JACKSONVILLE, Fla — What the Duval County School Board wants for the future is getting mired in the political process.
A ten-year study revealed some serious problems with the aging school district.
"Duval has the oldest schools in the state; the average age is 44 years," Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene said.
Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council heard an earful from the community about a proposal to raise the sales tax 1/2 a cent to pay for school improvements.
"It is about our kids," Councilman Reginald Gaffney said.
Gaffney supports the plan but said there is push back from fellow council members.
"What I keep hearing around the fourth floor is we haven't seen a plan yet," Gaffney said. " Well here is the plan."
He called a special meeting on Wednesday to allow the superintendent to explain the plan. On hand were eight city council members and three members of the school board.
"I am very happy with the plan," he said.
The Duval County School board wants to use the proposed tax hike to pay for $1.9 Billion in school improvements.
Among the proposed improvements:
- Safety and security upgrades at every traditional Duval County Public School.
- Eliminate over $1 billion of backlogged maintenance caused by declining state funding and the impact of very old, deteriorating school buildings.
- Consolidation of very small schools to increase resources for teaching and learning experiences and cut overhead.
- Build new schools in areas where they are needed and remove as many portables as possible.
- Provide all students with a learning environment that improves achievement and enables Duval’s students to compete academically now, and economically in the future.
Superintendent Greene defends the goals and objectives.
"The plan can't be implemented without an additional revenue source," she said.
The current school funding for all Florida schools is still trying to recover from cuts during the recession of 2008. The level of funding was never restored.
"We have Fishweir one of our beloved schools that today we have wooden beams hold the walls together," Greene said. " That is not the learning environment we want for our students."
The reason it is now before the city council is because the school board needs its approval to put a tax referendum on the ballot.
Also part of the debate is when it should be done. should it be done in November during a special election that will cost about one million dollars or do you wait until the 2020 election cycle?
School member Ashley Smith Juarez told the special meeting they would rather do it sooner than later.
"Our children do not have time to wait," Juarez said. "I say that because the school board has done its homework."
Councilman Tommy Hazouri attended the meeting.
"I want the referendum," Hazouri said. "I want to be sure it is ready for prime time."
Councilman Jim Love was also on hand.
"I think we can save some money by doing it sooner rather than later," Love said. "I want to be a part of the count.
Councilman John Cresembeni read FL Statute 212 which states the school board has the authority to tax.
"I am struggling with what my role is," he said.
Councilor Al Ferraro said he needed more information so he can answer his constituents when they ask about accountability.
Superintendent Greene said she felt the meeting ended with a positive tone.
But it is not over. The City Council Rules and Finance committees will take up the issue again in a joint meeting sometime next week.