Message from
Ed Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent of Schools

Changes needed

Senate Bill 6, if passed by the Florida House of Representatives and signed by the governor, will add at least $42 million in unfunded mandates.

This will happen in fiscal year 2011-12 when Duval County public schools will also lose $43 million in federal stimulus money with no legislative plan for replacement.

In order to pay for this new requirement, districts will have to turn current salary scales upside-down, severely reducing salaries for experienced teachers.

The bill prohibits any compensation be given for experience or for advanced degrees.

As Duval and other districts increase our Advanced Placement and similar college-level courses, many more teachers will need advanced degrees and should be compensated for their advanced knowledge, gained on their own time and at their own expense.

Senate Bill 6 requires districts to develop hundreds of tests to establish learning gains of students to be used as the predominant factor in teacher and principal evaluations and compensation.

As one of only two large districts in Florida that has developed these tests, and used them for performance pay, we know the time and cost needed to make them fair and reliable for such major decisions.

Districts that have successfully moved to more performance-based systems have involved all of the key stakeholders and have required additional funds to make the transition.

While we agree with the purpose of the bill to strengthen our ability to discharge ineffective teachers and to use learning gains as a significant portion of teacher and principal compensation, more input is needed to reduce the negative unintended consequences before this bill is implemented.

Please review the Duval County School Board's request that Governor Crist Veto Senate Bill 6/House Bill 7189.

Sincerely,

Ed Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent

Douglas Anderson National GRAMMY® Signature School

The GRAMMY Foundation® has selected Douglas Anderson School of the Arts as the 2010 National GRAMMY Signature School.

Created in 1998, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. GRAMMY Signature Schools is presented by the Gibson Foundation with support from the Ford Motor Company Fund.

While Douglas Anderson School of the Arts was selected as the National GRAMMY Signature School, 11 other schools around the country were selected as GRAMMY Signature Schools.

Each of the 12 GRAMMY Signature Schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program. The top three are designated Gold recipients. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, named the best of the Gold recipients and designated the National GRAMMY Signature School, will receive $5,000. The two remaining Gold schools each will also receive $5,000.

For more information, read the entire article.

Andrew Turner Physically Impaired Track Meet

Nearly 100 students from Biltmore, Mandarin Oaks, Sabal Palm, Love Grove and Biscayne elementary schools recently participated in the 20th annual Andrew Turner Physically Impaired Track Meet.

Organized this year by physical education coaches Al Henson, Scott Adolf, Joan Moore and John Gelles, the track meet is in memory of Andrew Turner, a physically impaired student from Mandarin Oaks Elementary who died from complications of spina bifida many years ago.

During the competition, which was held at the Mandarin Middle School track, students competed in various events based on their different ability levels, including the Frisbee fling, football punt and throw, beanbag toss, long jump, wheelchair obstacle course and more.

"This event is something fun for our physically impaired students to participate in and they love it," said Henson. "They have been practicing and training for these events, and all the students and their families really looked forward to it."

As the students were competing, their classmates, parents and teachers cheered them on, many waving homemade banners and signs.

One Mandarin Oaks Elementary student proudly wore a hat adorned with the acronym M.O.E., and yelled "Go MOE!" for his classmates.

Mother Marketia Fleming said her son, Gregory, a student at Biltmore Elementary, was so excited about the meet. His excitement was evident with the smile he wore all day long as he competed in the football throw and other events.

More pictures from the meet are available on the DCPS' flickr photostream.

Former Jaguars Quarterback to Coach Andrew Jackson Football

Former Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Quinn Gray has been named the new head football coach for Andrew Jackson High School, succeeding former coach Kevin Sullivan who will now be the head coach at Atlantic Coast High School.

Gray played in the NFL for six seasons, five of them with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though he is used to being a football player, this is his first coaching position. He credits his Dad and Grandfather, both coaches, as his inspiration.

Gray says when he retired from football, he knew his next step would be coaching. He also says he is honored to be part of the Andrew Jackson Tigers football team, a team with a great tradition that reminds him of his Dillard High School football team in Ft. Lauderdale.

While a student at Dillard, Gray lettered in football, basketball and baseball, earning all-district, all-region, and Super 11 Honors for the tri-county areas of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

He continued his education at Florida A&M University where he lettered in football for three years, and holds all career passing records at the university including passing yards (7,587), touchdown passes (57), rushing TDs for a QB (21), pass attempts (461) and completions (281).

After his collegiate career, Gray was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars in 2002 where he attended camp but was released and re-signed the next year. While a Jaguar, Gray had 1,328 yards passing and 13 touchdown passes, as well as a quarterback rating of 91.5, the highest in NFL history for a backup quarterback with more than 100 attempts. Gray left the Jaguars in 2008 and spent the preseason with the Indianapolis Colts and the regular season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Last year, he played in the United Football League.

In addition to coaching, Gray will be teaching physical education and health at Jackson.

