โWe are in this togetherโ: DCPS superintendent lays out plan for navigating teacher shortage as school year looms
In a message to district staff Wednesday, Duval County Public Schools Dr. Superintendent Diana Greene announced that class sizes in grades K-8 will increase by one or two students across the district.
Duval County teachers predict โvery, very bad situationโ for school staffing
Voters in Duval County will decide on August 23, whether the district will raise the countyโs property taxes by one millage rate as a means of funding teacher pay increases and improvement of Duval County Public Schoolsโ arts and athletic programs.
Proposed DCPS property tax increase would generate $81M, address historic teacher shortage
The Duval County School Board is poised to discuss an official proposal to ask voters for a one-mill increase to the countyโs property tax rate in order to fund salary increases for teachers and reduce the record number of vacant staffing positions.
Duval County parents can speak with school leaders from home
Duval families will be able to tour schools from home today and speak with school leaders. The districtโs annual School Choice Expo will be virtual on Saturday, January 9. Duval County Public Schools is a choice district, which means students can attend schools outside their attendance area zones through the school choice application process. This is in the โMy Show Plannerโ tab, where youโll see your scheduled events to see live school presentations, organize you schedule, and make appointments to talk with school leaders. For those who want to take advantage of school choice, the application window runs thru February 28.
Nassau County school district releases 32 employees
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. โ The Nassau County School District is laying off 26 teachers and six paraprofessionals in an effort to soften the massive financial hit expected to accompany a much lower-than-expected fall enrollment. The 32 employees were in their first year of employment with the district, also referred to as โprobationary status," Assistant Superintendent Mark Durham said. The employees were notified of the layoffs Sept. 11 and their final date of employment is set for Friday. As of Thursday, Durham told News4Jax the district has about 11,800 across the three learning options; traditional-brick and mortar, school-based distance learning and Nassau Virtual. Since that happened, Phillips said, four positions were made available again indicating a possible net loss of two employees.
Superintendent responds to workload concerns of St. Johns County teachers
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. The superintendent of the St. Johns County School District is urging parents to alleviate some of the workloads of teachers engaged in simultaneous instruction. This has been the most challenging start to a school year that we have ever faced, Superintendent Tim Forson said Wednesday in a letter published to the districts website. They are taking the work home with them for hours, they are not spending time with their family and friends.In Forsons letter addressing the issue, he asked parents to understand the challenge those teachers are facing. Your childs teacher is tasked with preparing variations in lessons because students are on two platforms, Forsons letter said. Read the full text of Forsons letter below:
Dozens of DCPS teachers call in sick on first day of classes
According to the district, 80 teachers called in sick Thursday, 67 of whom reported they were ill, 12 reported they had an ill family member and one reported a death in the family. A DCPS teacher hints at their intention to call-in sick, in this Aug. 19, 2020 Facebook post. I have a tummy ache and might have to call in sick tomorrow,โ a DCPS teacher wrote in a Facebook group Wednesday afternoon. Some of the groupโs membership staged what one teacher branded a โsick out.โโIโm sick to my stomach,โ Andrew Jackson High School teacher Bradley Fisher said. Iโm sick with panic and fear for my students and my colleagues and their lives.โFisher called in sick Thursday but is still teaching his scheduled classes through virtual means.
Floridaโs much-touted pay raise leaves experienced teachers feeling ignored
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ At least half of the full-time teachers in Florida could get a pay raise under a new funding measure signed Thursday by Gov. The I-TEAM examined the median salary of fulltime teachers reported by the stateโs 73 districts or entities. In other words, those 57 districts paid more than half their fulltime teachers less than $47,500 last year. Below is a breakdown of median teacher salaries for the districts in northeast Florida. โItโs a good thing that weโre putting money in teacher salaries,โ said Justin Vogel, chief negotiator, St. Johnโs Education Association.