INSIDER
St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson announces retirement; board to begin search for new leader
Read full article: St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson announces retirement; board to begin search for new leaderSt. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson announced on Thursday he will retire at the end of the school year.
‘I’m incredibly humbled': St. Johns County superintendent excited about referendums that will bring money to district
Read full article: ‘I’m incredibly humbled': St. Johns County superintendent excited about referendums that will bring money to districtVoters agreed to extend a half-cent sales tax for the construction of schools. The superintendent is calling it a big win.
SJC wants to continue its half-cent sales tax, increase property tax to support schools, teachers. What do you think?
Read full article: SJC wants to continue its half-cent sales tax, increase property tax to support schools, teachers. What do you think?Two referendums are on the ballot to support St. Johns County schools as the area continues to see rapid growth.
St. Johns County School District to increase security, air support, surveillance after Georgia school shooting
Read full article: St. Johns County School District to increase security, air support, surveillance after Georgia school shootingSt. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson on Thursday morning said the school district will increase security measures across its schools following a school shooting in Georiga that left four dead and injured nine more.
St. Johns County plans to open 5 new schools in next 3 years; superintendent says district will hire 200 teachers a year
Read full article: St. Johns County plans to open 5 new schools in next 3 years; superintendent says district will hire 200 teachers a yearThe district added another 1,400 students this year and Superintendent Tim Forson told News4JAX on Wednesday that growth means new schools are a necessity.
St. Johns County superintendent recommends school board approve mediator-backed teacher pay raise
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent recommends school board approve mediator-backed teacher pay raiseThe St. Johns County superintendent on Tuesday recommended the school board approve a substantial pay raise for teachers that was recently endorsed by a mediator brought in to settle an ongoing dispute between the district and the teachers union.
St. Johns County teachers plan to protest pay by only working 7.5 hours they’re paid for, nothing more
Read full article: St. Johns County teachers plan to protest pay by only working 7.5 hours they’re paid for, nothing moreA group of St. Johns County teachers is planning a show of solidarity to protest pay.
St. Johns County superintendent says budget decrease makes it difficult to give teachers big raise
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent says budget decrease makes it difficult to give teachers big raiseTeachers and the St. Johns County School District are at a stand-still over pay negotiations.
St. Johns County School District covering a lot of ground to keep up with growing population
Read full article: St. Johns County School District covering a lot of ground to keep up with growing populationAs St Johns County students wrap up the fall semester Wednesday, the school district is already planning ahead for next fall.
St. Johns County superintendent tries to ease concerns of overcrowding after class size resolution approved
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent tries to ease concerns of overcrowding after class size resolution approvedThe district said the resolution is not due to the growth it is seeing right now and set out to ease parents’ concerns about overcrowded classrooms.
St. Johns County schools see 4% increase in students on first day, with more students to come
Read full article: St. Johns County schools see 4% increase in students on first day, with more students to comeMore than 43,000 students attended the first day of school in St. Johns County on Wednesday, according to numbers released by the district.
Time to head back to school in St. Johns County: What you need to know
Read full article: Time to head back to school in St. Johns County: What you need to knowStudents across Northeast Florida will be heading back to school Wednesday, so it’s time to get back into the fall semester swing. Parents and students, here’s what you need to know for St. Johns County.
‘We just ask for patience’: The issues expected as St. Johns County students head back to school
Read full article: ‘We just ask for patience’: The issues expected as St. Johns County students head back to schoolThe St. Johns County School District superintendent is asking for patience from the community as about 50,000 students prepare to go back to school Wednesday morning.
St. Johns County schools will have increased law enforcement presence for final week of classes
Read full article: St. Johns County schools will have increased law enforcement presence for final week of classesThe school district said law enforcement presence will be increased until the last day of school on June 2.
PETA sends letter to St. Johns County superintendent after dead shark hung from Ponte Vedra High rafters
Read full article: PETA sends letter to St. Johns County superintendent after dead shark hung from Ponte Vedra High raftersPETA said it sent a letter to St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson on Tuesday offering lessons on kindness to animals after a dead shark was hung from the rafters at Ponte Vedra High School last week.
This northwest St. Johns County development will be home to the district’s next new school
Read full article: This northwest St. Johns County development will be home to the district’s next new schoolSt. Johns County School District officials said Tuesday a new school is in the works for the northwest part of the county.
