JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A state invoice might considerably influence how faculty districts purchase or promote property, prompting reactions from Duval County dad and mom and leaders.
SB 140, which pertains to constitution faculties, would require faculty districts to approve a five-year plan earlier than buying or promoting property. Moreover, districts would want to contemplate enrollment traits earlier than making such transactions.
Duval County Public Faculties headquarters is at the moment within the technique of being bought. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier expressed considerations concerning the invoice’s potential problems for the district’s relocation efforts throughout Tuesday’s faculty board assembly.
“It simply doesn’t make any sense if you wish to get off the river, I’ve to have a spot to go,” Bernier mentioned.
The invoice might complicate the shopping for, promoting, or buying of property. State Sen. Don Gaetz, the invoice’s sponsor, defined its implications throughout a Neighborhood Affairs committee assembly on Monday.
“45 of the state’s 67 faculty districts have persistently declining enrollment,” Gaetz mentioned. “This invoice offers that if the State Board of Training deems property to be surplus, it may be used for inexpensive housing, for academics, first responders, or navy service members, or for constitution faculty services or recreation services.”
Bernier mentioned throughout his faculty board report that the invoice’s language would stop the college board from even receiving presents for property. He famous that the district has been working with native representatives in Tallahassee to amend the invoice to higher assist the college district’s wants.
“I’ve to have a spot to take the workers who’re right here and a spot to work,” Bernier mentioned. “This invoice prevents us from doing that. It was described by one in every of our elected officers as typically Tallahassee takes out the sledgehammer when it solely wants a scalpel. We agreed, so there’s motion afoot to make some adjustments that might permit giant city faculty districts, which can expertise inhabitants progress in numerous areas, to proceed to purchase and purchase property, even when they’ve had lowering enrollment.”
Katie Hathaway, a Duval County mother or father, voiced her frustrations with the invoice in the course of the public remark part of the dialogue on Monday. She believed the invoice prioritized constitution faculties over public faculties.
“Districts want to keep up native management and the pliability to strategically consolidate faculties and buy new property in quickly rising areas the place households want entry to well-funded public faculties,” Hathaway mentioned. “In the event you actually care about eliminating waste and being accountable with our tax {dollars}, then all limitations imposed on a district attributable to enrollment must be utilized evenly to all publicly funded faculties, and that features charters.”
Two different audio system and two people who waived their proper to talk opposed the invoice, whereas three supporters didn’t communicate. Finally, the invoice handed the committee by a vote of seven to 1, having beforehand handed the Training Pre-Ok by way of 12 committee by a vote of 5 to three. Gaetz defended his place on the shut of the dialogue.
“The invoice just isn’t a invoice to develop constitution faculties as they exist, to permit any companies to come back in and purchase any faculties, or to require that any current faculties be turned over to any outdoors organizations,” Gaetz mentioned.
Bernier introduced that “on the market” indicators will quickly be posted on the district headquarters constructing. The invoice is now within the guidelines committee.
If the legislation passes, it might take impact on July 1.
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