Marion County Schools Settle Into First Week
Marion County Public Schools are moving through the first week of the 2026-27 school year following Monday's opening day.
District officials reported 40,072 students attended traditional schools on opening day. Nearly 22,000 students used school bus transportation, and officials acknowledged some buses experienced delays as routes and schedules settled into place.
The district also reported 63 teaching vacancies remained as the school year began.
School Board Continues Work on New Academic Year
The Marion County School Board met Tuesday evening, one day after the start of classes.
The board's schedule remains busy this week, with a special budget work session Thursday from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium.
The session will focus on the district's General Fund budget.
Early Voting Continues Ahead of August Primary
Early voting continues in Marion County ahead of Florida's Primary Election on Tuesday, August 18.
Early voting gives registered voters the opportunity to cast a ballot in person before Election Day at an available early voting location.
The Marion County Supervisor of Elections also provides online tools allowing voters to verify their registration, locate voting information, and view a sample ballot.
County Considers 12-Month Data Center Moratorium
Marion County commissioners have directed staff to begin work on a proposed 12-month moratorium on data center approvals.
The move follows discussion among commissioners about how the county should regulate future data center development.
The temporary pause would give county officials time to develop policies and standards addressing the potential impact of large data center projects before additional approvals move forward.
School District Recruiting Bus Drivers
Marion County Public Schools continues recruiting school bus drivers as the new academic year gets underway.
The district will hold open interviews Thursday from 1 until 3:30 p.m. at the MCPS Transportation Department Compound.
The recruiting effort comes as transportation employees continue adjusting routes and schedules following the opening of school this week.