St. Johns County School District cancels high school showcase due to COVID concerns
Read full article: St. Johns County School District cancels high school showcase due to COVID concernsThe St. Johns County Programs of Choice High School Showcase scheduled for Thursday was canceled due to concerns over the rise in coronavirus cases, the school district announced.
St. Johns County superintendent: No schools in immediate danger of shutting down
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent: No schools in immediate danger of shutting downThe superintendent of St. Johns County schools said Thursday he’s concerned about the increase in the number of students infected with COVID-19.
Teacher reaction mixed after St. Johns County mandates masks for employees
Read full article: Teacher reaction mixed after St. Johns County mandates masks for employeesThe president of the teachers union in St. Johns County said the reaction among teachers has been mixed after the school district put in place a mask mandate for all school employees this week.
St. Johns County parents protest, call for mask mandate for students, teachers
Read full article: St. Johns County parents protest, call for mask mandate for students, teachersDozens of people holding signs stood outside the St. Johns County School District offices Tuesday morning to call for a district-wide mask mandate when students return to classrooms next week.
Document previews proposed St. Johns County dress code changes
Read full article: Document previews proposed St. Johns County dress code changesThe changes under consideration for the St. Johns County School District’s student dress code include doing away with a rule that girls’ skirts must be no shorter than four inches above the knee and making the dress code standards the same for boys and girls, according to an internal document obtained by News4Jax.
Document previews proposed St. Johns County dress code changes
Read full article: Document previews proposed St. Johns County dress code changesThe changes under consideration for the St. Johns County School District’s student dress code include doing away with a rule that girls’ skirts must be no shorter than four inches above the knee and making the dress code standards the same for boys and girls, according to an internal document obtained by News4Jax.
‘We can do better’: St. Johns superintendent breaks silence on edited girls’ yearbook photos
Read full article: ‘We can do better’: St. Johns superintendent breaks silence on edited girls’ yearbook photosSt. Johns County School Board Chairman Patrick Canan said Monday the decision by a school employee to digitally alter 80 photos of female students that appeared in a high school yearbook was a mistake.
Face masks won’t be required for St. Johns County students this fall
Read full article: Face masks won’t be required for St. Johns County students this fallIn a message to St. Johns County public school students, Superintendent Tim Forson said Friday face masks will no longer be required in school and on school buses when the new school year begins this fall.
St. Johns school board asks education commissioner to lift negative consequences for state tests
Read full article: St. Johns school board asks education commissioner to lift negative consequences for state testsST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – In a letter sent to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, members of the St. Johns County School Board asked the state not to penalize the school district based on the results of the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) tests. “We want to give the test because we want to understand where our children are performing. AdThe letter, which was also signed by Superintendent Tim Forson, cites the U.S. Department of Education which said assessment flexibility was needed due to the ongoing pandemic. “Man students and staff members have missed time at school due to the illness itself, or mandatory quarantine, and students struggled in online platforms for a variety of reasons,” the letter states. Standardized testing begins April 15 and continues through May 28 in Florida schools.
Summer break extended for St. Johns County students
Read full article: Summer break extended for St. Johns County studentsST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Some good news for St. Johns County students. The school board voted Tuesday morning to extend summer break an extra week and start school on Aug.16. The 2021-2022 school year was scheduled to start on Aug. 10. The current school year ends June 10 for students, which is later than in the year’s past due to the coronavirus. The four days the district is delaying will be added to the end of the school year, so the 2021-2022 school year will now end on June 2 for students.
St. Johns County could ditch school-based virtual learning this fall
Read full article: St. Johns County could ditch school-based virtual learning this fallJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With three months left in the current school year, the St. Johns County School District has already assembled a group of leaders to begin planning for the 2021-2022 school year. In a presentation to the St. Johns County School Board on Tuesday, the district said it expects COVID-19 will continue to impact school operations through December 2021. One of the plans under consideration for next year would do away with school-based virtual learning, starting in the fall semester, in favor of offering brick-and-mortar learning along with St. Johns Virtual School, a school with its own set of teachers. AdThe district said the plan, which is not set in stone, would allow teachers to focus on one platform and improve the learning experience for students. Due to staffing issues as a result of the coronavirus, some St. Johns County teachers have been leading both virtual students and in-person students at the same time.
Could summer break be extended for St. Johns County students?
