MILWAUKEE, Wis. – During the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, many Florida and Jacksonville area issues have been the focus for some local leaders.
While there has been considerable focus on the presidential election, News4JAX found several local politicians who are focused on what’s happening in Florida, like State House Speaker Paul Renner who represents St. Johns and Flagler counties.
One issue he’s promoting is school choice and charter school options, which has contributed to public school closures in other areas and is being discussed in Duval County.
“We should always base our education choices on what gets the best outcome. We’ve got the best-educated children in the country and choice does that,” Renner said. “I don’t think if you look at how many kids are in public schools through choice programs that it’s been a catastrophic situation for public schools at all.”
People choosing charter schools is one of the trends contributing to DCPS exploring a plan to close and consolidate more than two dozen schools in the district.
Right now, there are 30,000 fewer students in Duval County Public Schools than there were 10 years ago.
MORE | The changing landscape in Duval schools: A school-by-school look at enrollment trends
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Since the 2017-18 school year, there has been a steady increase in charter school enrollment, with almost 2,000 additional students in Duval County charter schools just about every year.
In a speech on Day 2 of the RNC, Gov. Ron DeSantis said electing Trump would lead to the implementation of universal school choice in the country.
News4JAX also talked to Renner about a specific issue for his district: erosion along the St. Johns County coast.
“I think that’s a very expensive issue but an important issue because of our tourism. You have to have quality beaches. So it’s a part of life there,” he said.
Delegates from Clay County, including GOP county chair Rhonda Jett and School Board member Erin Skipper, are also in Milwaukee.
They said Clay voters will go heavily red in November, particularly following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“Locally it comes back to patriotism, loud and proud and unapologetic,” Jett said. “We are Trump supporters and we are gonna fight.”
Skipper said having Trump on the ballot will energize voters.
“Especially with everything going on the last four years. If it hasn’t affected you in some way whether you’re a single mom, a family or kids in school. Times are changing,” Skipper said.