Q: Do you have an update on High School III [as of interview date of Oct. 19]?
A: The construction continues on schedule and we will have the topping out ceremony on Oct. 21. Next month, the school board will vote on a name for the school. The names have been narrowed down to five finalists that will be considered: Sampson Creek High School, Bayside High School, Beachside High School, Ocean Valley High School and St. Johns High School. After this, the principal and the community will pick a mascot. The school colors have already been chosen and they are navy blue, gray and bright green. We are looking forward to filling the PTO and hiring school staff, which will likely happen after the first of the year.
Q: Does the St. Johns County School District still have employment opportunities?
A: Yes. We are still hiring due to the growth we have had in the county. We have instructional and non-instructional positions available. This might be a good time to come out of retirement and take a part time job! Visit the school district website (www.stjohns.k12.fl.us) for details and to apply.
Q: What’s the latest on redistricting due to the recent Census?
A: There will be community meetings held on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the School Board building, 40 Orange Street and on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. at Nease High School in the media center. These meetings pertain to redistricting of our county’s five districts due to the population increases in the recent census and have nothing to do with school zoning. On Dec. 9, the St. Johns County School Board will hold a joint meeting with the Board of County Commissioners to finalize the redistricting for the county. Proposed maps are online at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/redistricting as well as additional information. All of these meetings are open to the public.
Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 4?
A: First, the ESE Parent Advisory group will hold its first meeting of the year, online, on Nov. 9 beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a presentation by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System/Northeast to go over the offerings for parents with disabilities.
Also, I have some students I’d like to highlight:
Ponte Vedra students who placed in the annual Betty Griffin “A Day Without Violence” Art and Poetry Contest are: First place, Ailani Valencia, 10th grade Ponte Vedra High School, Art; Honorable Mention, Juliette Weber, fourth grade Palm Valley Academy, Art; and Honorable Mention, Hollis Lane, 10th grade Ponte Vedra High School, Art.
Freedom Week Essay Contest winners include Pranathi Chinthalapani, 12th grader at Nease High School and Tucker Dimberg, 12th grader at Ponte Vedra High School, who won best overall essay.
The Jeff Holt Coach of the Year Award was also announced. Congratulations to Max Gurowski, Boys’ Lacrosse at Nease High School and Mickey Leapley, Boys’ Golf at Ponte Vedra High School.
Q: How can our readers contact you?
A: They can email me at kelly.barrera@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.
