AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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A PRESENTATION BY BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REGARDING THE SECURE THE NEXT GENERATION REFERENDUM.
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BACKGROUND:
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is in the process of an educational campaign regarding the Secure the Next Generation Referendum renewal that will appear on the August 23, 2022, primary election ballot. On April 26, 2022, the Broward County School Board approved to present this referendum for voters to consider investing in Broward County Public Schools.
The funds from the half-mill referendum that voters approved in 2018 are set to expire. Those funds support over 500 school safety personnel, 100 mental health professionals, and approximately $82 million in salary supplements for teachers and eligible staff, to compete with neighboring school districts.
The new Secure the Next Generation Referendum would increase voters’ investment in education from a half-mill to one mill to continue securing funds for all public schools, which will now also include charter schools, to:
• Recruit and retain high-quality teachers and eligible staff by increasing compensation supplements;
• Maintain and enhance school resource officers and school safety staff; and
• Maintain and enhance essential programs, such as mental health services.