The Gainesville Fine Arts Association building is not large, but about 100 attendees packed in on Monday night to kick off a campaign for the fifth approval of the One Mill for Schools. 

The One Mill, first approved by voters in 2008 and up for renewal every four years, provides funding for personnel and programs including school nurses, counselors, librarians, art programs, music programs, drama programs, career and technical education programs, academic magnets, band/chorus, and classroom technology. 

The tax’s renewal would not change residents’ current tax situation, as it has already been in effect since 2008. The One Mill is expected to provide $24,000,000 for Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) this year. 

Because of the One Mill’s close ties to art and CTE, Monday’s event was bustling with examples of those programs. Students in Eastside High School’s culinary arts program glided through the crowd with sweet treats and attendees listened to performances by drama, music and biotechnology students. 

Shannon Ritter, Alachua County Public Schools’ CTE director, said between the CTE programs, art programs and sports, there is something for everyone. She said she hears many students say they would have dropped out of school if they had not found purpose and direction in a CTE program. 

“For me, it’s just the relevance that makes schoolwork meaningful,” Ritter said in an interview. 

Eastside culinary arts senior Jonathan Manche is looking forward to culinary school and beyond. Santa Fe High School Institute of Biotechnology president Cayden Parker was the first high school student to intern in the University of Florida’s Department of Neurology in the Neuro-Oncology Laboratories. 

“The confidence in the lab is not the only unction that is built,” Parker said in a speech. “This program is built on the pillars of community, community that is representative of people with a common interest in science, community that encourages one another to face a challenge head on, community that siphons every single person into a mindset of simply believing in themselves.” 

Mark Starr, CEO of the Florida Credit Union, which hosted the event, said losing the One Mill funding, and the programs it supports, would hurt schools badly. 

“We will work very hard on making sure [this passes],” Starr said in an interview. “We think it will. It’s passed four times, and Gainesville is pretty good about supporting education.” 

A new Florida law prevents ACPS from sending out informational flyers or pamphlets, making it more difficult to reach out proactively for support. Instead, the district is restricted mainly to answering questions brought from outside.

Brian Moses, a member of the Citizens for Strong Schools board, which advocates for the One Mill, said the most important way people can help get One Mill passed again is by getting the word out about what it is, and the fact that it is up for renewal.  

When the ballot initiative was first up for a vote in 2008, it passed with 64% support. ACPS spokesperson Jackie Johnson said that number has increased each time the initiative returns for renewal, and in 2020, the measure passed with 78% approval. 

Superintendent Shane Andrew said he is grateful for the community’s continued support of the One Mill and the programs it funds in the schools. 

“It’s just made such a lasting impact,” Andrew said. “That’s what we’re so grateful for. It’s just the fact that our voters here, our community members, have gotten behind the arts in our communities… that’s what it comes down to. It’s just gratitude that our community supports our students.” 

Editor’s Note: this story has been updated to reflect the amount One Mill is expected to raise.