Read full article: Could summer break be extended for St. Johns County students?ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – During a Tuesday morning school board workshop, St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson floated the idea of changing the schedule for the 2021-2022 school year to allow for a longer summer break. Right now, the school year is set to begin Aug. 10, but Forson asked the school board to consider pushing the start date back to Aug. 16. Summer break is currently seven weeks long, about three weeks shorter than a typical summer, due to scheduling changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The school board was initially receptive to the proposal. Forson said he hopes to make a decision soon to give parents, students and teachers enough time to plan.
St. Johns County transitioning educators away from dual-platform teaching
Read full article: St. Johns County transitioning educators away from dual-platform teachingST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Due to staffing issues, some St. Johns County teachers have been leading both virtual students and in-person students at the same time in the midst of the pandemic. Now, as the number of students enrolled in school-based virtual learning has declined, that’s about to change, for some teachers. The St. Johns County School District said it has started to move some teachers away from the dual-platform teaching model. AdMost of the changes involve elementary school teachers, said Associate Superintendent Dawn Sapp. And the superintendent listened, and the school board listened,” said Michelle Dillon, president of the teachers union.
St. Johns County teachers will now need to use sick days for COVID-19 related time off
Read full article: St. Johns County teachers will now need to use sick days for COVID-19 related time offST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Unless a new deal is struck in St. Johns County, teachers there will no longer be able to take emergency time-off for COVID-19 related reasons. This could be a problem for teachers who might become exposed or contract the virus over Christmas break. On the final day before Christmas break, St. Johns County teachers got an email from Superintendent Tim Forson notifying them of the expiration. And that’s what we want to avoid,” said Michelle Dillon, President of the St. Johns Education Association. Dillon said the hope is to sit down with district leaders in January to figure out a solution for teachers to still have access to some form of emergency leave.
New St. Johns County school has a name: Tocoi Creek High
Read full article: New St. Johns County school has a name: Tocoi Creek HighST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County School Board chose a name Tuesday for the new high school that up to today had been labeled “HHH.”The school will be Tocoi Creek High School. A mascot will be chosen later from 11 options:Suggested school names Mascot top selections Ancient City High School Bulls Nine Mile High School Cyclones North River High School Hornets River Valley High School Hurricanes Tocoi Creek High School (chosen name) Longhorns Tolomato High School Moccasins Razorbacks Tigers Toro Vikings VipersOn Dec. 15, the academic and elective course catalog will be released for the 2021-2022 school year enrollment. The St. Johns County School Board said the new school is desperately needed to help address overcrowding in the district. “Largely this will be taking the pressure off Nease high school,” said St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson. Realtor Shimi Meir says the market for families in St. Johns County is so high in demand that sellers and builders have taken advantage of it.
St. Johns County superintendent outlines 4 changes to district’s COVID-19 protocol
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent outlines 4 changes to district’s COVID-19 protocolThe St. Johns County School District will be making some course corrections for the spring semester as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. In a message sent Monday to school families, Superintendent Tim Forson outlined four changes to the school district’s operations under COVID-19. Students will have to commit to either in-person learning or virtual learning for the entire semester. Earlier this year, Forson recognized frequent switching between the two was causing teachers headaches and affecting other students. Third, the superintendent said, the school district will be putting together some “intensive instructional support” programs for students who are struggling this year.
School districts probe families on plans for spring semester learning format
Read full article: School districts probe families on plans for spring semester learning formatJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As school districts across Northeast Florida near the end of a fall semester complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders are hoping to gauge the learning option preferences of families. “Florida school districts are projecting nearly 1.85 million students are either full-time or part-time in-person, which is nearly 65% of students,” said Cheryl Etters, the FDOE Deputy Director of Communications. St. Johns County School DistrictThe St. Johns County School District has yet to announce any updates to its learning options for the Spring semester and, as of the publication of this article, had not responded to News4Jax’s inquiry. Clay County District SchoolsPosted on the homepage of the Clay County District Schools website is a link to a survey aimed at polling households on their plans for next semester. Columbia County School DistrictIn a Nov. 3 letter to families of students enrolled in the Columbia County School District’s school-based virtual learning format “Columbia Homeroom,” district leaders warned families that the format would not be available in the spring and encouraged them to prepare to enroll in the brick-and-mortar format.
