Superintendent Mark McQueen, speaking for Bay District Schools, told the Bay County Legislative Delegation that the district serves about 28,000 students and recorded its “highest graduation rate in the history of Bay County” at 91.4 percent. He credited faculty and staff and thanked legislators for prior support, including scholarship changes and post-hurricane rebuilding assistance.

McQueen highlighted Haney Technical College’s designation among the top technical colleges nationally and said the campus is training students in fields from medicine to advanced manufacturing. He also noted state-supported facilities used for FFA and emergency sheltering at Dean Bozeman Academy.

Amy Bright, executive director of the Bay Education Foundation, asked legislators to continue the foundation matching-grant program. She said the foundation awarded “almost $100,000 in classroom grants” last year and “over $45,000 in tuition assistance for Bay District Schools employees,” and described teacher demand for hands-on classroom materials.

Charice Robinson, representing Children’s Home Society (CHS), thanked legislators for $20,100,000 in sustaining funds that CHS said supports the community partnership schools model statewide and two sites in Bay County. Robinson said CHS requests an increase of $6,100,000 for fiscal year 2026–27 to expand the model and add behavioral-health services at more schools.

Alexis Underwood, president of the Association of Bay County Educators (teachers union), pressed for three changes: more state funding for public education without restrictive conditions; a mechanism to return homeschool scholarship funds when students re-enroll in public schools; and multi-year contracts for effective teachers. Underwood said the state’s homeschool scholarship program has led to funds not returning to school budgets when students re-enroll, which she said reduced locally available pay raises and support for staff.

The delegation listened and encouraged follow-up meetings with legislative staff. No formal delegation votes or statutory actions were taken at the session.

Ending: Legislators thanked speakers and said their offices are open for follow-up; education organizations were invited to provide detailed budget requests and site visits.