Q: What construction updates do you have this month?
A: We’ve agreed to the financing for the next two schools that will be under construction, the ones in Silverleaf and Nocatee set to open in 2026. In the spring, we will bond up to $170 million for these two schools. This doesn’t include a land purchase and is just for construction costs.
For the schools set to open in 2024 in Shearwater and Beacon Lakes, Superintendent Tim Forson has just announced the new principals: Katie O’Connell, principal at Cunningham Creek, will lead K-8 NN in Shearwater and Dr. Jesse Gates, principal at PVPV Rawlings, will lead K-8 OO in Beacon Lakes. Then, in January, our Human Resources division will get to work with teachers to reallocate them where needed, particularly as pertains to Timberlin Creek Elementary and Ocean Palms Elementary, which will shrink as the new schools are opened.
Q: Do you have any more news on the expansion of First Coast Technical College to Hastings?
A: We are partnering with the county through some federal funds to renovate and repurpose the old Hastings High School, which is nearly 100 years old. I’m so excited about this project. It will be multi-phased, likely over about three years, and potential programs to be offered will be early childhood and welding. The first thing that will be done is external repairs to harden the building and then the inside renovations. This will be an economic boon to Hastings and to be able to preserve this historic building ties in with their Main Street Hastings initiative.
Q: What’s the latest legislative update?
A: The Florida Legislature has completed committee meetings in advance of session, which begins on Jan. 9. There are three deregulation in education bills in the Senate that we are supportive of, but the House hasn’t taken them up as of yet. So it remains to be seen.
Q: Can you shed any light on the recently released school grades?
A: We are very well pleased with our school grades. This is the first year with new standards, so it is a benchmark year. In the four academic areas we scored more points than any other district in the state and the gap continues to grow. This is due to excellent teachers, focused students, and committed parents. We have no “D” schools and several of our schools increased a letter grade. The St. Johns County School District remains an “A” district as we have been every year since the inception of grading.
There was one school district ranked ahead of us. This school district has approximately 2,000 students and they excelled at graduation rate and certifications in career and technical education, both of which are awarded acceleration points in the grading process.
Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 1?
A: The school district is doing some belt tightening. Recently, we have taken some money from our reserve fund to support teacher and staff salaries and we find our reserves at a place that we are not comfortable with. In an effort to build them up, principals are looking at staffing at their schools to see where they can tighten up. Also, we have some support staff-type positions that we won’t be continuing because they were funded with federal funds that will expire later this year.
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.