St. Johns County schools offer extra money for substitutes willing to take certain jobs
Read full article: St. Johns County schools offer extra money for substitutes willing to take certain jobsST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County School District leaders trying to fill open teaching positions are now offering extra money for substitutes willing to take certain jobs. According to a message from the district’s head of human resources, St. Johns County schools need to fill classroom teacher vacancies at specific times and specific places, like at Nease High School, and they’re now offering extra money as an incentive. The head of the St. Johns County Education Association says she believes the district needed this incentive program because the district was already short on substitutes and fewer are stepping in because of the coronavirus pandemic. But having a strong network of substitutes was a key strategy at the beginning of the year school year, according to St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson. News4Jax has reached out to the school district for more information about the program and the district’s vacancies.
Are St. Johns County parents ready to abandon distance learning? The district wants to know
Read full article: Are St. Johns County parents ready to abandon distance learning? The district wants to knowST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – School leaders in St. Johns County want to know where families stand on distance learning and whether those students will be returning to the classroom any time soon. In an email to St. Johns County families on Wednesday, Superintendent Tim Forson announced the district would no longer allow families to move students from brick-and-mortar learning to the school-based virtual learning format unless there’s a serious health risk involved. Forson said the constant movement in and out of learning models is creating a challenge for staff, particularly teachers. Students might still test positive or join the 665 St. Johns County students who are currently in quarantine. News4Jax asked the district if the option for school-based distance learning will expire in December with the emergency order but a spokesperson did not reply before this story was published.
St. Johns County will no longer allow students to move to distance learning
Read full article: St. Johns County will no longer allow students to move to distance learningST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A message Wednesday from the St. Johns County School District superintendent states that leaders will no longer allow students to move from brick and mortar learning to distance learning. “Now that we are past the first interim reporting period, we will no longer move students to school-based distance learning unless there is a unique high-risk health factor for a student,” Superintendent Tim Forson said in an email. He said students enrolled in St. Johns Virtual School are expected to remain in that option until the end of the semester in January. “The teachers are doing amazing work, but it is increasingly more difficult to manage both platforms throughout the entire day," Forson wrote. “To provide the best instructional experience for your child, we need more consistency and fewer changes.”
St. Johns County schools to have adjusted Wednesday dismissal times
Read full article: St. Johns County schools to have adjusted Wednesday dismissal timesST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Dismissal times for St. Johns County schools will soon be adjusted on Wednesdays for students of public schools in the area. According to a message sent Monday by Tim Forson, the county school superintendent, the 50-minute adjusted Wednesday dismissal time will be implemented Oct. 14. Forson said middle schools will release at 12 p.m., elementary and K-8 academies will release at 12:55 p.m. and high schools will release at 2 p.m. The adjustment is to allow each school’s maintenance and custodial team to sanitize high traffic areas. Here’s the message that was sent by Forson:
No shortage of substitute teachers in St. Johns County, district says
Read full article: No shortage of substitute teachers in St. Johns County, district saysST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – As of last week, there have been 37 staff members in St. Johns County that have either tested positive or been asked to quarantine due to close contact with a positive case. That has led to concerns that the loss of teachers and staff could result in a lack of available teachers in the school district, but a district spokesperson told News4Jax on Thursday there is no shortage of substitute teachers to go around. The district said there are 720 substitute teachers in its substitute teacher pool as of Thursday. St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson has said that maintaining enough substitute teachers will be an important issue this school year during the pandemic. President of the St. Johns County teachers union said that almost one-third of substitute teachers heading into the year were over the age of 65.
St. Johns County superintendent worried about coronavirus cases, but confident in district’s approach
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent worried about coronavirus cases, but confident in district’s approachST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson said Tuesday that while he is concerned about the number of novel coronavirus cases in the school district, he has confidence in the district’s cautious approach to containing the virus. According to data published by the district on Friday, the district has a total of 23 COVID-19 positive students and six positive staff members. A total of 491 students and 31 staff members were quarantined at home as of Friday. Forson said the district is doing its part, as well, to try to reduce the stress on teachers. So I think for us, it is taking away as many other workloads and expectations they might have,” he explained.
