What is One Mill?
One Mill provides critical funding for programs and personnel in all Alachua County schools in the following areas: school counselors, librarians, art/music/drama programs, career tech programs, academic magnets, band/chorus, and classroom technology. The funding comes from a property tax that has been in place since 2008 and is renewed every four years. One Mill will be on the ballot on November 5th, 2024. Without this funding, the school district is at risk of losing $23 million in annual revenue and 350 local teacher/school staff positions!
Can PTAs Support One Mill?
As non-profit organizations, PTAs CAN support One Mill because it’s a ballot initiative that is covered by state and national PTA positions (Note: PTAs CANNOT support or oppose candidates for office). It’s also endorsed ACCPTA . Click here for background information about ACCPTA’s support of One Mill, including relevant PTA positions.
What about other school-based organizations?
PTOs, booster clubs, and other similar organizations can also support One Mill in the ways that PTAs can, provided that it’s not prevented by your individual organization’s rules or by-laws.
Promoting One Mill on Campus
Schools and school organizations such as PTAs and similar groups are limited in how they can promote One Mill while on school campus (including parent meetings held on campus, even if they are after hours). If you have any questions about what you can or can’t do on campus or new ideas not included here, please contact ACCPTA for clarification.
What PTAs and other groups CAN do on campus
- Wear a One Mill t-shirt (contact ACCPTA to find out how to get a shirt)
- Display a flier/image/information about One Mill on a table or promotional board during a school event such as Meet the Teacher or Open House. These materials can state what One Mill funds, but they cannot say or imply that people should vote for One Mill or that it will be on the ballot. See below for an approved flier and image that can be used on campus.
- Mention what One Mill supports during a parent meeting or other school event that is supported by your organization.
What PTAs and other groups CAN’T do on campus
- Actively distribute fliers about One Mill. Fliers can be available for people to pick up at a table, but fliers cannot be handed out.
- Say or imply that people should vote for One Mill or that it’s on the ballot this Fall.
- Post or wave a One Mill sign.
Promotional resources to use on campus
Images showing what positions are funded by One Mill at each school: School Board / Positions Funded by the One Mill (schoolwires.net)
Promoting One Mill Off Campus
PTAs and other groups are welcome and encouraged to utilize all available resources to promote One Mill off campus, with no restrictions on what we can or can’t say. This includes parent meetings or other events hosted off campus and through Zoom, (as long as there is not an on-campus component to the meeting), as well as social media accounts that are managed by the organization (not by the school). Organizations can also send emails to their members about One Mill (including teachers/school staff).
Note for PTAs: because One Mill is endorsed by ACCPTA and supported by state and national PTA positions, PTAs cannot actively oppose the One Mill in an official capacity. PTA leaders can do so on their own time, but not during a PTA meeting or through a PTA communication stream.
Promotional resources to use off campus
Images showing what positions are funded by One Mill at each school: School Board / Positions Funded by the One Mill (schoolwires.net)
Follow One Mill and spread the word:
- One Mill web site
- Facebook page
- Twitter/X
- Instagram: Yes for One Mill