Q: Can you comment on the recently approved Five Year Growth Plan for the St. Johns County School District?
A: We just found out that our growth rate this year is 7.26 percent, which is the highest it’s been in quite some time (and it’s always been high). We will be building or expanding two elementary schools and building three K-8s in the next five years to address our growth. First up will be a K-8 school in the Northwest at a location to be announced sometime after the first of the year. This will address the extreme overcrowding at Freedom Crossing Academy and Timberlin Creek Elementary.
Q: Will this school be paid for with the sales tax proceeds?
A: Likely not. Although the sales tax has generated more money than we thought, we need to complete the construction on the schools listed in the referendum first. This includes an expansion of South Woods Elementary and an additional elementary school in the southern part of the county. As for any extra money after the referendum items are paid for, we will receive recommendations from the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Q: Do you have an update on Beachside High School?
A: This school is coming along and is on track for a Fall 2022 opening. Principal Greg Bergamasco has just hired the school’s athletic director, longtime Bartram Trail softball coach Jen Harman. She is the first female athletic director in St. Johns County. Teachers will be hired after the first of the year; some of the Bartram Trail teachers and staff will go to Beachside and those determinations are in progress.
Q: Can you tell us about the recent countywide redistricting and its impact on District 1?
A: After redistricting, District 1 is the most compact district geographically, but it contains the most residents. It used to contain 10 schools but now contains nine. I was pleased with the process; the school board and the county commission agreed on the final map with no debate.
Q: How has the school district been spending the federal money it has recently received for COVID relief?
A: We have spent a big chunk trying to remediate reading at the elementary school level. We have after school reading programs in all elementary schools four days a week for those students identified as needing help getting their skills back up to pre-COVID levels. We are also looking at how to remediate math — we saw some slippage at all levels and we need to focus on how to help our students get back on track.
Q: What else do you have to share with District 1?
A: As a district, we have been focused on the recruitment and retention of teachers. Colleges are not producing as many [teacher] graduates and some teachers are leaving the profession. Lack of teachers has been an issue across the state for awhile, but this is the first time we’ve experienced it here in St. Johns County. It’s a challenge to get teachers to come and to stay.
Lately, I’ve been going school to school, thanking our teachers. We really don’t tell them “Thank you” enough, but we are more than grateful for all they do for our children.
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.
