September 29, 2017 
School Board Approves Lawsuit Against State Over House Bill 7069

Palm Beach County School Board members on Wednesday approved filing a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education and the state Board of Education, challenging the constitutionality of legislation passed in June that is expected to cost the School District of Palm Beach County as much as $230 million over the next decade from its capital budget.

The District's legal challenge focuses on the capital outlay funds referenced in section 31 of House Bill 7069, which was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott in June.  Read more...  
Board Member Barbieri: School Board Has a Responsibility to Guard the District's Capital Assets

At the Regular Board meeting on September 27, 2017, School Board Member Frank Barbieri emphasized the dilemma the District is facing with regards to HB 7069 and the issue of capital outlay.

"We have the responsibility as a School Board to protect, maintain and conserve the District's capital assets," he shared.  Read more...
 What Happens Next? Visit our Web Site to Learn More
The District intends to challenge the constitutionality of HB 7069 with funds received from the BP oil spill settlement and not taxpayer dollars.  The District does not plan to withhold funds to charter schools until there is a court order or decision that lawfully permits us to do so. Until that time, the District will adhere to the mandates of the law.

We believe that it is in the best interest of all students in Palm Beach County, charter and public, that taxpayer dollars used to fund buildings for public education are owned by the public, and not private corporation real estate portfolios. Learn more...
Chariman Shaw: PBC Schools' Charter Challenge a Matter of Local Control
Palm Beach Post
The Palm Beach County School Board was elected by this community to provide for the education of the community's students. We will continue to honor this obligation and defend our constitutional authority to do so. Any legislation, past, present or future that encroaches on this authority will continue to be met with legal challenge.  

To be clear, the District's desire is not to hold court over these issues. The easy and best way to avoid litigation is for the legislature to address the real charter school issues. These include public ownership of anything paid for with public dollars, a sustainable fund source for charter school needs, provisions for financial accountability, use of funds by the local charter and not a management company, and transparency in the operation of charters by management companies.  Read more...