JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the future of public education in Jacksonville will likely look different over the next couple of years, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund gave people an opportunity Tuesday night to hear from panelists.
The panel, which ranged from teachers to parents and even school board members like Duval County School Board Chair Darryl Willie, discussed potential school consolidations, the selection of new Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier, and upcoming school board elections.
The school district released an updated Master Facility Plan proposal on March 11 that would close 30 schools in Jacksonville to help make up for a $1.4 billion budget gap. Since then, many groups have formed, advocating for schools to remain open that are listed for potential closure.
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“We have an engaged community in public education like never before. And now it’s time to galvanize that, whether it be in these community conversations with the Master Facility Plan, or with ushering our new superintendent. Those are the things in times where the community can really galvanize to come together,” Willie said.
Rachel Tutwiler-Fortune, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, said her concern is to keep the focus on students when discussing the school district’s future.
“As we navigate this time of change, it’s important that our community come together, and that we keep the main thing the main thing and that’s our students and their future, which happens to have a huge impact on the trajectory of our city,” Tutwiler-Fortune said.
Willie said the district also has an opportunity to showcase the benefits of public education in Jacksonville, especially with so many people openly expressing their admiration for their neighborhood schools.
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“You see it with the parents and families and students coming out speaking about how great their school is, how much they’ve learned and grown in their schools,” Willie said. “I think we have to capitalize on that and use that energy to sort of shift us to a place where we have high-quality education in every single one of our school buildings.”
Tutwiler-Fortune said the future of Jacksonville depends on the future of public education.
“If we want to have a long-term, vibrant city, then we have to make sure that we have a high-quality public education system. And so that’s why we’re so invested at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund in partnering with the educators and our community to move our public schools forward. And we just want everyone to see them, see that it is their business and they need to be a part of the solution.”
Gamble Scott, a parent and member of Public School Defenders, said voting in local elections is as important as voting in state and national elections.
“Show up and vote. There’s voting precincts in all of our local libraries so you can vote early. Please show up and vote because your vote does matter,” Scott said.
The decision to hire Bernier received backlash from community members who felt their input wasn’t considered. Willie said it’s the school board’s job to consider all sides when picking a new superintendent. Now that the decision has been made, Bernier is focusing on building relationships to help move the district forward.
“He understands in order to move this district forward, he’s got to have as many people on the bus as he can. And I think he realizes that and I appreciate him for sort of recognizing and realizing that because that is something that this community really holds near and dear to them if we support someone, we’re going to support them wholeheartedly. But we’re going to hold him to a high level of accountability,” Willie said.
The school district wants to hear from the public.
Here’s the remaining meeting schedule:
- Monday, June 10: District 3 meeting at Main Administrative Building
- Tuesday, June 11: District 4 meeting at Stanton College Preparatory School
- Thursday, June 13: District 6 meeting at Ed White High School
- Monday, June 17: District 7 meeting at Atlantic Coast High School
- Tuesday, June 18: District 5 meeting at Paxon School for Advanced Studies
- Thursday, June 20: District 1 at Terry Parker High School