Around the District

First Coast High Students Travel to Congres Culturel du francais en Floride
Students from First Coast High studying French recently attended the Equipe Congres 2010 in Orlando, and every student in attendance won an award.

Globetrotter Visits Justina Road Elementary and Helps Lead the C.H.E.E.R Initiative
Students had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Aundre "Hot Shot" Branch, a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Blues in the Schools Travels to Kernan, Landon and Axson
Students at J. Allen Axson Montessori Academy, and Kernan and Landon middle schools, had an exciting and interactive time learning about blues music when local band Willie Mae visited their school with special guest Mary Hurt Wright, the granddaughter of legendary blues singer and guitarist Mississippi John Hurt. The visit was part of Blues in the Schools, sponsored by George's Music.

Snow in March at Beauclerc Elementary Cultural Arts Day and Reading Celebration
The Cultural Arts Day and Reading Celebration provided the school's 1,250 students with the opportunity to have fun and celebrate their successes.

Brain Awareness Brings Real Brains to Neptune Beach Elementary
Fourth-graders at Neptune Beach Elementary recently participated in Brain Awareness Week, an in-depth analysis of the brain during their study of the human body systems. Their schoolwork came alive when graduate students from the Mayo Clinic brought real brains to the class and gave a presentation.

Englewood High Students Create First Color Hologram with RGB Lasers
The students created what is believed to be the FIRST true color RGB laser hologram on an emulsion glass plate ever produced by a high school in the United States and possibly the world!

Duval County Students Participate in Annual Stop Teen Underage Drinking Rally
More than 700 Duval County high school students recently participated in the fifth annual Stop Teen Underage Drinking Rally held at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium.

Looking for more school stories? Visit our Spotlight on Education section or tune into dcpsTV to see what's going on at your local school!

Community Connection

JPL Talking Books Digital Transition
The Jacksonville Public Library's Talking Book/Special Needs Library recently began the transition of its service from audio books on cassette to audio books on a flash cartridge. The digital Talking Book player is much smaller than the cassette player, and features crisp, clear digital audio and functionality similar to a CD or mp3 player with each book recorded onto one flash cartridge.

Many Duval County public school students who are registered for the free Talking Book service have already received a digital player; those who have not can apply now. For more information, please call 904-630-1999.

JTA Launches Jingle Contest for Youth
From April 15 through May 14, youth in grades 7-12 will have the opportunity to compose music and sing jingle lyrics provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) about taking transit to a baseball game. To enter, students must upload their 30-second audition video to JTA's Web site or deliver them to JTA offices.

Up to three grand prize winners will be selected. The prize pack is loaded with great prizes, including the opportunity to record an audio version of the jingle in a professional studio and have it aired on local radio stations. In addition, the winning videos will play on the big screen at an upcoming Jacksonville Sun's baseball game. Winners also receive a summer youth pass good for the entire summer!

In This Issue...

April 2010

• Superintendent's Message
• Magnet Meetings
• DA Named National GRAMMY® Signature School
• District Calendar
• Andrew Turner Physically Impaired Track Meet
• Board Meeting Recap
• Keep up with DCPS
• Former Jaguars Quarterback to Coach Jackson Football
• Inside DCPS
• Around the District
• Stay Informed
• Community Connection
• Contact Us

Magnet Meetings

In conjunction with some recent planning discussions, we will be evaluating the "Priority One" portion of the lottery process for dedicated Magnet Schools. Priority One is part of the process by which magnet seats are assigned, and this priority gives students who live in the former attendance area of a dedicated magnet school first access to available seats at those schools.

The public is encouraged to attend either one of our two upcoming community dialogue meetings (both meetings will cover the same information). The purpose of these meetings is to provide data and information about the current process of assigning Priority One within the magnet lottery to those students who are eligible.

• Monday, April 19, 6 p.m. – Paxon Middle Cafeteria, 3276 Norman Thagard Blvd., 32254
  
  
• Tuesday, April 20, 6 p.m. – DCPS' Cline Auditorium, 1701 Prudential Drive, 32207

Please note: The practice of assigning Priority One to dependents of active duty military personnel is not included in this discussion as it is mandated via state statute.

District Calendar

April

14	Student Early Release Day
20	Duval County Council of PTAs/PTSAs Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 10 a.m.
26	District Advisory Council (DAC) Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, 6th Floor Conference Room, 6 p.m.
28	Student Early Release Day

May

4	School Board Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 6 p.m.
12	Student Early Release Day
28	Schools Closed
31	Memorial Day (schools and district offices closed)

Board Meeting Recap

At its monthly meeting on April 12, the Duval County School Board and Superintendent Pratt-Dannals recognized schools, departments and employees for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to Duval County Public Schools.

Keep up with DCPS!

Duval County Public Schools has a Facebook page. To follow us, visit Facebook and select 'Become a Fan' at the top of the page.

Inside DCPS

Duval County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
www.duvalschools.org

Superintendent
Ed Pratt-Dannals

Stay Informed