Superintendent responds to workload concerns of St. Johns County teachers
Read full article: Superintendent responds to workload concerns of St. Johns County teachersST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. The superintendent of the St. Johns County School District is urging parents to alleviate some of the workloads of teachers engaged in simultaneous instruction. This has been the most challenging start to a school year that we have ever faced, Superintendent Tim Forson said Wednesday in a letter published to the districts website. They are taking the work home with them for hours, they are not spending time with their family and friends.In Forsons letter addressing the issue, he asked parents to understand the challenge those teachers are facing. Your childs teacher is tasked with preparing variations in lessons because students are on two platforms, Forsons letter said. Read the full text of Forsons letter below:
St. Johns County teachers stressed by demands of simultaneous learning
Read full article: St. Johns County teachers stressed by demands of simultaneous learningST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. One week into the new school year, some St. Johns County school teachers are saying they are not happy with how things are going so far. The head of the local teachers union said Tuesday the current set-up is leaving them overworked and frustrated. The main issue, according to teachers, is simultaneous learning, said Michelle Dillon who heads the St. Johns County Education Association. Thats when a teacher is instructing students in the classroom and streaming classes online at the same time. Teachers are going to have to have the ability to fail at something to try to make it better, Forson added.
St. Johns County reports first COVID-19 case on first day of school
Read full article: St. Johns County reports first COVID-19 case on first day of schoolST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Theres now at least one reported COVID-19 case in St. Johns County schools, and parents were notified Monday, on the first day of class. The district sent a letter to parents and guardians, but the district says it cannot release which school is impacted and if its a student or staff member. Its unclear if that person was at school on Monday or if it was a teacher whod previously been at school for planning. And as it relates to the virus in our schools, were going to need to start to get together some reporting system, said Tim Forson, St. Johns County superintendent. News4Jax reached out to the school district transportation department for information on any issues.
What St. Johns County students need to know for the 1st day of school
Read full article: What St. Johns County students need to know for the 1st day of schoolST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. St. Johns County students will be back in the classroom on Monday, and this year, there will be some new rules and requirements. In St. Johns County, neck gaiters are acceptable face coverings, according to the school district. The school district shut off the drinking spouts on all water fountains, so a reusable water bottle will help keep your student hydrated throughout the day. The school district spent nearly $2.5 million outfitting the school buildings with desk barriers, cleaning supplies, technology upgrades and signage to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus as much as possible. Elementary Schools and K-8 Schools: 9-9:30 a.m.High Schools: 9:45-10:15 a.m.Gamble Rogers Middle School: 8-8:30 a.m.Pickups are at your childs school.
Last minute Q&A with St. Johns County superintendent before school starts
Read full article: Last minute Q&A with St. Johns County superintendent before school startsST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. As students in St. Johns County prepare to return to school on Monday, St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson joined The Morning Show on Friday to answer a few last-minute questions about what they can expect when they finally return to classrooms. Melanie Lawson: This is a big day for students and parents in St Johns County. ML: It is the first day back on Monday and Ive talked with some parents who are still on the fence about distance learning. You have more than 42,000 total enrollment about 25% are distance learning with 32,000 brick-and-mortar, so what will those virtual classrooms look like? And so from one school to the next, the number of distance learning students vary widely.
St. Johns County schools will have substitutes, nurses on each campus upon reopening
Read full article: St. Johns County schools will have substitutes, nurses on each campus upon reopeningST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. Classes begin Monday for St. Johns County students and officials with the district said theyre making sure each school has the resources it needs to handle any COVID-19 related problems. In addition to hand sanitizer, digital thermometers, desk partitions, PPE and other equipment aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the district is also providing additional human resources to each campus. There will be 1-3 substitutes assigned to each school, said St. Johns County School District spokeswoman Christina Langston. At least two nurses will be stationed at each campus, according to the district. Langston added that elective courses may have more students in the classroom than core classes will.
St. Johns County finalizes plan for students who refuse to wear masks
Read full article: St. Johns County finalizes plan for students who refuse to wear masksST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. The St. Johns County School Board on Tuesday morning finalized plans for how the district plans to handle students who refuse to wear masks at school. The reassignment would apply to students who fail to wear a mask or face covering when required on more than three occasions. Before the student is reassigned, the school principal must notify the student and the students parents verbally and in writing that a student has refused or failed to comply with required district practices. The superintendents decision to reassign a student to distance learning will be final and shall not be subject to appeal, the district said. Part of the rules adopted Tuesday give Forson the power to require that all district students, teachers, staff, volunteers, vendors, and others, wear a mask.
