AUGUST 9, 2024 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Director of Public Relations

352.671.7734 w ◊ 352.840.3265 c

[email protected]

SCHOOL KICKS OFF MONDAY FOR

MOST MARION COUNTY STUDENTS

MARION COUNTY – Monday is the first day of the traditional school year for what will likely be the biggest enrollment year for Marion County Public Schools in its 155-year history.

Wyomina Park Elementary opened three weeks ago on a modified school calendar as part of a state pilot program testing year-round schooling. Attendance at that school is off to a great start and has already surpassed 93% on several days, slightly above last year’s daily district average.

Monday, a projected 45,873 students are expected to start and further their educations in MCPS classrooms this year, the highest projection ever and nearly 1,400 more than last year. The student breakdown includes 21,921 elementary, 10,305 middle, and 13,647 high school students.

Bus transportation is always a major challenge for a school district geographically larger than the state of Rhode Island – 1,650 square miles. MCPS offers about 250 bus routes on opening day for the 34,000 students eligible to ride the bus. Average daily ridership is around 23,000.

Brand new teachers have been on the job since their “Great Beginnings” workshops kicked off July 30. Returning teachers came back to campus August 5 for professional learning opportunities and to ready their classrooms for Monday. As of today, MCPS has 83 teaching vacancies and is about 97% staffed when it comes to classroom teachers.

As of today, 274 new teachers are putting finishing touches on their classrooms with an overall district-wide teaching force of about 3,000 professionals. The district’s 6,400+ employees are 47% instructional, 49% support, and 4% administrative.

Academically, this school year launches:

• Fort King Middle’s RISE Artificial Intelligence Program emphasizing Artificial Intelligence along with robotics, science, and engineering;
• South Ocala Elementary’s International Academy (IB candidate school) that feeds into similar middle and high school programs;
• Howard Middle’s new Academy of Fine Arts in addition to its existing IB program;
• Lake Weir High’s pre-apprenticeship program for students involved in the school’s construction program; and
• MCPS’s new partnership with Space Florida, establishing an academy program connecting students with high-demand credentials and skills necessary to work in the aerospace industry. More details are forthcoming on this venture involving MCPS and 22 other Florida school districts.

With more than 7.1 million square feet of space to manage, custodial crews have waxed floors, cleaned classrooms, and readied restrooms for the first day of school. Technical crews installed new flooring, replaced roofing surfaces, cleaned and inspected over 3,800 air conditioners and dozens of generators to ensure they’re all running smoothly to cool things off given the current summer heat. Painters, electricians, and plumbers have also been busy. Just this morning, crews discovered a waterline break at Sunrise Elementary and are working to complete repairs by opening day.

Food service workers at 54 district schools once again stand ready to serve free breakfast and lunch to every student who wants food, regardless of income, thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision initiative from the US Department of Agriculture. Last year, these employees served 10.7 million meals to students.

Thirteen schools have different principals this year including:

• Dunnellon Elementary and new first-time Principal Erika Wiggins
• Dunnellon Middle and new Principal Shameka Murphy
• Emerald Shores Elementary and new Principal Traci Wilke
• Fort McCoy K-8 School and new Principal Carol Sales
• Harbour View Elementary and new Principal Stacy Houston
• Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks and first-time Principal Rebekah Cook
• Lake Weir High and new Principal Ken McAteer
• Legacy Elementary and new Principal Melicia Cooper
• North Marion High and new Principal Matt Johnson
• North Marion Middle and new Principal Rusty Corley
• Osceola Middle and new Principal Renee Johnson
• Sparr Elementary and new Principal Dr. Kerry Alday
• Vanguard High and new Principal Colleen Wade

School bell times are different for most schools this year, especially at middle and high school levels. Most elementary schools begin at 7:35 a.m., high schools between 8:30 a.m. – 9:05 a.m., and middle schools at 9:20 a.m. These changes were made to foster more on-time bus routes and to meet a new state law taking effect next year impacting school start times.

Finally, MCPS will continue emphasizing daily attendance at school this year with a special attendance campaign kicking off in September. “Be Present, Be Powerful!” will educate students, families, and the community about the connection between school attendance and realizing personal hopes and dreams, well-being and achievement.

For more information, contact the Public Relations Office at 352.671.7555.

#                      #                      #