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Quality education for all will continue
 As we
near the end of the 2007/2008 school year, I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication to your students’ education and to Duval County Public Schools.
We are going to be entering the next school year with a budget shortfall of nearly $70 million due to the sales tax revenue shortfall, Amendment 1 and fixed cost increases. However, we are doing everything we can to make sure that the impact to our students is minimal.
Although the Legislature allowed us flexibility in using capital money for operating
expenses, the $70 million shortfall in next year’s budget could potentially cause a reduction in salary and benefits for teachers and administrative staff, reduction in programs and the cutback of employees.
Unfortunately the state did not provide us with the sufficient funds to effectively run a large urban school district. Florida was ranked at the bottom of a 2006 census bureau report on public education finances, and there is no reason to believe that we are not there now.
District officials will remain steadfast in our dedication to providing quality education to all of our students, and we will continue to ensure that Duval County students receive all of the proper tools and training they need to succeed.
Thanks again for all that you do, and for your continued support of Duval County Public Schools.
Ed Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent
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With a unanimous vote and praise for the far-reaching community collaboration that has taken place in the last five months, the Duval County School Board approved a Strategic Plan at its May 6 meeting.
The plan, which was described as a "road map" for the work of the large urban school district during the next four years, spells out the board’s vision, mission, core beliefs and commitments. It also details six goals and specific measurable strategies to reach them.
Elements of the plan adopted by the School Board include:
Vision
Every student will graduate from Duval County Public Schools with the knowledge and skills to be successful in post-secondary education and/or the workforce.
Mission
The Duval County Public Schools system is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities that will inspire all students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world.
Goals
1. Increase academic achievement for all students
Increase overall achievement for all students while moving significantly toward eliminating the achievement gap of racial and ethnic groups and students from low income families.
2. Significantly increase the graduation rate
Increase the percentage of students graduating ready for post-secondary education and work.
3. Employ the best teachers and principals
Hire, develop, support and retain the best teachers and principals in the nation for all schools.
4. Establish safe, secure and respectful schools
Establish safe schools where all individuals are respected, valued and feel secure.
5. Engage family and community support
Energize families, community, civic and business leaders and corporations to engage in the success of education.
6. Deliver high quality support for schools
Continually enhance school performance through delivery of high quality District management, operational support, and customer service.
The full version of the plan - including strategies and targets - is available here.
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1,600 watch as Chaffee Trail's Miller named district's 2008 Teacher of the Year
 This school year has been a good one for Lucretia Miller. Last summer, she was an important part of the team that opened the new Chaffee Trail Elementary School. And on April 10 at a gala in the Prime F. Osborn Center, she won the title of Duval County Public Schools’ 2008 district wide Teacher of the Year.
The eight-year teaching veteran was selected for the prestigious honor by a committee of teachers, administrators, principals, Rotarians and businesspeople. The selection committee and Teacher of the Year or EDDY awards were organized by the Alliance For World Class Education, a non-profit group of local business and community leaders that supports public education.
Miller was one of 164 Teachers of the Year who were named at each DCPS school earlier this year. The field was winnowed down to six finalists, each of which was introduced at the Osborn Center. Suspense mounted as Miller’s mentor, one of the
winner’s university professors, revealed the librarian’s selection for the top EDDY award. In a tearful, heartfelt acceptance speech, Miller saluted her coworkers at Chaffee Trail, her principal Beverly Walker, her students and her family.
The 2008 EDDY awards are the 17th annual presentation of Teacher of the Year honors in Duval County. What was once a punch-and-cookies ceremony in the school administration building has been transformed into a black-tie gala, which is funded by corporate sponsors and the Alliance. All of the district’s 164 Teachers of the Year were saluted by a record-setting crowd of 1,600 that attended the 2008 EDDY Awards.
To learn more about Miller, the six finalists and the EDDY Awards, visit the Teacher of the Year Web site.
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Parents urged to view students' FCAT results as soon as they are released
Parents and guardians will have access to their students' FCAT results as soon as they are available via a special FCAT Parent Network Web site: www.fcatparentnetwork.com.
Beginning this month, FCAT scores from the spring tests will be available on the FCAT Parent Network as follows:
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Grades 4, 8, and 10
FCAT SSS Writing+ (no earlier than the week of May 12, 2008)
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Grade 10 FCAT SSS Reading and Mathematics Retake (no earlier than the week of May 19, 2008)
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Grade 3 FCAT SSS Reading and Mathematics (no earlier than the week of May 26, 2008)
- Grades 4 - 10 FCAT SSS Reading and Mathematics (no earlier than the week of June 9, 2008)
- Grade 5, 8, and 11 FCAT SSS Science (no earlier than the week of June 9, 2008)
Florida's Commissioner of Education, Dr. Eric J. Smith, has asked local libraries to assist parents who do not have computers or Internet service at home.