How St. Johns County plans to report COVID-19 cases in schools
Read full article: How St. Johns County plans to report COVID-19 cases in schoolsST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson said the school district working on a way to report COVID-19 cases in schools. One of the options is developing a dashboard similar to the one being created for Duval County schools. Thats the caution.Duval County schools said its dashboard will display confirmed cases on school campuses among students and staff and that it will be updated regularly. Our community seems to be really well committed to doing the right thing.The new positive test rate for COVID-19 averaged over a 14-day period for St. Johns County is 6.21%, the district said. Forson also addressed other COVID-19 related issues discussed by the school board as students prepare for a return to classrooms on Monday.
St. Johns County teachers, district at odds over student mask control in classrooms
Read full article: St. Johns County teachers, district at odds over student mask control in classroomsST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. As students in St. Johns County prepare to return to the classroom next week, teachers and the school district are at odds over student mask policy in brick-and-mortar schools. The current mask policy in the school district calls for students to wear masks if they are unable to social distance. Teachers like Melondia Corpus, a veteran educator who teaches at St. Johns Technical High School, is worried the current policy will put her at risk. But Im in my 33rd year with St. Johns County and I only have two more years to go. The SJEA, the teachers union in St. Johns County, asked St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson to allow teachers the authority to require masks in their individual classrooms, especially if social distancing is not possible, or if they have health concerns.
St. Johns County students could be sent to distance learning if they dont wear a mask
Read full article: St. Johns County students could be sent to distance learning if they dont wear a maskST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. St. Johns County students who refuse to wear a mask at school could be reassigned to distance learning, Superintendent Tim Forson said Thursday. Ultimately though, in the health and safety of everyone involved, it could be a reassignment of a student into distance learning for a period of time.A similar policy is already in place for Duval County schools. News4Jax has requested more information about the policy in St. Johns County. St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson takes questions from parents during a virtual meeting on Thursday. Forson said he plans to send out more information about the upcoming school year to parents at some point this weekend.
CDC recommends parents do daily health screenings before sending kids to school
Read full article: CDC recommends parents do daily health screenings before sending kids to schoolIt includes conducting health screening on children every day before sending them to school. St. Johns County Schools Superintendent Tim Forson sent an email to parents Tuesday night asking parents to comply with the recommendation. The daily health screening is as follows. Mothers Chrissy Henry and Tiffany Sral are sending their 5-year-old boys to Hendricks and Neptune Beach elementary schools when Duval County schools open next week. Sincerely,Tim Forson Superintendent of Schools St. Johns County School District
St. Johns, Clay county teachers return to school for the first time since March
Read full article: St. Johns, Clay county teachers return to school for the first time since MarchST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Teachers in Clay and St. Johns counties on Tuesday returned to school campuses for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close in late March. In St. Johns County, Tuesday marked the first of three consecutive teacher pre-planning days that will be used to prepare them for the new challenges of the upcoming school year. Superintendent Tim Forson welcomed the teachers back to school during a school board meeting Tuesday morning. Teachers in the county have two more in-service days before Clay students are scheduled to return to classes Aug. 25. Students in St. Johns County will come back Aug. 31.
St. Johns County schools leaders to field questions in town hall
Read full article: St. Johns County schools leaders to field questions in town hallIn case you missed it, News4JAX on Thursday hosted its first Facing The Fall Virtual Town Hall to get answers from Duval County schools decision makers about how theyre approaching the upcoming school year. RELATED: Replay the first Facing The Fall Virtual Town Hall hereWere pleased to announce we have a second virtual town hall planned for Tuesday. News4JAX anchor Melanie Lawson and education reporter Joe McLean will host and moderate that town hall. That town hall will kick off at 10 a.m. Tuesday. We need your help, so if you have questions about the upcoming school year, youre welcome to submit them, even anonymously, using the form above.
Will St. Johns County School Board push back start of school year?
Read full article: Will St. Johns County School Board push back start of school year?ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. The St. Johns County School Board is meeting Tuesday to discuss possibly pushing back the start of the school year. If the board decides to push back, that date will change to Aug. 31. If the board signs off, it could also mean a different date for the last day of school, which would move to June 16. The board is also set to discuss buying desk shields for those students whose families choose to return to the physical classroom. But those shields wouldnt be delivered for three weeks -- after the current Aug. 10 start date -- and that doesnt include time needed for installation.
