by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
One million dollars.
According to Duval County School Board Chair Betty Burney, that’s how much difference on average there is between the lifetime incomes of a college graduate and a high school dropout.
That may be why Jacksonville’s leadership is literally at the forefront of the city’s most recent educational innovation. Introduced formally Monday by former Sheriff Nat Glover at the Schultz Center for Teaching & Leadership, the Jacksonville Commitment is designed to provide financial college assistance to area high school kids who one, have the grades and test scores to get into college, but, two, don’t have the financial ability to pay for school.
“We think this will positively impact all of Jacksonville,” said Glover, who lost to Mayor John Peyton in his bid for mayor in 2003.
Glover is joined by Peyton, former Mayor and current University of North Florida President John Delaney, Burney, Jacksonville University President Kerry Romesburg, Florida Community College at Jacksonville President and current Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Chair Steven Wallace and Edward Waters College President Claudette Williams.
Peyton announced the City will kick off the funding efforts by setting aside $1 million in the 2008-09 budget for the program, which will begin during the 2008-09 school year.
“This is a good, positive proactive investment,” said Peyton, adding he believes the Jacksonville Commitment concept is a first in the country. “We have a program that no other city in America that I am aware of offers.
“I wish I could say this is my idea, but it is not. It’s the brainchild of our academic leaders. This will become a model for other cities.”
Peyton said the initiative will impact three areas he’s been concentrating on since shortly after he took office in 2003: safety, raising the per capita income and growing the tax base.
“This permeates in a positive way everything we are trying to do,” he said.
Predicated on true financial need and academic success, the program is aimed initially solely at the 9,000 public high school students in Duval County who live in Jacksonville and qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program.
“The need to remove the cost barrier is critical. That’s a tall order,” said Glover, explaining that many students may have the grades and test scores to get into either FCCJ or a four-year school, but financial barriers discourage them from even applying. “We know not all of them are interested in college. But, for those who dream about going, we want to help them as much as we can. This won’t help everyone who needs help. We know that.
“Make no mistake about it. This is an investment in the future.”
School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals will oversee the program that will rely heavily on adding counselors to the county’s high schools. According to Glover, there are currently 600 students for every counselor.
“They have their hands full,” said Glover.
Under the stipulations of the Jacksonville Commitment, students who qualify to attend a local college are guaranteed entrance among other things. The four-year schools — UNF, JU and EWC — have pledged to cover the cost of an entire four-year degree including tuition, books, meals and housing for students who choose to live on-campus. Additionally, FCCJ has agreed to provide tuition and books to any student that intends to transfer to UNF, JU or EWC.
“In a knowledge-based economy, it is essential that our young people graduate from high school and go on to college,” said Wallace, explaining that Jacksonville is full of smart, talented students who never get the opportunity to fulfill their abilities due to circumstances often beyond their control. “Today there are far too many of those talented young people in our community — due to financial reasons — who are forced to skip college and go on to work.
“We will secure private donations and matching funds to complement City dollars.”
Delaney called the plan an “incredible statement of a community” and agreed with Peyton that the Jacksonville Commitment may garner national attention.
“I have a feeling this will make national news and it should,” said Delaney, who spent several years in the State Attorney’s Office. “It was very, very rare we would prosecute a college graduate. This (the Jacksonville Commitment) changes the dynamic about getting an education in this community.
“It’s a great day for this community.”