Duval County School Board Meeting Highlights - 10-4-2011
Board Approves Resolution to Help Students Better Understand Those Living with Disabilities
The Superintendent and School board passed a resolution recognizing “Disability History and Awareness Weeks” the first two weeks in October. During the observation, students will learn about the history of disability laws as well as learn sensitivity. There are approximately 362,000 students with disabilities in Florida’s K-12 educational system. Out of more than 125,000 students in Duval County, approximately 21,000 are in exceptional education programs and are served by more than 1,500 exceptional teachers.
Board Designates October 9 -16, 2011 as “Jacksonville Goes to College Week”
Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals designated October 9 - 16, 2011 as “Jacksonville Goes to College Week.” To kick off the event, all Duval County high schools will host activities to help students prepare for college. Students will spend the week registering for the SAT and ACT; taking the PSAT (sophomores and seniors) in the school’s Media Center; participating in admission and scholarship letter writing exercises; and learning more about scholarship opportunities. The event will culminate on Saturday, October 16 with the “Jacksonville National College Fair” that will be held at the Prime Osborne Convention Center from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event is free, parking is $5.
Superintendent Pratt-Dannals also recognized State Farm, Jack Hanania and Stein Mart for donating to the Read It Forward Jax campaign. The donations received for Read It Forward Jax are assisting students with access to important online programs, as well as classroom libraries in several schools.
Board Denies Seven Charter School Applications and Defers KIPP Applications
Seven charter school applications were denied by the board. The schools included: Aspire Prep Academy, Bringing Exceptional Students Together (B.E.S.T), Duval Charter School of Science and Technology, Florida Virtual Academy, Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy of Technology and Sciences, Marcus Garvey Academy and Renaissance Virtual Charter School of Duval. The schools being recommended for denial each failed some portion of their applications.
The KIPP school applications have been deferred to the November 1 board meeting, with a board workshop on October 18 to continue discussion on the applications.
Board Passes a Resolution for New Town Success Zone
The board passed a resolution unanimously recognizing the New Town Success Zone (NTSZ) located at the east end of Kings Road. It is the city’s first children’s initiative and is designed to empower adults and children residing in the area. Improvements in the NTSZ are taking place already in after school programs at S. P. Livingston Elementary School and Eugene Butler Middle School, which have been expanded and transformed. The Building our Limitless Dreams (B.O.L.D.) program operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs was added; and, United Way choose Eugene Butler as the 7th Achievers for Life Program site with a $1 million gift from Oscar Munoz, CSX Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, and his wife, Cathy. The program was introduced to Jacksonville in 2007 with the purpose of reflecting the city’s unique cultural, geographic, and economic character.
Board Adopts New Teen Dating Policy to End Violence or Abuse
The board approved a new policy required by state law that all districts put a policy in place to protect students from violence or abuse when dating. The board believes that all of its students should have an educational setting that is safe, secure, and free from dating violence or abuse of any kind. The policy puts a number of procedures in place for both students and teacher to report incidents of violence or abuse. The district will not tolerate any form of teen dating violence or abuse as defined in the policy. The district prohibits teen dating violence by any student:
1. on school property;
2. during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity; or during school-sponsored transportation
This new policy goes into effect immediately.
Duval County Public Schools operates 177 schools and serves approximately 125,000 students. The school district 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.
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