Meeting Overview

A FEN General Membership meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Rosen Centre, Orlando.

Please complete the RSVP form on this page to confirm your attendance.  Your registration will help us prepare meeting materials and organize the FEN-sponsored breakfast service.

Hotel Information

If you need a room for the night of January 29, 2026, you can reserve one at the Rosen Centre, 9840 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819. 

To reserve a room:

Important Notes:

  • The group rate is $189 per night. Be sure to book by Tuesday, December 30, 2025, to receive this rate. Parking charges are as follows, plus tax: (subject to change), Self-Parking- $28, Valet Parking – $40.
  • Room reservations and travel costs are your responsibility.
Meeting Agenda

Agenda

7:30 AM – FEN-sponsored breakfast

8:30 AM – Welcome, Dr. Adrienne McElroy, President, FEN.

Negotiating Through Budget Uncertainty. Florida school districts are facing more than a typical tight budget year—the funding model itself has changed. Mike Degutis, retired CFO with 34 years in Florida K‑12 finance, will lead a discussion on navigating this new fiscal landscape, examining financial trends, emerging challenges, and strategic decisions shaping district budgets.

Wage and Hour Exempt Employees. This session will examine the criteria that determine whether a position qualifies as exempt from wage and hour requirements. Andrew Lethbridge, Deputy Superintendent, and Willie Hills, Director of Transportation in Business Operations for Highlands County, will share insights into how one district is reviewing its classifications to ensure compliance and alignment with job duties.

How Is It Working? Fingerprinting and the Clearinghouse. Florida’s fingerprint-based background screening clearinghouse is up and running, but districts continue to face challenges related to its scope, costs, vendor coordination, and integration into daily workflows. This panel will examine how districts are navigating these issues and share implementation strategies and challenges. Panelists include LeighAnn Blackmore, Director of Labor Relations, Orange School District; Dr. Dawn M. Baglos, Chief Human Capital Officer, Miami-Dade School District; Mary Faulk, HR Director, Pasco School District; and Kalee Wade, HR Director, Levy School District. Before we meet: How is it working in your district?

 

More details are coming soon. Presentation materials will be posted here as well.

Register today
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