Deadline today for St. Johns County parents to choose school attendance preference
Read full article: Deadline today for St. Johns County parents to choose school attendance preferenceST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Parents have until the end of the day to decide how theyd their child to attend school this fall. The decision comes as St Johns and several other local school districts consider pushing back the start of the school year. St. Johns County schools have four choices for students:SJC Schools Superintendent Tim Forson said he knows parents are faced with a difficult choice. The next school board meeting is on July 28. The school workshop meeting will be held in the auditorium of the SJCSD Administrative Building at 40 Orange Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084.
St. Johns County superintendent: Good chance school start will be pushed back at least 2 weeks
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent: Good chance school start will be pushed back at least 2 weeksST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Within the next week, the St. Johns County School Board is expected to set the date to decide when board members will vote on a proposal to delay the start of the school year. Superintendent of Schools Tim Forson said Thursday on The Morning Show that he thinks its a high probability that the start of school in St. Johns County will be delayed by as much as two weeks. Another question many parents are asking is when and where students who choose to return to campus will be expected to wear masks. If there are classrooms where there are a large number of students or where teachers need students to be in small groups in tight areas, they are going to be asked to wear masks, Forson said. The deadline to decide which of the four options you want for your student is Friday in St. Johns County.
St. Johns County teachers voice concerns over back-to-school plans
Read full article: St. Johns County teachers voice concerns over back-to-school plansST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. As president of the St. Johns County teachers union, Michelle Dillon has been hearing the concerns of teachers as the school district works to finalize plans to reopen schools in August. So of course we want to go back, but once we know its the right time and its safe.Josh Kaspar, a St. Johns County teacher for 11 years, told News4Jax that, to him, staying safe means requiring masks for all teachers. I think we should focus on what we can control, and we can control students and teachers wearing masks, said Kaspar, who teaches biology. We cant wait until were sick to put a mask on.Reopening plans in St. Johns County were put on hold this week when the Florida Department of Education handed down a mandate that said schools must reopen brick-and-mortar classrooms at least five days a week. When you ask that much of teachers and teachers arent going to say no, Grimes said.
St. Johns County puts reopening plan on pause after state mandate
Read full article: St. Johns County puts reopening plan on pause after state mandateST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson was ready Tuesday morning to present a detailed reopening plan to the School Board. But with the mandate to reopen school campuses in August handed down Monday evening, the presentation, and any reopening plans, have been put on hold. I really believe itd be wise for me today not to walk through a plan that we dont know if it will align with the state executive order that we received yesterday, Forson said. I dont want to present something and then unwind it, and present it again.School board members Beverly Slough and Patrick Canan were critical of the decision by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to issue the order with just over a month to go until the 2020-2021 school year begins on Aug. 10.
Why a St. Johns County parent chose full-time virtual school over alternatives
Read full article: Why a St. Johns County parent chose full-time virtual school over alternativesST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Wendy Seth, like many other parents in St. Johns County, had a decision to make as the school year approaches. Some people view it as less of a threat.Wendy Seth, St. Johns County parent. The St. Johns County School District presented four options to parents, which include school-based brick and mortar learning and school-based distance learning. Parents also have the opportunity to enroll students in St. Johns Virtual School, a fulltime virtual school, or home education. The St. Johns County School Board and superintendent will meet Tuesday again to discuss plans for reopening schools further.
St. Johns County School District wants parents help deciding on fall reopening plan
Read full article: St. Johns County School District wants parents help deciding on fall reopening planST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. School is out for the summer in St. Johns County, but it will be back in session August 10 -- and possibly back in the building. Thursday night St. Johns County School Superintendent Tim Forson sent a letter to parents, staff. and community members asking for input on how many parents are willing to send their kids back to school in the fall semester. It included the following:If the level of community spread is low to no spread: Students can return to in-person instruction. Superintendent Forson said parents will be receiving an additional document today for them to indicate their preferences for the upcoming school year.
St. Johns County superintendent: Face masks one of the most challenging issues
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent: Face masks one of the most challenging issuesST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson said Wednesday in a letter to parents that the issue of whether or not to mandate face coverings when school resumes in August has been one of the most challenging issues facing the district. On Tuesday, a day after Jacksonville enacted a mask mandate for indoor spaces, St. Johns County leaders declined to take it up. If the spread of COVID-19 is moderate in St. Johns County, for example, the district could require students to wear masks when riding school buses. If there is no spread or low spread, masks will be strongly encouraged, under the draft plan. The School Board and superintendent will meet again on July 7 for a workshop and are expected to finalize reopening plans during a School Board meeting on July 14.
