JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A last-minute push to pass an emergency resolution supporting state funding for education acceleration programs -- like Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment -- didn’t make the cut at Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting.
The resolution, drafted by Council members Matt Carlucci and Jimmy Peluso, came after a request from students at last week’s rules committee meeting.
They asked the council to draft a resolution opposing state funding cuts tied to Senate Bill 2510 and House Bill 5101, which was substituted by Senate Bill 7030.
Duval County Schools estimated it would lose $8 million in the planned state cuts.
The emergency motion, which allows the resolution to skip all committee meetings and head straight to the council floor, received 10 votes. It needed 13 to pass.
And it all happened before public comment, meaning students couldn’t voice their perspectives before the council made its decision.
“I hope you all go to sleep tonight horrified of what you’ve done, destroying the opportunity and education for so many kids seeking this opportunity today,” student Cody Begay said.
VIDEO: Jacksonville Councilman speaks out against plans to cut AP, other courses in Florida schools
Carlucci hoped the resolution would pass when News4JAX spoke with him before the meeting started. He was so upset by the council’s decision that he left the meeting early.
“I cannot tell you how deeply hurt, deeply ashamed I am at my colleagues who did not want to let these students have a chance to speak before they voted,” Carlucci said. “It was a disgrace in democracy at City Hall tonight, and I don’t ever walk out of a meeting. This is the first one I’ve ever walked out on, but I can’t take that kind of [expletive].”
Duval County students and parents have been vocal in their opposition to the funding slash for education acceleration programs, stressing that the programs are necessary for a student’s development and preparation for the future.
Council members Rahman Johnson, Reggie Gaffney Jr., Tyrona Clark-Murray, JuCoby Pittman, and Michael Boylan joined in on co-sponsoring the resolution.
But Councilman Rory Diamond, one of the six votes against the emergency motion, said the council needs to stay in its lane and not become a super school board.
Despite the decision already being made, dozens of students spoke during public comment, passionately advocating for the importance of funding the education programs.
Jarrett Kelly, a junior at Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies, said the programs that are in danger of losing funding are helpful to students in saving money on their education in the long run.
He explained that he can complete three semesters of college by the time he graduates from high school. He was clearly disappointed in the outcome.
“I think the question that everybody in Jacksonville needs to ask of their council members is, ‘Who do you work for?’ If you work for us, truly, if you truly care about our city and work for us students, why won’t you help us fight to save our education? Help us fight to save our future?’” Kelly said.
Fletcher High School student Tristan Rodriguez called it a betrayal.
“It was a betrayal of everything the council is supposed to stand for. It’s a betrayal of the young citizens meant to be represented here today,” Rodriguez said. “The moment I heard that the proposed motion to enter emergency didn’t pass, I was sick to my stomach. I knew in that moment I would not be giving the speech that I had written throughout the week.”
Fellow Fletcher High student Kaden Young said the students won’t soon forget the betrayal they feel.
“I would never think that City Council would prioritize some of their personal politics over the students,” Young said. “We’re the ones that are going to be voting for them in the next election. We will remember this. It’s not like this is going to fly right by our heads. We will be in Jacksonville. We will remember, and we are voting against them.”
