Tillman Elementary

James Tillman Elementary School, 1415 29th St. E., Palmetto, is named after the educator and principal. The school opened its doors on Jan. 31, 1966. Tillman graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education before teaching in Manatee and Volusia counties for 28 years. Twenty of those were spent at Lincoln Academy and High School. Later, Tillman briefly served as Lincoln High School’s principal for two years, starting in 1964. “Tillman was a man who stressed the need of basic education and the not-always-popular philosophy that if you want to advance in the world, you have to depend on yourself,” according to a report in Manatee County’s Historic Records Archive. He died unexpectedly in 1965. His death was “quite tragic,” the report said. During his tenure as principal, Tillman is credited with increasing the quality of instruction and the emphasis on students’ respect for themselves and the school.

This year in addition to the actual VPK Choice Window our department will be hosting a VPK Choice Fair on January 10th, where families can receive assistance on completing their applications and VPK certificates. Attached is the informational flyer for VPK choice in both English and Spanish. Also attached is a half-page save the date flyer for the VPK Choice Fair. Let us know if you have any questions and thank you for your continued support for our early learners and their families.

James Tillman School
Advisory Council (SAC) Meetings

September 16, 2025
November 18, 2025
February 3, 2026
April 14, 2026
All SAC meetings are at 5:30 pm in the Media Center.

Consejo Asesor de la Escuela James Tillman

(SAC)
16 de septiembre de 2025
18 de noviembre de 2025
3 de febrero de 2026
14 de abril de 2026
Todas las reuniones de SAC son a las 5:30 pm en el centro de medios.

Tillman Elementary School
School uniform policy

Tops: Red, Navy Blue, Black or White polo shirt or Tillman School T-Shirt
Collared shirt can be polos, dress shirts, oxford, blouse, turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks.

Bottoms: Navy blue, Black, or Khaki
Bottoms can be slacks, shorts, skirt, skort or jumper.
No jeans
Waist of garment is to be at student’s waist. If needed belt is to be worn.

Jackets, Sweaters, Coats, etc.
Any jacket, coat or sweater is OK if it meets regular dress code.
Any jacket, coat or sweater must be worn with a collared uniform shirt or Tillman School T-shirt underneath.

Other dress code rules:
Clothes must be appropriate size.
Shoes will be safe and appropriate. Closed shoes are preferred. Crocs/Flip flops are not permitted. Student should wear socks with shoes.

Tillman school shirts can be purchased through:
Manatee Apparel
1104 9th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 746-6353

How To Find Your School Bus Information

All Car Rider parents:
Thank you so much for your patience this first week of school. We will be moving as quickly as possible but could use your help with a couple of things to make the line move as quickly as possible.
Car Riders at arrival time:
1. Students may not be dropped off prior to 7:50, please remain in the cars until 7:50 when a staff is present.
2. Students need to be dropped off in the car loop rather than be walked up through the parking lot.
3. Cars need to pull all the way down when unloading to allow for multiple cars to unload at a time.
4. Adults are asked to stay in their cars during arrival. *We know some students need assistance getting out they will need to pull all the way down.
5. Car riders is over at 8:20am. Any students arriving after 8:20 will be asked to be signed in by family in the office.
Car Riders at dismissal time:
1. Please have your yellow car rider form filled out in front right side of your dashboard with students' first and last names and grade level.
2. Leave that sign in the dashboard until all students are in the car (if we have to re-call your child, it's still there and visible).
3. Whenever possible, please make arrangements for your child to be able to load from the right side of the car for everyone's safety.
4. Please pull up to close any gaps between your car and the car in front of you. This helps us keep the line moving forward.
Thank you so much for your patience and support to keep our students safe.

EDEP Registration Forms

Security Screening at Secondary Schools – Beginning Monday, August 11, 2025, all students and visitors at district middle and high schools will be screened each school day using a high-tech security scanner system. For more information on this enhanced security screening procedure, visit https://www.manateeschools.net/securityscreening.

School Board Seeks Civic-Minded Citizens to Join Audit Committee – The School Board of Manatee County is seeking civic-minded citizens to serve as members of the Audit Committee. The Committee, which meets six times a year, recommends the appointment of the internal and external auditors; reviews the scope, plan and reports of the internal and external auditors; and assists in maintaining open communications between the selected auditors, the School Board and the District’s financial management. The Committee also reviews the collection and proper use of the funds raised through the one-half cent sales surtax for school capital outlay expenditures. Membership on the Committee requires an average of five-to-eight hours per month, with meetings scheduled every other month for three hours. The term is approximately three years. Those interested in serving must: • Live in Manatee County. • Be a CPA (active or retired) or had employment experience in school district financial operations. • Submit a letter expressing interest, provide contact information and provide a brief summary of their work experience. Responses must be sent to the Manatee County School District, Attention: School Board Agency Clerk, P.O. Box 9069, Bradenton, Florida 34206-9069. Interested individuals may obtain additional information about the Committee by emailing the School Board Agency Administrative Associate at cox3l@manateeschools.net.

The Florida Department of Education released the Florida Value Added Model (VAM) Fiscal Transparency Tool, a web-based fiscal transparency tool that identifies public schools and districts with high academic achievement based on the ratio of classroom expenditures to total expenditures. VAM is intended to help taxpayers evaluate the financial efficiency of a school district with other similarly situated school districts. View the VAM for the School District of Manatee County at https://floridavam.org/e/vamPublic.html?w4=54#/entityId=262385.

Family Empowerment Scholarship – Parents interested in applying for either FES-EO or FES-UA may review the eligibility requirements and application instructions at https://www.manateeschools.net/FES.