Q: What is the update on the new schools under construction?
A: On Nov. 10, we had the topping off ceremony for High School HHH. We hold these events when they are placing the last girder on the building under construction. Tomorrow (Nov. 17), we will hold the same ceremony for K-8 School MM. 

We have named the principal for K-8 School MM: Amanda Riedl, who previously served as principal at Mill Creek Academy. To fill her position, we have named Ken Goodwin, moving from being principal at Picolata Crossing Elementary School. Finally, to fill his position, we have named Brian Morgan, assistant principal at Ocean Palms Elementary. They will all assume their new positions after Thanksgiving.

Q: Has High School HHH been named yet?
A: No. Principal Jay Willets has been very busy meeting with his community committees to narrow down school names and mascots as suggested by the school survey they sent out. He will send these narrowed down lists to the school board for consideration either at our December or January meeting. 

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Q: What’s happening with High School III?
A: The bid for the construction of this school was just awarded to the same company that is building High School HHH. They are doing a good job and it will be seamless for them to build basically the same school again, just on a different site. We expect to break ground soon in Beachwalk for this new school. I would expect that we will name the principal next spring and then go through basically the same procedures for naming and mascots as we have for High School HHH, just one year later.

Q: What is the latest information on school-based distance learning?
A: We are in our second nine-weeks of this school year. We had families reassess their situations and many students came back to brick and mortar schools at the beginning of this nine-week period. Presently, we only have about 5,300 students doing the school-based distance learning.

We feel a bit in limbo as to what will happen after this nine-week period, which ends Jan. 29, 2021. The Florida Association of District School Superintendents has requested the Commissioner of Education and Gov. DeSantis to extend school-based district learning with funding into the second semester, but we have not heard anything back yet. 

Q: What can you tell us about controlled open enrollment for next school year?
A: Annually, we have to determine our guidelines for controlled open enrollment. For the 2021-22 school year, we have a few more schools available than in the past; we have five elementary schools with availability in the county, one middle school and no high schools. None of these schools are located in NW St. Johns County. The window for the lottery opens in March and we will have complete details on our website.

Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 1?
A: We will have our organizational meeting and seat our new board tomorrow, Nov. 17. Since we rotate our leadership positions, we know that Patrick Canan will be the board chair and Bill Mignon will be the vice chair for the upcoming year. We will welcome new board member Tony Coleman at this meeting as well.

Q: How can our readers contact you?

A: They can email me at beverly.slough@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.

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