St. Johns County School District may require masks for students riding buses
Read full article: St. Johns County School District may require masks for students riding busesST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. The issue of students wearing masks was a big topic of discussion Tuesday morning as the St. Johns County School District and School Board attempted to work through a plan on how to safely reopen schools in August amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. If the spread of COVID-19 is moderate in St. Johns County, for example, the district could require students to wear masks when riding school buses. If there is no spread or low spread, masks will be strongly encouraged, under the draft plan. School Board member Kelly Barrera said she supports the idea of requiring masks for students on school buses. Parents will be asked to decide by July 10 if they want their students to attend St. Johns Virtual School or brick and mortar school.
Survey: 69% of St. Johns County parents support return to schools
Read full article: Survey: 69% of St. Johns County parents support return to schoolsST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Preliminary results released Monday by the St. Johns County School District show that 69% of parents support a return to school campuses this fall. The goal of the survey is to collect parents thoughts on reopening brick-and-mortar schools in August. On Tuesday, Forson and members of the St. Johns County School Board met virtually and talked about how the district will likely move forward when the new school year begins. The survey then asks parents to answer yes or no to whether they feel comfortable sending their child to school starting Aug. 10. A recent survey of more than 1,200 St. Johns County teachers found that 30% were uncomfortable returning to an in-person teaching format in August.
Survey: 30% of St. Johns County teachers uncomfortable with returning to school in fall
Read full article: Survey: 30% of St. Johns County teachers uncomfortable with returning to school in fallST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. In an effort to understand how St. Johns County teachers felt about the prospect of returning to school campuses in the fall, the school district sent out a survey to more than 2,600 instructional staff. More than 1,200 teachers responded to a survey from the St. Johns County School District. The vast majority of St. Johns County teachers, 82%, said they are able to have a greater impact with face-to-face instruction. Additionally, 75% of teachers said the communication from school leadership was excellent.Results of a survey sent to teachers in St. Johns County. Superintendent Tim Forson said a similar survey will be sent out to St. Johns County parents in the coming days.
St. Johns County schools look to expand online options amid COVID-19 closures
Read full article: St. Johns County schools look to expand online options amid COVID-19 closuresSt. Johns County schools look to expand online options amid COVID-19 closuresPublished: March 16, 2020, 4:28 pmVIDEO: St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson said the district is taking precautions to keep students safe, extending Spring Break by a week and looking at extending remote and online learning options.
St. Johns County students to receive courses on substance abuse, child trafficking, mental health
Read full article: St. Johns County students to receive courses on substance abuse, child trafficking, mental healthSt. Johns County students to receive courses on substance abuse, child trafficking, mental healthPublished: December 11, 2019, 9:29 amST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Tim Forson, the St. Johns County school superintendent, sent a letter Tuesday to parents that lists new requirements for middle and high school students.
How the school district is managing explosive St. Johns County growth
Read full article: How the school district is managing explosive St. Johns County growthFamilies are moving to the school district, which is ranked among the best in the state, in record numbers compared to districts of similar size. He said it will be at least two years before a new high school is ready to open. We are very strict and very consistent about hiring teachers for the number of students that are in that school," Forson said. One teacher to 22 students for middle school students and one teacher per 25 students in high school. Forson said elective classes, however, will often have many more students than that ratio, especially in high school.
St. Johns County superintendent talks growth, teacher shortage, school safety
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent talks growth, teacher shortage, school safetyTim Forson says his county has been growing by a school a year for 12-15 years. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
St. Johns County superintendent talks growth, teacher shortage, school safety
Read full article: St. Johns County superintendent talks growth, teacher shortage, school safetyST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - Summer vacation ends Monday for students in St. Johns County, and this year there will be more students answering the bell than last. Growth is the biggest challenge confronting St. Johns County schools. "We've been in that position for probably 12 to 15 years now where we grow by about a school a year, St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson said. So its a competitive market for us as a school district to find the very best.4 Your Info Got questions about your students school? That's a concern felt by a number of parents whose families live in the St. Johns Forest area.