By Beverly Slough, School Board Member, District 1
I am so very grateful to the voters of St. Johns County for resoundingly approving the two referenda the School Board had on the ballot for the November election. The first, the extension of the half-cent sales tax for building and maintenance of our facilities, as well as enhanced safety for our students, will allow us to continue to provide educational space for our ever increasing student population. The second, an additional one mill of property tax, will provide additional resources for salary supplements for our teachers and staff, enable us to do extra things like additional nurses on large campuses, and also help with the expense of the School Resource Officers. Without public support, this would not have been possible. It is gratifying to see that 68 percent of our voters recognize the importance of recruiting and retaining the very best teachers for our children.
Our board welcomes a new member following the election. Linda Thomson will fill the vacant seat created by Patrick Canan’s retirement. I am grateful for Mr. Canan’s 12 years of service on our board. His experience as an attorney really provided assistance to the board, and his focus on the welfare of children in every decision he made helped us all to provide an excellent education for the students of St. Johns County. We welcome Mrs. Thomson to our board. She was a former principal at Nease High School and a member of the district curriculum team before her retirement several years ago. She represents District 5.
We have begun the zoning process for the K-8 school currently under construction in RiverTown. Starter plans were presented to the School Board on Nov. 19, followed by a Town Hall meeting that same evening at Bartram Trail High School to present the plans to the public. There will be multiple opportunities for parents to weigh in on the potential choices and to provide input on potential changes. The board plans to adopt a final plan at its January meeting.
Perhaps the biggest news this month is the announcement by Tim Forson that he will retire as our superintendent, effective June 30, 2025. The board has engaged Florida School Boards Association to facilitate the national search for his replacement. There will be many opportunities for community members to provide input and opinion as we move forward with the process.
