Q: Can you give us some insight into the redistricting that is currently in progress?
A: First of all, this is for voting districts only and does not apply to school attendance zones.

The School Board and the Board of County Commissioners had a joint meeting with our consultant today [Sept. 16] and we were presented with four different redistricting plans to consider. For District 1, three of them are nearly identical and the maps show our district as a kind of compressed rectangle. Presently we have 11 schools in District 1 and we likely will have six (and a shared Liberty Pines Academy) after the redistricting. 

Recall that the purpose of redistricting is to get all five of the districts within St. Johns County to nearly the same population. Right now, District 1 has more people than any of the other districts. 

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Q: What are the next steps?
A: We will have Community Meetings on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. in the School Board Auditorium and on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Nease High School Media Center. The Joint Board Meeting for Final Approval of the District Map will be held on Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. in the Board of County Commissioners Auditorium. 

To learn more about the details of redistricting in St. Johns County, as well as see the four proposed maps, visit www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/redistricting.

Q: What can you tell us about the school district’s new partnership with Flagler Health+ as pertains to quarantining protocols?
A: People were confused about the quarantining process, so we partnered with Flagler Health+, as well as the Health Department and the St. Johns County EOC (Emergency Operations Center) to establish a hotline for parents to call to get all their questions answered. Representatives from all these agencies will be on hand, so this is truly a one-stop hotline. The number is (904) 819-1101 and all calls during business hours will be answered by a person.

Q: Do you have an update on High School III?
A: Construction is going a little slower than we would like due to supply chain issues and labor shortages that everyone seems to be dealing with. As of the end of August, the school was at 43 percent completion, so we are still able to say we will be open on time next school year.

The new principal, Greg Bergamasco, is in the process of holding community meetings and is beginning to build the school’s culture. The school board will vote on the name of the school from among options presented at either the October or November board meeting.

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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