OKEECHOBEE — At the regular meeting of the Okeechobee County School Board on Tuesday, March 10, the board announced the Summer School schedule for all schools.

Summer School will be held four days per week Monday - Thursday, beginning June 3, 2026 and ending June 30, 2026. A planning day will be held on June 2, 2026.

Start and end times:
• South Elementary School (8:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.)

• Osceola Middle School (8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
• VPK Summer Bridge Program (SES) (8:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

VPK Summer Bridge details may be amended pending legislative updates.

The board also announced the date for the first meeting for approval of tentative millage rates and tentative budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The items will be discussed at the regular meeting of the school board on Tuesday, July 21, at 6 p.m.

The first public hearing for tentative millage rates and tentative budget will be held on Tuesday, July 28, at 6 p.m. There will be no change of date for the regular monthly meeting to be held Tuesday, Aug. 8, and the final hearing for the tentative millage rates and tentative budget will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Any additional or rescheduled school board meetings will be advertised to the public as required by Florida Statute.

Additionally, several employees were recognized at the meeting for five years of service: Michael Racine (mechanic for the Transportation Department) and Shelly Sickels (Teacher VE at Yearling Middle School).

Also of note, three more students were expelled for drug related misconduct, two eighth grade students and a twelfth grade student. All three students were expelled for Level III Drug Possession violation of the Code of Student Conduct.