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Governor DeSantis, Mayor Curry talk key issues facing schools

They also spoke about new scholarship opportunities that would allow students to have access to quality education.

Governor Ron DeSantis and Mayor Lenny Curry met at Potters House Christian Academy Thursday to talk about key issues facings schools along the First Coast.

They also detailed information about new scholarship opportunities that would allow students to have access to quality education.

“Your success shouldn’t be limited by family income or by what zip code you live in," DeSantis said. "It should be based on you working hard and getting the most out of your God-given talent.”

The headline that has a lot of people talking, though, is the bill DeSantis signed on Wednesday allowing teachers to be armed.

“I said I was for the bill from the beginning, I urged the legislature to pass it,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis made a point to clarify that the bill is not a mandate.

“This is something that if a school district wants, then they're allowed to [do]," DeSantis said. "Nobody’s forcing them to do anything.”

DeSantis says he does believe it would thwart potential attackers from targeting schools.

“You have somebody that really wants to do harm if they think they're going to meet resistance, they're much less likely to choose a school," DeSantis said. "So I want our schools to be off limits, I don’t want people to think that somehow it’s a soft target.”

On the home front, Mayor Lenny Curry spoke about Duval County Public School's 15-year half-cent tax proposal that would go toward the two billion dollars needed to fix and rebuild their schools. 

“[I'm] waiting to see details," Curry said. "Depending on where it ends up from city council, if it ends up on my desk, I'll assess it at that time.”

Don’t count on seeing a special election for it, though.

“I do not support a special election on one referendum, I think it’s too costly,” Curry said.

That one item special election could cost up to $1.2 million dollars. For now, it’s on DCPS to do some convincing. 

“They’re going to have to make their case and work the body of the city council," Curry said.

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