CFO TENDERS RESIGNATION TO TAKE POST IN POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS

Bradenton, FL – February 19, 2020 Please see the attached resignation letter from the School District of Manatee County’s Chief Financial Officer Heather Jenkins. Her resignation is being made for personal and family reasons and is dated to be effective on Monday, March 2, 2020.  Ms. Jenkins joined the Manatee District as the Budget Director on October 16, 2013. She was promoted to Chief Financial Officer on April 11, 2018. The 2019-2020 budget for the School District of Manatee County – developed under her leadership – amounted to more than $850.7 million.  During her tenure with the district, the School Board and District have submitted balance budgets each and every year as required and the district’s total Fund Balance (reserve funds) have grown from $14.4 million in 2014 to more than $34.7 million in 2019. The outstanding financial performance during her tenure caused global financial rating services Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings to significantly increase their ratings of the School District of Manatee County during the last three to five years.  

“Heather Jenkins is a true professional and she has played a key role helping our school district achieve financial stability,”

said Superintendent Cynthia Saunders. “Heather has a wonderful temperament and extremely sound judgement. You can trust what she says and what she does. She will be sorely missed and we wish her the very best of luck as she moves forward.”  Ms. Jenkins is taking a position as the Senior Director of Finance in Polk County Public Schools.