Jacksonville, FL — Duval County Public Schools is urging parents to attend follow-up meetings, as the district considers a nearly $2 billion proposal to fix their aging school buildings.
WOKV first told you back in March, when DCPS Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene first kicked off a series of community meetings to discuss draft recommendations for the district's school buildings, including in some cases, consolidation.
Greene says the community's engagement was overwhelming, with draft plans drawing in almost 8,800 video views and more than 1,600 survey responses.
She says between the meetings and online response, the district determined follow-up meetings were needed.
"Ultimately, we want to provide all of our students and staff with a learning environment that enhances learning and school culture. We received clear input from the community that some of the consultant's initial ideas require additional conversation. We must take bold steps on behalf of our students, and we need to do so in a way that respects the input of the community," says Greene in a statement.
• J. Allen Axson/Chets Creek elementary schools
• Venetia/Ortega elementary schools
• Ribault High School/Ribault Middle School
• Raines High School/Northwestern Middle School
• Jefferson Davis Middle School to Raines and Ribault along with several other scenarios.
If you're unsure of what district your child's school is in, click HERE to find out.
While there are several school proposals still being worked out, DCPS says they are moving forward with others. They've released the below changes:
• The district will preserve the historic architecture of Kirby-Smith Middle and Loretto Elementary in the replacement process, and
• The district will meet the need for a middle school in fast developing southeastern Duval by making the proposed new K-5 into a K-8.
[ To help pay for this $1.8 billion plan, DCPS has raised the idea of a millage rate increase. ]