Letters to DCPS parents with a student's unique login ID and password will be distributed by schools this month.
Links to complete information about the FCAT Parent Network is available on the Duval County Public Schools Web site.
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 Duval County high school students were given the opportunity to let their voice be heard when they participated in a student voter registration drive from April 22-24. The 2008 countywide student registration drive was offered through a partnership between DCPS and the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Statistics have shown that the 18-25 age group now makes up the second largest percentage of registered voters in Duval County, in large part due to the commitment of area schools and the Supervisor of Elections Office to educate students about the electoral process.
A new law was recently passed that allows 16-year-olds with a valid driver's license to pre-register in the same fashion as 17-year-olds have done in the past. When these students turn 18, they receive their voter’s registration card. This year, nearly 16,000 DCPS students were eligible to register.
Susan Tidwell, an American Government teacher at Sandalwood High School, took the lead at her school to register students. She, along with community volunteers, visited every social studies class to distribute and explain the registration forms to eligible students. Students were then given the opportunity to participate in trivia questions about the electoral process.
Voter registration drives were conducted at all of Duval County's 19 public high schools, as well as
at private high schools, colleges, universities and technological schools throughout Duval County. The total number of students registered during the drive was 7,714.
For more information about the student voter registration drive, read the
full article.
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Quantum Mines, a 13-year-old student at Southside Middle School, was selected as the winner for the Javámo Coffees Art for Autism Contest, a new contest designed to raise awareness
of Autism.
 Artwork from around the state of Florida poured into the Javámo offices from children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder vying for the opportunity for their artwork to appear on a limited release coffee bag during Autism Awareness month in April.
“Our Autism Awareness bag will hopefully present an image of coffee that is unique and fun, as interpreted through the eyes of a very special child” said Javámo Coffees President Vicky Westra. “Quantum’s artwork just reminds us again that in the battle against autism, there are many ‘little victories’ that we can celebrate… and this bag is certainly a celebration!”
In addition to having the first-place winner, Southside Middle also had another student, Joey Thompson, selected as the second-place winner.
“We are so proud of Quantum and Joey,” said Kelly Delaney, art teacher at Southside Middle. “Our art department strives to make sure all of our students have the opportunity to express their creative abilities.”
For more information about the Javámo Coffees Art for Autism Contest, read the
full article.
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May
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9 |
High School Report Cards |
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26 |
Memorial Day
(schools and district offices closed) |
June
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5 |
Last Day of School for Students/Elementary Report Cards |
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9 |
School Board Meeting |
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10 |
Middle/High School Report Cards |
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16-20
or
23-27 |
Reading and Mathematics FCAT - Rising Grade 12-Adult (New Students/Retakes) |
In June, we will be holding our second round of meetings to gather input on an Academic and Community Excellence (ACE) plan for our schools. This plan includes facility assessment, utilization and school boundaries.
To receive feedback from you, we will be conducting community meetings in four areas throughout Jacksonville. Meetings will be held at area high schools at 6 p.m. on dates to be announced shortly.
Please continue to check our Web site for locations and dates.
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At its monthly meeting on May 6, the Duval County School Board and Superintendent Pratt-Dannals recognized several groups of students, staff and a member of the community for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to Duval County Public Schools. For a list of all those recognized, please read the
news release.
Later, the board
unanimously approved the district's four-year Strategic Plan.
The next school board meeting is Monday, June 9th at 6 p.m.
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Learn more about DCPS and our students by watching our two monthly television programs.
"School Matters," a panel discussion, is broadcast the fourth Sunday of each month on WJCT-TV and each Wednesday at 5 p.m. on Comcast Channel 29.
"REALSchool" airs the first Sunday of the month at 10 a.m. on WJCT-TV and every Monday at 9 p.m. on Comcast Channel 29.
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Duval County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
www.duvalschools.org
Superintendent
Ed Pratt-Dannals
School Board Members
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Martha Barrett, District 1
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Nancy Broner, District 2
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Kris Barnes, District 3
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Brenda A. Priestly Jackson, District 4
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Betty Burney (Chairman), District 5
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Vicki Drake, District 6
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Tommy Hazouri (Vice Chairman), District 7
Frequently Called Numbers
Main Line
904-390-2000
Transportation
904-858-6200
Human Resources
904-390-2840
School Board Office
904-390-2293
Community & Family
Engagement
904-390-2960
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