Glades County School District seeks for financial help from state

MOORE HAVEN, Fla. (WINK)—The Glades County School District is one of two schools in the state that have been deemed broke.

In a March 13 letter to the State Board of Education, Superintendent Alice Beth Barfield asked for emergency financial help to get the district back on track. 

The letter states that the Glades County School District's general fund balance fell below 2% in April 2025. As a result, Glades County School District cut $1.4 million from the budget, including cutting 31 positions and other spending, heading into the 2025-2026 school year.

A year later, the district is still on shaky financial ground. Florida's Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, replied to Superintendent Barfield on March 18th.

"I am deeply concerned that the district's financial condition has continued to deteriorate over the past few years," Kamoutsas said. "Based on the district's current projections, the district does not appear to have sufficient resources to meet its ongoing financial obligations and sustain daily operations without external assistance."

The State Board of Education has now approved a financial emergency board to oversee Glades County School District spending.

Superintendent Barfield said in a statement that Glades County schools is looking forward to working with the state to strengthen the district financially.

"Glades County Schools is an A-rated school district. That rating reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and strong leadership and accountability at every level. Our academic success speaks for itself.

We are truly grateful for the State’s partnership and support during this time. The appointment of the Financial Emergency Board will provide valuable guidance, oversight, and additional expertise as we navigate these funding challenges. We fully embrace this collaboration and are committed to working closely with the State to strengthen our financial position and ensure long-term stability for our district. 

Glades County Schools is defined by the success of our students, the strength of our schools, and the resilience of our community. And on all of those measures, we remain strong."