members with some of their teachers, parents, and principals at their sides.