PASCO COUNTY, Fla.-- The start of the 2018-2019 school year will also mark the launch of Pasco County Schools' first Citizens' Academy.

• Pasco County schools' first Citizens' Academy starts this year
• The district chose 45 participants from 110 applicants
• The academy kicks off on Aug. 23

"When somebody comes to a board meeting, they don't necessarily hear all the discussions that went on before the item got to that board meeting," said district Public Information Officer Linda Cobbe. "This is going to be more in-depth, it's going to be intimate, and it's people that have an interest, who want to learn more."

The district chose 45 participants from 110 applicants. They'll meet once a month throughout the school year. Sometimes, they'll be in classrooms, learning about topics like how the school board functions or how the budget is put together. During other sessions, they'll visit schools, including Gulf Middle and Marchman Technical College, to get an idea of the variety of programs provided for students, like Exceptional Student Education.

"They're going to actually see the classrooms and the teachers and the aides and the students and really the compassion and the caring that these people have working with students with a range of disabilities," Cobbe said. "Our goal is to get more people in the community to understand all the functions that we perform so that they can talk to their friends or their co-workers, and when something comes up, we have people that are able to discuss it intelligently."

The academy kicks off on Aug. 23.

Cobbe said the plan is to hold academies in coming school years, as well.