JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council voted to turn down the emergency motion for a resolution to reject funding cuts that would affect popular acceleration programs, including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment.
The motion, which skips all committee meetings and causes the resolution to head to the council floor, received 10 votes, but that was not enough for it to pass at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“I hope you all go to sleep tonight horrified of what you’ve done, destroying the opportunity and education for so many kids seeking this opportunity today,” student Cody Begay said.
Duval County students and parents have expressed their opposition over the slash, stressing that the programs are necessary for a student’s development and preparation for the future.
At last week’s rules committee meeting, students asked the council to draft a resolution opposing state funding cuts tied to Senate Bill 2510 and House Bill 5101, which was substituted by Senate Bill 7030.
Duval County Schools estimated it would lose $8 million as a result of the cuts.
VIDEO: Jacksonville Councilman speaks out against plans to cut AP, other courses in Florida schools
Council members Matt Carlucci and Jimmy Peluso drafted the resolution in support of maintaining or increasing funding for the programs.
Carlucci hoped the resolution would pass when News4JAX spoke with him before the meeting started. He was so upset by the council’s decision that he left the meeting early.
“I cannot tell you how deeply hurt, deeply shamed I am at my colleagues who did not want to let these students have a chance to speak before they voted,” Carlucci said. “It was a disgrace in democracy at city hall tonight, and I don’t ever walk out of a meeting this first one I’ve ever walked out on, but I can’t take that kind of [expletive].”
Other council members, including Rahman Johnson, Reggie Gaffney Jr., Tyrona Clark-Murray and JuCoby Pittman, joined in on co-sponsoring the resolution.
“I would never think that city council would prioritize some of their personal politics over the students,” Fletcher High School Caden Young said. “We’re the ones that are going to be voting for them in the next election. We will remember this. It’s not like this is going to fly right by our heads. We will be in Jacksonville. We will remember and we are voting against them.”
Jarrett Kelly is a junior at Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies. He said the programs that are in danger of losing funding are helpful to students in saving money on their education in the long run. He can complete three semesters of college by the time he graduates from high school. He was disappointed in the council’s decision.
“I think the question that everybody in Jacksonville needs to ask of their council members is, who do you work for? If you work for us truly, if you truly care about our city and work for us, students, why won’t you help us fight to save our education? Help us fight to save our future?” Kelly said.
Councilman Rory Diamond said the council needs to stay in its lane and not become a super school board.
