Lake Weir Middle School

How is the county planning on paying tech services more money?
Union-represented employees are able to negotiate their pay via annual negotiating sessions between MCPS and the union.
Who approves homecoming themes? Themes like “A Night in Vegas”?
Each school approves homecoming themes under the direction of the principal and administrators. “A Night in Vegas” does not necessarily imply there will be inappropriate activities during the event. Adults and administrators are at all official school functions.
Last year, the state approved allowing a preacher to come on campus to speak with students if the parent approved. Do we have any schools that are doing this? How can we do this?
The state gave each district the opportunity to introduce the program into our schools. However, upon review by members of the Marion County School Board, MCPS is not participating in this optional program at this time.
Is there a plan to implement soft skills into curricula? Functional math?
Yes, classes already exist in middle and high schools to teach financial literacy and other soft skills.
How is the process coming along to get vape detectors in middle and high schools, specifically in bathrooms and corridors?
After much research and consideration, the district found that such devices are not reliable and would not help indicate which student was vaping or had a vape. Students tend to be the ones who report peers to administrators that they have a vape.
What parts of the dress code are we enforcing from the Student Code of Conduct—i.e, pajamas, slippers, etc.? Students behave and perform better when dressed to learn. I was told earlier in the year that we should be happy to have kids in school.
The dress code is enforced in all schools. MCPS and the Marion County School Board continue to work together to ensure the dress code is enforced uniformly.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a consistent cell phone policy for all schools with a consistent consequence for behaviors or lack thereof, versus allowing schools to make their own policy?
House Bill 1105 bans cell phones in all elementary and middle schools during the school day. High schoolers are allowed to have their cell phones in hallways and during downtime; however, cell phones are prohibited in the classroom unless instructed by their teacher to use them for educational purposes.
What is your [Interim Superintendent] role in formulating the Student Code of Conduct? Why do our schools still not have one?
The Student Discipline department is tasked with formulating the Code of Student Conduct and presents it to the Marion County School Board for approval. This year’s 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct was approved by the board on August 26, 2025. You can find the interactive Student Code of Conduct at marionschools.net, under the “Parents” tab in the “Parents, Students, and Community” section, or by clicking the link.
I would like to know what supplemental educational programs you are planning to use to help 3rd-grade students aiming to take the FAST test? In order for them to regain some of the last academic skills from 1st and 2nd grade. This would be targeting at-risk 3rd-grade students within the schools outlined in the District-managed turnaround plan.
At-risk third-grade students receive daily, targeted small-group reading interventions based on their individual needs in phonological awareness, phonics (including decoding and encoding), sight words, vocabulary, and comprehension. This is done through evidence-based programs grounded in the Science of Reading. Programs may include the following:

1. Systematic Instruction in Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, and Sight Words (SIPPS)
2. University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI Foundations)
3. Lexia Core 5
4. Read Naturally

Additionally, 3rd-grade students who have been retained participate in the Age of Learning Virtual Tutoring program.
How do I learn more about the budget and funding? What is kept separate?
Marion County School Board work sessions and meetings can be found on YouTube.com/MarionCountyK12. Budget presentations are typically conducted between late July and early August. You may also visit marionschools.net and click on the “Finance and Budget” section under “Departments.”
What is being done to take care of our new campuses to keep them new and maintained?
Every school has custodial and maintenance staff to ensure its campuses are clean and well-maintained.
What are some ways that I can support this [Lake Weir Middle School] or other schools as a business?
Reach out directly to the school you would like to support, or contact the Public Education Foundation of Marion County at (352) 671-4167 or visit the PEFMC website.