by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
For the past three years, the Downtown Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership School to provide mentors, special programs for students and books for the magnet school’s library. The school has 770 students enrolled in grades 6-8.
At its meeting Friday, the council recognized Anna Peacock-Preston, who teaches television production at the school, for her achievements in the past year.
The award was presented by Duval County Schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals, who was the guest speaker at the meeting at The University Club.
Pratt-Dannals said it’s “both a great time and a challenging time” for public education in Duval County.
The system serves more than 123,000 students and is the 21st-largest public school system in the country.
Pratt-Dannals said on the “great” side, that while Duval County does have some challenged schools in terms of student performance and graduation, overall the system has a grade of B and two-thirds of public schools are rated A or B.
New courses have had an impact on results, he said. Last year, 40 students at Lee High School and 20 students at Raines High School completed a dual-enrollment program that allowed them to earn an associate’s degree before graduating from high school.
Pratt-Dannals said most of the graduates are “first-generation college students” and the program proved that “a lot of students and parents are willing to put in the effort.”
He said in the past five years, participation in Advanced Placement classes has doubled overall and increased more than 400 percent among African-American students.
The issues presented to public schools by the expected state education budget allocations will further challenge public schools.
That’s more important today than even 10 years ago, said Pratt-Dannals, because teachers are called on now more than ever to provide guidance in social skills that students formerly received from their parents.
The possibility of increasing teachers’ share of pension contributions and health insurance coverage along with possible furloughs also could affect Duval County schools.
“We’re in a competitive environment and we need to keep our quality teachers. That won’t be easy when they can make more money in another state,” said Pratt-Dannals.
The school board is considering options to cover an expected $75 million shortfall in the budget for public schools, including reducing or eliminating transportation to and from magnet schools and art, music and physical education programs in elementary schools. Other options include a four-day school week and further reductions in administrative staff.
Pratt-Dannals said two weeks of workshops will begin Tuesday to consider the school system’s options. Possible solutions also are on the agenda.
After the meeting, Pratt-Dannals said one point of discussion will be a possible referendum on a 1-cent local sales tax to help fund public education. He said such a tax could contribute as much as $60 million per year to the school system’s budget.
When asked for his reaction to School Board Chair W.C. Gentry’s distribution of an email Thursday urging recipients to vote for Republican Mike Hogan in the Jacksonville mayor’s race, Pratt-Dannals said he expects other board members will also endorse candidates and he doesn’t believe Gentry’s endorsement carries any more weight because he’s chair.
School Board member Tommy Hazouri endorsed Democrat Alvin Brown.
Is there any chance Pratt-Dannals will endorse either Hogan or Brown?
“No. I have to work with whoever wins,” he said .
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