TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School Board has officially approved a Financial Recovery Plan for the district.

The vote was 6-1 with Jessica Vaughn casting the "no" vote.

The plan will now be submitted to the Florida Department of Education by Wednesday. 

Deputy Superintendent Michael Kemp told school board members at a special meeting that this is not a "one and done deal." He said more work will be necessary to get the district to a good place financially and estimated that could take two to three years.

Recently the district was millions of dollars short in the fund balance.

Superintendent Addison Davis implemented numerous cost-cutting strategies including job cuts, reduced overtime, energy savings, reduced travel, etc.

Through those cuts and also federal ESSER II funds, the district managed to meet the budget requirements mandated by the state.

"What that means to the public is do not worry about a state takeover. What you should be concerned about is how we can keep sustaining our school district," said board chairperson Lynn Gray.

District officials said they'll be trying to boost sagging enrollment because more students means more funding.

They're working to find students who didn't show up for school during the pandemic.

They're also encouraging families to choose public schools over other options.

"It's about marketing, telling our story. We have got to tell our story. We do some fascinating things in Hillsborough County Schools. From a local, state and national level, our students compete," said Davis.

Davis said the state needs to be more competitive though when it comes to funding public education.

He is urging the community to ask lawmakers for more money for schools.

"They should openly be upset that Addison Davis as Superintendent had to make these types of cuts and its all linked to funding and its all linked to being able to save this school district," he said.

Davis plans to appeal to non-profit organizations and businesses asking for additional financial support.

Gray calls it an "on-going process."

"I would say this nimble situation that we're in is going to be continual as we move forward," she said.