How the money has been used
Recruiting and retaining teachers
- This school year, teachers received a salary stipend of $3,827 helping us recruit the 400-600 new teachers we need each year and keep the good teachers already in our schools.
- Additional training and materials are continuously made available to our teachers to improve their classroom skills.
Preserve reading programs
- Before the referendum, reading materials were limited, rarely replaced, and digital text was barely accessible.
- Literacy intervention is being used to help all elementary students read at grade level - in 14 to 18 weeks on average.
- Since renewal, referendum funds have purchased over $1.28 million in books, e-readers, and laptops.
- Prior to the referendum, all summer school had been eliminated. Now referendum funds help supply materials and training for the Summer Bridge program.
- Additional support and training for college readiness is being offered in 35 middle and high schools.
Preserve music and art classes
- Before the referendum, funding had been slashed for music and art programs.
- The referendum purchases supplies like sheet music, instruments, paint, paper, and easels.
- All high and middle schools have arts computer labs and 24 elementary schools offer digital art.
- Student participation has tripled in our strings and guitars programs.
- Instrument rental fees are waived for students who can't afford them and High Schools have band uniforms.
- Over 1,000 field trips have allowed tens of thousands of students to learn outside the classroom.
Provide up-to-date textbooks and technology
- Before the referendum, district resources went to maintenance rather than new technologies.
- All schools have wireless, mobile computer labs.
- Installed over 2,300 Smart Boards, with the goal of 100% of elementary classrooms by August 2017.
- Libraries are able to offer greater selection through Kindles and e-books. Each school receives $2,000 for new books each year.
- Programs allow students to study the same curriculum at each student's reading level.
Pd.Pol.Adv. paid for by Citizens for Pinellas Schools, PO Box 15525, Clearwater, FL 33766.
