MANATEE -- School Board Chairman Harry Kinnan talks a lot about how he wants the school board to keep its focus on the classroom and the budget. Now he’s arranging for others to talk a lot about it, too.

Starting at the next meeting on Feb. 14, two new features will be added to the old standby topics of student celebration, recognitions, reports and presentations, and new and old business.

An elementary school will be highlighted at each meeting. Kinnan says there are so many of them in our county -- 35 to be exact -- that many of them get lost in the shuffle of district business.

Board meetings also will feature a focus on some aspect of curriculum or what is being taught in classrooms.

The new features may end up lengthening what already are often marathon events, stretching four to seven hours on Monday nights. But from Kinnan’s perspective, the changes will help the public better understand their school system.

Check out Education Reporter Christine Hawes’ blog, “The Learning Curve,” at www.bradenton.com, follow her on Twitter @chawesreports and contact her at 941-745-7081.