by Bailey White
Staff Writer
Education was a popular topic during the mayoral race and promises to help reform the school system in Duval County rolled off every candidate’s tongue.
Now, Mayor-elect John Peyton will have to prove his commitment to education, and it seems he’s starting by getting to know the members of the Duval County School Board.
“We’re actually going to be meeting with John in two weeks,” said Kris Barnes, chair of the School Board. “It will be an informal, hour-long meeting and a way for us to get to know each other. He wants to know more about our schools.”
“We’ll map out how we plan to help each other,” said Peyton. “It’s a way for us to make sure we’re working from the same page.”
This meeting will likely set a precedent for Peyton’s involvement with the School Board.
“I plan to meet regularly with the leadership of the School Board and to have an open door policy with them,” said Peyton.
And he plans to deal with them personally, saying there isn’t a need for a go-between staffer to keep him informed.
“I’ll be the liaison,” he said, adding his approach will be to stay involved, but to let the School Board members do their job. “I’m not going to try to tell them how to run the School Board. They’re elected officials and they’re having good results and moving in the right direction.
“My focus is on early literacy. My vision is that we make reading a core value and that every child reads at grade level by the third grade.”
Long-time School Board member Martha Barrett welcomes Peyton’s personal involvement.
“We’re thrilled that one of his major focuses is an early literacy program,” said Barrett, vice chair of the School Board. “If he says education is one of the number one issues, then people will realize how important it is.”
Barnes agreed.
“Emphasizing early literacy is such an important part of making sure children come to school prepared,” said Barnes. “The mayor has no legal authority over the schools, but what he can do is offer moral support. If he’s behind us, it will encourage businesses to be behind us. And if the mayor is positive about public schools, it helps make the whole community positive.”
And, said Barnes and Barrett, the School Board will do its job to support the mayor.
“The Board will be behind him, just as we hope he’s behind us,” said Barnes. “I think it will be a really good relationship.”
“He seems to be really focused on education,” said Barrett. “His support will go a long way, and I think it will be a wonderful partnership.”